What Is the Heaviest Riff of All Time? | Rockers React

[@jordanjoestar8839]

Gojira has a face melter in nearly every song so ill just nominate their entire discography. Even the intro alone for the beginning of "Heaviest Matter of the Universe" is more intense than some songs absolute climaxes.

[@Worran]

Absolutely, they make Drop D sound like Drop G

[@andreamantelli93]

The Flying Whales second breakdown is as heavy as a black hole

[@SrgntSprnkls77]

@@Worran D standard, they make heavy (pun intended) use of 4th chords to make things sound lower than they actually are. big part of the heaviest matter intro

[@Will-lh4lh]

Ikr ! The main riff is also like crazily heavy

[@dzaijn]

The Gift of Guilt is their heaviest song in my opinion, from 2:25 to the end it's just the most well crafted rollercoaster a soul could ever travel. That outro is pure bliss

[@DragonTigerBoss]

The breakdown from Domination by Pantera ended the Cold War, meaning that it has the most gravity, so it's literally the heaviest riff of all time.

[@crownstupid]

Domination was the first one that came to mind

[@blaubeerpfannkuchen4061]

@@crownstupid me too

[@crystalstewart5568]

100% 🖤

[@caprise-music6722]

Yes. It’s the definition of heavy. I’ve listened to metal and rock for over 30 years, and that riff takes the cake for me

[@oraszuletik]

My ringtone. I have to listen to it several times a day.

[@a.j.santiago303]

Maybe not the heaviest riff of all time, but a slow, aggressive riff I love is on Metallica's "The Thing That Should Not Be." Another one I dig is Testament's "Low."

[@Wyant1]

Had never listened to that Testament song before. At certain points, it sounds like a predecessor to some of Rob Zombie's Dragula era stuff, and there's just a hint of Godsmack. I liked the little hi-low effect that they did with the guitars too. Not the heaviest, but interesting none the less. My pick is Bathory's A Fine Day to Die...

[@joejoe6952]

Shades of War.

[@Shiljamannn]

I am amazed how many people go for Sad But True... But Harvester of Sorrow is like the heavier version of Sad But True..

[@AndyWrasman]

Exactly! They b said Sad but True and in my head I head Harvester.

[@isopropyltoxicity]

The heaviest riff isn't a Metallica riff that's for sure

[@pkj77]

@@isopropyltoxicity might not be in your opinion but in other peoples mind

[@yarik14]

Through the never is some death metal shit

[@yarik14]

@@isopropyltoxicity 100%, there's just no way in hell

[@ungabunga115]

The Art of Dying by Gojira is a heavy ass riff.

[@seanwoods8492]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIPYnaKJaLF8m9k :)

[@Piranhamoose]

especially The Flesh Alive version. jaw drops every time.

[@Qwik14]

"Suicide Note, Pt. 2" by Pantera. The breakdown towards the end of the song just catches you off guard. Dimebags tone is unmatched.

[@section8usmc53]

Really solid pick.

[@ludwigdrummer7802]

Can't argue with that

[@RichardBargloski]

In terms of just dark heavy chunkiness, Soundgarden's "4th of July" riff is pretty damn heavy. It's like D tuned dropped a nut it's so heavy😂

[@gabrieldalton4307]

Glad I’m not the only one who thought Soundgarden! Mailman always hits super hard for me as well.

[@jeffreydhill]

Hell yeah. And I believe it's actually tuned to C standard!

[@empiremusicpromotions]

That song is absolutely stunning and gritty and dirty and beautiful

[@JoelER78]

Yes, Soundgarden has some good stuff and that's a great example!!

[@ACarter87]

Literally like 80% of metal bands play a full step down bud

[@ilves6664]

Black Sabbath and Tony Iommi riff All the Black Sabbath first 6 albums. Absolutely..

[@AndyWrasman]

Yes. The first answer that just said Sabbath is the best.

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Riff master...

[@itsfine5818]

The breakdown riff in "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". That single riff inspired so many bands.

[@markservilio2357]

Botch - Transitions from Persona to Object Converge - You Fail Me Mastodon - Blood & Thunder Pantera - A New Level The Dillinger Escape Plan - 43% Burnt Meshuggah - New Millennium Cyanide Christ Deftones - My Own Summer Tool - Jambi Impossible to choose. There are so many iconic riffs in heavy music now

[@TheCarbunkleofTruth]

Set it off- Madball Eyeless - Slipknot (wait and bleed as well) Daddy's Money - Whores Honey Bucket - Melvins

[@RKMontgomery]

Those are some pretty sick references there, bruh.

[@FranzJrob]

Jambis a great shout

[@poopmaster7166]

you know what you’re talking about

[@jmonty2005]

The bridge section to "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". Heaviest riff to this day of all time

[@sadistdog]

the correct answer!

[@turboface]

Correctomundo!

[@tmex9588]

Good call!

[@PaulisMediocre]

Absolutely the correct answer

[@sheldonwright8770]

THE breakdown!

