Most Talented Vocalists In Metal

Most Talented Vocalists In Metal

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A list by
LeKiwi
Created
May 03, 2013
Entries
135
Endorsements
59
My other lists:
Tasty Stuff Not Currently Featured On MS
So I Heard You Like Opeth...

A concise list of my metalhead man-crushes (now featuring ladies.)

While there is little introduction required for some of these bands and their front(wo)men, there are no words that can accurately describe such jaw-dropping talent anyhow. The albums and youtube links listed are meant to display the full capacity of vocalists' talents, not the bands' most quality or popular tracks - click the links below and behold the prowess.

Many tears will be shed on your behalf if your favourite vocalist isn't here. That being said, any suggestions are more than welcome. A star (★) indicates that the vocalist is exceptionally versatile. If you believe that a certain vocalist deserves a (currently unaccredited) star, then post a few YouTube tracks to support your case.

Avoided criteria:
- Consistency with live performances
- Emotional delivery
- Ability to write aurally appealing vocal lines
- Ability to compliment the music

i.e. The style performances are judged solely on technical ability.

Here are the tracks I've allocated to the vocalists so far in the order of the list below. If you have suggestion which better showcases any vocalist's talents or if any of the link aren't working, please let me know.
Abstrakt Algebra - Mats Levén
Akercocke - Jason Mendonca #1 and #2
Amorphis - Tomi Joutsen
Anaal Nathrakh - David "V.I.T.R.I.O.L." Hunt
Animals As Leaders - Frans Aalto ★★★★★★★★★★★
Avatarium - Jennie-Ann Smith
Avenged Sevenfold - Matthew "M. Shadows" Sanders #1 and #2
Beyond The Bridge - Herbie Langhans
Caligula's Horse - Jim Grey
Candlemass - Johan Längqvist
Cattle Decapitation - Travis Ryan
Centiment - Dave McPherson #1, #2, and #3
Chrome Division - Pål "Athera" Mathisen
Communic - Oddleif Stensland
Dark Suns - Niko Knappe #1 and #2
Devin Townsend - Devin Townsend
Dissona - Dave Dubenic
Disturbed David Michael Draiman
Dream Theater - Kevin James LaBrie #1 and #2 (vocal range and impressive performances)
Emperor (Ihsahn) - Vegard Sverre "Ihsahn" Tveitan
Empyrios - Silvio Mancini
Estradasphere - Tim Smolens (57:33)
Evereve - Tom Sedotschenko
Evergrey - Tom S. Englund
Evile - Matthew "Matt" Drake
Exodus - Steve "Zetro" Souza
Favna Abisal - Melanocetus Jhonsoni
Feared - Mario Santos-Ramos
Gojira - Joseph "Joe" Duplantier
Gorefest - Jan-Chris de Koeijer #1 and #2
Grave Digger - Chris Boltendahl
Haken - Ross Jennings #1, #2, and #3
Hamferð - Jón Aldará #1 and #2
Heavatar - Stefan Schmidt
Hell - David Bower
Helloween - Andi Deris
HIM - Ville Hermanni Valo
Ice Age - Josh Pincus
ICS Vortex - Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs
In Vain - Sindre Nedland #1 and #2
Iron Maiden - Paul Bruce Dickinson #1 and #2
Jinjer - Tatiana Shmayluk
King Crimson - Adrian Belew
King Diamond - Kim "King Diamond" Bendix Petersen
Lamb Of God - David Randall "Randy" Blythe
Leprous - Einar Solberg
Loch Vostok - Teddy "Dr. Ted Killer Miller" Möller #1 and #2
Lorna Shore - Will Ramos
Machine Head - Robert "Robb" Flynn
Masterplan - Jørn Lande
Mayhem - Attila Gábor Csihar #1 and #2 (~4:10)
Moonspell - Fernando Ribeiro
Nevermore - Warrel Dane
Noekk - Thomas Helm
Omb - Davidavi Dolev Too much vocal variety - you'll just have to listen to the entire album. ★
Opeth (Bloodbath) - Mikael Åkerfeldt #1, #2, and #3
Others By No One - Max Mobarry
Overkill - Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth
Pagan's Mind - Nils Kvåle Rue
Pain Of Salvation - Daniel Gildenlöw
Paradise Lost - Nick Holmes
Periphery - Spencer Sotelo
Pinkly Smooth - James "The Reverend Tholomew Plague" Sullivan
Primal Fear - Ralf Scheepers
Protest The Hero - Rody "Cheese" Walker
Psycroptic - Matthew "Chalky" Chalk
Rishloo - Andrew Mailloux
Riverside - Mariusz Duda
Savage Circus (Persuader/Dark Empire) - Jens Carlsson
Savatage - John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva
Scar Symmetry - Christian Älvestam
Shaolin Death Squad - Androo O'Hearn
Sieges Even - Greg Keller
Slaughter To Prevail - Alexandr Shikolay
Soldis - Del Tremens - tracks 1,4, 7
Space Odyssey - David Fremberg
Stravaganzza - Leo Jiménez
Sword - Rick Hughes
Symphony X - Russell Allen
System Of A Down - Serj Tankian #1 and #2
Tesseract - Daniel Tompkins #1 and #2
Tesseract - Ashe O'Hara
Testament - Chuck Billy
Textures - Daniel de Jongh
Textures - Eric Kalsbeek
The Foreshadowing - Marco Benevento
The Gathering - Anneke Van Giersbergen
The Mars Volta - Cedric Bixler-Zavala
Tool - Maynard James Keenan
Triptykon - Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer #1 and #2
Twelve Foot Ninja - Nik "Kin" Etik
Twilight Of The Gods (Primordial/Dread Sovereign) - Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill
Uneven Structure - Matthieu Romarin
Unhuman - Youri Raymond (track 3)
Veni Domine - Fredrik Ohlsson
Vintersorg - Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund
Virgin Black - Rowan London #1, #2, and #3
Vulture Industries - Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen #1 (37:43) and #2 (43:30)
W.A.S.P. - Steven Edward "Blackie Lawless" Duren
Warning - Patrick Walker
Winds (Before The Dawn) - Lars "Eikind" Eric Si
Wintersun - Jari Mäenpää
Witherscape - Dan Swanö
Wolverine - Stefan Zell
Xanthochroid - Matthew Earl #1 (3:05) and #2 (sexy blonde dude)
Xanthochroid - Sam Meador

