Best 75 Albums Of The Decade: 2000-2009
Best 75 Albums Of The Decade: 2000-2009
My fellow Metal Hall writer, Jack Mangan, has inspired me with his laundry list (bro, 200 ?? 😀 \m/ ) of the best songs from the 21st century. Whether it be his favorite song(s), something different he wants you learn about, innovative music, a band reinventing themselves, what have you.
So here are my Top 75 Albums from 2000-2009. Yes, I will follow-up with a list 2010-2020.
Note: I am not influenced by trends and fads, whatever was cool to like at the time because it was mainstream, or pushed by labels, magazines, or part of the Ozzfest, Monster Energy Drink and Hot Topic noisy angsty names that came and went. It has always been about what was good, and I have always been able to weed out the crap. So if you are looking for Nu “metal”, or metalcore, screamo, Djent, emo….not happening here!
My choices were decided on based on…
1. To have variety of course, different styles of hard rock and heavy metal.
2. Bands who you maybe thought were out of the game but still making great new music, those who made new music that held up to their past.
3. New bands at the time, even if the career didn’t last to the present (2024)
Here we go…
* Nevermore – Dead Heart In A Dead World (2000): Take two parts thrash and prog from “The Politics Of Ecstasy” album, one part doom and melancholy from “Dreaming Neon Black” and you get “Dead Heart”. Outstanding!
* Testament – The Formation of Damnation (2008): Couldn’t ask for much more from the first new album with Alex Skolnick (guitar) and Greg Christian (bass) back in the band joining original members Chuck Billy (vocals) and Eric Peterson (guitar). A return to form.
* Nightwish – Century Child (2002): A nice follow up to the excellent “Wishmaster” album but a little heavier in the guitars. ‘The Phantom of the Opera” rivals the Broadway composition. Tarja Turunen’s operatic range and duet with bassist Marko Hietala is the benchmark and rarely matched by few accomplished contemporary singers.
* Iron Maiden – Brave New World (2000): First new album with two important pieces to the songwriting team; Bruce Dickinson back on vocals and Adrian Smith on guitar. Brings me back to Piece of Mind/Powerslave. ‘Wicker Man’, ‘Ghost of the Navigator’, the title track modern Maiden classics.
* Stratovarius – Infinite (2000): Strato at the height of their powers, ‘Hunting High and Low’, ‘Phoenix’, ‘A Million Light Years’, ‘Mother Gaia’, the title track, ‘Why Are We Here’ (bonus track), Strato classics before things got too bloated with “Elements 1&2”.
* Threshold – Dead Reckoning (2007): These guys wrote a flawless progressive rock/metal album combining musicianship with memorable chorus’.
* Metalium – State of Triumph – Chapter Two (2000): Helloween meets Hammerfall but a little bit heavier, faster, and wow those great soaring vocals.
* Dimmu Borgir – Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001): Just enough orchestrations sprinkled into the blasphemous assault of guitars and vocals. “Death Cult Armageddon” (2003) and “In Sorte Diaboli” (2007) = The soundtrack to Hell!
* Edguy – Hellfire Club (2004): European style power metal mixed with L.A. hair metal hooks, at the time (late 90s – 2004ish) leaders from the new generation.
* Megadeth – Endgame (2009): What a return for Dave Mustaine and company. It’s “Countdown to Extinction” meets “Rust In Peace”, ‘Headcrusher’!!!
* Grave Digger – The Grave Digger (2001): After almost 20 years of making music the reaper delivers its heaviest and darkest album yet based on the tales of Edgar Allen Poe. No, this is not power metal Tunes of War/Excalibur GD.
* Helloween – Gambling With The Devil (2007): Power Metal architects, never short on variety when it comes to their albums. One of their heaviest and best with Andi Deris on vocals.
* Gamma Ray – No World Order (2001): Former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen delivers another solid album (7th) of the musical style he had a hand in creating. ‘The Heart of the Unicorn’, ‘Heaven or Hell’ should have been a hit single and in my top 5 Gamma Ray albums.
Side note: “Land of the Free” (1995) album should have been “Keeper of the Seven Kerys” part 3. Just sayin.
* Saxon – Lionheart (2004): An excellent melding of their classic early 80s New Wave Of British Heavy Metal style with the heavier sounds on albums “Metalhead” and “Killing Ground”.
* W.A.S.P. – Dying For The World (2002): Their best album since “The Crimson Idol”. ‘Hallowed Ground’, about 9/11, one of the most powerful ballads.
* Evergrey – Recreation Day (2003): Poetic, sometimes somber, progressive metal from Sweden. Great vocals and melodies.
* King Diamond – The Puppet Master (2003): Another chilling tale from a unique artist unlike any other. King Diamond has an endless supply of story ideas.
* Metal Church – A Light In The Dark (2006): Second album with third singer Ronny Munroe who is a great voice. The best of David Wayne and Mike Howe Church.
* Hammerfall – Crimson Thunder (2002): Fourth studio album from one of the few in the 90s to preserve classic Heavy Metal during a time of temporary trendy music (nu “metal”) to like. Sure, call it “happy power metal”, but ‘Hearts on Fire’ and ‘Riders of the Storm’ feel good metal classic anthems.
* Judas Priest – Angel of Retribution (2005): Priest return with Halford back at the mic. A nice follow up to ‘Painkiller”.
* Kreator – Enemy of God (2005): All around their best one since 1990’s “Coma Of Souls”.
* Avantasia – The Metal Opera Pt.2 (2002): Part 2 from Edguy frontman Tobias Sammet’s grandiose project featuring many guest musicians.
* Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009): This album is a great blend of progressive changes, melody, heavy guitars, and hooks, see ‘A Rite of Passage’.
* Witchery – Symphony For The Devil (2001): An underrated black/thrash metal band that you unfortunately never really hear from and doesn’t do nearly enough touring.
* Satyricon – Volcano (2004): Proof that Black Metal doesn’t have to sound one dimensional as they stretch the boundaries of the genre.
* Circus Maximus – The 1st Chapter (2005): This is what happens when you combine Styx with Dream Theater; rich harmonies and great playing.
* Marduk – Plague Angel (2005): Formed in 1990, pure classic Scandinavian satanic Black Metal.
* Opeth – Watershed (2008): I could have picked Damnation or Ghost Reveries too, where all the pieces fit together; mid-paced riffing, acoustic guitar interludes, frequent tempo and mood changes, switching between death and clean vocals, continuing to push the boundaries of extreme music.
* Sodom – Sodom (2006): Along with fellow countrymen Destruction and Kreator, Sodom, 20 years after their debut continue to make new music. Their best since “Tapping The Vein”.
* TNT –My Religion (2004): They’re back, the voice of Tony Harnell and guitarist Ronnie Le Tekro with a batch of songs that capture the familiar magic of the albums “Tell No Tails” and “Intuition”.
* Halford – Resurrection (2000): Aptly titled, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford returns to his heavy metal roots.
* Gotthard – The Domino Effect (2007): Bon Jovi could learn something from these guys! Be modern, contemporary, evolve, but don’t lose your edge.
* Lizzy Borden – Appointment With Death (2007): A nice return for these L.A. shock rockers.
* Firewind – Allegiance (2007): Scorpions meets Gamma Ray and Edguy. In 2009, mainman Gus G has been tapped to be Ozzy’s guitarist. Need I say more?
* Dream Evil – Dragonslayer (2002): Alot of potential here from these power metallers, how catchy is the title track and fantastic guitar work from Gus G.
* Wolf – The Black Flame (2006): 4th album from the Swedish band keeping traditional heavy metal alive with new young energy.
* Immortal – Damned in Black (2000): Icy cold groove based Black Metal from Norway.
* House of Lords – Cartesian Dreams (2009): A little less keyboard and more guitars, still plenty of excellent melodies for post 80s Lords. They have nine albums out since 2006.
* Destruction – The Antichrist (2001): German thrash legends return with Schmier on bass and vocals for more ‘Thrash Till Death’.
* Brainstorm – Soul Temptation (2003): Excellent German power metal that combines the traditional Iced Earth type melodies with the power of Metal Church.
* Moonspell – Night Eternal (2008): Black Metal from Portugal incorporating the sounds from their native country to create excellent levels of aggression and melody.
* Scorpions – Unbreakable (2004): Very close to recapturing their classic sound from the early 80s.
* Primal Fear – Nuclear Fire (2001): German power metal meets Judas Priest. If Tim Owens didn’t get the gig replacing Halford in Priest then Ralf Scheepers should have been the next obvious choice.
* Kamelot – The Black Halo (2005): European style power metal meets Queensryche’s “Operation Mindcrime”.
* Metallica – Death Magnetic (2008): After many years of fucking up they get it right.
* Jon Oliva’s Pain – Maniacal Renderings (2006): The lost Savatage record??
* Candlemass – Candlemass (2005): Messiah Marcolin is back singing, the songs sound fresh while retaining the classic characteristics of their past.
* Heaven and Hell – The Devil You Know (2009): Black Sabbath (under the name Heaven and Hell) return with the classic lineup of Ronnie James Dio on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, bassist Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice on drums.
* Europe – Last Look At Eden (2009): One of the few from the 80s glam “hair” metal bands that has been making new music since reforming in the early 2000’s (six albums), following some of the music concepts on the album “Prisoners in Paradise”, while branching out incorporating symphonic to Rainbow/Purple elements to arrangement or the melody.
* Overkill – Bloodletting (2000): These New Jersey thrash legends never stopped making albums and this is one of their better ones post early 90s, more thrash. Yes, from Killing Kind – Immortalis many songs influenced by Pantera and Machine Head groove metal.
