Being on Youtube and social media, I feel like I am constantly overloaded with one singer and one singer only.  I am continually seeing people say “G.O.A.T.” “She’s better than every singer” and “Nobody can touch her”.  Her band graces every headline of nearly every European Metal festival and every Metal coverage site in the world.  She’s invading all my feeds, my mind, and even my dreams. Floor Jansen has gone viral, crossing over into multiple genres and going worldwide with “Ghost Love Score”, her performances on Dutch Television, and her operatic covers with Henk Poort.  She has been a gateway into the world of Symphonic Metal for thousands of people, myself included.  I love Floor Jansen, but the elitism people have created discounts the hundreds of other great vocalists.  She may be one of the most technical and dynamic vocalists of all time, but that doesn’t mean there are not others doing new and exciting things in the Metal industry.  While music may be subjective, I find the elitism and self-righteousness in a cult following to be tiresome.  Metal is an umbrella term for a wide range of music, leaving room for so much individuality.

    This is a list of singers that I believe can stand up to Floor Jansen or Tarja.  Because, ultimately music is subjective, and the technical ability of one doesn’t discount the talent of others.  These singers are all amazing and unique in their own right, including Floor.  Keep an open mind and check out this massive range of shockingly good vocalists.  Most of them are in the realm of Metal, but a couple might surprise you in versatility.  I didn’t include singers like Courtney LaPlante and Tatiana Shymaluk, because they’re enormously popular right now and would be obvious choices for any list.  And don’t worry, I’ll be doing a Male vocal version of this list soon!  The reason that I separate Male and Female is that they sing in completely different ranges and scales of music.  Neither is better than the other, just utterly incomparable in a musical sense.

This article intends to honor female vocalists of this new excellent generation.

1. Brittney Slayes- Unleash the Archers

I’ve mentioned Brittney on this page before (probably obsessively), so it’s no surprise that I would include her.  Her vocal range is a three-octave Mezzo Soprano, occasionally dipping into smooth alto drones, a powerhouse of insane high notes delivered expertly.  Some of the notes I’ve heard her hit live are so far into the stratosphere, I don’t think I’ve heard anything higher but it would take measuring to find out.  It’s not just her range, but her vocal stamina to do an hour and a half long sets of seemingly impossible high notes and long controlled notes.  She effortlessly controls her notes, keeping perfect pitch over six second long sustains. It’s shockingly good. She also has an addictive quality to her voice that immerses you into the concept albums.  Once you’re hooked, you can’t stop listening to the emotive yet so effortless technicality of Brittney and the whole band.

For me, “Legacy” is a song that her voice captivates on.  Her harmonies, range, and smooth delivery hit hard.  But, there are many mind-blowing songs of UTA and her feature on Arjen Lucassen’s Star One “Fate of Man” that will surprise new listeners and even drop some jaws.  “Frozen Steel” has one of the highest notes I’ve ever heard.  No matter where you start in Brittney’s catalog, she is a must-hear singer for all music fans.

2. Sabrina Valentine Cruz- Seven Kingdoms

Sabrina is one of the most surprising vocalists I’ve ever seen live.  I had heard a couple of Seven Kingdoms’ songs before seeing them open for Unleash the Archers. But, I had no idea what I was in for in the live setting.  Sabrina’s voice is unbelievably strong live.  There’s no thinning, no drop-offs, very few effects, and no backing tracks.  She is smooth and gargantuan in the delivery of soaring Power Metal notes.  I think I was in honest disbelief for their entire set because I had no idea what to expect.  She covers so many styles and techniques in one set; Switching from operatic open notes to soaring high Power Metal wails to Twang to extremely long-held notes, it’s a whirlwind.    It’s surprising because she’s this 4”9 or so burger slipper-wearing badass that just blows the roof off any venue.  She’s now one of my favorite vocalists because of her emotive and unpretentious approach to vocals.  She’s incredibly easy to connect with on and off the stage.   Every song of theirs is amazing, but the one that grabbed me the most vocally is “Valonqar”.  I truly believe this song is a masterpiece and a thematic track you’d never expect from a Power Metal band.  SK is not huge yet by any means, but I foresee many others connecting with this incredible band very soon.

