Women in Metal

Interesting to see that Lacy Sturm made this "top 10" list.

http://www.watchmojo.com/video/id/12919/

As far as the rest of the list goes, I agree with all of them except the growler at #4 or 5 (whichever it was).

I am in 100% agreement with #1 though!

Simone Simons and Floor Jansen are my 2 favorite female vocalists in metal.....just wish the lyrical content was a bit more positive.

bassdude wrote:

Simone Simons and Floor Jansen are my 2 favorite female vocalists in metal.....just wish the lyrical content was a bit more positive.

I would LOVE to see a Christian version of Tarja, Epica, or Nightwish!

(   oh there I go, labeling music again.    )

Personally I would add Kitty Saric but that's just me

And I'm truly surprised that Lita Ford wasn't mentioned

Through The Dark Radio wrote:

And I'm truly surprised that Lita Ford wasn't mentioned

I hadn't noticed, but you are right ... that is a definite oversight.

Another one I like is Leah.  She's not really metal, but neither is Amy Lee!

BearDad wrote:

bassdude wrote:

Simone Simons and Floor Jansen are my 2 favorite female vocalists in metal.....just wish the lyrical content was a bit more positive.

I would LOVE to see a Christian version of Tarja, Epica, or Nightwish!

(   oh there I go, labeling music again.    )

Well, there is Johanna Aaltonen of HB. Yes ,she is back with the band.

Hardkore wrote:

BearDad wrote:

bassdude wrote:

Simone Simons and Floor Jansen are my 2 favorite female vocalists in metal.....just wish the lyrical content was a bit more positive.

I would LOVE to see a Christian version of Tarja, Epica, or Nightwish!

(   oh there I go, labeling music again.    )

Well, there is Johanna Aaltonen of HB. Yes ,she is back with the band.

I've never really heard HB, just a YT vid here and there.  I'll have to check them out.

Lately I am finding my favorite style (genre?) of metal to be symphonic. I'm listening to Epica right now and really digging the operatic choral parts with the accompanying drums and guiitars, as well as Simone's soaring soprano.

BearDad wrote:

bassdude wrote:

Simone Simons and Floor Jansen are my 2 favorite female vocalists in metal.....just wish the lyrical content was a bit more positive.

I would LOVE to see a Christian version of Tarja, Epica, or Nightwish!

(   oh there I go, labeling music again.    )

You ARE familiar with Whisper From Heaven, yes?  It's Derek Corzine (Syringe, Blood Thirsty, Cosyns...) and his wife (who has a fantastic voice!).  They've got a few more members now and are a full band.  They're working on their debut full-length now.  But in the mean time, you can purchase their single which is really really good.  They're a bit different than the bands you mentioned, but they have some similarities.  I think you'll like!

http://whisperfromheaven.bandcamp.com/

Glad I can be of service. 

I haven't interacted with Amulyn or the rest of the band, but Derek is one of those guys you just feel good about supporting (and the rest of the crew certainly seems that way from what I've seen).  He's a super talented musician who's humble, kind, and bold in his faith and message.  I highly recommend checking out some of his other projects.

http://bloodthirstymetal.bandcamp.com/
http://syringeministry.bandcamp.com/ (FREE album and it's real good)
http://cosyns.bandcamp.com/

^^ I'll pass on the bloodthirsty and syringe stuff ... not really into death/black/etc.  However, Cosyns sounds great; I might just have to part with a five dollar bill.

I am a huge fan of female fronted hard rock and metal, but unlike BearDad I am not so big a fan of most symphonic music.  I was glad to see that the list included Doro or else it wouldn't have been a proper list!   (seriously...she is the best).  But I can't help but think Doro was added to just pay a nod to the "old school"....kind of like the way Angela Gossow seems to get added to cover the "extereme" metal crowd, and the gal from Evanescence get's added to cover the "gothic" gang.
Never-the-less it was a fun video compilation.

I've always enjoyed Nancy Jo Mann's vocals. Barnabas was an excellent band, and Njo was (and probably still is) an excellent vocalist.

Driven wrote:

I've always enjoyed Nancy Jo Mann's vocals. Barnabas was an excellent band, and Njo was (and probably still is) an excellent vocalist.

Agreed! 

my list of top females in hard rock and metal would be as follows..

