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The 100 most overused metal band name words, revisited and revised

When we published the original version of this list, I promised that we’d run an updated version if you guys could come up with enough words that we missed the first time around. You did so, and we have done our bit in kind. Together, you found enough words that we missed that you pushed nearly 20 words off the original version — a most excellent effort. Scarily, several of the missed words you found actually have more entries now than they did two months ago when you called our attention to them. I thanked those who contributed to the update by name.

Not all of your labors were devoted to coming up with words we missed. At least two of you went above and beyond the call of duty. Pete Haughie, an artist whose work focuses on technology and machines, put together an excellent metal band name generator based on the original list that can accommodate as many as five overused words. I recommend selecting the “Sexify” option for some DME-style articles and prepositions. (My personal favorite band name result was “Hate Hate.”)

Meanwhile, Chris Grigg — whom many of you are familiar with via his work as the frontman and chief songwriter of the American black metal band Woe — used the contents of the original list for a purpose within his professional bailiwick. Chris is a web developer, which is neither the grimmest nor the most brutal of occupations, but he aims to metalify his job. He used the original list to populate the randomized portion of a metal URL generator, which does exactly what it says on the tin. The chill of rural Scandinavian solitude can now be felt even in the digital confines of cyberspace, where not even commenters can hear you scream.

When I compiled the original version of this post, I was repulsed by the lack of originality it displayed. I still wish that more young bands would stray further from the metal-imagery nest. After some time to reflect, though, I find all the repetitive word usage charming in a way. There’s a reason that the same set of imagery resonates with so many different people. We are not alone.

— Doug Moore

THE 100 MOST OVERUSED METAL BAND NAME WORDS (revised)

1. Death1,184 entries
2. Black1,157 entries
3. Dark1,094 entries
4. Blood924 entries
5. Dead741 entries
6. Hell704 entries
7. War731 entries
8. Necro632 entries
9. Soul538 entries
10. Night520 entries
11. Fall503 entries
12. Hate470 entries
13. God455 entries
14. Evil449 entries
15. Kill415 entries
16. Angel409 entries (thanks, Venger)
17. Fire392 entries
18. Storm389 entries
19. Rain388 entries
20. Lord385 entries
21. Head383 entries
22. Metal359 entries
23. Human347 entries
24. Light345 entries
25. Moon329 entries
26. Winter322 entries
27. Grave312 entries (thanks, David)
28. Dawn312 entries (thanks, DawnOwar)
29. Shadow304 entries
30. Demon300 entries
31. Satan298 entries
32. Pain297 entries
33. Eternal285 entries
34. Dream284 entries
35. Burn273 entries
36. Witch271 entries
37. Chaos266 entries
38. Flesh265 entries
39. Cult264 entries
40. Goat261 entries
41. Rage259 entries
42. Terror252 entries
43. Force249 entries
44. Fear249 entries
45. Throne245 entries
46.Wolf241 entries
47. Stone240 entries
48. Christ236 entries
49. Steel232 entries
50. Rot231 entries
51. Funeral230 entries
52. Hammer225 entries (thanks, BM)
53. Torment222 entries
54. Ritual216 entries
55. Cross214 entries
56. Gate213 entries
57. Frost208 entries
58. Gore202 entries
59. King200 entries (thanks, Venger)
60. Doom199 entries
61. Corpse198 entries
62. Beyond194 entries
63. Down194 entires (thanks, Nekrodjavol)
64. Machine190 entries (thanks, Nekrodjavol)
65. Crypt189 entries
66. Infernal189 entries
67. Wind189 entries
68. Brain185 entries
69. Lost178 entries
70. Grim175 entries
71. Ash175 entries
72. Legion174 entries (thanks, fdash)
73. Iron169 entries
74. Face167 entries
75. Raven166 entries
76. Spirit165 entries
77. Morbid164 entries
78. Star164 entries (less “bastard” and “Astaroth”; thanks, Nekrodjavol)
79. Silent161 entries (thanks, s8n666)
80. Tears162 entries (thanks, fdash)
81. Time160 entries (thanks, Matt M)
82. Forest155 entries
83. Sick154 entries
84. Earth153 entries (thanks, Venger)
85. Power152 entries (thanks, Frostgore)
86. Cold147 entries
87. Skull147 entries
88. Anger147 entries
89. Fuck146 entries
90. Fallen145 entries
91. Grind144 entries
92. Devil140 entries
93. Ruin140 entries
94. Plague138 entries (thanks, A.)
95. Thrash137 entries
96. Suffer135 entries
97. Dying134 entries (thanks, s8n666)
98. Murder133 entries
99. Divine133 entries
100. Slaughter133 entries