3. Noa Gruman- Scardust

Scardust is a band that came out of nowhere for me.  I try to keep up with everything happening with women in Metal, but I somehow slept on this absolute dynamo of a vocalist.  Noa Gruman is a Classically trained Soprano from the beautiful and unassuming Metal land of Israel.  I’ve been following Patty Gurdy for a while, so when the video for “Concrete Cages” came out it popped up on my Youtube feed.  I had never heard Noa sing, so this song was an overwhelming blast of new sounds and uniqueness.  It took four whole watches of this video for the immensity to settle in, and when it did, it hit me like a revelation.  Noa Gruman is, in my opinion, one of the greatest vocalists of all time.  She shows such versatility, switching from operatic to absolutely insane gutturals in a millisecond, and then scatting a vocal solo, to monophonic style indigenous to the Middle East.  All that can happen in one track, even just a verse.  I have never heard anything like her vocal style(s).  It’s refreshing and a completely new take on Metal vocals.  Scardust’s tribute to Nightwish live videos is also something magnificent to behold.

4. Cammie Gilbert-  Oceans of Slumber

    I may be extremely biased in writing a piece about Cammie Gilbert, but I’m going to anyway because I find her underrated and not talked about enough.  Cammie Gilbert is the biggest influence on me in female vocals of all time.  Her emotive and tonal quality is simply divine in every way.  She has a voice that transcends Metal, dipping into classic Doom Metal, Operatic, Blues, and Jazz.  It’s an effortless powerful croon that moves the soul, whether it’s into the darkness or the light.  Her voice dances upon the melody and is smooth yet unpredictable.  You never know what direction it’s going to go in.   I strongly dislike comparing vocalists, and Cammie Gilbert is incomparable.  My first introduction to Oceans of Slumber was “Winter” and it was unlike anything I’ve ever heard in Metal.  It’s a Melodic moving song where Cammiei uses rhythmic singing to dance on top of the melody in almost a spoken word or Rapping sense.  It’s just a beautiful heart-wrenching track with her vocals as the centerpiece.  The cover of “House of the Rising Sun” is also a sensational track that showcases the undeniable talent of Cammie as a cornerstone vocalist.

5. Chibi- The Birthday Massacre

    The Birthday Massacre isn’t Metal, but the band has some hefty tracks that will surprise you.  TBM is an eclectic mix of Gothic Rock, Darkwave, Synth Wave, and Atmospheric themes and they are brilliant.  There’s nothing out there quite like them right now   They’ve created their own genre of music.  A big attributing factor is Chib’s approach to vocals.  Her pitch control, melodic intelligence, and easy delivery of crystal clear vocals are the cornerstone of the band.  She’s a deceptively incredible vocalist; The melodies sound so simple and easy, but their phrasing is so long and varied, that it takes immense breath and pitch control to deliver.  Her dynamics range from soft whispers, belting, sweet vocals, and insane demon-like growls.  Yes, Chibi growls on many tracks like Destroyer, No Tomorrow, and one of their classic Blue.  seeing her perform all three in person this spring was an otherworldly experience.  You won’t believe the power of her voice live.  I was jaw-droppingly floored by her live vocals, but also the sound this band creates.  I’m a sucker for the “Wall of Sound” style production, and this band delivers it perfectly live.

6. Charlotte Wessels

    Being a long-time fan of Delain, I had to include this unique and powerhouse of an ArtPop Gothic vocalist.  Charlotte Wessels received some ClassIc and Pop traIning during her early schooling, but ultimately took her love of Kate Bush, Thom Yorke, and Nick Cave into her vocal style.  All of these amazing influences combined and taken into a Metal theme were transformative in Symphonic Metal and in her new solo ventures.  She’s a singer you can pick out of any crowd.  She has this sweet and softness switching from head voice to a slightly nasal twang indicative of Alternative Music, powerful belting, beautiful effortless falsetto, and Soprano Operatic, and then surprisingly deep clear growls.  I have never heard anything quite like Charlotte’s voice and I don’t think we ever will.  Her leaving Delain was heartbreaking, but her solo music is a whole new world of Art and expression with all aspects of her amazing voice.  I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do with her range of exquisiteness, and I can’t wait to hear what she does next.

