Lovers of metal know that it can be rare for some of the music genre's greatest bands and songs to hit the charts. Many of the most influential and highly regarded heavy metal bands have struggled to go platinum. Motörhead, Misfits, and Exodus have never sold enough records to have an album recognized by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). However, the bands have headlined major festival line-ups and influenced the sound of hundreds of metal bands to this day. The original Misfits will even take the main stage at Coachella in 2025.

It is hard to define what makes a metal band a "one-hit wonder." Some bands have mainstream hits, hitting the charts but never reaching that audience again. Other bands would have a big hit within the metal scene but never sustain a fan base beyond their 15 minutes of fame. Whether they went gold or had a humbler hit, all of these bands have a trove of hidden gems to offer.

10 Inside - Stiltskin

Charted Top 10 In The US And UK

Stiltskin is a band from Primrose, England that got their start in 1994. The grunge band made their mark on the charts with their song "Inside." Despite being active to the present, their 1994 single is their biggest success.

"Inside" is everything you expect a grunge song to be, brooding and heavy. The song was originally made for a Levi's ment, which contributed to its widespread appeal. The highlight of "Inside" is Ray Wilson's strained, raspy vocals while the guitar riffs are predictable and catchy.

The song reached number one on the UK charts and made it to the top 10 in the US. Today, the band looks nothing like it did in 1994. Ray Wilson is the only remaining original member after they disbanded in 1996.

9 Double X Minus - Five Pointe O

Racked Up Over 2 Million Streams On Spotify

Five Pointe O is a humbler one-hit wonder with a hit that reverberated through the rap metal and nu metal scene. The Illinois band was formed in 1998, just four years before their big hit. But while they secured some awesome opportunities, they were never able to replicate the song's reach.

"Double X Minus" leads off the band's debut album, Untitled, with explosive energy. The vocal performance and technique delivered by Daniel Struble are impressive and intense, with his hardcore screams brutal yet controlled. The chugging, syncopated riffs punctuate Struble's lyrics about heartbreak and devastation.

Five Pointe O was picked up by RoadRunner Records in 2001 and released Untitled in 2002 with the label. The song was the biggest hit on the record and in the same year as the album's release, the band saw "Infinity" featured in the Resident Evil movie. However, "Double X Minus" remains their biggest success. The band later disbanded after internal disputes split the up.

8 Turn Up the Radio - Autograph

Peaked At Number 29 On The Billboard Hot 100

Autograph is well-known for being a one-hit wonder, and the band is rarely discussed without a reference to their hit song, "Turn Up the Radio." The song has all the hallmarks of a classic heavy metal track: a catchy gang vocal on the chorus that is easy to sing along with, chugging guitars and simple riffs, and an arena rock organ ringing out over the whole track.

An element that sets this song apart is its galactic synth sounds in the intro which complements the aesthetics of the album. When "Turn Up the Radio" was released in 1984, pop was flooding the charts, and it spoke to every rock fan who would have rather been listening to rock 'n' roll on their radio than Michael Jackson and Madonna on MTV. Impressively, Sign In Please is the only Autograph album to ever go gold due to the success of the song.

In the years since the release of the song, Autograph has reunited multiple times. Although the band is a one-hit wonder, the brand surrounding the name was so valuable that non-founding sued Steve Lynch over his claim on the band's name. Lynch ultimately won the suit and felt that he shouldn't have to share the name with musicians he hired to play songs he wrote with the founding of the band.

7 Three Little Pigs - Green Jellÿ

20 Weeks On The Billboard Hot 100, Peaking At Number 17

This comedy rock band was an unlikely breakout in the heavy metal world, with their song, "Three Little Pigs," being their biggest success. Proudly labeling themselves "the worst band in the world", the Kenmore, New York natives have been cracking jokes and shredding licks since 1981.

"Three Little Pigs" is a twisted retelling of the classic folk tale of the same name. The music video lent to the success of the song, picturing claymation pigs playing guitar, smoking weed, and calling up their friend Rambo. The song is intentionally horrible, overly repetitive with an obnoxious guitar riff designed to parody the rising sound of grunge. Green Jellÿ parodies grunge the way Spinal Tap parodies hair metal.

The band has cycled through several , but the frontman and mind behind Green Jellÿ, Bill Manspeaker, still performs his punk rock puppet shows today. The show has a similar appeal to a GWAR show, with ridiculous gross puppets and audience participation. The band is considered the largest in the world with hundreds of that Manspeaker can call on to participate in a show.

6 Don't Close Your Eyes - Kix

Peaked At Number 11 On The Billboard Hot 100

This glam metal band got their start in Maryland in the late 1970s and made a name for themselves with their hit song "Don't Close Your Eyes." The lyrical content of the song is fairly dark, seemingly about struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. The song is punctuated by the near-constant steady piano chords that explode into the song's extravagant chorus, with Steve Whiteman's vocals front and center — and the singer more than delivers.

The single got Kix a certified gold record and drew attention to their platinum album, Blow My Fuse. Although the band never saw any more blowout hits, they were able to maintain a dedicated fan base for 45 years until their retirement in 2023.

