Greatest metal vocalist, in your opinion

[The Blade]

Only allows me to add 60 options. Vote for those/these (but, please, don't choose more than 5 people) you consider the best.
It's extremely subjective but I find the thread interesting.
It's supposed to be a fun thread and appreciation of the great, no place for insults towards musicians and others' taste.
You can also post videos if you like.

[Basileus]

For rock, its Mercury, for metal, the original guy from Helloween. It is said he was invited for singing Opera as well.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Limiting to five is extremely hard to be honest and nearly impossible for me when you have in consideration that I have been a avid listener of Heavy Metal and its multiple sub-genres for nearly two decades. With that said, these are probably the most important vocalists in the genre (in my personal opinion!), regardless of whether these bands are my favourite or not:

Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow\Black Sabbath\Dio)
Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath)
Tom G. Warrior (Hellhammer\Celtic Frost)
Chuck Schuldiner (Death)

And now my five nominees based merely on my personal preference and divided through genres. To not make a huge post I will divide it through several posts for each genre, starting with Heavy Metal. Many don't have an amazing vocal range but there is much more than just that when it comes to metal and being an unforgetable charismatic frontmen.

Heavy Metal

Mark “The Shark” Shelton (Manilla Road) - I am huge fan of Manilla Road and I absolutely love Mark's intensely nasal vocals that many probably hate. While Mark Shelton is not the best singer out there, to me he is by far an absolute staple and pioneer in the Epic themed heavy metal. Mystical, atmospheric and powerful.

King Diamond (Mercyful Fate) - Probably the most recognizable falsetto singer in Heavy Metal history? Incredibly vocal range.

Ronnie James Dio - Needs no introductions.

David DeFeis (Virgin Steele) - He is a self taught vocalist, possessing a three and a half octave range. Yeah, Virgin Steele is cheesy as fuck but still a guilty pleasure.

Algy Ward (Tank) - Algy's traditional semi drunk sounding guttural falsetto and rude vocals always have been a classic. Probably one of the most underrated NWOBHM vocalists and band.

[Not a Cop]

Slav-Orthodox metal all the way.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Jon Oliva and Zak Stevens are worthy nominees as well but for some reason I always keep forgetting Savatage.

John Oliva:



Zak Stevens:

[Kivan]

It's hard to me choose only one. Voted in:

- Rob Halford.
- David Vincent.
- Cristina Scabbia.
- Bruce Dickinson.
- Nick Holmes.
- Jonas Renkse.
- Mikael Akerfeldt.
- Conrad 'Cronos' Lant.
- Piotr Wiwczarek.
- Mikael Stanne.

As for Mikael Stanne, I prefer his clean vocals rather than the harsh.


I also would include:
- Johan Edlund, Tiamat - both clean and gutural voices.
- Erik "Legion" Hagstedt, Marduk.
- Lisa Johansson, Draconian.
- Aaron Stainthorpe, My Dying Bride.
- Adam "Nergal" Darski, Behemoth - both gutural and clean.

There're others which I can't remember right now.

[Chaos One]

Fabio Lione and Garm.

[The Blade]

It's hard to me choose only one. Voted in:

- Rob Halford.
- David Vincent.
- Cristina Scabbia.
- Bruce Dickinson.
- Nick Holmes.
- Jonas Renkse.
- Mikael Akerfeldt.
- Conrad 'Cronos' Lant.
- Piotr Wiwczarek.
- Mikael Stanne.

As for Mikael Stanne, I prefer his clean vocals rather than the harsh.


I also would include:
- Johan Edlund, Tiamat - both clean and gutural voices.
- Erik "Legion" Hagstedt, Marduk.
- Lisa Johansson, Draconian.
- Aaron Stainthorpe, My Dying Bride.
- Adam "Nergal" Darski, Behemoth - both gutural and clean.

There're others which I can't remember right now.

I'm an idiot! How could I not write his name...

[Rotterdam]

My choices would be:

-Bruce Dickinson (best metal vocalist of all time)



-Ian Gillan (there would be no Bruce Dickinson Iron Maiden without the influence of Gillan)



-Lemmy (most badass raspy rock n' roll vocals ever)



-Rob Halford (2nd best metal vocalist of all time)



-Danzig (amazing baritone to high pitched vocals, has a voice that resembles a mix of Elvis and Jim Morrison)



But I'd like to also mention:

- Ozzy
- Mikael Akerfeldt
- Peter Steele
- Chuck Schuldiner
- Serj Tankian
- Dio

[Thorns]

I don't know where to begin. I'd have to mention Martin van Drunen as one of my favorites.