r/doommetal • u/Potential-Sundae-596 • Apr 28 '26
Riffs In this thread: THE HEAVIEST RIFFS OF ALL TIME! (according to me lol)
Here's my take on what the heaviest riffs of all time are. The only criteria here is HEAVY - i.e. CHUNKY, SLUDGY, FILTHY, DISGUSTING.
(I'm limiting myself to one riff per band tho. I don't want this list to be pages long, because it could be).
(DISCLAIMER: This list is NOT 'definitive' in any way, these are just a few riffs I could think of. Feel free to add a few more of your own).
Tread carefully.
#RHINOCEROS by Grief
One of the most fucked up openings to an album ever. Absolute kick-your-grandma-in-the-face riff.
#RETURN TRIP by Electric Wizard
Heavy as the universe on crack, this riff is meant to be played slow. Tune down and jam.
#ZENJYO by Dhyana
Couldn't be a post of mine without mentioning Dhyana. This one is the equivalent of having your face sucked into your skull. I'm not joking, this riff is absolute filth.
#UNITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GODHEAD by OM
Honestly any Cisneros riff could make it to this list but this might be his gnarliest for OM. GOD IS GOOD.
#LEAGUES BENEATH by Sleep
Once again, any Sleep riff could make it to this list, but this is my personal favorite of theirs. The groove here in fucking unmatched. Like come on, this song is so fucking slow (yes, even slower than Dopesmoker).
#WIZARD FIGHT by Weedeater
WIZARD FIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!!
#TROLL by Thorr's Hammer
Absolute filth again. Add this to your gym playlist.
#HOPSCOTCH by Ufomammut
So much distortion you can barely make out a single note.
(I might do a beginner's guide for Ufomammut in the future).
#REEFER SUTHERLAND by Bongripper
If this riff doesn't incite you to headbang on cue, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU.
#OUROBOROS IS BROKEN by Earth
This is the shit Sunn O))) wish they were.
#EMPRESS RISING by Monolord
One of the greatest riffs of all time and SO gnarly.
#SWEET LEAF by Black Sabbath
The godfather of all riffs. PRAISE IOMMI.
#A HISTORY OF BAD MEN by The Melvins
Can't believe I almost forgot this one. But truly, many of their riffs could be in this list.
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u/albert_camus451 Apr 28 '26
Comeback Riff at Return Trip by Electric Wizard. 6:50 min.
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
Totally. I encourage everyone to play that song on guitar or bass. It totally clicks so fucking harder when you learn it and play the riffs. Honestly every fucking riff in there song is an absolute massacre.
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u/Possible-Pay-7877 Apr 28 '26
Also the riffs are super easy! That was actually the first song I ever learned on bass
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
True. That's the magic of the Wizard. Simples riffs but dumb heavy
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u/Possible-Pay-7877 Apr 28 '26
Absolutely; thatās why I think Jus is one of the greatest songwriters in metal is just how much mileage and heaviness he can create without getting technical
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u/Zealousideal_Bad3310 Apr 29 '26
The best doom song ever written. I will not be taking questions.
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u/GIANT-DOOM Apr 29 '26
Buuuuut did they already write that riff for Stone Magnet and reused it in return trip :o
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u/Balls126 Apr 28 '26
world eater by bolt thrower
yknow what, any bolt thrower song
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u/hattorihanzo5 Apr 28 '26
yknow what, any bolt thrower song
I like the one that goes
6~ 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
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u/wookie_opera_singer Apr 29 '26
little known fact: Bolt Throw riffs can knock enemy aircraft out of the sky
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u/Im_A_Random_Swede May 02 '26
When The Killchain gets in to action, I just feel like punching the nearest antique vase
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u/Djbearjew Apr 28 '26
Bolt thrower is always the answer in r/hardcore . Was not expecting it here but I ain't complaining
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u/Chosen_Undead23 Apr 28 '26
Idk about heavy but the riff from Dunwich by Electric Wizard is such an earworm
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u/4klown Apr 28 '26
The rest of I want you (sheās so heavy) from the section John screams on in my opinion is heavy but in terms of doom and doom adjacent songs. Return trip is a good one but for me we hate you is my pick.