7. Heidi Parviainen- Dark Sarah

Heidi is a hidden gem among this newfound wave of female vocalists in Metal, but she’s been singing for two decades with great bands like Amberian Dawn.  Heidi has truly come into her own as a distinctive Operatic Soprano and thematic singer with Finnish Dark Sarah.  One of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard is undoubtedly “Melancholy”.  Heidi’s vocals are all-enveloping, sucking you into whatever theme or emotion there is to convey and Melancholia is indicative of everything she has to offer.  She is so clear and has perfect diction no matter how high she sings.  She has some of the smoothest and cleanest vibratos in the world of Metal and even Opera.  Dark Sarah is a whole audible world you can get lost in, and Heidi is the rabbit you follow into the hole.

8. Fabienne Erni- Eluveitie

One of my top vocalists on this list is Eluveitie’s newest addition and founder of Illumashade.  Fabienne is originally a Folk Singer and Celtic Harpist, but her introduction into Metal has been the catalyst for her speedy growth.  She is unafraid of trying a wide range of styles and vocal tones, making her an ultimate experimentalist.  Her Soprano range blasts into Harmonics and Whistle Tones, making Mariah Carey sound quite amateur.  Fabienne’s range and pitch are truly unbelievable, even rising to Alpina Yodels at stratosphere notes.  She never fails to surprise, take your breath away,  inspire in Battle, and emote into tears.  Her vocal mastery of the classic seemingly impossible Eluveitie track “A Rose For Epona” is what sold me into fandom.  But, as far as Metal vocals go, the new song “Aidus” is one of her most impressive feats. She is yet another singer on this list with no limits to her voice.  I am always impressed by anything she does, even Disney covers that easily top the originals.

9. Lena Scissorhands- Infected Rain

If you’re looking for a band throwing back to the Nu-Metal Industrial era with a female lead singer, there is simply no better band than Infected Rain.  This band is an absolutely brutal mix of Melodeth and industrial music, not unlike Fear Factory, Korn, Slipknot, and Static X.  Lena Scissorhands is a relentless guttural growler and harmonic screamer is a complete assault of sound and emotion.  As far as growlers go, she’s easily one of the best I have heard, reminding me so much of the growling rap-like lines of Corey Taylor.  I have always preferred her gutturals to that of Tatiana and Diva Satanica, but it’s just a personal preference of tone and delivery.  She brings something different to cleans as well.  It’s the switch between complete all-out gutturals and screams to insanely smooth melodic vocals that shocks me.  Not a lot of singers can do this, and Lena does it so well and expertly.  She’s one of the most unique vocalists on this list, I think.

10. Alessia Scoletti of Temperance

    Despite having three incredible vocalists, I don’t see Temperance listed or talked about much.  It’s a shame because Temperance is an incredible band of immense talent.  Maybe they came about at the same time as Amaranthe are were unfortunately overlooked.  Sometimes when you have multiple bands come out with a similar sound or shtick, like three vocalists, one of them suffers.  People get turned off by market saturation, but comparing bands is a ridiculous part of music culture, especially in Metal.  Alessia has an insanely good Soprano range and power behind very fast sung notes, ranging from Symphonic Metal and Power Metal and also Folk.  Alessia blew me away the first time I heard her sing.  It was not what I expected.  I was expecting more of a Pop vocal with a lot of Electronic rendering, but her vocals are clean and clear as can be.  “Gaia” is one of my favorite songs of all time and features Alessia’s wonderful voice in its purest form.  If you like a lot of different influences and catchy Modern Metal with insane vocals, Temperance is perfect for you.

11. Clémentine Delauney- Visions of Atlantis

I have listened to VoA for a long time through many band changes, which is oddly common in Symphonic Metal, and I’ve dug the progression of this band.  I was also a huge fan of Serenity when they hit the scene and opened for Delain.  So, I’m not sure why it took me so long to get into VoA of Clementine as I loved her with Serenity, but I made up for it.  “Pirates” the latest offering has been one of my most played albums of the year.  I reviewed this album a couple of months back and truly fell in love with it.  Clementine’s performance on this record and everything she’s sung on is brilliant but so smooth and understated.  She has a powerful voice, but shows amazing restraint and floats upon the melody.  When it calls for it she belts with accurate Soprano vibrato.  She sounds like an Elf, whether she’s lullabying or battle crying, it sounds otherwordly.  She is truly an amazing vocalist with an immense range.  Every project she’s on is so different, too.  Exit Eden is a quadruple threat of Symphonic singers covering Pop songs in Metal formats.  Serenity is a Symphonic Gothic Theatrical band.  Whyzdom was a French philharmonic Heavy Metal band.  Now, VoA is a powerhouse of Symphonic Metal and keeping this classic genre alive.  She can truly sing in just about any format.  So, It’s difficult to just pick one song to showcase her vocals, but I have to go with my favorite off of “Pirates”

12. Alissa White-Gluz- Arch Enemy

This list is mostly a showcase of Clean Vocals and switching between growling and cleans, so maybe it’s odd to include Alissa.   But if you’ve heard any of the new Arch Enemy tracks you’d understand.  Alissa is arguably one of the greatest growlers of all time, but she has evolved her vocal range as AE progresses into an amazing new era.  I have always loved both her cleans and gutturals from the days of The Agonist.  I feel like AE has only raised her to become the frontwoman she always had in her, though.  Her breath control and range in her screams are unprecedented.  She can switch from low chest rattling gutturals to harmonic-held screams without losing clarity, diction, or breath control.  I dare say her vocal cords are a modern marvel.  Her voice seems to get better and better which age, only growing more powerful with each year.  

     Alissa’s cleans are no exception to the new progression.  They are exponentially powerful on the new AE singles.  It took me by surprise when she started belting.  AE rarely includes a lot of cleans.  But, when you have a singer that can do a wide range of techniques clinically, it’s hard not to showcase how talented your bandmembers are.  Her powerful belting is unlike anything I’ve ever heard.  It’s a power belt from the chest but sounds raspy with a hint of fast vibrato.  It’s almost dual vocal harmonic and it’s mindblowing how much sound she can produce.  Many fans think this addition puts AE in danger of becoming like any other band with female vocals, but that’s the misogynistic mind talking and assuming all bands with a girl at the mic sound the same.  Allissa’s vocals, clean or heavy stand out in any format.  I think this is the strongest era of AE yet and can’t wait to hear what they do next.

13. Cristina Scabbia- Lacuna Coil

    No great frontwoman list is complete without the Italian legend Soprano.  Cristina Scabbia has one of the most remarkable voices of the century.  You know instantly who it is upon the first note she sings.  She has built a unique vocal experience that diversifies with the emotion of each song.  She tells a story with every piece and captivates the listener.  She has one of the clearest dictions I have ever heard, causing you to hang on to every word she says.  Her voice has become an iconic mainstay in Metal with hits like Heaven’s a Lie. Our Truth, Within Me, Reckless, Swamped, and Layers of Time her impact on the genre is undeniable.  She’s the first female singer in Metal I ever heard.  I’ve been hooked ever since.  She never fails to amaze me on records or perfect live recordings.

14. Sharon Den Adel- Within Temptation

    Being the first Symphonic Metal singer I’d ever heard, Sharon exceeded all expectations.  I didn’t even know the genre existed at the time.  She opened a new world for me, and it turned out to be a Narnia-scale experience.  Even after fifteen years, this band is still unmatched for me.  Sharon is an untrained Operatic Soprano that has no high range limits.  She sings up into the stratosphere with perfect pitch and clarity, all while retaining incredible emotion beyond most other bands in the genre.  Sharon’s style is so unique and fluid between tracks, but always recognizable.  You always know it is her by the depth of tone and ease of her singing, but it can be poppy, heavy, sweet,  or soaringly operatic depending on the theme.  When I say heavy I don’t mean growling of course, but short and stabby notes full of anger or pain.  She is one of the consistently high singers I’ve ever heard and it’s truly astounding.  After twenty years, she still sounds the same as well during classics like Jillian.  It’s difficult to describe the captivating qualities of her voice, but upon your first listen, you’ll know what I mean right away.

15. Simone Simons- Epica

    Simone Simons is a Classically trained and Pop trained vocalist from the Symphonic Metal headquarters of the Netherlands.  As you may or may not know, I am a diehard Epica fan.  Epica is the first Metal headlining band I saw.  I had been to Paramore concerts, but never a Metal show, and this show is still one of my favorites after ten years.  Epica is one of those bands that converts many to Symphonic Metal because of their unique blend of Death Metal, Speed Metal, Neoclassical, and Opera.  I truly believe they are one of the greatest bands of all time because every member is a virtuoso in some way.  A huge reason for the perfectionist quality, especially in a live setting, is lead vocalist Simone Simons.  She is the most flawless live vocalist in Metal today.  She is pitch-perfect, always has clear diction, is always rhythmically perfect, and truly defies the normal box of a Metal vocalist.  I think Simone is unique because she combines different styles showing technical perfection but also keeps the storytelling of Epica as well as her own emotions in the music.  It’s a truly astoundingly beautiful combination that is common in the Symphonic Metal genre, but Simone has perfected it.  She has taken the idea of Operatic vocals In Metal and taken it to the absolute pinnacle. She typically sings in a range that is the most difficult of all the ranges in female voice.  I will include a technical reaction explaining her prowess below as well.  I am always blown away by her vocals no matter what technique or how much vibrato she applies.  She is one of my favorites undoubtedly, so I am very biased, but my opinion is seated on her sheer technical ability.  Not to compare singers, because that’s ridiculous.  I could truly write about this singer and many great vocal moments in Epica, but I will save it for another article.  I will let the video below speak for me.

16. Erica Ohlson- Melalite

One of the biggest surprises of the year for me was stumbling upon Metalite’s cover of Full Moon by the great Sonata Arctica.  I often frequent Metal covers to see how bad startup bands butcher songs, and this was a cover I expected to laugh at.  To my surprise, this cover is absolute perfection in every way, but Erica blew me away vocally.  This is an extremely difficult song as are all Sonata Arctica tracks.  Erica brought her own Pop/Power vocal style to the track and it’s an intriguing rendition.  I don’t know much about this band or Metalite yet, but from listening to their latest album, A Virtual World (2021), there’s a lot to take in besides this amazing cover.  Erica has a unique voice, a lower range than a lot of others on this list, and can yet belt into a higher range as well.  I am so far very impressed by her voice.

17. Noora Louhimo- Battle Beast

Yet another amazing singer in Power Metal, Noora from the heavy Power Metal band has her very own style that defies the female voice box.  I have never heard a female vocalist dip in and out of a distorted vocal quite like Noora.  It’s intense on tracks like “Black Ninja” and “Out of Control”.  The newer albums of Battle Beast have less of this fast vibrato almost vocal fry from Noora and more of a Power belt which is equally surprising.  She has so many different vocal approaches, especially when you factor in softer ballad-esque singing like “Angle Cry” and “Endless Summer”.  I think Noora is one of the best vocalists I have ever seen.  She is always flawless live no matter the vocal technique.  She uses so much rasp, some twang, alto belting, and high screams all in one song.  It’s almost overwhelming in a good way.  I love a wall of sound, and Noora’s voice is a huge punch of sound.

18. Melissa Bonny- Ad Infinitum 

    One of the newest debut singers on this list, Melissa Bonny of Swiss origins is a diverse warm vocalist.  Her vocals are a perfect example of “beauty and the beast” style but in one human being.  This style became very sought after when Lacuna Coil hit the scene, and many bands after have leaned into that (Within Temptation, Epica, Amaranthe).  She has a warmer tone that most singers on this list, often a softer approach.  It’s not a typical Metal approach to cleans.  Often I associate Metal vocals as short, stabby, distorted, loud, and aggressive.  The umbrella of Metal vocals has grown drastically from the days of Black Sabbath and Metallica.  It’s inviting in some incredible new vocalists like Melissa, whilst exposing the elitist fans that have an outdated idea of genre parameters.  A genre that doesn’t grow or change will die, and we need singers like Floor and Melissas and the rest of this list to keep Metal alive.

