Down tuned guitars, slow tempos, and lyrics of despair: These are the tell tale signs of doom metal. The subgenre happens to be as old as heavy metal itself, coming to fruition on “Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath. As the 70s went on, Sabbath would continue to raise the bar for doom metal with virtually no competition. Most bands wouldn’t explore the style until the 80s. The few others who did in the 70s were virtually ignored until decades later (more on them in a bit). In fairness to these unsung pioneers, we’re excluding Black Sabbath from this list because if this was “Top 10 Doom Metal Bands”, they’d be #1 without contest. Instead, here’s our Top 10 Doom Metal Bands That AREN’T Black Sabbath.
10. Iron Man
Kicking off our list at #10 is one of America’s premiere Sabbath worship bands, Iron Man. It’s no coincidence this band is named after the monolithic Sabbath epic. Formed and fronted by Al Morris III, one of the earliest Iommi disciples on American soil, Iron Man initially formed as a Sabbath tribute band. After a couple demos, they spent the 90s releasing some pummeling old school doom. My personal favorite album is their 1993 debut, Black Night. In a crowded underground of black and death metal bands, it must’ve stood out like a sore thumb. That said, it was enough to gain the respect of metal maniacs far and wide. Iron Man would continue to deliver the doom until Morris’ untimely passing in 2018.
9. Scald
I’m well aware of the flack I may or may not receive for this entry. “But Joe! Scald isn’t a PURE doom metal band!” Correct. Their inclusion of atmospheric, epic, and melodic elements certainly made them stand out from the rest of the doom metal pack. It must also be emphasized that by the time Scald’s sole full length, Will of Gods Is a Great Power, was released, the term “doom metal” had been narrowed down to define one dimensional bands like Electric Wizard and Sleep. Though no matter how you slice it, doom metal lays at the foundation of Scald’s sound. Take away the dreamlike synthesizers and operatic vocals; you’re left with doom laden riffs that could annihilate entire hordes. Unfortunately, not long after Will of Gods Is a Great Power‘s release, frontman Agyl passed away in a tragic railroad accident. He was only 24. After 22 years of inactivity, Scald reunited in 2019 with Procession founder Felipe Plaza Kutzbach assuming vocal duties. While I remain skeptical of a follow up to Will, I look forward to listening to it and reviewing it for this site.
8. The Obsessed
The Obsessed have been dealing in doom longer than most of us have been alive! They were founded by Wino in 1976 under the moniker Warhorse. By 1980, they changed their name to The Obsessed and released their debut demo. Subsequent demos and compilation appearances would follow before the band was put on hold when Wino joined Saint Vitus. They wouldn’t release their debut full length until 1990, nearly 15 years since their formation. The Obsessed’s brand of doom metal is rather unique. While Wino’s riffs take heavily from the book of Sabbath, they’re played with a tinge of late 60s psychedelia reminiscent of Hendrix. The result is one of the smoothest and most accessible sounds in doom metal, appealing to both hard rockers and metalheads alike.
7. Pagan Altar
“Samael, I call you. Metatron, come. I invoke you.” With the speaking of this invocation, a legion of hellish deities rejoiced. The last time such excitement swept the underworld was when the opening church bells to “Black Sabbath” rang. Formed by father and son duo Terry and Alan Jones, Pagan Altar took the pseudo-occult leanings of Sabbath and blew them into overdrive. Their lyrics focused solely on the supernatural. Such evil lyrics called for evil music. Therefore, the fast paced NWOBHM sounds of the day wouldn’t cut it. No, Pagan Altar opted for slow, sinister Sabbathian riffing that even Iommi had mostly abandoned by this point (late 70s/early 80s). As a result, their self titled 1982 demo would float in obscurity, almost gaining mythic status, before being properly released in 1998. The newfound interest led to a reunion and a string of critically acclaimed albums. Despite Terry Jones’ 2015 passing, Pagan Altar continues on in his memory.
6. Witchfinder General
Witchfinder General SHOULD be higher on this list. The only reason they aren’t is because of their all too short catalog. Had they stuck it out through the latter half of the 80s, and even the 90s onwards, there’s no doubt in my mind they’d top this list. Formed in the heart of the NWOBHM movement, Witchfinder General combined the energetic riffing of the era with classic Sabbath-isms: ultra heavy riffs, a singer who was a dead ringer for Ozzy Osbourne, and lyrics touching on sex, drugs, and life in general. Much like Pagan Altar, Witchfinder General found themselves with a new generation of fans in the passing years. Unlike Pagan Altar, their attempt at a reunion was not nearly as heralded. For starters, missing from the lineup was singer Zeeb Parkes. After Witchfinder General’s 1984 split, Parkes reportedly retired from music for good. He’s since faded into obscurity altogether. Rumor has it he’s even denounced the band altogether. Come on Zeeb. If Alice Cooper, Nicko McBrain, and Tom Araya are able to separate the lyrics from their personal lives and beliefs, why can’t you? If you happen to be reading this right now, don’t be afraid to reach out. Leave a comment below and let’s talk. I know I’m speaking on behalf of many when I say there’s so much I’d love to ask.
