Having conquered the globe at various stages of its existence,metal is one ofmusic’s greatest counterculture movements, but there’s no denying the genre has struggled for the past decade. From commercial woes, to completely disappearing from pop culture, and being replaced by hip-hop as the defacto “dangerous music” in movie trailers,andhaving our artists relegated to the pre-show at awards shows… Let’s face it, it’s been bleak.
Thankfully, plenty of bands are keeping the art of metal at the highest of standards. Uncompromising, artistic and out of the top tier when it comes to musicianship and songwriting,metal still has plenty to say creatively, even if it’s largely ignored commercially. These are the best examples of heavy music over the course of the last ten years.
10Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
Uniting Everyone With The Power Of The Riff
Despite appearing to be a brotherhood on the surface, take a look at any metal comments section, and you’ll find a slew of arguments splitting hairs on the tiniest things in ways that range from passionate to abusive. In truth, it’s a fractured society where everybody’s take on what is and isn’t heavy or does and doesn’t fit makes everything feel more contentious than joyous - so whenPower Trip united the many tribes of heavy metalwith the universally lovedNightmare Logic, it felt like a landmark achievement.
Taking the “all gas, no brakes” approach of Bay Area thrash and the irresistible power groove of Pantera and Lamb Of God,Power Trip created something freshthat took the best of metal’s past and presented it in a way that felt contemporary and cool. Power Trip could sit happily in your playlist next to traditional thrash like Megadeth and Forbidden, or trendy hardcore bands Code Orange and Turnstile.Vocalist Riley Gale encapsulated cool, a mix of early Axl Rose and something indescribable. His personality, energy, and unique style powered this phenomenal modern classic, and the world is a lesser place without him.
9Meshuggah - The Violent Sleep Of Reason
These Swedish Powerhouses Are Relentless
For reasons apparent to all of those with ears,Meshuggah are one of metal’s most well-loved bands. They changed the game in so many ways, as the off-kilter rhythmic patterns and their hulking “djent” guitar tone shifted the landscape of heavy music in a way so few bands could claim to do. That feat is impressive enough, but Meshuggah have something else that sets them apart from the average band.
There’s usually a point in a band’s career where their creative juices waiver, but there’s an argument to sayMeshhugah are metal’s most consistent band. OnThe Violent Sleep of Reason, the Swedish pioneers recorded the album live for the first time since their early career, making their biomechanical sound feel looser but no less precise. To add more quality,The Violent Sleep of Reasonis willing to get weirdmore than the average Meshuggah release.
8Architects - All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
Brighton Metalcore Stalwarts Come Of Age
It feels like a long time ago, but once upon a time, Architects had the love of everybody. Respected for their technical wizardry and a vocalist who seemingly every melodic metalcore singer wanted to emulate, Architects had a run of albums that were visibly building to something special. When it arrived, it was crystal clear thatAll Our Gods Have Abandoned Uswas a masterpiece.
There Aren’t Many 10/10 Heavy Metal Albums, But You Need To Listen To All 10 Of These
There may not be many of them in the past or present of music, but this collection of heavy metal albums can definitively be described as “perfect.”
An emotional tour de force that drips with sincerity and authenticity, Architects' creative zenith was, tragically, guitarist Tom Searle’s last complete work. The songs were crafted under the unfathomably painful circumstances of Tom’s battle against cancer, and unleash the unfiltered cavalcade of human emotions that come with that fight. It is a difficult listen, to put it mildly. It’s an album you don’t just hear; it’s one that insists you feel it in your bones.It remains a creative peak for Architectsthat they have not got within the same zip code of achieving since.
7Gatecreeper - Dark Superstition
For Those Who Love Maiden And Entombed
Riding in on a horse and carrying a sword that’s on fire, the opening riff to this modern classic will instantly let you know if this is going to be to your tastes.Gatecreeper is bringing back old-schoolriffing for the masses, powered by a guitar tone that could bring a building down. Echoing the fuzzy heaviness of Entombed and Bolt Thrower,Dark Superstitionis the moment Gatecreeper took the shackles off and embraced their ability to write anthems. The Black Curtain could easily fit on a newer Parkway Drive album, despite wielding those heavier influences.
Clocking in at under 40 mins across 10 bone-crunching tracks, there’s a treasure trove of heavy metal excellence on display on Dark Superstition.
Through their music, artwork, logo and lyrics,Gatecreeper’s willingness to embrace metal’s clichés makes them cool. Clocking in at under 40 mins across 10 bone-crunching tracks, there’s a treasure trove of heavy metal excellence on display onDark Superstition. It’s impossible to believe that there aren’t tens of millions of Iron Maiden, Amon Amarth and Behemoth fans willing to embrace the enormous riffing on “Superstitious Vision” and “Tears Fall From The Sky.”
French Metallers Smash Through Metal’s Glass Ceiling
Despite being one of 21st century metal’s most innovative and distinctive bands, there are a portion of metal’s audience that seem to begrudge Gojira their success. Having refined their sound, Gojira’s latest albums have an elegance to them that seems to have upset fans of their earlier work. Though noticeably less about “just” heaviness, that is to ignoreGojira have earned success on their own terms. Songs like “Amazonia” couldn’t be further from Bad Omens, and yet they occupy the same kind of slots at festivals. That’s incredible when you consider the sound of the two artists.
