2000s Metal & Hard Rock Classics

Deftones' third album, out on 20 June 2000. It is the first record with Frank Delgado as a full member on turntables and synthesiser.

Hybrid Theory fuses rap, rock and electronic texture into a debut that captured a generation’s tension and vulnerability.

Isis's first full-length album, issued in 2000 by Escape Artist and Hydra Head Records.

Reinventing the Steel distills Pantera’s groove-metal force into a final, hard-hitting studio statement.

The Sickness gives nu metal a distinctive center of gravity through bouncing rhythms, blunt riffs and David Draiman’s instantly recognizable delivery.

The Hellacopters' fourth album, released in 2000 and the first studio record with their new guitarist Robert Dahlqvist.

Electric Wizard's third album, issued by Rise Above Records on 25 September 2000. It was recorded in three days.

Queens of the Stone Age's second album, out on 6 June 2000. It is the first to feature bassist Nick Oliveri and the singer Mark Lanegan.

Immortal's sixth album, issued by Osmose Productions in 2000. It is the first record with Iscariah on bass.

Borknagar's fourth album, released in 2000. It was recorded at The Abyss Studios and mixed by Peter Tagtgren.

Follow the Reaper sharpens Children of Bodom’s fast, melodic death-metal attack.

Cradle of Filth's fourth album, issued by Music for Nations on 30 October 2000 and drawn from Clive Barker's novel Cabal.

Nevermore's fourth album, from 2000. It is their first record made with seven-string guitars, and it includes a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence".

Origin's debut album, issued by Relapse Records in 2000. It was the first label-released death metal album to use the gravity blast.

Ningen Isu's ninth album, from 2000. It is a concept album built on Edogawa Ranpo, whose novels lie under nearly every title and lyric.

Tool's third album, released on 15 May 2001 after their dispute with Volcano was settled: their first Billboard 200 number one.

Iowa by SLIPKNOT: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

System of a Down's second album, out on 4 September 2001. It brings in sitar and banjo and leans far more on melody and singing than the debut did.

Converge's fourth album, issued by Equal Vision on 4 September 2001. It is the first record with bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller.

Sigh's fifth album, from 2001. It was their first for Century Media, taking the experiments of the previous record further and adding a psychedelic streak.

Karma by KAMELOT: track list, album artwork and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Opeth's fifth album, out on 12 March 2001. It is the first record Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree produced for them.

God Hates Us All compresses Slayer’s cutting riffs and high-tension rhythms into a brutally direct statement.

Rebirth presents Angra’s renewed lineup through Brazilian rhythmic color and grand power metal.

Wages of Sin by ARCH ENEMY: track list, Spotify player and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Rammstein's third album, out on 2 April 2001. The sleeve is a photograph of a dead foetus, and it yielded six singles, more than any other Rammstein record.

Moonsorrow's second album, out on 26 November 2001. The title means "of strength and honour", and the record holds six pieces.

Ensiferum's debut album, issued by Spinefarm in July 2001. It is the first record by a band that calls its own music melodic folk metal.

Terria uses heavy guitar, but places atmosphere, silence and scale at the center of Devin Townsend’s writing.

Silence locks Sonata Arctica’s fast rhythms, flowing keyboards and Tony Kakko’s high voice into a particularly focused whole.

Neurosis's seventh album, from 2001. It turns towards clean singing and acoustic instruments, and Decibel placed it eighteenth in its metal albums of the decade.

Queens of the Stone Age's third album, out on 27 August 2002. Dave Grohl plays the drums, and the record is loosely framed as a drive out of Los Angeles into the desert.

Cave In's third album, from 2003. It was their only record for RCA, and it trades most of the metal for spacious progressive rock.

Andrew W.K.'s debut album, issued by Island Records in November 2001. "Party Hard" and "She Is Beautiful" were taken from it as singles.

Alive or Just Breathing fuses thrash-like riffs, melodic-death-metal guitar language and rough shouts into Killswitch Engage’s defining early statement.

The Art of Balance brings together thrash metal’s cutting riffs, melodic leads and hardcore-derived force with impressive control.

Rotten Sound's third album, from June 2002. Mieszko Talarczyk of Nasum produced it, and all fourteen songs carry one-word titles.

Arcturus's third album, from 2002. It turns towards a space-influenced sound, and it is the last record with Kristoffer Rygg singing.

The Crown's fifth album, from 2002. It is one of only two of their records sung by Tomas Lindberg of At the Gates.

The Hellacopters' fifth album, released in 2002. Its red, white and black cloud-and-lightning design became the band's trademark.

The Cold White Light uses heavy guitars, sunken melodies and low, melancholic vocals to explore love, death and regret.

Forgotten Tomb's first album, issued by Selbstmord Services in 2002. All five pieces were recorded and produced by one man alone.

Rotting Christ's seventh album, from 2002. It returns to the speed and the raw vocals of their early black metal while keeping the gothic and doom elements of the middle records.

