The 18 Best German Heavy Metal Bands That You Should Listen

The best German heavy metal bands can be selected based on different parts, but their quality isn’t understated. This is a scene that contributed to the world with a ton of phenomenal and influential music bands. It can be argued that power metal, as people understand it today, was born in the German music scene of the 80s, and that is saying a lot.

However, reducing the best German heavy metal bands to just power metal would do the country a disservice. They have a lot of variety in their music and produced many legendary songs. They have, after the UK and the United States, the best Metal production in the world, for sure.

In that regard, the best German heavy metal bands are many, and many of them are unique. They have a long history in the medium and have established themselves as some of the best in the industry. Many seasoned metalheads will identify several groups on this list, too!

The top 18 best metal bands from Germany

It’s worth pointing out that several factors measure this list of the best German heavy metal bands of all time. These factors include popularity, achievements, influence, and, of course, the author’s own subjective thoughts.

If someone feels that another band should have been added or that one of these bands shouldn’t be here, that’s fair. This is a purely subjective list based on an try to be accurate.

Which are the best German heavy metal bands?

• Helloween
• Gamma Ray
• Running Wild
• Accept
• Kreator
• Scorpions
• Primal Fear
• Destruction
• Tankard
• Sodom
• Warlock
• Blind Guardian
• Rammstein
• Axel Rudi Pell
• Grave Digger
• Rage
• Avantasia
• Masterplan

1. Helloween

Helloween are considered the fathers of Power Metal, so it makes sense that they are among the Best German Heavy Metal Bands.

The band originally started in the mid-80s as a raw, unpolished Speed Metal band with their debut, Walls of Jericho, and gained some traction. However, they became a lot more prominent with The Keeper of the Seventh Keys albums in the late 80s. This was because they maintained their speed while adding a lot of melodies, slowly crafting modern Power Metal.

Their work contains a wide variety of records with different singers and musical styles but most of them are quite good. Guitarist Michael Weikath has been the main driving force throughout all of these records as well.

Nowadays, Helloween brought back iconic vocalists Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen while touring with the current singer, Andi Deris—definitely an embarrassment of riches.

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2. Gamma Ray

Helloween is considered the father of power metal as a band, and, as a person, that title should go to Kai Hansen. The legendary guitarist left Helloween, the band he founded, back in the late 80s, and formed Gamma Ray. During the 90s, the band was fundamental to the development of Power Metal, crafting songs that are classics of German Heavy Metal such as “Land of the Free” or “Rebellion in Dreamland“.

A list of the best German Heavy Metal bands wouldn’t be complete without Gamma Ray.

3. Running Wild

Running Wild is one of the German Power Metal bands that are members of the so-called Big Four. The lyrics of their songs deal with historical themes and, mostly, about pirates. This gave rise to a subgenre called Pirate Metal, of which they are the main reference. Without a doubt, Running Wild is among the Best German Heavy Metal Bands.

The band has a very speed-based sound, although they also have a lot of melodies. Perhaps what separates them from the likes of, say, Helloween or Gamma Ray is the fact that Running Wild are a bit heavier and more guitar-based in their music.

4. Accept

The exciting thing about Accept is that they came back in the 70s and left their mark in the 80s. They took a long time but became a cornerstone of German Metal. A song like “Fast as a Shark” defined a generation of German Metal guitarists.

This is one of the most influential bands in German heavy metal and, logically, one of the best German Heavy Metal bands. Accept is an important factor in the development of speed metal and other metal subgenres in Germany. The band became very successful in the 80s with the Balls to the Wall album and reached international success.

This is one of those bands that put German Metal on the map and defined an entire generation in this kind of music.

5. Kreator

Kreator is the most influential European heavy metal band on the heavy metal scene. Despite being currently considered one of the Best German Heavy Metal Bands, during the first two decades of their career, they were considered an underground band.

Kreator was part of the country’s first generation of Thrash Metal bands and that is very important. They went on to become the subgenre’s biggest group in Germany and built a legacy as Thrash Metal royalty.

Their 1986 album Pleasure to Kill is often considered one of the most excellent Thrash Metal records ever. But if something makes Kreator different, they can experiment.

Nowadays, the band has been playing Thrash Metal once again for a decade or so but often adding new, melodic elements to their music. It shows how much they have evolved and how relevant they still are even today.

6. Scorpions

They are one of the most important and famous rock bands and, logically, one of the best German Heavy Metal bands. In the beginning, they had a more Progressive Metal style, but broke through in the American market in the 80s with a more streamlined sound.

The thing about the Scorpions is that they had a ton of hits. A lot of hits. Most people who vaguely like Rock music know “Still Loving You“, “Wind of Change“, or “Rock You Like a Hurricane“. That alone makes them the most successful German Metal band of all time.

Some people prefer the ’70s version. Some prefer the 80s version. And others enjoy the hits. But everybody agrees that the Scorpions are the German Metal band.

7. Primal Fear

Primal Fear is one of the “youngest” bands at the top of best German Heavy Metal bands, although this doesn’t mean a lack of quality. The band is usually pigeonholed as power metal, although it has many touches of classic heavy metal, thrash, and speed metal.

