Part 2 covered the albums from 1996-2004 that were of the not-so-hard variety. Let's kick it.
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Without a doubt, one of the most influential rock outfits of the 2000s has to be Linkin Park. With a sound unlike any of the other Nu-metal acts of the period, and a seemingly perfect mix of Chester Bennington's scream/singing and Mike Shinoda explosive rapping. The album was a perfectly angsty mix of accesible alt-metal for fans of many genres. LP made their stamp on the music world in a huge way with their debut LP, and skyrocketed even further when they released a remix of the album entited Reanimation. The pop apex of the album is the piano-laden mega-hit In The End, while songs like By Myself and One Step Closer bring the edge. You can't listen to music in the 2000s without this album.
Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
Killswitch Engage was an established metalcore act before Howard Jones took over on vocals and Adam D switched to guitar. However, the switch brought on a beautiful sound and a perfect mix of powerful, soaring vocals and humongous guitars. Jones had a more polished clean voice over former vocalist Jesse Leach, and the lyrical content rings in perfect harmony with anyone who's ever had a heart, period. This album also made metalcore more accessible to the common fan, but the real reason I include this album is to showcase Jones' ability as a singer and songwriter, which is unfortunately lost on his next two albums with the band because, let's face it; he's a whiny baby. Anyways, if you've ever felt heartache or needed strength, this is THE album.
Meshuggah - Catch Thirtythree
Meshuggah. Legends of the metal world. The pioneers of the palm-mute technique. The inventors of the djent genre. What do you do after releasing 3 consecutive huge extreme metal albums? Add an extra string to your guitars (seriously, 8?!), clean up the sound a little, and record one unbelievable 47:18 long song, broken in to 13 pieces. Groove your faces out. Rock all faces off. If you're a fan of paradoxical lyrics, then this is the album for you. There isn't a bad "track" on this album, and you'll find things here that you've never heard on previous Meshuggah albums (or anywhere else, really). What makes this album stand out is the continuity that is holds through the 47 minute journey, while portraying uniqueness throughout each track. Get some.
Nevermore - Dead Heart, in a Dead World
Speaking of 7 string guitars, welcome to the crushing world of Jeff Loomis and Nevermore. From the slamming opening track Narcosynthesis, to the blistering cover of The Sound of Silence, to the soft opening of the title track, this album kills. Warrel Dane showed me that power metal vocals can make almost anything sound amazing. Jeff Loomis took over both lead and rhythm guitars for the album and crushed all the way through. I feel as though this was the first time I truly heard an explosive power metal voice, at least one that was mixed with something other than screaming guitars. It's a beautiful thing when done right, especially when done through Dane's perspective.
Rammstein - Reise, Reise
How would you introduce a band like Rammstein to someone who had never listened to them before? A vocalist who will blow your mind? A sound that spawned a million copies? The best damn German thing you'll ever hear? I don't know. I just know that they reached their metallic apex with the album Reise, Reise. While their first two albums were more focused on the dance-metal sound, Mutter and Reise shifted to a heavier, more powerful sound without losing the heavy grinding beats. My favorite thing about the band is that they dare to write things that no other band will do. Mein Teil is a (true story) song about two guys who got together to chop off the "piece" of one, to be eaten by the other. Amerika absolutely smashes American culture perfectly while being sung mostly in English. There is also Russian singing (Moskau) and French (Amour). The sheer versatility of the band makes them worth the price of admission. Well, that and the bombastic pyrotechnic show they put on, but you can't hear that.
Sevendust - Home
If you ever wanted to be punched in the face, you ought to get this album. While their follow-up album Animosity was a bigger commercial success, Home carved out a powerful, crushing sound that has defined the band for the years that followed. Lajon Witherspoon could sing a lion to sleep, but has the rage to scare off a bear. It is a straight-up metallic assault from top to bottom. I might have liked their later albums better, but my goodness did this get me off on the right foot with the band. This album changed what I wanted my rock'n'roll to sound like. Also, Licking Cream features Skin from Skunk Anansie, who I consider to be one of the strongest female vocalists to ever grace the metal scene. It's not a complicated album, but it'll get you through your workout and then some.
Slipknot - Iowa
I don't think I ever understood rage until I heard this album. Or cussing. Hahaha. Anything that you ever need to know about hatred, complication and despair can be found in this album. A true explosion of sound, from the hate filled People = Sh*t and Left Behind, to the softer yet still destructive sounds of Gently and Skin Ticket, lead singer Corey Taylor let's you know that "...we are here to destroy you". And so they do. I think over time I've experienced every complicated emotion from every track on this album. It's not just blind rage: it has a direction that leads you down a unique path of pain. Maybe I'll wait til my kids are in their teens before letting them hear this one...? Heh.
Soulfly - Primitive
Max Cavalera is a machine. Soulfly has released 9 albums in 16 years and he's also worked on several other projects. After leaving Sepultura, Cavalera carved his own path with a rotation of musicians that blew up the metal scene with an interesting Brazilian mix of thrash metal, tribal percussion, reggae, and groovy instruments. Primitive features some heavy-hitting guest artists (including Tom Araya, Chino Moreno and Corey Taylor) to hit you with blazing thrash metal as well as the tribal elements that keep it grounded yet groovy. Max is an angry guy and he brings a special sound to his rage. The man must be brilliant because he will write about all sorts of things that make him mad. All in all, it's a groovy album that will continually bob your head and remind you why you like to punch things.
Story of the Year - Page Avenue
If the previous two albums are remnants of rage, then Page Avenue is a remnant of sadness. I never, ever enjoyed screamo vocals before I heard Dan Marsala fire through this album. Holy heartbreak. Nevermind the perfect blend of pop-punk music, just listen to the words Marsala sings. Relate to his heart. There isn't a single song on this album that wasn't perfect for my 18 year old self when it dropped. It carried me through my senior year of high school and let me shed every tear and drop of blood that I needed. If you're hurting and need to get through it with an album, this is a great album for it. Until the Day I Die was the major single, but songs like Razorblades and Burning Years also bring it right to your heart. Also, it's a tough album with driving guitars, showcased best on songs like Page Avenue and Dive Right In.
Cold - 13 Ways To Bleed Onstage/Year of the Spider
Is this cheating? This is cheating. There's no doubt in my mind that Cold is, and always will be my all-time favorite band. There's no better place to start on my love for this band than with these two albums, released 2000 and 2003. 13 Ways is an incredibly dark album that permeated a dark time in my life. You start with Just Got Wicked and you know that you're about to get blasted with some serious alternative metal. The album never ceased to grind through you, and finds ways to tug at the heartstrings of listeners with tracks like Bleed and No One. There is no doubt that Scooter Ward is a conflicted guy and it shows up in songs like It's All Good, Confession, and Anti-Love Song. But Cold didn't have a massive reach until YOTS dropped with it's mega-hit Stupid Girl. The album is once again laced with sadness (Sad Happy, Rain Song, Cure My Tragedy) and the trademark rage (Kill the Music Industry, Remedy, Change the World). I cannot tell you what makes these two albums special, except that when I bought them they were non-stop in my CD player, and that the lyrics STILL relate to my life, even in my late 20s.
Part 4 - coming next week
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