As for Fortitude, this is the sound of Gojira branching out. The technicolor riff that opens “Another World” feels like Tool raised on Meshuggah and Morbid Angel, “The Chant” echoes Pink Floyd with heft and muscle being brought to the party, and their recent performance at the Olympics shows whyGojira are the band people should believe inamong the modern metal behemoths. Better yet, it would take a brave person to bet against their best being yet to come.
Death Metal Perfection From NY
Elite metal doesn’t always have to be original or break new artistic ground. Hailing from Rochester, NY,Undeath are the best straight-up Death Metal band in the worldand their debut album is the stuff of legend. If your idea of a good time is Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus or Cryptopsy, Undeath are essential listening.
Even scouringLesions of a Different Kind’s tracklist, titles like “Kicked in the Protruding Guts” and “Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body” let you know that this ismeat and potatoes Death Metal that isn’t for the timidor easily shocked. If you like riffs that feel like watching an orc having his skull clubbed, “Shackles of Sanity” has you covered, and “Acidic Twilight Visions” has disgusting Cavalera-inspired riffing that feels like being dragged through a swamp backwards. It won’t be for everyone, but if you like your metal bursting with filth, Undeath could be your new favorite band.
Euro Pop And Metal Bring The Fun To Heavy Music
On paper, the marriage of sugary Euro Pop EDM and metal should not work at all.Electric Callboy are contemporary metal’s unlikeliest success story, from their concept to their long history as a band. Treated as a punchline for around a decade, the Germans had a change in their vocal department by recruiting Nico Sallach released the viral smash “Hypa Hypa,” and never looked back. Since that moment, Electric Callboy have become one of metal’s most loved acts, andTekknois largely the reason.
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The best thing about The Ramones is hearing those almost nursery rhyme-esque vocal melodies and wondering how they didn’t exist before, through their simplicity and catchiness. This is the exact same wonder that exists on this album.Tekknois loaded with catchy chorusesthat remain earworms for days, even when not sung in English, like the Deathcore Eurovision of “Hurrikan.” Their songs are not meant to cause thinking, they are designed to cause drinking. This album’s tsunami of fun means Electric Callboy will be a staple at festivals for years to come.
Floridian Metal Royalty Continue To Produce The Goods
There aren’t many bands that have the creative trajectory of Trivium. They’re an interesting band that spent a lot of their first decade or so as a band struggling to find where to put their enormous love for heavy metal.Trivium loved Maiden and Metallica so much they wanted to be them, but finding their own identity was the best thing that ever happened to this band.What The Dead Men Sayrepresents the final form of that metamorphosis.
Trivium are heroes to metal fans around the world, like their heroes in Pantera, Machine Head and Megadeth in the years before.
Taking elements of thrash, mainstream, metalcore, power metal, tech, trad, and whatever else they fancied,Trivium have finally come of ageto wear their influences proudly, but have their own sound. The title track is perfection; vocalist Matt Heafy has a command and control here that’s everything he’s always aspired to, and adding drummer Alex Bent brought new dimensions to every facet of their sound. Trivium are heroes to metal fans around the world, like their heroes in Pantera, Machine Head and Megadeth in the years before. This is the moment it all came together.
Modern Metal’s Coolest Band’s Best Effort To Date
Metal’s decline from the face of pop culture has been disastrous for the popularity and growth of heavy music. This is largely due to being counterculture by design, but it’s also because metal has had nothing palatable with the art and fashion of the day.Loathe is metal’s coolest band, and it isn’t even close. Merging heaviness that doesn’t pull its punches with a vision that’s artistic and cinematic,I Let It in and It Took Everythingechoes Deftones, Portishead, and even Bad Brains on “Broken Vision Rhythm.”
It draws inspiration from Akira and the movies of David Lynch at the drop of a hat. That the world is still waiting for its follow-up half a decade later suggests that Loathe knows they set a ridiculously high standard with this collection. For now, listeners can still ride on a wave of euphoric bliss during the luscious “Two-Way Mirror” or embrace the jagged, discombobulating brilliance of “New Faces in the Dark.“2025 will hopefully be the year Loathe releases new music. It’s hard to think of a band metal needs more.
The Most Creative Album In Modern Metal
At its pinnacle, metal is an epic and fearless art form that dares to embrace all manner of influences to expand the sound of the genre and satisfy a complex musical palette. Blood Incantation’sAbsolute Elsewhereis a special albumthat challenges the listener and gives back in waves to those who spend time traveling its many terrains, concepts and sounds. Conceptual and expansive,Absolute Elsewhereis accessible heavy music that feels like every second has been meticulously poured over.
Set out across six mesmerizing tracks that are two separate musical acts,Absolute Elsewhereis a sci-fi-influenced prog metal classic. Having been excellent since their breakthrough onStarspawn, Blood Incantation are students of sound, songwriting, and heavy metal, using classic, organic production techniques and instrumentation to broaden the confines of heavy music and the musical horizons of listeners everywhere. Zone out, give it your full attention, and be taken on a journey through time, space and human existence via the power of song and fearless musicianship.
