10 Heavy Metal Music Artists You Need to Know

We’ve put together a list of 10 heavy metal music artists you need to know. Check out the list and see if your favorite artist made the cut!

Metallica

Formed in 1981, Metallica are one of the most commercially successful and influential heavy metal bands of all time, having sold more than 110 million albums worldwide. The group’s early work is considered thrash metal, but they later diversified their sound, incorporating elements of hard rock, Heavy Metal, and even pop music into their work.

The band’s lineup has gone through a number of changes over the years, with founding members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich remaining the only constant members. The current lineup features Hetfield on lead vocals and guitar, Ulrich on drums, Kirk Hammett on lead guitar, and Robert Trujillo on bass.

Metallica have released 10 studio albums, four live albums, five extended plays, 26 music videos, and 37 singles. The band has won nine Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Their 1991 album Metallica (commonly known as The Black Album) is the best-selling album of the SoundScan era (since 1991), selling more than 16 million copies in the United States alone.

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band that was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson. The band has released 15 studio albums, three live albums, five compilations, 35 singles, 10 video albums, and 44 music videos. Megadeth is considered one of the pioneers of thrash metal and is one of the “big four” thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer. The band has sold over 38 million records worldwide. Megadeth has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards and won four times.

Anthrax

If you love head-banging, fist-pumping metal music, then you need to know about Anthrax. Hailing from New York City, Anthrax is one of the Big Four of thrash metal along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. They’ve been making music since 1981 and show no signs of slowing down.

Anthrax’s music is characterized by fast tempos, double bass drumming, aggressive guitars, andsnarling vocals. They’re one of the pioneers of thrash metal and have influenced countless other bands in the genre. Over the years, they’ve experimented with other styles as well, including alternative metal and Nu metal.

If you’re a fan of heavy metal music, then you need to check out Anthrax. They’re one of the biggest and most influential bands in the genre.

Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the big four thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax; Slayer’s musical style involves fast tremolo picking, double bass drumming, riffs in irregular scales, and shout vocals.

Lombardo is the only founding member still active with the band; King and Hanneman both died in 2013. Fellow guitarist Kerry King was filled in for Hanneman on tour until Exodus guitarist Gary Holt became his replacement in 2011; Holt has been a full-time member since 2013. Since 2016, Exodus’ guitarist/vocalist Lee Altus has been touring with the band as well.

Slayer has released twelve studio albums, two live albums, a box set, six video albums, thirty-five singles and nineteen music videos. The band has received five Grammy nominations, winning two for their work on Reign in Blood (1986) and God Hates Us All (2001). Slayer has also played at several music festivals worldwide including Unholy Alliance Tour, Download Festival, Ozzfest and Warped Tour. They have headlined arena tours such as Canadian Carnage ’09, World domination tour ’05-’06,’07-08,’09-’10,’11-’12,’13-’14,’17-’18 , Mayhem Festival 2009.’10 ,’11 ,’12 ,’13.’14.’15.’16 & ’17

Exodus

Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are credited with helping to pioneer the subgenre of speed metal, and are often cited as one of the “big four” thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Exodus has released ten studio albums, two live albums, and two compilations.

Testament

Formed in the early 1980s, Testament is one of the leaders of the thrash metal movement. With 10 studio albums released, the band has shown no signs of slowing down. Featuring the twin-guitar attack of Eric Petterson and Alex Skolnick, Testament is a must-hear for any fan of metal guitar work.

Death

Death is a metal band from Florida, founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner. The band is considered to be one of the most influential bands in heavy metal music, and their debut album, “Scream Bloody Gore”, is widely regarded as a genre classic. Death’s music is characterized by fast rhythms, aggressive guitar work, and growled vocals. The band’s lyrics often deal with themes of death, violence, and Grief.

Death went through a number of lineup changes throughout their career, with Schuldiner being the only constant member. The band released seven studio albums before Schuldiner’s death in 2001. After his death, the band continued to perform and release new music with several different lineup changes.

Discography:
-Scream Bloody Gore (1987)
-Leprosy (1988)
-Spiritual Healing (1990)
-Human (1991)
-Individual Thought Patterns (1993)
-Symbolic (1995)
-The Sound of Perseverance (1998)

Carcass

Carcass is a British extreme metal band from Liverpool, which was formed in 1986. The band has been through several lineup changes, with vocalist and guitarist Jeff Walker and bassist and lyricist Bill Steer being the only constant members. They broke up in 1996, but reformed in 2007 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen.

Carcass are considered pioneers of the goregrind genre of heavy metal music. Their early work was also influential to the death metal genre that rose to prominence in the 1990s. Carcass’s debut album Reek of Putrefaction (1988) is considered a classic of the genre for its explicit descriptions of gore. The follow-up Symphonies of Sickness (1989) built upon this reputation, and Heartwork (1993) established Carcass as major players in the British metal scene.

In 1996, Carcass disbanded due to musical differences between Steer and Walker, who had different visions for the band’s future direction. Steer went on to form Egypt (later joining Napalm Death), while Walker continued working in music with Blackstar and APF Records. Carcass reunited in 2007 without drummer Ken Owen, who was forced to retire from music due to health reasons, and released their fourth studio album Swansong in 1996 to positive reviews.

Obituary

Obituary is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1984. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, guitarist Trevor Peres, bassist Terry Butler, and drummer Donald Tardy. Obituary has gone through several lineup changes, with the Tardy brothers and Peres being the only constant members. The band’s first two albums, Slowly We Rot (1989) and Cause of Death (1990), are considered essential death metal releases.

After releasing two more albums, The End Complete (1992) and World Demise (1994), Obituary parted ways with Roadrunner Records and went on hiatus for three years. During this time, the band members focused on other projects such as Therapy?, Corrosion of Conformity, Wookie Monster, and Massive Damage Inc.. In 1997 they reunited to release Back from the Dead. In 2003, Obituary signed with Candlelight Records and released Frozen in Time. Their most recent album Inked in Blood was released in 2014.

Obituary is considered one of the most influential bands in death metal history. They were ranked number 29 on Metal Hammer’s “Top 100 Best Metal Bands of All Time” list in 2017.

Napalm Death

Napalm Death are a British grindcore band formed in Meriden, West Midlands, England, in 1981. The group is considered to be a fundamental influence on the grindcore genre. Napalm Death’s debut album, Scum (1987), is widely regarded as the first grindcore record.

With their debut album Scum, released in 1987, Napalm Death became one of the most influential bands in extreme music. In its review, AllMusic said of the album “Few extreme metal albums have had as much impact as Napalm Death’s seminal Scum…Scum was nothing less than revelatory for an entire generation ofextreme metal bands.”26

In 2005, Terrorizer magazine placed Scum at number 40 on their list of “100 greatest death metal + grindcore albums of all time”.27 In 2007, Grindcore: The Extreme Sound of Rock & Roll, a book dedicated to the history and development of the genre, listed Scum as one of the most important releases in grindcore history.28 The band’s second album From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988) was also ranked highly on various lists. In 2010 Pitchfork Media ranked it number 21 on their list of “The 200 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time”.29 In 2017, it was included by Rolling Stone in their ” Essential Metal Albums” list.30

Discography:
Scum (1987)
From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988)
Harmony Corruption (1990)
Utopia Banished (1992)
Diatribes (1996)
Words from the Exit Wound (1998)
Enemy of the Music Business (2000)
Order of the Leech (2002)
Smear Campaign (2006)