5 Headstrong - Trapt

Won Billboard's Top Rock Song In 2003

Trapt formed in 1995 and finally landed a hit on the charts eight years later. The Los Gatos band signed with Warner Records in 2001, paving the way for their debut self-titled album. "Headstrong" was the lead single of Trapt and was critically acclaimed the year it was released. The song has an infectious energy. The verses have an upbeat staccato new wave sound that collapses into the song's heavy grunge chorus. Robin Diaz's drumming sets the tone for each section of the song, transitioning perfectly between playful and intense.

The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received two awards at the Billboard Music Awards in 2003. The song was also featured as the theme song for WWE Bad Blood in the same year. Trapt is still active today, but the band's line-up has gone through many iterations, making them fundamentally different from their debut.

4 Bodies - Drowning Pool

Certified Platinum On January 31, 2019 After A Million Digital Copies Sold

Everyone has heard "Bodies", but it wouldn't be surprising if you couldn't name another Drowning Pool song, even if nu metal enthusiasts know that Drowning Pool is a staple of the early 2000s era beyond the success of their hit song. "Bodies" had a huge moment in 2001 and has become a cultural staple repeatedly being featured in movies and video games.

It is the quintessential nu metal song. The lyrics about moshing and a countdown before the high-intensity chorus leaves the perfect amount of time to open the pit. The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, and has since gone on to be certified platinum.

Drowning Pool went on to play huge shows, such as their set at Ozzfest, which saw Sharon Osbourne move the band up in the line-up after seeing the success of "Bodies." However, after the attacks on September 11th, 2001, the song was taken off rotation on MTV and radio stations due to a misinterpretation of the lyrics to be violent rather than referencing a metal show.

Sadly, the following year, Drowning Pool frontman Dave Williams ed away. His vocals were a unique and powerful element of the group, setting them on their path to success. Despite the tragey, Drowning Pool still plays shows today, with plenty of moshers hitting the floor.

3 Balls To The Wall - Accept

48 Million Views On YouTube

German metal band Accept has origins that trace back to the late 1960s, but the band didn't truly hit their stride until the late '70s. Accept maintains a fan base to this day, with touring dates worldwide in 2025. They have quite a few fan-favorite tunes that have accrued tens of millions of streams on Spotify, but only one of their songs reigns supreme.

"Balls to the Wall" is the defining Accept song, and sounds not unlike a slow and heavy 1980s AC/DC track. The song's bass breakdown accompanied by an ominous choir singing out perfectly builds the tension for the final high-energy chorus. This song is a political anthem about ri against oppressors that the band felt came at just the right time. It may sound like standard '80s metal, but the song holds a deeper meaning for the band.

Accept's album Balls to the Wall is certified gold in the United States, largely due to the massive success of its title track. Before that, the band was introduced to a global audience by opening for Judas Priest in 1981. This laid the foundation for the success of their hit. Accept is celebrating 50 years of rocking in 2025, and in all the years they have played shows, 'Balls to the Wall' has been on every setlist.

2 Cult Of Personality - Living Colour

Reached No. 13 On The US Billboard Hot 100

Living Colour made a huge splash with their biggest hit. This New York City band was openly political, critiquing world politics and addressing injustices in their own backyard. In 1988, "Cult of Personality" was inescapable, and its lyrics have withstood the test of time.

This song is a breath of fresh air in the hard rock space. The central syncopated riff is captivating and perfectly builds to the on-beat chords ringing out over the title. Corey Glover's vocals are one of a kind. His smooth delivery and vibrato stand in contrast to his raspy belted verses.

"Cult of Personality" comments on the public's tendency to make heroes and celebrities out of political leaders. The band brought a needed new perspective to a genre dominated by white musicians. Their lyrical perspective and incredible technical talent gave them the ability to rise in the ranks among bands that couldn't replicate their experience.

"Cult of Personality" won the group a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. The band's immense talent was recognized and ed by Mick Jagger before the release of their hit, and the band gained the respect of many of metal's biggest acts. Unfortunately, Living Colour's bright future was cut short due to conflict between bandmates and personal turmoil causing the group to split. The album featuring "Cult of Personality," Vivid, is certified platinum.

1 In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly

Radio Play Brought This Song To #30 On The Charts

Iron Butterfly is the original heavy metal one-hit wonder. In 1968, the 17-minute epic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" ushered in the era of heavy metal in the '70s and '80s. The song solidified the San Diego band's place in music history despite the fact that they were never able to replicate it.

This unlikely hit was a happy accident. The original 17-minute recording was just the band jamming on the song while producer Don Casale got his levels. Casale had captured the whole session, which was never meant to be a song,and thus, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" became a bit of a joke in the music world. Its length gave disc jockeys an extended break on the radio, but this alone isn't why the song rose to fame. Its central riff is catchy, but nothing special. It's Doug Ingle's slurred vocal performance and mastery of the organ that made this track memorable.

Iron Butterfly may have been a treasure that the world never got to experience. Only three years after their big hit the band broke up. Their very small legacy didn't lend well to reunion tours or albums. Most bands that come and go in the blink of an eye don't have the staying power Iron Butterfly achieved. Their album, also titled "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," has gone platinum four times over.

Sources: Loudersound (Bodies), Loudersound (Cult of Personality), Loudwire, Metal Edge, Santa Maria Sun, The Guardian, The Vogue (Accept), Financial Times, Last.fm, The Gauntlet, Discogs, VinylMe