The Best Metal Albums of the 2000s
Our pick of the essential metal records released in the 2000s, ranked.
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1ToxicitySystem of a Down
Toxicity
Frenetic, political and weirdly catchy, blending thrash with Armenian melody. Inventive and huge. A defining 2000s metal record.
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2LateralusTool
Lateralus
An ambitious, mathematically intricate suite that asks to be heard whole. Hypnotic and immersive. Many fans consider it their finest.
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3IowaSlipknot
Iowa
A brutal, claustrophobic peak of nu-metal aggression. Heavy and intense. Their darkest record.
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4LeviathanMastodon
Leviathan
A Moby-Dick concept album of intricate, crushing progressive metal. Ambitious and ferocious. Their breakthrough.
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5Blackwater ParkOpeth
Blackwater Park
The album that perfected their blend of death-metal heaviness and acoustic, proggy beauty. Dynamic and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.
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6White PonyDeftones
White Pony
Atmospheric, dynamic and heavy, the record that lifted them above nu-metal peers. Beautiful and crushing by turns. Their finest.
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7obZenMeshuggah
obZen
A crushing, polyrhythmic djent landmark of mechanical precision. Heavy and influential. A genre high point.
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8From Mars to SiriusGojira
From Mars to Sirius
A crushing, environmentally themed progressive-death record of monumental riffs. Heavy and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.
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9Crack the SkyeMastodon
Crack the Skye
Their most progressive and melodic record, layered and conceptual. Dense and rewarding. A high point of modern metal.
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10Blood MountainMastodon
Blood Mountain
A dense, progressive-sludge concept peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A creative high.
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11Ghost ReveriesOpeth
Ghost Reveries
A lush, progressive death-metal peak of dynamic range. Ambitious and acclaimed. A high point.
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12MezmerizeSystem of a Down
Mezmerize
A frantic, political peak, home to 'B.Y.O.B.'. Heavy and huge. A high point.
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13Hybrid TheoryLinkin Park
Hybrid Theory
A blockbuster blend of nu-metal and rap-rock that defined an era. Tight and enormous. A 2000s landmark.
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14MeteoraLinkin Park
Meteora
A tight, hit-packed follow-up to Hybrid Theory. Polished and huge. A commercial peak.
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15DopesmokerSleep
Dopesmoker
A single hour-long riff-pilgrimage of monumental stoner-doom. Hypnotic and uncompromising. A cult monument.
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16DopethroneElectric Wizard
Dopethrone
Monolithic, fuzz-drenched doom of crushing slowness and occult menace. Heavy beyond reason. A stoner-doom classic.
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17Jane DoeConverge
Jane Doe
A chaotic, cathartic metalcore masterpiece of raw emotion and ferocity. Intense and influential. A genre landmark.
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18Red AlbumBaroness
Red Album
A vibrant, melodic sludge-metal debut of riffs and color. Heavy and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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19Ashes of the WakeLamb of God
Ashes of the Wake
A ferocious modern-metal peak of groove and precision. Heavy and acclaimed. Their best.
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20Brave New WorldIron Maiden
Brave New World
A triumphant Dickinson-return comeback of classic Maiden. Bold and beloved. A late peak.
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21DamnationOpeth
Damnation
A soft, mellotron-led prog-rock detour with no death growls. Beautiful and acclaimed. A bold pivot.
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22WatershedOpeth
Watershed
A dynamic, progressive peak balancing beauty and brutality. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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23Mer de NomsA Perfect Circle
Mer de Noms
A dark, melodic alt-metal debut of moody precision. Polished and acclaimed. A strong arrival.
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24The Way of All FleshGojira
The Way of All Flesh
A crushing, ambitious progressive-death peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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25NothingMeshuggah
Nothing
A downtuned, hypnotic djent landmark. Crushing and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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26SacramentLamb of God
Sacrament
A ferocious, Grammy-nominated modern-metal peak. Tight and acclaimed. A high point.
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27Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)Slipknot
Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
A more melodic, dynamic peak that broadened their sound. Heavy and acclaimed. A creative high.
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28HypnotizeSystem of a Down
Hypnotize
A sharp, political companion to Mezmerize. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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29With TeethNine Inch Nails
With Teeth
A sharp, song-focused comeback, home to 'The Hand That Feeds'. Polished and acclaimed. A strong return.
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30Year ZeroNine Inch Nails
Year Zero
A dense, dystopian concept peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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31ColorsBetween the Buried and Me
Colors
A sprawling, genre-hopping progressive-metal landmark. Ambitious and acclaimed. A cult peak.
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32OceanicIsis
Oceanic
A spacious, immersive post-metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A genre high point.
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33The End of HeartacheKillswitch Engage
The End of Heartache
A polished metalcore peak of melody and power. Heavy and beloved. A high point.
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34Twilight of the Thunder GodAmon Amarth
Twilight of the Thunder God
A triumphant, Viking-themed melodic-death peak. Heavy and beloved. A high point.
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35IsaEnslaved
Isa
A progressive, atmospheric black-metal peak. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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36Two HuntersWolves in the Throne Room
Two Hunters
An atmospheric, nature-themed black-metal peak. Immersive and acclaimed. A genre high point.
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37The MantleAgalloch
The Mantle
A folk-tinged, atmospheric black-metal peak. Beautiful and acclaimed. A cult landmark.
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38Ashes Against the GrainAgalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
An atmospheric, post-metal-tinged peak. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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39Monoliths & DimensionsSunn O)))
Monoliths & Dimensions
An ambitious, orchestral drone-metal peak of immense weight. Singular and acclaimed. A genre high point.
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40PinkBoris
Pink
A loud, eclectic blend of drone, punk and psych. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.
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41RemissionMastodon
Remission
A heavy, sludgy debut of riff-driven power. Brutal and acclaimed. A strong start.
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42Blue RecordBaroness
Blue Record
A melodic, vibrant sludge-metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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43Blessed Black WingsHigh on Fire
Blessed Black Wings
A thunderous, Albini-recorded peak of riff-driven metal. Heavy and acclaimed. A genre favourite.
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44Axe to FallConverge
Axe to Fall
A ferocious, dynamic metalcore peak. Brutal and acclaimed. A high point.
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45Somewhere Along the HighwayCult of Luna
Somewhere Along the Highway
A vast, atmospheric post-metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A genre high point.
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46DeliveranceOpeth
Deliverance
A heavier, death-leaning peak of progressive metal. Brutal and acclaimed. A high point.
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47Thirteenth StepA Perfect Circle
Thirteenth Step
A polished, melodic alt-metal peak. Atmospheric and acclaimed. A creative high.
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48Catch ThirtythreeMeshuggah
Catch Thirtythree
A single, hypnotic continuous djent piece. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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49As the Palaces BurnLamb of God
As the Palaces Burn
A ferocious modern-metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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50AscendancyTrivium
Ascendancy
A polished, melodic metalcore breakthrough. Sharp and beloved. A high point.
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51Alive or Just BreathingKillswitch Engage
Alive or Just Breathing
A landmark metalcore record of melody and aggression. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.