United States Metal & Hard Rock Albums of the 2000s

Congregation of the Damned connects Atreyu’s shadowed atmosphere to rough, forceful metalcore.

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.

The Circle pairs Bon Jovi’s arena-scale melodies with a more mature point of view.

Chickenfoot’s debut channels the experience and distinct personalities of its members into unpretentious hard-rock energy.

Revolve packs Danger Danger’s strengths—quick riffs and huge choruses—into a focused melodic-rock record.

Black Clouds & Silver Linings gathers Dream Theater’s intricate structures, virtuosic playing and dramatic vocal melodies on a grand scale.

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

Can't Slow Down is a useful way to hear FOREIGNER from a different angle within the 2009 catalogue.

Great White's eleventh album, out in Europe on 13 March 2009, introduced bassist Scott Snyder and was Jack Russell's last studio album with the band.

Leaving the End Open layers a polished AOR feel over Hardline’s firm hard-rock foundation.

An eighteen-song covers album working through the band’s hardcore and metal roots — Slayer, Metallica, Misfits, Black Flag and more.

The self-titled fifth album, fourteen songs, released by E1 Music in September 2009.

Beautiful Mess by JEFF SCOTT SOTO: track list, Spotify player and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Killswitch Engage balances the band’s metalcore weight and melodic strength with confident consistency.

Sonic Boom finds KISS returning to its fundamentals after a long gap between studio records.

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

Wrath uses Lamb of God’s massive riffs and biting rhythms to unleash overwhelming aggression.

Sad Day on Planet Earth keeps Lillian Axe rooted in melodic hard rock while reaching for a more shadowed emotional tone.

Tokyo Jukebox opens MARTY FRIEDMAN's cover series, translating Japanese pop, anime and game classics into his own singing guitar sound.

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

Endgame reconnects Megadeth with speed, intricate riffs and high-level ensemble playing.

American Soldier turns the experiences and emotions of soldiers into a highly narrative Queensrÿche album.

Retribution integrates the cutting edge of thrash metal with metalcore’s heaviness at high density.

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

Feel the Steel is Steel Panther’s debut celebration and send-up of 1980s glam metal.

A studio album released in 2009.

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.

House of Dreams presents Sunstorm’s polished AOR and melodic-rock strengths through finely detailed arrangements.

Deflorate sharpens The Black Dahlia Murder’s mix of melodic-death-metal speed and dark beauty.

Babylon channels W.A.S.P.’s apocalyptic and religious imagery into heavy riffs and theatrical vocals.

Karma makes clear that Winger is more than a pop-metal memory; it is a hard-rock band with serious musical power.

Overcome tightly joins All That Remains’ urgent riffs, low heavy breakdowns and Philip Labonte’s clean vocal.

Black Butterfly gathers Buckcherry’s rough guitars, bouncing beat and Josh Todd’s provocative vocal character.

Killing Season uses Death Angel’s fast riffs and aggressive rhythm as a base while threading melody and shadow through each song.

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

Lightning Strikes Again returns Dokken to direct melodic metal centered on George Lynch’s cutting guitar and Don Dokken’s vocal.

Let There Be Blood revisits familiar material through the voice, production weight and arrangement sense of its recording period.

Saudades de Rock puts Nuno Bettencourt’s sharp guitar and Gary Cherone’s expressive voice back at the heart of Extreme.

Chinese Democracy is a large-scale Guns N’ Roses statement built around Axl Rose, dense layers, aggressive guitars and elaborate arrangements.

The twelfth album. Its title joins his own nickname, Satch, to musterion, a Greek word for a hidden thing.

Revelation introduces Arnel Pineda to Journey’s world of wide keyboards, melodic guitar and arena-sized choruses.

Future Addict places Marty Friedman’s newly reworked older material beside new songs.

This Present Wasteland is classic heavy metal built from Metal Church’s thick guitar, hard rhythm and weighty vocal presence.

Death Magnetic brings Metallica’s long forms, shifting riffs and heavy rhythmic attack back to the front.

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.

Saints of Los Angeles uses big choruses and rough riffs to let Mötley Crüe place its past and present in the same frame.

Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar places Paul Gilbert’s virtuosity up front while seeking a different melody and texture in each instrumental piece.

Cosmic Universal Fashion keeps Sammy Hagar’s hard-rock strength while blending it freely with funk, blues and pop instincts.

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

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

Forever More keeps Tesla’s live-band directness while adding darker melodies and heavier guitar weight.

The Formation of Damnation reunites Testament around high-tension riffs, precise rhythm and Chuck Billy’s powerful voice.

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

Return of the Pride finds Mike Tramp bringing White Lion’s open melodies and direct language back to the front.

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

Lead Sails Paper Anchor pushes aggressive rhythm and singable melody with equal force.

Avenged Sevenfold packs heavy riffs, dramatic choruses, and ideas that cross hard rock, metal, and progressive music into a self-titled statement.

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.

Lost Highway adds Nashville warmth to Bon Jovi’s large choruses and immediately familiar melodies.

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.