the best metal bands ever top 10




1 Death

Best Album: 'Symbolic'

About the band: Chuck Schuldiner created the many variations of the Death lineup over the years and is known as the "Father of Death Metal." In response, Schuldiner said, "I don't think I should take the credits for this death metal stuff. I'm just a guy from a band, and I think Death is a metal band." In 2001, Schuldiner passed away from pneumonia after being weakened by a recently diagnosed brain tumor.




2 Cannibal Corpse

Best Album: 'Bloodthirst'

About the band: Because of their horror-based lyrics and gruesome image, Cannibal Corpse has been banned in several countries, namely Australia and Germany. In response to the violence in their songs, vocalist George Fisher said, "There's nothing ever serious. We're not thinking of anybody in particular that we're trying to kill ... The people doing the killing in our songs are zombies."




3 Vader

Best Album: 'The Art of War'

About the band: This Polish band adopted their name from the villain of the 'Star Wars' movies, as the forming members were fans. As of now, the current lineup features only one original member -- the other three have all joined in 2008.




4 Morbid Angel

Best Album: 'Gateways to Annihilation'

About the band: Created in 1983, the band is considered crucial in the development of death metal. They hold the current record for best-selling death metal album in the United States with the album 'Covenant.'




5 Amon Amarth

Best Album: 'Twilight of the Thunder God'

About the band: Formed under the name Scum, the band changed its name to Amon Amarth, which is an alternate name for Mount Doom from J. R. R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings,' meaning "mountain of fate." Playing off its name nicely, the band's lyrics often refer to Norse mythology and the Viking Age.




6 Bloodbath

Recommended Album: 'Nightmares Made Flesh'

About the band: Bloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup that has had different members from album to album. 'Nightmares Made Flesh' is the only album without lead singer Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth. Akerfeldt was replaced by Peter Tagtgren from Hypocrisy, who stayed only long enough to record this album.

07 Kataklysm

Best Album: 'Shadows & Dust'

About the band: Kataklysm calls their sound "northern hyperblast," which they adopted after seeing a commercial describing the band Fear Factory as "hyperblast." The "blast" refers to the typical death metal use of "blast beats" provided by their drummer. The band is also known for incorporating movie quotes into its music.







8 Nile

Best Album: 'Ithyphallic'

About the band: Lead singer Karl Sanders' interest in Egyptology has been a strong influence on Nile's music and lyrics. Horror novelist H.P. Lovecraft is also an influence in the band and many of its lyrics are based on his works. This accounts for the grammatical peculiarities found in the songs.



09 Six Feet Under

Best Album: 'Death Rituals'

About the band: Originally formed as a side project by Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes, Six Feet Under have released nine studio albums during the past 14 years. Barnes created the band so he could break away from the speedy sound of Cannibal Corpse and make something more "grooving."