The biggest in Heaviness?????

[Roddy]

I've just found out that a band who are very good friends of my band have got the full national Lamb of God support in April, which is awesome news! I excitedly told our singer, who's much more into Nirvana, RATM, FNM etc than actual Metal, and he came back with 'Who's "the Lamb of Gods (sic)" '. I said 'Oh, no one really, probably just about the biggest Metal act on the planet atm. Or top 5, anyway.'
Anyway, it got me thinking...who ARE the biggest Heavy music bands in the world atm, in terms of profile? LofG? Opeth? SOAD? Kilswitch? Someone else???

 

[Roddy]

And I meant to say 'excluding Metallica'.

 

[Constipated Duck]

I'll be honest and say I don't particularly like the way the more commercial forms of heavy music have gone lately. Maybe there could be a formula developed, like :

tribal tattoos multiplied by f-words on the last CD divided by number of ripped-off Sabbath riffs.. because the 12 and 13 year-olds looking to rebel will surely be into that.

Seriously, the biggest metal band "at the moment" usually doesn't coincide with any sort of longevity. Popularity just isn't metal's thing.

 

[Roddy]

I'll be honest and say I don't particularly like the way the more commercial forms of heavy music have gone lately. Maybe there could be a formula developed, like :

tribal tattoos multiplied by f-words on the last CD divided by number of ripped-off Sabbath riffs.. because the 12 and 13 year-olds looking to rebel will surely be into that.

Seriously, the biggest metal band "at the moment" usually doesn't coincide with any sort of longevity. Popularity just isn't metal's thing.

How do explain bands like Opeth/In Flames etc? Massive, and have been around for 15 years+. Even Slipknot, love em or hate em, have achieved a definite level of longevity now (12 years), despite selling huge.

Read the initial post. I'm talking about profile, not 'popularity'. There's a subtle difference....

 

[Shane Hird]

And I meant to say 'excluding Metallica'.

Lucky u said that ..or u would have had another Metallica Vs the World thread.

 

[Roddy]

How do explain bands like Opeth/In Flames etc? Massive, and have been around for 15 years+. Even Slipknot, love em or hate em, have achieved a definite level of longevity now (12 years), despite selling huge.

Read the initial post. I'm talking about profile, not 'popularity'. There's a subtle difference....

Apologies, MEANT to say profile....

 

[Shane Hird]

And I meant to say 'excluding Metallica'.

Lucky u said that ..or u would have had another Metallica Vs the World thread on your hands.

 

[Barry Zuckercorn]

Deicide

 

[G.O.B]

Taking everything into account such as album sales, public profiles and tour receipts I would have to conclude that the 2 biggest "metal" acts currently kicking around would have to be:

Tool
System of a Down

Take your pick beetween them 2.

That is taking Metallica out of the equation because regardless of the quality of their music atm they would still be the biggest for the time being at least.

 

[Roddy]

Deicide

No, they're the biggest tossers!

 

[Sandoval]

No, they're the biggest tossers!

Huh? No way.

If I were to make a list of the top 5 most influential death metal bands of all time (personal preference aside), it would go:

1) Death
2) Carcass
3) Morbid Angel
4) Cannibal Corpse
5) Deicide


As for the original topic, the most popular metal band in the world today, Id actually have to go with Cannibal Corpse. Check the sales charts if you dont believe me. Tool and SOAD may have a larger following, but they have more roots in hard rock and alternative than they do in metal.

 

[Smell The Glove]

As for the original topic, the most popular metal band in the world today, Id actually have to go with Cannibal Corpse. Check the sales charts if you dont believe me. Tool and SOAD may have a larger following, but they have more roots in hard rock and alternative than they do in metal.

They have pretty much zero roots in metal- to call them such is pretty offensive, both to their respective genres and especially to metal. As for the most popular metal band being Cannibal Corpse- not even close. A band like Iron Maiden, with diehard followings, respect from almost all metalheads regardless of their own preferences metal-wise, and a fairly large recognition among music fans in general. Cannibal Corpse just doesnt appeal to nearly as many people.

 

[metallicamatty]

Either Disturbed or SOAD, they both rock!

 

[Milkman]

Don't know about most popular, but Napalm Death are by far the heaviest, and the best.

 

[SydneyBomber]

Huh? No way.

If I were to make a list of the top 5 most influential death metal bands of all time (personal preference aside), it would go:

1) Death
2) Carcass
3) Morbid Angel
4) Cannibal Corpse
5) Deicide

a good top 5 although I'd wager entombed would certainly be up amongst it - especially in terms of ongoing influence having exploded 'first' for the swedish dm (sunlight) sound

 

[SydneyBomber]

as to the original post, poison idea were pretty heavy in their heyday

 

[Zep666]

soilwork are a great band but they arent greatly known in australia

 

[Roddy]

soilwork are a great band but they arent greatly known in australia

I love Soilwork. They'd be in my top 5 Metal bands for sure. They SHOULD be huge here, since their music is so damn catchy, as well as Heavy.

