Grrrl Power

As today is International Women's Day, I figured that I would take the opportunity to present to you a small selection of my favourite female-fronted songs. Of course, there are many more and we could discuss omissions all night, but this isn't meant to be exhaustive, rather it is a little mark of respect to the representatives of the "fairer sex" in our wonderful and diverse musical genre / community. It may be a horrible cliché, but this lot are every bit as good as, and in some cases better, than their male peers. Enjoy.

Arch Enemy

Let's face it. No list of this type, one featuring women in a traditionally (and still) male-dominated world, would be complete without Ms. Gossow and her bunch of Swedish hellraisers. Although not the mist brutal of female vocalists, she was certainly one of the first to hit the (relative) mainstream and definitely opened the doors (and minds) for others to follow.

Landmine Marathon

Appearances can be deceiving, and this is certainly the case with Krysta Martinez. Yes, she looks like she might be a bit of a rocker, but she doesn't look like she would become a wild-eyed, flailing lunatic.

Cerebral Bore

Although, these sick Scottish freaks have since sadly parted ways with Dutch vocalist Simone Pluijmers, it is worth noting that this is THE single most brutal example of a female voice that I can think of. She bellows, roars and shrieks like a woman possessed and frankly, it's almost a thing of disgusting beauty.

 Benedictum

Here is a woman with a superb "Metal" voice. Veronica Freeman has the range, the power and the aggressive edge (when necessary) to her voice, but more importantly, she delivers it with passion and conviction. I can think of a good handful of male Metal vocalists who could learn a thing or two from this powerhouse of a woman.

Cripper

Terrible name. Great vocalist. Singer Britta Görtz has all of the ferocity one would expect from the front person of a Death-tinged Thrash Metal act. Would you know it was a woman on the mic of I hadn't told you (I say, arrogantly assuming you aren't already familiar with the band)? I'd suggest not.

Nightwish

No, not the horribly pretentious, over the top warblings of Tarja, but the under-rated and always improving skills of her replacement (who has since suffered the same fate), Anette Olzon. Her first album with the band was mostly forgettable. Yes, it had its highlights, but her personality wasn't there. She hadn't yet been allowed to mark her territory. It was on her second album with the band, and (in my opinion) their career best, Imaginaerum that she finally made her mark. Her vocals ebbed and flowed, sometimes silky smooth, others a jazz-style purr, but always top notch and in perfect harmony with the feel of the song. I, for one, will miss this young woman when the Finnish giants return.

Flowing Tears

It would be easy to dismiss this French act as a Lacuna Coil rip-off (and in some ways, they might well be), but vocalist Helen Vogt leaves Cristina Scabbia for dead with her natural affinity for giving a song a life of its own. She uses her voice as it should be used - as another instrument.

Gallhammer

This Japanese act delivers its own wonderfully scuzzy take on the Doom / Crust style and vocalist / bassist / founder Vivian Slaughter has an obvious love for the genre and her barking vocals are nasty, guttural, throat-tearing and ugly. In the best way possible.

Commander in Chief

I would be doing the female contingent in Metal a huge disservice If I didn't include the virtuoso, unique and hugely talented The Commander on this list. She is a true one of a kind. Not only is this amazing woman a great, if special, vocalist, but she can shred with the very best of them.

Arkona

Masha Arkhipova is one of a very small number of women representing the Folk Metal genre, at least as far as genuine vocal talent goes. She has a wonderful clean / harsh mix that really fits the tone of the band's music and that it is delivered in the exotic, slightly guttural lilt of her native Russian makes it that little bit more unique.

Kittie

Although Kittie first surfaced as part of a later wave of Nu-Metal, the latter-day sound of the band owes very little to their debut album, Spit. Developing and honing their craft in the spotlight has given this Canadian act a real mean streak and vocalist Morgan Lander is almost unrecognisable as the teenager from the band's 1999 debut. Approach with caution. This Kittie has claws. Yes. I did just say that.

My Ruin

A mainstay in the metal scene since the mid-'90's as front woman for Manhole, Tura Satana and now My Ruin, Tairrie B is a lifer in every sense of the word. If you've ever seen the way this woman commands a stage and demands your respect, then her appearance here is pretty much obligatory.