[@bobross7458]

A few that come to mind Breakdown in “Lethergcia” - Meshuggah Beginning riff of “Nebulous” - Meshuggah Breakdown in “Domination” live - Pantera Breakdown in “Lower The Blade” - Car Bomb It’s so hard to choose

[@keenanoakes784]

Haha that middle riff in Lethargica is the first thing that came to mind when I saw this. I remember my friends and I talking about it being the heaviest riff in the world when it came out. End riff of Domination came to mind too. The middle riff in Angel of Death as well!

[@gabrielallert]

the entirety of meshuggah's discography is my answer. Break those bones is at the top I think

[@Sadion666]

Breakdown in Evile-Man against machine

[@malcolmrff]

Man picking a meshuggah riff is like picking a needle in a haystack. My pick would have to the outro of dancers to a discordant system. Ligature marks intro is good as well.

[@grantmcmahon8735]

great picks, nebulous is a criminally underrated song.

[@footingball5566]

The riffs in Blackwater Park are goose bump inducing. Insanely heavy

[@sosababee]

ong

[@moonman9j9]

My man.

[@jayclean5653]

Masters Apprentices riff is nasty as well. Then again, does any band have more nasty riffs per song than Opeth?

[@soullessSiIence]

A man of culture I see.

[@chrismontante7543]

This fool just said Opeth 😂😂😂

[@Goose21]

The breakdown in Strength Beyond Strength is an absolute beast of a riff

[@jasonroberts5375]

YES that track gets me amped every time

[@LPPL123]

Great track, but I think I would pick either Slaughtered or Suicide Note pt.2

[@Taimur.Shairyar]

​@@LPPL123 suicide note pt 2

[@-in-the-meantime...]

@@LPPL123 slaughtered Many a concussion spawn from this monstrosity. whole album is just nasty as hell

[@Jo-Jo1227]

The end of 25 years is so heavy

[@tmex9588]

Just a few of my personal favs: Symptom of the Universe - Sabbath Concatenation - Meshuggah War Ensemble (verse riff) - Slayer New Level - Pantera Scourge of Iron - Cannibal Corpse Aerials (outro riff) - SOAD Sic (outro riff) - Slipknot Propaganda (outro riff) - Sepultura Orion - Metallica 11th Hour (bridge riff) - Lamb of God ….I can go all day…

[@alexprice2418]

Great list!

[@Leghore]

Yes.! .. whole time I was watching this I was thinking symptom of the universe. Oh. And SOD... BEHEMOTH... AND Ministry and Carcass and ....

[@Sasquatch33]

To be honest you could probably name 40 songs from Meshuggahs discography and they'd all qualify.

[@tmex9588]

@@Sasquatch33 I agree 100%

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Jeff's Riff is cool, but Kerry's is heavier so it drowns it out...

[@austinwade4139]

Shout out to the girl who said Where Dragons Dwell. It was my choice too and never thought someone else would have said it. That into riff is so heavy, enchanting, and just simply different. 2013 live hellfest version even better.

[@mdb7883]

Seriously, it puts you in a trance

[@jaysonj9327]

Black Sabbath's main riff for "Into the Void" when the drums and bass kick in with the guitar. That riff grows hair, balls and teeth on a young man. Also consider that that was recorded and released in 1971, when the likes of Hetfield, Abbott and Schuldiner still were young kids and in Schuldiner's case still a toddler.

[@blue1eyed4devil]

Into the void. I always thought that it wasn't as recognized as a young buck,you know when you discover a new band,and not everyone else is into it. But, everyone else is into it,you just don't know. Love that album, purple and black 🖤

[@guero_mocoso]

This is mine as well

[@TheMorganRose]

1000%! To me that's the OG heaviest riff and still untouchable IMO...

[@bassman494]

When you're right, you're right, brother. It's definitely the heaviest riff and it's from the godfathers of metal. Case closed.

[@frankgile1996]

I only learnt about that from one of Rick Beato's videos (I am too young to have grown up listening to Sabbath, but they definitely have some awesome songs)... But there's a lot of other songs from various bands that are springing to mind.

[@fredcarrier4933]

Couple people mentioned Flying Whales but talked about the wrong riff. The breakdown riff at the end of the song literally sounds like it bounced off the core of the planet it’s so heavy. As far as non-breakdown riff, Omerta by Lamb of God is really hard to beat

[@alexisdimebag7156]

I cant believe that nobody mentioned the main riff of SLAUTHERED from Pantera, is the most insane and heavy riff ever made, and of course the breakdown of domination

[@timemirror_]

Fuck yeah

[@mikeouimet1358]

Good call man, mouth for war is pretty encapsulating too, while we're on pantera. But the one that I think should have had mention was Territory by Sepultura. That one has been front and center in my riffs to play every time I pick up a guitar.

