WHAT IS THE HEAVIEST BAND OF ALL TIME?

[@eamonnsweeney5744]

The Alice In Chains album is called “Dirt” and the actual title track lyrics are even heavier than “godsmack” arguably. Amazing album and band though. So heavy live too. Thanks for shouting them out.

[@acerimmer8338]

Acid Bubble. Fuck it feels like I'm being crushed by the guitars. They can go heavy either way.

[@frankmorris6765]

I love Alice, and I would agree Dirt is a heavy album that dives deep into a personal hell. Facelift is definitely bluesy. Their self-titled album has a weird sound to it but it works. Listen to Over Now and Jerry’s guitar is out of this world.

[@jadecasssie]

That album is phenomenal

[@SevenIs4514]

Absolutely. Theyre heavy in their own right. Especially to call them grunge since they get lumped together. Definitely the heaviest band in that scene at the time.

[@dannybronx]

There used to be this pro shot live video on KZbin of them opening with “It Ain’t Like That” in a club and it might be the heaviest thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t find it anymore.

[@livetowin8100]

I think another important aspect of Pantera was Phil’s willingness to deliver harsh vocals to really sell their performance. You can hear this on songs like Fucking Hostile, Slaughtered and Suicide note pt 2 where he shrieks and hits high notes that can hurt one’s voice but the way Phil delivered them made the songs even more intense. The downside to this though is that can damage your vocals in the long run which is why he said in interviews he can’t sing Cemetery Gates anymore, but Phil did give us some standout vocals that were blistering and a never ending assault on the listener.

[@GordoDustin]

Pantera shits on modern death metal in my opinion. Open chugs tuned to drop A and low growls don’t make you heavier.

[@93rwolf]

@@GordoDustin It sure does make the music sound heavier though.

[@MURDEROFCROWS-u5k]

@@GordoDustin midtera

[@smp69420]

Nothing is more brutal than Chuck from Death wearing wearing a Kitty T-shirt in an interview

[@jamikatechaos9972]

I could never get into death metal, but I cannot be the only person who dreams of a Cannibal Corpse coloring book.

[@Roses._thornz]

Listen to thrash first

[@jamikatechaos9972]

@@Roses._thornz Any specific band recommendations?

[@whatburnsneverreturns]

@@jamikatechaos9972 not a huge fan of thrash, but listen to Stormtroopers Of Death, one of the only thrash bands I like.

[@scottsummers5751]

And Vince Locke could do the illustrations that would be epic btw maybe you should read A History of Violence

[@kalebseiler8577]

@@jamikatechaos9972 Start with Slayer.

[@KnivingDispodia]

I’ll save you some time: it’s Carly Rae Jepsen.

[@Eragor_]

No it's obviously Taylor Swift dude

[@jorgeoviedo870]

The hell with both of y’all. Ariana Grande is the heaviest nerds

[@Ben.D.Brugger]

@@Eragor_ nah bro it's Skeeter Davis

[@shelbyspeaks3287]

Obviously *red hot chilli peppers* are beyond brutality 😂

[@CaseyEm]

Definitely actually Iamnotshane.

[@miracleofsound]

Strapping Young Lad. Devin's early music was not only sonically crushing & intense, it was emotionally harrowing too. Amazing stuff. Shitstorm, Home Nucleonics, All Hail The New Flesh, Bastard, OMFG... so many beautiful, ear shredding mindfucks.

[@DustyDigits]

Came here to say this...

[@ayranbarbarian]

I think Love? is probably the loudest song I've ever heard at any decibel level.

[@RoTheCrow]

The perfect balance between pretty much everything Finn talks about here imo

[@ogvelociraptor205]

@@ayranbarbarian that was My first thought! That song is heavy as fuck the bass alone is thundering ⛈

[@Grimeyhoob]

Just saw him a few months back in London. Was a beautiful concert. Man is so talented.

[@gloconti]

Pantera was tuning to drop C in 96 with the Great Southern Trendkill… insanely heavy riffs.

[@evalineblair4034]

Godflesh been doing that since the '80s.

[@grimg0r]

they had a song in drop G on the great southern trendkill

[@mramisuzuki6962]

I thought Dimebag was using a voltage regulator? lol such a boomer fix. Haha.

[@chiefbrownfart]

My definition of heavy has definitely changed a lot over the years. Like you said, searching for something heavier and heavier was a part of my life for years. I remember when the OG deathcore stuff started coming out while I was in high school, I was like "this is it, this is the heaviness that I've been looking for." Then lots of the newer bands coming out in the genre started to just blend together and I fell out of love with it. So then it was brutal death metal, then regular death metal, then melo-death and so on. At this point in time I really just enjoy some combination of heavy, fast, melodic, orchestral, lyrically compelling and blending harsh/clean vocals. Even though metal is probably 90% of what I listen to, I still love lots of rap, pop, electronic, country and pretty much anything else to be honest. Lastly I just wanted to throw this out there... the last time I had that traditional "this is as heavy as it gets" feeling was when I heard "Second Death" by Black Tongue. That song absolutely crushed my mind! 🤣

[@thedpsemporiumofdrumtracks5648]

Dude, i have the same story regarding metal. Grew up on suicide silence and the whole deathcore era. It wasn't until i heard black tongue that heaviness got redefined to me.

[@lexidarling]

I definitely agree that groovy, slower, crushing heaviness always ultimately hits harder than just raw noise. I think the ultimate example in my mind would be Black Tongue.

[@Burrrn27]

CROWBAR end of Story.

[@DigitalBath306]

Electric Wizard

[@giantmonsteraftermath6694]

I came to say the same thing. Especially the song, Coma.

[@BlastBeatsFTW]

Yeah I saw black tongue in a small pub in Bolton and people were going hard as fuck because it was so heavy. The owners of the pub had to come out and practically fight the crowd to save the pub and PA from destruction haha

[@theirishpotato6588]

True

[@sceptic8985]

in the wake of Trevor Strnad's suicide some of his lyrics really catch your eye. While he was easily one of death metals best lyricists and storytellers he was also one of the best front men of all time, bringing such passion, joy, and love to the scene. Knowing what we know now and the pain he was in it really brings to light the songs Receipt and To Breathless Oblivion. Receipt has such lyrics as: "Have you ever tasted it? Metallic barrel placed in it? Do you possess the gall to pain all those in life you’ve touched? Failure, I renounce our tenure This venture has drained me I ask thee grant self murder’s bliss My conscience has begged me to end this horrendousness Wrap rope so tightly ‘round my neck and twist Suicide be my guide The only thing I will get right in this life My appeal shall not be denied My place - now secured My home - the other side I never belonged here I never did ask if I could join this world collapsed A hell hath awakened and now I choose sleep So let this razor get the better of me" which genuinely feel as though they are written from a person with those experiences and thoughts. To Breathless Oblivion has the chorus of: "beyond those cursed stars above lies the answer that I seek on the backs of bullets rides my name longing to kiss my cheek resentfully decline retire this hated life without guilt I break these veins carved with salvation's knife" Trevor is a tricky one to ask though because with his knack for lyrics and storytelling its hard to truly know if it was just his raw talent to tell a narrative or if this was where he was at the time. Either way its hard to overstate how heavy TBDM could be.

[@LaughingGhastly]

Agreed 1000%. RIP Trev.

[@VenusenUrano]

I was thinking of TBDM for most part of the video, they check a lot of the boxes… those 9 albums Trevor did are brutal, a perfect mix between cosmic horror, satanic witchery and the dark side of the human mind. R.I.P Trevor Strnad

[@jargonscott]

I always get in arguments with friends over this. I think TBDM is heavier than a lot of their compatriots. The lyrics, the sonic depth of the music, the changes and way it all flows like a story. RIP to one of the best to ever do it.

[@CL053DC45K37]

Trevor was a lyrical genius, the best front man. he conducted thr crowd like a master conductor just working his orchestra. I fully believe it was a combi of a English major with an insane vocabulary and insane talent forestry tell mixed with a man who's been dealing with depression since he was a child. The one thing I know for do sure is this world fucking sucks without him. The Black Dahlia Murder fuckin saved me when I was in the Army and had all that shit hanging on me. Thr Black Dahlia Murder are the heaviest band because they have everything, insane vocals, melodic rhythm, super fast drums, amazing guitar work, and the best vocals of any band.

[@VenusenUrano]

@@CL053DC45K37 totally second that motion! and believe me when I say that I’d tried tones of bands and styles of metal searching for the heavyest of heavys but always come back to The Boys. HEARTBURN FOREVER!

[@Andrew_Haase]

Hard to find but Deeds of Flesh - Human Sandbags was a truly unique blend of the aspects mentioned …Same with Suffocation- Effigy of the Forgotten…Can’t leave out early Pyrexia too

[@lanagievski1540]

Really appreciated the Life Of Agony mention at the end there. They're pretty heavy yet don't get regarded as such cause the vocals are grungy so it's nice to see some love for them

[@zombiescott2629]

Acid Bath is heavy in several aspects that you spoke on. There are heavy parts in the music and it is definitely lyrically heavy. One of my favorites!

[@albertopinto1365]

Bro Amputated is the heaviest band I’ve ever heard Slam pig hits and skullfuck Lobotomy

[@oisac3223]

Acid bath is amazing rip audie pitre

[@antoinemall7585]

That is exactly what I was going to write! Acid Bath does it musically and lyrically. Even their acoustic songs like "Bones of Baby Dolls" and "New Death Sensation" have some of the heaviest lyrics I've heard! Good point, dude!

[@geoffmoore1828]

I knew Dax Riggs a little bit back in the day. He’s a kind soul who loves to cook.

[@DrowningMoon]

All their lyrics are constantly edgy and disturbing af (even worse when the kite string pops is based on irl events) and they all play amazingly and dax vocals are arguably the best in the genre

[@MrAaron194]

I think you hit it with the contrast argument. “This Love” by Pantera was the first song I personally heard were the singing and tempo changed so drastically and it sounded so insane to me at the time.

[@freedomhardly]

The minute that elitists shit on this album (which absolutely has one of the all time greatest opening tracks, ever)? Was the second I recognized just how fucked the metal scene could be. And I was literally 12, at that time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/goe1dn6Li7eie7M

[@tastefulsubstance]

5 Minutes Alone as well

[@nomdeguerre8464]

@@freedomhardly also, a great FU to those very critics. My favorite album by them by far. Underrated.

[@andrewgreen9612]

Pantera. Full stop. Perfect balance of all the criteria you were considering at the start of the video.

[@adamstanleydrummer7532]

@@tastefulsubstance the breakdown of that song is super fucking heavy and is pretty simple. Gets me every time.

[@stoicavo6533]

As ridiculous as this might sound, for me Dethklok is up there for alot of the combined reasons you mentioned. Their contrast between melody and crushing riffs, groove, fluctuating tempos, the way Gene Hoglans drum patterns (cmon, its gene hoglan) mesh in sync with the riffs and the overall musicality to it just get me going much harder than any of the brutal bands out there. Despite them being a joke / parody, their music is unironically some of the best out there to my ears.

[@ALL_that_ENDS]

Goddamn right.. Brendan small, gene hoglan, Brian.. Amazing

[@KingpinCarlito]

Brutal

[@MSL1976]

Chimaera is an excellent band. One of my favourites. Well balanced riffs, heavy, intelligent lyrics and just enough rock mixed in to make it very accessible.

[@MrFrigid247]

Pass out of existence is a masterpiece.

[@briantheforrest]

I think the band that really needed mentioned at the end was Knocked Loose. They're the perfect blend of emotionally driven, lyrically intense, disgustingly heavy music there is. A Tear in the Fabric of Life wraps up so much of the stuff you mentioned in this video into one borderline perfect EP.

[@amanonfire4451]

Knocked Loose is insane. I thought Shade of Blue was the heaviest they can go. But their latest EP blew me away. Bryan is easily one of my top fav vocalists

[@jellosapiens7261]

Couldn't agree more

[@lordvladimir4440]

Fuck knocked loose

[@harveywolfe7288]

Damned Earth might be the heaviest sounding song. Gritty crushing production.

[@Grimeyhoob]

Great band Knocked Loose. I would also say Gatecreeper. They are death metal and they are great. Has the best parts of Morbid Angel and Pantera somehow. It’s got groove and the vocals are not ridiculously guttural, but somewhere between a Randy Blythe and a John Tardy.

