Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, 75-71

Hello everyone,

Here is the latest installment of Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, number 75-71. In this portion of the countdown, we see two power metal bands, a thrash metal band from Germany, an iconic glam metal band, and Avenged Sevenfold.

Here they are:

75. Dragonforce

Dragonforce is a British power metal band from London that formed in 1999. They are known for their crazy-long and incredibly fast solos and fantasy-themed lyrics. However, the band is built around their two lead guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman. They replaced their original vocalist ZP Theart in 2011 with Marc Hudson who has provided a much more powerful, melodic aspect to the band. Their latest album, The Power Within, was their best effort yet due to the improved vocals from Hudson. The band gained acclaim when the lent their song "Through the Fire and Flames" to the Guitar Hero franchise.
Here is "Fallen World."

74. Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California that formed in 1999. They consist of M. Shadows on vocals, Synyster Gates on lead guitar, Zacky Vengeance on rhythm guitar, Johnny Christ on bass, and Arin Llejay on drums. While the band started with a metalcore sound, they have evolved to a more hard rock sound with some aspects of metalcore. I truly love this band because of their diverse metal sounds drawing influences from Metallica, Alice in Chains, Iron Maiden, and Dream Theater among others. They are one of the best American metal bands today.
Here is "Nightmare."

73. Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island, New York that formed in 1972. While many people have considered them glam metal due to their wearing of makeup, but there aggressive music style combined with their exaggerated grotesque use of makeup and women's clothing were a huge departure from the androgynous use of makeup from bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe. The band became famous in the 1980's with MTV staples, "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It." They are equally famous for lead singer Dee Snider's articulate stance against Tipper Gore's Parents Resource Music Center which was pushing for warning labels on music with supposedly vulgar lyrics. I can't help but support a band like Twisted Sister just for the stance they took for free speech against someone as clueless as Tipper Gore. Even though the band broke up in the late 1980's, they have reunited and continue to tour. Dee Snider has even directed the horror film Strangeland, and he hosts a radio show House of Hair.
Here is "I Wanna Rock."

72. Blind Guardian

Blind Guardian is a German power metal band that formed in the mid-1980's as Lucifer's Heritage, but changed their name in 1988 in order to extinguish any rumors that they were satanists. The band includes Hansi Kürsch on vocals and bass, Andre Olbrich on lead guitar, Marcus Siepen on rhythm guitar, and Frederik Ehmke on drums.Their first two albums was more thrash/speed metal, but the band has adapted over the years into a more progressive sound. In addition, the band added an orchestra sound on their sixth album Nightfall in Middle Earth, a concept album based on Tolkien's The Silmarillion. If you haven't listened to this band, I would highly recommend it . . . especially their third album forward.
Here is "Into the Storm" from Nightfall in Middle Earth.

71. Kreator

Kreator is a thrash metal from Germany that formed in 1982. They have been regarded as one of the three great German thrash metal bands along with Sodom and Destruction, and have been credited with inspiring the death metal scene in Germany. Their album Pleasure to Kill can be considered a classic of thrash metal. In my opinion, Kreator was the best of the big three from Germany. I really enjoy this band!
Here is "Death is Your Savior."

I hope you have all enjoyed this list so far. Let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin