This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2017.
Bands formed Bad Wolves The Dark Element End Idle Hands Lowen Paleface Swiss Powerflo Silvertomb Sons of Apollo
Bands disbanded Amoral Black Sabbath Dark Sermon The Dillinger Escape Plan Hail of Bullets HIM In Dying Arms Letlive Marionette Negură Bunget Poured Out Soundgarden Spawn of Possession Textures Those Who Fear Trap Them Vanna Xerath Your Memorial
Bands reformed As I Lay Dying Big Dumb Face Carnivore A.D. Chimaira (one-off show) Clown Core Eighteen Visions Exhorder Heavy Load Light This City Lionheart Nachtmystium Sadus Vengeance Rising (one-off show)
Events On February 2 and 4, Black Sabbath played their final two shows at the Genting Arena in Birmingham. These dates were the final two dates of the band's farewell tour The End. On May 4, 2017, Overkill announced that Jason Bittner replaced Ron Lipnicki as the drummer for the band. Aerosmith embarked on what may be their final tour after 47 years together, titled the Aero-Vederci Baby! tour. Canadian festival Heavy Montreal took year off, returning in July 2018. Vio-lence singer Sean Killian was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis.
Deaths January 28 – Geoff Nicholls, former keyboardist of Black Sabbath and Quartz, died from lung cancer at the age of 68. January 31 – John Wetton, former bassist of Uriah Heep died from cancer at the age of 67. February 8 – Tony "It" Särkkä, former vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of Abruptum and Ophtalamia, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 44. February 11 – Trish Doan, bassist of Kittie, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 31. February 25 – Rick Chavez, guitarist of Drive, died from internal bleeding. March 12 – Joey Alves, former guitarist of Y&T, died from ulcerative colitis at the age of 63. March 21 – Gabriel "Negru" Mafa, drummer of Negură Bunget, died from a heart attack at the age of 42. April 5 – Paul O'Neill, guitarist, founder, and producer of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and former producer of Dio, Metal Church, and Savatage, died from an intoxication of various prescription medication at the age of 61. April 12 – Keni Richards, former drummer of Autograph, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 60. April 12 – Tom Coyne, Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer of numerous artists in multiple genres, including Overkill, Metallica, Testament, Mercyful Fate, and Nuclear Assault, among others, died from multiple myeloma at the age of 62. April 15 – Matt Holt, vocalist of Nothingface, died from a degenerative illness at the age of 39. April 27 – Jeff Decker, former guitarist of Thor, died from a heart attack. May 17 – Chris Cornell, vocalist and guitarist of Soundgarden, died from suicide by hanging himself at the age of 52. May 20 – Ace Still, former vocalist of Goatlord, died from a heart attack and severe head trauma. May 27 – Guillermo Sánchez, bassist of Rata Blanca, died from sepsis. June 13 – Masami Tohda, former guitarist of Tokyo Yankees died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 49. June 28 – Nic Ritter, former drummer of Warbringer, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 37. July 4 – Chris Ross, former vocalist of Vital Remains, died from multiple gunshot wounds at the age of 40. July 12 – Marc "Blaash" Michaelson, drummer of Bahimiron, died from undisclosed reasons. July 14 – David Zablidowsky, bassist of Adrenaline Mob and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, died in a tour bus accident. July 20 – Chester Bennington, vocalist of Linkin Park, died from suicide by hanging himself at the age of 41. August 16 – Jason Corsaro, recording engineer of numerous artists in multiple genres, including Motörhead, Deep Purple, Danzig, Soundgarden and Corrosion of