Metallica named the Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time

Ahead of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath

Metallica's Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 9th Oct 2024
Last updated 9th Oct 2024

Metallica have been named as the Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time ahead of fellow greats like Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.

American business magazine Forbes – not exactly known for its cutting expertise on the heavy metal genre - recently published a list of what it deems the 38 Greatest Heavy Metal Bands.

Unlike Planet Rock’s 100% democratic listener poll in 2022, which saw Iron Maiden get crowned the best metal band ever following thousands of votes, Forbes’ list was decided by their in-house writing team.

Explaining how they came up with the Top 38, Forbes wrote: ‘This list of iconic metal bands was created with the entire history of the heavy metal genre in mind, which began when Black Sabbath released their debut studio album in 1970.’

They add: ‘(The bands on the countdown) have made the most significant impact in the metal genre, and a number of these bands are among the genre’s most famous and revered.’

Metallica in 2024

Metallica took the Number 1 slot on the Forbes countdown with metal torchbearers Black Sabbath second, and the mighty Iron Maiden in third spot.

Explaining why Metallica are their Number 1, Forbes writes: ‘Metallica’s achievements are so far and above any other metal act that it would be seen as controversial to not consider them as a part of heavy metal’s Mount Rushmore.

‘As long as metal music continues to exists, Metallica have and always will be one of the greatest metal bands of all time.’

Other artists who feature on the countdown including Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Slipknot, Slayer, Korn, Tool and Rammstein.

While many have praised the Forbes list, some have critiqued the publication’s choices.

“This is definitely not The Greatest Heavy Metal Bands,” one reader wrote. “Nope. Nada. This is ‘The Most Popular Metal Bands According To Some Bankers.’”

Ouch.

The 10 Greatest Metal Bands, according to Forbes:

10. Avenged Sevenfold


9. Tool


8. Slayer


7. Slipknot


6. Ozzy Osbourne


5. Judas Priest


4. Pantera


3. Iron Maiden


2. Black Sabbath


1. Metallica


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