Playlist: Heavy Metal Women

Dominated by men since its inception, the heavy music realm has made significant strides towards diversity, but still upholds a fundamental gender disparity. Flexing a versatile vocal range and eclectic musical sensibility, here are some of the most influential femme-fronted acts in heavy music today.

Written by Lyndsey Segura

Image courtesy of Michal Bochenek

Historically regarded as a genre by men and for men, heavy metal’s abrasive vocals, breathless tempos, and gritty textures don’t seem to align with popular notions of femininity. However, women have always been at the forefront of the heavy music scene, with Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale and In This Moment frontwoman Maria Brink paving the way for contemporary metal vocalists. Replete with the teenage angst of Kittie’s seminal album Spit, Oathbreaker’s genre-bending sound, and Otep’s uncompromising growls, this playlist compels listeners to rethink the perceived second-class status of women in heavy music.