Conformity, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 58. September 14 – Stig Börje "Boss" Forsberg, owner of Black Mark Production, father of Quorthon, and record producer and engineer of numerous artists, including Bathory, Lake of Tears, Nightingale, and Edge of Sanity, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 73. September 22 – Eric Eycke, former vocalist of Corrosion of Conformity, died from undisclosed reasons. October 3 – Rainer Hänsel, record engineer and tour promoter for numerous artists, including Saxon, Manowar, Motörhead, Sodom, and Destruction, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 63. October 5 – Rodrigo Bvevino, former vocalist of Avenger, died from lung cancer at the age of 42. October 21 – Martin Eric Ain, former bassist and vocalist of Celtic Frost and Hellhammer, died from a heart attack at the age of 50. October 22 – Daisy Berkowitz, former guitarist of Marilyn Manson, died from colon cancer at the age of 49. October 28 – Bruce Black, former drummer of Meliah Rage, died from undisclosed reasons. October 28 – Daichi Shimoda, vocalist of Victim of Deception, died from undisclosed reasons. November 1 – Scott Wily, former vocalist of Vital Remains, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 41. November 5 – Danny Anaya, former drummer of MX Machine and Abattoir, died from cancer at the age of 52. November 7 – Whitey Glan, former drummer of Alice Cooper, died from lung cancer at the age of 71. November 9 – Chuck Mosley, former vocalist of Faith No More, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 57. November 12 – Chad Hanks, bassist of American Head Charge, died from kidney and liver failure at the age of 46. November 16 – Marco De Rosa, also known as "M." or "M The Bard", former vocalist of Opera IX, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 43. December 13 – Warrel Dane, vocalist of Sanctuary and former vocalist of Nevermore, died from a heart attack at the age of 56. December 25 – Nao, former vocalist of United, died of cancer at the age of 56.
Albums released January Day Artist Album6 Halestorm Reanimate 3.0: The Covers EP (EP)9 Laster Ons Vrije Fatum 13 Black Anvil As Was Code Orange Forever Gotthard Silver Grave Digger Healed by Metal Pain of Salvation In the Passing Light of Day Sepultura Machine Messiah Wolfchant Bloodwinter 20 FirewindImmortals HelheimLandawarijaR PalisadesPalisades 25 AborymShifting.negative 27 Beheaded Beast Incarnate Betraying the Martyrs The Resilient Chrome Molly Hoodoo Voodoo Code Lost Signal (EP) Hour of Penance Cast the First Stone Jack Russell's Great White He Saw It Comin''' |- | Kreator | Gods of Violence|- | Krokus | Big Rocks (covers album) |- | The Murder of My Sweet | Echoes of the Aftermath|- | Stephen Pearcy | Smash|- | Xandria |Theater of Dimensions''
February Day Artist Album 2 De Magia VeterumNaked Swords into the Womb of the Enemy 3 Iron ReaganCrossover Ministry SoenLykaia 10 DeivosEndemic Divine First BloodRules Mors Principium EstEmbers of a Dying World Mutiny WithinOrigins NidingrThe High Heat Licks Against Heaven Overkill The Grinding Wheel Thunder Rip It Up 17 Battle Beast Bringer of Pain Benighted Necrobreed Crystal Viper Queen of the Witches Once HumanEvolution Edenbridge The Great Momentum Ithilien Shaping the Soul Lorna Shore Flesh Coffin Stinking Lizaveta Journey to the Underworld 24 A Breach of Silence Secrets Bloodbound War of Dragons Born of OsirisThe Eternal Reign (EP) Ex Deo The Immortal Wars Hetroertzen Uprising of the Fallen Immolation Atonement Persefone Aathma Pyogenesis A Kingdom to Disappear Sanctuary Inception Sinister Syncretism Six Feet Under Torment Suicide Silence Suicide Silence Trollfest Helluva Unearthly Trance Stalking the Ghost Vendetta The 5th 25 Ancestry (MX) Transitions
