The vast majority of these bands are widely known within the metal scene, these bands are also very much known by non-metal listeners.

Still massively influential and incredibly popular within the metal scene, however aren't as well known as the bands in the first tier.

As the title describes. More massively influential bands within the scene, however majority of these bands are not as well known as the first two tiers, this is where we get into more extreme genres of music

This tier marks a new stage in the metal fan process. Most casual fans consider a good chunk of the bands listed as "noise" however you know different. Bands in this tier are considered extremely popular for the hardcore fans of the scene.

Now in the realm of the niche acts in the scene, most of the bands listed don't even have Wikipedia articles, these are the bands for people who are waist deep into the halls of metal.

Congratulations! You are now in the realm of the Obscure bands. Bands so niche that the only way we know they exist is from entries in the Metal Archives. These are bands for the most hardcore of gatekeeping metal fans.

You are so close to becoming the ultimate chronically online metal fan. These are bands that are so unknown that some don't even have Spotify pages.

If you make it all the way to this tier, you need to touch grass. Seriously.