5 European Metal Bands You Need in Your Playlist — Even if You Don’t Listen to Metal
Heavy metal. The phrase evokes images of mosh pits, combat boots, and crazed men thrashing about in a collective group seizure. Metal is known for its intense, aggressive electric guitar riffs, powerful drumming, low-range bass notes, and aggressive vocals. It splits further into sub-genres, each with their own distinctive sound.
While metal continues to be a male-dominated space, it’s usually a far cry from the mayhem portrayed in movies. Whether you’re new to metal or just looking for new additions to your workout mix, these bands need to make it onto your playlist.
Sabaton (Sweden)
One of the most successful metal bands in Swedish history, most of Sabaton’s music revolves around historical events. Their lyrics tell stories of wars, battles, and acts of heroism. They don’t glorify war; they honor those who serve and bring forgotten stories back to life. The band considers themselves a heavy-metal band, but are often lumped in with power-metal (though they lack the high-pitched vocals typical of the sub-genre).
In 2019 they launched the YouTube channel Sabaton History in collaboration with Indy Neidell and TimeGhost History. They talk about the history behind the songs’ creation and the historical events that inspired it.
Current song obsessions: Soldier of Heaven, Night Witches, Lady of the Dark
Epica (Netherlands)
Considered to be one of the best symphonic-metal (a blend of symphonic and orchestral elements), Epica is known for alternating soprano and growled vocal lines that weave sophisticated and emotional melodies. They skillfully blend symphonic-metal, gothic-metal, progressive-metal, death-metal, and sometimes thrash-metal, power-metal, and folk-metal to create hauntingly beautiful melodies. Their songs often deal with philosophical, psychological, spiritual, moral, scientific, environmental, socio-political, and global themes.
Current song obsessions: Sirens of Blood and Water, Storm the Sorrow, Freedom — The Wolves Within
Powerwolf (Germany)
Powerwolf’s lyrics are heavily characterized by Christianity and ancient Romanian legends but the band considers themselves spiritual, not religious. Filled with the speeding guitar riffs and heavy drumming power-metal is known for, one of the defining features of Powerwolf’s music is the use of organ sounds and church choirs.
The purveyors of the “holy heavy-metal mass” played their first North American dates in early 2023, much to the delight of fans across the continent. The Christian werewolf set designs and heavy audience involvement are key characteristics of their live shows.
Current song obsessions: Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend, Beast Of Gévaudan, Amen & Attack
Alestorm (Scotland)
If you choose pirates over ninjas, this heavy-metal pirate band is for you! Classified by fans as pirate-metal, Alestorm’s music is a fun blend of heavy-metal, power-metal, hard rock, and folk-metal and leans heavily into the pirate theme. Their sing-a-long choruses evoke a sea shanty feel. They don’t hesitate to have fun and refers to themselves as “True Scottish Pirate Metal,” emphasized by the band section of their website proclaiming, “Hello, we are Alestorm and we like drinking rum and stealing ships.”
Current song obsessions: Drink, Fucked With An Anchor, Shipwrecked
HammerFall (Sweden)
HammerFall is best known for their fantasy-heavy lyrics coupled with their mix of power-metal and classic heavy-metal beats. Templars, samurai, Norse mythology, and influence from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series all appear lyrically in their discography. They’ve even had a town in World of Warcraft named after them (along with WoW’s art director designing some of the band’s album covers). Classic heavy-metal sound with fantasy tales make HammerFall stand out from the rest.
Current song obsessions: One More Time, Any Means Necessary, Never Forgive, Never Forget
