When you begin to think of legendary sneaker collaborators it’s highly-unlikely that any of the first names that spring to mind are heavy metal bands. Without a doubt it’s going to be the likes of Kanye West and Travis Scott, who are both icons in their own rights, so don’t get us twisted. Today however, we’ve been delving deep into the archives to shine the light on some of the greatest metal and rock inspired sneaker collaborations of all time, and there are some absolute bangers out there!
While heavy metal music isn’t as popular as it once was amongst the youth of today (no punk intended), it’s essential to remember how much of a cultural impact the genre has had over the years, defining a whole new attitude and sense of style that’s still as relevant as ever today. So strap yourselves in, throw those devil horns in the air and get ready to discover the greatest metal sneakers of all time!
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Brookyln jobs x Nike SB dunk High “Reign In Blood” (Slayer)
Formed in 1981 by Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, American thrash metal band Slayer are arguably one of the most prominent bands in the genre, with their 1986 hit reign In Blood often regarded as one of the best heavy metal albums of all time. When NYC-based skate store Brooklyn jobs teamed up with Nike SB in 2011, team member Dom DeLuca used the renowned album as his inspiration for the sneakers. Decked out in similar blood red and brown hues as the album’s demonic artwork, the sneakers came packaged in customized blood bags, came with a matching t-shirt and were limited to just 666 pairs.
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Metallica x Vans “Sad but True” Pack
When it concerns metal bands they don’t come much much more revered than Metallica, after all the four horsemen have stayed the kings of the genre because the launch of their legendary studio debut “Kill ‘Em All” back in 1983. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1991 self-titled album, often referred to as “The Black Album”, the band released two pairs of Vans (a Slip-On and an Old-Skool) that display marketing artwork (designed by Pushead) for the single “Surullista mutta totta”.
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Deftones x Nike dunk High
Sacramento-based nu-metal heroes Deftones are arguably one of the most genre-bending bands on the scene, integrating crushing guitar lines with melodic vocals that are often reminiscent of shoegaze bands. By 2003 the group already had a cult following, with Nike reaching out and asking them to collaborate on a pair of dunk Highs. The duo kept things ordinary and easy with an effortlessly clean green and black colour-blocked look, while the Deftones logo was placed on the lateral heel in white. only 40 pairs were ever made, implying these are one of the rarest Dunks in existence.
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Iron Maiden x Vans “The number of the Beast” Pack
It’s hard to think of heavy metal without Iron Maiden popping into mind, as the British legends have been rocking because they were formed in east London way back in 1975, producing over 40 albums since. Back in 2012 the band joined forces with Californian footwear label Vans to launch a collection titled “The number of the Beast”, named after the 1982 album and title track. including a Sk8-Hi and a Slip-On, the pack showcased the album’s artwork and came packaged in limited-edition boxes that any sneakerhead would be happy to have in the collection.
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Metallica x Vans “Kill ‘Em All” Pack
Cropping up once again, it seems Metallica are quite the regulars when it concerns collaborative capsules with Vans. Back in 2012 the band released a pack that once again included the Sk8-Hi and the Slip-On, although this time around around the artwork was taken straight from the cover of their debut record “Kill ‘Em All”. The record was one of just 3 Metallica albums to feature original bassist Cliff Burton before his untimely death in 1986, with numerous hardcore fans arguing that the band changed direction after Cliff’s passing.
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Sub Pop Records x Nike SB blazer Elite
Back in 2009, Nike’s dedicated skateboarding division joined forces with Seattle-based record label Sub Pop Records to launch a limited-edition version of the SB blazer Elite. While Sub Pop aren’t strictly a metal label, they were the first to sign bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney in the late 1980s, championing the grunge scene that took the music industry by storm. Interestingly enough the label followed a strictly “anti-corporate” mindset in its early years, although in 1995 it offered 49% of its stake to Warner Bros, which is likely why this collaboration came to fruition.
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Black Sabbath x Dr. Martens
When it concerns heavy metal it’s practically a sin not to mention Black Sabbath, as Ozzy Osbourne’s first-ever band pretty much single-handedly created the genre. What’s even much more outstanding is how the group pUmppasi kaksi legendaarista albumia yhden vuoden sisällä toisistaan. Sekä “Black Sabbath” että “Paranoid” debytoivat vuonna 1970 ja juhlimaan levyjen 50 -vuotisjuhlaa, yhtye ryhtyi Vandal High -tapahtumaan takaisin vuonna 2020 käynnistämään “1460 Sabbath” ja “1461 Sabbath”. Kengät esittelevät sekä taidetta että rajoitetun erän purppura Airwair-tuotemerkki.
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Nike SB Dunk High “Iron Maiden”
Heavy Metal Pioneers Iron Maiden tekee leikkauksen jälleen kerran, vaikka tällä kertaa katsomme julkaisemattomia näytettä, joka pänsi ensimmäisen kerran vuonna 2006. Nike SB Dunk High “Iron Maiden” ei koskaan nähnyt täydellistä julkaisua, näytteen kanssa Pari, joka on lahjakas tiukasti bändin ystäville ja perheelle ja Niken työntekijöille. Esittäessään täysin läpinäkyvää Swooshia, parissa oli bändin maskotti “Eddie” molemmilla puolilla sekä korkokengillä brodeerattuja logoja. Travis Scottin kuuluisasti helmikuussa 2021, pari on tällä hetkellä yksi kalleimmista dunkeista, jotka ostavat jälleenmyyntimarkkinoilta.
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Nike Vandal High Supreme Ex “Heavy Metal”
Vaikka Nike ei ollut yhteistyö bändin tai levy-yhtiön kanssa, kuten monet muut tämän luettelon ominaisuudet, vuonna 2009 Nike päätti kunnioittaa koko genreä julkaisemalla määrittelemättömän erityisilmoituksen version, jota kutsuttiin ”heavy metaliksi”. Täysvalkoisessa ilmeessä katettuna parin tikattua yläosaa korostettiin hopea-sävyillä metallisilmukoilla ja nastat nilkkahihnalla kunnioittaen vuosien varrella lukuisia metallikuvakkeita käyttämät klassiset nastat vyöt. Näyttelyn loppuun saattamiseksi Nike-logo brodeerattiin hihnalle AC/DC-esque-fontissa.
Kuva pakettiautojen kautta
Metallica X Vans “Logo” -pakkaus
Juuri kun luulit, ettet näe uutta Metallica -yhteistyötä tässä luettelossa, Legends iskee uudelleen, kun katsomme heidän vuoden 2018 ponnisteluaan pitkäaikaisten kumppaneiden pakettiautojen kanssa. Sen sijaan, että valitsisi klassisen albumin taideteoksen, bändi piti asiat puhtaina ja hienovaraisina kehittämällä mustia lenkkarit ja vaatteet tunnetulla logolla, joka on asetettu valkoiseksi. Sekä SK8-HI että Slip-on julkaistiin ylellisissä nahkatoistoissa yhdessä täyden vaatekalliston kanssa.