The Greatest Voices in Metal? *Yawn*

I grew up during the punk era so metal to me was the soundtrack for barely literate, crooked-toothed stoners, those whose THC soaked brains lacked the attention span for Dungeons and Dragons. For them, the epic sludge of an Iron Maiden or Judas Priest was the right choice––a Playskool-cum-Harryhausen version of D and D.

So it was until the 80s, an era that eschewed fairy tale phantasmagorias in favor of the more streetwise hair-sprayed bubblegum of a Poison and Motley Crue.

Still, if you're shameless headbanger who dreams of taking the family on an old school metal cruise next summer, then dig this: A list of the greatest voices in metal. Ronnie James Dio, my friends, was apparently as good as it got. This according to the forthcoming book The Merciless Book of Metal Lists. See the entire article about it here.

1. Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Dio)
2. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
3. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
4. Eric Adams (Manowar)
5. Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche)
6. King Diamond (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond)
7. Tom Araya (Slayer)
8. John Bush (Armored Saint/Ant)

I thought you should know.

Time marches on, even for the titans of metal––Eventually, even the edgiest and coolest of us will grow to look like exotically facial-haired versions of our dads.