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You're gonna have to keep watching this thread if you want to get to number one, because I'm only doing one per day.
Also, feel free to comment, and post your top 10

Megadeth



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y5dhBG8jYM

After Dave Mustaine was booted from Metallica for his alcohol problem, he sobered up with one goal in mind: revenge. How would he do it? Simple. His intention was to make a band bigger, better, and badder than Metallica ever was. Although they weren't quite bigger, many metalheads say unquestionably that he achieved his goal on the other two.

The reason that Megadeth is on the list, and Metallica is not is simple. Megadeth never changed their sound, or sold out. Instead, they stuck to their guns making tight, edgy thrash metal about the things Metallica sang about in the 80's: war, corruption, greed, lust for power, and personal issues. If you want proof of their skills as musicians, just listen to Hangar 18 (arguably their signature song). The riffs, basslines, drumming, and guitar duels/solos will be too much to take in at first.

Recommended album: Rust in Peace

Alice in Chains



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BttcIVj_VUE

Although labeled grunge due to the fact they were a Seattle band, most of Alice in Chains' work is on the more metallic side. In my opinion, the late Layne Staley had the best voice of the 90's: elegant, but with a spine tingling kick that went along with the darker sound of the instruments. Between albums, Alice in Chains would release EP's composed mostly of acoustic ballads. Layne's voice shines on these the most.

Guitarist and back-up vocalist Jerry Cantrell was probably at the core of the band, writing most of the songs, and even doing lead vocals on one or two of them. The beauty of Jerry's riffs and solos is that they are fairly simple, but pack a punch usual of more complex ones.

Another core part of AiC's sound was vocal harmonies. Layne was still in the spotlight, but Jerry's backing vocals really gave the melodies an eerie, yet gentle boost.

In 2006, Alice in Chains came out of retirement with a new vocalist who really throws off the perfect chemistry that the original lineup had.

Recommended album: Facelift (for the more casual listener) and Dirt (for those who can handle something a little darker)

Rage Against the Machine



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shQt8JvN9Z0&feature=related

With a unique and innovative sound, Rage Against the Machine is not only considered to be the only rap-metal band that was ever any good, but one of the best rock bands of the 90's full stop. Their self titled debut is up there with Nirvana's "Nevermind" and Nine Inch Nails' "The Downward Spiral" as one of the highest regarded albums of their decade.

Rage took the "hip-hop rock" sound of bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, and injected it with a syringe full of hardcore punk and in-your-face metal. The angry raps/screams of vocalist Zack De La Rocha are backed up by one of the most talented and grooving rhythm sections you'll hear for quite some time. Most notably Guitarist Tom Morello who can make a guitar sound like almost anything with his mastery of effects and feedback.

After Rage disbanded, the instrumentalists joined up with Soundgarden (a fantastic band that didn't quite make the list) vocalist Chris Cornell to form Audioslave.
Audioslave broke up about two years ago, and Rage are back together doing live shows. One of which I was fortunate enough to attend.

Recommended album: self titled

Ok, there were other rap-matal bands that were considered good and you know it.

Besides your obvious choice of Linkin Park, who? The only other one I can think of is the lesser known "Faith No More", and they were more akin to a Red Hot Chili Peppers kind of sound.

Thank You.

Thousand Foot Krutch(1st album), Kutless(some songs), Pillar, P.O.D., etc...

Those bands don't even come close to touching Rage. The fact that those are all Christian bands brings me to my next band (Ah, what the hell. Two in one day).

Slayer



My favorite thrash metal band of all time (Sorry, Megadeth, you're close). Slayer is pretty much the exact opposite of all the bands Cornflake mentioned. With song titles like "Behind the Crooked Cross" and "Tormentor", it's not very likely to be the music playing at your local church fund raiser. The lyrics can be pretty graphic at times, but they never stop being well written, focusing on such issues as religious hypocrisy, warfare, and murder.

The riffs and solos are the very definition of speed, sometimes sounding like a swarm full of angry bees (and I mean that in the best possible way). Tom Araya (vocalist and bassist)'s voice doesn't have any creepy gimmicks or tricks to go along with the dark music, instead there's a seriousness in his voice that alone gives the vocals a dark, and sometimes even disturbing intensity.

With their demonic lyrics, fast and precise guitar work, and razor sharp groove, Slayer thrash their way into my top ten.

Recommended album: South of Heaven

Ok, and tell me what's wrong with christian bands?

I'm sure people who arne't Christian don't favor Christian bands. I don't even like Christian bands. lol Christian music is like all the same.

1. I don't believe in god.

2. They are all the same generic nu metal.