The Best Female Fronted Bands - A Feature by Dave Christy and Susan Harris

​Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! This week Dave & Susan are talking about the Best Female Fronted Bands!

Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!

Dave says:

For a long time (way too long if you ask me), the hard rock and heavy metal genre has been considered a boy’s club. Not that many female artists popping up, especially not many making noise and getting recognition for their talent. In my high school years, it was mostly just Lita Ford leading the pack by a mile, with very few others trailing far behind. Of course, you will still hear the occasional "she's hot" or whatever rude comment that has nothing to do with the music they are making. And of course, you hear people complain that with the female singers its more about how hot the girl is. I can counter that with the comments I hear from girls about guy singers too. How many times have you heard the same kinds of comments about Axl Rose, Joe Elliot, Vince Neil, Bret Michaels, etc? It goes both ways.
​Before we get into my list, as always this is more about turning you onto new music. So you won't see Joan Jett or Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks. Everyone knows who they are. So, open up the oncoming playlist or open another tab in your web browser for YouTube and get ready for a deep dive. Side note: these are not in a real particular order. I just ramble them off.

The Pretty Reckless
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One of the many discoveries through Revolver magazines Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock.  Oddly enough though, it wasn't love at first listen. When I first heard of them and looked up "Miss Nothing", it felt like something was missing. However, I was intrigued enough to keep going back and giving it another chance. Before long, it hooked me and I bought the debut CD. Stand outs include "Just Tonight", "Heaven Knows", "Who You Selling For?".

In This Moment

Strangely enough, another band it took a couple tries to hook me. In this case, I think it was the matter of the right song. The first one I looked up after hearing about them in Revolver magazine was "The Gun Show". It was OK but didn't grab me. When their next CD "Blood" came out, the video for the title track popped up in my YouTube suggestions so I gave it a click and was drawn in instantly. I couldn't get enough of it and kept going back for more. Stand outs "Blood", "Natural Born Sinner", "Black Wedding".

New Year's Day
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The first song of theirs that caught my attention was "Angel Eyes", a duet with Chris Motionless of Motionless in White. So many great tracks over the years. Hard to narrow it down to a few but "Sorry Not Sorry", "Come for Me", and "Angel Eyes". For a different side of Ash Costello, she has a side band, The Haxans, with a slightly lighter sound on songs such as "Dirty Magic". It actually caught me off guard. The video popped up in my FB feed and she had a different look, make up changed, hair changed and I was wondering why she was sharing the video, if it was friends of hers, etc before I looked closer and realized it was Ash herself!

​Amaranthe

Female lead singer but also sharing lead vocals with a couple male members of the band. Good blend that gives a different tone to the songs on a whole. "Boomerang", "365", "Archangel" are must listens.

​Butcher Babies
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Heidi Shephard and Carla Harvey share lead vocal duties, tearing through the barriers of what you are expecting in more ways one. "Monster Ball" may get you into a mosh pit but then they throw a song like "Thrown Away" at you and wonder if it’s coming from the same band. Another top track is "Headspin".

​We Are the Fallen

They only lasted one CD and a cool live DVD they sold through the website (with some great cover songs on it as well). Ex- American Idol contestant Carly Smithson led this band with a couple ex-Evanescence members. They caught some hell for sounding like Evanescence but when one of Ev's songwriters are in this band, that’s going to happen. Some stand out tracks are "St. John", and "I Am Only One".

​Picture Me Broken

​ Another one CD wonder. Well, 2 CDs if the count the follow up EP that should have been part of the 2nd full length but that just brings up all kinds of hatred from me. The label should have just released the record instead of messing around with things. We would have had more music from Brooklyn Allman (yes, she is the daughter of one of the Allman Brothers) and company. "Mannquins", "Nerds & Cigarettes" & the single "Dearest (I'm So Sorry)" should be checked out.