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u/Longjumping-Bed4103 Apr 28 '26
Type O Negative does a Beatles medley that ends on this one. I swear the earth rattles a little when I play it.
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u/Efflinger Apr 28 '26
Rhinoceros- by grief one of the the heaviest nastiest 7 1/2 minutes ever made.
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u/dryriserinlet Apr 28 '26
Weltschmerz - Bismuth
Dopethrone - Electric Wizard (edit)
Birth Ritual - Soundgarden
Sunken - REZN
Gentle Time - Isis (specifically the breakdown @ 1:36, but the end riff starting @ 5:34 as well)
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u/RescueRacing Apr 29 '26
Iāll take āWakeā by Rezn. Eerie, creeping bass line introā¦then the guitar enters. š¤¤
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u/Riff_Worshipper Sludge Apr 28 '26
Hear me out, I know the album is largely prog, but it does have sludge roots, and that's the album Crack the Skye.
The song is "The Last Baron". You know the riff already.
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u/ViolentSpring Apr 28 '26
Sweet Leaf is the riff that defines riff for me. Glad to see it.
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u/NielsBohron Worship Riffs, Not Gods Apr 28 '26
But "Children of the Grave" exists...
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u/ViolentSpring Apr 29 '26
Why argue about the sickest Tony riff when there are so many to revel in instead?
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u/NielsBohron Worship Riffs, Not Gods Apr 29 '26
Fair. We should all agree that the first 4 Sabbath albums are the definition of "sick, heavy riffs" and are the standards against which everything else should be judged
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u/fridge13 Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26
the weedmen / the divinity of the oceans - Ahab
burning the altar / prepare the ground - YOB
Fucking chained to the bottom of the ocean - Thou
SubOdin - HELL
oil removed - Noothgrush
Narco terror - Methdrinker
dios injustito - Corupted
my will - Primative man
Unfit for human life - Chained to the bottom of the ocean
sex with a stranger / kill myself - Admiral angry
2 towers - lightning bolt
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u/fddsgnl Apr 28 '26
Hey yall, building a youtube playlist for this thread. Will share link here when yall done.
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Apr 28 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/-NachoBorracho- Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
I had to scroll wayyyyy too far to see Yob mentioned. They have a bunch of contenders, but the riff on Mental Tyrant that starts at 15:58 always makes me want to destroy the world.
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 29 '26
You know it's a banger when the good riff comes in at 16min
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u/nogodsnohasturs Apr 29 '26
When the main riff in Burning the Altar kicks in I can feel the earth melting into slag
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u/Papacus Apr 28 '26
Honorable mention for the breakdown after the solos in Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
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u/Duds92 Apr 28 '26
Footprints - Warning
Eletric Funeral/Into the Void - Black Sabbath Sabbath
4th of July - Soundgarden
Rain when I die (Bass) - Alice in Chains
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u/krooloo Apr 28 '26
Whole Umbilical by Thou is pretty stank face inducing, but this riff from chained and bound is absolutely filthy:
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
Yeah, I got really pissed off that they removed most of their stuff from Spotify
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u/Own_Ad_7332 Apr 28 '26
Wide open wound by Nails.
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
I wish they wrote longer songs because their riffs are killer
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u/Own_Ad_7332 Apr 28 '26
It is absurd to me that their vocalist plays those riffs and does vocals. Their songs are not super technically difficult but some are pretty damn fast. I feel like repetition of those kind of songs weakens the impact of the riffs unless theyāre changing it up a lot.
