Cody’s Top 10: Most Epic Singers! 2.0

In the world of metal, the vocalist has a job unlike any other, they must bring power to the masses, big and small. Yes, this has been a trademark from rock from the beginning, but unlike the Led Zeppelins and Queens of the world, metal music is much more intense and sonically impressive which requires the talents of their respective vocalists to be able to match the intensity of the riffs and drumbeats with equally powerful and intense singing and/or growling. These 10 vocalists don’t necessarily represent the best pure singers in the game, but they are the quintessential masters at bringing the best of metal’s epic music to life.

Honorable Mentions:

Jorn Lande (Allen/Lande, Masterplan, Yngwie Malmsteen, Avantasia)
Russel Allen (Symphony X, Ayreon, Star One, Russel Allen’s Atomic Soul)
Eric Adams (Manowar)
Andi Deris (Helloween)
Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear)
Biff Byford (Saxon)
Roy Khan (Kamelot)

10. Tobias Sammet (Avantasia, Edguy)

Edguy is one of the most emotionally charged power metal acts the genre has ever produced, and Avantasia’s three albums have set the bar for what epic metal can and should be. Both of these projects are largely due to Tobias’ incredible songwriting abilities, but also because of the man’s voice and stage presence. Tobias largely has adopted the traditional power metal style, but he has carved out his own niche with a rich vocal tapestry that seamlessly harnesses melancholy (earlier Edguy), with energetic speed (latter day Edguy). This man runs the gamut of quality melodic singing, and the fact he made the list at #10 shouldn’t be considered a play down of his immense gifts.

9. Johan Hegg (Amon Amarth)

Modern death metal has never featured a vocalist quite like Johan. The man brings so much bad assery to the death metal riff with his voice like almost no one before him has. The closest death metal vocalist to touch Johan’s abilities is Mikael from Opeth, but in terms of sheer gutteral abilities, I think Johan takes the cake here.

8. James LaBrie (Dream Theater, Ayreon)

James needs little introduction. He took the traditional and power metal styles in metal to the progressive metal realm, which really didn’t exist in its modern form before Dream Theater came along. I for one can’t imagine Dream Theater without the soothing, yet powerful vocal performance abilities of James LaBrie, who can meld the heaviest moments with the softest form Dream Theater’s arsenal. This man’s talent is clearly on par with everyone else from the band, even without an instrument.

7. Michael Kiske (Helloween)

Michael Kiske essentially invented the power metal vocal style, and having sung classic Helloween tunes such as “I Want Out” and “Halloween,” Michael will certainly go down as one of the greatest epic vocalists of all time.

6. Tim “Ripper” Owens (Iced Earth, Judas Priest)

Ripper Owens is seriously one of the most underrated metal vocalists of all time. Despite being a part of some major metal projects he seems to get the shit end of the stick from both the bands he has participated in as well as from the fans themselves. Truth be told though, Ripper turns whatever he touches into gold. His high falsetto rivals that of even Rob Halford these days, and his lower and mid ranges are absolutely made to sing metal. Unfortunately, Ripper’s biggest projects have been mostly crap, but the dude has some insane talent to make even the most unworthy song halfway good.

6. Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth, Ayreon)

Some way wonder why Mikael is on this list, and those people are probably the same people who wonder why Opeth receives so much fanfare on a regular basis. If you don’t get Opeth, then you want get this ranking, but for the believers out there, Mikael is a dramatic storyteller with few rivals. His range is very limited, but his singing style is flawless and full of heartfelt of emotion, and even his growls (some of the best in death metal) are able to evolk emotion that very, very few gutteral vocalists can quantify. Opeth’s music is great, but the band wouldn’t be half of what it is today without the immense vocal talents of Mikael Akerfeldt.

5. Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian)

When one thinks of high epic fantasy in metal, one name comes to mind: Hansi Kursch. The man is the definitive power metal singer that doesn’t have to rely on over the top falsetto vocals. Hansi and the rest of Blind Guardian don’t come from the camp of shredding and virtuosity, they come from thrash and speed metal, and his voice represents that more extreme side of metal, but with a clear invocation of melody and quality. So many people who are not necessarily fans of power metal appreciate and even enjoy Blind Guardian because of Hansi’s voice.

4. Tarja Turunen (Nightwish)

Tarja is the most epic frontwoman in the history of metal, bar none. Her operatic style put Nightwish on the map, and really delivered an incredibly dramatic feel. Tarja may not be in Nightwish anymore, but her legacy is quite clear as she continues on with her solo career.

3. Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)

Matt Barlow is just a bad ass. I mean the dude does it all, he can reach the highest highs and the lowest lows with no problem. Barlow is the most diverse metal vocalist in modern times, perhaps ever. He molded Iced Earth into an epic beast with numbers such as “The Phantom Opera Ghost” and ”

3.1 Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell)

Thanks for DethDonald for revealing a very glaring mistake on my part…the omission of one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time, Ronnie James Dio. How could I forget this man? Unbelievable! So, since I am too lazy to actually re-vamp the entire list and boot someone off, I have made Matt Barlow and Ronnie James Dio tied at third. Now, let’s hope there’s no one else around that I have glaringly forgotten!

2. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)

The #1 spot for this list was a clear toss up between Halford and Dickinson, and what eventually lead me to my decision to put Bruce in the top, was drama he adds to his voice. However, to say that Bruce is heads above Rob Halford is simply untrue. Before Rob Halford, there was no falsetto vocals. In fact, I can’t think of any vocalist quite like Rob Halford in any form of rock and roll quite like Rob Halford. This man invented what it means to be a metal vocalist.

1. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)

Bruce Dickinson, between his solo work and Iron Maiden, is the most epic frontman of all time. Every single song he sings, be it in the recorded form or while on stage, drips raw, untamed emotion that tells a story like no other. Maiden has made some classic songs in terms of riffs, but Bruce makes every melody and power chord come alive. Bruce isn’t a singer, he is a vocal performer, and not many others have quite reached that echelon as a singer.