This wasn’t an easy list to make, but we narrowed down the entire spectrum of metal and came up with our picks for the 10 Greatest Metal Bands of All Time.

These bands are all undeniable. They’ve all pioneered signature styles, withstood the test of time and set the benchmark for generations of musicians who’ve succeeded them. If you’re a metalhead, we’d be surprised if you aren’t a fan, in some respect, of all 10 acts.

Let’s talk about the two metal gods pictured above: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford. They’re two immortal icons whose vocal abilities may never be surpassed in the metal genre. As they should, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest occupy two of the highest spots on this countdown, but neither one is No 1.

This list is also a tribute to the metal titans we’ve lost throughout the years. Musicians like Metallica’s Cliff Burton, Death’s Chuck Schuldiner, Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister all earned their places on the highest plain of sonic achievement. We tip our hats to these brothers in cause.

Check out the 10 Greatest Metal Bands of All Time in the video above!

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