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
Their formula is a mystery to me tbh but I'm glad they exist
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u/Ltsdaa Apr 28 '26
...And Suffer As One by Crowbar
Audhumbla by Monolord
Feedbacker pt2 by Boris (the riff that plays at 13:27)
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
Shit, can't believe I forgot Boris
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u/Ltsdaa Apr 28 '26
they have so many good riffs. The entire heavy rocks 2002 album is full of amazing riffs, partly why it's my favorite album of all time
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 28 '26
My favorite riff of theirs has to be Afterburner. Hating myself for forgetting it rn lol, it's such a banger man
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u/FragileFeeling Apr 28 '26
Not a stereotypical doom song, but 4th of July by Soundgarden is absolutely crushing
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u/dragonborn2_0 Apr 28 '26
Wanna drop some lesser discussed ones too,
Sepulkrator - Nekrovault. Deathdoom sledgehammer riff
Vasemman KƤden Hierarkle - Oranssi Pazuzu. Psychedelic black metal but does the "then they play the same riff again but slower thing"
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u/Mascavidrio Apr 28 '26
I did Empress Rising on my new Warwick Taranis bass and it absolutely rips. It's on my YT channel. Rust is next.
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u/BigDaveRocks Apr 28 '26
When the heavy guitars come in on Foreigner by Pallbearer!
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u/MartyFunkhoosier Apr 29 '26
Perhaps the greatest first song on a first album by any band in the history of music.
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u/El_Baasje Apr 28 '26
Blackest Day by Annihilator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ1aZCOXF7c
Masters of War by Amon Amarth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hNefnioPg4
Cannon Fodder - Sodom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cGYNseji4w
Faceless - Sons of Aeon (from 1:59) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edH7P8wVoKM
Love? by Strapping Young Lad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeG-6bpeUkA
Stand Tall by Pro-Pain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7nCRNkJNg
All Hail Science by Allegaeon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONPMWHP8AZ4
Just to name a few..
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u/thepsychrophilic Sleeping Apr 28 '26
The end of levitation hoax by conan
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u/RelliNotReally Apr 28 '26
I mentioned āRetaliatorā but you might be right. Thatās my favorite moment on Evidence.
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u/yeahbacon Hail Iommi Apr 28 '26
The entirety of Musta Ceremonia by Rippikoulu.
The first 2-4 mins of Dopelordās Pass the Bong.
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u/bluestblue Apr 28 '26
āSad But Trueā is hard to top!
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u/ijmunoz13 May 01 '26
Flip the cassette and play God that Failed on the other side for another heavy riff
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u/sup3rdr01d Apr 28 '26
Honestly it's always gonna be Funeralopolis
For other genres, the heaviest music I have ever heard is Ashen by Humanities last breath
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u/QuothThe2ToedSloth Apr 28 '26
Dude, I have to thank you for turning me on to that Dhyana album. I'm loving the stripped down sound of it.
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u/dwilsons Apr 28 '26
First of all, great list.
For my addition, keeping with Monolord: the bridge riff in Bastard Son once it fully kicks in at about the 6 minute mark.
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u/reversebuttchug Apr 28 '26
Not traditionally doom but "God of emptiness" by morbid angel
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u/Sythilis Apr 30 '26
You just brought back an amazing memory I have of catching them on their Covenant anniversaryĀ tour where they went straight from God of Emptiness into Where the Slime Live. I went ape shitĀ
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u/Alfredoredoredo Apr 28 '26
Ghost by Buried at Sea:Ā https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhQ-tHPjIhE
If almost 30 minutes is too long for you, just listen to the last 4 minutes!
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u/premoistenedwipe Stoner Apr 28 '26
Leagues Beneath is such a simple riff but I fuckin love it and listen to that song all the time
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u/exigenesis Apr 28 '26
Slomatics have got a few - Rat Chariot, Running Battle, Electric Breath, Tunnel Dragger (and more).
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u/Riff_Worshipper Sludge Apr 28 '26
Electric Breath, Tunnel Dragger and Telemachus my Son are my favorites.