* Tad Morose – Modus Vivendi (2004): Wow, Urban Breed, that voice. Equal parts traditional and power metal, I also hear elements of old Savatage.
* Arch Enemy – Wages Of Sin (2001): Death/thrash metal with a touch of melody in the music. The blueprint for the records that followed.
* Blind Guardian – A Twist In The Myth (2006): A little less Queen and progressive and a little more edge than “A Night At The Opera”.
* Annihilator – Carnival Diablos (2001): Guitarist Jeff Waters with his latest configuration of players, 8th album Carnival Diablos is a banger, see ‘Denied’, ‘Battered’.
* U.D.O. – Mastercutor (2007): If you listened to this record you would realize Accept is still alive and well.
* Symphony X – The Odyssey (2002): Top notch Progressive Power Metal with an emphasis on the METAL. Yngwie style guitar playing, Dream Theateresque arrangements.
* Angra – Temple of Shadows (2004): Second album with new singer Edu Falaschi. Strong Brazilian flavored Euro style power metal and a unique contribution to the genre.
* Winger – Karma (2009): Yup, Winger, listen with your ears not your judgmental “hair metal” ones. Great songs, lots of guitar leads. Go buy the album “Pull” while you’re at it!
* Children of Bodom – Follow The Reaper (2001): Third album from these Fins. A great mix of musical styles; thrash, death metals, extreme vocals, with melodic parts between the keys and guitar lines.
* Exodus – Tempo of the Damned (2004): Back in action with Steve Souza back on vocals. ‘Blacklist’ is classic Exodus!
* Pagan’s Mind – Celestial Entrance (2003): Prog meets Euro Power Metal genres. These Norwegians mastered the formula many try to get right.
* Rage – Soundchaser (2003): Over 20 years of great music. German power/ prog/ speed metal. Victor Smolski on guitar, Mike Terrana on drums should answer any questions.
* Susperia – Unlimited (2004): Under the radar (at least in the States), these Norwegians are a little bit Testament and a little Dimmu Borgir.
* Dio – Magica (2000): Legend Ronnie James Dio crafts his first concept album. Said Dio: “Magica is the saga of Blessing, a netherworld invaded by dark forces that vaporize people into pure, evil energy.
* Whitesnake – Good To Be Bad (2008): David Coverdale reforms Whitesnake with a killer band and recaptures their classic formula.
* Iced Earth – Horror Show (2001): Mainman John Schaffer shows his respect for the classic Universal Studios Monsters on this concept album.
* Lazarus A.D. – The Onslaught (2009): At the time, leaders of the next generation of American Thrash Metal. Unfortunately, the drummer passed away in 2015 and the band has been inactive since.
* Alex Beyrodt’s Voodoo Circle (2009): Guitarist Alex Beyrodt is the next Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen, the music is a great mix or Whitesnake and Joe Lynn Turner era Rainbow.
* Rob Rock – Holy Hell (2005): Underrated American singer Rob Rock’s third solo album. For fans of his music with Impellitteri.
* Royal Hunt – The Watchers (2001): Very underrated progressive metal from Denmark, great melodies inside not too complex prog arrangements.
* Death Angel – Killing Season (2008): West coast thrashers reform and return with their contributions to the Bay Area movement.
* Sebastian Bach – Angel Down (2007): With “Metal” Mike Chlasciak on guitar, Steve DiGiorgio on bass, Bobby Jarzombek on drums, and producer Roy Z, Sebastian delivers a heavier contemporary album maybe fans of Skid Row will shy away from. Well, unless you liked the album “Subhuman Race’.
* Jorn – Out to Every Nation (2004): Third album from the Norwegian singer who is like the second coming of Ronnie James Dio. And speaking of, check out Jorn’s tribute to called “Dio”.
* L.A. Guns – Waking the Dead (2002): Last album to feature Traci Guns on guitar, with Phil Lewis and drummer Steve Riley together. Its solid, and one of the few glam metal bands at the time making new music.
* Savatage – Poets and Madmen (2001): The last album before the Trans Siberian Orchestra would take precedent to this day. Guys, cumon, let’s get some tour dates soon!!
Ok, Therion makes 76. I’m stopping there, I think, 🙂
#76. Therion – Lemuria/ Sirius B (2004): Since the album Vovin (‘The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah’) in 1998, Therion have found this symphonic metal comfort zone with progressive changes, dynamics, balance, and counterbalance between the male and female and gothic and Gregorian chant vocals, various string and woodwind instruments, and soft sounds.
Rich Catino
Writer, contributor at:
Metal Asylum (founder)
Bravewords
Metal Hall of Fame
Sea of Tranquility
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Disclaimer: These articles are meant to document and comment on important aspects of Heavy Metal’s broad and diverse history. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the official Metal Hall of Fame. No mention of any artist should be misconstrued as an indication of intent to induct or deny admittance to the Metal Hall of Fame. We’re not dropping hints here, folks. There will be official press releases when new inductees are ready to be announced.