Vocalist Ralf Scheepers is the band’s leader and a generational singer. He is often compared to Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, and for a good reason, since they have similar styles. However, Primal Fear is more Power Metal-oriented.

Some critics say that their albums always sound the same. But they have tremendous consistency. In a way, they deserve even more attention than they already get.

8. Destruction

Along with Kreator, Sodom, and Tankard, Destruction is part of the Big Four of German Thrash Metal. Despite this, Destruction also had a considerable influence on the Black Metal scene. The band has been characterized by a heavy and fast sound combined with lyrics about violence, as the group’s name suggests.

Destruction is among the heaviest bands on this list, and while their sound is not for everybody, they have a ton of personality. When it comes to German Metal as a whole, they are also quite underrated.

9. Tankard

Tankard is another of the most important bands of the European Trash Metal scene and therefore one of the best German Heavy Metal bands. Unlike other bands on the list, the themes of Tankard‘s songs are mostly focused on alcohol.

It’s also worth pointing out that the guys of Tankard play a much looser Thrash Metal style. They are not that focused on brutality and intensity, although their songs are still quite heavy. They can be a solid introduction to people who want to get into thrash metal music.

10. Sodom

The journey Sodom went through as a group is quite underrated. While they have always played very extreme music, they always found a way to experiment. This is why they can go from the Agent Orange album to the Tapping the Vein one without an issue.

Sodom is one of the most successful Thrash Metal bands. Their record sales have exceeded two million albums. That makes them one of the best German Heavy Metal bands.

11. Warlock

Warlock had a brief existence as they were active only during the 1980s. The band’s success was notable in Europe thanks, mainly, to their vocalist and frontwoman, Doro Pesch. Doro would later form her own solo band, simply known as Doro, which would be a sort of continuation of Warlock.

1987’s Triumph and Agony album is a very good starting point to get into the band. It’s clean and crisp 80s Heavy Metal music. Before that, most of their albums were more natural, with some Speed Metal elements.

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12. Blind Guardian

Blind Guardian is one of the most important bands in power metal and one of the Best German Heavy Metal Bands. They also became one of the biggest Metal bands in Europe back in the 90s, making a huge impact back in the day.

The band mixes a fast and technical sound with almost symphonic melodies. To that we must add lyrics inspired by literature such as Tolkien. Hansi Kursch‘s vocals are imposing and stand out among the entire compendium of Blind Guardian‘s virtues.

While their 80s and 90s music was a lot heavier, even if it had a lot of melodies, the 2000s and 2010s showed them becoming a lot more symphonic. There is much to like about Blind Guardian as a whole and their legacy is undisputed.

13. Rammstein

The band started in the 90s, but their rapid success gave them a place among the best German Heavy Metal bands. Rammstein’s style is usually known as industrial metal, and their sound has become very characteristic of the band. Another element that differentiates Rammstein is that they sing almost exclusively in German.

Rammstein also became very prominent due to their amazing live shows. The band knows how to put on a show and that helped them become even more popular all around the world. It can be argued they are the biggest German band in recent years.

Related: Rammstein Members Net Worth

14. Axel Rudi Pell

As a band, Axel Rudi Pell does not have the recognition it deserves for its great music. It’s even fair to say that their guitarist, the band’s namesake, is better known worldwide.

However, Axel Rudi Pell‘s neoclassical heavy metal style is must when listening to the Best German Heavy Metal Bands.

15. Grave Digger

Grave Digger can be classified as a power metal band, being, in fact, one of the most important in that genre. But their evolution has led them through heavy metal and even a somewhat medieval style.

The 90s was the band’s heyday for their musical peak. They have a lot of great albums and songs, although 1996’s Tunes of War is a favorite. There is much to like from Grave Digger if people want a heavier brand of Power Metal.

16. Rage

Rage is another of the bands that was a strong part of the 80s metal scene in Germany. They are one of the best German Heavy Metal bands for their varied and technical style. Rage‘s sound can range from symphonic metal to speed metal, progressive or classic heavy metal.

Another interesting element of Rage‘s sound is how in the 90s they mixed their sound a little bit. They added some melodic elements and more complicated arrangements. That alone gives them a unique place in the German Heavy Metal scene.

17. Avantasia

This heavy metal project differs from the rest of the best German heavy metal bands on this list. And one of the most unique to Power Metal bands.

Avantasia is a supergroup led by Tobias Sammet, singer of Edguy, that consists of several musicians and vocalists, who change on each album and even between concerts.

Michael Kiske, Klaus Meine, Hansi Kursch, Alice Cooper, Ripper Owens, Geoff Tate, Andre Matos, Russell Allen, and Timo Tolkki are some of the singers who have passed through Avantasia.

It’s also worth pointing out that every Avantasia album is conceptual, so people can listen to great music and enjoy a good story.

18. Masterplan

Masterplan began as a direct result of the departure of guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch from Helloween in the early 2000s. They joined forces with vocalist Jorn Lande, which generated some expectations in the public. However, the band grew far from being a mere Helloween offshoot and has become its own thing.

They started in the early 2000s; the band quickly became a reference in power metal and one of the best German Heavy Metal bands. Their albums deserve attention, although the self-titled debut is a modern Power Metal masterpiece.

What are your favorite German heavy metal bands of all time? Let us know in the comment section!