This alphabetical list presents bands that took the inspiration for their name from literature (novels, poems, plays, comics). The list shows the debut album cover along with the information of the corresponding source of inspiration.

Please feel free to suggest more examples of metal/hard rock band names that are inspired by literature.


AUTHORS

1st Place (52 bands):
J.R.R.Tolkien

2nd Place (21 bands):
H.P.Lovecraft

3rd Place (10 bands):
W.Shakespeare

4th Place (7 bands):
E.A.Poe

5th Place (3 bands):
F.Herbert, R.E.Howard, C.A.Smith

6th Place (2 bands):
A.Huxley, J.W.v.Goethe, B.Kane, S.King, C.S.Lewis, H.Melville, K.Miura, M.Moorcock, J.K.Rowling, H.Van Alkmer, O.Wilde

7th Place (1 band):
R.Adams, J.P.Ahonen, D.Alighieri, L.F.Baum, E.C.Bertin, R.Bloch, E.Bronte, L.Carroll, L.Carter, L.Chase, C.Dickens, A.Diggle, M.Ende, S.Erikson, W.Faulkner, J.&W.Grimm, Homer, A.Jodorowsky, Kakifly, U.KLeGuin, H.W.Longfellow, G.R.R.Martin, A.Miller, P.Mills, J.Milton, D.Quinn, S.Rohmer, P.Rothfuss, Y.Sadamato, M.Sandemo, W.Scott, H.Sienkiewicz, D.Simmons, W.Smith, J.Steinbeck, B.Stoker, Suetonius, L.Uris, L.Weisberger, H.G.Wells, Q.Yuan


CATEGORY

1.) Novels (93 bands)
2.) Short Stories/Novellas (34 bands)
3.) Drama (11 bands),
Poems (11 bands),
Comics/Mangas (11 bands)
4.) Religious Texts (4 bands)
5.) Author Names (3 bands)
6.) Magazines (2 bands)
7.) Biographies (1 band), Essays (1 band), Reports (1 band),

1.A Dream Of Poe - The Mirror Of Deliverance

2.Abhoth - Abhoth

3.Abigail Williams - In The Shadow Of A Thousand Suns

4.Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea

5.Alice In Chains - Facelift

      View entire list ››

1.After Forever - Decipher

2.Battlelore - The Last Alliance

3.Beautiful Sin - The Unexpected

4.Blackmore's Night - Shadow Of The Moon

5.Crimfall - As The Path Unfolds...

      View entire list ››

The most beautiful and awesome vocal duets (within bands or guest appearances) I ever heard in my life...
Any Suggestions are welcomed!

1.Kamelot - The Black Halo

2.Anathema - A Natural Disaster

3.Theatre Of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear

4.Within Temptation - Black Symphony

5.Ayreon - The Universal Migrator Part I: The Dream Sequencer

      View entire list ››

My favorite albums. Includes EPs and 1 compilation. Anything ouside the top 20 or so could be up or down several places. Constantly subject to change.

1.Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine II

2.Ayreon - The Human Equation

3.Stolen Babies - There Be Squabbles Ahead

4.Billy Idol - Cyberpunk

5.Within Temptation - The Unforgiving

      View entire list ››

A collection of metal albums that heavily use the likes of classical instrumentation, orchestral, opera or/and symphonic keyboard synths. Suggestions/Recommendations are welcome.

1.Adagio - Underworld

2.Aesma Daeva - Dawn Of The New Athens

3.After Forever - Decipher

4.Almôra - Kalihora's Song

5.Ancient Bards - The Alliance Of The Kings

      View entire list ››

My Top Symphonic/Atmospheric/Female Fronted(whatever you wanna call it...) Albums of all time with its subgenres: gothic, power, folk, prog...
Still, The order may change from time to time....!!

1.Within Temptation - The Silent Force

2.Nightwish - Century Child

3.Epica - Consign To Oblivion

4.Therion - Vovin

5.Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything

      View entire list ››

1.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

2.Metallica - Metallica

3.HammerFall - Legacy Of Kings

4.HammerFall - Crimson Thunder

5.Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth

      View entire list ››

1.The Gathering - Mandylion

2.Within Temptation - Mother Earth

3.Epica - The Divine Conspiracy

4.Nightwish - Once

5.Angtoria - God Has A Plan For Us All

      View entire list ››

Great debut albums from some of my favorite bands

1.After Forever - Prison Of Desire

2.Delain - Lucidity

3.Sirenia - At Sixes And Sevens

4.Draconian - Where Lovers Mourn

5.Eluveitie - Spirit

      View entire list ››

This is a list of my favourite debut albums.
I'm sure there are some years that will have multiple great debut albums but I'm limiting to only putting one band per year.
The ones that I put in the list is (in my opinion) the best debut album of that year, while the rest are put in honourable mentions.

1.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

2.AC/DC - T.N.T.

3.Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

4.Venom - Welcome To Hell

5.Witchfinder General - Death Penalty

      View entire list ››

1.Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses

2.Within Temptation - The Silent Force

3.Haggard - And Thou Shalt Trust... The Seer

4.Anathema - Serenades

5.My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans

      View entire list ››

Here's my list of symphonic metal albums from the bands that I know of, this list is defined by the terms of "atmospheric/bombastic sounding". This is my first time of making list on this site, so some of this might not make any sense as I'm still a bit confused myself as well, and I don't really prefer to see these in particular orders.

1.Nightwish - Dark Passion Play

2.Within Temptation - The Silent Force

3.Epica - The Divine Conspiracy

4.Xandria - Neverworld's End

5.Nightwish - Once

      View entire list ››

1.Moonspell - Memorial

2.Draconian - The Burning Halo

3.The Gathering - Home

4.Melechesh - Emissaries

5.Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side

      View entire list ››

This list is meant to be an extensive, but by no means exhaustive, collection of the greatest (modern) metal albums and eps. Running the gamut from avant-garde to trve norweigan black metal. *As someone who is young in age, my tastes tend to revolve around the period of the 80s to the present.* Although certain metal albums from before will certainly be featured, the period of the 60s-70s will be under-represented. I refer you to this excellent list to gain a better appreciation for some of the best metal from that period: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/freis/martin_popoffs_the_top_500_heavy_metal_albums_of_all_time/

1.D.C. Cooper - D.C. Cooper

2.Dali's Dilemma - Manifesto For Futurism

3.Damim - The Difference Engine

4.Dämmerfarben - Im Abendrot

5.Damned Spirits' Dance - Weird Constellations

      View entire list ››

Here are some great debut albums by some great bands.

1.Memoira - Memoira

2.Bare Infinity - Always Forever

3.UnSun - The End Of Life

4.Nightwish - Angels Fall First

5.Nemesea - Mana

      View entire list ››