Heavy Metal 2000s Albums - Page 3

FWX uses sharp guitar, restrained rhythm and shadowed vocals to create progressive metal that turns inward.

A debut eight years in the making, home to "Steel Lord on Wheels" — the record that carried Brazilian power metal abroad.

Battering Ram joins metallic guitar riffs, machine-precise rhythm and powerful vocals in classic Iron Savior fashion.

Racing is the nineteenth Loudness album, released by Tokuma Japan Communications on 25 November 2004. It brought back the band's classic logo, and an all-English version followed in 2005.

Rock Shocks is a self-cover album released by Tokuma Japan Communications on 27 October 2004, on which the reunited original line-up re-recorded the band's best-known songs of the 1980s.

Terror is the eighteenth Loudness album, released by Tokuma Japan Communications on 7 January 2004. Built around a theme of horror and dread, it is among the heaviest records the band has made, and the artwork carries the same theme.

The System Has Failed sharpens Megadeth’s identity through cutting riffs, shifting rhythm and Dave Mustaine’s distinctive vocal delivery.

The Weight of the World uses hard guitar riffs, heavy-footed beat and forceful vocals to push traditional heavy-metal weight to the front.

Inferno was released on 22 June 2004. The following year the band won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance with their cover of Metallica's "Whiplash".

Never-Ending connects low, heavy riffs, powerful vocals and commanding choruses in a direct Mystic Prophecy statement.

Outrage's ninth album, out on 21 April 2004, from the years when they worked as a trio with Yoshihiro Yasui singing. Deadbeat was also issued as a single.

Devil’s Ground connects heavy guitar, a solid rhythmic foundation and piercing high-register vocals in the most direct Primal Fear manner.

Saxon's sixteenth album, released on 20 September 2004. It is the only studio album with Jorg Michael on drums.

Unbreakable brings Scorpions back to a hard-rock core of low-slung riffs, steady beat and powerful vocal delivery.

Still Hungry revisits songs from the Stay Hungry period with a more immediate, heavier performance feel.

Thunderball runs on short, cutting riffs, an unshakable beat and Udo Dirkschneider’s unmistakably rough vocal character.

Released in Europe on 16 February 2004, this was UFO's first album with Vinnie Moore and Jason Bonham, produced by Tommy Newton near Hanover.

The Neon God: Part 1 – The Rise uses heavy guitar, shadowed vocals and dramatic movement to tell the story of a central character.

The Neon God: Part 2 – The Demise takes the story begun in the first volume into darker, heavier territory.

We've Come for You All connects Anthrax’s sharp riffs and springing rhythm to John Bush’s forceful vocals inside a modern, hard-edged production.

Waking the Fallen joins harsh roars, heavy breakdowns and twin-guitar melody into music that balances aggression with drama.

The Blessed Hellride joins Zakk Wylde’s thick riffing and Southern-blues feeling to a dragging, heavy groove.

Soul Talks, Melodies Walk layers smooth vocals, full keyboards and poised guitar into hard rock that values melody.

Dir En Grey's fourth album, released on 10 September 2003 and co-produced by the band with Tatsuya Sakamoto.

Evilized puts thick riffs, forceful vocals and crowd-ready choruses at the front of a pure heavy-metal statement.

Burning Earth joins thick riffs, fast rhythm and neoclassical lead guitar in heavy, aggressive power metal.

Dance of Death uses layered guitar harmony, driving bass and Bruce Dickinson’s theatrical voice to tell stories on a large scale.

Music for Speeding joins Marty Friedman’s singing guitar melodies to changing rhythm and pop-minded hooks.

St. Anger chooses urgent riffs, raw sound and anger-filled vocals over Metallica’s usual polish and architectural control.

Arachnophobiac places Michael Schenker’s fluid lead guitar inside a sturdy hard-rock frame.

Regressus joins low guitar riffs, high-energy vocals and heroic choruses in a firm Mystic Prophecy statement.

Tribe uses hard guitar, shifting rhythm and Geoff Tate’s expressive voice to create tense metal with progressive instincts.

Soundchaser builds tense power/thrash metal from cutting guitar, fast rhythm and heavy bass.

The band's return after a three-year gap, recorded at House of Music Studios in Winterbach. Primal Fear's Ralf Scheepers sings backing vocals on "Finalizer".

A live album recorded in Carlisle, England and released by Angel Air Records in 2003. Its sixteen tracks set songs from the then-current Noises From the Cathouse beside the 1980s repertoire.

A studio album issued by Communique Records. The band's own discography dates it to 2003 and this page follows that; MusicBrainz says 2004. The edition on streaming services is the 2016 Angel Air reissue, which adds three bonus tracks.

Overload is Anthem's ninth studio album, released on 9 October 2002. It is the second record made after the band reformed, and its title track was re-recorded in English for Nucleus in 2019.

1919 Eternal joins Zakk Wylde’s enormous guitar riffs with Black Label Society’s bluesy, shadowed sense of melody.

Turning Back layers soaring vocals, bright keyboards and lyrical guitar with great order and polish.

Dio's ninth album, released by Spitfire on 21 May 2002, was its only one with guitarist Doug Aldrich and reached number 199 on the Billboard 200.

Dir En Grey's third album, released on 30 January 2002, sixteen tracks running 69:57 and produced by the band.

Long Way Home reunites Dokken’s strengths in melancholy melody, soaring choruses and precise guitar work.

Dragonslayer is Dream Evil’s debut statement of classic heavy-metal pleasure in a clean, modern sound.

Between Heaven and Hell is an early Firewind record driven by sharp riffs, fast drums and soaring vocals.

Condition Red frames Iron Savior’s sturdy riffs, mechanical rhythms and thick choirs within a science-fiction concept.

Biosphere is the seventeenth Loudness album, released by Tokuma Japan Communications on 4 September 2002 — the third record by the reunited original line-up.

Hammered was released on 9 April 2002. An official video was made for "Brave New World", and Victor issued the Japanese pressing on 22 May that year as VICP-61874.