No working links or properly ascribed stars below this point. Please suggest song(s) for the vocalist(s) below if you have any insight into their best work.

Adagio - [url=]David Readman[/url]
Arcturus - [url=]Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg[/url]
Blind Guardian - [url=]Hansi Kürsch[/url]
Candlemass - [url=]Messiah Marcolin[/url]
Cradle Of Filth - [url=]Daniel Lloyd "Dani Filth" Davey[/url]
Demilich - [url=]Antti "C. Void" "Von Stroh" Boman[/url]
Diablo Swing Orchestra - [url=]Annlouice Loegdlund[/url]
Dio - [url=]Ronald James "Ronnie Dio" Padavona[/url]
Disillusion - [url=]Andy "Vurtox" Schmidt of Disillusion[/url]
Headspace - [url=]Damian Wilson[/url]
Iced Earth - [url=]Matthew "Matt" Barlow[/url]
Iced Earth - [url=]Stuart "Stu" Block[/url]
Iced Earth - [url=]Tim "Ripper" Owens[/url]
Judas Priest - [url=]Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford[/url]
Madder Mortem - [url=]Agnete M. Kirkevaag[/url]
Pantera - [url=]Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo[/url]
Pharaoh - [url=]Tim Aymar[/url]
Retarded Noise Squad - [url=]Unknown vocalist[/url]
Scariot - [url=]Øyvind "Maztema" Hægeland[/url]
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - [url=]Nils Frykdahl[/url] ★
Sodom - [url=]Tom "Angelripper" Such[/url]
Spires - [url=]Paul Sadler[/url]
Stolen Babies - [url=]Dominique Lenore Persi[/url] ★
The Wandering Midget - [url=]Samuel "Qraken" Wormius[/url]
Tomahawk (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Fantômas) - [url=]Michael Allan "Mike" Patton[/url] ★
Vangough - [url=]Clay Withrow[/url]
Vektor - [url=]David Disanto[/url]
Wastefall - [url=]Domenik Papaemmanouil[/url]