5. Saint Vitus
How doomy is too doomy? I guess in today’s age of misanthropic hipster metal, there’s no such thing as “too doomy”. Being a traditionalist myself, I draw the line at Saint Vitus. In particular, I’m talking about the Wino era. I don’t know what happened on the way over from The Obsessed, but goddamn did Wino bring this band to new levels of darkness and despair. No band since Sabbath so perfectly captured the hopelessness of depression and drug addiction as Saint Vitus did on Born Too Late. As much as I acknowledge its significance as a doom metal milestone, I can only listen to this album once in a blue moon, otherwise I’ll be put in a more negative headspace than I am to begin with. On that note, listen at your own risk.
4. Candlemass
Here’s a million dollar question: Is Candlemass a doom metal band with traditional metal leanings, or a traditional metal band with doom metal leanings? The answer depends on how you look at things. Either way, there’s no denying the impact of Candlemass both doom metal and heavy metal as a whole. Just as Witchfinder General and Pagan Altar stood out in the NWOBHM, Candlemass stood out in the FWOSHM (First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal). Here was a scene largely dominated by meat and potatoes metal bands like Europe, Overdrive, Torch, and Heavy Load, just to name a few. And out of nowhere, here comes this band with bellowing vocals, ominous atmospheres, fantastical lyrics, and riffs that sound like Mercyful Fate on downers. It was so unique, the band had a name for their sound: Epicus Doomicus Metallicus. The label has stuck 35 years later, albeit translated from dog Latin into “epic doom metal”.
3. Pentagram
Blue Öyster Cult were advertised as “America’s Black Sabbath”, though the similarities were far and few in between. If any one band deserves the title, it’s Pentagram. Formed in 1971, they’re one of the first true American metal bands. Their story of misfortune was well documented in the 2011 documentary, Last Days Here. It’s been a rocky ride since, but Pentagram have continued on in some form or another and have lived to see the big 5-0. If for some reason you’re unfamiliar with this groundbreaking act, I highly recommend the compilation First Daze Here (The Vintage Collection). It isn’t until you listen to this compilation in full that you realize the scope of what would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve been for Pentagram.
2. Cirith Ungol
Ah yes. Another band for the “Are they doom?” category. Though not as clear cut as other entries on this list, there’s no denying the doom on display on Cirith Ungol’s magnum opus, King of the Dead (1984). Whereas the guitar playing on their debut, Frost and Fire (1981), is more rooted in traditional metal/hard rock and progressive rock, King of the Dead is chock full of epic doom riffs. Candlemass may have coined the name. Cirith Ungol deserves full credit for the sound. Without them, there’d be no Atlantean Kodex, Solstice, Scald, or even Candlemass. Or maybe these bands would exist in some form or another. They’d just sound drastically different.
- Trouble
Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to doom metal than drugs and demons. What if I told you the greatest doom metal band of all time behind Black Sabbath had the power to purify your very soul? You don’t believe me, do you. Well look no further than this list’s #1, Trouble. Hailing from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois, Trouble has been preaching their fire and brimstone doom metal gospel to believers and nonbelievers alike for over 40 years. Their crowning achievement is their self titled fourth album. Produced by music industry mogul Rick Rubin, I strongly consider it to be not just one of the greatest metal albums of all time, but one of the greatest albums of all time period. The fact that it didn’t explode into the public’s consciousness is nothing short of criminal. I shouldn’t be too surprised. The year was 1990. If you weren’t easily categorized into the box of hair metal or thrash metal, you were done for. And here was a band that sounded like the love child of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, singing about life, philosophy, and God. I can’t find an upload of the full album on YouTube, so I’m attaching a link to one of my favorite tracks instead. Doom on and keep heaven on your mind.
Honorable Mentions
- Count Raven
- Dream Death
- Mercy
- Solitude Aeturnus
- Solstice
Doom On
There’s quite a few other bands that could be mentioned, especially in the realms of doom/death, like Thergothon, Spiritus Mortis (the first doom band out of Finland ever), Shape Of Despair, Swallow The Sun, My Dying Bride got CRIMINALLY overlooked for this list I think… Mourning Beloveth from Ireland are awesome, and let’s not forget the band The Howling Void out of Texas. Solitude Productions out of Russia is one of the best doom labels in the world, with the likes of My Shameful, Ea, Doom:VS, A Dream Of Poe, Evadne, Shattered Hope, Revelations Of Rain, and let’s not forget about the most ungodly doom/death band ever in Colosseum…
I would also mention Darkflight for two reasons: 1. One of the BEST doom and black metal crossovers EVER, and the reason I started Broken Trinity (I sang cleans on the last Darkflight record “The Hereafter”): to mix gutripping icy Nordic black metal with traditional doom ala Candlemass, Trouble and Vitus…
I tried my best to keep this a traditional doom list. I almost included Spirit Caravan, but hesitated as I feel they’re more stoner metal, so that gives you an idea of the logic I was going off of here. There’s definitely a potential for a death/doom or funeral doom list in the future. Many of the bands you listed would be included on such a list.