[@synthesis117]

bro was literally thinking the same thing as i watched this.....lol it doesnt get heavier and domination too pantera is goat

[@scottmorey6212]

Where Dragons Dwell - Heaviest Matter of the Universe - Flying Wales Incredibly, these 3 Gojira tracks are SEQUENTIAL on the From Mars To Sirius album! The best 3-track run on any album, hands down. Such a great band & such a great album (yet, the heaviest track on that album is Backbone - but I'll take HMotU as the winner). 🤘

[@badmotorbreath5206]

Definitely…+ Ocean Planet intro, Wolf Down the Earth, The Art of Dying outro….Gojira is a riff machine🤘

[@__zzz___]

the live version of where dragons dwell hellfest 2013 is a golden moment of metal

[@Founworld]

Backbone is very very awesome !

[@Will-lh4lh]

The heaviness of backbone is amazing

[@scottmorey6212]

@@__zzz___ yes agreed, one of the greatest live performances ever. A recommended watch for anyone reading this comment!

[@animal1439]

Check my Brain is such an underrated song. I totally agree with Lzzy, it feels like the song is moving your brain. One of the best stoner/grunge rock riffs ever

[@TheDeadStretch]

That is the exact kind of answer I was hoping for when seeing the title of the video. I was like I hope it's not all the obvious ones.

[@rob604]

It sounds like it’s “underwater” or waving, absolutely fire

[@eugenemetayhas]

Jerry Cantrell writes some heavy ass riffs and he deserves way more credit than he gets in the metal world.

[@rubar1025]

Jerry Cantrell has produced some amazing riffs.

[@nuggnugg8464]

We Die Young is my pick for heaviest AiC riff

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

Heaviest riff of all time is the end section of "She's so heavy" by The Beatles. Such a top notch doom metal riff :)

[@curlybearington1734]

Revolution is my Name - Pantera How this riff got lost to time is beyond me.

[@HankNarrowUrethra]

The whole song is just riff after riff of power groove perfection! The drums, vocals, guitar, bass...every element is perfect! Perhaps the most complete Pantera song??

[@tommasonovi7383]

Yes!

[@evansmith9514]

Production

[@majdalnader3685]

Undoubtedly my favourite pantera song , it has everything.

[@arbuznazarov9326]

Dimebag outdid himself on Reinventing The Steel the grooviest and most fun Pantera record

[@alexjonatas4779]

soundgarden - 4th of july Heavy friends - Boris Dopesmoker - sleep Died - Alice in chains Cornucopia - Black sabbath Under the Sun - Black sabbath Return trip - electric wizard Empress rising - monolord high on fire - 10000 years melvins - roman bird dog melvins - Boris Tad - Grease box Eyehategod - blank Pentagram - Death row Pentagram - All your sins The list never ends...

[@jimmyc7807]

4th of July is sooooo heavy! Good call.

[@Its.superwill]

Died is super underrated.

[@tastyburga4152]

Given that doom is the OG subgenre of metal it is hella overlooked

[@Goose21]

Eyehategod is so slept on.

[@agentthomas9038]

Dopesmoker a great shout. I'd throw in Walk by Pantera to your list.

[@siler7]

"Blind" is definitely underrated. It's probably in the top ten metal songs ever. But the start of the slow part of "Strength Beyond Strength"...man, almost 30 years later, I still haven't heard anything else like that.

[@JakeRoeder]

It's hard to pick one, but my brain goes to "Primal Concrete Sledge" by Pantera. Vinnie's driving drums with Dime's chunky guitars....gets me every time.

[@jasonroberts5375]

absolutely

[@ethancooley9323]

fucking hostile or slaughtered were so fucking heavy

[@jeffreydhill]

Good choice

[@divinemyndsmedia6867]

Absolutely!

[@freshoxygen2176]

That was my alarm clock for years😂😂

[@CRIMS0N_KING]

The Grand Conjuration by Opeth has just the most evil sounding riff I've ever heard

[@LucasJT27]

Definitely I would say Masters Apprentices would be another good heavy opeth riff

[@shuturdirtymouth]

Heir Apparent. There is no riff more evil than that. Grand Conjuration is a musical epic, but Heir Apparent opens with the most evil riff

[@Quest4Horror]

@@shuturdirtymouth absolutely

[@BigBrain_Genius]

@@shuturdirtymouth Heir apparent has some of the heaviest shits and then at the end of the song one of the most beautiful outros of all time

[@grantmcmahon8735]

@@shuturdirtymouth outro to A Fair Judgement is more evil IMO, sounds like a descent into hell. but heir apparent is great too.

[@samuelalexander1014]

How on earth has nobody mentioned Funeralopolis by Electric Wizard? That riff is evil. Listening to that on speakers is just the best, it suffocates you

[@molotovmutt3365]

Thank you But sadly predictable from a video where you here Sad But True mentioned in this argument

[@leeglenwright8704]

Return Trip, Supercoven, Burnout, Funeralopolis. So many Electric Wizard riffs just piss all over anything on this list.

[@ayatan9119]

Definately agree. or like Psychedelic Wasteland by Acid Mammoth.

[@francisswings]

I was shopping for a stereo many years ago and my go to test songs are: “The Precious Jewel” by George Jones and “Funeralopolis” by Electric Wizard. Dude played George, then played EW, and blew two speakers on one of the cabinets.

