Just as it was for the emo scene, 2003 was a massive year for metal. With a new generation of metal acts across all subgenres taking full advantage of technological advances to reach bigger audiences and some of the genres existing giants releasing landmark albums, 2003 was a year that metal truthers could thrust their horns in the air with pride.
It was also a year in which the biggest metal band of them all, Metallica, released the most divisive album of their career, St. Anger one of a few seismic artistic choices that challenged metalheads' preconceptions in a year that paved the way for what would prove to be a bright future for the genre.
In recognition of this monumental moment in metal, we've pieced together a playlist of 23 Metal Anthems Turning 20 in 2023.
Arch Enemy - We Will Rise - Anthems of Rebellion
Avenged Sevenfold - Second Heartbeat - Waking The Fallen
Between The Buried and Me - Mordecai - The Silent Circus
Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll - Metal: A Headbangers Journey/Hate Crew Deathroll
Cradle of Filth - Babalon AD - Damnation and a Day
Deftones - Minerva - Deftones
Dimmu Borgir - Progenies of the Great Apocalypse - Death Cult Armageddon
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Dream Theater - As I Am - Train of Thought
Evanescence- Bring Me To Life- Fallen
Enslaved- Havenless- Below The Lights
Gojira - Rememberance - The Link
HIM - Buried Alive By Love - Love Metal
Iron Maiden - Dance of Death - Dance of Death
Korn - Did My Time- Take A Look In The Mirror
Lamb of God - As the Palaces Burn - As The Palaces Burn
Linkin Park - Numb - Meteora
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Machine Head - Imperium - Through The Ashes Of Empires
Metallica - Frantic - St. Anger
Opeth - Windowpane - Damnation
Strapping Young Lad - Relentless - SYL
Sunk Loto - Everything Everyway - Between Birth & Death
Type O Negative - I Don't Wanna Be Me - Life Is Killing Me
Trivium - Ember to Inferno - Ember to Inferno
Shop for Trivium Music and Merch
Listen to the best new heavy tracks via the Metal Maniacs playlist.