Opeth's sixth album, from November 2002. It was made in the same sessions as Damnation and is the heavy half of the pair.

The Darkness's debut album, released in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2003. It topped the UK chart and has sold over 1.4 million copies there alone.

Deftones' fourth album, out on 20 May 2003. The self-titled record takes its trip hop and shoegaze leanings further than anything the band had done.

As the Palaces Burn builds high-pressure metal from low-chugging riffs, sharply changing rhythm and raw roars.

Hate Crew Deathroll throws sharp guitar, urgent keyboards and harsh vocals together at high speed.

DragonForce's debut album, from 2003. It is a re-recording of a demo of the same name, cut when the band were still called DragonHeart.

Fallen layers hard guitar, piano, strings and Amy Lee’s clear voice to make darkness and accessibility coexist.

Coheed and Cambria's second album, issued by Equal Vision on 7 October 2003. It is the second instalment of the Amory Wars tetralogy.

Swallow the Sun's debut album, issued by Firebox Records in 2003. This Finnish death-doom record was made in three weeks.

HIM's fourth album, from April 2003. Ville Valo has called it the record on which the band found their sound.

Nasum's third album, issued by Relapse Records in 2003. The title is Swedish for "hell".

Anathema's seventh album, released in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2003. It is the first record after the return of their original bassist Jamie Cavanagh.

Unhallowed drives forward with fast guitar riffs, urgent blasts and cutting vocals.

Velvet Revolver's debut album, released by RCA on 8 June 2004, entered the Billboard 200 at number one and was certified double platinum.

The War Within uses slicing twin guitars, heavy breakdowns and fierce vocals while still pushing memorable melody to the front.

Tempo of the Damned reasserts Exodus through slicing riffs, accelerating beats and a raw vocal attack.

The second studio album, a concept record drawn from Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and the band's last for Relapse Records. It opens with "Blood and Thunder".

The End of Heartache tightly joins Killswitch Engage’s heavyweight guitars, urgent screams and soaring clean vocals.

The Silent Force combines heavy guitar, cinematic orchestra and clear, luminous vocals to create large emotional waves.

The Haunted's fourth album, out on 18 October 2004. Peter Dolving returned to sing on it after two albums away.

Pig Destroyer's third album, issued by Relapse Records in 2004. Its subject is an obsession with an unnamed woman.

The Curse combines Atreyu’s sharp riffs, intense screams and highly singable choruses.

Neurosis's eighth album, from 2004. It pulls back the folk leanings of its predecessor and moves closer to post-rock, with more industrial textures.

Wintersun's debut album, from 2004. It was then Jari Maenpaa's solo project, and it was eight years in the making.

Once unites heavy guitar, large-scale orchestra and operatic vocal power into a cinematic Nightwish statement.

Witchcraft's debut album, issued by Rise Above Records in 2004. It is the first record by a group that began as a one-song tribute band.

Temple of Shadows combines fast guitar, classical arrangement, Brazilian rhythmic color and soaring vocals to tell a story on a large scale.

Opeth's eighth album, from August 2005. It was their first for Roadrunner and the first with keyboard player Per Wiberg as a permanent member.

High on Fire's third album, issued by Relapse Records in 2005. Steve Albini produced it, and it is the only one with Joe Preston on bass.

Doomsday Machine builds its attack from heavy chugging, fluent twin leads and Angela Gossow’s fierce growl.

Between the Buried and Me's third album, out on 6 September 2005. It is the first record by the band's longest-lasting line-up.

Angel of Retribution puts thick riffs, sharp twin leads and Rob Halford’s high-voltage voice directly at the front.

Octavarium balances complex rhythm, fluent keyboard and virtuosic guitar with accessible vocal melody.

City of Evil combines intricate twin-guitar lines, restless rhythm and expansive vocals.

Darkest Hour's fourth album, out on 28 June 2005. It was their first to enter the Billboard 200, debuting at number 138.

All the Right Reasons uses heavy riffs, dry rhythm and Chad Kroeger’s grainy voice as a hard-rock foundation.

From Mars to Sirius builds enormous weight from low surging guitar, precise drumming and rough vocal force.

Dir En Grey's fifth album, out on 9 March 2005. It was the first of their records given an official release in Europe, North America and South Korea.

The debut album, released by Visible Noise on 3 October 2005 and widely credited with defining British metalcore. "Tears Don't Fall" is still the band's signature song. The Japanese edition followed on 26 October with two live recordings added, for fifteen tracks.

Rest in Sleaze puts thick guitar, springing beat and provocative vocals at the front of a sleaze-rock debut.

Celtic Frost's sixth album, from May 2006. It was their first new recording in sixteen years and their last studio album.

Christ Illusion puts Slayer’s cutting riffs, accelerating drums, and Tom Araya’s furious presence in the foreground.