[@Chesterbigwigful]

1. Into the Void by Sabbath 2. World Eater by Bolt Thrower 3. Painkiller by Judas Priest 4. Everything Dies by Type O 5. Cometh down Hessian by High on Fire Honourable mentions to Override of the Overture (Dismember) I the Witch Finder (Electric Wizard), Embodiment (Carcass) and Dyers Eve (Metallica).

[@mgnz88]

The break down part in "sabbath bloody sabbath" is dirty as f. Can't hear it without putting the metal stink face on.

[@broken_arrow_1179]

One I love is Junkhead by Alice In Chains

[@marioferreira4964]

Woooooooooorld eaterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

[@MrSatanismybitch]

BOLT THROWER!!! Man, that was the first time I heard anything tuned down that low. Excellent shout!

[@Jabberwok28]

@@MrSatanismybitch. Totally agree!

[@MrMetalhorse]

Anything Gojira obviously. Also the riff around the 2:30 mark in Contractor by Lamb Of God. A deep cut but that riff is ferocious. And the way Randy screams "they all dieeeee!!!" Is just absolute fucking savagery.

[@Pigwig83]

Korn - Somebody someone ending is brutal and simple. Stampin Ground - Officer down Tool - Third eye Slipknot -Wait and bleed ending

[@peterparkerspizzaface6431]

There's nobody heavier than than hand of doom himself Tony Iommi. You could play me any modern metal band playing as fast and as many double kicks as you want. But when you here the beginning to Cornucopia, Under the Sun or Into the void or the breakdown of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, theres nothing that screams out evil and darkness as much as they do. Then add in the fact that these riffs are from just a couple years after the moon landings, CRAZY

[@DanaSmith87]

Agreed. The begging riffs of Under the sun, Cornucopia, Into the Void and Symptoms of the universe. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, that middle riff. They weren't necessarily loud or bombastic, but super deep heavy sound.

[@DaDoubleDee]

If we're going by what is best we should consider reach of influence as well, so I gotta agree, there's a lot of good riffs to choose from but most of them are from personal attachment. Sabbath did something that many simply copied, they were among the first to really go into a new place sonically and open the door downwards!!

[@OhCeesPlayhouse]

Just saw a fakebook post about the same thing and I was coming here to mention Under The Sun because I rarely see it. Without Tony you wouldn't have any of the others mentioned.

[@cdsmetalhead99]

Symptom of the Universe

[@caprise-music6722]

The end riff to Domination - Pantera is without a doubt one of the heaviest things ever from earth. I’d also like to mention Sepultura, inner self, Troops of Doom, roots. Unholy by Kiss is quite heavy. But my personal favorite heavy riffs are Blew by Nirvana, and Milk it - Also Nirvana

[@kingbee1971]

Hell yes. Sepultura's Chaos A.D. blew me away back in the day.

[@Randall_Kildare]

@@kingbee1971 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2iqc2BpbbmSjcU - CRUSHING -

[@marcelodesouza729]

Cheers from Brazil , hell yeahh

[@michal5058]

Ending of Machine Head's Davidian is always the first riff that comes to my mind.

[@CosmicDiamond999]

Here's Some: Pantera - Primal Concrate Sledge Live at Ozzyfest breakdown part Pantera - Domination Live at Russia breakdown part Gojira - Toxic Garbage Island Live at Hellfest 2016 Gojira - Backbone Intro & Breakdown Riffs Gojira - Gift of Guilt (riff that kicks in after vocals first start) Gojira - Sphinx Intro Riff Opeth - Blackwater Park (the riff that kicks in at the start - after acoustic part) Dream Theater - As I am - first one and half minutes.

[@anothersoldier3420]

There‘s so many. I‘d go with Gojira‘s „Backbone“, „L‘enfant sauvage“, or the ending riffs of „Explosia“ or „Adoration for none“. Also Rivers of Nihil‘s „Perpetual growth machine“ inherits a really brutal riff.

[@mrkooky9098]

You have to include Gojira's Clone.

[@WoWMinGM]

My Last Creation is criminally underrated and the ending is MASSIVE

[@cameronmcmahon4002]

I love watching all these guys emulate the riffs with their voice.

[@Arkanmodified]

It hurts my heart to think that "A New Level" isn't widely recognized as the heaviest riff of all time. I'm not saying it's the best song, or even the best Pantera track, but here we are nearly 30 years later and that riff straight bangs.

[@TheTenCentStory]

A New Level is one of the best songs.

[@ERIC-bt1qn]

My pick too

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Mouth for War was pretty heavy. Sepulturas Roots had a lot of heavy Riffs too.

[@MetzgerStepmania]

A New Level is basically St. Anger but slower

[@bauerca3263]

Most of panteras discography could be thrown in this list, This Love is my personal favourite

[@thrashmetalambassador]

Probably not the one of all time, but the main riff of The Thing That Should Not Be by Metallica is easily the heaviest thrash guitar tune ever done.

[@LilSeizures]

Best Metallica song. Heaviest Metallica song. So good.

