The Groove

The greatest heavy metal artists of all time

220 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Iron Maiden

United Kingdom · 1975– · heavy metal

214.997

Why this number?

The full board · page 5

Devin Townsend

Canada · 1972– · progressive metal 2.032

Bon Jovi

United States of America · 1983– · hard rock 2.019

99 Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force

United States of America · 1984– · heavy metal 2.000

100 Alestorm

United Kingdom · 2007– · power metal 1.974

101

Whitesnake

United Kingdom · 1978–2022 · hard rock 1.968

102 Lacuna Coil

Italy · 1997– · gothic metal 1.956

103 Gojira

France · 1996– · death metal 1.907

104 My Dying Bride

United Kingdom · 1990– · doom metal 1.832

105

Anathema

United Kingdom · 1990–2020 · alternative rock 1.775

106 Suicidal Tendencies

United States of America · 1982– · crossover thrash 1.773

107 Three Days Grace

Canada · 1997– · rock 1.708

108 Bruce Dickinson

United Kingdom · 1958– · rock 1.680

109 Nile

United States of America · 1993– · death metal 1.625

110 The Sword

United States of America · 2003–2022 · heavy metal 1.600

111 Breaking Benjamin

United States of America · 1999– · alternative rock 1.588

112 Soulfly

United States of America · 1997– · heavy metal 1.566

113 Ministry

United States of America · 1981– · industrial 1.529

114 Stone Sour

United States of America · 1992–2020 · alternative metal 1.479

115 DragonForce

United Kingdom · 1999– · power metal 1.464

116

Kamelot

United States of America · 1991– · power metal 1.462

117 Trivium

United States of America · 2000– · heavy metal 1.440

118

Red Hot Chili Peppers

United States of America · 1983– · alternative rock 1.424

119 HIM

Finland · 1991–2017 · gothic rock 1.413

120 Hollywood Undead

United States of America · 2005– · heavy metal 1.400