You keep hearing about djent and extended-range metal, but the band names blur together and you don’t know where to drop the needle first. This list fixes that.
Eight-string guitars reach far below a normal six, and that low range is what gives this music its heavy, mechanical pulse. Meshuggah helped invent the sound, and plenty of bands have run with it since.
Think of this as a first listen, not a history lecture. Each pick comes with a bit of context and one song that shows the band off well.
Below are 10 acts to explore, grouped together for easy hopping. Here’s where to start.
The Best 8 String Guitar Metal Bands
These ten bands and artists all lean on the low, thick range of 8 string guitars (or are close cousins worth hearing alongside them). Start with the recommended track for each, then explore their wider catalog.
1. After The Burial
After The Burial is a band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is one of my favorite bands, and it was hard choosing just one song to represent them, but I think “The Great Repeat” does it best.
That song is a great example of how the band uses melody to carry a track while their riffs make you want to move your head from side to side in rhythm. Check them out if you haven’t already - they won’t disappoint.
2. Animals As Leaders
Animals As Leaders is a band you should check out. This is the most perfect combination of melody and precision I’ve ever heard.
Their music never bores you, and it holds your attention the whole time. The songs are epic and beautiful in every way possible.
Give them a listen if you haven’t already.
3. Meshuggah
Meshuggah, who released their album “The Violent Sleep of Reason” a few years back, is one of the best metal bands I’ve ever heard. They’re widely credited as pioneers of the heavy, polyrhythmic sound that made extended-range guitars popular in metal.
What stands out most is how they compose. They write some of the most complex and yet beautiful music I’ve heard, and the songs are long without ever dragging - they hold your interest from beginning to end.
4. Portals
Portals is a band from Australia that I haven’t fully dug into yet, but they’re on my radar. They’ve an excellent song called “Burdened,” and the video is very interesting.
Rather than a standard metal video, it uses old film footage that mirrors the lyrics of the song. Give them a listen - I think you’ll find them interesting, to say the least.
5. Scale The Summit
Scale The Summit is an American progressive metal band from Houston, Texas, made up of phenomenal musicians. Their debut album, Monument, was released in 2007, though I only discovered them more recently.
This band is beyond phenomenal. If you’ve heard their songs “Mass” and “Black Hills,” you know what I mean - they’re brilliantly composed and keep you interested the whole way through.
6. Ihsahn
Ihsahn is a Norwegian musician and a very talented composer. He writes some of the most interesting music I’ve ever heard.
The song “On The Shores,” released in 2010, will blow you away. The way he constructs it’s phenomenal - it feels like walking through a level of a video game or watching an epic movie.
Check him out if you aren’t familiar with his work yet.
7. All Shall Perish
All Shall Perish is an American deathcore band. If you haven’t heard them before, look them up immediately - they make some of my favorite music.
This band isn’t strictly about 8 string guitars, but I included them because they’re one of my favorites. The songs “Black Gold Reign” and “Wage Slaves” are must-listens if any of this interests you.
8. Volumes
Volumes is an American progressive metal band. I really love this band, and their song “Void” is one of my favorite songs of all time.
It’ll blow you away without fail. Listen to that track first as a preview, then check out the whole album - I promise you won’t regret it.
9. Outworld
Outworld is a band from the USA. They’re fairly new by metal standards, with their debut album released in 2006.
I only heard of them within the past year or two, and their song “The Never” is one of the best I’ve ever heard. I’m not sure how it’s even possible, but it’ll blow you away.
10. Uneven Structure
Uneven Structure is unbelievable. The track I’d point you to is the title song from their album “Paragon,” which captures exactly the way this band makes you feel.
Their songs are very interesting and the music video ranks with the best. Check them out if you haven’t already - they’re one of my favorite bands and they won’t disappoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need an 8 string guitar to play this music?
Not necessarily. Many of these bands also use 7 string and even standard 6 string guitars in lower tunings, and several songs can be approximated without an 8 string.
That said, the lowest, thickest riffs in this style really come alive on an extended-range instrument. If you want that exact low-end weight, an 8 string is the way to get it.
What genre uses 8 string guitars the most?
Modern progressive metal and djent lean on 8 string guitars more than any other style. The extra low strings let players write heavy, syncopated riffs while keeping enough range for melody on top.
Meshuggah, Animals As Leaders, and After The Burial are some of the most influential names in that space.
Which band is best for getting into 8 string metal?
If you want the technical, riff-driven side, start with Meshuggah or After The Burial. If you prefer melody and musicianship, Animals As Leaders and Scale The Summit are great entry points.
There’s no wrong answer - pick the recommended song that sounds most appealing and go from there.
Why do metal bands use 8 string guitars?
An 8 string guitar adds lower strings below the standard range, giving metal bands access to deeper, heavier riffs without giving up their higher melodic range. This makes it easier to write crushing low-end parts and bright leads on the same instrument.
The tuning and scale length you choose matter a lot for keeping those low strings tight and clear, which is why a lot of players experiment before settling on a setup.
Final Thoughts
That’s a quick tour of ten bands and artists who put 8 string guitars to great use. Whether you’re drawn to the polyrhythmic heaviness of Meshuggah, the melodic precision of Animals As Leaders, or the riff-driven energy of After The Burial, there’s plenty here to get lost in.
Listen to the recommended track for each band first, then dig into whichever ones grab you. The deeper you go, the more you’ll appreciate what these players do with the extra range.
If you want to go further on the gear side, check out these related guides too: best scale length for 8 string guitars and 8 string guitar tunings. Enjoy your metal.