[@scrambi]

Deep cut

[@Username-ng8jy]

Ain’t that heavy. During that era they definitely had heavier riffs

[@LilSeizures]

@@Username-ng8jy heavy? Or fast? Because it's the heaviest song of the four albums.

[@strawspulledatrandom.]

Great call 🤙

[@jayfabe620]

Beyond The Wheel by Soundgarden in concert was the heaviest thing I have ever experienced. Funeralopolis by Electric Wizard

[@nessearthbound3107]

Yesss to both of these. I'm kinda sad that only one person mentioned a sludge band here.

[@HenritheHorse]

4th of July by Soundgarden or Dopethrone by Electric Wizard.

[@LucasHpm]

Brooo exactly what i was thinking

[@colinburroughs9871]

Beyond the Wheel is so underrated.

[@nathanieljohnson8727]

​@@HenritheHorse or holy water! Anything off of bad motor finger

[@KCTraynesaw1991]

Dead Embryonic Cells - Sepultura. That breakdown riff towards to the end holy shit that is HEAVY! Wooo!

[@toddpoppleton5303]

YES! That entire album is a bad-ass riff. Masterpiece! The last minute of Subtraction reminds me I’m alive.

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Good Pick!

[@andrem9350]

Was scrolling through the comments to find this. I’d pick Dead Embryonic Cells too.

[@23ograin53]

The original metal breakdown. The one in Sabbath Bloody Sabbath after the guitar solo. Unbelievable (for that time).

[@MichaelCaron-y4g]

To me, not the "heaviest" itself but did establish what it means to be "heavy". In some ways, that is where it really all began...especially with he contrast of Ozzy's high pitched singing during that breakdown.

[@Willybone]

How many screens did I have to scroll through to see the OBVIOUS ANSWER?!

[@sophiabranam6875]

The breakdown for Suffocation's "Liege of Inveracity" is the most brutal riff ever made,nuff said.Listen to it and weep.

[@Number2PIG]

Yessssss. Definitely my pick as well. So brutal

[@ScreaminT81]

Liege or Return to Flesh by Cannibal. Return is very gdatk and heavy. Then again Suffo and Cannibal works

[@Jeffmetal42]

One of my favorite Suffo tunes of all time!

[@anasf1490]

Yesss, 1000% i'm agree. Suffo fans from Indonesia here

[@beetleborg4171]

Shiiiit. That or Thrones of Blood.

[@ElMapache33]

Into The Void for sure

[@gamingnsuch9236]

End piece of Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath.

[@edubz3366]

Not even a question

[@GalacticCenterOG]

Heaviest riff of all time is in the breakdown in the song Damage Inc. by Metallica. The first time I listened to it, I looped that part of the song for hours and hours and just couldn’t get enough of it. I truly believe it’s the most hardcore riff of all time.

[@divinemyndsmedia6867]

I thought I was the only one, Damage Inc is amazing, probably one of my favorites solos as well!

[@alarmgoesding]

Kirk wrote some killer breakdowns.

[@Wyant1]

You try not to pick too many from one single band, and you try not to pick Metallica because they're "mainstream." But, you know... Sad But True, Harvester of Sorrow... Damage Incorporated... They've got some strong candidates.

[@manny75586]

I always enjoy this question since everyone quantifies what "heavy" means differently. For me, you can basically put on damn near any Meshuggah song and your in the running for heaviest riff. Electric Wizard -"Doomantia" (the chorus riff) is way up there too.

[@spaceburger80]

Utterly stunned “Becoming” wasn’t mentioned once… 1. Hole In The Sky - Sabbath 2. Kashmir - Led Zep 3. The Thing That Should Not Be - Mighty Met 4. Becoming - Pantera 5. Kick The Chair - Megadeth 6. Albatross - COC 7. Electric Funeral - Sabbath

[@raptor6600gt]

I'd say Davidian by Machine Head. But their album Burn My Eyes has so many powerful heavy riffs that it's hard to choose.

[@grindingvomitreflux]

Pantera's Becoming! That one kicked me so hard the first time I've heard it and still does 🔥🤘🏻🔥

[@Thomas-gq3oc]

It's just so dang heavy!

[@canatolakhoemini6728]

It's one of the baddest Pantera songs but it's not heavy. March of the SOD is heavy.

[@isopropyltoxicity]

Suicide note part 2 is a thousand times heavier

[@justingilmore3556]

And Slaughtered!

[@ekto6]

Slaughtered tho

[@Malum09]

The breakdown of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is heavy as hell, Helmet also has some very heavy riffs like In the Meantime

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Yup. Unsung was sweet...

[@michaelluciano1980]

Helmet - hell yes!

[@keluargabuleminang]

MESHUGGAH - Pravus at 3min 30sec : Vitiate, dispirit, debase, violaaaaaaaaaate! SO FUCKING HEAVY♥

[@diankorem6995]

A National Acrobat and Sweet Leaf, i couldn't believe noone mentioned those two songs

[@headlessllama69]

I've gotta say Terra Incognita and The Link albums by Gojira are some of the heaviest riffs I've heard. Great breakdowns too.

