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lover of alloy know that it can be rarefied for some of the music genre ’s greatest bands and songs to dispatch the charts . Many of the most influential and highly regarded heavy metal band have fight to go atomic number 78 . Motörhead , Misfits , and Exodus have never sell enough records to have an album recognized by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . However , the band have headline major fete line - ups and influenced the sound of hundreds of metallic element band to this twenty-four hour period . The original Misfits will even take the main stage at Coachella in 2025 .
It is hard to define what take a leak a metal band a " one - hit curiosity . " Some bands have mainstream hits , hitting the charts but never hit that audience again . Other band would have a big hitting within the metal scene but never sustain a lover base beyond their 15 proceedings of fame . Whether they went gold or had a humbler hit , all of these band have a treasure trove of hidden gems to offer up .
10Inside - Stiltskin
Charted Top 10 In The US And UK
Stiltskin is a striation from Primrose , England that get their starting in 1994 . The grunge banding made their sign on the charts with their Sung " Inside . " Despite being active to the present , their 1994 single is their gravid achiever .
The song reach turn one on the UK chart and made it to the top 10 in the US . Today , the striation looks nothing like it did in 1994 . Ray Wilson is the only remaining original member after they disbanded in 1996 .
9Double X Minus - Five Pointe O
Racked Up Over 2 Million Streams On Spotify
Five Pointe O is a humbler one - hit marvel with a hitting that reverberated through the rap metal and nu metal scene . The Illinois band was formed in 1998 , just four geezerhood before their big hit . But while they secured some awesome opportunities , they were never able to replicate the song ’s reach .
" Double X Minus " leads off the banding ’s debut album , Untitled , with volatile vigour . The vocal performance and technique delivered by Daniel Struble are impressive and intense , with his hardcore screams brutal yet controlled . The chugging , syncopate riff accent Struble ’s words about brokenheartedness and ravaging .
Five Pointe oxygen was find fault up by RoadRunner Records in 2001 and releasedUntitledin 2002 with the recording label . The call was the biggest hit on the disk and in the same year as the album ’s handout , the band saw " Infinity " featured in theResident Evilmovie . However , " Double X Minus " remain their big success . The circle subsequently disbanded after inner dispute carve up the member up .
8Turn Up the Radio - Autograph
Peaked At Number 29 On The Billboard Hot 100
Autograph is well - bang for being a one - hit wonder , and the band is rarely discussed without a reference to their hit song , " Turn Up the Radio . “Thesong has all the hallmarks of a authoritative heavy metal track : a catchy bunch vocal on the chorus that is easy to babble out along with , chugging guitar and simple riffs , and an arena rock organ ringing out over the whole caterpillar tread .
An element that sets this birdcall aside is its galactic synth sounds in the introduction which complements the aesthetics of the album . When " Turn Up the Radio " was liberate in 1984 , papa was flooding the charts , and it talk to every rock rooter who would have rather been listening to rock ' n ' roll on their radio than Michael Jackson and Madonna on MTV . imposingly , Sign In Pleaseis the only Autograph album to ever go gold due to the succeeder of the Sung .
In the years since the release of the song , Autograph has reunited multiple times . Although the dance orchestra is a one - strike marvel , the mark surrounding the name was so valuable that non - founding member sued Steve Lynch over his claim on the ring ’s name . Lynch ultimately won the suit of clothes and mat that he should n’t have to share the name with musicians he charter to play song he write with the found member of the stripe .
7Three Little Pigs - Green Jellÿ
20 Weeks On The Billboard Hot 100, Peaking At Number 17
This comedy rock band was an unlikely breakout in the heavy metal world , with their song , " Three Little Pigs , " being their biggest succeeder . Proudly labeling themselves " the sorry band in the world " , the Kenmore , New York natives have been cracking jokes and tear up punch since 1981 .
" Three Little Pigs " is a misrepresented retelling of the classic folk tale of the same name . The music video lent to the success of the song , picturing claymation pigs playing guitar , smoking weed , and calling up their friend Rambo . The song is intentionally horrible , too repetitive with an obnoxious guitar riff designed to burlesque the rising sound of grunge . Green Jellÿ parodies grunge the way Spinal Tap parodies hair metal .
The band has bike through several extremity , but the frontman and mind behind Green Jellÿ , Bill Manspeaker , still performs his punk rock puppet evidence today . The show has a similar appeal to a GWAR show , with ridiculous gross puppets and audience participation . The band is considered the large in the worldwith hundred of members that Manspeaker can call on to participate in a show .
6Don’t Close Your Eyes - Kix
Peaked At Number 11 On The Billboard Hot 100
This glam alloy lot amaze their outset in Maryland in the late 1970s and made a name for themselves with their smash song " Do n’t Close Your Eyes . “The lyrical capacity of the vocal is evenhandedly dark , seemingly about struggles with economic crisis and suicidal ideation . The call is punctuated by the most - constant steady piano chords that explode into the song ’s spendthrift chorus , withSteve Whiteman ’s vocals front and center — and the singer more than delivers .
The individual got Kix a endorse Au platter and drew attention to their platinum album , Blow My Fuse . Although the band never saw any more blowout hits , they were able-bodied to keep a consecrate fan groundwork for 45 long time until their retirement in 2023 .
5Headstrong - Trapt
Won Billboard’s Top Rock Song In 2003
Trapt formed in 1995 and finally landed a striking on the chart eight year later . The Los Gatos band sign on withWarner Records in 2001 , paving the fashion for their debut ego - titled record album . " Headstrong " was the lead single ofTraptand was critically acclaimed the class it was released . The song has an infective vigour . The verses have an upbeat staccato new wave sound that collapses into the song ’s punishing grunge Greek chorus . Robin Diaz ’s drumming arrange the tone for each section of the song , transition perfectly between playful and intense .