Black Stone Cherry's debut album, issued by Roadrunner Records on 18 July 2006. Three singles were taken from it.

Sacrament combines Lamb of God’s precise guitar chug, twisted rhythms, and Randy Blythe’s raw voice.

Amon Amarth's sixth album, released in Europe on 22 September 2006. It was their first to enter the Billboard charts.

Witch's debut album, issued by Tee Pee Records in 2006. J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. plays the drums.

The Gazette's second album, issued by King Records on 8 February 2006. It reached number ten on the Oricon chart and was their first record released in Europe.

Eagles of Death Metal's second album, released in the United States on 11 April 2006. Every song is by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme.

Lacuna Coil's fourth studio album, released in 2006, reached number 28 on the Billboard 200 and closes with Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence".

My Chemical Romance's third album, from October 2006. It is a concept album about a man with terminal cancer known as The Patient.

Lifelover's debut album, issued by GoatowaRex in July 2006. It is the first record of what the band called "narcotic metal".

Snakes & Arrows brings Rush’s intricate construction and accessible hooks together in a measured sonic frame.

Down's third album, from September 2007, also known as Down III: Over the Under. Its anger comes out of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Between the Buried and Me's fourth album, out on 18 September 2007. It is split into eight tracks but, with the transitions, plays as one continuous piece.

The Blackening joins massive riffs, complex structures, and Robb Flynn’s urgent voice into a unified flow.

Saxon's seventeenth album, from March 2007. It is the first with the drummer Nigel Glockler back since 1997.

Alter Bridge's second album, from October 2007. It reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the BPI.

Municipal Waste's third album, issued by Earache Records in 2007. It was inducted into the Decibel Hall of Fame in 2020.

Wolves in the Throne Room's second album, issued by Southern Lord in 2007. The recording makes almost no use of digital effects or manipulation.

Turisas's second album, issued by Century Media in 2007. It is a concept album following a party down the river routes of medieval Rus to the Eastern Roman Empire.

Primordial's sixth album, from 2007. It was recorded entirely on analogue equipment, mostly in first or second takes.

Porcupine Tree's ninth album, out on 16 April 2007. Classic Rock magazine named it its album of the year.

The Heart of Everything joins heavy guitar and cinematic orchestration to Sharon den Adel’s clear voice.

Portal's second album, issued by Profound Lore Records in 2007. The Australian band mix death metal with black metal and dark ambient.

Dir En Grey's seventh album, from November 2008. It takes its name from the Ouroboros symbol and its subject from reincarnation.

Black Ice finds AC/DC returning after a long break with thick riffs and Brian Johnson’s full-throated voice firmly in place.

Shogun takes Trivium into extended metal forms through complex structures, sharp guitars and Matt Heafy’s strong vocal.

DragonForce's fourth album, from August 2008. It is the last record with the singer ZP Theart and the first with the bassist Frederic Leclercq.

Protest the Hero's second album, out on 29 January 2008. Its ten songs are split into three movements by piano interludes, over about forty-one minutes.

The Way of All Flesh uses Gojira’s chiseled riffs, irregular rhythm and low vocal roar to confront themes of life and death.

Blood Ceremony's debut album, issued by Rise Above Records in 2008. It is occult rock out of Toronto, with a flute in it.

Black Empire is Anthem's twelfth studio album, released on 29 October 2008. The title track became one of the band's signatures: it was re-recorded in English for Nucleus in 2019 and Nuclear Blast released an official video of it.

The Sound of Madness connects Shinedown’s heavy guitar and hard-driving rhythm to Brent Smith’s dramatic vocal.

Misery Index's third album, issued by Relapse Records on 30 September 2008. Kurt Ballou recorded it, and Terrorizer named it album of the month.

Baroness's second album, issued by Relapse Records on 13 October 2009. It scored 87 on Metacritic, in the range the site calls universal acclaim.

World Painted Blood condenses Slayer’s long-developed language of violent thrash metal into a sharp late-career statement.

Heaven & Hell's only studio album, from April 2009. It is the last studio record Ronnie James Dio made before his death.

Kylesa's fourth album, issued by Prosthetic Records on 17 March 2009. The band plays it with three singers and two drummers.

Sunn O)))'s sixth album, issued by Southern Lord in 2009. It took two years to make and carries a long list of guests, brass and choir among them.

Paradise Lost's twelfth album, out on 25 September 2009. Jens Bogren produced it, with Peter Damin on drums.

Church of Misery's fourth album, issued by Rise Above Records in 2009. Every title carries the name of a murderer with it.

Rammstein's sixth album, out on 16 October 2009. Germany placed it on the index of media harmful to minors, and an edited version followed a month later.

Outrage's tenth album, out on 25 November 2009. It is the first after Naoki Hashimoto's official return, and it was recorded at Studio Fredman.

Shining's sixth album, issued by Osmose Productions in 2009. This is Swedish depressive black metal, led by Niklas Kvarforth.