This alphabetical list presents bands that took the inspiration for their name from literature (novels, poems, plays, comics). The list shows the debut album cover along with the information of the corresponding source of inspiration.

Please feel free to suggest more examples of metal/hard rock band names that are inspired by literature.


AUTHORS

1st Place (54 bands):
J.R.R.Tolkien

2nd Place (21 bands):
H.P.Lovecraft

3rd Place (10 bands):
W.Shakespeare

4th Place (7 bands):
E.A.Poe

5th Place (3 bands):
F.Herbert, R.E.Howard, C.A.Smith

6th Place (2 bands):
A.Huxley, J.W.v.Goethe, B.Kane, S.King, C.S.Lewis, H.Melville, K.Miura, M.Moorcock, J.K.Rowling, H.Van Alkmer, O.Wilde

7th Place (1 band):
R.Adams, J.P.Ahonen, D.Alighieri, L.F.Baum, E.C.Bertin, R.Bloch, E.Bronte, L.Carroll, L.Carter, L.Chase, C.Dickens, A.Diggle, M.Ende, S.Erikson, W.Faulkner, J.&W.Grimm, Homer, A.Jodorowsky, Kakifly, U.KLeGuin, H.W.Longfellow, G.R.R.Martin, A.Miller, P.Mills, J.Milton, D.Quinn, S.Rohmer, P.Rothfuss, Y.Sadamato, M.Sandemo, W.Scott, H.Sienkiewicz, D.Simmons, W.Smith, J.Steinbeck, B.Stoker, Suetonius, L.Uris, L.Weisberger, H.G.Wells, Q.Yuan


CATEGORY

1.) Novels (95 bands)
2.) Short Stories/Novellas (34 bands)
3.) Drama (11 bands),
Poems (11 bands),
Comics/Mangas (11 bands)
4.) Religious Texts (4 bands)
5.) Author Names (3 bands)
6.) Magazines (2 bands)
7.) Biographies (1 band), Essays (1 band), Reports (1 band),

1.A Dream Of Poe - The Mirror Of Deliverance

2.Abhoth - Abhoth

3.Abigail Williams - In The Shadow Of A Thousand Suns

4.Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea

5.Alice In Chains - Facelift

      View entire list ››

1.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

2.Belzebubs - Pantheon Of The Nightside Gods

3.Grima - Will Of The Primordial

4.Vorna - Sateet Palata Saavat

5.Insomnium - Heart Like A Grave

      View entire list ››

Stuff that got me hooked in the course of the years, from my very first blurred memories as a toddler to the present day.
Lots of catchy tunes, some cheese, very few flowers.
Songs that had a big impact on me and influenced my taste in music.
Stuff to let it all hang out, songs for campfire sing-alongs and soundtracks to slit your wrists to.
Love at first sight listen.

This is part II of II, covering the years since 2001.

Despite of the list's personal character, suggestions are very welcome.
After all I'm old and I may just have forgotten lots of stuff that did make my day.



Great albums that didn't make it on the list as they can only be enjoyed in their entirety, rather than by picking individual songs:

Thirdmoon - Sworn Enemy: Heaven (Death, 2004)
Defleshed - Reclaim The Beat (Death/Thrash, 2005)
Tyranny - Tides Of Awakening (Funeral Doom, 2005)
Mourning Beloveth - A Murderous Circus (Doom/Death, 2005)
Rotting Christ - Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy (Black, 2013)

1.Alastis - Unity

2.Diablerie - Seraphyde

3.Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

4.Emperor - Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire & Demise

5.Hollenthon - With Vilest Of Worms To Dwell

      View entire list ››

1.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

2.Cave In - Final Transmission

3.Mother Of Millions - Artifacts

4.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

Do you remember...

...1984, when the virtual TV host Max Headroom stuttered his name for the very first time?
...1985, when the cute fellow of Little Computer People was your only friend?
...1997, when your digital pocket pet Tamagotchi starved to death and you didn't know how and where to burry it?
...2001, when the debut album of the virtual band Gorillaz went triple Platinum in the UK?
...2012, when iconic rapper Tupac Shakur's hologram performed at the Cuachella festival, over 15 years after his decease?
...2017, when AI robot Sophia received citizenship of Saudi Arabia?

Let's just forget about that hologram tour of Ronnie James Dio for a moment, for metal will always be handmade music from real musicians and for real fans...

...but how genuine is your favorite band?



