Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Chuck Schuldiner is Death and for that reason this list will focus on his influences. Although other members certainly brought their own uniqueness to the band. Most of them have no writing credits. For those who do there will be a sections for them further down.

Bands are arranged according to year of first releases.

If Black Sabbath are the fathers of Heavy Metal, Judas Priest is for sure one of the eldest children and the cool older brother to younger bands.

Although I certainly wont consider Kiss a metal band, they have some songs that could be considered metal. Still a great hard rock / rock band and a big influence on many bands. Their stage presence and imagery alone have a huge influence on many ba… — Although I certainly wont consider Kiss a metal band, they have some songs that could be considered metal. Still a great hard rock / rock band and a big influence on many bands. Their stage presence and imagery alone have a huge influence on many band even if the musical influences are lesser or more subtle. Chuck stated in one interview that Kiss was his favorite band and has said Destroyer was his first album.

This one is a surprising one to me. I’ve never been a big fan, but Chuck liked them. If you dig enough they have some cool stuff but a lot is on the lighter side of metal. George Lynch is a great guitar player though and an influence on Chuck.

It’s hard to find guitar players who aren’t inspired by Eddie Van Halen. He’s easily one of the most influential guitar players and an influence on Chuck.

Yngwie Malmsteen is worshiped by many for his neo-classical shredding and has inspired many guitar players over the years. Chuck being one of them.

One of the biggest bands of in the NWOBHM movement, Chuck was big fan of Angel Witch.

The leaders or at least the biggest of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands, Iron Maiden are among to most sited inspirations in all of heavy metal. Their twin lead harmonizations borrowed from their own inspirations put them in a well deserved… — The leaders or at least the biggest of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands, Iron Maiden are among to most sited inspirations in all of heavy metal. Their twin lead harmonizations borrowed from their own inspirations put them in a well deserved spot of prestige in metal. Chuck at one time named *Number of the Beast* and *Piece of Mind* as two of his favorite albums.

Ozzy has always been surrounded by great guitar players with Randy Rhodes being among the most influential guitar players and an influence on Chuck.

When being called the God Father of Death Metal Chuck always pointed to bands that did it first and to him it was Venom before anyone else.

Despite being a bit on the cheesy side Anvil has inspired more bands than most will admit including Death.

Although not as well none or often mentioned as Iron Maiden, Raven is one of the most cited influences from NWOBHM bands.

Manowar is known as the cheesy band in loin cloths. Despite this, their music has had a huge influence on many bands including Death.

Riffing like Judas Priest and harmonization like Maiden with a more evil sound and the unique vocal style of King Diamond. Melissa was named as one of Chuck’s favorite albums.

Torch is a Swedish traditional heavy metal band. They only released a few albums but in recent years had a reunion.

Exciter is a great example of speed metal and an often mentioned band by Chuck. He even listed Heavy Metal Maniac as one of his favorite albums.

Sortilège is a lesser known band from France. They are a very good traditional metal band. Unfortunately I don’t speak French and have no idea what they are saying, But Chuck was still a fan.

The Fathers of Thrash Metal, Metallica are easily one of the most sited influences for all bands after them. Chuck listed Kill ‘em All as one of his favorite albums. — The Fathers of Thrash Metal, Metallica are easily one of the most sited influences for all bands after them. Chuck listed *Kill ‘em All* as one of his favorite albums.

One of the big four of thrash Metal, Chuck was a huge fan of Anthrax’s first album Fist Full of Metal. — One of the big four of thrash Metal, Chuck was a huge fan of Anthrax’s first album *Fist Full of Metal.*

Hellhammer was the predesesor band to Celtic Frost and had a big influence on many later bands especially death and black metal bands.

Slayer brought the evil to Thrash and their more aggressive style would be hugely influential on many death metal bands. Chuck even considered them his main influence combining their aggression with the melody from traditional metal.

Coroner were an early band bringing Thrash to a more technical level. They also featured a more aggressive vocal style closer to Chucks early growling style. Chuck mentioned them as an influence.

Watchtower was one of the early bands to take Thrash to a more technical level and an influence of Chuck’s.

One of the early leaders in Progressive Metal and often sited as an influence by progressive bands after them, Chuck was a big fan.

Heavy metal, progressive metal and considered power metal by some, Savatage. Chris Oliva was a fantastic guitar player who like Chuck was lost to soon. Chuck mentions them as an influence.

Possessed released their first full album 2 years before Death’s and because of this is often considered the first Death Metal band. However Death and Possessed both released their first demos in 1984 during the age of tape trading. Either way, Poss… — Possessed released their first full album 2 years before Death’s and because of this is often considered the first Death Metal band. However Death and Possessed both released their first demos in 1984 during the age of tape trading. Either way, Possessed is named as a band Chuck loved and he personally thought they deserved more credit for beginning death metal than Death.

Nasty Savage is a band I’m not super familiar with and I need to remedy that. What I heard reminds me of a Thrashy Mercyful Fate. Chuck was a fan.

Sacrifice, another band I’m not familiar enough with but what I’ve heard they are on the more raw side of Thrash and it isn’t a far leap from early Death who draw influence from them.

Celtic Frost (and Hellhammer) is hugely important to both Death and Black Metal and were an influence on Chuck.

Sacrilege B.C. was a raw thrash metal ban from Cali who were only around a few years. Chuck was a fan and for good reason. Their sound has similarities to early Death but these bands were more like peers.

Chuck was a big fan of King Diamond even after he went solo. Andy LaRocque of King Diamond even came in as guest lead player on Individual Thought Patterns. — Chuck was a big fan of King Diamond even after he went solo. Andy LaRocque of King Diamond even came in as guest lead player on *Individual Thought Patterns*.

Crimson Glory were an early progressive metal band and one in particular Chuck was a big fan of.

Chuck also named Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio as his favorite singers. He said on several occasions he would love the chance to do an album with Dio. He specifically named Led Zeppelin, Rush, Styx, along with Back Sabbath as great bands of the 70’s. If there any evidence of them being a strong influence I’d be happy to add the other three to the main list. Some bands that Chuck also really liked but were not likely influences were Dream Theater, Carcass, Nevermore, Hammerfall, and Primal Fear. Some non metal things Chuck liked but again probably didn’t have a heavy influence includes some classical, Lush, and Spandau Ballet. Along with Dream Theater and Carcass he credited Psychotic Waltz with helping expand the sound of metal in the early 90’s. Chuck also mentioned being a fan of Helstar Diamond Head but didn’t necessarily say they were an influence although I think some similarities in playing style can definitely be heard with Helstar. In general Chuck was a huge fan of early 80’s metal and melodic metal.

Rick Rozz who co-wrote the Leprosy album shared influences with chuck such as Van Halen, Kiss (Ace), Judas Priest (K.K), Slayer (Kerry), and Celtic Frost. He was also influenced by ZZ Top, Steve Via, Steve Miller, and Bathory

James Murphy who co-wrote half the songs on Spiritual Healing shares influences with Chuck: Kiss (Ace), Ozzy (Randy). He also names Angus Young, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine, Ritchie Blackmoor, Jimi Hendrix, Vinnie Moore Greg Howe, and Shawn Lane.

Terry Butler who also has some writing credit on on Speritual Healing shares influences: Venom, Angel Witch, Raven, Slayer, Hellhammer, and Celtic Frost. He also names Motorhead, Morbid Angel, and Napalm Death, Uriah Heep, UFO, and Thin Lizzy.

Later Death is exclusively written by Chuck.