Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, 30-26

Hello all,

This weeks installment is going to the final one where I will look at five bands. For the Top 25, I will be looking a bit more in-depth at those bands and provide more links to some of their more memorable music. This installment looks at numbers 30-26 which include two power metal bands, two thrash bands, and a progressive metal giant.

Enjoy.

30. Sepultura

Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band that formed in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera. They can be grouped into multiple sub-genres such as thrash, death, groove, and industrial metals. Their album Schizophrenia is one of the best thrash albums ever made. It kicks serious ass! Sepultura has been the most successful metal band from South America . . . by a long shot. In 1996, lead singer Max Cavalera left the band due to growing animosity regarding management issues resulting in the arrival of American singer Derrick Green to take his place. The best album of the Green-era Sepultura is Dante XXI, a concept album based on Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy.
Here is "Escape to the Void."

and "Convicted in Life."

29. Iced Earth

Iced Earth is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida that formed in 1985 by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer. I have always loved the fact that Iced Earth has never strayed from their power metal roots despite attempts at concept albums with Burnt Offerings being one of the most powerful, cohesive concept albums ever produced. Since it's founding, Iced Earth has been a revolving door of musicians and vocalists built depending on what creative force Jon Schaffer vision required. They have had three lead vocalists over the years: Matt Barlow, Tim "Ripper" Owens, and current lead singer Stu Block. Regardless of who sings for the band, they are known for their melodic hooks with the Barlow and Block era focusing more on low pitched vocals with some high-pitched screaming, but the Owens era is focused mainly on high-pitched screams, but this was mainly due to the superior range of Owens. Thematically, the band focuses primarily on issues of theology, but have also targeted warfare and horror films. They are one of the best metal bands that many people have not heard.
Here is "Dante's Inferno."

and "Gettysburg: Hold At All Costs."

28. Helloween

Helloween is a German power metal band that formed in 1984 by singer Kai Hansen, guitarist Michael Weikath, bassist Markus Gosskopf, and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. In 1988, Helloween replaced singer Hansen with Michael Kiske. Once the band procured the services of Kiske, they released some of their best works such as Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part 1 & 2 and Chameleon. Currently, only Weikath and Gosskopf are the only remaining original members of the band. Despite the constant lineup changes, Helloween has been one of the best power metal bands over the years.
Here is "I Want Out."

and "Halloween."

27. Testament

Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California that formed in 1983. They have been credited as one of the defining bands of the thrash metal scene of the 1980's. Some of the best thrash albums released are Testament albums such as The New Order, Practice What You Preach, Souls of Black, and their latest album, Dark Roots of Death may have been their best release yet. Quite frankly, this band kicks ass!
Here is " Practice What You Preach."

and "True American Hate."

26. Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band that formed in 1990. While I am fairly new to the greatness of Opeth, I believe they are one of the most incredibly unique and profound bands currently releasing albums. They have progressed from just a typical death metal band into strictly a progressive metal outfit . . . which I much prefer. It also seems as though each album that Opeth releases is better than the previous. In my opinion, Mikael Åkerfeldtsinger is one of the best vocalists in all of metal, and keeps on getting better. I have recently read that Opeth is working on their eleventh album, and I am stoked because I am sure it will be their best.
Here is "Heir Apparent."

and "The Devil's Orchid."

Thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin