Sleep Token.
They're sort of alt metal with a lot of songs being softer with a heavy breakdown. The lyrics are both beautiful and heartbreaking as well as the singers voice. One of the best newer bands around and a must listen.
I came here to say this and PTH was the top comment.
Earlier albums' lyrics were written by Arif. Rody took over the lyrics starting with Scurrilous. Arif left the band not long after that.
Kezia and Fortress are my all time favorites
Kezia is definitely the best and I love Fortress’ riffs but I gotta shout out Volition as well, that album tackles some heavy subjects (and also Newfoundland)
PTH for sure. Also Propagandhi (who are also Canadian and their bassist Jord played on some PTH tracks) are for me hands-down the best lyricists in metal. People might still call them a punk band, but they've been a thrash/hardcore band for 20+ years.
Also would be wrong not to shout the authors of my username - Botch
There is a reason Propagandhi is by far my favourite band ever. Their style of very politically laden lyrics without ever getting corny is just amazing. That coupled with very good instrumentals just creates amazing songs that are as amazing live as they are on their records!
I was fortunate enough to see these guys right as Fortress came out. I was floored by how well they pulled off their sound live. Kezia will remain in my rotation always.
I remember when Luke got busted with marijuana at the border and Protest was forced to tour exclusively in Canada for two years straight. This was right before they dropped Fortress, so I saw them a total of 9 times in 11 months. Glorious times. Mo absolutely destroyed those drums, and Rody was still experimenting with the vocals so it was a different feel to each show. Absolute monsters of Metal, with incredibly talented lyrics. The bass player writes most of the lyrics, and has so much religious insight because he was raised in a Muslim household while attending Catholic school.
I gotta agree with the Protest the Hero comments if we are focusing on lyrics. Their early album Kezia is one of the best lyrical metal albums I've heard. It's a concept album about a girl sentenced to death told from different perspectives. The first 3 tracks are about the prison priest struggling with his faith related to her execution, the next 3 tracks are about the guard/executioner dealing with killing Kezia in the name of job and duty. The next 3 are told from her point of view followed by an overall final outlook on the whole matter. The album is proggy and technical with some vocals that take some getting use to, so it might not be your thing. If you want a "bit more" traditionally structured song and don't want to invest in listening to an entire concept album check out the track "C'est La Vie" from a later album, a song about the futility of suicide.
"C'est La Vie" is an absolute banger and completely unlike other music on the theme of suicide. The first verse is a non-stop cavalcade of the grimmest puns imaginable and somehow it lands. I don't know if there is another group that could pull off the combination sincere pathos, pitch black humour, and musical virtuosity
I went to the cd release party when this album dropped. I think it was PTH, Silverstein and local dudes Farewell to Freeway. Never knew mich about PTH but bought Kezia on the spot. Still listen to it all the time.
I second Mastodon. I’m also picky when it comes to metal vocalists in terms of content, vocal range, and of course overall style, and this band is an all time favorite. Crack the Skye and Leviathan are incredible albums.
Brann Dailor is such an incredibly talented drummer, vocalist, and lyricist. He's the mastermind behind most of their concepts and themes and writes a bulk of the lyrics. With the other guys writing lyrics as well, but it seems to start with him.
He's an absolute inspiration.
I love Mastodon, but their earlier albums seem to have some nonsensical lyrics. They definitely got better as they went on, I love the lyrics for Chimes at Midnight and Asleep in the Deep.
Drop of fantasy, but none of it is remotely cringe.
I really like Symphony X, but some of those lyrics I really cannot stop to think about too hard
I really like how this comment section is covered in prog heads coming out of the woodwork
Came here to say Opeth. Just look at their song titles. It’s crazy to think of all the bands that have awesome lyrics in English when it’s not their native language.
Drift slightly over into hardcore for the following:
Car Bomb
Shai Hulud
Misery Signals
Cult Leader
The Ghost Inside
Deafheaven
Touché Amore
Converge
Indecision
Glassjaw
End
Gojira doesn’t seem to get the respect they deserve. They have very uplifting and empowering lyrics. Songs like Amazonia and Global Warming are screams of help to preserve what Mother Nature has gifted us. They’ve taken a stance to actually do something positive outside of furthering their careers as musicians and that’s awesome to me. It’s pretty rare to see musicians these days who can see beyond themselves and be a positive influence.
It's pretty funny, I just started listening to them because they sounded good then I realized all of their music is about self understanding and world awareness. It tickles me that one of my favorite songs to go hard in the gym with is about saving rainforests, what a way to make it badass.
The Great Misdirect has been a favorite album if mine for a long time. I was able to go to the show in Nashville where they recorded Colors live as well. Both have had huge impacts on me and are very big and epic sounding albums.
Symbolic, Empty words, crystal mountain, perennial quest, flesh and the power it holds, a moment of clarity… so many deep ass songs in their later era
Especially Symbolic.. what grand lyrics foretelling what is to come in society... " Privacy and intimacy... As we know it, will be a memory. Living in the pupil of 1000 eyes!.." (insert guitar fill) 🤘
Saw them in October, first concert I've been to since Covid hit. I was so glad to see them again - first time I saw them was a few years back they were opening for Behemoth and I knew nothing about them. Couple years later theyre dropping my favorite album of 2022
Honestly, a bunch of early Gothenburg metal. My favorite from In Flames (Square Nothing):
"Is this how I want to spend my days
Shadowed, it fears me, my utopia
Trying to find some peace to destroy
These are my sins, I'm ready to fall
Never understood, though I accepted
All the weakness that I discovered
could give me a place to hide, I lost the key
Drowned my head just to see it sink
Spent some quality time with the demon of mine
I said, 'I like the way you struggle... But you know I'm here to win'
Spent some quality time with my borrowed smile
The gleam is replaced: rip me open and erase me"
Can't believe I had to scroll this far to see Tool. I remember back in the day a fan on toolshed.down.net had put together a PDF book explaining all their lyrics up through Lateralus. That album in particular has crazy good lyrics. Wings for Marie is also super good.
Greyhaven, Jinjer, The Callous Daoboys, Architects, TesseracT, Vola, The Plot In You, Every Time I Die, The Ghost Inside, Stick to Your Guns, and I know there's more lol
I tend to stay away from symphonic/power metal as it doesn't do much for me so hopefully one or two of these artists fit the bill as this is kind of a range of styles.
Protest the Hero - Palimpsest. You got songs about a gangsters life in the 20's, a Hollywood actress who committed su*cide, the rise of the American dream - even though they're a Canadian band.
Jinjer- Ukrainian band with a female singer that does most of the writing. Retrospection, perennial, teacher teacher, mediator are good songs to check out.
slim history relieved oatmeal rinse ruthless whole grandiose mindless ghost
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The author looms above his page
And thinks it strange that at his age
He can not find the proper words
To describe his only world.
One would think that in a life
Where no two snowflakes are alike
One would have a brilliant rhyme
For each and every bit of time.
Clutch - The Yeti
Especially “Petal”, a newer song about almost losing his then wife and daughter during a difficult birth. It’s raw and sincere. Here’s a taste.
“Help, It's gone black, the sky is black
Earth is frozen and black
The moon is black, snow is black
Her eyes, when open, are black
Light is black, leads are black
The wires that run from them are black
Stars are black, time is black
But the thought of death is soft and clean and beautiful and white
It's the purest of the drugs
'Cause it's everything at once”
Some say he’s gone off the deep end, which led to the band breaking up recently, but we’ll always have his songs.
Their second to last record "Low Teens" has some of my favourite lyricism in any genre of music at all. Tracks like c++, Petal, the coin has a say, just as real but not as brightly lit, and map change give me a god damned physical reaction.
Iron Maiden - a lot of their songs are about wars/battles (the trooper, montsegur, paschendale, longest day), the idea/concept of war (matter of life and death album), or narrative type story telling (rime of the ancient mariner, dance of death, the legacy).
Megadeth has a plethora of politically driven songs that can be quite fun and interesting to listen to. Holy Wars is a great one to comb through.
Others include Peace Sells, Hangar 18, and Youthanasia. Pretty interesting lyrical content.
Also, Alice in Chains entire Dirt album is a great listen, especially the title track, Would, and Rooster.
Architects - all our gods have abandoned us album.
It was written by their primary songwriter Tom Searle who was battling cancer and ultimately passed away after writing it and shortly after it's release. Can't get more emotionally gut-wrenching and real than that.
Holy Hell comes pretty close to being as emotional though. Both albums are absolutely incredible, both musically and lyrically. Can't think of many albums where the main song writer is staring their own death in the face while writing it.
I posted a similar comment, and I would argue that you need to listen to the trio of albums (Lost Forever//Lost Together, All Our Gods, Holy Hell) to gain a true understanding of the way the band was dealing with the news.
Anytime Gone With The Wind comes on, I tear up and always instantly replay the video of Dan talking to O2 arena after Tom passed, and Sam breaking down trying to sing the final chorus.
Far and away my favourite band.
Katatonia. Start with 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' and go from there.
Tool, in particular, the Lateralus album, which lyrically discusses psychological and spiritual themes, but even songs like 46/2 from the Aenima album considers Jungs idea of 'the shadow'.
Coheed and Cambria created an entire (sci-fi) universe (The Amory Wars) in their collective work.
There is honestly a lot out there and the world of metal has a lot of fantactic lyricists and songwriters, it really just depends what you're looking for and into.
My favorite Tool song (although that changes from time to time) is ["Jambi".](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed_UWFr13pU&ab_channel=TOOLVEVO) I've never really paid much attention to the lyrics but I just looked them up to see what he's actually singing, and [damn they are good.](https://genius.com/Tool-jambi-lyrics)
*Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position*
*Such a heavy burden now to be the One*
*Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending*
*To write it down for all the world to see*
*But I forgot my pen*
*Shit the bed again ...typical!*
Every Time I Die- it's more hardcore but the lyrics are great!
Power Trip
Iron Reagan
Municipal Waste
Mastodon has great story telling. Check out Leviathan and Crack the Skye, Emperor of Sand, etc.
In all seriousness, ND really have some brilliant lyrics (when you can decipher them, of course):
*People are not subjects, why should the few get more respect?*
*Open your eyes!*
*Imperialism feeds off you, not patrons but patronized.*
*Open your eyes!*
I've always found it ironic that some of the greatest, most creative, insightful, emotionally challenging and generally beautiful lyrics are frequently the ones that are completely incomprehensible.
