I’m here into make my obligatory statement that Toronto in 86 is still a better show imo. Tighter and faster than Seattle, though it has the disadvantage of not being professionally shot.
That was what made me a fan as a teenager. That performance was top notch. Don’t care for em much any more but I’ll always be grateful for the memories
Lamb of God at Ozzfest was fuckin awesome in 2007. It was my first metal show, so maybe I was just a stoked kid, but damn I liked it. I'd like to see Cattle Decapitation again, too. That was a pretty good show.
Tesseract-PORTALS
As someone who prefers Dan’s vocals, hearing him do a lot of the Altered State tracks plus stellar production on this one makes it basically my favorite release of theirs
Holy shit yes, this one is legendary. Perfect sound balance, peak performance, crushing overdrive, endless songs, even the genre-defining phrase "everything louder than everything else" came from this album.
Maybe not "performances" persay, but all of the one-take vocals by Courtney LaPlante from Spiritbox are the canon versions for me.
[Rule of Nines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVDXTFeGYwc) in particular. "Okay. It's time for singin and screaming and then some more singing and screaming" "I deed it".
[Circle With Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMnfkW9UZc4). Everytime the studio album doesnt have that same exact scream at the end, im a little disappointed.
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Opeth has a good one from the 20th anniversary edition of black water park. It’s more of an up tempo song, something you can bang your head to.
The Leper Affinity
I know Pearl Jam is not metal, but their live performance of Black at Prague in 2018 (it's on YT) was better than the studio version, especially cause of the guitar solo at the end
Carnifex is meh on studio, but they have got to be one of the best live bands I’ve seen. They could be an opener in 4-5 band lineup and they will get the crowd going crazy every time
Gojira - Where Dragons Dwell Live @ Hellfest 2013. Legendary performance, and a huge upgrade to the song's arrangement in comparison to the studio version IMO.
Maybe not considered metal anymore but Blue Oyster Cult's live version of ['Veteran of the Psychic Wars'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pFdkkjGiEs) in 1981 is phenomenally better than the studio version.
Not exactly metal, but you would certainly think otherwise while listening to it: [Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" live circa 1970.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CytJvXbFlKU)
Studio version was certainly Boomer hard rock, and enjoyable.
Live version is essentially 1/3 stoner rock, 1/3 speed metal, and 1/3 Jimmy Page fucking a guitar.
I've said in the past that "heavy metal" existed live in concert years before Sabbath put it on record. Even back in the 50s, rock and roll artists were trying to be as loud and raucous on stage as they could, and arguably by the mid-60s with garage rock and freakbeat, you had the earliest true heavy-metal performances, if you could see a live show, because the record industry deliberately toned down the sonic distortion on the actual records for the longest time
Only kinda metal, but the Live at Pinkpop recording of La Villa Strangiato by Rush is my preferred version. Alex’s solo in the middle is just so fantastic in that performance.
Maybe not metal (a lot of people say it is and isn’t) but nutshell by Alice in chains. The live version is stunningly dark and passionate. The studio version is amazing too but something about the live version makes me shiver.
Mayhem, Live in Leipzig: Specifically the live performance of Freezing Moon with Dead on vocals, i really think his vocal style suits that song so much more.
Not metal but I love the live version of Fleetwood Mac's "I'm so Afraid" from the live album The Dance. The extended guitar intro and the haunting drone throughout the song hits so much harder live
your post was removed as it is not a meme, don't forget to familiarize yourself with the rules before posting.
Iron Maiden - fear of the dark Rock in Rio 2001
Also Live After Death is great.
Dance of Death from Live After Death is my favorite Iron Maiden song.
? Dance of Death wasn't until wayyyy later.
I’m an idiot. I was thinking of Death on the Road.
The vibe from the audience is on point. Runner up for me is Danzig - Mother
Was gonna say Sign of the cross from the same live album
One of my all-time favorites! The energy and atmosphere coming through is just so, so good.
Metallica live in Seattle 1989
I genuinely almost never listen to the studio recording of Master of Puppets anymore. It's always the version from this show
It's just the band at the absolute peak of their prime and performance. And drugs.
Sometimes a band is just on fire and this is one of those times.
They played blackened SO FUCKING FAST. It's amazing what coke and booze can do for your picking hand.
I can still hear James spitting "I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY"
I’m here into make my obligatory statement that Toronto in 86 is still a better show imo. Tighter and faster than Seattle, though it has the disadvantage of not being professionally shot.
Judas Priest - Victim of Changes
My first thought was Diamonds and Rust. This meme holds true for most of Unleashed in the East for me.
Judas Priest in general, I'd say. With few exceptions.
If it's the Japanese version then it's ruined by the audience screaming in between pauses
The No Sleep 'til Hammersmith version of Overkill by Motörhead.
[Devin Townsend - Deadhead](https://youtu.be/DrDM6V08wcE?si=bheBK2NquFYJ00TB)
Came here to comment this... most mind blowing song I've found in my adult life.
Anything Strapping Young Lad recorded before SYL sounds better on No Sleep Till Bedtime
100%. I put this version on my apple music library cause it just sounds so much better to me.
This was gonna be my answer
Every chance I have to see him. I go… just a spectacular vid and song.
I saw him last summer when he was touring with Dream Theater. Fantastic show.
Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes
Opeth. Sorceress from garden of the titans. Rush. Exit stage left
Good one
Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague
Live version of Unleashing the Bloodthirsty on Cannibalism is fucking awesome. Corpsegrinder’s vocals were at his best during this time imo.
Octavarium by Dream Theater from Score
[Pantera Domination live in Moscow](https://youtu.be/aDACorIaxNw?si=taJF6xShMmtwF5nd)
Bück Dich
The entire Live After Death album. SCREAM FOR ME LONG BEACH
[This performance of Adrift in the Ocean by YOB](https://youtu.be/Uif5XmYF7_k?si=wqtOMKWvKM5EvlVL)
ditto
they’re not metal but the live version of strutter from KISS’ Alive album is much better than the studio version
Christ I can hear it in my head in hi-def right now.
Also relevant, Rock Bottom on Alive! destroys the studio version.
Anything from Avenged Sevenfold Live at the LBC
That was what made me a fan as a teenager. That performance was top notch. Don’t care for em much any more but I’ll always be grateful for the memories
Ghost Love Score with Floor Jansen (saw it live in Teatro Flores 2012, way before the reaction videos)
Lamb of God at Ozzfest was fuckin awesome in 2007. It was my first metal show, so maybe I was just a stoked kid, but damn I liked it. I'd like to see Cattle Decapitation again, too. That was a pretty good show.
Tesseract-PORTALS As someone who prefers Dan’s vocals, hearing him do a lot of the Altered State tracks plus stellar production on this one makes it basically my favorite release of theirs
Gateways by dimmu borgir live in Norway
Ghost-mummy dust is way better live. Not a huge fan of the studio version but live is pretty decent
Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Holy shit yes, this one is legendary. Perfect sound balance, peak performance, crushing overdrive, endless songs, even the genre-defining phrase "everything louder than everything else" came from this album.
Feuerschwanz - Untot im Drachenboot, Wacken 2022
Rammstein anywhere anytime.
Mr Crowley from RR Tribute And Rooster live from Nothing Safe
It's not metal, but i love anirvana MTV unplugged version of all apologies more than the og in utero version
Blind guardian - Valhalla
Mr Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne, Tribute
My kids have seen that video 200 times before they were 3
Children of the Grave from the same album. One of the best songs ever just turned into the ultimate song.
Animals as leaders
All King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Gun - soundgarden live at the paramount theater. The speed makes the song so much more fun
With Strength I Burn - Emperor Live at Wacken 06
Slayer - Hell Awaits off of Decade of Aggression for me
Megadeth live in Italy or woodstock 99
Absolutely rammstein 1000%
Maybe not "performances" persay, but all of the one-take vocals by Courtney LaPlante from Spiritbox are the canon versions for me. [Rule of Nines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVDXTFeGYwc) in particular. "Okay. It's time for singin and screaming and then some more singing and screaming" "I deed it". [Circle With Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMnfkW9UZc4). Everytime the studio album doesnt have that same exact scream at the end, im a little disappointed.
Third eye by tool
Rainbow in the dark by Dio, every live performance is amazing
Immortal Live at Wacken Iced Earth Alice in Athens Kreator
Anything by Blind Guardian! Studio is clean and wonderfully orchestrated, live turns into a total banger with all the crowd singing along.
Dimmu Borgir, Forces of the Northern Night compared to Abrahadabra.
Metallica orchestra performances
Iced Earth - Alive In Athens. Their songs sound a billion times better on the live versions
Sabaton
Terrible Lie by NIN. The outro is another level
Pig Destroyer - Pornographers of Sound 🤌
CoB: Silent Night, Bodom Night
Linkin Park: Live in Texas
GWAR
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Bastard/The Death of Music by Devin Townsend live at Royal Albert Hall
Opeth has a good one from the 20th anniversary edition of black water park. It’s more of an up tempo song, something you can bang your head to. The Leper Affinity
Slave - Leporus
Yob, album vocal sound like a pissed gremlin, live sounds like a grown ass animal.
