The 15 Underrated Metal Bands You Need to Listen To
There are plenty of metal bands out there. Unfortunately, many of them don’t get the recognition they deserve. I’ve compiled a list of underrated and lesser-known bands that deserve more attention. I hope you enjoy it and that it inspires you to discover new bands.
Underrated Metal Bands Which Every Metal Fan Should Listen
The majority of the bands in my list released albums in the 80s. I believe that many bands from this era didn’t gain enough recognition. Most of the groups on the list belong to the heavy metal genre. That’s why we call these bands underrated metal bands.
Here are 15 underrated metal bands:
- Black Knight
- Crystal Pride
- Detente
- Ender
- Griffin
- Heavy Load
- Killer
- Repugnant
- Satanic Rites
- Sauron
- Scald
- Thor
- Traitors Gate
- Tyrant
- Znöwhite
Which Underrated Metal Bands Did We Talk About?
The list of underrated metal bands generally encompasses those that emerged in the 80s and disappeared after releasing a few albums or demos. Given that it spans the 80s, most of the bands on the list fall into the heavy/speed/thrash genres. There are bands that have persisted from the 80s to the present day, but we’ve highlighted the least known and most underrated among them on this list.
I increasingly realize that there are quite a lot of such bands. There are many groups that once produced excellent music and then disappeared. With things being this way, seeking out and discovering old bands has become my new hobby.
Black Knight
Few people are familiar with the Canadian heavy/power metal band Black Knight. They released a demo and an EP in 1984 and 1985, making them one of the best female-fronted bands in my opinion.
Related Article: 20 Best Female Fronted Heavy Metal Bands of All Time
Their 2005 compilation album of the same name is excellent. It’s sad that this band didn’t continue their music career to give us more albums to enjoy. It’s disheartening that such high-quality and majestic bands remain relatively unknown.
Crystal Pride
Another female-fronted heavy metal band hailing from Sweden, Crystal Pride, released 1 EP, 2 demos, 1 single, 1 split, and 1 album from 1982 to 1995. Their most memorable work is undoubtedly their 1985 self-titled album.
They masterfully blend rock’n’roll spirit with heavy metal, creating a unique musical experience. Personally, I love their cover of Shocking Blue in the album.
Related Articles: Top 12 Greatest Comeback Rock Albums of All Time
Détente
Détente, a band that can enchant thrash/speed metal enthusiasts, produced several demos, but their 1986 album “Recognize No Authority” truly deserves recognition.
With a raw and fierce sound, Détente stands as one of the underrated metal bands. Thrash enthusiasts might have heard of them, but I believe they should be more widely known among metal fans.
Ender
I don’t know how I ended up with four female-fronted bands in a row (it was not intentional), but has any other band left such a lasting impression with just one demo?
Ender released their only album “H” in 1989. This demo, rich in heavy/power/speed metal elements, differs significantly from other metal bands you might have heard before. My favorite track is “Take Me High.”
You May Be Interested In: 5 Albums I Can’t Live Without: Kirk Hammet of Metallica
Griffin
Griffin, a band from the United States, is known for incorporating fantastical elements into their power/speed metal music.
Apart from their demos and compilation albums, Griffin produced two outstanding albums. “Flight of the Griffin” in 1984 and “Protectors of the Lair” in 1986 are exquisite pieces, capturing the essence of the 80s. I highly recommend checking them out.
Heavy Load
My favorite band on this list, Heavy Load, is severely underrated. I can’t comprehend how a band this good remains relatively unknown. In my opinion, they are one of the best Swedish bands. Their songs about freedom, honor, and Viking themes are truly inspiring.
Their albums “Death or Glory” in 1982 and “Stronger than Evil” in 1983 are masterpieces. These albums, with no weak tracks, are epic and of such high quality that they can be listened to hundreds of times.
The music of Heavy Load evokes emotions that I’ve never felt with any other band before. It has songs that I’ve memorized and can’t forget. The crew, reuniting almost a quarter of a century later, released an album in 2023 titled “Riders of the Ancient Storm.” This album, with a much more modern sound, felt like embracing an old friend again.
Killer
Are you a fan of Motörhead? (Trick question.) If you are, you’ll probably love Killer too. Killer skillfully blends rock’n’roll, speed metal, and heavy metal, drawing significant inspiration from Motörhead.
The first two albums of this Belgian band are essential. “Ready for Hell” released in 1981 and “Wall of Sound,” just a year later, pay homage to Motörhead. Killer’s early works are definitely underrated metal band.
The band’s guitarist and vocalist Paul ‘Shorty’ Van Camp responded to the questions asked in an interview published on rattle.hu as follows:
“How do you view, that due to the trio formula, the rough voices, speedy uptempos, and double bass drums, Killer was always compared with Motorhead and Exciter? Was this more of an honour than an insult?”
“Afterwards I consider it as a honour to be compared with one of the greatest bands ever. But sometimes it was not honest because we were a lot different from Motorhead. Especially the songs I sang, I had a more melodic voice.”
“How do you explain that Killer and Motorhead were speedy bands long before the existence of Metallica, so in a way, you were innovators in the early eighties, however, Killer was not punk, but always very melodic?”
“I must agree, I was inspired by speedy songs from Motorhead such as Overkill and also Highway Star from Deep Purple which was also speedy for the time. Many years later Metallica came and they even played with more speed.”
“How would you sum up the band’s career as a whole? Are you satisfied what you have achieved Killer with?”
