20 Most Underrated Male Vocalists

Danny Estrin- Voyager

Danny is a powerhouse with a pretty impressive range used widely over Voyager’s 20+ year career. He uses an eclectic throwback sound to the New Wave days in the 1980’s and layers in Power Metal influences and occasional grunts. It’s an incredibly complex vocal that I don’t think anyone else could replicate. You hear him sing one note and you know it’s him immediately. No matter what style Danny may emulate, Voyager is an absolute party to listen to and a truly happy Metal band with sick riffs and catchy vocals.

Devin Townsend

My favorite singer of all time and one of the most technical on this list. Devin has a four octave range that he utilizes in over twenty styles of music and 25 years of creating. He is a vocal shapeshifter, switching from harmonic screams to tenor vocals in the smoothest transition. It is astounding to watch what he can do with his voice as he goes to the absolute limit in every performance, “Screaming until he tastes blood” doesn’t get any more brutal than that. I will definitely cover this astonishingly beautiful artist throughout my entire career as a Metal writer. He is one of the greatest singers, forget genres, forget tastes and subjectivity, he is supremely talented.

Phil Romeo- Countless Skies

One of the most surprising voices on this list, Phil Romeo is an operatic tenor Power singer and bassist in British Melodeth band Countless Skies. The first time I heard Phil sing was on the track Zephyr, and not knowing anything about this band, I thought it was a Devin Townsend feature. I was astounded to find out that it wasn’t Devin and that it was this unknown bassist laying down one of the most passionate vocal lines I have ever heard.

Tom Englund- Evergrey

I know, Evergrey is a well known Power Metal band with nearly 30 years of experience under their belt, but I have to say that Tom is a hugely underrated vocalist. I don’t see him come up on any vocalist list and I think he’s overlooked. He has such a unique and recognizable smooth tone. It’s almost a bluesy style, but with insane power. Nobody sounds like Tom.

Joseph Michael-Witherfall

I only discovered this incredible Doomy Progressive Metal band last fall and I was utterly bombed by Joseph’s voice. His delivery of vocals in the cover of Foreplay/Long Time by the great Boston is absolutely spectacular and not what I expected in the slightest. Witherfall is one of the most musically talented bands out there today, and Joseph is the frontrunner of the dynamics.

Dan Cleary- Striker

Striker (not to be confused with 80’s Stryper) is a Epic Power Metal band from Alberta, Canada that is known for playing throwback traditional style Metal. They are a nostalgic cheesy Metal band part of a collective touring group NWONMB, that features Lords of The Trident, Unleash the Archers, Seven Kingdoms, and more. Dan has immense power and range that definitely reminds me of Dokken, Queensrhyche, and Whitesnake. It’s just good clean Metal with soaring vocals.

Daniel Helman- Lost Horizon

One of the more unknown names on this list, Dan Helman led the great Lost Horizons from Sweden and created a sound that would go on to influence some of the newest and most powerful singers today. I hadn’t heard of him until Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers mentioned LH as an influence. The song below is an absolute vocal masterpiece of shocking proportion.

Joacim Cans- Hammerfall

I can’t talk about male singers without talking about Joacim Cans. I don’t see this fantastic melodious Power singer on any list, and it’s an absolute crime. He is one of the best vocalists I have ever seen live. His control, consistency, and power belts are unreal. Hammerfall has been around for three decades and hasn’t received nearly enough credit.

Damian Wilson- Threshold, Ayreon, and more.

Damian is one of those singers nobody talks about, and yet has one of the most distinctive voices of all time. I was introduced to Damian Wilson on Arjen Lucassen’s Star One and was blown away by his tone. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. He goes from singing soft ballad vocals to high powerful belting. No matter what he’s singing, his vocals are angelic and crystal clear.

Mike Mills- Toehider, Ayreon

Possibly possessing one of the biggest ranges on the list, Mike Mills has been Arjen Lucassen’s go-to singer for fifteen years. The Australian Singer, Guitarist, and Songwriter does vocal gymnastics in any song he’s ever done. He pushes the limit of male vocals, reminiscent of the great Freddie Mercury with his high Soprano operatic vocals and having easily a four octave range. I have honestly never heard another singer like Mike. The song below is just five percent of what this guy can do. I highly recommend checking out his entire discography.

Patrik Selleby- Bloodbound

There’s quite a lot of Power Metal vocalists on this list, not on purpose but by sheer will of talent. The subgenre of Metal just has a knack for using the best, most versatile vocalists. Patrik Selleby has that belting higher range vocal that just captivates crowds. He has so many different techniques he uses. He can do soffty tenor vocals, dipping into baritone. He can scream and wail with precise vibrato reminiscent of 80’s Heavy Metal. He can also use fry vocals to accentuate vowels. I absolutely love his style and Bloodbound’s overall sound.