[@Adum]

Remembrance and Embrace the World super underrated

[@qwerty.4450]

The second riff in inward movement, wisdom comes, death of me breakdown etc.

[@nikolaimikhail7774]

Can't believe Opeth nor TOOL were mentioned, Parabola has got to be one of the heaviest intros to any song ever and there's more heavy riffs off of Blackwater Park than Metallica's entire discography since the Black Album! Will give props to those who chose Meshuggah and Gojira though (especially Flying Whales). Also, Check my Brain is heavy AF, the simplicity of that one makes it terrific!

[@ryanhebert1605]

And Jambi! And that breakdown 10 and a half minutes into "Rosetta Stoned"

[@cianhudder7499]

The “I scorch the skies” riff on Demiurge made me bass face instantly. Nuts!

[@andybagleylp]

There's so many! But black Sabbaths first riff from their first album black sabbath has to be one of the heaviest!

[@Morbidous]

Classic : Sabbath - Into the Void Modern: Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

[@timmie2k3]

For me it's probably Bongripper - Into Ruin. Specifically the riff that kicks in at 6:17 of that song. I could just listen to that on repeat forever. The main chorus in Byzanthian Neckbeard - Extinction is similar and also awesome.

[@DaveyBlade13]

Bro ❤ agreed 100%. I feel like Bongripper gets overlooked by so many people because of their name, but they are so good. I listened because of the name 😂 not what I was expecting but was captivated. Best doom band of all time.

[@dpeady78]

The breakdown riff in Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, when I first heard that at the age of 12 I was legitimately frightened

[@coryb2173]

I have loved that song for many years. I wish a modern band with the right vocalist would do a cover for it.

[@dpeady78]

@@coryb2173 can’t be beaten and no one could wail like Ozzy back in the day

[@Beardodoomus]

The end of 'Purify' by Neurosis, from 'Through Silver In Blood'. Which, factually, is the heaviest album of all time. Also the breakdown in 'To Carry The Load' by Crowbar.

[@Schlaimitai]

Rationally speaking, even though I‘d love to have other bands up there too, it comes down go Meshuggah. Technically, the execution, the tone, the tuning… its basically every song released during and after „Nothing“ that pushes the envelope and make Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, Pantera, Slipknot, Korn, Gojira etc. sound mellow. (And don‘t get me wrong, love all of these bands to death). But hands down, Meshuggah is simply the heaviest there is.

[@gh2471]

Domination - Pantera Of course this song why shouldn’t it be mentioned?! Feels like I’m trying to walk with cinder blocks as shoes Autodidact - Between the Buried and Me (Outro) When Tommy screams “piss it all away,” and that riff punches you in the gut, you instantly get that stank face. No matter how many times I hear it I instantly start head banging.

[@canatolakhoemini6728]

The end of Domination is the 2nd heaviest riff ever to Match of the SOD.

[@m737m737m737]

INTO THE VOID

[@blue1eyed4devil]

Electric funeral

[@troygraves6081]

Into the void was the first one that came to my mind too

[@jeremygarlick5862]

Agreed

[@chrisg1772]

Top answer straight away 👌

[@blue1eyed4devil]

We can't leave out the riff lord Max Cavalera, anything off of Roots, Straighthate comes to mind,or Soulfly Frontlines

[@SofaKing880]

THAT riff after the bridge in “Soil the Stillborn” and nothing is really even close for me. It just always hits so ridiculously hard It’s right around 2:20 in the song

[@broke602]

For me a tie between A New Level-Pantera and Metallica-the end chunky part of Battery

[@cazma42]

1.) More Than I Could Chew - Mastodon 2.) Demiurge - Meshuggah 3.) Space Time - Gojira 4.) Love? - Strapping Young Lad 5.) Sad But True - Metallica Honorable mentions: Blackwater Park - Opeth Omerta - Lamb of God No More Tears - Ozzy Osbourne Engines of Death - Feared

[@natepolidoro4565]