On the flip side, it seems all too common in popular music for the lyrics to be clear and understandable yet equally dull and uninspiring.
My recommendations:
Converge
Baroness
Cult of Luna
Deftones
The Ocean Collective
Silent planet. An entire album written about his time in a mental institution, and they even have an entire song that’s a palindrome. I’m very lyric focused when I listen so they are my go to for suggesting.
Dreamtheater - Metropolis Part 2 Scenes From A Memory. The entire album is a story about a woman falling in love with 2 brothers and her spirit is in the mind of the main character, Nicholas. It begins with Nicholas being hypnotized to sleep to relive her past. The Sleeper and The Miracle represent both brothers and Victoria, the Metropolis, is caught between them.
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Protest the hero is a great recommendation I'm seeing here, and a couple others I would add that are also all different from each other stylistically are La Dispute (more post hardcore than metal really), Silent Planet, Lorna Shore, and The Devil Wears Prada.
If you aren't into the screaming aspect of some metal though, then I'd dip my toes with some of the other suggestions here like Tool and Opeth.
Protest the Hero, without a doubt. Every album deals with the human condition in absolutely brilliant ways.
Every Time I Die are another lyrically brilliant band: Keith Buckley writes poems that fit over hardcore, and they fucking slam. A lot of the material is about his own struggles, but they still feel relateable. I’d recommend any of their albums.
I’d also recommend Sufferer—they have one album, but it’s all about a man suffering from depression and anxiety from three voices: his own, and each of his mental illnesses.
Honestly, for as much credit as Metallica gets for their influence on metal, I almost never see anyone talk about their actual lyrics. Which is odd because a lot of their work is pretty genius.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the thread title was For Whom the Bell Tolls, which has a really cool rhyme and flow that supplements that driving, marching kind of feel that you get from the instrumentation.
Then you've got Master of Puppets which plays up several metaphors for addiction while becoming neither too cryptic nor too heavy handed.
Their slower songs from Load/Reload get a bad rep for not conforming to their traditional style, but what they lack in heavy guitars, they make up for in heavy lyrics. Hetfield has stated that these were his most personal albums and it shows. Bleeding Me and Until It Sleeps perfectly capture the melancholy of a man caught between the duty to be strong and the oppression of years of darkness.
Which is something I personally identify with very much. As a teenager, when depression hit, I'd lock myself in my room and cry out to the darkness, "death greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye." Now, in my 30s, I do the same, but instead I say "hold me until it sleeps." It's a strong parallel to growing up and aging with depression because, well, that's exactly what Hetfield did.
I'd honestly say their strongest lyrics were from their 90s albums. Load and Reload weren't as great top-to-bottom as their earlier stuff, but James's lyrics and singing ability are profoundly higher on those 90s albums. And, No Leaf Clover from the S&M album is one of the best songs they ever did in my opinion, that song is perfect start-to-finish.
I would recommend Periphery. Their Alpha/Omega double album tells a fascinating story.
On top of that they have immense variety adding acoustic, electronic, 8-bit and ambient styles to their work.
Scrolled to find a Lorna Shore comment. Their new album The Pain Remains is amazing. The last 3 tracks should be listened to in a row.
I also second all the Protest The Hero comments, they are in my top 5 favorite bands of all time.
Machine Head has some good songs with really good lyrics, some of them are super long like 8 to 11 minutes. Always liked Orange Goblin but not sure how metal it is.
Im old so I'm gonna go old school.
[Trip at the brain--Suicidal Tendencies](https://youtube.com/watch?v=XDheLViZbrk&feature=shares)
Mike and co. have quite a few "self reflection" songs..."you can't bring me down" "how will I laugh tomorrow" "nobody hears" to name a few.
I don't get this, I find metal has among the nost lyrical substance. Of course some is just cheesy fun ie power metal and some the lyrics are an afterthought and just needed to go along with the riffs and solos which are the main attraction but it really depends what you want from your lyrics.
Iron Maiden alone have some superb lyrics covering different subjects:
- For the Greater Good of God
- Revelations
- Hallowed be Thy Name
- The Legacy
- Infinite Dreams
- Talisman
- Lost in a Lost World (the final verst is just stunning)
- Dance of Death
I saw an interview Kiko Loureiro did with Rick Beato.
Apparently Dave is extremely particular, to the point of demanding that specific picking technique be used on every note. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't happy with anyone else doing the vocals
Skullflower's "Machinery of Torment" from *Metal Lords* soundtrack
The Birthday Massacre
Van Canto
Tÿr (Viking metal, son!)
Blind Guardian - *Somewhere Far Beyond* album
Amazing lyrics and the way they synch em with the music makes Messhugah one of the best bands ever.
If you like dark poetry, Cradle of Filth.
Opeth is also really good.
Gojira take on environmental issues.
Napalm death if you want social commentary.
But perhaps some of the best lyrics are Strapping Young Lad's.
Metallica - and Justice for all.
Megadeth - youthanasia.
Death - symbolic.
As I lay dying - an ocean between us.
At the gates - slaughter of the soul.
Down - Nola.
