Metal always has to sound hard and brutal? These metal ballads prove the opposite: Almost every band in our scene has already released a song that is more about emotions instead of fast and aggressive riffs. Today we want to introduce you to the most emotional and famous metal ballads in the history of music.
Metallica - "Nothing Else Matters"
"Nothing Else Matters" is one of the most famous songs in Metallica's history. The song is characterized by a soft and melancholic melody accompanied by acoustic guitars as well as an orchestra. The lyrics are about interpersonal relationships and the importance of trust and solidarity. Hetfield once explained in an interview that he wrote the song for his girlfriend.
Iron Maiden - "Wasted Years"
"Wasted Years" features fast guitar riffs, a driving rhythm and Bruce Dickinson's powerful vocals. The song is about how quickly life goes by and how important it is to appreciate every single moment. Also, it carries the message that you should never let the past, or misconceptions of how life should exactly be, hold you back. The track was already a big hit for Iron Maiden after its release in 1986, reaching very high chart positions in many countries. The song is also often considered one of the best songs of the band and of heavy metal in general.
Scorpions - "Still Loving You"
One of the Scorpions' most popular songs comes from their album LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. "Still Loving You" has become famous for its sensitive guitar riffs and passionate vocals. The song is about how hard it can sometimes be to end a relationship, even when it's actually long over. The love for each other can still be strong, even though it may have suffered during the relationship.
Guns N' Roses - "November Rain"
"November Rain" is characterized by a very complex and epic structure, which goes from a soft ballad to a powerful rock piece, supported by an orchestra. The song lasts more than eight minutes in total and includes a rather famous guitar solo by Slash. The lyrics are about the difficulty of maintaining a relationship and the pain you feel when you lose someone you love.
In Flames - "Stay With Me"
For the track "Stay With Me" all members of In Flames collaborated and wrote the song together. Musically, it is a mixture of death metal and alternative rock, the guitar riffs are either hard and driving or very melodic. The vocals also alternate between aggressive growls and soft clean vocals. The song is about how hard it is to let go of someone you love and the hope that this person might come back one day.
Slipknot - "Snuff"
Everyone knows and loves this song, right? "Snuff" was written by Corey Taylor and he managed to sing his way into the hearts of his fans with it. It is a very calm song that includes a lot of acoustic elements. Its subject, as in almost all metal ballads in this article, is about how painful it can be to lose a beloved person.