[@noizetrauma242]

Godflesh is my personal pick. I get that they may not be the "heaviest" nowadays, but their influence is inarguable. Kirk Hammet even called them the heaviest band of all time. When I'm in the mood for a heavy album, nothing beats Streetcleaner. Older Gojira comes closer than most, though.

[@harveywolfe7288]

I was thinking Godflesh and Neurosis. Not as dynamic as others, but CRUSHING.

[@mhh7544]

Jep

[@mhh7544]

@@harveywolfe7288 🤘

[@nonservitium]

Indeed...streetcleaner ftw... and Jesu

[@jamielawrence7217]

I saw them 3 times waaaay back in the day, one of those times was a religious experience. I saw their actual first show in the States and it was really bad. They had equipment and sound man issues and wound up walking off the stage after the second song. "Godflesh don't hear, Godflesh don't play" and walked off. So disappointing but understandable.

[@thericos7960]

Great video, just surprised you didn't mentionned the math core/tech metal genre as Dillinger Escape Plan, Psyopus, Tony Danza Tapdance Extravangaza , The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Ion Dissonance, The Chariot, Carbomb, Frontierer, etc

[@oldmangroom]

Bolt Thrower. I continue to be genuinely astounded by how under-appreciated they are.

[@mistertagomago7974]

Bolt Thrower is the ultimate Death metal band imo.

[@kimonryu1]

I love that band.

[@VI-cb7eu]

bolt thrower is soooo good

[@adamstanleydrummer7532]

Heaviness is the combination of tone and intent. Outside of those things it becomes a little like sports; once the emotional impact is eschewed in favour of prowess and very “meta” heaviness techniques, it just stops being heavy and becomes about tropes.

[@colico14]

Solid insight. Really spot on. Thanks!

[@Shad0wProphet]

I am shocked you didn’t mention Korn “Daddy” as one of hardest songs, lyrically, just on the fact that it took him decades to even go back and play that song live. He was reliving all that trauma and pain, an they still put it on their CD. Your videos are amazing, an totally agree that what makes a bad hard is not always who can play the fastest.

[@Cr0wsMurd3r]

Yup... That is indeed a heavy song. Especially if you see it live, or live recording.

[@Shad0wProphet]

@@Cr0wsMurd3r totally agree. Coming from someone who, did not suffer sexual trauma, but physical, it really speaks and allows you to vent your own anger. Sometimes it is hard to list to that some, depending on my mood.

[@Julius1997.]

Especially the "you raped!, i feel dirty" part, the vocals&guitar are beyond heavy

[@jamesgarzo6967]

Was actually waiting for Korn to be mentioned on that last section.

[@hrotha]

There was this Spanish nu metal band called Skunk DF that came out with what was very obviously a "Daddy"-inspired song in 1999, but without the personal story instead of being super bleak and heavy it was kinda like just a protest song against child abuse, like someone needed to make a stand against that. I always found that darkly funny

[@insign7095]

No one I know seems to agree with me but "A New Level" is the heaviest song I''ve personally heard. That main chromatic riff hits me like a truck every time.

[@jeffpoeppel7270]

AMEN!!!

[@xxxjustin9115]

A NEW LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE

[@selkoafparamo]

JD on Korn’s selftitled.. THAT’s fucking heavy. The anger, the crying, the screaming, the growling, the lyrics, the sobbing, the imagery, the drugs, the producer who triggered JD, and 20+ years later making amends with the past.. That’s brutal af.

[@Trixiethegoldenwitch]

My favorite "heavy by way of overwhelming detail" style death metal band is Weeping Birth, a one-dude project from a dude better known for also being Mirrorthrone (similar sound but black metal instead of death). It doesn't attempt to sound in any way real--everything is obviously digital besides the guitar, but it's all pushed to a beyond-human intensity that uses the inhumanity to contribute to just how overwhelming and chaotic the sound is. It finds a way to actually sound somewhat unclean and insane even though you know every note had to have been specifically placed. On the sludge-heavy side, Gojira's To Sirius is my singular go-to track. The riffs are just so fucking good.

[@MisterButterfingers]

That entire Gojira album was life changing for me when I first heard it.

[@meowtherainbowx4163]

I definitely think bands sound heaviest and most interesting when they either go raw and real, like playing an album live off the floor with minimally edited overdubs, or when they go the opposite route and make something batty and insane on a computer that you could never conceive of just by jamming with guitars and drums. A lot of bands take the boring middle route of editing and computerizing everything to be super precise but still using arrangements and techniques that a skilled live band could pull off.

[@trentreznorsnose]

Mirrorthrone is criminally underrated

[@DiscipleFiveActual]

Cattle Decapitation satisfies a lot of your main criteria. They have that contrast to which you were referring in the middle of the vid in which you mentioned Suffocation and "Thall", and not to mention they achieve this by tuning to E flat standard. Travis Ryan can easily compete with the deathcore vocalists you mentioned thereafter (and his "cleans" add to the aforementioned contrast) that are in that arms race of vocal extremity (if anything, I'd say he is the most obvious influence on Will Ramos just by listening). Lastly, they satisfy your criteria of lyrical heaviness because while they don't write about incredibly personal subjects we can all relate to, they write about humanity's ecological choices in a very compelling way, and there are certain select songs that can make you emotional (see Lifestalker, Your Disposal, Pacific Grim, and the title track of Death Atlas, for example).

[@christhjian9923]

Good band, I should revisit these guys.

[@editorrbr2107]

They’re my contender ATM for heaviest band on the planet. They are certainly one of the most interesting

[@twelvegaugeslug7840]

Cattle Decap is not the heaviest band there is, and even jokingly entertaining that they might be, it wouldn't be Death Atlas.

[@JK-gm6kk]

RIP Gabe Serbian

[@93rwolf]

Cattle decap is absolutely amazing and my favorite band. Monolith to Humanity checks off so many boxes in terms of heaviness. Maybe not the heaviest band of all time but they are up there for sure. Insanely fast and intense parts along with crushing slams and weird time change ups and an awesome vocal contrast make them stand out. Truly an amazing band and some of the best death metal ever made imo.

