A genre that has horde of heavy styles and subgenres, heavy metal is a gigantic parasol of melodic sounds and thrashing guitar. Often associated with the USA or the UK, metal is seemingly forgotten and abandoned elsewhere. So, to shed some light on those forgotten bands, here are the ten greatest metal bands NOT from the U.S or U.K.
10. AC/DC
Often mistaken to be American, AC/DC actually hail from Sydney, Australia. Formed in 1973, the band are still going strong and are one of the most famous hard rock metal bands in history. Known for their rowdy image and macho personas, AC/DC are also famed for their giant and outlandish riffs. Yes, to some they might not be the metal they are used to, but to others they are the heart and soul.
9. Kreator
German thrash metal band, Kreator, were formed in 1982 and are still making music together as of today. Credited with pioneering death meal and black metal, the band’s style has changed a number of times over the years. However, the industrial sound of the thrashing guitar has remained throughout and is still as popular as ever with fans.
8. Sodom
Another German band from the eighties period of thrash metal and smashing guitars, Sodom are again, still going strong today. A highly influential band, Sodom have often been credited with influencing many other bands during the early 1990s and are still regarded as one of the best metal bands ever.
7. Meshuggah
Formed in Umeå, Sweden, in 1987, Meshuggah are known for their fusion of death and thrash metal mixed with jazz and progressive elements. In fact, the band are so famous for their innovative style, that Rolling Stone labelled them as one of the ten most important metal bands to have ever existed.
6. Lordi
One of the most famous on the list, Lordi rose to fame in 2006 when their hit single, “Hard Rock Hallelujah” won the Eurovision Song contest. Known for their scary monster masks and pyrotechnics when performing live, Lordi have been credited for putting metal on the mainstream map, whether that’s good or bad, you decide?
5. Celtic Frost
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y0DjKi-Rs0
Formed in Zürich, Switzerland in 1982, Celtic Frost were originally named Hellhammer. Known for their extensive use of extreme metal styles, they have also been described as the creators of, avant-garde metal. The band have also been extremely influential, with Dave Grohl referring to them a number of times as a huge inspiration.
4. Opeth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttKuXWG_ExI&list=PLwuNY2hymtNmXx_eAE2-ut2Nzir09n2ht&index=5
Swedish heavy metal band, Opeth, formed in Stockholm in 1989. Known for incorporating genres such as folk, blues and classical music into their compositions, Opeth are also famed for their clean and slick vocals in which no screaming is allowed whatsoever.
3. Mercyful Fate
Formed in 1981 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Mercyful Fate were part of the first wave of black metal that was sweeping the globe at the time. Highly influential, the band helped establish a style of black metal for future generations. In fact, the band were also one of the first to use the now famous corpse paint when performing.
2. Nightwish
Finnish symphonic metal band, Nightwish, formed in 1996 and have since gone on to become one of the most famous non-American metal bands of all time. Their music has been described as extremely complex with regards to the layers and melodies that it holds. In fact, Nightwish are one of only a small few to have a female vocalist, which has somewhat become a trademark for the band.
1. Rammer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwn-h-3TLwQ
For hardcore metal fans only, Canadian metal heads Rammer were the best thing around in the mid-nineties. Known for their exciting and manic live performances, the band were closer to death metal than anything else. Now achieving cult like status due to their short existence, Rammer are the band that really could have been.
