The Most Underrated Metal Singers from the 80s, Ranked

There are several underrated 80s metal singers who never got the credit they deserved at a time when the genre was very popular. These singers have stood out over the years because of their talent and the great albums they made. Some of them have even played with some amazing bands but have never gotten the credit they deserved.

However, the great thing about the genre is that these underrated 80s metal singers have built strong reputations. They may not be commercial juggernauts but their quality has withstood the test of time over the years.

1. Michael Sweet (Stryper)

The Californian is one of the co-founders of Stryper, possibly the most important Christian metal band. Sweet started the band in 1983 with his brother under the name Roxx Regime. He also built a reputation as a singer because of his amazing vocal range and high notes.

As a fun fact, he has contributed on both guitar, keyboard, and piano and is mainly responsible for the lyrics of Stryper’s songs. The fact that Stryper is a Christian band has possibly affected the perception of Sweet as a singer despite the band’s positive commercial success. It must also be remembered that the band in its beginnings had elements of glam with which they were pigeonholed.

Sweet has mentioned in his autobiography, “Honestly: My Life and Stryper revealed“, that he is more of a guitarist than a singer. However, he is still a very good singer. The most recent Stryper albums have also shown a deeper tone for his lower range, which has added to his repertoire.

2. Warrel Dane (Sanctuary)

Dane began his singing career with a band called Serpent’s Knight in the early 1980s, while at the end of the decade, he moved to Sanctuary. The American had training in opera and from that he had great control of his voice. That is something that allowed Dane to be able to reach very low notes to some very high ones.

It was in Sanctuary where Dane showed a more Rob Halford-influenced style to his singing, fitting with the band’s music. On the other hand, with Nevermore he would become better known for a more somber and groove style of singing. However, he is on this list because of his ’80s exploits with Sanctuary.

Dane died of a heart attack on December 13, 2017, but his legacy and amazing singing still live on to this day.

3. Leather Leone (Chastain and Leather)

Quite likely the most underrtaed female metal singer of all time. Leather Leon built a reputation for her aggressive vocal tone while also maintaining a melodic element. That singing style was reminiscent of her greatest influence, Ronnie James Dio.

It is not in vain that she is the only woman on the list of underrated 80s metal singers. Her career began in the early ’80s with a band called Rude Girl and then she would join the newly formed Chastain in 1985. What she accomplished in that part, particularly in the 80s, deserves a lot more recognition. She also had a solo album, “Shock Waves”, in the late 80s, which should be listened to.

4. Ted Pilot (Fifth Angel)

Ted Pilot was the original singer of the band Fifth Angel for the entirety of the 80s. His style is mostly focused on a mid-range that seeks melody more than aggressiveness or high notes. Their self-titled debut album has also become a cult classic in the metal genre as well.

Perhaps his emergence was at a time when high notes predominated and his way of singing could be somewhat overshadowed. But clearly, Ted Pilot is one of the underrated 80s metal singers and his work with Fifth Angel deserves a lot more recognition.

Pilot left the music business after the 80s but his singing qualities are still remembered to this very day.

5. Midnight (Crimson Glory)

John Patrick Jr. McDonald, better known in the metal world as Midnight, was the original singer of Crimson Glory. His voice was powerful and aggressive, oftentimes reaching very high notes. One of the things that affected Crimson Glory in the 80s, and parallel to Midnight, was the comparison with Queensryche and Geoff Tate, respectively. Both bands had an important impact on the direction that progressive metal would later take in the 80s.

That comparison affected Midnight, leading him to be considered one of the underrated 80s metal singers, even though he clearly deserved another status in the world of metal. His legacy is everlasting and is warranted of a lot more recognition.

6. Yukio Morikawa (Anthem)

Anthem is a Japanese heavy metal band that emerged in the 80s and then returned in the early 2000s. Morikawa joined Anthem in 1988 to replace the iconic Eizo Sakamoto, who would later form Animetal. But his powerful, melodic tone, reminiscent of his greatest influence, Graham Bonnet, meant that Sakamoto was not missed.

That is why he could not be left out of the list of underrated 80s metal singers. Morikawa was key in keeping Anthem afloat during a critical moment of its career. And he came back to the band a few years ago and still sounds as good as ever.

7. Tony Martin (Black Sabbath)

It is inevitable to relate Ozzy Osbourne’s voice to Black Sabbath since he was the original singer and the one who was in the band the longest. In addition to Ozzy, Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan and Glen Hughes had stints with Black Sabbath, all contributing in some way.

Hence, Tony Martin has been somewhat overshadowed despite being the second longest-serving singer in the band. When it comes to underrated 80s metal singers, he fits this like a glove. His style was more melodic and less aggressive or dark but not lacking in quality. Perhaps it was the constant comparisons and lack of commercial success what undermined Martin’s stint with the band.

8. John Sykes (Blue Murder)

Sykes is a particular case since he began his career and became known as a guitarist in the 1980s. In fact, he is mostly known for his amazing abilities as a guitarist. That is why he ended playing for great bands such as Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy or Whitesnake playing guitar.

Upon leaving Whitesnake, Sykes formed Blue Murder where he was the singer and whose first self-titled album had a very good reception. Sykes enters the list of underrated 80s metal singers because his ability as a singer is somewhat underestimated when seen as a guitarist. Furthermore, much like Michael Sweet, he deserves recognition for singing and playing guitar at the same time.

9. Cesar Somoza (Resistencia)

Venezuelan metal in the 80s had an important birth and impact on the Latin American scene. One of the bands that managed to promote this movement was Resistencia, which had Carlos Somoza as singer. The Venezuelan is the possessor of a powerful voice that perhaps has not had the international recognition it deserves due to the little attention that Venezuelan metal has had on a global level.

10. Tony Moore (Riot)

Moore is known for singing in Riot between 1986 and 1992 and on the iconic album, Thundersteel. His high-note style was a significant contribution to the band’s heavier style later in the decade. Moore (like the whole band) suffer from the lack of recognition that Riot has had and that is why we include him among the underrated 80s metal singers.

It is also worth pointing out that Moore returned to the band in the early 2010s. This resulted in the release of a highly underrated record, “Immortal Soul”.

11. John Bush (Armored Saint)

Although John Bush is known for his time in Anthrax in the 90s and 2000s, his main band was always Armored Saint. Bush has been the band’s singer during the band’s three stages of activity, standing out with several notorious albums. And he has left a lasting legacy with both groups.

One thing that made Bush stand out from the rest was his singing style. His vocals are raspy and aggresive, but have range and technique to it. It makes sense why the guys of Metallica wanted him as their singer in the early 80s. Furthermore, he showed in Armored Saint’s “Another Day” and Anthrax’s “Black Lodge” that he has a lot ranger.

12. Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper and Onslaught)

When people talk about underrated 80s metal singers, they have to talk about Steve Grimmett. The British singer had an impressive vocal range that was reflected in his various projects. He has also managed to stand out with both heavy and thrash metal, despite starting with the NWOBHM.

During the ’80s, he was in various bands such as Medusa, Chateaux and Onslaught, although he was mostly with Grim Reaper. Although he was not the original singer, he became the voice of the band until his death in 2022. The band’s most notorious moment was with as the singer in “See You in Hell” (1984).