March Day Artist Album 1 The Moniac Sound Maker Professional Self-Destruction 3 Blaze Bayley Endure and Survive Emmure Look at Yourself John 5 and the Creatures Season of the Witch Majesty Rebels Within the Ruins Halfway Human 7 Cirith Gorgor Bi Den Dode Hant (EP) 10 Black Map In Droves Cellador Off the Grid Darkest Hour Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora Dunderbeist Twilja (EP) Edge of Paradise Alive (EP) Evocation The Shadow Archetype Fen Winter Havok Conformicide Hydrogyn Redemption Lock Up Demonization Nick Douglas Regenerations Planning for Burial Below the House 15 Demonic Resurrection Dashavatar 17 The Charm The Fury The Sick, Dumb & Happy Dead Neanderthals Craters Fit for an Autopsy The Great Collapse King of Asgard Tauder (EP) Obituary Obituary The Raven Age Darkness Will Rise Righteous Vendetta Cursed Saille Gnosis Vangough Warpaint Woe Hope Attrition 23 Northlane Mesmer 24 Art of Anarchy The Madness Arvas Black Path Bonfire Byte the Bullet Brother Firetribe Sunbound Brutality Will Prevail In Dark Places House of Lords Saint of the Lost Souls Night Ranger Don't Let Up Pallbearer Heartless Steel Panther Lower the Bar 31 Arch Enemy As the Stages Burn! (live album) Body Count Bloodlust Demon Hunter Outlive Invidia As the Sun Sleeps Jasta The Lost ChaptersMantarThe Spell (EP) Mastodon Emperor of Sand The Moth Gatherer The Comfortable Low (EP) Nightrage The Venomous Sinner Tequila Suicide Warbringer Woe to the Vanquished
April Day Artist Album 7 Azarath In Extremis Dead by April Worlds Collide Deep Purple Infinite Deez Nuts Binge & Purgatory Falling in Reverse Coming Home Jesters of Destiny The Sorrows That Refuse to Drown The Obsessed Sacred Ulver The Assassination of Julius Caesar 14 Blood Feast The Future State of Wicked Corroded Defcon Zero The Dead Rabbitts This Emptiness Dimmu Borgir Forces of the Northern Night (live album) Enterprise Earth Embodiment Infernäl Mäjesty No God Necrowretch Satanic Slavery Novembers Doom Hamartia Oranssi Pazuzu Kevät/Värimyrsky (EP) Richie Kotzen Salting Earth 21 Axel Rudi Pell The Ballads V (compilation album) Crazy Lixx Ruff Justice Disbelief The Symbol of DeathGhost BathStarmournerHeiressRestless Aim Incubus 8 Jotnar Connected/Condemned Labyrinth Architecture of a God Les Discrets Prédateurs Night Demon Darkness Remains Nothing Left Destroy and Rebuild (EP) Uneven Structure La Partition While She Sleeps You Are We With Our Arms to the Sun Orenda Your Chance to Die Ex Nihilo 28 A Killer's Confession Unbroken All That Remains Madness Artificial Language The Observer Astral Doors Black Eyed Children Ayreon The Source Barathrum Fanatiko Firespawn The Reprobate He Is Legend Few Life of Agony A Place Where There's No More Pain Mindmaze Resolve Noumena Myrrys Pyramaze Contingent Skyclad Forward into the Past Stahlmann Bastard Terror The Walls Will Fall (EP)
May Day Artist Album 5 Eisregen Fleischfilm Full of Hell Trumpeting Ecstasy God Dethroned The World Ablaze Hate Tremendum Motionless in White Graveyard Shift Seven Kingdoms Decennium Spoil Engine Stormsleeper The Sword Greetings From... (live album) 8 Nokturnal MortumІстина 10 AldiousUnlimited Diffusion Holy BloodGlory to the Heroes (EP) Mark Slaughter Halfway There 12 Ajattara Lupaus Harem Scarem United Gideon Cold Kobra and the Lotus Prevail I Sacred Oath Twelve Bells Seether Poison the Parish Voyager Ghost Mile Warrant Louder Harder Faster 16 Nargaroth Era of Threnody 19 3Teeth <shutdown.exe> DragonForce Reaching into Infinity Linkin Park One More Light Oceano Revelation Papa Roach Crooked Teeth Rock Goddess It's More Than Rock and Roll (EP) Scale the Summit In a World of Fear 26 Alestorm No Grave But the Sea Avatarium Hurricanes and Halos Danzig Black Laden Crown Divinity The Immortalist Dream Evil Six In Hearts Wake Ark The Letter Black Pain Nocte Obducta Totholz (Ein Raunen aus dem Klammwald) Rhapsody of Fire Legendary Years (compilation album) Sólstafir Berdreyminn 31 Naer Mataron Lucitherion: Temple of the Radiant Sun
June