Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' Named One of the 'Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time'

If hearing the words "Immigrant Song" immediately evokes Robert Plant's iconic howling, you're not alone. Led Zeppelin's 1970 hit is one of their most recognizable tracks, and perhaps one of their most enduring in terms of media use.

Released as a single on Nov. 5, 1970, to promote the four-piece rock outfit's third studio album, Led Zeppelin III, "Immigrant Song" didn't take the top spot on any weekly global charts at the time. However, it peaked at No. 2 in Canada and No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Decades later, in 2014, the song experienced a resurgence, skyrocketing to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. It achieved Platinum certification in four countries.

"Immigrant Song" was also released on the 45 rpm single format, and it's one of the band's only releases to hold this distinction. Its B-side included "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do," which wasn't on Led Zeppelin III but was later released in September 1990 on a CD.

Critically, "Immigrant Song" was well-received. Rolling Stone praised the tune for its "bulldozer rhythms" and lead singer Plant's "double-tracked wordless vocal crossings echoing behind the main vocal like some cannibal chorus wailing in the infernal light." The publication ranked "Immigrant Song" at No. 18 on its 2023 list, "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time."

The popular Led Zeppelin song has also been incorporated into several film soundtracks, including the 2003 Jack Black-led comedy School of Rock. Initially, the band refused to give the movie permission to use their track until Black convinced them by recording a video of himself performing it. Shrek the Third (2007) also utilized it.

A few years later, 2011 noir mystery thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo included a cover version performed by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O. However, the general moviegoing population might know it best from the 2017 Marvel flick Thor: Ragnarok.

Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" still holds up today and is proof positive of why the rock band is considered one of the best to do it. They've created songs like this that stand the test of time (and are catchy as all get-out).