Women in metal

[Tobin S.]

There aren't very many women in the heavy metal music scene as far as bands that have a wider following goes, but there are some very good female vocalists making headway. I don't know if women, for the most part, simply aren't drawn to this genre of music, or if there's a good old boys' barrier involved, or what the case may be. Heavy metal is about power and anger. I would think that it would appeal to all sorts of people who feel powerless and angry. That's why I first got into it when I was 15. It didn't take long before I grew my hair out and started wearing black. My interior world was all fucked up and metal was like a pressure valve that let me blow off some steam. Here are a few examples of some female fronted bands that I like.

In This Moment is kind of a borderline band. They are trying to get air time on commercial radio and at the same time stay true to their metal roots. So we'll get a pop metal song like "Beautiful Tragedy" sometimes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khairmZadHg and other times just flat out good old fashioned metal like their new tune "The Gun Show" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwTv45OW5Yw They've covered both Blondie and Slayer.

Otep is angry. I'm going to try to take it easy on you guys and get you warmed up :). "Smash the Control Machine" has got some cool lefty lyrics to it as well as being a jamming tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mocsN9gS3pI "Warhead" is a killer anti-war tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfLnDUPmP4s That's a cool video, too. I don't think they cared too much for Dubya. That woman can sing circles around a lot of the male vocalists I hear in metal now days.

I couldn't leave out the all female band Kittie. Here's their first hit "Brackish" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t7fCKzKenw

Here's Arch Enemy with "Nemesis" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9AcG0glVu4 It's the only tune I've heard from them and I don't think they've had as much success as the bands that I've listed above, at least not here in the states, but that is one killer tune. I think I'll do a little exploring on youtube...Here's another cool one from them "We Will Rise" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Dn02bR4pg

List your favorite women in metal and give me some links.

[Swede]

1. I like Epica.

and thanks for the links.

Epica - The Phantom Agony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aLwkFInSgw

[Tobin S.]

2. Awesome! I love symphonic metal.

:headbang:

[Kat45]

3. I've got two for you: Girlschool and Doro

Girlschool, an all-female British band (who has played with Lemmy). I saw them live once and loved the show.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2yyWKPVtQI


Doro Pesch, a German singer, with the band Warlock (& later solo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmnVNxEmBn4


Edited to add video of Girlschool with Lemmy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9blBsm56lI&feature=fvw

[Starbucks Anarchist]

4. Wata, guitarist for the Japanese metal band Boris.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_GgowniQWk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeSwal4jqyk

[Kaleva]

5. Thought you were talking about something like this:

[Liberal Veteran]

8. Pshaw! What rubbish. Everyone knows women wore chainmail thongs into battle!

[Swede]

6. Lee Aaron the original Canadian metal queen.

I even went to a few of her shows,back in the day.

Lee Aaron - Metal Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n6WjXWc-Fw

[TheMightyFavog]

7. Nobody mentioned the late, great Wendy O. Williams?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RFfjNoVl-I