The 10 Best Heavy Metal Music Videos of the 2000s

A look at the best heavy metal music videos of the 2000s. These are the videos that defined the genre and set the standard for what a metal video should be.

Metallica – “I Disappear” (2000)

Long before YouTube was around to facilitate our love of music videos, MTV was the go-to spot for all the latest and greatest in the world of music. A veritable who’s who of artists got their start on the network, and many went on to create some truly iconic videos.

The 2000s were no different, and while MTV might not air music videos as often as it used to, there are still plenty of great ones out there. Here are ten of the best heavy metal music videos from the 2000s.

Metallica – “I Disappear” (2000)
The first single from Metallica’s album “S&M”, “I Disappear” was directed by Nathan “Karma” Cox and starred actor Gary oldman as a hitman who is hired to kill James Hetfield. The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards, winning two for Best Rock Video and Best Editing.

Slipknot – “Wait and Bleed” (1999)
The second single from Slipknot’s debut album, “Wait and Bleed” was directed by Thomas Mignone and featured the band performing in a dirty, abandoned warehouse. The video won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2001.

Deftones – “Change (In the House of Flies)” (2000)
The second single from Deftones’ second album, “White Pony”, “Change (In the House of Flies)” was directed by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit fame. The video tells the story of a group of friends who get lost in a cave, and features some seriously creepy special effects.

Limp Bizkit – “Break Stuff” (2000)
The fourth single from Limp Bizkit’s second album, “ Significant Other”, “Break Stuff” was directed by Phillip Atwell and featured the band performing in front of a rowdy crowd at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in 2000.

Korn – “Falling Away from Me” (1999)
The third single from Korn��s third album, “Issues”, “Falling Away from Me” was directed by Torrance Community Theater founder Gregory Dark. The video tells the story of a young boy who is bullied at school and takes out his frustration on his doll at home. It won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2000.
Disturbed – “Down with the Sickness” (2000)
The lead single from Disturbed’s debut album, “The Sickness��, Down with The sickness” wasdirected by Jonathan Rebeiro and featured disturbing images intercut with footage of the band performing. The video won two Millennium Awards in 2001 for Best Hard Rock Video and Most Downloaded Video. System Of A Down – “Chop Suey!” (2001) The lead single from System Of A Down’s second album,”Toxicity”, “Chop Suey!” was directedby Shavo Odadjian and capturedthe band’s energy and intensity perfectly. It wonthe Kerrang! Awardfor Best Video in 2002 Linkin Park – “Crawling” (2001) The second single from Linkin Park’s debut album,”Hybrid Theory”, “Crawling” was directedby Nathan “Karma” Coxand depicted frontman Chester Bennington struggling with demons both internal and external . It wonthe Grammy Awardfor Best Hard Rock Performance in 2002

Slayer – “Disciple” (2001)

In 2001, Slayer released “Disciple,” the lead single from their ninth studio album, God Hates Us All. The song is a thrashing attack on organized religion, with lyrics that skewer hypocritical televangelists and call out the dangers of blindly following a leader. The music video was directed by Wayne Isham, who also helmed videos for Metallica, Megadeth, and Motley Crue.

The video opens with shots of a burning church, as fiery text declares “God Hates Us All.” We then see the band performing in front of a huge crowd, with frontman Tom Araya spitting out the venomous lyrics with enraged conviction. Isham uses quick cuts and close-ups to capture the intensity of the performance, while also intercutting footage of religious fanaticism and violence.

The result is a searing indictment of religious hypocrisy and intolerance, set to one of the most ferocious songs in Slayer’s catalogue. It’s no wonder that “Disciple” remains one of the band’s most popular songs, and its music video is still hailed as one of the best metal videos of all time.

System of a Down – “Chop Suey!” (2001)

Released in the wake of 9/11, “Chop Suey!” was one of the most powerful anthems of defiance of the early 21st century, with a video to match. It opens with an ensemble of people from all walks of life looking tired, beaten down and world-weary, before springing to life in a furious montage of energy and defiance as they thrash around to the song. It’s a powerful visual statement that’s as relevant today as it was 16 years ago.

Mudvayne – “Dig” (2002)

There is no disputing that the 00s was a great decade for metal, with countless classic albums and songs being released. However, it was also a great decade for metal music videos, with many iconic visuals being created to accompany some of the best songs of the era.

