oh yes it's the guys from Wales that did emo-metal as well as any band from America when they came out! Debut album was superb, and although they went more rock, and less metal, after that, the following albums were still very good. The drummer of this band in particular I loved, he was great! Definitely my no.1 :)
2. InMe
I believe I first heard these guys' track Underdose in the days of Napster =| But yeah, I was very impressed, and then went on to buy the issue of Kerrang with free cd containing the song Gelosea from these guys. Again, very impressed, "these guys are the best band in UK" I exclaimed. Evidently now, that opinion has basically changed, but by not much! I am actually a similar age to Dave the singer of InMe and remember seeing them before they had even released their first album when I was a student in the city of Leeds, and having a whale of a time. I actually wanted to front my own rock band with an InMe-esque sound, and had a darn good go at it! So yeah this band is pretty special to me you could say :P
3. Radiohead
Alot of people would call this the best band from Britain, like straight away. For me, I put them 3. With hits like Creep, Iron Lung and Paranoid Android it's not hard to see why they are respected so. But it's true Radiohead have a depth more than most other rock bands, their 3rd album OK Computer (a real masterpiece, I have the special remastered boxset :D), could be listened to many, many times over when first heard I remember, such was their talent in creating the very best of a genre called 'progressive rock'. Not only that but if you were feeling down, there is probably no better band that will capture and parallel the pain in your soul, I remember walking alone once in a very sad mood and listening to 'Climbing Up the Walls' through my phone, and it seemed even bystanders many feet away from me could sense my torture.
But enough with the depressing stuff, for proof of how amazing these guys are listen to a live version of 'Planet Telax' and enjoy. Also noteworthy the 2-disc 'Best Of' album from these guys is superb! Considering they have like about 10 albums and eps xD
4. Muse
I remember when these guys first came out they were actually called a Radiohead copycat band. I thought this was pretty unfair and was something that should actually be complimentary.
Alot of hard rock fans (such as myself) like this band, which I suppose I have found surprising considering Matt Bellamy's high pitched and somewhat whiny voice. But looking over their songs and albums, it's not hard to be impressed with much of the stuff Muse has put out. Their often forgotten first album really did feature some quite excellent 90s tinged alternative rock, from the snare drum rattling of Sunburn, the excellent Muscle Museum (which was fantastic on their live Hullaballo disc) to the emotionally charged progressive rock of Showbiz. They have never done a song like Showbiz really ever again, or to be honest never played emotional 90s sounding rock like they did on their excellent 1st album. Their 2nd album to me wasn't as good (it does have it's fans though I've noted), though it did have one of the best hard rocking songs Muse (or anyone) ever did, Hyper Music. 3rd album again was kinda meh to me, though it did contain maybe in my opinion the best song Muse ever did, Stockholme Syndrome (I remember I bought the Time Is Running Out single as a youth and would watch the awesome Stockholme video on my laptop frequently). The 4th album impressed me, quite a lot. Map Of The Problematique had some of the best lyrics and sound I had heard in a long time. What was refreshing about Muse was their personas and ideology, they didn't go the typical Rock Star route of glamour, cocaine and super models, Matt stuck fast to his message of being 'for the people!' (Revolution!). By the 4th or 5th album, they were almost like a progressive glam rock sounding Rage Against The Machine.
Picking up their live cd+dvd Haarp (despite the silly name) really proves these guys are deserving with their status as top dogs in UK Rock.
5. Oasis
Yeah, I had to put these guys here. I think everyone was a fan of them in the mid-90s and if they said they weren't they were probably lying.
What really rekindled my interest in them was, I remember, when I used to work as an event steward when I was younger. One job I was offered was the Oasis concert in Wembley (2009, they were supported by Kasabian and The Enemy), which of course I accepted. Standing around the stadium that day, I was simply planning to stand back and reminisce on some basically pop rock songs I enjoyed as a youth. But the more I listened the more I remembered that some of these guys' songs really were quite fantastic. The 2nd album was probably the best for me, that and their Master Plan (b-sides) album. I also picked up the the best of Stop The Clocks cd + dvd from them which was great.
I remember I listened to their songs often for a good year or so after that concert.
6. Ash
The fun, energy fuelled pop punk of no.6 choice Ash is just as good as any american band.
The Best Of CD (Sonic 7s, yes I like Best Of cds, what?) really shows you a large amount of excellent poppy and punky songs, from Burn Baby Burn to Candy to older schooled Oh Yeah. I remember being rekindled by these guys' music after half-heartedly watching the film A Life Less Ordinary and hearing Ash' quite excellent song (of the same name as the film) during the ending credits.
I must get around to watching A Life Less Ordinary again properly...
7. Stone Roses
Many people's favourites, I'm sure everyone has danced to She Bangs The Drums at an indie disco at some point in their lives. Also their iconic song Fools Gold has one of the most famous riffs of all time I'd say, and is recognised no doubt by millions of people all over the world.
Technically this band is an 80s band seeing as their famous 1st album (1 of their only 2 really) came out in 1989, which is pretty impressive. I've liked their music ever since I first heard, many of their songs are really quite romantic <3
8. Suede
Listening to these guy's first album, there was actually alot to like for a heavy metal fan. Their first guitarist, Bernard Butler, who played on their 1st and 2nd albums was a clear heavy metal fan, and it really shone through on some of the songs. I actually first heard the song The Drowners on a Radio 1 Compilation CD, liked it alot, and when I heard it on Suede's debut album recognised it immediately, the fantastic driving riff. I actually used to cover this song in an amateur rock band I fronted when I was young, I just loved it so much! Heh.
But they stayed a pretty great band in my opinion. Nothing gives such a sweet dose of brit rock dominated 90s nostalgia as their 3rd album song The Beautful Ones in my opinion :P
9. Idlewild
I wasn't sure if I was going to put these guys on the list. I actually only started listening to them relatively recently. Are they still going? I couldn't tell you, I've never seen them live. However I do know and can confirm that their first 2 albums are some of the best hard punk rocking rock to come out of UK. Their song Idea Track alone pretty much means they should make the list. Amazing song from their 2nd album that I believe preceded/pioneered the whole Emo Metal Rock by a good 3 years or so (e.g. it came out 3 years before Funeral For My Friend's debut album).
10. Iron Maiden
I'm well aware that on many people's Top 10 UK Rock Bands list (if they had to make one) these guys would make number 1. I don't like them that much though if I'm entirely honest.
However, there is one song of theirs which I must concede is one of the greatest songs in rock, metal, nay ANY musical genre ever recorded. And that song is Hallowed Be Thy Name. Sure I like a bunch of other songs of theirs (e.g. 2 Minutes, Wasted Years and Can I Play With Madness), but yeh Hallowed is the stone cold classic for me :D
Also should be noted that these guys are perhaps the most plagiarised band in rock lol an american favourite band of mine Papa Roach is well known for ripping these guys guitar riffs off a fair bit (including the riff from Hallow Be Thy Name).
Runners-Ups
Kasabian - 1st album was a win and that new song In Love With A Psycho
Heart Of A Coward
Manic Street Preachers
Starsailor
The Charlatans
Stereophonics
Blur
The Cribs
Evile
Gallows
Bring Me The Horizon
Bury Tomorrow
