100 Best Heavy Metal Bands of the 2000s

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Heavy Metal Music in the 2000s

Myriad forms of heavy metal emerged in the 2000s. The traditional heavy metal sound evolved into a diversified modern metal sound augmented by a wide genre of influences. Although this sophisticated new sound in the realm of heavy metal was criticized by metal purists for leaning toward the mainstream, there is no denying that, post-2000, the genre reached a wider non-metal audience globally.

With bands incorporating new sounds and diverse influences, the metal soundscape has changed considerably. A number of heavy metal bands have found mainstream success with their albums since the year 2000.

The Top 10 Heavy Metal Bands of the 2000s

1. Slipknot
2. System of a Down
3. Lamb of God
4. Avenged Sevenfold
5. Mastodon
6. Killswitch Engage
7. The Dillinger Escape Plan
8. Korn
9. As I Lay Dying
10. Opeth

Top Heavy Metal Bands of the 2000s #11–40

Top Heavy Metal Bands of the 2000s #41–70

Top Heavy Metal Bands of the 2000s #71–100

Other Notable Heavy Metal Bands of the 2000s

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Metalcore Scene in the 2000s

Metalcore became one of the most popular heavy metal subgenres in the 2000s. The characteristic breakdowns gave this form of music its signature identity. The heavy guitar riffs, double bass drumming, and occasional use of blast beats in intense passages created a conducive environment for moshing and headbanging at concerts. The metalcore scene in the decade led to the emergence of diversified subgenres such as:

• mathcore,
• melodic metalcore,
• progressive metalcore,
• and nu metalcore.

Djent Bands in the 2000s

The 2000s witnessed the Djent movement come alive with a bang. A subgenre of progressive metal, djent showcased a distinctive palm-muted, distorted, high-gain sound that became epic with heavy metal fans. Although the roots of djent emerged in the ‘90s, the movement grew rapidly in the 2000s.

Certain djent bands showcased a diverse style characterized by syncopated riffs, polymeters, palm-muted guitar chords, and rhythmically complex odd-time structure shifts. A number of guitarists in this genre popularized the use of seven-string, eight-string, and nine-string guitars for their dynamic alterations in guitar sound.

Deathcore Bands in the 2000s

A subgenre of extreme metal, deathcore came into its own in the 2000s. This form of music combined diverse forms of death metal with metalcore. Death metal guitar riffs, low growls, shrieked screams blast beats, and tremolo picking infused with metalcore characteristics give deathcore a unique identity.

A number of death bands experimented with a fusion of metal styles from different subgenres such as djent, progressive metal, and nu metal. While the frequent use of breakdowns in deathcore was criticized by traditional heavy metal fans, the movement did emerge strong in the decade.

Nu Metal Bands in the 2000s

Nu metal continued to grow in popularity in the 2000s. The first wave of nu metal, which emerged through the ranks of alternative metal in the ‘90s, spawned a heavier sound through the second wave of nu metal in the 2000s.

A number of bands with stylistic origins shaped with nu metal emerged in the metal scene. Influences of hardcore punk, groove metal, thrash metal, industrial metal, hip-hop, and rap-metal defined the nu metal sound with became hugely popular with youth. A number of alternative metal bands and nu metal bands released commercially successful albums through the decade.

Grindcore Bands in the 2000s

Experimental forms of grindcore came into prominence in the 2000s. A number of bands built their musical style with diverse influences of extreme metal, hardcore punk, crust punk, industrial metal, and thrashcore. Down-tuned guitars set to the backdrop of a noise-filled sound complemented by growls, shrieks, grinding bass, and extreme tempo blast beats gave a unique identity to grindcore bands in this decade.

While microsongs, a grindcore trait that featured songs of extremely short duration (5–10 seconds), were popular with grindcore bands of the ‘90s, post-2000, many bands excluded this trait in their albums.

Post-Grunge Scene in the 2000s

The post-grunge scene continued to gain prominence in the 2000s. A number of bands associated with the movement achieved a great deal of commercial success in this decade.

Although angst and anger were the conventional themes in this form of music, the latter part of the decade witnessed many bands adopt narratives, anthems, and grunge-toned ballads in their style of music. Furthermore, a number of emerging bands in the movement favored a softer sound than their contemporaries.

Death Metal Bands in the 2000s

The 2000s witnessed a new metal movement emerge through death metal of the ‘90s. A number of death bands diversified their sound bringing in influences from a wide range of metal genres. This helped spawn several subgenres that became hugely popular among the heavy metal community and emerged in a brand new avatar in the 2000s, including:

• melodic death metal,
• technical death metal,
• deathgrind,
• blackened death metal,
• death-doom,
• brutal death metal,
• and symphonic death metal.

Although the majority of death metal bands did not have much to brag about in terms of record sales, certain bands released critically acclaimed albums noteworthy of their technical prowess. Many melodic death metal bands and technical death metal bands garnered a cult following among extreme metal fans.

Gothic Metal Bands in the 2000s

Gothic metal evolved significantly in the 2000s. A number of bands incorporated new forms of metal to come up with a diversely atmospheric sound. The beauty and the beast singing style, which featured aggressive male vocals and clean female vocals, became a signature style with many goth bands.

A number of bands associated with the genre further diversified their sound to form a variant, symphonic metal, which became hugely popular with metal fans. While gothic metal was often associated with non-mainstream, post-2000, many bands in this genre had considerable mainstream success.

Other Metal Subgenres in the 2000s

A number of metal subgenres gained a cult following among sections of traditional heavy metal and non-traditional heavy metal fans, including:

• symphonic black metal,
• pagan metal,
• drone metal,
• goregrind,
• industrial death metal,
• industrial black metal,
• doom metal,
• groove metal,
• melodic metalcore,
• mathcore,
• and nu metalcore.

While many heavy metal subgenres have failed to achieve mainstream success, many bands in non-mainstream have had a colossal impact on modern heavy metal. Extreme forms of music reached a new level in the 2000s and opened doors for new sounds in heavy metal.

The list below showcases a diverse collection of 2000s heavy metal bands from different subgenres. If you are a metal buff, you will want to have your say. Feel free with your views and opinions in the comments section.

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© 2020 Ansel Pereira