Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, 40-36

Hello Metal Maniacs,

In this installment of Metal Mayhem's top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time we will look at a German power metal band, an industrial metal icon, an underrated thrash band, a progressive metal band, and hard rock/metal band from California.

40. Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial metal project formed by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. As the only permanent member, Reznor is the primary songwriter, producer, and singer of the band. NIN's albums have been considered some of the most important and influential of the 1990's. These albums include Broken, The Downward Spiral, and The Fragile. On a personal note, Nine Inch Nails was one of the most important bands of my youth because I identified with the thematic direction of the band especially The Fragile. One really cool thing that Reznor did for his fans was he made NIN's album The Slip available for free via download on the band's website back in 2008. Hopefully, that wasn't the final album for the band as Reznor seems to have been preoccupied with film scores as of late.
Here is "Help Me I Am In Hell/Happiness in Slavery."

and "Mr. Self Destruct."

39. Machinehead

Machinehead is an American thrash/groove metal band from Oakland, California that formed in 1991 by vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce. Inspired by early thrash bands like Metallica, Exodus and Slayer, and groove metal bands like Pantera; Machinehead was able to create their own unique style. Their albums Burn My Eyes, The More Things Change, The Blackening, and Unto the Locusts have become metal classics of the groove/thrash metal sub-genres  However, when Nu metal became popular in the 1990's, they tried their hand at it with sub par albums The Burning Red  and Supercharger which featured much simpler guitar riffs, and if I remember correctly, Flynn may have rapped on one of the tracks.
Here is "Davidian."

38. Symphony X

Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey that formed in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo. They have release four of the best prog metal albums of all-time with The Divine Wings of Tragedy, V:The New Mythology Suite, Paradise Lost, and Iconoclast. The band's sound is like a heavier Dream Theater combined with elements of symphonic metal. Great band!

37. Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock/metal band from Los Angeles that formed in 1985. The classic lineup of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler released the best selling debut album of all-time with their release of Appetite for Destruction in 1987. Along with the popularity of grunge, Guns N' Roses no-nonsense rock music were both responsible for the demise of hair-metal. Currently, only Axl Rose remains from the original lineup due to constant in-fighting among the band due to Rose being a giant douche. 
Here is "Welcome to the Jungle."

36. Accept

Accept is a German power metal band formed in the late 1960's by former lead singer Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffman, bassist Peter Baltes. They were a huge part of the German metal scene is the late-1970's to 1980's along with The Scorpions that were partially responsible for inspiring speed metal bands. Their album, Balls to the Walls, was a huge commercial success along with one of the worst album covers in music history. The band also received much criticism and praise for their songs "London Leatherboys" and "Love Child"as a gay anthems which the band has wholeheartedly embraced. In 2009, the band returned after a brief hiatus with a new lead singer, TT Quick's Mark Tornillo. The two albums released with the new singer (Blood of the Nations and Stalingrad) have been their best efforts since the early 1980's. 
Here is "Balls to the Walls."

Thanks for reading!
Marty Sabin