Trying to find the perfect streaming service for your metal fix can be a bit challenging, especially if you're used to listening to heavy metal songs through mixtapes you traded with your friends in high school, in CDs you bought with your hard-earned money, or downloading it from sketchy websites (if you know, you know). Well, those good old days are over because heavy metal music is becoming more and more accessible — a big thanks to music streaming services. 

If you’re looking for the best platforms to listen and discover new heavy metal music, we’ve got the best list just for you. You’ve probably heard of these platforms, but we just wanted to share why we think that these platforms are the best for heavy metal fans out there. Just a reminder though, you will need a fast internet provider when streaming or downloading your favorite songs to actually enjoy them. Let’s start!

Spotify

Spotify needs no introduction, but we all know that it’s one of the best and the biggest music streaming platforms out there. The best thing about Spotify is that all genres of music thrive on this platform – not just pop, not just rock, not just R&B, or not just K-Pop. It’s so diverse that when you really go deep, you’ll find a lot of new songs. 

When it comes to heavy metal, Spotify isn’t lacking. There are a lot of metal bands with entire discographies on Spotify, from the founding fathers like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest to modern shred-masters like Trivium and Killswitch Engage. Plus, Spotify's personalized recommendations are pretty killer, so you're bound to discover new bands you'll love based on your listening activity. Just make sure to have high-speed internet like Boost Infinite when streaming so you can really enjoy discovering new songs.

Apple Music

There’s not much to say about Apple Music because it also offers an exceptional library similar to Spotify. However, there’s one advantage Apple Music has over Spotify – Dolby Atmos and lossless audio. That’s a plus, especially for us metalheads because we’ll be able to enjoy the killer guitar riffs and pounding drums like we’re listening to our favorite bands live.

But of course, keep in mind that Apple Music doesn’t have a free tier, which means after the free trial, you will need to pay a monthly fee. Also, if you’re looking forward to the spatial audio feature but are using cheap headphones, you won’t be able to enjoy it. That’s another factor to keep in mind when streaming with Apple Music. 

YouTube

Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without YouTube/YouTube Music. YouTube is home to a lot of metal bands, both popular and up-and-coming ones. It’s actually the easiest and most accessible streaming platform out there given that everyone already has access to YouTube. You can watch music videos, live performances, and even obscure demo tapes from the genre's underground scene. 

When streaming heavy metal music on YouTube, you need to have a stable internet connection like Dish Internet and other known internet plans. This is to avoid buffering and dropped connections. Metal often features fast tempos and complex arrangements, so any interruptions can disrupt the listening experience.

Tidal

Tidal is all about high-fidelity streaming. They offer lossless FLAC audio and even MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) for select tracks, which promises even better fidelity than CD quality. For metalheads who crave the raw power and detail of their music, this is a major advantage. The monthly subscription is a bit higher compared to Spotify and Apple Music, but if you really want to experience high-quality streaming, you can give Tidal a try. 

SoundCloud

Last but not least, let's not forget the OG platform for underground music discovery. It’s the top music platform for independent metal artists. So if you're tired of the same mainstream bands and crave something raw, experimental, or straight-out weird,  SoundCloud is your hunting ground. You might stumble upon your new favorite band before anyone else does and even interact with them. 

The Bottom Line

There you have it! You won’t go wrong with any of these metal music streaming platforms. It will just depend on your budget and preferences. It’s nice to see that many streaming services are also recognizing metal music, unlike before where it’s a bit challenging to find decent streaming platforms to listen to our favorite songs. Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give these streaming services a try!