12 Greatest Hard Rock Frontmen Of The '90s

Throughout the 80's, Metallica was known as one of the hardest metal bands you have ever seen. Emerging from the Bay Area thrash scene, each release from the band during their 80's run seemed to get heavier and heavier, with James Hetfield teaching a masterclass on rhythm guitar. Once the 90's turned a corner though, Hetfield went from metal's greatest downpickers to rock's most engaging frontmen.

With the release of the Black Album, the band's material drastically shifted to include everything from hard rock to even ballad material. Everyone may not have been down with the sudden change, but Hetfield had found his identity by the end. As soon as the band went out on tour, the metal world saw the Metal Warlord emerge in full, as Hetfield commandeered the stage with an iron hand. Instead of the kid who used to scream at the top of his lungs at Metallica shows, Hetfield's mannerisms showed him finally settling into the role of the frontman rather than just another musician in the band.

In addition to his stage presence, Hetfield managed to refine his voice from it's slapdash beginnings to the lion's roar that we know today. Metallica may have had a bit of a switchup in style, but in terms of entertaining an audience, James Hetfield had cemented his place as one of the best metal frontmen to walk the Earth.