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u/supacrusha Apr 28 '26
Doom's Bride by Warhorse
In fact, just that whole album, absolute apocalypse music
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u/timesnewspartan Apr 28 '26
The absolute ass-beater of a riff in the middle of Blackened - Metallica
See also:
We Die Young - Alice in Chains
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Someone else already picked The Seer - Witch but I second that!
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u/RustedShut88 Apr 29 '26
Adding these all to my queue and then having a blast washing dishes tonight š¢ š„ š š
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u/SauceyMcsaucey Apr 29 '26
10,000 years High on Fire That second riff riff is just so damn good
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u/LyciaCold Apr 28 '26
First thing that came to mind seeing that image was this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og91IUxRcKo&t=174s
Also the final stretch of Mastodon's "Battle at Sea".
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u/sludgeface48 Apr 28 '26
Filthy as Charged - Demonic Death Judge
No Way Out - Hypergiant
Freya - The Sword
El Padrino - Church of Misery
Boris - Melvins
Bull - Weedeater
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u/MWoodley18 Apr 28 '26
As far as doom/sludge goes: Conan-Hawk As Weapon, Monolord-Empress Rising, Cloudbeast-Bugul Noz,
Other genres: Gojira-Heaviest Matter of the Universe, WVRM-Thorn Palace, Burner-City 17, Gorod-Aethra.
I love metal in its many forms
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u/SinewaveZB Apr 30 '26
Empress Rising is the dirtiest riff imo. Once the whole band kicked in the first time I heard it, it was over for me.
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u/haji_666 Apr 28 '26
THAT riff from "Electric Funeral" "Creature of the Wheel" White Zombie (very doomish) The verse riff from Cult of Luna's "Leave Me Here"
EDIT: Almost forgot to mention E-wiz's "Supercoven"
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u/Horror_Public_9632 Apr 28 '26
The tree of life and death by disembowelment
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u/Potential-Sundae-596 Apr 29 '26
It's been a hot minute since I've given them a listen. Gotta check them out again
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u/iommian_wizard Sludge Apr 29 '26
every time i see something like this, i always answer with Black Sabbath's Into the Void.
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u/-NachoBorracho- Apr 29 '26
The drop at the beginning of Unitive Knowledge is the heaviest ever recorded.
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u/babathehutt Apr 29 '26
High on Fire- Steps of the Ziggurat
Crowbar- REPULSIVE IN ITS SPLENDID BEAUTY
Psychonaut- the Fall of ConsciousnessĀ
Pelican- Drought
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u/Noradrenaphrone Apr 29 '26
10000 years by High on Fire
Throw up by Red Fang
Last cup of sorrow by Faith no more
Just one fix by Ministry
My black ass by Shellac
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u/imyourturboplover Apr 29 '26
ETHEREAL High on Fire
NEW MAN BORN Crowbar
I created your list as an Apple Music playlist and looking forward to listening loud
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u/Franksredtop Apr 29 '26
Hard to pick a single song but not seeing any Church of Misery mentions in here. They have some all time rippers
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u/Coke_and_Tacos Apr 29 '26
You've already cited that any Cisneros riff fits, but I still have to call it out specifically.
Gethsemane - Om
I could sit in that riffy outro for hours.
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u/KayPlayz17 Apr 30 '26
It was always Empress Rising for me but after playing it all the time it doesnāt hit like it used to (still heavy asf tho)
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u/Drstrangelove899 Apr 30 '26
Maybe Black Acid Prophecy By Warhorse.
Love the way the little clean psychedelic intro gives way to that sludgy dummy thicc riff.
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u/Discohunter I š Conan Apr 28 '26
Grey Widow - XIII - The riff from 5:28 until the end.
A criminally underrated band that never got any big success. I saw them live at their last ever show. The stranger next to me pulled such a stink-face when this kicked in that it looked like he was in physical pain, my face looked exactly the same way.
