THE BEAST

Photo by Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash

Like any music genre, metal is filled with underrated, underappreciated bands. It’s all too common in the music world—and many other industries—for quality options to go unappreciated. Hell, even the shiny and relatively new iGaming industry has its selection of underrated games at casinos.com . It’s a phenomenon that’s bound to happen when there’s a vast supply of options to sort through, whether it’s bands, books, podcasts, or games.

Rather than lamenting this frustration, we thought bringing some of these underrated bands to the forefront would be more productive and help them get the recognition and attention they deserve. To do this, we’ve compiled a list of the ten most underrated metal bands. Get ready to add new favorites to your playlists.

Photo by Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash

1. Ambush

Originating from the quaint province of Småland, Sweden , Ambush is a new wave of traditional metal band with a unique sound filled with intense guitar riffs and soaring vocals. The five-person band has toured worldwide, stopping in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Since forming in 2013, Ambush has released three albums and garnered praise from metal critics across the world. Their third album, Desecrator, was released on Friday, March 13th, 2020, and included one of their most popular songs to date, “Desecrator.”

2. Wytch Hazel

Wytch Hazel crafts a sound incorporating British heavy metal, rock, and folk influences. The group was formed in 2011 and has released four albums in their unique style. They’re signed with Bad Omen Records, an independent record label representing a handful of metal bands. Their most popular song is “I Am Redeemed” from their third album, III: Pentecost , and it’s well worth a listen.

3. 3 Inches of Blood

3 Inches of Blood formed in Vancouver, Canada, in 1999, and they have been creating speed metal music together since, but not without interruption. In 2015, the band set out on a farewell tour, ready to leave their music behind them. But earlier in 2024, the group reunited and is now touring through Canada and the United States. 3 Inches of Blood released nine albums before disbanding in 2015. Their 2012 Long Live Heavy Metal album landed them on the Canadian music charts.

4. Haunt

Fresno, California’s Haunt is an underground heavy metal band that draws inspiration from some of metal and rock’s biggest names, including Ozzy Osbourne, Thin Lizzy, and Def Leppard. The group is wildly prolific, having released 11 albums since they formed in 2017. Their most listened-to song on Spotify is “Burst Into Flame.” They’re set to perform in three US cities starting in January 2025 with 3 Inches of Blood and Liege Lord.

5. Blade Killer

Another California metal band worth checking out is Blade Killer. Blade Killer, formed in Los Angeles in 2012, is known for their signature style of speed metal and New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), which originated in the 1970s. The group comprises five members: vocalist Carlos Gutierrez, bassist Kelsey Wilson, guitarist Jonathan Rubio, guitarist Jay Vazquez, and drummer Peter Lemieux. Their most recent and best album is High Risk, which debuted in 2018.

6. Hitten

Hitten is a classic metal band with elements of party anthems, hard rock, and 1980s metal, creating a sound they call “HARD N’ HEAVY.” The five-person band formed in 2011 in Spain and has been touring Europe for over ten years. They’ve earned lineup positions for major European metal festivals, including Germany’s Headbangers Open Air and Spain’s Full Metal Holiday. Some of their most popular songs are from their most recent album release, While Passions Last, including “Hold Up the Night” and “Mr. Know It All.” Despite their touring successes and multiple album releases, the band remains relatively underappreciated in the metal genre.

7. Evile

Originating from England in 2002, Evile faced a roller coaster from being self-produced to earning a spot in the video game Rock Band and slowly fading into the background. The band comprises four members: lead guitarist and vocalist Ol Drake, bassist Joel Graham, drummer Ben Carter, and rhythm guitarist Adam Smith. This member lineup shifted from its original one after the passing of the band’s original bassist, Mike Alexander, and the coming and going of Ol Drake and his brother, Matt Drake. 

Before Alexander’s passing, Evile seemed destined for metal success but understandably struggled afterwards. The band has recently reorganized itself and re-entered the music industry with a new member lineup, releasing two more albums, Hell Unleashed in 2021 and The Unknown in 2023.

8. Greyhawk

The heavy metal meets power metal quintet Greyhawk has been making music since forming in 2016 in Seattle, Washington. In almost ten years together, the band has released five albums. Their songs “Frozen Star” and “Don’t Wait for the Wizard” from their fourth album, Keepers of the Flame, released in 2020, are among their most popular. 

9. Hell Fire

Yet another California-based metal band is Hell Fire. The group formed in 2010 in San Francisco and brings together NWOBHM with 1980s fast-paced, thrash styles. During pandemic shutdowns, their creative abilities flourished, allowing them to refine this unique sound combination to deliver a style that’s truly their own. The style is reflected in their 2022 album Reckoning, though its foundations are notable in their earlier releases.

10. Black Soul Horde

Drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as NWOBHM, American metal styling, and power metal, alongside mythologies and the works of famous writers like H. P. Lovecraft, Black Soul Horde has created a unique metal sound and lyrical styling. The group started in Athens, Greece, and has released three albums since 2013. 

Conclusion

Compared to the likes of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden , Metallica, and Megadeth, these ten bands are little-known, underappreciated, and underrated. Still, they are worth listening to, especially if you’re dying for new music for your metal playlists.