[@nom5358]

may i humbly suggest Thou? the combo of pure, crushing tone, diaphragm-ripping vocals, acerbic lyrics, and how the band locks into rhythms to play with this unstoppable synergistic energy at both crawling and bracing tempos is just crazy. i think it goes way beyond “does this sound filthy/extreme”, though they are extremely filthy.

[@givemefreebeers6718]

I was looking for this comment. Thou and Amenra are the heaviest to me. The best way I can describe it is "crushing".

[@MrShadez810]

Really enjoyed this video dude, great conversation that delves into the true “heavy” discussion. So many metalheads think heavy is just as noisy, fast, distorted and growly as possible but I think there’s so much more to it and this was a great watch. Found myself saying “exactly! Thank you!” About 12 times 😂

[@dannorris642]

So glad you mentioned Crowbar. They're one of my favorite metal bands. I love how Kirk and the boys are all about playing low and slow in a way that works through the misery, rather than wallowing it, like so many of their sludgy peers.

[@UKBornin1971]

Bingo!👍🏾

[@axeltejeda175]

Check out the band Stressball, they sound like Crowbar, and came out of Louisiana around the same time

[@jakeybball]

@@axeltejeda175 just checked them out… maybe if they weren’t playing through a Marshall practice amp it would be a bit more bearable. Sounds like the worst parts of acid bath lol.

[@frankiesparks2868]

They have plenty of songs that speed up the tempo for a good mosh. Going to see them for the first time right down the road this month. Been listening since 98.

[@UKBornin1971]

@@frankiesparks2868 Going to see them July 30th, been listening since '95, can't wait!

[@5ycey7.n.84]

To me botch is one of the heaviest bands. Their grooves and breakdowns almost force movement. Loads of contrast and unpredictable switches from fast to slow and quiet to loud. Also it all has a very human feel which as a musician I find quite impressive and is more often than not lost in music that focuses that much on technicality.

[@nicholasromig5506]

oh man, the breakdown/solo part on C. Thomas Howell As The Soul Man is merciless. that double tapped solo is unlike anything I've ever heard, and then the vocals come roaring back in...

[@alextrainor2552]

Im gonna say this and probably get laughed at but Slipknot has the heaviest of all time title in my opinion. What they did on their first two albums are flawless and brought in a new breath of fresh air for extreme metal. Their contribution to extreme metal is even more so than metallica's for thrash. Slipknot is so far ahead of everyone else in the extreme metal category, metallica is relatively loved as much as megadeth, slayer, etc. The music they put on the self titled and iowa is unmatched. Theres nothing else out there that has the passion and darkness behind it like iowa.

[@sintomas]

This video presents a nice way to analyze, appreciate and classify bands in different levels of 'heaviness'. It success in opening a friendly debate, in which everyone will 'throw' out there, their favorites heaviest bands. Many interesting playlists could be generated based on the selected criteria of 'heaviness'.

[@inaudiblenoise9668]

I really like how you've explored heaviness beyond the typical tropes (blastbeats, growls, etc.), I think The Downward Spiral is a great example of an album that is heavy but not in the traditional way, first of all it's a concept album about a man giving up all hope and descending into insanity, you have songs like Mr Self Destruct and March of the Pigs that are fast and aggressive with the noisey industrial stuff (forgive my lack of music terminology) adding a whole other dimension to it, tracks like Piggy or Closer which are groovy but with very eery unsettling lyrics and Hurt which is probably the most depressing song ever written, and when you consider that Trent Reznor was a heroin addict when writing it and it was recorded in the same house that the Tate murders took place you end up with an album that is genuinely quite uncomfortable to listen to and provokes a very weird emotional reaction.

[@emoishguy08]

I also like the Song Somewhat Damaged for this reason as well. The way the song makes you feel like you’re descending into madness with the singer is always cathartic for me.

[@dinothegonzo]

Eraser and Mr Self Destruct are so heavy that they should be industrial metal rather than rock. Also, I love TDS but I cannot listen to it anymore because the theme is too much.

[@5ycey7.n.84]

Downward Spiral is more of a classic for sure, but I'd say Broken is the heavier album sound wise and still has a lot of the same unsettling nature as tds. It blew my mind back when I was on the quest for unconventional heaviness.

[@inaudiblenoise9668]

@@5ycey7.n.84 I just thought that TDS showed a bit more contrast between different displays of heaviness, only slightly though, Broken is the one I revisit more often tbh, it's an industrial metal masterpiece and quite an extreme EP in its own kinda way

[@inaudiblenoise9668]

@ghost mall Somehow I never noticed that's what the sample was haha, but yeah so many bands have tried to do what NIN do but none as well as Trent Reznor, the guy is a genius.

[@thelittleowl1]

I’ll happily listen to Finn talking about anything tbh. He always makes it interesting and throws a few jokes in.

[@thelittleowl1]

@ghost mall he’s annoying but he makes fair points lol

[@nickcarroll3425]

Electric Wizard likes to coin themselves the heaviest band ever and I can't disagree

[@givemefreebeers6718]

Electric Wizard's riffs are not talked about enough in my opinion

[@geoffgero6081]

No mention of funeral doom is sad. Ahab, Bell Witch, and Esoteric are some of the heaviest music I've ever heard. When I saw Bell Witch live my whole body shook from the vibration of the riffs and pummeling of the drums

[@bignoize23]

Ahab is awesome, gonna check out Bell Witch. Have you heard Abandon, Mournful Congregation, or Loss?

[@MrMetalMan]

I grew up listening to grunge, which I never thought of as "heavy" until recently. Like you said, it's not all about blast beats and toilet vocals. The lyrics and imperfections attributes to the rawness/heaviness of the music. When I heard Korn's first record, it blew my mind. THAT was heavy as hell. The lyrical content was extreme, the vocals were unlike anything I've ever heard, and the instruments were raw, yet groovy as hell. From there I guess I've had that "natural" heavy growth and started enjoying the metalcore and deathcore scenes. Today I give almost any type of music a shot. And bands like Lamb of God, Lorna Shore and Gorjira are some of my favorites, and they are all super heavy. But I still enjoy (or long for?) That old school Raw, heavy shit that was the groundwork for my tastes today. I still revisit Korn, Alice in Chains and Nirvana on the regular, because it just hits the heavy spot sometimes when my favorite modern bands don't.