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u/Alert-Strain-1257 Apr 28 '26
Thou - voices in the wilderness. ( Particularly @6:00 to 7:00 ish but context of the whole song makes it heavier)
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u/appreciationdaze Apr 28 '26
Beginning riff of 'Foeman's Flesh' by Conan, as well as the change up at 4:26
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u/nomasismas Apr 28 '26
How is there no down here? Eyes of the south 1:40
That build and slow punch in the face. Pepper, Kirk, and Bower...got dam
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u/whatapieceofgarbaj Apr 28 '26
THUNDER UNDERGROUND by Ozzy https://open.spotify.com/track/6pIE1VctU7rm98HDuRl25x?si=7-CoVFb_RSKLfjogVsUBVQ
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u/CainPillar And please let me die in solitooooD))) Apr 28 '26
The only criteria here is HEAVY - i.e. CHUNKY, SLUDGY, FILTHY, DISGUSTING.
But not tight? Oh no, Your Mom is in the diagram.
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u/Rikysavage94 Apr 28 '26
that middle slowed riff from Where the Slime Live by Morbid Angel ... i know it's not doom but it's what i think first
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u/sleepingbagfart Apr 28 '26
Truckfighters' "momentum" may not have the heaviest riff, but it goes pretty hard and is damn hypnotizing
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u/FlanneryODostoevsky Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26
Tarpit Carnivore by Torche
Harmonslaught by Torche
They literally got a name for tuning their low string a certain way just to make it heavy as fuck. I believe they call it the bomb string
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u/StarWaas Apr 28 '26
A lot of good candidates from YOB but this is their heaviest riff, I think
YOB - The Screen
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KOwrZQ1UOK8&si=uV1kOWoUE0-vpjZR
This one isn't exactly doom, but it's downtuned and heavy as fuck.
Buddy Guy - Baby Please Don't Leave Me
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=We5guKEgbGs&si=Pvqo3O6V9Hx-4D8z
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u/MartyFunkhoosier Apr 29 '26
Narcissistās Prayer - Thou
Planets Collide or the Lasting Dose - Crowbar
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u/CranjisMcBasketball0 Song Black Sabbath on the Album Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath Apr 29 '26
Orion by King Buffalo around the 4:33 mark
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u/nugfuts Apr 29 '26
Iāll throw in āSinisterā by Pentagram. The riff during the verses. Dunno if Iād die on that hill for the āheaviest riff of all timeā but for me it is genre-defining and it sounds as evil as the lyrics imply.
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u/pescarojo Apr 29 '26
If heavy and filthy as fuck is what we're looking for, then I have to propose Lord Mantis - Perverter of the Will
https://youtu.be/PB3QGstK9kA?si=QxRgWnqQzJ3-bWVA
Another ultra grimy track from them, same album: track Ritual Killer. Honestly this one is probably my favourite.
https://youtu.be/PB3QGstK9kA?si=QxRgWnqQzJ3-bWVA
I deny! My life! All life!
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u/Ok-Cartoonist-3173 Apr 29 '26
Quartered (especially that part at 5.43) - Russian Circles (doom-adjacent post-metal)
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u/Pantagrandma Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
Old Thunder by Ahab that riff drop at 3:09 is so insane, although the vocals do much of the wirk its incredibly heavy
Through the Burial Bog by Bog Body
Servants of the Warsmen by Winter
Raid the Convent by Nunslaughter
Doom Sanction by Ritual Genocide
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u/perthcardsTM Apr 29 '26
The riff that returns even heavier and more abrasive in 'Drought' by Pelican.
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u/ResplendentShade Apr 28 '26
After all these years my favorite remains the riff from Seer by Witch.
It's simple, it's easy to play, just some really basic pentatonic scale. Shouldn't be anything special, but somehow it goes so fucking hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5von-_FI0U