“Yes and no. I am a happy man and I am poud of what we did, but I realise if we had lived in the USA, UK, or even Germany we would have been a much bigger band. In our early days Belgium was like a primitive desert in music business. I think even Africa was better, unless you play top 30 popular hit music. But this was not for Killer, we were HEAVY!!!!!!!”
Repugnant
Tobias Forge, the renowned vocalist of the rock/metal band Ghost, had an almost unknown former band called Repugnant. This death/thrash band released several demos, EPs, and splits.
Their 1999 EP “Hecatomb” and the 2001 demo “Draped in Cerecloth” are incredibly memorable. The 2006 album “Epitome of Darkness” reinterprets many of their previous songs, creating a cohesive album.
According to metalinjection.net, Tobias Forge said the following about Repugnant:
“Repugnant had a close shave with success. We signed to the [Dutch] label Hammerheart, which at the time felt like we’d made it because the first thing they did was take us out on our first tour, supporting the American band Macabre. They were a favourite band of ours – still are, and whenever we play Chicago they come to the shows – and at that point it felt like we might be going somewhere, but we quickly parted ways with Hammerheart because we couldn’t agree. It felt like our chance and we’d blown it.”
Tobias Forge’s musical style has changed significantly over the years, transitioning from Repugnant, a raw and aggressive band, to Ghost, a more polished and mainstream group. If you enjoy harsh, dark, eerie music, you should definitely check out Repugnant.
Recommended Article: Top 12 Guest Performances in Heavy Metal and Rock of All Time
Satanic Rites
Despite their name suggesting a Black Metal band, Satanic Rites stands as one of the best representatives of NWoBHM. Took their name from the horror film The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973). Contrary to their name, they have love and fantasy-themed songs.
Their 1985 album “Which Way the Wind Blows” is my favorite. Though “No Use Crying” released in 1987 may not be as good as its predecessor, it’s still a highly enjoyable album.
Sauron
There are many bands named Sauron, but perhaps the least famous is the Swedish heavy metal band. They released a single album in 1984 and then disappeared from the scene. Despite the slightly poor sound quality, this demo possesses a unique spirit.
I wholeheartedly recommend this demo to all heavy metal fans, even though there are no references to “The Lord of the Rings” in the music, despite the band’s name (or perhaps I missed it).
Scald
Scald, in the epic doom metal genre, released an album in 1997 that managed to captivate even those who aren’t fans of this genre. Describing their album “Will of Gods Is a Great Power” is quite challenging – it’s like being buried without a coffin.
A skald, commonly an Icelandic poet, was tasked with creating and performing poems that celebrated and praised their chieftain or king. Skalds engaged in their craft from the onset of the Viking Age up until the 14th century. Scald’s music is also heavily influenced by Scandinavian and Slavic mythology. When we examine Scald’s lyrics, we can clearly see this influence.
Scald is one of Russia’s most precious musical treasures, and I recommend them to anyone who loves doom metal. Even if you aren’t a fan of doom metal (like me), I believe you should give them a chance.
Thor
Thor, a Canadian heavy/power metal band, focuses on themes of war, Vikings, and strength, as the name suggests. Thor may seem a bit old-fashioned and cheesy to some, but if you are interested in testosterone-fuelled music, it is very difficult to find a band like Thor.
When talking about Thor, it wouldn’t be accurate not to mention the band’s vocalist, Jon Mikl. A true embodiment of Thor, Jon Mikl is not only a vocalist but also a screenwriter, actor, historian, and bodybuilding champion. The musical expression of his art, Jon Mikl holds great significance for both the Canadian and American metal scenes.
In the interview conducted by therocktologist.com, Jon Mikl answered the questions as follows:
“What does the future hold for Jon Mikl Thor? What would you like to see happen next?”
“I would like the new album “Metal Avenger” and soundtrack for the movie “I am Thor” hit the US charts.”
“What was the transition from award winning bodybuilder to musician like?”
“As a young bodybuilder, I became comfortable onstage competing and flexing my muscles in front of large crowds. I also played bass in bands, so it was a natural progression.”
Thor has released numerous albums and compilations over the years. Their most iconic and memorable works are the 1983 EP “Unchained” and the 1985 album “Only the Strong.”
Traitors Gate
Firstly, I need to specify which Traitors Gate I’m referring to, as there are three heavy metal bands with the same name in the UK. I’m talking about the one that released the EP “Devil Takes the High Road” in 1985.
Traitors Gate, representing NWoBHM admirably, has incredibly catchy compositions. I wholeheartedly recommend Traitors Gate, the dictionary definition of “underrated metal bands,” to anyone who loves heavy metal.
Tyrant
There are so many bands named Tyrant that I’m certain 4-5 of them could be on this list. However, the one I specifically want to mention is the German heavy/speed metal band. Tyrant has released four beautiful albums, making them a band that will make you feel German heavy metal to your core.
Tyrant holds significant importance in the German metal scene, but I’m not sure if the rest of the world is aware of this band. I firmly believe they deserve much more attention.
Related Articles: 25 Best Rock and Metal Festivals Worldwide in 2024
Znöwhite
Another speed/thrash band that will make your blood pump faster is Znöwhite. With their 1984 release “All Hail to Thee,” they proved their worth, and in 1988, they solidified their talent with “Act of God.”
Znöwhite writes songs about war, injustice, and society. While they are well-known among die-hard thrash fans, they remain obscure to those uninterested in this genre.
That concludes our discussion of underrated metal bands. What do you think is the best underrated metal band? Are there other Underrated metal bands that you believe should be on this list? Share your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to follow Metal Shout for more content like this.