[@MrSherlockDomes]

Check out Admiral Angry for some raw just downright crushing heaviness. Most of them members are in Black Wall Sheep and their first 3 albums are also intense.

[@nasserbukhari9513]

@ghost mall Yea alot of Nirvana's songs off In Uterus were pretty heavy.

[@bobtheboozer9452]

Lamb of gods 11th hour. The lyrics are about an alcoholic on his deathbed. So dark and heavy and relatable. Also knowing Randy’s relationship with alcohol at that time it hits so hard knowing this came a from a deep place within him

[@Gwunhar]

Really fascinating to bring Alice in Chains into this as just last week I wanted something crushing and heavy and angry and that's what hit the top of my list. Really listening to AiC is some dark shit, man.

[@JoelWilliamb]

Gotta throw Admiral Angry in there. I don't know if the lyrics and just insane feeling of torment that comes out in the vocals, is directly because of what Daniel was going through prior to his passing but every song hits hard on that album Buster. Disembodied too. Heroin Fingers coming out in 99 sounding a full decade early.

[@xangrycatmanx5104]

The disembodied ep came out in 97, actually

[@bigridge717]

Dying Fetus is the best band I have ever seen live. Absolutely perfect execution.

[@176Znarf]

Seen them 2 weeks ago and it was the most brutal concert I've ever been to. Truly godlike. My neck hurt for 3 days after the show.

[@bryceharney5960]

Not to be "that guy" but Godsmack was on AIC's album "Dirt". It was the song that created Godsmack the band. Edit: what makes a band heavy to me is confronting real life problems with realistic approaches and the vocalist at least understanding that they are not a God.

[@MofosOfMetal]

I was looking around to see if there was 'that guy' so I didn't have to be 'that guy' haha.

[@comraderaptor4996]

This was fantastically done Finn, with some very valid points as always! I think even a lot of metal heads will assume or agree that down-tuning and grunts = heavy. My pals and I discussed this once, and Gallows (Frank Carter era), especially Orchestra of Wolves, recorded in a bedroom, it has that energy and vibe, pure anger and chaos, with some of the heaviest feels I've ever listened to and felt. I think other genres can definitely hit heavy without the typically assumed criteria!

[@evasoulja]

The real heavy was the friends we made along the way

[@JMPK23]

Always makes my day better when I see a Punk Rock MBA video. Keep up the great work Finn. You're awesome. I've recently gained an appreciation for suicide silence. I never cared for deathcore (liked a song here and there), but looking back on them, they definitely paved a way for a generation.

[@lightningmonky7674]

I feel bad for anyone who doesn't like deathcore

[@JMPK23]

@@lightningmonky7674 I've honestly tried. It has a lot of elements in metal I like. The songs where the drums are louder than the guitars ruin it for me. If I here the cymbals overpowering the guitar, I just can't listen to it. Ive ran into a lot of deathcore like it. Don't get me wrong. I respect the genre though

[@Gerd0]

@@lightningmonky7674 I'm open minded about it, but more often than not I find it to be just a worse version of Cryptopsy or Aborted with breakdowns that just kill the pace of the song through a chuggy riff or bog standard slammy brutal death metal riff. Though I do find myself digging some of the more symphonic or blackened deathcore bands that have been popping up lately.

[@lightningmonky7674]

@@Gerd0 that's pretty funny cause that's the kind of deathcore I stay away from 😭🤣 different strokes for different folks I guess. And yeah aborted's old stuff is pretty cool but I really haven't liked the second half of their career has sounded really boring to me

[@NapoleonBlownapartMMA]

I always found slower, sludgier metal to be the heaviest stuff i could think of. I dont really like Morbid Angel but God of emptiness is like an auditory lead blanket. Having said that i recently discovered Lux tenebris by The Secret and its the heaviest Black Metal ive heard

[@Cheeseburger.Launch.Sequence]

I said it above. Corrupted. Band makes people feel ill live.

[@broccoli919]

Heaviest shit ever: 1994’s Blue Album

[@kaiisth]

i be saying this but nobody listens🤷🏾

[@jaygreene1525]

The Crowbar vocal at 9:32 sounds like a dude unexpectedly throwing out his back picking up a pen

[@pauliewalnuts829]

Korn gets a lot of shit but you can't tell me that their first 2 albums aren't insanely heavy. The guitar tone is brutal. The atmosphere and lyrics are really dark. Lyrics about real personal shit. My favorite Korn album is Follow the Leader but the first 2 are just insane.

[@Bungletronics]

No

[@Bungletronics]

@@AgentBeans just no. No Korn they’re god damn terrible. I’m sorry. I don’t find them to be heavy by any means

[@Bungletronics]

@@AgentBeans hey, you can like whatever you like. No need to justify it to a stranger on the internet

[@pauliewalnuts829]

@@Bungletronics Korn isn't your cup of tea. That's cool with me. Some have different definitions of what heavy is.

[@Gojihead1]

I feel that Godflesh definitely needs to be in this conversation

[@gaaradei]

Thank you Finn for finally showing the many faces of "heavy". I think for me a band that's heavy will pummel you into some form of state of mind, whether through motion or stillness. In this context my brain usually goes to slower bands like Humanity's Last Breath or something more on the doom side, with shoegaze and post-metal being heavy in an overwhelming almost oceanic sense. For example: bands like Bell Witch get me because you can sit there and listen to 1 hour and 23 minutes of not only riffs but a literal tribute to the life of a man who passed on before his time. Sure you get the whole magic and occult angle, but it makes that fantasy more tangible when relating to how we've dealt with tragedy over time.

[@Jacob_the_Dabbler]

It's so interesting that what makes the heaviest band is in the eye of the beholder. The heaviest song in the world for me is Dracula with sunglasses by Burnt by the sun, but I know so many people would disagree but it's just what tickles that brutal itch for me

[@NeoSnooginzGonzo]

Acacia Strain has always been the heaviest band I’ve listened to. The lyrics and how Vincent delivers them, coupled with the guttural chug of the instruments. Lines like “Not even your children are safe” and “This is how the world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper”. It may not work for everybody, but I dig it.

[@drakenn342]

There’s no heavy quite like Acacia Strain heavy

[@charliekirkpatrick695]

I feel like since DL left they've lost some impact, but still hit like a truck. Dead walk/Continent/Wormwood are 3 of my fave albums from anyone ever.