This list includes fictional or virtual or artificial artists only.
Admission criteria:
- at least one complete song (not just song snippets)
- hard rock and metal only
- fictional line-up/biography or artificial/virtual origin are mandatory
- media appearance outside of the music scene (movies, film series, videos, TV shows, web comics and comic strips, books, computer games, advertising campaigns) prior to or simultaneously with the release of their debut album

Please note that not all bands bearing goofy stage names and wearing funny costumes like Gwar or Lordi are virtual or fictional bands.
Most comedy/parody outfits like Nanowar Of Steel or Paladins Of The Golden Power Fights With The Great Sword Of Eternal Magic And The Great Kings Will are neither virtual nor fictional.
Spin-offs and side projects like Gloryhammer or Lorenguard are not really fictional, either - they just invented some stupid background story to justify their existence.
After all and sadly enough, even Manowar are not a fictional band...


"What is Fake News? I turned an empty room into an international headline.
If you are reading this, you are part of the illusion." - Jered Threatin, Nov. 2018



Big thanks to Ansercanagicus for submitting a shitload of virtual and fictional bands!

1.Bad News - Bad News

2.Bad News - Bohemian Rhapsody

3.Bad News - Cashing In On Christmas

4.Bad News - Bootleg

5.Bad News - The Cash In Compilation

      View entire list ››

Cos Radu won't leave me alone

1.Bees Made Honey In The Vein Tree - Grandmother

2.Dreadnought - Emergence

3.Methadone Skies - Different Layers Of Fear

4.A Secret Revealed - Sacrifices

5.Cartographs - Wilt & Blossom

      View entire list ››

Here is a list of all the bands who received at least one write-in vote during MSA 2019.

Following the annoucement of the results, this information is lost, I post it here so you can continue to explore your favorite genres !

I'm still working on fixing links, if you find errors, feel free to notify in the comments !

1.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

2.Cave In - Final Transmission

3.Mother Of Millions - Artifacts

4.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

1.Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

2.Amorphis - Queen Of Time

3.Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika

4.Septicflesh - Codex Omega

5.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

      View entire list ››

----Updated every weeks----

I'm looking for all genres without exceptions, with currently little preferencies for Progressive, Death and Black metal! Listenning to every albums 2 or 3 times at less before including it in my list.
I specify my favourite songs in order of preferency

❤ = Amazing song!

1.Tool - Fear Inoculum

2.Blood Incantation - Hidden History Of The Human Race

3.Dream Theater - Distance Over Time

4.Destrage - The Chosen One

5.Ola Englund - Master Of The Universe

      View entire list ››

This list is meant to be an extensive, but by no means exhaustive, collection of the greatest (modern) metal albums and eps. Running the gamut from avant-garde to trve norweigan black metal. *As someone who is young in age, my tastes tend to revolve around the period of the 80s to the present.* Although certain metal albums from before will certainly be featured, the period of the 60s-70s will be under-represented. I refer you to this excellent list to gain a better appreciation for some of the best metal from that period: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/freis/martin_popoffs_the_top_500_heavy_metal_albums_of_all_time/

1.Ba'al - Ellipsism

2.Back To R'lyeh - The Awakening / Last Fight Of The Primordial

3.Bad Salad - Uncivilized

4.Bakos Attila - Aranyhajnal

5.Balance Of Power - Book Of Secrets

      View entire list ››

Only good stuff included.

So far 2019 has been truly marvelous year full of stellar metal releases. I'll be updating this list as I find more worthy ones and/or get more into the ones already listed.

My ratings:

✮✮✮✮✮ = Instant classic.
✮✮✮✮½ = The Force is strong with this one.
✮✮✮✮ = Pretty damn good!

1.Finsterforst - Zerfall

2.Iapetus - The Body Cosmic

3.Numenorean - Adore

4.IQ - Resistance

5.White Ward - Love Exchange Failure

      View entire list ››

1.Waste Of Space Orchestra - Syntheosis

2.Stellar Master Elite - Hologram Temple

3.Mephorash - Shem Ha Mephorash

4.Nile - Vile Nilotic Rites

5.Strigoi - Abandon All Faith

      View entire list ››

1.Abbath - Outstrider

2.Amon Amarth - Berserker

3.As I Lay Dying - Shaped By Fire

4.Belzebubs - Pantheon Of The Nightside Gods

5.Blood Incantation - Hidden History Of The Human Race

      View entire list ››

1.Soilwork - Verkligheten

2.Mono - Nowhere Now Here

3.Evergrey - The Atlantic

4.Neal Morse - The Great Adventure

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

1.Wilderun - Veil Of Imagination

2.Opeth - In Cauda Venenum

3.Borknagar - True North

4.Eternal Storm - Come The Tide

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››