For folks starting down the path of melting your face off, here are some easy ones off the top of my head that I love... (I should preface these aren't all metal and aren't necessarily 'crushing' in the conventional metal sense, still mega heavy, each and every one.) "Battery" by Metallica (@ 1:05) "The Thing that Should Not Be" by Metallica (riff during solo @ 3:40) "Holy Wars" by Megadeth (classic riff B @ 1:06) "Take No Prisoners" by Megadeth (opening but really @ 0:23) "Five Magics" by Megadeth (opening riff AND riff going into solo @ 2:47 sec AND end riff @ 4:43) "Devirgination Studies" by Whitechapel (the whole goddamn thing right from the jump) "Critical Mass" by Nuclear Assault (main riff) "Angel of Death" (obviously) (whole thing but especially @ 1:37) "Owned" by Jerry Cantrell (main) "Moan" by Nik Nocturnal (no i'm not joking, it's a joke song tho, but...) (@ 1:52) "Shadow on the Sun" by Audioslave (ending riff @ 4:30 - the build up is worth it) "Bring Em Back Alive" by Audioslave (main @ 0:40) "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin (yes very rock - main) "Kyle Petty Son of Richard" by Soundgarden (main) "4th of July" by Soundgarden (main) "My Own Summer" by Deftones (main) "Coma" by Stone Temple Pilots (main) "The Wretched Spawn" by Cannibal Corpse (took a bit of a turn there) (entire but especially opening) "Scourge of Iron" by Cannibal Corpse (entire) And here goes my AIC dump... "Them Bones" by Alice in Chains (main riff) "Grind" by AIC (main riff) "Sludge Factory" by AIC (main riff) "Died" by AIC (main riff, I've heard this one described as "just fucking caustic") "Last of My Kind" by AIC (riff going into solo @ 3:24) "A Looking in View" by AIC (front half of the song) "Acid Bubble" by AIC (riff at the break @ 2:40) "Hollow" by AIC (main) "Stone" by AIC (main riff but EVEN MORE SO riff going into solo @ 2:00) "Phantom Limb" by AIC (main) "Red Giant" by AIC (main) "So Far Under" by AIC (main)

[@corbinm5237]

Picking one from each band: Gojira - The Cell (verse riff) Opeth - The Baying of the Hounds (riff about 6:20 in) Mastodon - March of the Fire Ants (intro riff) Jason Richardson - Sparrow (both breakdown riffs) Spiritbox - Holy Roller (verse riff) Alter Bridge - The Last Hero (breakdown riff) These riffs probably stand out above all to me with this specific topic. Though each artist has a lot of great,heavy riffs.

[@anthonyrooks7557]

Holy roller is wild.

[@carloscanales3183]

My heaviest riff of all time is the ending to “Humiliative” by Meshuggah. It’s simple and completely complex at the same time and it builds levels quickly in the short time it has.

[@brandontadday6288]

That intro groove as well. It’s impossible not to move when the whole band comes in together on that first groove!

[@Moonlapse508]

🤯 "Dancers To A Discordant System" 🤯.

[@calebkirby9109]

Bulls on Parade kicks in so hard. Blacken the Cursed Sun's ending is up there too.

[@troy.h.]

I would have to agree with Courtney on "Bleed." Yet Black Sabbath's intro to "Black Sabbath on Black Sabbath would be a competitor in terms of tones of literal heaviness and dread.

[@shanewilliams613]

Carcass "Embodiment" Blew my mind when I first heard it, as did the whole "Heartwork" album. \m/

[@mordantfilms]

Night Goat by Melvins, I mean it's essentially one chord, but it grinds, drives and creeps along nice and darkly. Then there's a lot more of those minimal riffs on Celtic Frost's last album that just have a deep buzzing chug or Godflesh with Like Rats or Deadend.

[@Neenerella333]

Ooh. How are the couple who introduced dance and electronic into this conversation NOT mentioning Godflesh? Streetcleaner crushes.

[@richardmitchell8213]

I can name 2 off the top of my head. Black Sabbath, Zero the Hero and the breakdown in 5 Minutes Alone by Pantera always kicks my ass.

[@toddpoppleton5303]

I remember being genuinely scared in a Slayer pit as they approached the final minute of “Postmortem”. You could literally feel the entire arena bracing itself as if to say “Uh oh, here comes trouble…” Good times😊

[@snake2261]

I used to get pumped up for basketball games listening to Skeletons of Society. Still one of my favorite riffs/ songs.

[@brasschuckles3138]

2 of the heaviest pits I’ve ever been in is Pantera or Slayer, then it was American Head Charge. Soooo brutal🤘Reign in Blood, Domination and Pushing the Envelope so great in the pit

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

@@snake2261 Acid Rain of Pain...

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

@@brasschuckles3138 People also went nuts during Korns early days... There is one in '95 where people throw shit in the air & all hell breaks loose...

[@spaceburger80]

#SpittingStraightFacts

[@dwillerd]

The riff from about 8:18 in The Last Baron by Mastodon is the nastiest, most face melting, tasty riff I've ever heard. But also, From The Sky and Ocean Planet by Gojira have some really deep heavy riffs.

[@moonman6984]

The break down in “This Love” by Pantera is up there for me

[@artpereira]

The heavy part in Mr. Bungle’s “Goodbye Sober Day”. With that chanting? Come on! Heaviest thing in the world.

[@beltalowda206]

Can’t narrow it to one. 1) Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion - Meshuggah 2) Ov Fire And The Void - Behemoth 3) Apocalyptic Havoc - Goatwhore

[@dynamike5651]

Don’t EVER forget the breakdown from Hollow by Pantera!! That’s the one for me.

[@TheDrogich]

The Thing That Should Not Be but from Live:Binge & Purge, I will always go for that, just so omnious and haunting and that whole atmosphere when the lights go down and the intro riff kicks in

[@zachsharp4564]

I’ve always enjoyed Melvins riffs for their heaviness. Not sure if it would count as a riff, but “Stay Here” by Swans-the whole Filth album, really-certainly set a benchmark.