[@NeoSnooginzGonzo]

@@charliekirkpatrick695 I’ve noticed that too. I still enjoyed the most recent stuff, but it definitely is lacking in places compared to their earlier work.

[@evanlitvak2234]

@@charliekirkpatrick695 what a fuckin era. Saw em half a dozen times back then and it was always insane

[@AndrewJShirley]

JFC! I know others will argue other tracks are heavier, but it's JFC for me. Fucking hell.

[@martinjohansson203]

I feel that Meshuggah will always be the heaviest band out there. It's just something with their sound that is untouchable, just take clockworks or born in dissonance for example, it hits like a truck in the face. And, the album(The violent sleep of reason) is recorded live so there is that too.

[@V2ULTRAKill]

Listen to Mass Worship Theyre literally heavier meshuggah

[@stronk9760]

They got the groove and heaviness down

[@silvercloud1641]

Meshuggah is not only as heavy as you can get short of crossing over into death metal. But, similar to Pantera, they also created their own unique groove. Not sure if there's a #1 but they are one of the best of all time.

[@williamkoscielniak7871]

"Nothing" and "Catch 33" in particular are heavy as fuck.

[@blasteffect19]

Totally agree with you good sir, was searching for a comment like yours :D

[@asmresonance6072]

Haven't heard a song heavier than "Observer" by Acacia Strain. Pure gold. Change my mind.

[@BradleyRegister]

“Just One Fix” by Ministry is the heaviest song of all time IMO… from the weight of the lyrics to that punishing guitar line it’s got my vote.

[@dasenase]

The Cleansing is the best deathcore album. The magic from that live recording is unmatched in the entire genre.

[@RichardDeBerryOfficial]

I've only listened to a few deathcore bands because they all sound very cheesy, and they all sound so similar. The Cleansing was actually really good though, and definitely my favorite deathcore album.

[@okaight7248]

untouchable IMO. Focused on simple gross stank face riffs and no melodeath influences. Too much deathcore has the melodeath or the technicality which just makes it less heavy lol.

[@shadowedlvnar1635]

Not even close... Mitch isn't a god yk

[@seanyk3]

That album is the epitome of deathcore for me. The production sounds perfect and the fact that it's live makes it even more amazing. Raw, harsh and heavy af

[@AlexGreat321]

I prefer The Black Crown but The Cleansing is still brilliant

[@drakenn342]

What you mentioned about emotion is why Slipknot’s first two albums are still to this day so heavy to me. It’s not a particular technique or style, just that they go in there and let it all out. So much hate, pain, and sorrow thrown in a blender and put on a tape. So even if you don’t know the stories they’re telling, you can FEEL them. Another thing I like is the fact that Corey’s vocals are a lot easier to understand than typical death metal. Rather than thinking it sounds like a demon, or bowel movements, it just sounds like a dude suffering. Because that’s what it is. And lastly, as you mentioned, dynamics play a part too. They allow some down time, and even throw in a melody here and there, which make it hit harder when the crunch comes back in. Aight, that’s enough for now.

[@pay_no_mind69]

felt the same exact feeling with Korn's self titled years ago

[@austinlawler3739]

Their self titled album was recorded as a band live. That's part of the reason its so heavy. I forgot who in the band said it, but Ross Robinson was screaming in their face, hitting them, and do other stuff when they were recording. So he was just amping them up. Having them all in the same room, all playing together, and with Ross fucking with them definitely made it a lot harder sounding. Just a great album as a whole.

[@mother-chugger]

Scissors, off of slipknot's self titled album, is probably the heaviest track I can honestly think of. So raw, deeply sad lyrics, and a vocal performance so aggressive that Corey couldn't take it and started puking. That's fucking heavy to me.

[@reloadedpage8222]

I agree so much and it kinda pisses me off when people say slipknot fans are just too weak for death metal, I love death metal and death core, but tracks like sic, eyeless, surfacing and heretic anthem are just more heavy In my opinion

[@masterknife8423]

@@mother-chugger Scissors is hands down the best track on the whole album imo

[@nightpandas7178]

Music starts on the second note, dynamics is everything

[@Exeonz]

Full of Hell, Portrayal of Guilt, Youth Novel, Eyelet, Supine, Knoll

[@notsiptydipty3916]

I totally agreed with this whole video, I think musically the groove stuff and anything with breakdowns is extremely heavy because of the primal reaction we have to the space between notes. I think your example for Alice in chains is a bit odd (the album is dirt not Godsmack btw) I think the opening version of nutshell at MTV unplugged is crushingly depressing as Layne was litterally dying and singing about dying alone. I think bell witch combines both deep depressing reality with crushing musicianship and is the best example imo. While you can't exactly hear the vocals, the actual bass and drum combo envokes such despair that I felt my body go limp when I heard them for the first time, you can really hear the sound of someone who's lost a friend on their album mirror reaper and it's the heaviest shit musically and lyrically. Also numb little bug is an amazing song, it's so relateable yet catchy kinda like hey ya by Outkast

[@charliekirkpatrick695]

Bell Witch are fantastic, Mirror Reaper is how I first heard them, awesome band.

[@nicholasromig5506]

@ghost mall the time signature on this is so weird, it really makes you feel kind of rushed despite not being that fast.

[@nicholasromig5506]

@@charliekirkpatrick695 oh man, Bell Witch are amazing, especially when you consider that it's just bass, drums and vocals. occasional keys on the quiet parts.

[@VitrificationOfBlood]

All y’all need some Primitive Man, and Dragged into Sunlight, and Demelich

[@Christian-vq8rd]

Primitive Man is disturbing

[@iachtulhu1420]

@@Christian-vq8rd All of them are, in their own unique way.

[@mightycaine8254]

Pantera managed to combine every instrument / vocal to just tap into a human primal nerve. Anger, confidence, passion, pain and groove that is hard to resist, even my wife cant deny a bit of cowboys. 5 mins alone was my walk in music for every fight I had. Felt amazing to hear those drums kick in and see the faces of the normies. Loved connecting with the handful of metal heads after each fight over shared love of music. . It somehow feels heavier than all the pig snorting and blast beats in the world.