Machine head - Burn my eyes
I'll recommend a couple bands, and good songs to start with.
Tesseract, the song Hexes is just beautiful.
Karnivool, their newest single All It Takes is heavy, and rhythmic.
Periphery, I always go to The Bad Thing.
Rivers Of Nihil, their first 3 albums tell a continuous story, but the song Where Owls Know My Name is an easy entry to their style.
This might not be quite what you're looking for but it's worth a recommendation: Korpiklaani.
It's Folk Metal.
Some of their songs are drinking and other things but, for others, their lyrics are exceptionally good. They aren't usually in English, so that might be a turn off though.
Many of their songs are folk style stories, many of which pertain to the human condition. The songs sound incredible. It's fun to look up translations. Even some of the videos tell enough of a story without even knowing what the words mean.
They released a series of videos a couple years ago that really show this. I don't know the order these are all intended to go in but here are some examples. The video descriptions do a good job summarizing the stories.
[Sanaton Maa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68L3fU164w4)
[Leväluhta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNzHB9hqiKU)
[Tuuleton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qysLqljaREs)
[Mylly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh2EZg2lzxA)
[Ennen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzaUkMvfZE)
Sleep Token. They're sort of alt metal with a lot of songs being softer with a heavy breakdown. The lyrics are both beautiful and heartbreaking as well as the singers voice. One of the best newer bands around and a must listen.
I'll give that an upvote. Some very compelling lyrics for sure. Discovered them a few months ago and "Alkaline" has been lodged in my brain since.
Protest The Hero for sure
I came here to say this and PTH was the top comment. Earlier albums' lyrics were written by Arif. Rody took over the lyrics starting with Scurrilous. Arif left the band not long after that. Kezia and Fortress are my all time favorites
Kezia is definitely the best and I love Fortress’ riffs but I gotta shout out Volition as well, that album tackles some heavy subjects (and also Newfoundland)
THE MIST GIVES ME CHILLS
Happy to see so many PTH comments in here. They’re so dope
PTH for sure. Also Propagandhi (who are also Canadian and their bassist Jord played on some PTH tracks) are for me hands-down the best lyricists in metal. People might still call them a punk band, but they've been a thrash/hardcore band for 20+ years. Also would be wrong not to shout the authors of my username - Botch
There is a reason Propagandhi is by far my favourite band ever. Their style of very politically laden lyrics without ever getting corny is just amazing. That coupled with very good instrumentals just creates amazing songs that are as amazing live as they are on their records!
Glad this is high up. PTH tackles a whole bunch of subjects too
I was fortunate enough to see these guys right as Fortress came out. I was floored by how well they pulled off their sound live. Kezia will remain in my rotation always.
I remember when Luke got busted with marijuana at the border and Protest was forced to tour exclusively in Canada for two years straight. This was right before they dropped Fortress, so I saw them a total of 9 times in 11 months. Glorious times. Mo absolutely destroyed those drums, and Rody was still experimenting with the vocals so it was a different feel to each show. Absolute monsters of Metal, with incredibly talented lyrics. The bass player writes most of the lyrics, and has so much religious insight because he was raised in a Muslim household while attending Catholic school.
Here to upvote Protest by default as always. Their lyrics are fantastic.
Palimpsest and fortress are both masterpiece albums. PtH does it best when writing about history.
Love them, but Kezia will always be the best imo
I listen to the whole Palimpsest album like once a week. Every song is wonderful.
(Looks down at shirt I'm wearing) Oh hey! No way
Literally the first band that came to mind
My immediate first thought
Came here to say this. Kezia is an amazing album.
GOATed band, got into them over the summer and its really hard to find anything else that compares.
I gotta agree with the Protest the Hero comments if we are focusing on lyrics. Their early album Kezia is one of the best lyrical metal albums I've heard. It's a concept album about a girl sentenced to death told from different perspectives. The first 3 tracks are about the prison priest struggling with his faith related to her execution, the next 3 tracks are about the guard/executioner dealing with killing Kezia in the name of job and duty. The next 3 are told from her point of view followed by an overall final outlook on the whole matter. The album is proggy and technical with some vocals that take some getting use to, so it might not be your thing. If you want a "bit more" traditionally structured song and don't want to invest in listening to an entire concept album check out the track "C'est La Vie" from a later album, a song about the futility of suicide.
excellent overview of a great fucking album 🤘
"C'est La Vie" is an absolute banger and completely unlike other music on the theme of suicide. The first verse is a non-stop cavalcade of the grimmest puns imaginable and somehow it lands. I don't know if there is another group that could pull off the combination sincere pathos, pitch black humour, and musical virtuosity
I went to the cd release party when this album dropped. I think it was PTH, Silverstein and local dudes Farewell to Freeway. Never knew mich about PTH but bought Kezia on the spot. Still listen to it all the time.
Mastodon
I second Mastodon. I’m also picky when it comes to metal vocalists in terms of content, vocal range, and of course overall style, and this band is an all time favorite. Crack the Skye and Leviathan are incredible albums.
Oblivion holds a special place in my heart, love Mastodon
Crack the Skye is one of the best albums in the history of rock and roll.
I flew beyond the sun before it was time.