​​Within Temptation

Singer Sharon den Adel. Nothing more to say about her except she is fantastic. One of the metal bands that played a full concert with a symphony, released the DVD as "Black Symphony". "A Shot in the Dark", "Mercy Mirror", and "Paradise (What About Us?" featuring Tarja Turunen are stand out tracks.

Garbage
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This one is a little different for me. More alternative than rock/hard rock and not my usual genre. The mid-90s broadened musical horizon and this is one that struck a chord with me. Shirley Manson and company had quite a hold on the musical world. They are probably one of the few bands on my list you might have heard of. "Only Happy When It Rains", "Blood for Poppies", "Teaching Little Fingers to Play" present 3 sides to the band for a wide range of their talent.

​​Halestorm

​Lizzy Hale is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the rock world and isn't afraid to show it. She has been proving it for over 10 years now and continues to do so. "I Like it Heavy", "You Call Me a Bitch Like it’s a Bad Thing", and "Familiar Taste of Poison" are all excellent tracks.

Veruca Salt
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This was supposed to be a "Top 10 List" but then I realized I haven't mentioned Veruca Salt. OK, so I can't count or I just toss rules out the window.
​Take your pick! Anyway, Louise Post and Nina Gordon burst onto the scene in the mid-90's alternative attack. One thing I loved about them is their use of CD singles for unreleased songs. They kept giving us extra songs that weren't on the CDs and a lot of them were top notch that could have easily made the record. "Seether", "Shutterbug" and "Volcano Girls" are top tracks.

(Damn, I still can't count!)
Enemy Inside
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I will count this band as an honorable mention since I just discovered them recently when they popped up in my YouTube suggestions. So I don't really know that much about them but they are about to release their 2nd CD this year. Their debut CD was "Phoenix" released in 2018. "Falling Away" and the new single "Crystallize" are stand outs.

​​​​Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more.  He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses.  Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"

Susan says:

I was thrilled when Dave came up with the idea to do a piece on female fronted bands and jumped at the chance to have my say! Anyone who knows me or has listened to any of my playlists knows I fall in love with a singers voice first. Dave has included some of my top picks, like Lizzy Halestorm, Taylor Momsen or Shirley Manson, which are awesome picks, and here are some of the fierce female front ladies you should be listening to!

Paramore
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Hayley Williams is a singer to me that can do no wrong. I know you guys are probably sick of me now praising Hayley and Paramore, but Hayley can go from rocking out to Misery Business, Let the flames begin or Ignorance, to singing beautifully haunted tracks like 26, The Only Exception, Misguided Ghosts and Tell Me How. If you missed my review of Hayley's latest solo album, Flowers for Vases, you can check back on the blog for the full scope of Hayley's Voice and why I would 100% listen to her sing the phone book.
Standout tracks: Let the flames begin, 26, Part II, Misguided Ghosts and Ignorance.

YONAKA 
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Theresa Jarvis has one of those gritty voices that creep up on you and hit you in the gut unexpectedly. One of the best bands, male or female, I've seen live, Theresa has boundless energy and a voice that commands attention. YONAKA also covered Taylor Swift's You need to Calm down, which is one of my fave covers ever. Theresa and YONAKA have also appeared a song with Bring Me The Horizon, and I adored hearing Theresa and Oli Sykes voices together...I request more of that please!
Stand out tracks: Punchbag, Teach me to fight, F.W.T.B ( Grandson Remix) Creature, Rockstar and Tapes ( which is more of a Bring me song, but a classic)  

​Pvris
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Lynn Gunn is another front woman with a powerhouse of a voice. Like Hayley and Theresa, Lynn has this innate ability to lure you into thinking the song will be a slow burner, then belting out rock worthy vocals. I've always loved Lynn's voice and it has only gotten better with each album. Pvris most recent album, USE Me is one of my all time fave albums. 
Stand out tracks: Smoke, White Noise, Anyone Else, No Mercy, Gimmie A Minute, Good to be Alive, January Rain, Wish you Well, and Thank you (ft Raye)
( P.S Pvris also do a cover of the Tegan and Sara classic Are You Ten Years Ago

Evanescence
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Amy Lee was one of the first female vocalists I fell in love with. Bring Me to Life was this epic introduction to a haunting voice that never gets old. I remember having to order in Fallen from the US because the record shops in Ireland had no clue who I was talking about. Fallen remains one of my top albums and I wore that CD out during my teens along with Hybrid Theory. I'm excited for the bands new album this year!
​Stand out tracks: Bring me to life, My Immortal,  Going Under, Tourniquet, Hello, Lithium, Call me when your Sober, My Heart is Broken and The Last Song I'm Wasting on You. . 