[@jeffpoeppel7270]

Absolutely!

[@dylanhurley4551]

They were very heavy for their time but they get swallowed by bands like Meshuggah and Gojira. That Gojira riff right after Pantera made Pantera sound like basic thrash by comparison, insane chugs.

[@mightycaine8254]

@dylanhurley4551 true true, but the groove, oh yeah the groove.

[@dylanhurley4551]

@@mightycaine8254 Hey don't get me wrong it's still quality music, and it's definitely still heavy, it just doesn't hold up from a "heaviness" aspect compared to some newer bands is all. No shame in not chugging as heavy as Gojira.

[@jesseberend2588]

Great video. I find King 810 to be extremely heavy. The guitars and his voice are heavy as fuck sonically, the theatrics of some of the sounds they incorporate add a heavy dynamic, along with the empty space in their songs, but what really makes them heavy is the lyrical content and the authenticity of it. I Absolutely agree that lyrical content can really 'make' a song truely heavy.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Especially how "super brutal" death metal stops being heavy. It just turns into a wall of noise and is practically relaxing at a certain point! I think if I had to pick one band as "the heaviest band" it would probably be The Acacia Strain, for the reasons you listed. They have incredible contrast including speed, grooves, brutality, soft parts, etc. And that contrast combined with the sound and tone of their vocals and instruments makes them very heavy for me. I think to an extent, Spiritbox is up there too, because their guitars are tuned down ridiculously low (which doesn't always mean heavy) and Courtney's vocals are so raw, combined with the fact that they have a lot of contrast and a lot of ambient/noise stuff in the background that makes the whole thing feel heavy in an ethereal way. Obviously there are many bands you could consider heavy and I'm sure I'll change my mind later, but that's where my head is at right now.

[@OldRasputin]

When it comes to "heavy", Crowbar always comes to mind. Listening to them just feels like raw impact. Another few bands to take that even a step further are Primitive Man and Thou.

[@ManuSDP]

It’s absolutely Crowbar. I listen to plenty brutal death metal but Crowbar hits different

[@blackbeansmatter1280]

Crowbar is serious fat metal.

[@keithclayton1271]

Crowbar totally deserve to be on the list of all time.

[@rscottclark]

No idea how "Primitive Man" isn't the final answer to this video's query

[@nomdeguerre8464]

Honorable mention to CoC

[@geoffmoore1828]

Norma Jean recorded “Bless The Martyr, Kiss The Child” live in studio as well.

[@benjaminhould627]

Love that you play the song you talk about right after you mention them. Dont ever stop doing that.

[@defunctworld]

Heaviness is very subjective. From a purely music perspective Ulcerate, Nails, Trap Them and other bands like that hit me very hard, while from a lyrical bands like Blacklisted and other hardcore bands do it for me. With a mix of emotional lyrics and heavy music there is a great variety of bands and genres like Whirr, Nothing, Deafheaven and especially Oathbreaker with their album Rheia, which hit everybody in the emotional guts that I talked to about it.

[@jamielawrence7217]

Bolt Thrower, especially Realm of Chaos. One of the few bands to never make a terrible album.

[@nomdeguerre8464]

Agreed. I still prefer Those Once Loyal.

[@iamnotanumber100]

I was lucky enough to see them in the 90’s as a wide eyed young teenager, what a band.

[@jamielawrence7217]

@@iamnotanumber100 Same, I saw them on the War Master tour and they were amazing IMO.

[@callum9693]

How many albums would you say you have to release to be on that list?

[@jamielawrence7217]

@@callum9693 Probably only 3 or 4, haha. IMO, most bands release something embarrassing after only a couple of albums.

[@Zer0Mat8c]

The Rot Within by Bound In Fear is the hardest song I've ever heard.

[@Tminus89]

Ion dissonance is also very heavy, great band. If you like Vildhjarta, this will probably also be to your liking

[@salsamonkey65]

Dynamics are super important in music. One of my all time favorite metal albums is The Satanist by Behemoth, which is pretty sparse at times, but those moments of downtime make the heavy sections feel so much better.

[@keithclayton1271]

Yep that's another heavy ass album. I saw Behemoth live with Danzig, Blackest of the Black, and they're one of the heaviest I've ever seen. Blew me away.

[@LuisMendez-uk2zo]

I think bands that can really display their dynamic range are heavier because they create the contrast for you to experience.

[@keithclayton1271]

Wow Finn, great video! So glad you mentioned Crowbar, Lamb of God, Suffocation and Nile. LoG is the most brutal pit I've ever been in when they toured with Slayer in like 2007. Crowbar so amazingly great and underrated to this day. A couple I think worthy of mention are of course Sabbath and Heaven and Hell (H&H are so heavy omg), Extermination Dismemberment, and Strapping Young Lad like omg so heavy af. Also wanted to mention that Ministry, NIN and Marilyn Manson, though not really known for sheer heaviness, have a handful of some of the heaviest songs I think I've ever heard... no mention of industrial metal in this vid.

[@R0B3RTP4UL50N]

I listen to all kinds of different genres and Acacia Strain has to be one of the heaviest bands ever. Like when I think extremely heavy I think Acacia Strain, Humanities Last Breath, Napalm Death, Hate Eternal, Blood Incantation, Sanguisugabogg, Rotten Sound and at times Meshuggah. Early Decapitated too.

[@jessepetry2325]

With what you talked about near the end with the content of the lyrics, I'd have to say daddy from Korn.

[@truthseeker5120]

For me deathcore and groove is what I would call heavy. Gojira for sure is top notch heavy(not sure why but they just are). Lyrics and emotion can make song just as heavy for example: "daddy" by Korn or "love hate love" by Alice in Chains. Hell i remember watching "murder song" by Aurora and holy shit that was heavy and its far from metal. Dissonance definitely helps too.

[@tatoarg9508]

Musically speaking I think Meshuggah came up with something that can be called structural heaviness. The overlapping of complex patterns (voice included as an instrument) in different rhythm structures, modes and/or keys, without losing the sense of groove and natural flow is unique to them. The guitar solos are angular and free, for a contrast too. That and JUTE GYTE. Micro-tones are the new heavy arrows.

[@michaelbannan9972]

Meshuggah is one of the heaviest bands imo. They're like a giant block of iron being dropped on your head. There's an elemental brutality about them that just can't be matched.

