When White Zombie unleashed 'La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One' on the world in 1992, the album blew up, leaving a giant crater-like impression on metal and pop culture. Thanks to frontman Rob Zombie, this impact has also extended well into the visual realm.
Now, more than ever, heavy metal is a worldwide affair. The Internet has empowered a generation of would be metal enthusiasts in corners of the planet that once had little to no access to the music we cover here on Noisecreep. But as common as it is right now to discover and fall in love with bands from exotic countries throughout the world, Europe remains the biggest hotbed for metal music.
For a band that has yielded a wealth of material, Dream Theater have been relatively picky over the years in determining which songs will have a visual representation. However, that being said, it's evident that plenty of work has gone into making their visual artistry match up with their musical mastery. While several of their clips have put the focus more on their performance, others very adeptly tackle social commentary. And there are a few that provide more mystical elements.
Motörhead exist in a class all by themselves. Band leader Lemmy Kilmister and company have been satisfying the world's need for heavy, fast, raw rock and roll for nearly 40 years, and they still rock harder than most anybody else. Lemmy makes playing bass look cooler than anybody else who's ever tried. They have influenced almost every metal band that has come along since they formed, and have inspired more than a dozen tribute albums.
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has had quite a life. From his humble beginnings as a child actor through his career singing for one of the most game changing bands in rock music, the singer has seen and done it all. He's battled drug addiction, popularized tribal tattoos, dated a string of gorgeous models and actresses, loved the L.A. Lakers and helped define alt rock and all in just 50-plus years of age.
Rock and roll and grand theatrics have been tied together for most of rock's history. When heavy metal came onto the scene, crazy stage shows were a perfect fit for the dark, thumping, high-energy music. While rock often involves vanity and narcissism, some metal mavens choose to wear a mask or don face paint instead of flaunting their looks.
A steady fixture through the '90s, Bush may have a different lineup, but it was evident that Gavin Rossdale's vision of the band continued and matured with their 2011 album 'The Sea of Memories.' Now entering the second act of their career, Bush are still as dedicated to the video format as they were early on and they've only added to their stellar music video catalog.
Seether's longevity can be credited with their penchant for creating sustainable and catchy rock melodies. The South African rockers have never been afraid to take risks, showing a willingness to mix it up by adding in both blues and country elements to their hard rocking sound. That experimentation has also been evident on the video front, where the group has also generated a number of memorable clips.
With seven albums in their repertoire, Sacto metal superstars Deftones have a wealth of songs under their belts. They have radio hits that expanded their fanbase; soundtrack cuts that have earned a cult-like status among the diehards who savor them; and plenty of supercharged ragers that completely come to life and jump out at you in the live realm.
Judas Priest were one of the first true heavy metal bands, getting their start in Birmingham, England. Their 16 studio albums have taken the world on a diverse and vast musical journey as they changed with the times and adapted their style with the evolution of heavy metal. They have hit songs from all stages of their career, but with 16 albums, some songs are bound to get overlooked.