The 15 Best Rock and Metal Songs to Test Headphones

If you have a thing for rock and heavy metal songs whose riffs take your ears to their limits, we made quite the list of perfectly perfect songs. Be prepared to adjust your sound system to the deafening noises of these 15 best rock and metal songs to test your headphones.

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The Top 15 Rock and Metal Songs for Audiophiles

If you’re into some hardcore tracks that test the sound capacity of your headphones, you’re at the right place. Each of these songs will be like nothing you Metalheads have ever experienced.

1 – The Oh Sees – Sentient Oona

The Oh Sees helped keep hard-rock alive well after both the 13th Floor Elevators and The Beatles broke up. Their album Smoke Reverser is known for testing your headphones to the limit.

If you want to take things to the extreme, Sentient Oona from Smoke Reverser is the best start to test your headphones. The track starts off slow and steady. But before you realize it, you’ll soon hear some pretty loud screeching from the guitar riffs. They may even make you throw your headphones off.

We’ll give you a heads-up: you’ll probably want to be extra careful at 1:33 since things get a bit crazy by then. Most headphones start acting up at this point. If yours do too, you might want to try some smoother-sounding ones till you find the best headphones.

2 – Slipknot – Spit It Out

Spit It Out is one of the few tracks that you can just tell it is going to be really loud, even if you’re playing it on mute. Nu-metal band Slipknot’s entire debut album features this intense vibe of hardcore music from both the vocalist and guitarists.

15 Best Metal and Rock Songs to Test Headphones — Slipknot songs to test your headphones

It is said that even kids who are fans of rock music stay away from this track. It’s simply because of the scary vibe it gives out. Some think Slipknot faces a lot of controversy for choosing this song as the single for the album. But the truth is it actually doesn’t hurt them at all.

If you’re looking for a track to test your headphones and your fright level, Spit It Out is THE track. The cover of the song is enough to scare the living daylights out of even the toughest of people. So be warned, this track isn’t for the faint-hearted.

3 – Mitski – Your Best American Girl

If you’re looking for a track that isn’t just straightforward rock but actually a mixture of different genres, Mitski’s Your Best American Girl from the album Puberty 2 is a great start.

15 Metal Songs to Test Headphones Mitski — Mitksi songs to test headphones

This entire album is an experimentation of blending different sounds with a focus on a rock-type appeal. Don’t be fooled by the title. This song isn’t from the pop or jazz genre that focuses on a calming vibe for the listener. Mitski mixes both quiet and loud in a way that hasn’t been done in a while.

Although this modern type of music was invented by the Pixies, it was only properly perfected by Mitski. It’s important to note that the heavier distortion in the chorus may upset certain types of people. But if you’re able to withstand it, we believe you can withstand anything.

4 – Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love

Those very familiar with rock and heavy metal music, you won’t be surprised to find this track on this list. Led Zeppelin is actually popular among fans of this genre and are arguably considered the kings of hard rock. The band is driven by the sounds from guitarist, Jimmy Page and the swooning sounds from vocalist, Robert Plant.

15 Metal Songs to Test Headphones Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin best song to test headphones

While this song may be an obvious choice, it absolutely had to be in the top five on this list. If not, the hard rock community would certainly have our heads. The song from the album, Led Zeppelin II, was produced on an enormous soundstage. So your sound system will have a bit of a hard time matching its energy.

However, if your sound system actually manages to match the energy of the track, your earbuds will experience a thrill unlike any other you’ve experienced. In fact, we urge you to grab your headphones, and listen to it right now. Then come back once you realize what you’ve been missing in your life.

5 – Kamasi Washington – Fists of Fury

Heaven on Earth is one of the most popular albums released by the one and only Kamasi Washington. So, it is no surprise that the single Fists of Fury from this album is also on this list of best songs to test your headphones.

At first glance, you will assume that this is a jazz record, especially since the cover features a saxophone. However, look closely at the fact that an alien is holding the saxophone. You soon realize that this isn’t a regular jazz record but something entirely different.

While this song certainly includes danceable elements of jazz music, along with a deep lyrical bass line, it gives you sudden surprises along the way of heavy metal sounds that take it to the extreme. While Washington is only known in the jazz world, he is most known for mixing it up with different genres.

6 – Nirvana – In Bloom

When Nirvana was in its prime era of the 90s, it was the king of grunge and heavy metal music. Along with bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam, they helped push late 80s bands like Guns ‘n Roses and Motley Crue from the top of Metalhead Mountain. The album Nevermind is as popular today as it was over thirty years ago. This speaks to the band’s authenticity and longevity.

15 Metal Songs to test Headphones with Nirvana — Nirvana best song to test headphones

Several imitators tried to copy Nirvana’s energy. But none even comes close to the quality and hostility displayed by Kurt Cobain and the rest of Nirvana. It is safe to say that the genre is still filled with cheap imitators. But few are unable to replicate this popular, somewhat melodic grunge band.

In Bloom is by far our favorite track from the Nevermind album. It has the most defined symphonic instrumentation of all the tracks on the record. That being said, the screeching solos and layered vocals of frontman, Kurt Cobain, certainly make it a top contender for those who want to test their headphones.

7 – Deftones – Minerva

There was no way we could make this list of best songs to test your headphones without including at least one track from Deftones’ self-titled fourth album. This track is all about mixing rock with other electrifying genres producing a heavier sound you’ll immediately notice in your earbuds.