Pending considerations - please recommend songs for the vocalists below:
- Acid Witch - Lasse Pyykkö
- Anubis Gate - Jacob Hansen
- Artillery - Flemming Rönsdorf
- Atrox - Rune Folgerø
- Bathory - Tomas "Ace" "Quorthon" Forsberg
- Crimson Glory - John Patrick Jr. "Midnight" McDonald
- Darkwater -Henrik Båth
- Devil Doll - Mr. Doctor
- Fates Warning - Ray Alder
- Fates Warning John Arch
- Holy Moses - Sabina Classen
- Kamelot - Roy "Khan" Sætre Khantatat
- Lake of Tears - Daniel Brennare
- Marduk - Daniel "Mortuus" Rostén
- Mist Within - Alireza ''Safires'' Motevasel
- Mortillery - Cara McCutchen
- Novembers Doom - Paul Kuhr
- Queensrÿche - Geoff Tate
- Seventh Wonder - Tommy Karevik
- Skid Row - Sebastian "Bach" Philip Bierk
- While Heaven Wept - Rain Irving
- Within Temptation - Sharon den Adel
- Yearning - Juhani Palomäki
135.
1.
Abstrakt Algebra - Abstrakt Algebra
1995 / Mats Levén
135.
2.
Adagio - Underworld
2003 / David Readman
135.
3.
135.
4.
Amorphis - Silent Waters
2007 / Tomi Joutsen
135.
5.
Anaal Nathrakh - Vanitas
2012 / David "V.I.T.R.I.O.L." Hunt
135.
6.
Animals As Leaders - Weightless
2011 / Frans Aalto
135.
7.
Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
2002 / Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg
135.
8.
Avatarium - Avatarium
2013 / Jennie-Ann Smith
135.
9.
Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
2005 / Matthew "M. Shadows" Sanders
135.
10.
135.
11.
Blind Guardian - At The Edge Of Time
2010 / Hansi Kürsch
135.
12.
135.
13.
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
1986 / Johan Längqvist
135.
14.
Candlemass - Nightfall
1987 / Messiah Marcolin
135.
15.
135.
16.
Centiment - Streets Of Rage
2014 / Dave McPherson
135.
17.
Chrome Division - 3rd Round Knockout
2011 / Pål "Athera" Mathisen
135.
18.
Communic - Waves Of Visual Decay
2006 / Oddleif Stensland
135.
19.
Cradle Of Filth - Dusk... And Her Embrace
1996 / Daniel Lloyd "Dani Filth" Davey
135.
20.
Dark Suns - Grave Human Genuine
2008 / Niko Knappe
135.
21.
Demilich - Nespithe
1993 / Antti "C. Void" "Von Stroh" Boman
135.
22.
Devin Townsend - Accelerated Evolution
2003 / Devin Townsend
135.
23.
Diablo Swing Orchestra - The Butcher's Ballroom
2006 / Annlouice Loegdlund
135.
24.
Dio - Holy Diver
1983 / Ronald James "Ronnie Dio" Padavona
135.
25.
Disillusion - Back To Times Of Splendor
2004 / Andy "Vurtox" Schmidt
135.
26.
Dissona - Dissona
2012 / Dave Dubenic
135.
27.
Disturbed - Asylum
2010 / David Michael Draiman
135.
28.
Dream Theater - Awake
1994 / Kevin James LaBrie
135.
29.
Emperor - Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire And Demise
2001 / Vegard Sverre "Ihsahn" Tveitan
135.
30.
Empyrios - Zion
2013 / Silvio Mancini
135.
31.
Estradasphere - Quadropus
2003 / Tim Smolens
135.
32.
Evereve - Stormbirds
1998 / Tom Sedotschenko
135.
33.
Evergrey - Recreation Day
2003 / Tom S. Englund
135.
34.
Evile - Skull
2013 / Matthew "Matt" Drake
135.
35.
Exodus - Tempo Of The Damned
2004 / Steve "Zetro" Souza
135.
36.
Favna Abisal - Rerum Imaginaria
2012 / Melanocetus Jhonsoni
135.
37.
Feared - Vinter
2013 / Mario Santos-Ramos
135.
38.
Gojira - From Mars To Sirius
2005 / Joseph "Joe" Duplantier
135.
39.
Gorefest - Rise To Ruin
2007 / Jan-Chris de Koeijer
135.
40.
Grave Digger - The Grave Digger
2001 / Chris Boltendahl
135.
41.
Haken - The Mountain
2013 / Ross Jennings
135.
42.
Hamferð - Evst
2013 / Jón Aldará
135.
43.
Headspace - I Am Anonymous
2012 / Damian Wilson
135.
44.
Heavatar - Opus I - All My Kingdoms / Stefan Schmidt
135.
45.
Hell - Human Remains
2011 / David Bower
135.
46.
Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell
2013 / Andi Deris
135.
47.
HIM - Venus Doom
2007 / Ville Hermanni Valo
135.
48.
Ice Age - The Great Divide
1999 / Josh Pincus
135.
49.
Iced Earth - Dystopia
2011 / Stuart "Stu" Block
135.
50.
135.
51.
Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden
2004 / Tim "Ripper" Owens
135.
52.
ICS Vortex - Storm Seeker
2011 / Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs
135.
53.
In Vain - Ænigma
2013 / Sindre Nedland
135.
54.
Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death
2006 / Paul Bruce Dickinson
135.
55.
Jinjer - Macro
2019 / Tatiana Shmayluk
135.
56.
Judas Priest - Angel Of Retribution
2005 / Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford
135.
57.
King Crimson - EleKtrik: Live In Japan
2003 / Adrian Belew
135.
58.
King Diamond - "Them"
1988 / Kim "King Diamond" Bendix Petersen
135.
59.
Lamb Of God - Wrath
2009 / David Randall "Randy" Blythe
135.
60.
Leprous - Bilateral
2011 / Einar Solberg
135.
61.
Loch Vostok - V: The Doctrine Decoded
2012 / Teddy "Dr. Ted Killer Miller" Möller
135.
62.
135.
63.
Machine Head - The Blackening
2007 / Robert "Robb" Flynn
135.
64.
Madder Mortem - Eight Ways
2009 / Agnete M. Kirkevaag
135.
65.
Masterplan - Masterplan
2003 / Jørn Lande
135.
66.
MaYaN - Quarterpast
2011 / Henning Basse
135.
67.
Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao
2007 / Attila Gábor Csihar
135.
68.
Moonspell - Irreligious
1996 / Fernando Ribeiro
135.
69.
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
2005 / Warrel Dane
135.
70.
Noekk - The Water Sprite
2005 / Thomas Helm
135.
71.
Omb - SwineSong
2013 / Davidavi Dolev
135.
72.
Opeth - Watershed
2008 / Mikael Åkerfeldt
135.
73.
Others By No One - Book I: Dr. Breacher
2017 / Max Mobarry
135.
74.
Overkill - The Electric Age
2012 / Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth
135.
75.
Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy
2011 / Nils Kvåle Rue
135.
76.
Pain Of Salvation - The Perfect Element, Part I
2000 / Daniel Gildenlöw
135.
77.
Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
1992 / Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo
135.
78.
135.
79.
135.
80.
Pharaoh - Bury The Light
2012 / Tim Aymar
135.
81.
Pinkly Smooth - Unfortunate Snort
2002 / James "The Reverend Tholomew Plague" Sullivan
135.
82.
Primal Fear - Delivering The Black
2014 / Ralf Scheepers
135.
83.
Protest The Hero - Fortress
2008 / Rody "Cheese" Walker
135.
84.
Psycroptic - The Scepter Of The Ancients
2003 / Matthew "Chalky" Chalk
135.
85.
Retarded Noise Squad - Bananas
2011 / Unknown vocalist
135.
86.
Rishloo - Feathergun
2009 / Andrew Mailloux
135.
87.
Riverside - Out Of Myself
2003 / Mariusz Duda
135.
88.
Savage Circus - Of Doom And Death
2009 / Jens Carlsson
135.
89.
Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
1987 / John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva
135.
90.
Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
2006 / Christian Älvestam
135.
91.
Scariot - Momentum Shift
2007 / Øyvind "Maztema" Hægeland
135.
92.
Shaolin Death Squad - Intelligent Design
2006 / Androo O'Hearn
135.
93.
Sieges Even - Sophisticated
1995 / Greg Keller
135.
94.
Slaughter To Prevail - Kostolom
2021 / Alexandr Shikolay
135.
95.
135.
96.
Sodom - Sodom
2006 / Tom "Angelripper" Such
135.
97.
Soldis - Age D
2013 / Del Tremens
135.
98.
Space Odyssey - The Astral Episode
2005 / David Fremberg
135.
99.
Spires - Spiral Of Ascension
2010 / Paul Sadler
135.
100.
Stolen Babies - There Be Squabbles Ahead
2006 / Dominique Lenore Persi
135.
101.
Stravaganzza - Raíces
2010 / Leo Jiménez
135.
102.
Sword - Sweet Dreams
1988 / Rick Hughes
135.
103.
Symphony X - The Odyssey
2002 / Russell Allen
135.
104.
System Of A Down - Toxicity
2001 / Serj Tankian
135.
105.
TesseracT - Altered State
2013 / Ashe O'Hara
135.
106.
TesseracT - Concealing Fate
2010 / Daniel Tompkins
135.
107.
Testament - The Formation Of Damnation
2008 / Chuck Billy
135.
108.
Textures - Dualism
2011 / Daniel de Jongh
135.
109.
Textures - Silhouettes
2008 / Eric Kalsbeek
135.
110.
The Foreshadowing - Days Of Nothing
2007 / Marco Benevento
135.
111.
The Gathering - Mandylion
1995 / Anneke Van Giersbergen
135.
112.
The Mars Volta - De-Loused In The Comatorium
2003 / Cedric Bixler-Zavala
135.
113.
The Wandering Midget - From The Meadows Of Opium Dreams
2012 / Samuel "Qraken" Wormius
135.
114.
Tomahawk - Oddfellows
2013 / Michael Allan "Mike" Patton
135.
115.
Tool - Lateralus
2001 / Maynard James Keenan
135.
116.
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
2010 / Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer
135.
117.
Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine
2012 / Nik "Kin" Etik
135.
118.
Twilight Of The Gods - Fire On The Mountain
2013 / Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill
135.
119.
Uneven Structure - Februus
2011 / Matthieu Romarin
135.
120.
Unhuman - Unhuman
2013 / Youri Raymond
135.
121.
Vangough - Between The Madness
2013 / Clay Withrow
135.
122.
Vektor - Outer Isolation
2011 / David Disanto
135.
123.
Veni Domine - Spiritual Wasteland
1998 / Fredrik Ohlsson
135.
124.
Vintersorg - Orkan
2012 / Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund
135.
125.
Virgin Black - Elegant...And Dying
2003 / Rowan London
135.
126.
Vulture Industries - The Tower
2013 / Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen
135.
127.
W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol
1992 / Steven Edward "Blackie Lawless" Duren
135.
128.
Warning - Watching From A Distance
2006 / Patrick Walker
135.
129.
Wastefall - Self Exile
2006 / Domenik Papaemmanouil
135.
130.
Winds - The Imaginary Direction Of Time
2004 / Lars "Eikind" Eric Si
135.
131.
Wintersun - Wintersun
2004 / Jari Mäenpää
135.
132.
Witherscape - The Inheritance
2013 / Dan Swanö
135.
133.
Wolverine - Communication Lost
2011 / Stefan Zell
135.
134.
Xanthochroid - Blessed He With Boils
2012 / Matthew Earl
135.
135.
Xanthochroid - Blessed He With Boils
2012 / Sam Meador
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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LeKiwi
High Fist Prog

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12.11.2021 - 02:38
LeKiwi
High Fist Prog

Posts: 4326


Added:
- Others By No One - Max Mobarry ★
- Jinjer - Tatiana Shmayluk
- Slaughter To Prevail - Alexandr Shikolay ★
- Lorna Shore - Will Ramos
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Posts: 118


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03.07.2025 - 18:04

Posts: 118


I love Robb Flynn’s vocals. I have one question: Where’s Dax Riggs of Acid Bath?
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Permalink
11.02.2026 - 07:48

Posts: 490
Interesting that you haven Alan Averill with “Twilight of the Gods” and not with “Primordial”

I also believe that Eric Adams is objectively a great singer even if you dislike Manowar
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