[@fuckitweball77]

Im not a huge Melvins fan, im not even a fan lmao, but Honey Bucket is heavy as fuck.

[@flavoredwallpaper]

Yeah man. I nominate their song "Boris." It's the epitome of heavy.

[@AndyAction]

For me, it’s the breakdown in Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath

[@Andy666TheBeast]

The breakdown in Gojira's Flying Whales

[@broken_arrow_1179]

For me my brain goes to Junkhead by Alice In Chains, either that or NIB by Sabbath, I love both of those songs so much it’s hard for me to choose

[@ALL_that_ENDS]

Dude seriously, Alice is fucking heavy..

[@chinthing1]

Celtic Frost -- Procreation of the Wicked ... seen it live, nastiest, heaviest riff I have ever experienced.

[@backwatermn2758]

The middle breakdown section of Korn's Somebody Someone is absolutely crushing. I love Sabbath, Metallica, Pantera, Opeth, Meshugga, etc, and listen to them more than Korn now, but I truly think Korn are responsible for A LOT of the heaviest, dirtiest, most crushing riffs ever.

[@hugogodofredo9187]

Check out Helmet, 90's bands that inspired alot of riffs for nu metal

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Yup, listen to Lies from 1994 fucking heavy grind...

[@ALL_that_ENDS]

​@@wallaceshawn-zk8iw dude, that's fucking awesome.. I love that song.

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

@@ALL_that_ENDS Yup! Munky & Fieldy wanted a song to rattle your car!

[@freshoxygen2176]

Honorable mention: Jerry was a race car driver, When it breaks!

[@wintermutekl]

I would say that "Flesh and the Power It Holds" is one of the best I've ever heard

[@brennanfry3768]

Left To Die is another devastatingly heavy riff. Sodom's Body Parts comes to mind.

[@brennanfry3768]

Most underground thrash and deathtrash of the 80s beats anything this video has mentioned.

[@mayh6825]

Slayer- Postmortem Pantera- Drag The Waters Morbid Angel - God of Emptiness Sabbath- Megalomania

[@victorh0616]

Few that come to mind: 1. Davidian - Machine Head 2. The IVth Crusade - Bolt Thrower 3. Strength Beyond Strength - Pantera

[@aqualonk]

I was super surprised to see that no one mentioned the machine gun riff from “One”. I also prefer “Harvester of Sorrow” to “Sad But True” but that’s just me :).

[@dissconnect5588]

the slow breakdown from flying whales by gojira just an absolute lead brick

[@andrewmccanless5681]

So many to choose from but two of my favorites that immediately pop in my head are Bury Me in Smoke by Down and Sepulturas cover of Symptom of the universe.

[@iceticketliongaming806]

I’m surprised no one went for Gojira’s Art of Dying A few other good ones (more towards the underrated side) would be: Rivers of Nihil - Death Is Real Pig Destroyer - Towering Flesh The Dealer - Grotesque Get the Shot - Deathbound The entirety of Monuments’ Amanuensis album Primitive Man - Scorn

[@thundercrap]

One that always gets me is 4th Of July by Soundgarden. I feel it in my teeth when I turn it up. Holy sludge Batman!

[@mattmovesmountains1443]

I'm so glad someone wrote this. It's the top of my list. Even with my playlists full of death metal, that riff is certified heavier than a stack of wet books

[@thundercrap]

@@mattmovesmountains1443 Haha! He'll yeah. I'm a death metal guy too.

[@phonik83]

Brutal Truth "Collapse", you can almost feel with your body as it drags you down, pretty massive stuff.

[@ExtraSpicyBoi]

Heaviest Riffs: Devourment - Postmortal Coprophagia 1:11 Devourment - Choking on Bile 1:50 Deeds of Flesh - Born Then Torn Apart 0:40 Deeds of Flesh - Hunting Humans 2:15 Deeds of Flesh - Fly Shrine 3:10 Disavowed - Rhizome 3:30

[@hacknasty3962]

based comment

[@ExtraSpicyBoi]

Can't believe I forgot dying fetus, but just include the entire Killing on Adrenaline album because it is nasty and full of the heaviest, grooviest riffs.

[@michaelluis5517]

The Wargasm dude is a real one for saying "Orange" by Ivy Lab. The tune is a collab with Two Fingers (Amon Tobin) who I strongly recommend checking out if you're into the more experimental and adventurous sides of rock and metal.

[@mojoredfoot]

That one riff in “Aftermath” by Strapping Young Lad. If you’re a SYL fan, you know which riff I’m talking about

[@MetalVolcano]

Every single riff by a little band called Bolt Thrower. Right now I would go with the opening riff to "Ritual."

[@blue1eyed4devil]

Bolt Thrower, awesome

[@hacknasty3962]

yes

[@wiredhatred]

It Makes Them Disappear - Pantera off of Reinventing the Steel. My favorite track and hardly ever hear anyone talk about. Heavy as can be.

[@firstpogo]

Dude i agree. A super underrated pantera song. The slammin 6/4 riff after the cool harmonics descending part.