Is Metallica the biggest Metal Band?‍

How Did Metallica Become the Biggest Metal Band?

Metallica was founded by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield in 1981. They were teenagers at the time and their musical career got a jump start when they were discovered by producer and Megaforce Records owner Jonny Zazula. The band’s first studio album, Kill 'Em All, was released in 1983 and the rest is history. As time went on, Metallica grew to become not only the biggest metal band but also one of the most successful bands of all time. Their second studio album, Ride the Lightning, was released in 1984 and was their first album to be certified gold. Soon after that, they released their first album to be certified platinum and break the 1 million sales mark with their third studio album, Master of Puppets, in 1986. It was also during this time when they won their first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the song “One”. Metallica’s popularity grew so much that they were featured in a few movies and television series such as The Wonder Years and The Simpsons. Their 1991 album, Metallica, also known as The Black Album, became the best-selling album in the world with more than 30 million copies sold.

Is Metallica Still the Biggest Metal Band in 2018?

The short answer is yes. Definitely. The long answer is that it’s still debatable. In 2018, the biggest metal bands are still Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Slayer; but there are also some new contenders for the title of “the biggest metal band” such as Avenged Sevenfold, Black Veil Brides, Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, Slipknot, and many more. First off, this article is about the biggest metal bands, not the most successful bands. For example, the Beatles are surely the most successful band in history, but it’s debatable whether they are the biggest rock band. The same applies for metal bands. Are Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Slayer the biggest metal bands? Yes. Are Avenged Sevenfold, Black Veil Brides, Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, and Slipknot not metal bands? No. On the other hand, we can say that these bands are very successful and have a vast fanbase that’s exponentially growing as they release new music and tour. However, they aren’t metal bands. Avenged Sevenfold is more often described as alternative rock or hard rock, while BVB and Five Finger Death Punch are often referred to as hard rock or heavy metalcore.

Other Big Metal Bands You Should Know

- Avenged Sevenfold - While they aren’t a traditional metal band, they’ve certainly left their mark in the genre. They’ve been called the “next big thing in Rock & Roll” by one of the biggest magazines in the world. They’ve been nominated for several awards, including a Grammy and an MTV award. They are one of the biggest metal bands of all time.

- Disturbed - These guys got their start in the late 90’s, but over the last two decades, they’ve left an indelible mark on the heavy music genre. They’ve been nominated for a Grammy, won several MTV awards and have been awarded with the “Favorite Rock Song” award by the People’s Choice Awards.

- Five Finger Death Punch - This band’s name is quite self-explanatory. They are aggressive, in-your-face and have a bone-crushing sound. Their music is like a rollercoaster of emotions that are sure to get you pumped up and ready to go. They’ve been nominated for several awards and have won the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Hard Rock Artist” in 2011.

Final Words

Once again, it’s debatable whether or not Avenged Sevenfold, BVB, and Five Finger Death Punch are the biggest metal bands in the world. They are all extremely successful bands, but they aren’t metal bands. Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Slayer are the biggest metal bands, even though there are new contenders for the “biggest metal band” title, the discussion will never end.