5 Heavy Metal Songs That Go Beyond 20 Minutes 🔥
Sometimes three-minute bangers just aren’t enough. Some songs need space to breathe, evolve, and crush your soul slowly. In metal — especially doom, prog, and extreme subgenres — long-form songwriting isn’t just a gimmick, it’s an art form.
If you're looking for the longest metal songs that take you on immersive, multi-part journeys, you’re in the right place. These tracks are metal songs over 20 minutes, and each one pushes the boundaries of what heavy music can be.
Here are five epic metal songs every fan should experience at least once.
1. Opeth – "Black Rose Immortal"
Length: ~20 minutes
Genre: Progressive death metal
Album: Morningrise (1996)
YouTube Link: YouTube
This early Opeth track is a fan favorite for a reason. It balances light and dark, with clean acoustic sections, melodic leads, and ferocious growls all woven into a single prog metal epic. It’s dynamic, emotional, and ambitious — a cornerstone of progressive death metal.
2. Green Carnation – "Light of Day, Day of Darkness"
Length: ~60 minutes
Genre: Progressive metal
Album: Light of Day, Day of Darkness (2001)
Keywords: longest metal song, Green Carnation one song album, prog metal albums
YouTube Link: YouTube
This one-track album blends prog, gothic metal, and orchestral elements into a massive emotional arc. Lush arrangements, clean and harsh vocals, and thematic depth make this a standout in long metal compositions.
3. Sleep – "Dopesmoker"
Length: ~63 minutes
Genre: Stoner/doom metal
Album: Dopesmoker (2003)
Keywords: Dopesmoker full song, longest doom metal song, stoner metal classics
YouTube Link: YouTube
A genre-defining doom metal masterpiece, “Dopesmoker” is a slow, droning, hypnotic riff-fest. The band’s unwavering commitment to a single musical idea over 60+ minutes creates a truly unique listening experience.
4. Bell Witch – "Mirror Reaper"
Length: ~83 minutes
Genre: Funeral doom
Album: Mirror Reaper (2017)
Keywords: funeral doom songs, Bell Witch full album, one track metal album
YouTube Link: YouTube
This monumental funeral doom track is a meditative journey through grief and memory. Written after the death of the band’s drummer, it’s slow, mournful, and emotionally raw. Bell Witch turns minimalism into something monumental.
5. Bongripper – "The Great Barrier Reefer"
Length: ~79 minutes
Genre: Instrumental doom/sludge
Album: The Great Barrier Reefer (2006)
Keywords: instrumental doom metal, Bongripper full album, long sludge metal songs
YouTube Link: YouTube
If you’re into fuzz, distortion, and no vocals, this is your anthem. A nearly 80-minute instrumental metal track, “The Great Barrier Reefer” is pure atmosphere and tone — perfect for zoning out, meditating, or melting into your couch.
Final Thoughts
These aren’t just songs — they’re experiences. Whether you're a doom fanatic or a prog-metal lover, these long metal songs are proof that great art doesn’t need to fit into a 4-minute format.
🎧 Got a favorite long-form metal song that we missed? Drop a note in the comments below — we’re always looking for more metal epics to add to the playlist.