We're getting of the thread here. I'm talking about profile, not 'heaviness' or 'influence'....

 

[emperor]

If you mean profile in general (ie not among bona fide metal fans) then the answer has to be Slipknot (like it or not). Call them what you will but they are heavy and most people know who they are and what they are about (the masks etc). Iron Maiden would be up there too, but more so among the more 'cultured' metal fan, but well known none the less.

Bands such as Decide and Cannibal Corpse do have a significant profile, but I know of plenty of people that have no idea who they are but could give you a pretty accurate synopsis of what Slipknot is about.

That was the aim of this thread was it not Roddy? Profile in general, not amongst the dedicated metal head?

 

[Roddy]

If you mean profile in general (ie not among bona fide metal fans) then the answer has to be Slipknot (like it or not). Call them what you will but they are heavy and most people know who they are and what they are about (the masks etc). Iron Maiden would be up there too, but more so among the more 'cultured' metal fan, but well known none the less.

Bands such as Decide and Cannibal Corpse do have a significant profile, but I know of plenty of people that have no idea who they are but could give you a pretty accurate synopsis of what Slipknot is about.

That was the aim of this thread was it not Roddy? Profile in general, not amongst the dedicated metal head?

Pretty much. I think it's an 'overall' thing....ie if you went up to people in the street, some would be Metalheads, most wouldn't, and asked them to name 5 Heavy bands, and totalled them all up, which bands would get the most votes?

And yes, I agree about Slipknot. I know it begs derision, but I actually LIKE the 'Knot!!!

 

[emperor]

Pretty much. I think it's an 'overall' thing....ie if you went up to people in the street, some would be Metalheads, most wouldn't, and asked them to name 5 Heavy bands, and totalled them all up, which bands would get the most votes?

And yes, I agree about Slipknot. I know it begs derision, but I actually LIKE the 'Knot!!!

HAHA yeah they aren't all bad and they do have an awesomely insane live show by anyones standards. If you take out all the 'commercialness', posing and gayness of the band and their ardent followers there are some pretty enjoyable Slipknot tracks. Plus you can't seriously hate a band that have a song call People = Sh/t

 

[Roddy]

HAHA yeah they aren't all bad and they do have an awesomely insane live show by anyones standards. If you take out all the 'commercialness', posing and gayness of the band and their ardent followers there are some pretty enjoyable Slipknot tracks. Plus you can't seriously hate a band that have a song call People = Sh/t

Yep, that's a wicked tune. 'Heretic' is also amazing. Their last labum was excellent, I thought, far more mature, but still Heavy. Saw them live earlier this year, and yeah, it was indeed insane. SO much going on, total chaos like I've never seen.....

 

[wce_all_da_way]

Most people I know think Slipknot is Death Metal .

They also think Megadeth is DM. Knobs.

But yeah profile wise probably Slipknot

 

[Roddy]

Most people I know think Slipknot is Death Metal .

They also think Megadeth is DM. Knobs.

But yeah profile wise probably Slipknot

Corey's vocals aren't MILES from DM, but there's no way on earth I'd classify them as such overall. I don't know WHAT genre to lump them into. They're not 'Nu-Metal' either, IMO. I actually think they're pretty unique.

Megadeth I would almost describe as Hard Rock these days....

 

[Conan Troutman]

For new bands, Bullet For My Valentine it seems are getting a decent following overseas (no idea about here?) - I believe they've now supported Metallica and Iron Maiden, and looking at the top artists for the week on last.fm they're one place behind Opeth, eventhough BFMV's only full length album came out in 05 (or Feb 06 here).
http://www.last.fm/charts/music/artist/
(in the 190's)

Despite the crap I've seen some metal fans at metal-archives hang on them (based more on image and popularity it seems, rather than the music ), I think it's one of the best debut heavy metal albums I've heard for a while.

here's any slightly heavy and/or related bands taken out of the top 400 at the link above - I've probably missed some though. Probably not a great indication, and of course will favour any bands with albums just released, but I got no idea where else to look.

most played at last.fm for week starting 24th Dec...

8. Metallica
11. System of a Down
37. Rammstein
49. Tool
63. Iron Maiden
86. In Flames
95. A Perfect Circle
99. Nightwish
110. Slipknot
116. Disturbed
132. Black Sabbath
133. Children of Bodom
156. Dream Theater
179. Slayer
187. Pantera
190. Opeth
191. Bullet For My Valentine
219. Killswitch Engage
225. Megadeth
227. Apocalyptica
254. Atreyu
257. Staind
295. Trivium
302. Ozzy Osbourne
307. Cradle Of Filth
320. Dragonforce
330. Motorhead
331. Within Temptation
358. Lamb Of God
359. Judas Priest
365. Arch Enemy
397. Sepultura

Good to see Apocalyptica right up there - I'd heard they were huge in Europe, are they big anywhere else does anyone know?