Metal music loves pushing boundaries, but some bands take things to a whole new level — by making animals their lead singers. It might sound strange, but these bands gained attention for blending heavy music with the natural sounds of their non-human vocalists. Here are five metal bands where the frontman isn’t a man at all, but an actual animal.
1. Insect Grinder (Crickets)
Insect Grinder is an experimental grindcore project from Russia that uses the sounds of crickets as part of its music. The band records the noises of crickets trapped in a jar while heavy music plays around them. Their EPs ‘Global Kill Panic and Moment of Torment’ include clicks, chirps, rustles, and hisses to create an unsettling atmosphere. People who dealt with cockroach infestations might find the scurrying sounds in their music all too familiar.
2. Böar Glüe (Guinea Pigs)
Böar Glüe is a brutal death metal band that features the sounds of three guinea pigs named Tico, Taco, and Sugar. These small animals belonged to Richard Christy, the former drummer of the death metal band Death. The band’s name is a reference to ‘boar glue,’ it’s a term for a substance guinea pigs naturally produce. The music combines extreme metal with the vocalizations of these rodents.
3. Hatebeak (Parrot)
Hatebeak is a grindcore band fronted by an African Grey Parrot named Waldo. The band has released five albums, including ‘Birdhouse by the Cemetery’ in 2018. The band does not perform live due to concerns about Waldo’s well-being. His loud, screeching vocals fit well with the fast and aggressive sound of grindcore. African Grey Parrots can live for up to 100 years, so Waldo could continue making music long after his human bandmates are gone.
4. Caninus (Pitbulls)
Caninus was a deathgrind band that featured two pitbulls named Basil and Budgie as vocalists. The band was formed in 2003 and released three albums, including a split with Cattle Decapitation in 2005. The dogs’ owner Justin Brannan was the guitarist for My Precious Blood and later became a New York City council member. Caninus disbanded in 2011 after both dogs passed away.
5. Cattera (Cats)
Cattera is a groove metal band made up of rescue cats from New York City. Their lead cat, Roope-Shakir, was discovered by Fearless Records product manager Anna Mrzyglocki. SHE noticed his loud meows and decided to form a band around them. Cattera released ‘Hunger of the Beast’ in early 2025. The band does not give interviews — because, well, they’re cats.