[@ryd8r257]

The breakdown of 5 minutes alone by pantera hits truly hard

[@Lil_Dees_Nuts]

Extermination dismemberment is the heaviest band

[@ryanh3635]

On the Suicide Silence note, i'd love to see a video on the Mitch Lucker tribute show. That might be an interesting deep dive as to who was featured, and why. That is actually how I found out about Myke Terry, his cover of Distruction of a Statue

[@rubievale]

I happened upon a song called Blasphemian, by Infant Annihilator recently and, once I'd recovered from the shock, I decided that it was hands down the heaviest thing I'd ever heard. It's 7 minutes of unrelenting brutality

[@hemlocke7359]

Agreed but they’re not mainstream so nobody cares lmao.

[@andrewthompson1853]

As soon as this video popped up I was like hmmm it’s gotta be infant 😂 Aborted would be there, annotations of an autopsy as well (they’re a different heavy)

[@hazyfupayme]

Infant Annihilator should def be discussed more in this convo..

[@cowsdotricks]

If you mean the unhinged madness, train coming off the track straight from hell era of complete devastation, then yes it's Cannibal Corpse.

[@blueshattrick]

Dude, you nailed it. When you combine the music itself + the subject matter, NOTHING you'll ever hear is "heavier" from a real life perspective than Dirt by AiC

[@IanEskelson]

I have to give a shout out to Zao - "Where Blood & Fire Bring Rest". That album is just full of agony, betrayal and hopelessness + the heaviness of the music & delivery. Zao has always been a favorite of mine for the genuine emotion through their music. That band has a long past of painful stories.

[@nonamelegend_vapor]

Preach! Zao is my personal favorite metal band of all time

[@dynamicdingus]

I've been loving the band Vitriol. I keep going back to their song "The parting of a neck." It's got agonizing vocals, crazy blast beats, evil sounding guitar, a rlly cool guitar solo.

[@GrandPapa16]

Hunt those who run!

[@eugenemonfourny6119]

I feel that metal just became a "who's heaviest contest". I like when bands (like Gojira) innovates without pushing the limits further than ever

[@The1920sChannel]

You can't headbang very well with constant blast beats, or at least it's not nearly as satisfying as doing it with the bands who have a heavy groove. And in my opinion, the headbang test is one of the most important qualifications for determining overall heaviness.

[@Jivenugget]

Being in the mosh on a scorching hot day at a festival hearing Knocked Loose play Mistakes Like Fractures for the first time having never heard the band really opened my eyes to what heavy is. The place was torn apart, every single person was sunburnt and dehydrated and still the mosh exploded like a sea of pure aggression! I’ve been to a lot of metal gigs over the last 15 years I’ll never forget that feeling 👌🏼 KL seem to have bottled some key ingredients to what makes a track sound and feel heavy.

[@sebastianmuglia7451]

Yes sir

[@christlevania5933]

I love Suffocation. However, I'd say Mortician is one of the heaviest of old school death metal.

[@keithclayton1271]

I saw Suffocation live and they were great.

[@christlevania5933]

@@keithclayton1271 Agreed. I saw them many times in NYC, especially B.B. Kings.

[@keithclayton1271]

@@christlevania5933 oh nice :) I only saw them once, in Dallas with Shadows Fall.

[@Zakillah]

Yeah, those mid tempo grooves from Mortician are heavy as fuck.

[@mistertagomago7974]

Rose Rose - Brutalize was imo the heaviest death metal album.

[@mordt4889]

Really an incredible video, where the topic is considered from all sides. What comes to my mind on the subject of hard lyrics: Nihilist by ARCHITECTS. The lyrics completely blew me away the first time I heard them. You can literally feel the anger towards humanity. Or only the names by MACHINE HEAD, which has a real narrative structure including a plot twist. And on the subject of hard in an emotional way: The Jane Doe album by CONVERGE. They manage despite incomprehensible singing and absolutely chaotic melody to meet exactly the feeling what the song wants to say.

[@TheFallOfManbearpig]

Loss is almost certainly the heaviest band ever. It sounds like shrek is playing every instrument, "cut up depressed and alone" is truly heavy as shit

[@chachorolas923]

Primitive Man is probably the heaviest (literally) band today. Also I think Acacia Strain's It Comes In Waves is heavy AF

[@gtabro1337]

This video reminded me I haven't listened to Chelsea Grin, Job for a Cowboy, Pig Destroyer, Cretin and The Chariot for quite a while...

[@lightly_stoopid]

Dystopia : Stress Builds Character

[@iBeLordi]

Beastwars IV, tells a story of the vocalists thoughts and reflections of mortality while he went through cancer treatment alongside the pure sonic sludge that is their sounds. I'll also add Children of Bodom is a perfect balance of all the heavy points you speak of brutal riffs/grooves/lyrics/vocals

[@adamhs94]

Knocked Loose live is one of heaviest bands I’ve ever experienced. But, I think Gojira’s energy is top notch in my opinion. It’s a toss up between those two bands for me.

[@acmichaels4983]

Saw them both Live together in Oklahoma and you’re absolutely right

[@rubenarends124]

both probably really good, only seen gojira but in love with knocked loose in the last year orso, both heavy as fuck in their own way

[@soccerprog226]

The Heaviest Matter of the Universe and Love are both two of the heaviest songs I can think of. Gojira goes in.

[@freedomhardly]

I can't wait to finally experience Gojira, live. Even if I'm extremely late to that party.

[@KalamariKing23]

Good answer, that's how I felt about Far Beyond Driven Album by Pantera.

[@justin0613]

I would say Darko US and To the Grave are the two heaviest that immediately come to my mind. Lorna Shore is definitely up there as well though.

[@nanianflagia]

Really???

[@gre2060]

I think the experimentation from darko takes away from the heaviness many times kinda like methwitcj.To the grave gets heavier lirically,vocally and musically every time I hear them

[@martins2246]

Electric Wizard. Official. Heaviest band of the 90s. Certified. Doom Mantia.

[@mantykor945]

'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holiday, completely different genre, but i figured I'd mention it because you had included that one pop song, Made a long time ago and was quite controversial due to the graphic lyrics. Definitely worth a listen.