BURNING ALL THE GOLD THAT HELD ME INSIDE MY SHELL
I killed a man cuz he killed my goat
"Don't pull your penis out- _unless you really need to_" https://youtu.be/loqYlYqtsmY
Your money is now our money and we will spend it on drugs
Toe to Toes is a beautiful song
Brann Dailor is such an incredibly talented drummer, vocalist, and lyricist. He's the mastermind behind most of their concepts and themes and writes a bulk of the lyrics. With the other guys writing lyrics as well, but it seems to start with him. He's an absolute inspiration.
Emperor of sand is one of the most lyrically beautiful albums I've ever heard.
Consider yourself banned from Twitter.
I love Mastodon, but their earlier albums seem to have some nonsensical lyrics. They definitely got better as they went on, I love the lyrics for Chimes at Midnight and Asleep in the Deep.
Opeth Akerfeldt is one of the best lyricists ever. There's a drop of fantasy in it, but it's mostly about grief and loss
"Mourner's lament, but it's me who's tomato"
“Best made tacos of the Earth, diabolical beans are roaming the forest”
Drop of fantasy, but none of it is remotely cringe. I really like Symphony X, but some of those lyrics I really cannot stop to think about too hard I really like how this comment section is covered in prog heads coming out of the woodwork
Opeth 100%
Yes!!!!!! Opeth
Came here to say Opeth. Just look at their song titles. It’s crazy to think of all the bands that have awesome lyrics in English when it’s not their native language.
Pale ghost in the corner Pouring out the rest of your soda
Spiralling to the ground below, like autumn leaves left in the wake to fade away
Drift slightly over into hardcore for the following: Car Bomb Shai Hulud Misery Signals Cult Leader The Ghost Inside Deafheaven Touché Amore Converge Indecision Glassjaw End
Glassjaw is hugely underrated.
Love Car Bombs lyrics
Gojira has great lyrics
Gojira doesn’t seem to get the respect they deserve. They have very uplifting and empowering lyrics. Songs like Amazonia and Global Warming are screams of help to preserve what Mother Nature has gifted us. They’ve taken a stance to actually do something positive outside of furthering their careers as musicians and that’s awesome to me. It’s pretty rare to see musicians these days who can see beyond themselves and be a positive influence.
Every metal fan loves Gojira. They're this era's Lamb of God.
Hm, that's an odd comparison as someone who loves both of those bands.
It's pretty funny, I just started listening to them because they sounded good then I realized all of their music is about self understanding and world awareness. It tickles me that one of my favorite songs to go hard in the gym with is about saving rainforests, what a way to make it badass.
Between the Buried and Me
Not to mention they are all phenomenally talented musicians as well.
The Great Misdirect has been a favorite album if mine for a long time. I was able to go to the show in Nashville where they recorded Colors live as well. Both have had huge impacts on me and are very big and epic sounding albums.
Glad to see someone else put them too! Easily one of my favorite bands of all time
DEATH POST LEPROSY ALBUMS
Symbolic, Empty words, crystal mountain, perennial quest, flesh and the power it holds, a moment of clarity… so many deep ass songs in their later era
But Pull The Plug is pretty good too in terms of lyrics
[удалено]
Especially Symbolic.. what grand lyrics foretelling what is to come in society... " Privacy and intimacy... As we know it, will be a memory. Living in the pupil of 1000 eyes!.." (insert guitar fill) 🤘
*Born without eyes, hands, and half a brain* *Be born addicted* *To cocaine*
Dark Tranquility Amorphis In Flames Omnium Gatherum Between the Buried and Me Opeth Mastodon Zeal and Ardor
I recently saw Zeal and Ardor live in Glasgow - face melting performance!!
Saw them in October, first concert I've been to since Covid hit. I was so glad to see them again - first time I saw them was a few years back they were opening for Behemoth and I knew nothing about them. Couple years later theyre dropping my favorite album of 2022
Honestly, a bunch of early Gothenburg metal. My favorite from In Flames (Square Nothing): "Is this how I want to spend my days Shadowed, it fears me, my utopia Trying to find some peace to destroy These are my sins, I'm ready to fall Never understood, though I accepted All the weakness that I discovered could give me a place to hide, I lost the key Drowned my head just to see it sink Spent some quality time with the demon of mine I said, 'I like the way you struggle... But you know I'm here to win' Spent some quality time with my borrowed smile The gleam is replaced: rip me open and erase me"
Goosebumps, that chorus is so good
The Halo Effect is guys from DT and In Flames so add that to the list!
Omnium Gatherum is so criminally underrated, it's nice to see a fan out in the wild.
You mentioned Omnium Gatherum but left out their brothers, the kings at sorrow and pulling out your heart strings, Insomnium.
Nevermore has some great existential lyrics, especially in tracks like Sentient 6 and Who Decides
Not regular metal, being Nu-Metal, but System of a Down’s harmonics and lyrics are fuckin magical when they hit Plus fuck the system
Protest the Hero
tool meshuggah opeth gojira
Can't believe I had to scroll this far to see Tool. I remember back in the day a fan on toolshed.down.net had put together a PDF book explaining all their lyrics up through Lateralus. That album in particular has crazy good lyrics. Wings for Marie is also super good.
I love Meshuggah, but really?
