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 (54 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, J.&W.Grimm, 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, Homer, A.Jodorowsky, Kakifly, U.KLeGuin, H.W.Longfellow, G.R.R.Martin, A.Miller, P.Mills, J.Milton, Molière, 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 (95 bands)
2.) Short Stories/Novellas (35 bands)
3.) Drama (12 bands),
4.) Poems (11 bands),
Comics/Mangas (11 bands)
5.) Religious Texts (4 bands)
6.) Author Names (3 bands)
7.) Magazines (2 bands)
8.) 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.Alcest - Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde

      View entire list ››

Welcome to what I consider the "1001 Metal Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" or in other words, a list of records of various genres in the arrays of Metal and Hard Rock that I deem essential or at least very recommended to listeners of hard and heavy music. This may be a very overwhelming list but I essentially try to collect all albums in the History of Metal that strike me as worthwhile. May this be a guideline for people that seek for an entrance to a particular genre or certain bands. In no means I am saying, that this list is indisputable by any means. I consider these my personal picks for albums that should be listened to by die-hard metal fans at least once. Hopefully you can discover some new music or relate with my picks. If I missed something that you would include in such a list, please tell me in the form of a comment. Enjoy! \,,/

1.High Tide - Sea Shanties

2.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come

5.Josefus - Dead Man

      View entire list ››

Plus my top three favourite tracks from each release. \m/

Honourable mentions:
Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding (Death)
Satyricon - The Shadowthrone (Black)
Machine Head - Burn My Eyes (Groove)
Melvins - Stoner Witch (Alternative/Doom)
Soundgarden - Superunknown (Alternative)
Megadeth - Youthanasia (Heavy)

1.Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger

2.Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

3.Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse

4.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

5.Korn - Korn

      View entire list ››

My favourite black metal albums listed and ranked, all varieties within the black metal genre.

1.Summoning - Oath Bound

2.Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter

3.Primordial - To The Nameless Dead

4.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

5.Mgła - Exercises In Futility

      View entire list ››

1.Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter

2.Satyricon - Nemesis Divina

3.Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

4.Ulver - Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler

5.Dissection - The Somberlain

      View entire list ››

1.Burzum - Filosofem

2.Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane

3.Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger

4.Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

5.Marduk - Rom 5:12

      View entire list ››

1.Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter

2.Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark

3.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

4.Hades Almighty - The Dawn Of The Dying Sun

5.Gorgoroth - Pentagram

      View entire list ››

***Limit 2 albums per artist***

1.Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger

2.Burzum - Filosofem

3.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

4.Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse

5.Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark

      View entire list ››

Bunch of classics this year.

1.Dream Theater - Awake

2.Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse

3.Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss

4.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

5.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

      View entire list ››

The best Norwegian Black Metal albums made by the best Norwegian Black Metal bands.

1.Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse

2.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

3.Dark Throne - Under A Funeral Moon

4.Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

5.Burzum/Burzum /Aske - 1993

      View entire list ››

1.Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse

2.Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

3.Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss

4.Bathory - Blood Fire Death

5.Setherial - Nord

      View entire list ››

Favorite releases from 1994

Updated 8/4/20

1.Kyuss - Kyuss

2.Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory

3.Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding

4.Acid Bath - When The Kite String Pops

5.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

      View entire list ››