For The Riff Report Blog
Move over lads β the metal queens are here to melt faces, crack skulls, and absolutely own the mic. π€ From operatic powerhouses to leather-clad screamers, these 22 heavy metal albums prove the ladies have always had the pipes and the riffs to lead the charge. Whether itβs classic 80s shred, gothic symphonics, or thrashy goodness, these records are essential listening for any metalhead worth their battle vest.
Letβs dive into the pit, butt β itβs about to get LOUD π₯
1. Warlock β Triumph and Agony (1987)
Doro Pesch takes no prisoners here. Every track is an anthem β βAll We Areβ alone is a battle cry for eternity. Hair metal? Nah, war metal. π€
2. Nightwish β Wishmaster (2000)
Operatic, epic, and gloriously Finnish. Tarja Turunenβs vocals soar above orchestral symphonies and bombastic power metal like a Valkyrie on a warpath.
3. Chastain β Ruler of the Wasteland (1986)
Leather Leoneβs voice cuts through Chastainβs shredding like a buzzsaw. An underrated U.S. power metal classic. If Dio was a womanβ¦ this would be it. π€βοΈ
4. Show-Ya β Outerlimits (1989)
Japanese heavy metal excellence! Show-Ya brought Western glam-metal energy and mixed it with ferocious vocals and badass musicianship. Only in Japan, munβ¦ π€―
5. Lucifer β Lucifer II (2018)
Johanna Sadonis channels a doom-laden, Sabbath-style groove with smoky vocals and spooky vibes. Occult rock done lush and lushly.
6. Lita Ford β Out for Blood (1983)
The queen of β80s shred. Lita brings glam, fire, and solos thatβd make most blokes weep. βOut for Bloodβ is a snarling mission statement.
7. Burning Witches β The Witch of the North (2021)
Swiss all-female power-thrash with a witchy twist. Big riffs, big hair, and bigger hooks. These witches ainβt burning β theyβre blazing. π₯π§ββοΈ
8. Doro β Force Majeure (1989)
Warlock may have ended, but Doro marched on. βForce Majeureβ was her solo debut β and she still sounded like she could tear down a mountain with her voice.
9. Leather β Shock Waves (1989)
Another entry from Leather Leone, this time solo. Itβs pure American metal β gritty, raw, and fist-raising as hell.
10. After Forever β After Forever (2007)
Floor Jansenβs pre-Nightwish band. Less bombastic than her later work, but dripping with class, melody, and galloping riffs. A swan song worth revisiting.
11. Cyntia β Endless World (2013)
J-metal meets progressive metal with catchy melodies and proggy riffs. A criminally underrated gem from Japanβs all-female metal movement.
12. Holy Moses β Finished with the Dogs (1987)
Sabina Classen absolutely shreds her throat here. This isnβt operatic or symphonic β itβs thrash mayhem. Early German brutality thatβs STILL heavier than most.
13. Epica β Consign to Oblivion (2005)
Symphonic metal titans. Simone Simons delivers elegance and fire over crushing riffs and massive orchestration. Classical meets chaos.
14. Visions of Atlantis β Wanderers (2019)
Dual vocals, sea-shanty vibes, and cinematic metal storytelling. ClΓ©mentine Delauney leads this symphonic voyage across stormy waters. ππΆ
15. Lee Aaron β Metal Queen (1984)
Campy? Maybe. Iconic? Definitely. This Canadian queen declared herself royalty, and honestly⦠fair enough. Title track slaps harder than a spiked gauntlet.
16. Girlschool β Screaming Blue Murder (1982)
Motorheadβs sisters in arms. Raucous, punk-tinged metal with snarling attitude. These gals didnβt need anyoneβs permission to wreck the stage. π΄ββ οΈ
17. Zed Yago β Pilgrimage (1989)
Operatic doom metal fronted by the theatrical Jutta Weinhold. Pirate metal before pirate metal was a thing. Sea witches assemble! βπ€
18. Saraya β When the Blackbird Sings (1991)
Glossy hard rock with guts. Sandi Sarayaβs voice could shred velvet and still sound smooth. This oneβs a hidden melodic metal gem.
19. Arch Enemy β Doomsday Machine (2005)
Angela Gossow roared onto the melodic death metal scene and crushed every gatekeeping gremlin in her path. Brutal. Blistering. Beautiful chaos. π
20. Within Temptation β The Heart of Everything (2007)
Dutch symphonic metal royalty. Sharon den Adel blends elegance with power across tracks that feel like blockbuster movie trailers for Armageddon.
21. Hellion β The Black Book (1990)
Ann Boleyn brought occult themes and banshee wails to American heavy metal long before it was trendy. Think Mercyful Fate with eyeliner and better hair.
22. White Skull β Tales from the North (2023)
Power metal glory with a Norse twist. Federica de Boni returns to the mic like a shield-maiden wielding a double kick drum. π‘οΈπ₯
π§ Honourable Mentions:
- The Agonist β Prisoners
- Unleash The Archers β Abyss
- Battle Beast β Bringer of Pain
- Jinjer β Macro
- Skunk Anansie β Paranoid & Sunburnt (More alt-metal, but Skin is a force of nature)
π Final Thoughts, Butt…
Who says heavy metal is a boysβ club? These women didnβt just kick down the door β they burned the stage, rewrote the rules, and screamed louder than the lot of βem.
Next time someone says metal’s too macho, hand ’em this list and say:
βCβmon butt, give these legends a spin!β π₯π€π€
Want a playlist version of this? Shout and Iβll whip one up faster than a double bass pedal solo. π₯
Diolch for reading, ya riff-raff! π
#MetalQueens #TheRiffReport #LouderWithLashes
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialβfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heβs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heβs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heβs not writing or interviewing artists, youβll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicβtheyβre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatβs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. π€
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