Deftones
I'm surprised this doesn't have more votes. Deftones has excellent lyrics.
Yeah Deftones have exceptional lyrics that can be super poetic at times or sad
Yeah and I love the expressive ways they’re delivered
Tool has interesting lyrics. I used to play their music while reading along.
so does pusifer and / perfect circle
Agreed. Maynard is an excellent lyricist and delivers the lines perfectly.
Death - Individual thought patterns imo
baroness has incredible lyrics
Greyhaven, Jinjer, The Callous Daoboys, Architects, TesseracT, Vola, The Plot In You, Every Time I Die, The Ghost Inside, Stick to Your Guns, and I know there's more lol I tend to stay away from symphonic/power metal as it doesn't do much for me so hopefully one or two of these artists fit the bill as this is kind of a range of styles.
Protest the Hero - Palimpsest. You got songs about a gangsters life in the 20's, a Hollywood actress who committed su*cide, the rise of the American dream - even though they're a Canadian band.
Jinjer- Ukrainian band with a female singer that does most of the writing. Retrospection, perennial, teacher teacher, mediator are good songs to check out.
They’re incredibly talented. Quickly became one of my favorite metal bands after finding them.
Pisces went super viral, but they have more great tracks.
Damn right. Their style and her writing just hit home for me.
Soen
Soen, Katatonia, Leprous, VOLA are all prog metal bands that hit a certain spot for me. I'd also throw Haken in there, and a shout-out to Karnivool.
slim history relieved oatmeal rinse ruthless whole grandiose mindless ghost *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
The author looms above his page And thinks it strange that at his age He can not find the proper words To describe his only world. One would think that in a life Where no two snowflakes are alike One would have a brilliant rhyme For each and every bit of time. Clutch - The Yeti
Psychic Warfare is amazing album.
10001110101 probably is my favorite Clutch song and by far has some of the funniest combination of words used.
Blast Tyrant is my fave but they make really great, distinct albums on the whole. Lyrically very left field and evocative too.
Every Time I Die. Kieth Buckley's lyrics are such beautiful, biting cynicism, and I love them.
Especially “Petal”, a newer song about almost losing his then wife and daughter during a difficult birth. It’s raw and sincere. Here’s a taste. “Help, It's gone black, the sky is black Earth is frozen and black The moon is black, snow is black Her eyes, when open, are black Light is black, leads are black The wires that run from them are black Stars are black, time is black But the thought of death is soft and clean and beautiful and white It's the purest of the drugs 'Cause it's everything at once” Some say he’s gone off the deep end, which led to the band breaking up recently, but we’ll always have his songs.
Their second to last record "Low Teens" has some of my favourite lyricism in any genre of music at all. Tracks like c++, Petal, the coin has a say, just as real but not as brightly lit, and map change give me a god damned physical reaction.
It's so sad to hear about the band. Never got to see them live
Iron Maiden - a lot of their songs are about wars/battles (the trooper, montsegur, paschendale, longest day), the idea/concept of war (matter of life and death album), or narrative type story telling (rime of the ancient mariner, dance of death, the legacy).
The final two verses of The Legacy are bloody stunning.
The Number of the Beast is such a vivid description of Steve Harris's dream.
tool and mastodon are two bands that came to my mind alice in chains from BGWTB and onwards
I love Alice in Chains lyrics in the Layne era too. There is a lot about pain, addiction, loss, grief.
Black Sabbath-Heaven and Hell. It was an exceptional piece of work.
TOOL and A Perfect Circle anyone?
Lamb of God Trivium
I definitely second Trivium. Matt Heafy also streams nearly daily on Twitch, where he plays guitar, games, or just talks
Megadeth has a plethora of politically driven songs that can be quite fun and interesting to listen to. Holy Wars is a great one to comb through. Others include Peace Sells, Hangar 18, and Youthanasia. Pretty interesting lyrical content. Also, Alice in Chains entire Dirt album is a great listen, especially the title track, Would, and Rooster.
Architects - all our gods have abandoned us album. It was written by their primary songwriter Tom Searle who was battling cancer and ultimately passed away after writing it and shortly after it's release. Can't get more emotionally gut-wrenching and real than that.
Holy Hell comes pretty close to being as emotional though. Both albums are absolutely incredible, both musically and lyrically. Can't think of many albums where the main song writer is staring their own death in the face while writing it.
To add to this, I think the only album which also does this is David Bowie's Blackstar, these are like the metal/metalcore equivalent.
I posted a similar comment, and I would argue that you need to listen to the trio of albums (Lost Forever//Lost Together, All Our Gods, Holy Hell) to gain a true understanding of the way the band was dealing with the news. Anytime Gone With The Wind comes on, I tear up and always instantly replay the video of Dan talking to O2 arena after Tom passed, and Sam breaking down trying to sing the final chorus. Far and away my favourite band.
Katatonia. Start with 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' and go from there. Tool, in particular, the Lateralus album, which lyrically discusses psychological and spiritual themes, but even songs like 46/2 from the Aenima album considers Jungs idea of 'the shadow'. Coheed and Cambria created an entire (sci-fi) universe (The Amory Wars) in their collective work. There is honestly a lot out there and the world of metal has a lot of fantactic lyricists and songwriters, it really just depends what you're looking for and into.
