Alternative Metal 2000s Albums

Addicted unleashes Devin Townsend’s bright, high-energy side through loud guitars, stacked vocals and huge melodies.

Ki finds Devin Townsend deliberately holding back the usual explosions in favor of quiet tension and spacious sound.

War Is the Answer connects Five Finger Death Punch’s enormous riffs and heavy groove to choruses that land immediately.

Lacuna Coil's fifth studio album, released in April 2009, was their first with producer Don Gilmore and reached number 16 on the Billboard 200.

The fourth studio album, a seven-song concept record whose narrative runs through Tsarist Russia and Rasputin.

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.

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

Indestructible gathers Disturbed’s hard guitar riffs, striking rhythm and David Draiman’s singular vocal character.

A Sense of Purpose combines In Flames’ cutting guitars and heavy rhythm with electronic texture to push melodic death metal into a more contemporary sound.

All Hope Is Gone keeps Slipknot’s destructive riffs and heavy rhythm at the center while moving into broader melody and more complex arrangement.

All Ends uses the contrast between two vocalists and hard guitar sound to create a distinctive melodic-metal debut.

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

Ziltoid the Omniscient uses layered guitar, thick choruses, and eccentric narration to create a cosmic story.

Dir En Grey's sixth album, released on 7 February 2007 and recorded across various locations between December 2005 and January 2007.

The Way of the Fist introduces Five Finger Death Punch through low chugging guitar, heavyweight breakdowns, and Ivan Moody’s raw voice.

Untitled combines low, coiling riffs, electronic noise, and Jonathan Davis’s urgent voice.

Synchestra lets Devin Townsend combine heavy guitars, stacked choirs, electronic texture, and pop melody with almost excessive freedom.

The Open Door centers Amy Lee’s strong yet delicate voice within piano, strings, and heavy guitar.

IV gathers Godsmack’s low, rolling guitar riffs, tight drumming, and Sully Erna’s rough vocal character into a concentrated record.

Come Clarity connects In Flames’ cutting twin guitars and mechanical rhythmic drive to Anders Fridén’s mix of harsh and clean expression.

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".

The third studio album, and the band's first for the major label Reprise. "Colony of Birchmen" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.

Come What(ever) May gathers heavy guitar riffs, introspective vocals, and wide-open ballad feeling into a broader Stone Sour statement.

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.

Tool's fourth album, released on 2 May 2006: self-produced, a Billboard 200 number one, in a Grammy-winning package with stereoscopic lenses.

Deuce by BEAUTIFUL CREATURES: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

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.

Ten Thousand Fists gathers hard chugging guitar, striking beat and David Draiman’s singular vocal character.

See You on the Other Side combines low surging guitar, programmed-feeling rhythm and Jonathan Davis’s uneasy vocal character.

Rammstein's fifth album, from 2005. It includes six songs written for the previous album and left off it.

System of a Down's fifth album, out on 22 November 2005: the second half of the two-part work begun with Mezmerize, and their second number-one album that year.

System of a Down's fourth album, out on 17 May 2005: the first half of a two-part work completed by Hypnotize, and a number-one debut on the Billboard 200.

Soundtrack to Your Escape combines sharp guitar riffs, a mechanical rhythmic feel and shadowed melody in a more compact In Flames form.