I went on a tangent there, sorry.  But, Melissa’s vocals are just that surprising and epic to inspire such a passionate response.  The first time I heard her with Rage of Light, I honestly couldn’t believe the dynamics in her vocals.  Ad Infinitum and Feuerschwanz also highlight her incredible range of vocals.  Anything this singer does seems to turn to gold.  So I included a track from the supergroup she leads with a feature from the wonderful Charlotte Wessels.  There is truly brilliant harmony in this song and just stunning vocals from both vocalists.  Obviously, Ad Infinitum features more of Melissa’s dynamics, but anyone who can nail an Enya cover is vastly impressive to me.

19. Elize Ryd- Amaranthe

    Elize Ryd is kind of a dark horse on the list.  She is not typically included in these lists, because Amaranthe is a trio and sadly it seems like sometimes her vocals are more of a feature than a key role.  I find this to be a mistake in the writing, but glad to see the latest albums to have her soloing on songs.  Because I truly believe Elize is one of the best vocalists, her voice could stand alone in a band.  But Amaranthe has a shtick with having a trio of vocalists, a growler, a Pop style vocalist, and a Power Metal male vocalist.  This has drastically worked in their favor and made them highly successful.  Elize Ryd is a key ingredient to that success.   She is a singer deeply rooted in Pop and Theatrical style vocals and inserts effortlessly into the Power Metal, Electronic, and Hard Rock style of Amaranthe.  Her upper range is absolutely spectacular.  This is a vocalist that can do incredible scales that would put Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey to shame, fill in for Nightwish expertly on two hours’ notice, and belt some of the highest notes I have ever heard live without working up to them.  The highest I’ve heard her go is on the live versions of “Dynamite” in the intro and the bridge of “Dream” live, which I have featured on my compilation videos.  

My first encounter with Elize’s incredibly powerful vocals was on Sacrimony by Kamelot, however.  I was absolutely addicted to this song, very much because of her prowess and ability to harmonize with the great Tommy Karevik.  She surprised me because I had no idea what to expect.  Kamelot always features great singers, but this song is my favorite with a featured vocalist.

20. Jennifer Haben- Beyond the Black

    One of my favorite vocalists on this list, Jennifer Haben has been delivering Power Metal Theatrical vocals for ten years now, and yet I rarely meet anyone else that has heard of her.  I think this is a crime.  With amazing vocals on tracks like “Horizons”, “Through the Mirror”, “Hallelujah”, and “Shine and Shade” she is vastly underrated.  She has one of the best falsetto vocals I’ve ever heard without dipping into an Operatic head voice.  She’s a singer that belts from the chest while adding a very American twang.  Her tonal quality is so rich and heavy with emotion, that it becomes addictive very quickly.  She is so unique because she pulls from so many different influences. She has so far mentioned Miley Cyrus, Corey Taylor, Amy Lee, and Within Temptation as musical and vocal influences.  This is an eclectic mix to me but works so well in this Power Symphonic-infused Metal and Hard Rock band.  It’s hard to describe all the ways Jennifer is great as a vocalist because there’s so much emotion behind this feature.  Beyond the Black and her voice are what got me through Covid and a mystery illness that left me bedridden for three months.  This band means a lot to me, but it doesn’t even cover how truly amazing this band is and the quality of every single track.  I think the song below is a perfect way to close out this article.  

Honorable Mentions:  These singers below are also incredible beyond belief and so unique, but didn’t fit my prompt for the article.  They may not be Metal singers, ranging more into the Hard Rock category or maybe not one of my favorites, but still amazing.  I won’t go into full depth on each singer as this article is probably already longer than it needs to be.

Laura Guldemond of Burning Witches

Moriah Formica of Plush

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBJEkMoTnU0

Lzzy Hale of Halestorm

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Angel Wolf Black

Adrienne Cowan

Thank you so much for reading!  Who did I miss?  Who are your favorites?  Let me know below!