This took a lot of time to decide on, but I have made up a list of my favorite female singers in metal. It was honestly hard to put them in a certain order because there are so many I like, but I eventually decided on a top 20. Before I get to the actual top 20, I'm going to add some honorable mentions: 

Nicole Bogner (ex-Visions of Atlantis) R.I.P. 1984-2012

Henriette Bordvik (ex-Sirenia) 

Anna Brunner (Exit Eden) 

Clementine Delauney (Visions of Atlantis, Exit Eden, ex-Serenity) 

Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) 

Sabine Edelsbacher (Edenbridge)

Liv Kristine (Midnattsol, ex-Leaves' Eyes, ex-Theatre of Tragedy) 

Marina La Torraca (Phantom Elie, Exit Eden)

Anny Maleyes (ex-Coronatus) 

Taida Nazraic (The Loudest Silence)

Heidi Parviainen (Dark Sarah, ex-Amberian Dawn) 

Nicoletta Rosellini (Kalidia, Walk in Darkness) 

Sara Seubert (Dawn of Eternity) 

Aleah Stanbridge (ex-Trees of Eternity) R.I.P. 1977-2016 

Chiara Tricarico (Moonlight Haze, Sound Storm, ex-Temperance)

And now for my top 20: 

20. Sabine Dunser (ex-Elis, ex-Erben der Schopfung) R.I.P. 1977-2006

 It's tragic that Sabine had to die so soon. She had a light, girly kind of voice that I normally wouldn't like with a metal band, but for Sabine, it worked. Her voice fit both Erben der Schopfung's and Elis' musical styles perfectly. 

19. Sandra Schleret (Siegfried, ex-Dreams of Sanity, ex-Soulslide, ex-Eyes of Eden, ex-Elis)

 I first heard Sandra sing in Dreams of Sanity's cover of "The Phantom of the Opera", and then I heard the album she made with Elis. I still have yet to dive deeper into Dreams of Sanity's music and I haven't listened to Siegfried yet (it's been ten years since their album so I'm not sure if they're even still together), but I think Sandra has a great voice for symphonic and gothic metal. 

18. Vibeke Stene (ex-Tristania)

 It's a shame that Vibeke has not returned to the music scene since leaving Tristania. I heard that some years back she announced a couple of times that she would be recording with new band projects, but no new music with Vibeke has been released, so I don't know what she's doing these days. She has a nice soprano voice that was well-suited to the music from Tristania's first four albums. 

17. Anneke van Giersbergen (VUUR, The Gentle Storm, ex-The Gathering)

 I first heard Anneke when I happened to hear the album Nighttime Birds by The Gathering. I really liked The Diary by The Gentle Storm, but I didn't like VUUR's debut album and I don't have much of an interest in The Gathering. Despite that, I think Anneke is a great singer and frontwoman, and she deserves whatever recognition she gets. 

16. Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania, Ardours)

 I will never understand people who hate on Mariangela. Tristania's musical style changed with their last three albums, and her voice fits the music (I personally consider Darkest White to be one of their best albums). I'm not too excited so far about the debut Ardours album; to me, the songs they've put out so far have been kind of boring (I would really prefer a new Tristania album). 

15. Emmanuelle Zoldan (Sirenia) 

 Emmanuelle has actually been with Sirenia for a long time. Before becoming the new female vocalist in 2016, she was a member of the band's choir for twelve years. She has a operatic mezzo-soprano voice that fits with the symphonic gothic style Sirenia's music was already going in. Arcane Astral Aeons is probably their best album after the first two.

14. Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie)

 I don't know what else to say other than the fact that Fabienne's voice is what has made me like Eluveitie's last two albums. She has a strong voice that's somehow perfect for the music. 

13. Helena Iren Michaelsen (Imperia, ex-Trail of Tears)

 Helena is technically a contralto, but she has a very wide vocal range, which can be heard throughout Imperia's albums. I think it's very impressive, but I also think she and the band are both a little underrated. 

12. Manuela Kraller (ex-Xandria, ex-Haggard)

 It's a shame that Manuela only recorded one album with Xandria and none with Haggard. I don't know what it is about her in particular, but I love her voice and I kind of wish she would join a new band because she is perfect for symphonic metal. 

11. Elina Siirala (Angel Nation, Leaves' Eyes)

 I first heard Elina when she joined Leaves' Eyes in 2016, and she's been among my favorites ever since. She has a beautiful soprano voice. Sign of the Dragonhead is my favorite album by Leaves' Eyes, and Angel Nation is also a good band. 

10. Dianne van Giersbergen (Ex Libris, ex-Xandria)

 I'm not much of a fan of either band, but Dianne had me listening to songs by both groups. She has a strong and emotional operatic soprano that makes her stand out. 

9. Amanda Somerville (Kiske/Somerville, HDK, Trillium, Exit Eden)

 Amanda is another singer with a pretty big vocal range. I'm a fan of Exit Eden and I liked Trillium's second album, but overall I just really love Amanda's voice. 

8. Carmen R. Lorch (Coronatus) 

 I only recently discovered Coronatus, but Carmen has come up far when it comes to my favorites. I don't know how Coronatus isn't more popular among symphonic metal fans; Carmen has one of the best operatic soprano voices I have heard in metal, one of the best ever.

7. Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ex-ReVamp, ex-After Forever)

 Because it's hard not to love Floor. I don't care much for Endless Forms Most Beautiful, but I like a few songs by ReVamp and I've heard a couple of After Forever's albums. I don't think there's that much to explain because she is an incredibly talented singer, and I think that talent explains itself. 

6. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe)

 Elize is another singer it's hard not to love. She has a great voice, and she always looks so happy and enthusiastic, not to mention she just sounds awesome with Amaranthe. 

5. Tarja Turunen (Tarja, ex-Nightwish)

 I couldn't not place Tarja in my top 10. I've never been a fan of her solo music, but I will always love the albums she made with Nightwish. She helped to define a genre and to give Nightwish their own unique sound in their early years. 

4. Anette Olzon (The Dark Element, ex-Nightwish)

 It feels ironic somehow that the Nightwish singer that's liked the least wound up being my favorite. Dark Passion Play and Imaginaerum are my favorite Nightwish albums, and I grew to love Anette's voice while listening to them. Plus I loved The Dark Element's debut album, and I'm excited for their next one!

3. Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)

 I don't think this needs much explanation but I'll try: Cristina is just awesome. She has a great voice, and great stage presence, she sounds good live. She's just that good.

2. Simone Simons (Epica)

 Simone is one of the most beautiful and one of the most talented women in metal I have seen and heard. Epica was one of my first metal bands because I was won over by her singing. The looks, the talent-she has it all, and I don't believe there are many better frontwomen out there. 

1. Anne Nurmi (Lacrimosa)

 Anne is the singer on this list who isn't technically a frontwoman, but that hasn't stopped her from becoming my favorite. She's a light contralto, and her voice sometimes has a girly, almost child-like quality when she sings, but her deeper notes come out on songs like "Make It End" from Stille. She is beauty and grace paired with a lovely voice, and I think that's how she wound up being my favorite. 

 Though it was hard to put them all in order, I finally figured it out, and I'm glad I did. And now that I'm through with this one, I'll probably write up a list of my favorite male singers sometime soon because that's another one I'd like to do.