So, in no particular order, here are 10 of the best heavy metal music videos of the 2000s…

Mudvayne – “Dig” (2002)
The video for Mudvayne’s huge hit “Dig” is a perfect example of the band’s knack for creating dark and disturbingly weird visuals. The video follows a character known as “The Mudvayne Killer” who goes on a horrific killing spree, with each murder becoming increasingly creative and gruesome. The video is not for the faint-hearted, but it perfectly matches the song’s intensity and heaviness.

Lamb of God – “Redneck” (2006)
Lamb of God were one of the biggest metal bands of the 2000s, and their video for “Redneck” was an instant classic. The video tells the story of a young man who turns to a life of violence and crime, eventually becoming a wanted fugitive. It’s a gritty and realistic visual that perfectly accompanies the song’s themes of anger and frustration.

Slipknot – “Wait and Bleed” (1999)
Slipknot were one of the defining metal bands of the late 90s/early 00s, and their debut album Slipknot is considered to be a true classic. The album’s lead single “Wait and Bleed” has one of the band’s most iconic videos, which features disturbing images of lead singer Corey Taylor being stalked by a strange creature. The video perfectly matches Slipknot’s chaotic energy and unsettling atmosphere.

Tool – “Parabola” (2002)
Tool are renowned for their beautiful and mind-bending music videos, and their visual for “Parabola” is one of their best. The video is based on Native American mythology, telling the story of two wolves who represent opposite forces struggling against each other. It’s an enigmatic visual that leaves viewers mesmerized long after it ends.
+Marilyn Manson – “Rock Is Dead” (1998) +System Of A Down – “Chop Suey!” (2001) +Deftones – “Change (In the House Of Flies)” (2000) +Rammstein – Mein Teil (2004) + Metallica – “I Disappear” (2000)

Pantera – “Cat Scratch Fever” (2003)

Directed by Wayne Isham, “Cat Scratch Fever” was the first single off Pantera’s ninth studio album, ‘The Great Southern Trendkill.’ The track was also included on the ‘Dimebag Darrell’ tribute album, ‘Music as a Weapon II.’ The video features the band playing in a desert wasteland as S&M dancers crawl all over them.

Avenged Sevenfold – “Bat Country” (2005)

“Bat Country” is the first single from Avenged Sevenfold’s third album City of Evil. The song is about a man who has gone insane and believes he is a bat. The music video was directed by Nathan Ellison and released in 2005. It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing.

The video starts with a man (lead singer M. Shadows) driving in a car with his girlfriend (played by actress Tara Reid). He suddenly has a mental breakdown and starts seeing bats everywhere. He eventually crashes the car and ends up in a mental institution. The rest of the video consists of clips of the band performing intercut with scenes of the man in the asylum.

At the end of the video, it is revealed that the entire thing was taking place in the man’s mind and he wakes up from his delusion.

Bullet for My Valentine – “Tears Don’t Fall” (2005)

Bullet for My Valentine’s “Tears Don’t Fall” was one of the first metalcore anthems and it still holds up today. The emo-tinged lyrics, catchy melody, andSubject Matter poignant video made this song a favorite for both fans of the band and casual listeners alike. The video itself is a masterclass in how to make a great music video on a shoestring budget. It tells the story of a young man who is struggling to deal with the death of his girlfriend. Through dream sequences and flashbacks, we see how their relationship was filled with both love and pain. The video ends with the protagonist waking up from his dream, realizing that he needs to move on from his grief.

This video is proof that you don’t need a big budget to make a great metal video. All you need is a good song, some creative vision, and the willingness to put your all into it.

Stone Sour – “Through Glass” (2006)

Directed by Sébastien Laudenbach, Stone Sour’s “Through Glass” was released in 2006 and is the fourth single from their second album Come What(ever) May. The music video features lead singer Corey Taylor walking through different sets made to look like different rooms in a house, all while reflecting on different aspects of his life. The video was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

Slipknot – “Psychosocial” (2008)

metal fans are known for their rabid devotion to their favorite bands, and Slipknot are no exception. The Iowa-based nine-piece have been one of the most popular and influential metal bands of the past two decades, and “Psychosocial” is one of their most iconic songs. The video, which was directed by M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan, is a surreal and nightmarish trip through a post-apocalyptic world that is equal parts horror movie and industrial wasteland.

Megadeth – “Head Crusher” (2009)

“Head Crusher” was the first single from Megadeth’s 2009 album Endgame, and it was also the first taste of what fans could expect from the new, more old-school-sounding Megadeth. The song is a thrash anthem, pure and simple, and the video is a perfect reflection of that. It’s a performance video, with the band playing in a dark room intercut with shots of a young woman being tortured in various ways. It’s not gratuitous, though — the violence in the video is meant to reflect the violence of the song, and it does so perfectly.