As much as metal likes to position itself as a countercultural force, there’s no ignoring all the times it’s barraged its way into the mainstream. And fewer instances of heavy music smashing into the ears of mainstream listeners are more apparent than when one of its bands makes it onto prime-time TV. On both sides of the Atlantic, hard-hitting behemoths from Metallica to Gojira have made it onto enviable late-night slots, and these are the best performances to have come from such opportunities. Below, Hammer’s listed the 10 greatest heavy metal showcases in the history of late-night television.