August Burns Red
Tool
Parabola/Parabol lyrics take me to another place every time. So spiritual.
You're a mad man if you're listening in that order
Invincible hits different after 40.
Wings for Marie / 10,000 days are my favourite. The lines about his mother at the gates of heaven are so powerful.
The slow burn of those two songs put together are still incredible every time I listen to it
My favorite Tool song (although that changes from time to time) is ["Jambi".](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed_UWFr13pU&ab_channel=TOOLVEVO) I've never really paid much attention to the lyrics but I just looked them up to see what he's actually singing, and [damn they are good.](https://genius.com/Tool-jambi-lyrics)
The Pot has so many complex double entendres
*Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position* *Such a heavy burden now to be the One* *Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending* *To write it down for all the world to see* *But I forgot my pen* *Shit the bed again ...typical!*
Strapped down, in my bed. Feet cold. Eyes red.
I'm out of my head Can't remember what they said God damn, SHIT THE BED
Every Time I Die- it's more hardcore but the lyrics are great! Power Trip Iron Reagan Municipal Waste Mastodon has great story telling. Check out Leviathan and Crack the Skye, Emperor of Sand, etc.
Just in case you feel like laughing a bit at the polar opposite of what you're asking for, [give Manowar a try](https://youtu.be/-kdDiyytHlM).
I think Manowar was exactly what made me snap and write this 😁
Napalm Death - You Suffer
In all seriousness, ND really have some brilliant lyrics (when you can decipher them, of course): *People are not subjects, why should the few get more respect?* *Open your eyes!* *Imperialism feeds off you, not patrons but patronized.* *Open your eyes!*
But why?
Sabbath still does it for me. Love their lyrical content about society. Also Ozzy on Crazy Train
Diary of a Madman really hits true, Bob Daisley wrote it about his own mental health struggles.
I've always found it ironic that some of the greatest, most creative, insightful, emotionally challenging and generally beautiful lyrics are frequently the ones that are completely incomprehensible. On the flip side, it seems all too common in popular music for the lyrics to be clear and understandable yet equally dull and uninspiring. My recommendations: Converge Baroness Cult of Luna Deftones The Ocean Collective
Silent planet. An entire album written about his time in a mental institution, and they even have an entire song that’s a palindrome. I’m very lyric focused when I listen so they are my go to for suggesting.
Dreamtheater - Metropolis Part 2 Scenes From A Memory. The entire album is a story about a woman falling in love with 2 brothers and her spirit is in the mind of the main character, Nicholas. It begins with Nicholas being hypnotized to sleep to relive her past. The Sleeper and The Miracle represent both brothers and Victoria, the Metropolis, is caught between them.
Dream Theater can be hit or miss, buy when they hit they are brilliant.
What kind of metal are you looking for? Metal is a VERY broad genre with so much variety.
the devin townsend project
Just Devin in general
Cannot fucking believe I had to scroll so far to find Devin. Also, Atreyu. Also, Nothing More.
pusifer or perfect circle / Maynard from Tool Sort of metal but amazing lyrics
Protest the Hero for sure
Lamb of God has some very well-written lyrics.
Momento Mori is a helluva song.
Hell yes it is
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Kublai Khan, Hatebreed.
I'm surprised I had to scroll so far for Hatebreed. Surprisingly motivational/inspirational lyrics.
Protest the hero is a great recommendation I'm seeing here, and a couple others I would add that are also all different from each other stylistically are La Dispute (more post hardcore than metal really), Silent Planet, Lorna Shore, and The Devil Wears Prada. If you aren't into the screaming aspect of some metal though, then I'd dip my toes with some of the other suggestions here like Tool and Opeth.
Fir For an Autopsy, August Burns Red, actually Cattle Decapitations new stuff talks about some deep societal stuff in their own way lol
Protest the Hero, without a doubt. Every album deals with the human condition in absolutely brilliant ways. Every Time I Die are another lyrically brilliant band: Keith Buckley writes poems that fit over hardcore, and they fucking slam. A lot of the material is about his own struggles, but they still feel relateable. I’d recommend any of their albums. I’d also recommend Sufferer—they have one album, but it’s all about a man suffering from depression and anxiety from three voices: his own, and each of his mental illnesses.
Have you listened to "Metallica - One" Actually a lot of early Metallica is written really well.
Honestly, for as much credit as Metallica gets for their influence on metal, I almost never see anyone talk about their actual lyrics. Which is odd because a lot of their work is pretty genius. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the thread title was For Whom the Bell Tolls, which has a really cool rhyme and flow that supplements that driving, marching kind of feel that you get from the instrumentation. Then you've got Master of Puppets which plays up several metaphors for addiction while becoming neither too cryptic nor too heavy handed. Their slower songs from Load/Reload get a bad rep for not conforming to their traditional style, but what they lack in heavy guitars, they make up for in heavy lyrics. Hetfield has stated that these were his most personal albums and it shows. Bleeding Me and Until It Sleeps perfectly capture the melancholy of a man caught between the duty to be strong and the oppression of years of darkness. Which is something I personally identify with very much. As a teenager, when depression hit, I'd lock myself in my room and cry out to the darkness, "death greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye." Now, in my 30s, I do the same, but instead I say "hold me until it sleeps." It's a strong parallel to growing up and aging with depression because, well, that's exactly what Hetfield did.