We can certainly choose several songs by Deftones that test your headphones. But we want to spice things up a bit by choosing one that you least expect. Minerva is a mixture of rock with genres like trip-hop and shoegaze, two genres unknown to the majority.

As a mixed-genre track, you expect it to have very little heavy metal and rock influence. However, Minerva features plenty of weight and dynamic range with a blend of ethereal tones and groove beats by Chino Moreno. This track will bless your headphones and test it at the same time.

8 – The Jesus Lizard – Then Comes Dudley

With a band name like The Jesus Lizard, you can’t possibly expect anything less than mind-blowing and headphone-testing music bound to creep you out to the core.

15 Metal Songs to test Headphones — The Jesus LIzard best song to test headphones

You would think that signing with Capitol Records in the mid-90s would make this band calm down. However, they have always been a cult-like group producing alternative rock music that pulls people a little bit closer to the edge with every song, even if it’s against their will.

If you’re looking for a song to test your headphones, Then Comes Dudley by The Jesus Lizard must be added to your playlist. It is a combination of heavy drums, screeching guitars, and raw vocals that leave you in a state of euphoria and constant pain for the noise to stop.

9 – Rage Against the Machine – Killing In The Name

We usually favor adding lesser-known or undervalued tracks to these lists. But Killing In The Name by Rage Against the Machine is one song that rests on every fan.

15 Best Rock and Metal Songs to Test Headphones — Rage Against the Machine best song to test headphones

The debut album by Rage Against the Machine is by far the best they’ve ever made and is still a best seller in record stores today. Some argue that this album is more hip-hop than rock or metal. We say it’s a hip-hop record with guitar sounds that put it in the rock genre.

Zack de la Rocha’s vocals and Tom Morello’s guitar work is undoubtedly the reason why Killing In The Name is as popular as it is. Three decades later, their instrumental work is still as painfully distressing as it has always been, owing to the sheer talent they possess. Just please enable noise cancelling on your headphones so you don’t miss one beat of this iconic rock anthem.

10 – Tool – The Pot

If you’re no stranger to music that tests headphones, it won’t surprise you to find Tool on this list. It is very hard to narrow it down to just one song since all their tracks are ear-throbbing.

The Pot is known for its rapid pace and thundering energy that glues listeners to their seats throughout the entire track. The song gives a sense of immediacy and forces listeners to be steady and pay attention throughout the song, even through the painful bits.

If you’ve spent the time, money, and energy putting together a sound system that can bear the weight and heaviness of rock and metal tracks, there’s no better way to test it than by listening to The Pot by Tool. Once you’ve done so, you might as well listen to the whole album and not just our favorite test track.

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11 – Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath

There are certain sounds that are very difficult to replicate with instruments, such as the sound of heavy rain. That being said, the fact that Black Sabbath manages to replicate this at the start of their self-titled track proves exactly why the fathers of heavy metal obviously had to be on this list. That’s why there’s no better heavy metal band to turn to when looking for the best songs to test your headphones.

Although this track is now over fifty years old, it still manages to remain unmatched in the heavy metal world when it comes to its instrumental work. The song starts off slow with a calming energy, then quickly escalates into fire and thunder with rifts and screeches throughout the song.

12 – Pixies – Hey

Hey by Pixies was originally produced as a loud and hardcore song for whoever had the stomach for it. However, it was slowed down by producer Gil Norton for their second album, Doolittle. That being said, the original version is still one of their most popular tracks today.

Pixies band members — Pixies best song to test headphones

As a track that has been enjoyed throughout the years, several artists have tried to imitate its energy but fail to do so. The detail and tune of this song is hard to replicate, and once you’ve listened to its catchy and distressing tune, it’s hard to get out of your head.

13 – Gallows – Abandon Ship

Although some people don’t agree to add Abandon Ship to this list of best songs to test headphones, it is important to do so, considering the claustrophobic energy it gives out to listeners. Though the record does sound compressed, it still gives out a vibe that glues listeners to their seats till the very end.

Since it sounds very claustrophobic, like it was recorded in a box, you may feel uncomfortable while listening to it. Your palms may get sweaty, and you may lose your breath during the high notes and screeches, but it is still a track that tests your headphones like no other.

14 – Mogwai – Dry Fantasy

While we could create a whole separate list of Mogwai tracks to test your headphones, this list focuses on the most important record to do so: Dry Fantasy. As the most popular record from the album As The Love Continues, fans still listen to this track today.

Mogwai band members image in subway — Mogwai best song to test headphones

We could go so far as to say that no other artist replicates the emotion and pure raw energy in this rock and heavy metal soundtrack. The vocals by Dry Fantasy are so unique that you easily recognize their music even without knowing they sing it.

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15 – Metallica – Nothing Else Matters

Although Nothing Else Matters by Metallica makes it on the list, it is certainly not the least insane song in the rock and heavy metal world. Although it was quite a challenge to choose just one Metallica song, Nothing Else Matters is certainly the one to test headphones.

This track is able to replicate crowd noises perfectly, and you feel like you’re back at your favorite theatre listening to Metallica live. In fact, Nothing Else Matters only gained popularity for its distressing and painfully loud noises during a live S&M recording of the track.

So there you have it. We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the 15 Best Rock and Metal Songs to Test Your Headphones. Go test them out and tell us what you think in the comments.