Coming up with a list of the undisputed best heavy metal songs of all time is an impossible task. At least making a list that would go down well with all readers. So, please use this article as a guide to start your journey into heavy metal and explore further.
While the origins of heavy metal, like any good genre, are a bit disputed, most fans can agree that the trio of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath ushered in the heavy metal era.
One of the factors that we took into consideration while creating this list was popularity. Use this list to ease yourself into the world of Heavy Metal: full of famous hits from popular bands with a dollop of underrated songs from not-so-known artists.
In this era of the internet, we have hundreds of options to entertain ourselves with. While some may indulge in digital art or read books, some choose to play bingo online, with exciting variations like Bingo Goal, Go-Go Bingo, and Pesca Bingo. Regardless of the preference for entertainment options, listening to heavy metal gives you the thrill to pursue your interests. With the following anticipated heavy metal albums in 2023, you can spin the wheel of fortune with more confidence and excitement.
Add These Heavy Metal Songs To Your Playlist
Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
Even if you don’t consider it a strictly heavy metal song, “Immigrant Song” is easily among the greatest Hard rock songs of the 70s. It has inspired countless metal bands. The song was used in the trailer and the movie Thor: Ragnarok, thanks to music supervisor Dave Jordan’s persistence as the lyrics had several references to Norse mythology.
Black Sabbath – War Pigs
Black Sabbath has created masterpieces such as “Children of the Grave,” “Iron Man,” “Into the Void,”, “Paranoid,” “Symptom of the Universe,”, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, and “Sweet Leaf.” It’s impossible to pick just one, but we went for what we believe is the heaviest riff ever heard. A heavy metal classic, without a doubt.
Deep Purple – Highway Star
The unforgettable riff to “Smoke on the Water” is the best-known Deep Purple sound, but we believe “Highway Star” is a better song. Whether you agree or not, we all can agree that Deep Purple was far ahead of its time.
Megadeth – Peace Sells
Selecting only one out of Dave Mustaine and company creations is no easy task. We hold “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” from Rust in Peace or “Symphony Of Destruction” in high regard, but this Megadeth tune is not only heavy but it is also quite funny.
Diamond Head – Am I Evil?
Diamond Head was one of the early British heavy metal bands. Their essential “Am I Evil?” just had to be in this list.
Quiet Riot – Cum On Feel the Noize
Quiet Riot made this Slade number far more popular than the original by mixing the pop chorus with heavier, distorted guitars. It went as high as No. 5 on the Billboard charts.
Iron Maiden – The Trooper
“Number of the Beast” may be among the best heavy metal songs of all time. However, the fierce guitar work and the spine-tingling chorus gives “The Trooper” a spot as the top product of the group’s impressive discography.
Metallica – Master of Puppets
It was down to “Master of Puppets” and “Ride the Lightning.” Both of them are proper thrash metal, and you can immediately feel the massive difference between them and something like Black Sabbath’s slow, lengthy riffs.
Metallica did an outstanding job finding the sweet spot between thrash metal and something more palatable. This eventually took full flight on The Black Album.
AC/DC – Back in Black
Although it is often debated that AC/DC is hard rock at most, the influence that they’ve had on countless artists in heavy metal simply cannot be questioned. This obvious classic still shines in the playlist of die-hard heavy metal fans.
Judas Priest – Breaking the Law
Judas Priest’s list of tracks posed an impossible challenge. Felt wrong to choose only one from “Beyond the Realms of Death,” “Painkiller” and “Victim of Changes.” This only means one thing: the group has stayed relevant for a long time by coming up with reasonable picks from multiple decades.
Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
The opening seconds and scream still make people’s hair stand on end. They’ve got to be one of the most iconic sounds to open any album. Whatever Guns N’ Roses created became a rage among heavy metal fanatics.
Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train
This classic heavy metal tune has the Prince of Darkness working along with a world-class guitarist and imaginative production.
Dio – Holy Diver
The beginning minute or so of this heavy metal banger sounds similar to black metal, but Dio and Co. quickly make things melancholic after emerging from the water. It’s among the best heavy metal songs in a discography with no shortage of highlights.
Def Leppard – Photograph
One of the best pop-metal bands of all time, Def Leppard’s “Photograph” still energizes listeners, even after decades. Many bands can go heavier, but only a few can inject pop elements with such ease.
Pantera – Walk
Even though Philip Anselmo later went into politics, he has done an outstanding job initiating groove metal with Cowboys from Hell. This song oozes malice from Vulgar Display of Power.
Mercyful Fate – Evil
This song is taken from Melissa, the first release by the popular metal label Roadrunner Records. Evil is an inflammable track, King Diamond’s characteristically screamed vocals being the most notable part of the song.