The song top out at phone number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received two awards at the Billboard Music Awards in 2003 . The strain was also featured as the theme song forWWE Bad Bloodin the same year . Trapt is still active today , but the stripe ’s line - up has gone through many iterations , create them fundamentally dissimilar from their debut .
4Bodies - Drowning Pool
Certified Platinum On January 31, 2019 After A Million Digital Copies Sold
Everyone has heard " Bodies " , but it would n’t be surprising if you could n’t name another Drowning Pool strain , even if nu metal enthusiasts know thatDrowning Pool is a staple of the early 2000s era beyond the success of their hit Sung dynasty . " Bodies " had a vast bit in 2001 and has become a cultural staple repeatedly being featured in movies and video game .
It is the quintessential nu metal song . The lyric about slam dance and a countdown before the high - loudness refrain leave the perfect amount of clock time to enter the cavity . The song peaked at numeral six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart , and has since gone on to becertified platinum .
Drowning Pool went on to wreak huge shows , such as their Seth at Ozzfest , which run into Sharon Osbourne move the band up in the line - up after seeing the achiever of " Bodies . " However , after the attack on September 11th , 2001 , the strain was admit off gyration on MTV and radio stations due to a misinterpretation of the lyrics to be violent rather than referencing a alloy show .
Sadly , the following yr , Drowning Pool frontman Dave Williams passed away . His vocal were a unequalled and powerful constituent of the radical , set them on their route to success . Despite the tragey , Drowning Pool still work appearance today , with plenty of moshers hitting the floor .
3Balls To The Wall - Accept
48 Million Views On YouTube
German metal band Accept has origins that trace back to the tardy sixties , but the isthmus did n’t truly strike their stride until the late ' 70 . Accept exert a lover base to this daylight , with touring date worldwide in 2025.They have quite a few sports fan - favorite air that have accrued decade of millions of stream on Spotify , but only one of their songs reign supreme .
" Balls to the Wall " is the defining Accept birdcall , and sounds not unlike a slow and heavy 1980s AC / DC track . The song ’s bass partitioning company by an inauspicious consort singing out perfectly build the tension for the concluding high-pitched - energy chorus . This song is a political hymn about rising up against oppressors that the band palpate came at just the good time . It may fathom like standard ' 80s metal , but the song hold a cryptical substance for the band .
Sure , everyone has learn of Metallica , Slayer , Anthrax , and Megadeth , but there are mass of great thrash isthmus that are equally as iconically heavy .
Accept ’s albumBalls to the Wallis certified gold in the United States , for the most part due to the massive succeeder of its title cartroad . Before that , the isthmus was usher in to a world-wide interview by hatchway for Judas Priest in 1981 . This laid the foundation for the success of their hit . Accept is celebrate 50 eld of rocking in 2025 , andin all the days they have played show , ' Balls to the Wall ' has been on every setlist .
2Cult Of Personality - Living Colour
Reached No. 13 On The US Billboard Hot 100
Living Colour made a vast splash with their bounteous hit . This New York City ring was openly political , critiquing world politics and address shabbiness in their own backyard . In 1988,“Cult of Personality " was inescapable , andits lyric poem have defy the test of time .
This call is a breath of fresh air in the heavy rock space . The central syncopated riff is catch and perfectly builds to the on - beat chords ring out over the title . Corey Glover ’s vocals are one of a variety . His placid manner of speaking and vibrato stand in contrast to his raspy belted verses .
" Cult of Personality " won the group a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990 . The set ’s huge gift was recognize and corroborate by Mick Jagger before the release of their hit , and the band gained the obedience of many of metal ’s braggart deed . unluckily , Living Colour ’s bright time to come was veer myopic due to battle between bandmates and personal excitement causing the group to split . The record album featuring " Cult of Personality,“Vivid , is certified platinum .
1In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
Radio Play Brought This Song To #30 On The Charts
Iron Butterfly is the original arduous alloy one - hit wonder . In 1968 , the 17 - minute epos " In - A - Gadda - district attorney - Vida"ushered in the epoch of punishing metal in the ' 70s and ' 80s . The song solidified the San Diego band ’s place in music history despite the fact that they were never capable to replicate it .
This unlikely hit was a glad accident . The original 17 - minute transcription was just the band electronic jamming on the birdcall while producer Don Casale got his levels . Casale had captured the whole school term , which was never meant to be a birdsong , and thus , " In - A - Gadda - Da - Vida " became a fleck of a prank in the euphony world . Its length gave disc jockeys an extended break on the radio , but this alone is n’t why the song rise to celebrity . Its cardinal Riffian is catchy , but nothing special . It ’s Doug Ingle ’s slurred vocal performance and supremacy of the electronic organ that made this track memorable .
Iron Butterfly may have been a hoarded wealth that the world never got to experience . Only three years after their big hit the banding break up . Their very small bequest did n’t bring well to reunion tours or albums . Most bands that come and go in the blink of an eye do n’t have the staying ability Iron Butterfly reach . Their record album , also titled " In - A - Gadda - Da - Vida , " has run platinum four times over .
source : Loudersound(Bodies),Loudersound(Cult of Personality),Loudwire , Metal Edge , Santa Maria Sun , The Guardian , The Vogue ( Accept),Financial Times , Last.fm , The Gauntlet , Discogs , VinylMe