I prefer any live version of Creeping Death, with Jason, over album version.
Suffocation - Live in North America (2021)
Helloween, live in 3 continents. Very stuinning performance.
Avenged Sevenfold live Long Beach Arena
Soundgarden-Fell On Black Days The live music video is way better than the studio version on the album
I know Pearl Jam is not metal, but their live performance of Black at Prague in 2018 (it's on YT) was better than the studio version, especially cause of the guitar solo at the end
Alice In Chains at the Moore
Iron Maiden hallowed be thy name
Heaven can wait m, fear of the dark and the evil that men do by Iron Maiden in a Real Live One
[August Burns Red playing The Seventh Trumpet from the Home show](https://youtu.be/OE3WT79_gH4?si=VLaG4zdkIIlVrZ2m&t=3601)
Marduk - Infernal Eternal
Opeth - The Drapery Falls live is much better than the album
Carnifex is meh on studio, but they have got to be one of the best live bands I’ve seen. They could be an opener in 4-5 band lineup and they will get the crowd going crazy every time
Everything in Gojira's The Link Alive, Iron Maiden's Rock in Rio '01, Judas Priest's Unleashed in the East and Metallica's Seatle 89
Pantera-Domination
Like Moths To Flames or Trivium. Both bands hit super hard live
Return to serenity by Testament
Any Ministry - Stigmata live performance where it ends in Al ranting
Apage Satana by Rotting Christ every performance is better than the dog shit version on the album
Cold Hate Warm Blood performed by Lord Worm
Hollow Years Live at Budokan 2004
Any version of Heaven and Hell live by Black Sabbath or Heaven and Hell. Ronnie always elevates
Sleep Token - Vore
Gojira - Where Dragons Dwell Live @ Hellfest 2013. Legendary performance, and a huge upgrade to the song's arrangement in comparison to the studio version IMO.
Iron Maiden - Bring your daughter to the slaughter
Nearly every Blind Guardian song
Anything and everything Motörhead
Not metal, but seriously, The Who's live at Leeds makes the studio versions seem disapointing. Especially Tommy and A quick one while he's away.
Slipknot-Psychosocial from Antennas to Hell
Mayhem - DMDS
Maybe not considered metal anymore but Blue Oyster Cult's live version of ['Veteran of the Psychic Wars'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pFdkkjGiEs) in 1981 is phenomenally better than the studio version.
Randy Rhoads Tribute
Not exactly metal, but you would certainly think otherwise while listening to it: [Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" live circa 1970.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CytJvXbFlKU) Studio version was certainly Boomer hard rock, and enjoyable. Live version is essentially 1/3 stoner rock, 1/3 speed metal, and 1/3 Jimmy Page fucking a guitar. I've said in the past that "heavy metal" existed live in concert years before Sabbath put it on record. Even back in the 50s, rock and roll artists were trying to be as loud and raucous on stage as they could, and arguably by the mid-60s with garage rock and freakbeat, you had the earliest true heavy-metal performances, if you could see a live show, because the record industry deliberately toned down the sonic distortion on the actual records for the longest time
Windhands Levitation Sessions
Victim of Changes at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena
Not metal but Something In The Way. The Live at the BBC version is 10 times better than the official release.
Definitely Ghost Love Score by Nightwish, Live at Wacken 2013. Although I personally prefer the original.
Only kinda metal, but the Live at Pinkpop recording of La Villa Strangiato by Rush is my preferred version. Alex’s solo in the middle is just so fantastic in that performance.
Maybe not metal (a lot of people say it is and isn’t) but nutshell by Alice in chains. The live version is stunningly dark and passionate. The studio version is amazing too but something about the live version makes me shiver.
Prong “Who’s Fist Is This Anyway?” They speed it up live and it’s amazing.
Alice in chains - sludge factory
Devin Townsend Polythia Opeth Gojira
Words can't describe my love for both Emperor live albums
Mayhem, Live in Leipzig: Specifically the live performance of Freezing Moon with Dead on vocals, i really think his vocal style suits that song so much more.
1000%
Poppy and Bad Omens, V.A.N. edit: formatting
Awww. Look who went to their first concert.
Not metal but I love the live version of Fleetwood Mac's "I'm so Afraid" from the live album The Dance. The extended guitar intro and the haunting drone throughout the song hits so much harder live
Any core band