In what used to be an extremely male dominated genre, it seems that over the past 10 years or so women have become a force to be reckoned with in Heavy Metal music. When I was younger women in hard rock/metal were subject to much objectification as video eye candy and sometimes even the role of victim. In the 80’s when I first saw/hear Lita Ford and Doro Pesch, I remember being shocked and awesomely surprised that these women were not only absolutely gorgeous but they could rock every bit as good as the guys that were doing. Why was this a surprise to me? I was growing up in a generation as a kid where girls just didn’t seem to be able to rock like the boys so imagine my surprise when I was proven wrong. Ever since then I have never judged a female musician on whether or not she could play as good as a guy. If a female is a great musician, she is a great musician in her own right as an artist, not as a mere woman.
One of the things that truly bums me out is seeing some female metal vocalists somewhat setting things back for other women in metal. The women in metal have fought long and hard (and still do) to earn the respect that they deserve as musicians and artists as opposed to sexual objects. Then you get women like Maria Brink of In This Moment and The Butcher Babies who completely objectify themselves as sexual objects to cover up for their extreme lack of talent. I’m always curious to ask other female artists what they think of this but in my opinion, it sucks and it kind of ruins things for those women who want to be known as artists. In my years of doing this here website, I have had the extreme pleasure of hearing some of the most amazing bands around and I also found myself exposed to some amazing female hard rock/metal singers/songwriters/players. This post is my tribute to some of my favorite women in metal who are doing some really great things or have done some really great things. Each one is as distinct as the other and they all hold a special place in heart as amazing vocalists, artists, writers, and performers. Ladies, this is for you.
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Doro Pesch
Band: Warlock, Doro Pesch
How can you have ANY list of metal greatness and not include the great Doro Pesch. For well over 20 years, I have been a huge fan of Doro’s work in both the legendary Warlock and her just as legendary solo career. Doro has always reminded me of a female version of Ronnie James Dio in that she has a captivating and magnetic presence. Seeing Doro Pesch live should stifle anyone out there who would ever have even a slight doubt that women can truly kick ass.
Doro Pesch recently celebrated her 30th Anniversary of kicking ass with one of her most extensive tours to date. The tour also brought her the North America for her to North America for her most extensive US tours to date. Getting to see Doro Pesch live after being a fan for 20+ years was an amazing thing for this long time fan and getting to sing along with songs like “All We Are” “East Meets West”, and “I Rule the Ruins made my little metal heart soar!
Songs to check out: “I Rule The Ruins”, “All We Are”, “Whiter Shade of Pale”, “Raise Your Fist”
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Farida Lemouchi
Band: The Devils Blood
Without a doubt one of the most pleasant surprises of the past 20 something years was getting to witness The Devil’s Blood live in concert. I went on a whim to cover their set while opening for Watain and Behemoth and I was in absolute awe at the display of musicianship and the high caliber of performance that I was witnessing. Lead singer Farida Lemouchi has a voice and a stage presence that is both haunting and captivating. Watching her perform is almost akin to being under a spell of sorts and hearing her vocals takes me on a really cool journey.
There’s a certain magic to her voice that creates exudes some kind of dark, sexual expression which is something I have never heard before in this kind of music. After a short career of just 3 albums, The Devil’s Blood called it quits. I would love to see Farida reemerge with another band as she was a mystical and talented singer that should be doing more.
Songs to check out: “Die The Death”, “The Thousandfold Epicentre”, “Christ or Cocaine”, “Cruel Lover”
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Michelle Schrotz
Band: Brave
Michelle Schrotz has become without a doubt one of my new favorite vocalists. She has this gentle and at times intense voice that can even border on a Celtic kind of influence as well. Her voice is comforting and soothing all the while completely melting my face with some incredible musical muscle from her boys Brave. Brave’s songs are sincere, epic, beautiful, sensual, and haunting all at the same time and Schrotz’s vocals just seal the deal to make it a really amazing. Her voice takes on many roles. It’s soothing, intense, sensual, and innocent and sometimes all of them at once. The way she can change roles from song to song is a sign of a truly great performer.
In a live setting Schrotz completely loses herself in each song creating an almost hypnotic kind of presence that totally draws the audience in just to see if they can get to where it is that she is. When she’s not fronting and playing keys for Brave, Michelle can be found lurking in the shadows, hovering over her keyboards and delivering lush, gorgeous harmony vocals in doom masters While Heaven Wept. Just hearing Michelle and WHW singer Rain Irving together is enough to make the hairs on my arm stand at full attention.
Songs to Check out: “Escape”, “Driven”, “Something to This”, “Waiting All This Time”
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Christine Davis
Band: Christian Mistress
Christine Davis has to be one of the most distinct voices in heavy metal. She has one of the most natural singing voices I have ever heard and she truly channels the emotion and passion of each and every song she sings. One minute her voice is dark and musky with almost a kind of sultry appeal to it and then all of the sudden BAM! Her voice just rips through your skull with a commanding presence that could lead an army. Christine Davis is the kind of singer that makes you truly listen to the songs and listen to the lyrics. It’s so much more than just hearing someone “sing.” It’s more about hearing someone with a story to tell and using an appealing and connecting type of singing voice to draw you in.
