10 Greatest Metal Singers Of All Time
8. James Hetfield
Ironically enough, James Hetfield was a bit wary about being the lead singer of Metallica in the band's early days. Even after the band's first few records, Hetfield was still on the lookout for someone who could be the band's vocalist. After a while, James and the rest of the band realized just how lucky they were to have Hetfield's militant bite.
The one distinction that Hetfield had at the time was being the one metal frontman who never really indulged in high-pitch screaming all that often. Instead, Hetfield's approach to heavy metal vocals was always more in tune with punk rock music as his voice went more for attitude and showcasing a presence with his delivery. Even when the band would slip into ballads like on "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Unforgiven," James's vocals were always great at asserting a sort of tough-guy sentimentality.
After the band's highly successful self-titled record, Hetfield also got proper training for his voice, which led him to become a better all-around vocalist instead of just a rabid metal singer. Though Metallica has weathered highs and lows creatively, Hetfield's vocals have matured and have gotten even stronger over almost 4 decades.