 The Cranberries
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Dolores O'Riordan remains one of Ireland's best loved singers. Long before Bad Wolves covered Zombie, Dolores and The Cranberries were breaking barriers with antic war fueled lyrics with her distinctive voice. When Dolores passed away, the country's mourned for the loss of her voice, but grateful for the
gift she left us with, an iconic, one of a kind voice that will live on and always be remembered.
Stand Out Tracks: Linger, Zombie, Ode to My Family, Dreams, Ridiculous Thoughts and Everything I said. 

Holy Wars
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This is a new to me band, but the moment I heard Kat Leon's voice, I knew I was a fan. Little Godz is a hardcore track filled with attitude and sass. The bands music is filled with grit and a hellofalot of badassery.  Holy Wars is definitely one to watch in the future.
​Stand out tracks: Little Godz, Welcome to my Hell, Born Dark, IHATEMYSELF and Tainted Love.  

​Florence and the Machine
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The first two of albums from Florence and the Machine are the best ones in my opinion, but Florence Welch's voice is reminiscent of what I imagine a siren sounds like. I've seen her live, and her voice is just as amazing live as it is on a recording. These ones are oldies, but worth a  throwback listen.
Standout Tracks: Dog days are over, Howl, Cosmic Love,  Shake it out, Never Let Me Go, Seven Devils and Spectrum. 

​The Cardigans

Nina Persson of the Cardigans is another quiet almost unimposing voice that cements her place in rock royalty. My Favorite Game is  one of my favorite songs of all time, the beat in contrast with that soft rock tone is brilliant.
Stand Out Tracks: My Favorite Game, Lovefool and I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to be Nicer.

No Doubt
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Gwen Stefani needs no introduction, but before she went poptastic, she fronted one of the best rock bands of the nineties. There is no mistaking Gwen's voice and her epic range, and while I have no problems dancing to Hollerback Girl after a pint or three, I will always prefer the sultry tones heard in her earlier work with No Doubt.
Stand Out Tracks:  Don't Speak, It's My Life, Just a Girl, Hellagood, Bathwater, Sixteen and Six Feet Under.

​Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

I know Dave said you wouldn't see any Joan Jett from him but I couldn't talk about badass female front ladies without mentioning Joan Jett. For me she was the OG trailblazer, the rebel who went where only men had gone before. I got to see Joan Jett and the Blackhearts as the pre-act to Green Day and it was a great set. 

You have to realize that back in the day, here in Ireland, we were limited to what rock music we were exposed to. We didn't get MTV until the late 90's and it wasn't until we got channels like Kerrang and Scuzz that I found music like Joan Jett... well, in a legal capacity....( Thanks Napster lol) 
Stand out Tracks: I Love Rock'N Roll,  Bad Reputation, I hate Myself for loving you, Fake Friends, and Cherry Bomb. ​

Anavae
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Now last but certainly not least, we have Rebecca Need-Menear from the duo Anavae. I found this band after their 2019 release 45. A combination of haunting lyrics and a uniqueness to Rebecca's tone made the album a play on repeat during 2020 lockdowns. A new song, Hell, that has one of the weirdest videos ever, was released in November 2020 so I'm hoping a new album is on the way.  45 also snuck on as one of my top albums of 2020.
Standout Tracks: Human, Skeleton, High, Night, Never Want to Love Again and Smile.

Have Dave and myself left any one off the list that you would have add? Let us know in the comments!

​Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!

You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE

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