The Best Heavy Metal Albums of 2000
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Looking for the best heavy metal albums of 2000? Here’s our top picks, including releases from Slipknot, Metallica, and more.
Best Metal Albums of 2000
It’s been 20 years since some of the best metal albums were released. In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 best metal albums of 2000. These albums represent a wide range of metal subgenres and are considered essential listening for any metal fan.
Metallica- “St. Anger”
As the new millennium dawned, popular music was in a state of transition. Hip-hop and pop ruled the airwaves, and rock music was increasingly populated by nu-metal and pop-punk bands. But there was one band that refused to change with the times: Metallica.
On their eighth studio album, “St. Anger,” Metallica doubled down on their signature sound, delivering some of the heaviest and most aggressive music of their career. The album was met with mixed reviews, but fans hailed it as a return to form for the legendary metal band.
Despite its polarizing reception, “St. Anger” is widely considered to be one of the best heavy metal albums of 2000. It features some of Metallica’s best songwriting in years, as well as some of their most jaw-droppingly heavy riffs. If you’re a fan of metal, this is an album you need to hear.
Megadeth- “The World Needs a Hero”
Released in 2001, The World Needs a Hero is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. It was the first album released on Sanctuary Records and was produced by Dave Mustaine and Michael Wagener. The album artwork was created by Vincent Cecchini and Dave McKean.
The World Needs a Hero was not well received by critics upon its release and is generally considered to be one of the weaker albums in Megadeth’s catalogue. However, it did debut at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the band’s highest charting album since 1994’s Youthanasia.
Slayer- “God Hates Us All”
Slayer’s “God Hates Us All” is one of the best metal albums of 2000. It is a return to form for the band, with faster, more aggressive songs and better production values. The album features some of the band’s best work, including the excellent “Bloodline” and “Devil’s Daughter”.
Best Hard Rock Albums of 2000
Stone Temple Pilots- “Shangri-La Dee Da”
Stone Temple Pilots released their sixth studio album, Shangri-La Dee Da, in June of 2001. The album was a moderate success, debuting at number eight on the Billboard 200 and selling over two million copies in the United States. Despite its success, the album was met with mixed reviews from critics.
The album’s first single, “Days of the Week”, was a moderate hit, peaking at number nineteen on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The second single, “Down”, was less successful, only reaching number forty-five on the same chart.
System of a Down- “Toxicity”
Released on September 4, 2001, “Toxicity” is the second studio album by Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold over three million copies in the United States. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2003 and is widely considered to be the band’s best album.
The album’s success was driven by the singles “Chop Suey!” and “Toxicity”, which were both top ten hits on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. “Toxicity” also received positive reviews from critics, who praised its experimental sound and lyrics. The album has been included on several lists of the best metal albums of all time, including Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Godsmack- “Awake”
Awake is the second studio album by Godsmack, released on October 31, 2000. The album includes the hit singles “Bad Religion”, “Voodoo” and “Awake”. Awake debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 340,000 copies in its first week of release. It was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA in 2001.
Best Alternative Metal Albums of 2000
There were some great heavy metal albums released in 2000. Here is a list of the best alternative metal albums of that year.
Deftones- “White Pony”
The metal landscape was changing in 2000, with nu-metal and alternative metal continuing to gain in popularity. This was reflected in the Grammy Awards that year, which saw Metallica’s “I Disappear” win Best Metal Performance, while Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” won Best Hard Rock Performance.
On the album charts, Metallica’s “S&M” (a live album featuring the San Francisco Symphony) debuted at #1, while System of a Down’s “Toxicity” entered the chart at #12. Slipknot’s “Iowa” also made a strong showing, debuting at #3.
In the world of alternative metal, Deftones’ “White Pony” was one of the most acclaimed albums of 2000. The album took the band’s sound in a more experimental direction, incorporating elements of trip-hop and shoegaze into their trademark heavy sound. The result was an album that was both heavier and more atmospheric than anything the band had done before.
Tool- “Lateralus”
Tool’s “Lateralus” may be the most ambitious and boundary-pushing album in alternative metal history. With an average song length of over eight minutes, the album is a sprawling, layered work that features some of the band’s most complex songwriting to date. Musically, “Lateralus” is all over the map, incorporating elements of progressive rock, jazz, and even industrial metal into its dense sonic palette. Lyrically, the album is equally ambitious, tackling topics like quantum physics and the nature of time. “Lateralus” is an intense and rewarding listening experience that rewards multiple listens.
A Perfect Circle- “Mer de Noms”
Released on May 23, 2000, A Perfect Circle’s debut album “Mer de Noms” quickly became a favorite among fans of the nu-metal genre. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum by the RIAA. The album features the singles “Judith”, “3 Libras”, and “Weak and Powerless”.