Live Christine Davis almost embodies a sort of Black Sabbath era Ozzy Osbourne stage presence. She truly lets the music to the talking and she performs like a seasoned veteran. In addition to being an amazing singer, Davis writes the majority of Christian Mistress’ lyrics which explores the darker depths of her inner self. This is some powerful stuff.
Songs to check out: “Black To Gold”, “Home in the Sun”, “All Abandon”, “Haunted Hunted”
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Simone Simons
Band: Kamelot, Mayan, Epica
Simone Simmons of Epica is an entity all her own. The first time I ever heard her I was blown away. Here was this incredibly heavy music being played with some serious technical ability and then all of the sudden here comes this voice that sounds like, well, let me put it this way. I don’t believe in angels but if they do exist, I’m sure they sing like this. Simone has this very operatic voice that really makes me feel like at times I am listening to a grandiose heavy metal opera. Simone manages to paint pictures with her voice and the contrast of the dark and heaviness of the music with her smooth, pristine voice is literally like marrying night and day together.
In addition to singing for Epica, Simone has also been a guest vocalist in both Kamelot and Mayan showcasing the depth and versatility of her talents in different settings. In a live setting, Simone has managed to bridge that gap between sexuality and art. While not slutting it up like some others, Simone displays a level of class in the way that she presents herself live. When it comes to performing, you are literally getting a top shelf performance every time. This is a band who plays to thousands a night in Europe so when they come to the states to perform, you are getting that same caliber of performance. It is really something to behold.
Songs to check out: “Martyr of the Free World”, “Storm the Sorrow”, “Resign to Surrender”
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Cristina Scabbia
Band: Lacuna Coil
For almost 20 years, Cristina Scabbia has been the voice behind Lacuna Coil and has been considered one of the most influential modern female metal vocalists. Scabbia’s vocals are so distinct and while listening to her sing is awesome but seeing her perform live is an amazing experience all in itself.
Scabbia is a very sexy kind of singer in her live presence but in the “leaves more to the imagination” kind of way. She pretty much dresses in the same uniform that her male bandmates dress in which right away creates as sense of equality. While she is definitely a really good looking woman, Scabbia uses her skill as a singer and an energetic performer to stand out as opposed to exploiting herself as a sex object. Cristina Scabbia is an amazing songwriter, performer and singer all in her own right and manages to express herself as just that. She, the same as the others on this list, proves that if you truly have talent, everything else just comes second.
Songs to check out: “Swamped”, “Heaven’s A Lie”, “Our Truth”, “Shallow Life”
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Elin Larsson
Band: Blues Pills
When I first heard Blues Pills it was like a sonic, psychedelic blow to my face. Guitar driven classic rock ala Cream with a vocalist that embodies the spirit of Janis Joplin all while having a voice all her own is what Blues Pills is all about. As with any band, the singer can truly make or break you and while the music of Blues Pills is absolutely stellar, it’s the vocals of Elin Larsson that take things to that next level of sheer awesomness.
With no more than a whopping six songs released to the public, Blues Pills has me desperately wanting more and I can only sit and wait patiently to hear some more magical music from the voice of Elin Larsson. Larson’s voice is a timeless one that at times feels like a flashback to when vocalists truly had to seek deep within themselves to truly find that kind of voice. It’s raw, sexy, and absolutely amazing to listen to. Elin Larsson is a singer I will be keeping a close eye on for long while.
Songs to check out: “Devil Man”, “Bliss”, “Little Sun”, “Astralplane”, “Black Smoke”
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Alia O’Brien
Band: Blood Ceremony
Blood Ceremony is a band that I just really fell into (thanks again Shawn!) and the vocals of Alia O’Brien really struck a chord with me. I love hearing a vocalist of any kind with a distinct character and O’Brien definitely brings something different to the metal table. The music of Blood Ceremony at times embodies a Doors kinda of groove partnered with classic 70’s occult rock which I absolutely love. Add to that mixture O’Briens clear almost speaking kind of singing voice and her flute playing and then all of the sudden you’ve got almost a folk infused kind of psychedelic folk occult metal.
Much like with Blues Pills and their singer, O’Brien is the element that takes the music of Blood Ceremony from awesome to extraordinary. There’s a lot of magic going on in these songs and the haunting and even at times snide kind of vocals of O’Brien just adds that perfect element of creepiness to the songs that makes them really special. This band is without a doubt on my list of favorite bands and also has made Alia O’Brien more than worth of making this list of female metal vocalists that you must give a listen to.
Songs to check out: “Witchwood”, “The Eldritch Dark”, “Drawing Down the Moon”, “Daughter of The Sun”
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