10 Replacement Metal Vocalists Who Surpassed the Original Singers

Replacing a band’s lead singer is often seen as a gamble. The vocalist is, quite literally, the voice of a band—the most recognizable element of their sound and identity. While many bands have stumbled through awkward transitions, there are rare and remarkable cases where the new vocalist didn’t just fill the role—they elevated it.

Here are ten examples of replacement vocalists in metal who helped propel their bands to unprecedented success.

10. Derrick Green – Sepultura

Sepultura, already a legendary name in Brazilian metal, faced a turning point after founding member and vocalist Max Cavalera left the band following a deep personal rift. Derrick Green stepped in, and while his debut album Against met with mixed reactions, fans still held faith in Sepultura’s resilience.

Over time, Green proved instrumental in redefining the band’s identity. Under his leadership, Sepultura began exploring new subgenres, including groove, industrial, and thrash metal. Green’s raw, emotionally charged vocals provided a fresh sonic character that respected the band’s roots while pushing boundaries. His tenure has helped maintain Sepultura’s global influence and relevance in the metal world.

9. Lars Palmqvist & Roberth Karlsson – Scar Symmetry

Scar Symmetry made a bold decision after original vocalist Christian Älvestam left the band—they brought in not one but two singers. Lars Palmqvist took over clean vocals, while Roberth Karlsson handled the growls. The move allowed the Swedish melodic death metal band to retain the dynamic contrast that had defined their sound.

Debuting with Dark Matter Dimensions in 2009, the dual-vocalist lineup was an instant success. The band toured extensively across North America and, with the release of The Unseen Empire, achieved their highest US sales to date. The duo’s complementary styles breathed new life into the band and expanded their international footprint.

8. Todd La Torre – Queensrÿche

After a dramatic split with original singer Geoff Tate, Queensrÿche brought in Todd La Torre—a decision that proved to be a turning point. La Torre, discovered via YouTube, not only sounded remarkably similar to Tate but brought a renewed sense of energy and consistency.

The band’s first performances with La Torre sold out within 48 hours, proving that fans were eager to embrace the new chapter. With him at the helm, Queensrÿche continued to produce new material that honored their progressive metal roots while regaining commercial success and critical praise.

7. Angela Gossow – Arch Enemy

Replacing a founding male vocalist with a female growler was an audacious move—but Angela Gossow made it work. When Johan Liiva stepped down from Arch Enemy, Gossow’s entry marked a seismic shift in the band’s identity. Her growling vocals, backed by a mezzo-soprano range, shattered gender norms in the male-dominated metal world.

With Gossow leading the charge, Arch Enemy saw unprecedented success. The 2007 album Rise of the Tyrant became their highest-charting US release. Gossow’s marketing background and vision also helped professionalize the band. After 13 transformative years, she stepped away from the microphone but remained as the band’s business manager, handpicking Alissa White-Gluz as her successor.

6. Howard Jones – Killswitch Engage

When Jesse Leach departed Killswitch Engage due to mental health struggles, Howard Jones initially declined the offer to replace him—until he learned the full story. Once on board, Jones quickly became a defining voice in metalcore.

His debut, The End of Heartache, went Gold in the US and earned a Grammy nomination. Jones’ seamless ability to move between clean vocals and guttural screams showcased his technical prowess. With emotional depth and unmatched versatility, he helped Killswitch Engage reach the heights of the metalcore genre.

5. Ronnie James Dio – Black Sabbath

When Ozzy Osbourne exited Black Sabbath due to mental health issues, it seemed impossible to imagine the band without him. But Ronnie James Dio brought a renewed spirit and creative spark. His first album with the band, Heaven and Hell (1980), revitalized Sabbath’s sound and received widespread critical acclaim.

The album marked a return to form and became their highest-charting release since 1975’s Sabotage. Dio’s operatic vocal style and mythic lyricism not only revived the band’s career but introduced a new era of Sabbath that fans still revere.

4. Joey Belladonna – Anthrax

Neil Turbin may have helped Anthrax land a record deal, but it was Joey Belladonna who turned the band into thrash metal royalty. First featured on the Armed and Dangerous EP and later on the breakthrough album Spreading the Disease, Belladonna’s arrival marked a clear evolution in Anthrax’s sound.

His powerful vocals and exceptional technique gave the band creative momentum, culminating in Among the Living, a defining album of 1980s thrash. Belladonna’s contributions helped cement Anthrax as one of the genre’s “Big Four.”

3. Will Ramos – Lorna Shore

Originally fronted by Tom Barber, Lorna Shore saw real fame only after Will Ramos joined as the third replacement. His debut on the 2021 single “To the Hellfire” ignited a global fanbase and became the band’s most-streamed song on Spotify.

Ramos’ vocal capabilities are awe-inspiring—he delivers monstrous growls and screams that often sound inhuman, setting a new bar in the deathcore genre. Combined with the band’s shift toward symphonic elements, Ramos has positioned Lorna Shore as one of the most talked-about acts in extreme metal today.

2. Phil Anselmo – Pantera

Though Phil Anselmo is now synonymous with Pantera, the band originally featured Terry Glaze as vocalist. Under Glaze, their glam metal style failed to gain traction. That changed drastically with Anselmo’s arrival.

His debut on Cowboys from Hell in 1990 marked a stylistic shift to groove metal—a genre Pantera would come to dominate. Their 1994 album Far Beyond Driven debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, a feat previously unheard of for such an extreme-sounding band. Anselmo’s aggressive, charismatic vocal delivery helped redefine heavy music in the ’90s.

1. Bruce Dickinson – Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden experienced early success with Paul Di’Anno, but internal issues, including drug abuse, led to his departure. Enter Bruce Dickinson—an operatic powerhouse whose debut on The Number of the Beast propelled the band to global stardom.

The album reached number one in the UK and signaled a new era of complex songwriting and theatricality. Follow-up albums produced iconic tracks like “The Trooper” and “Flight of Icarus.” But it was “Bring Your Daughter… to the Slaughter,” led by Dickinson’s electrifying vocals, that earned the band their first UK Singles number one. Dickinson remains one of the most celebrated frontmen in metal history.

These vocalists didn’t just fill the shoes of those who came before—they crafted new legacies and helped reshape the future of their bands. Whether through technical mastery, emotional intensity, or groundbreaking creativity, they all proved that sometimes, change isn’t just necessary—it’s revolutionary.