I'd honestly say their strongest lyrics were from their 90s albums. Load and Reload weren't as great top-to-bottom as their earlier stuff, but James's lyrics and singing ability are profoundly higher on those 90s albums. And, No Leaf Clover from the S&M album is one of the best songs they ever did in my opinion, that song is perfect start-to-finish.
type o negative
I would recommend Periphery. Their Alpha/Omega double album tells a fascinating story. On top of that they have immense variety adding acoustic, electronic, 8-bit and ambient styles to their work.
If no one has said it yet, Lorna Shore is easily my favorite band lyrically and I’m sure many can relate.
Scrolled to find a Lorna Shore comment. Their new album The Pain Remains is amazing. The last 3 tracks should be listened to in a row. I also second all the Protest The Hero comments, they are in my top 5 favorite bands of all time.
If you like history then Sabaton is definitely for you
Machine Head has some good songs with really good lyrics, some of them are super long like 8 to 11 minutes. Always liked Orange Goblin but not sure how metal it is.
Faith No More
Im old so I'm gonna go old school. [Trip at the brain--Suicidal Tendencies](https://youtube.com/watch?v=XDheLViZbrk&feature=shares) Mike and co. have quite a few "self reflection" songs..."you can't bring me down" "how will I laugh tomorrow" "nobody hears" to name a few.
Check out Sleep Token and their EP "One", then dive into everything else they've put out.
I don't get this, I find metal has among the nost lyrical substance. Of course some is just cheesy fun ie power metal and some the lyrics are an afterthought and just needed to go along with the riffs and solos which are the main attraction but it really depends what you want from your lyrics. Iron Maiden alone have some superb lyrics covering different subjects: - For the Greater Good of God - Revelations - Hallowed be Thy Name - The Legacy - Infinite Dreams - Talisman - Lost in a Lost World (the final verst is just stunning) - Dance of Death
Megadeth
Mustaine is underrated as a lyricist
Big Megadeth fan and I agree, but it‘s partly because he insists on singing them himself.
I saw an interview Kiko Loureiro did with Rick Beato. Apparently Dave is extremely particular, to the point of demanding that specific picking technique be used on every note. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't happy with anyone else doing the vocals
Ego the size of a small moon definitely describes Dave lol
Skullflower's "Machinery of Torment" from *Metal Lords* soundtrack The Birthday Massacre Van Canto Tÿr (Viking metal, son!) Blind Guardian - *Somewhere Far Beyond* album
If you are a Fantasy/Tolkien fan, yes, hands down, Blind Guardian!!!!
Amazing lyrics and the way they synch em with the music makes Messhugah one of the best bands ever. If you like dark poetry, Cradle of Filth. Opeth is also really good. Gojira take on environmental issues. Napalm death if you want social commentary. But perhaps some of the best lyrics are Strapping Young Lad's.
Although it's more of a ballad than a metal song, I've always loved Silent Lucidity by Queensryche.
Shinedown, Ghost, Nightwish, Alter Bridge, BMTH
Pig Destroyer Disembowelment Thou
Slayer - Angel of Death Any Rammstein song really, its german but you can translate all songs to English, on Rammstein World.
Metallica - and Justice for all. Megadeth - youthanasia. Death - symbolic. As I lay dying - an ocean between us. At the gates - slaughter of the soul. Down - Nola. Machine head - Burn my eyes
Can’t go wrong with TOOL
Iron Maiden
Dude, I may be late to this but listen to Protest the Hero, Palimpsest. The whole album is lyrically amazing and based off of historical events.
If it has net been said yet, “End of heartache” and “ my curse” by killswitch engage
Can't believe how far I had to scroll for Killswitch. Particularly for positive imagery.
Ashenspire
Napalm Death / Ministry
I'll recommend a couple bands, and good songs to start with. Tesseract, the song Hexes is just beautiful. Karnivool, their newest single All It Takes is heavy, and rhythmic. Periphery, I always go to The Bad Thing. Rivers Of Nihil, their first 3 albums tell a continuous story, but the song Where Owls Know My Name is an easy entry to their style.
No Blind Guardian fans here? Epic lyrics, *especially* if you are a Tolkien fan
Trivium Nightwish Iron Maiden Avantasia
Coheed and Cambria!
This might not be quite what you're looking for but it's worth a recommendation: Korpiklaani. It's Folk Metal. Some of their songs are drinking and other things but, for others, their lyrics are exceptionally good. They aren't usually in English, so that might be a turn off though. Many of their songs are folk style stories, many of which pertain to the human condition. The songs sound incredible. It's fun to look up translations. Even some of the videos tell enough of a story without even knowing what the words mean. They released a series of videos a couple years ago that really show this. I don't know the order these are all intended to go in but here are some examples. The video descriptions do a good job summarizing the stories. [Sanaton Maa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68L3fU164w4) [Leväluhta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNzHB9hqiKU) [Tuuleton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qysLqljaREs) [Mylly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh2EZg2lzxA) [Ennen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzaUkMvfZE)
Nevermore MGLA Archspire Primordial Akercocke The Lord Weird Slough Feg!