United Kingdom Metal & Hard Rock Albums of the 2000s

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

The ninth Praying Mantis studio album, released by Frontiers on 5 June 2009 after a six-year gap — the first with Andy Burgess in Dennis Stratton's place. King Records issued the Japanese edition on 23 July with one extra track.

The comeback record after the long break that followed Mark Gallagher's injuries, and the first place it appeared was Japan, on King Records, on 25 March 2009.

Saxon's eighteenth album, released on 9 January 2009. It reached six on the UK Rock & Metal chart and twenty-three in Germany.

Chutzpah! mixes The Wildhearts’ punk urgency with broad hard-rock melody in a sharp, compact form.

UFO's 2009 album, first out in Japan on 20 May, was made without founding bassist Pete Way, who was being treated for a liver condition.

Phoenix reunites the original Asia lineup around grand keyboards, precise playing and memorable melody.

The second Bullet for My Valentine album. BMG Japan released the Japanese edition first, on 23 January 2008, with the UK following on 28 January and the US on 29 January. It entered the Billboard 200 at number four and topped Oricon's international album chart in Japan. Recorded at Sonic Ranch in Texas and produced by Colin Richardson.

Cradle of Filth's eighth studio album, from October 2008, a concept record following the life of the fifteenth-century French baron Gilles de Rais.

Songs from the Sparkle Lounge condenses Def Leppard’s thick harmonies, shining guitars and instantly memorable melodies into compact songs.

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.

Nostradamus finds Judas Priest building a double-album narrative around the life and myth of the prophet.

In the Midst of Beauty places Michael Schenker’s lyrical lead guitar at the center of a modernly framed classic-hard-rock record.

Released on 26 August 2008 and a UK No. 32, Motörizer was the band's last album for SPV / Steamhammer of Germany. Official videos were made for "Rock Out", "Bullet in Your Brain" and "Life's a Bitch".

Stop Us If You’ve Heard This One Before, Vol 1. packs The Wildhearts’ thick guitar, sudden turns and sly melodies into concise songs.

The ninth studio album, issued by Live Wire Records in 2008. At the end of 2024 it was reissued with a new remix by Marco Angioni and new sleeve art by Andy Pilkington, and that reissue is what the player on this page carries.

Good to Be Bad returns Whitesnake to blues-rooted hard rock, built around David Coverdale’s voice with its mixture of power and sensuality.

Black Rain sets Ozzy Osbourne’s unmistakable voice against thick guitar and hard-edged rhythm.

Paradise Lost's eleventh album and their first for Century Media, released on 21 May 2007: a turn back towards their earlier sound, as their Japanese label put it.

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

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

Born into This compresses the Cult’s thick riffs and airy, psychedelic atmosphere into focused songs.

The Wildhearts packs rough guitar, sudden turns, and sweet melody into a self-titled statement.

Cradle of Filth's seventh studio album, from October 2006, and the one with Ville Valo of HIM singing on it.

Yeah! is a strongly concept-driven covers album that translates the originals into a DEF LEPPARD-like sound.

A Matter of Life and Death joins Iron Maiden’s multi-guitar harmonies and extended structures to weighty themes of war and belief.

Tales of Rock'n'Roll reunites Michael Schenker with a range of past vocal collaborators and presents his melodic guitar world anew.

Kiss of Death was released on 29 August 2006. An official video was made for "Be My Baby", and a half-speed-remastered twentieth-anniversary edition followed in 2026.

UFO's album of 25 September 2006 brought founding drummer Andy Parker back and was the band's last album with bassist Pete Way.

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.

Cathedral's eighth album and first for Nuclear Blast, from September 2005: female vocals, violins and the 27-minute closing epic "The Garden".

Rapture of the Deep lets Steve Morse’s guitar, Don Airey’s keys and Ian Gillan’s voice interact with natural ease.

DragonForce's third album, out first in Japan in December 2005: the record whose "Through the Fire and Flames" reached the world through Guitar Hero III.

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

Under Cover is a covers album of classic 1960s and 1970s rock songs, OZZY OSBOURNE's own roots, sung in his distinctive voice.

Paradise Lost's tenth album and the one that bears the band's own name, released on 17 March 2005: the first with Jeff Singer on drums.

Sunset and Vine layers clear vocals, polished guitar and full harmonies into mature melodic rock.

The Darkness's second album, released in November 2005 and produced by Queen's Roy Thomas Baker, with pan pipes, bagpipes and an orchestra layered in.

A live album released by Angel Air Records on 6 June 2005 as SJPCD206. The band's own discography lists it under a different title, Live In Dokkum, Holland '05. Three bonus studio recordings close the disc.

Silent Nation joins expansive keyboards, polished guitar and melody-rich writing in a mature Asia statement.

Cradle of Filth's sixth studio album, from September 2004: their biggest seller, and the one whose title track brought a Grammy nomination.