Isahn- Emperor

Isahn has one of the most piercing and soul haunting screams I’ve ever heard, but his clean vocals are what truly astonished me. I hadn’t heard him sing until the release of the EP “Pharaohs” and I have craved his voice ever since. If you could ever describe a man’s voice as sultry, it would be Isahn’s.

Einar Solberg- Leprous

Out of all the singers on this list, Einar possibly has the most shocking and distinctive voice on the list. This man’s voice is breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t describe male vocals as “beautiful”, but it’s the word that comes to mind. It is light, airy, and angelic upon every note he sings. His range is just massive, reaching into the rafters with soprano operatic and epic falsetto that bring chills and tears alike. It is impossible not to listen to Leprous and not get emotional. Nobody sounds like Einar. He is absolutely sensational. He’s just a brilliant vocalist and songwriter. The song below says more than I can ever say.

Mathias Blad- Falconer

Falconer is a legendary Medieval Folk Power Metal band with quite the cult following. The band tried to hang it up in 2016, but due to a high demand, they keep returning for exclusive performances and one final album. They officially disbanded in 2020 sadly, but Mathias’ legacy lives on.

Kobi Farhi- Orphaned Land

I have always been enchanted by Middle Eastern vocals since Sting’s “Desert Rose”. It’s never been a style I thought “oh, that would work in Metal”, but it absolutely does. Kobi Farhi of the Israeli Heavy Metal band proves the unique technique fits the Western Heavy Metal instrumentation. This singing style, Mizahi or monotonic, requires a lot of control and technique to stay in pitch. His ability to switch into this and keep it perfectly within the music is spectacular. He is truly one of the most talented male singers out there.

Spencer Sotelo- Periphery

I could write an entire article about this vocalist and his range. I didn’t expect to become obsessed with his voice as it is a lot higher than I am usually into. Spencer has insane control over his instrument, able to switch from screams to falsetto to a softer vocal. He also has a nu-metal style fry rap in “Marigold” which is just sublimely executed. He’s effortless in his delivery, as with most singers on this list. His range also frequently rises to harmonics, which is one of the highest sectors in music. He is an unbelievably skilled vocalist and truly doesn’t get enough credit.

Jeff Scott Soto- Sons of Apollo, Yngwie, Trans Siberian Orchestra.

I only see this guy talked about in Prog channels and not more globally honored for some reason. Soto has a unique style that blends 90’s Hard Rock, Power Metal, and Soul aspects into one powerhouse vocal. Sons of Apollo is an American supergroup of some of the most talented musicians of all time. Soto fits this bill and the resounding emotive Heavy Metal style. He brings the melody so smoothly on top of very rhythmic music, which is hard to do. He has a massive range from Baritone to high screams, and I don’t think there’s a limit to it.

Terje Haroy- Pyramaze

Now, I know 99% of Metal listeners have never heard of Terje, making him one of the most unknown on the list, but he is a MUST hear vocalist. The power, the emotion, the clarity, and the grit of this singer is monolithic. He produces so much sound from just one held note. I have no idea how he pushes it to the limit while staying in perfect pitch. His vocals range from deep drones, to power belting, screams, and sounds I cannot even begin to describe. Pyramaze has been around for two decades and has been led by some amazing vocalists, but this guy is on a whole other level. His vocal energy could probably power the entirety of North America. The song below is one of the best vocal performances I have ever heard in my twenty two years of listening to Metal.

Markus Vanhala- Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum

A backing vocalist normally known for his songwriting and guitar playing, doesn’t get much credit as a vocalist. But when Markus’s clean vocals come in, it sets the whole tone for any track. You know it’s going to be a deeply emotional track when Markus sings. His tonal quality and breath control is astounding to me. He can hold notes for two measures without any vibrato or notational deviation. I had to include him because he is just so distinctive and such an underrated musician. After hearing him sing live in person twice, I have been in love with his clean vocals ever since. He could honestly front a band all on his own instead of being in the background.

Yannis Papadopoulos- Beast in Black

One of the craziest voices I’ve ever heard (besides Mark Slaughter) Yannis has what is best described as a Soprano Male Vocal. He is only one of the only males I’ve mistaken as a female, and that definitely makes an interesting reaction. After hearing this guy do operatic soprano, fry vocals, and crazy high screams, I never thought I’d hear him use a more beautiful and emotive vocal. Once you hear Floor Jansen sing “Ghost Love Score”, you may say it is the only version, but I highly recommend Yannis’ beautiful cover of the Power Ballad. He has immense range and one of the highest technical abilities I have ever heard. I think he’s one of those singers that could sing just about anything. So, I really want a covers album from this incredible Norwegian Power Metal band.