Joan Jett
Lita Ford
Doro Pesch
Lee AAron
Ann Wilson (heart)
Charlotte Wessels (Delain)
Lisa Faxom (Ransom)
Sharon den Adel (within temptation)
Grog (Die So Fluid)
Anni DE Vil (Hysterica)
Veronica Freeman (Benedictum)

I definitely think Floor should have been on the list and not an honorable mention.  I'm also one of the freaks who prefers post-Tarja Nightwish, but I don't begrudge her getting the top spot.  Technically she has an amazing voice, I just don't care for it in a metal context.  I was disappointed that Lita and Ann Wilson weren't on there--maybe even Pat Benatar, but perhaps she wasn't hard rock enough.  I'd listen to Amy Lee, Lzzy Hale, and Sharon den Adel sing the phone book.

Not to derail this thread, but there's also a male vocalist list that has some very predictable names and a couple "what??" moments.

Maybe I need to listen to more HB, but I've never really gotten the Nightwish comparison as strongly as others do.

messiaen77 wrote:

I definitely think Floor should have been on the list and not an honorable mention.  I'm also one of the freaks who prefers post-Tarja Nightwish, but I don't begrudge her getting the top spot.  Technically she has an amazing voice, I just don't care for it in a metal context.  I was disappointed that Lita and Ann Wilson weren't on there--maybe even Pat Benatar, but perhaps she wasn't hard rock enough.  I'd listen to Amy Lee, Lzzy Hale, and Sharon den Adel sing the phone book.

Not to derail this thread, but there's also a male vocalist list that has some very predictable names and a couple "what??" moments.

Well, like any "top ten" list there are bound to be some that should have been included and some that perhaps shouldn't have been.  I agree with the thought that certain women were picked more to pay homage to a style or sub-genre than for talent alone ... I would never consider punk a metal sub-genre, but I suppose it's hard rock. Also, the growler was required to appease the extreme metal lovers, although calling her vocal style a talent is a stretch IMO.

You are right in that Nancy Wilson and Pat Benatar were more-or-less snubbed, but perhaps they are too "pop".  Lita Ford getting left off, however, is simply disgraceful.

BearDad wrote:

Quote :

Also, the growler was required to appease the extreme metal lovers, although calling her vocal style a talent is a stretch IMO.

You are right in that Nancy Wilson and Pat Benatar were more-or-less snubbed, but perhaps they are too "pop".  Lita Ford getting left off, however, is simply disgraceful.

You've obviously never tried to do such growl/screech vocals before . . . not as easy as you think

And not having Lita is definitely a travesty.

A couple observations:

I didn't recognize Lacey in that first Flyleaf video with her hair cut and no eye makeup.

The Distillers! Yay!

Angela Gassow - I've heard female growlers but she's pretty good. I know some of you guys talk smack about it but if you try it, it's crazy hard.

And yes I agree it's odd that Heart wasn't included.

Top ten lists are so arbitrary and dfficult to do. I will give them credit for a pretty good job tho.

I'm not the biggest fan of Arch Enemy....but the new girl, Alyssa White-Gluz, is WAY WAY better than Angela Gossow.
Her growls are just as vicious, but she can also actually sing as well.

Through The Dark Radio wrote:

BearDad wrote:

Quote :

Also, the growler was required to appease the extreme metal lovers, although calling her vocal style a talent is a stretch IMO.

You are right in that Nancy Wilson and Pat Benatar were more-or-less snubbed, but perhaps they are too "pop".  Lita Ford getting left off, however, is simply disgraceful.

You've obviously never tried to do such growl/screech vocals before . . . not as easy as you think

And not having Lita is definitely a travesty.

Oh, I know it isn't easy .... I'm just not convinced it's what I would call a talent. JMO, of course.

BearDad wrote:

Oh, I know it isn't easy .... I'm just not convinced it's what I would call a talent. JMO, of course.

You aren't alone...

ishmael81 wrote:

A couple observations:

I didn't recognize Lacey in that first Flyleaf video with her hair cut and no eye makeup.

I noticed that too, I think it might have been a newer picture of the band with the singer that actually replaced Lacey (kind of funny if that is the case).

I also think the reason we didn't see Ann Wilson (who is the greatest IMHO), Joan Jett, Pat Benatar etc.  Is because the list was for "women of metal".  I don't think any of the bands those women front would be considered metal.

Staybrite wrote:

ishmael81 wrote:

A couple observations:

I didn't recognize Lacey in that first Flyleaf video with her hair cut and no eye makeup.

I noticed that too, I think it might have been a newer picture of the band with the singer that actually replaced Lacey (kind of funny if that is the case).

I also think the reason we didn't see Ann Wilson (who is the greatest IMHO), Joan Jett, Pat Benatar etc.  Is because the list was for "women of metal".  I don't think any of the bands those women front would be considered metal.

Actually, they said hard rock and metal.