In the early 90's many new influential bands came and some new sub-genres emerged. But since late 90's not much new have happen. Bands are mixing the already existing sub-genres instead of creating new ones. The last new sub-genre I could think of that has emerged is post-metal, and that was with Neurosis' "Through Silver In Blood". The same year Therion released "Theli", which could be said turned symphonic metal into a sub-genre. But what have happened since then? OK, maybe djent has developed into a genre on it's own, but that is so far a very small genre.

So my question is: what is the most influential metal album the last 15 years, or since 1997 to date? I'm not asking about albums you think will be influential for the future, but for albums which influence have been proven.

1997 saw the release of HammerFall's "Glory to the brave", which is usually considered to be the album that made power metal popular again. But since that album only reinvented the 80's sound, and most of the newer bands were more influenced by older power metal bands like Helloween and Stratovarius, I can't say that is the most influential release.

The same year Rhapsody's "Legendary Tales" saw it's release. I personally think that was a more influential album since it brought in some new element to the power metal genre, the symphonics.

And then we have the nu metal scene, which was big in early 00's, but it was based on KoRn's debut released in 1994, so I can't think of any very important release in that genre, and the most commercial bands like Linkin Park could not be considered metal to me.

The nu metal hype was replaced by metalcore. I can't think of any specific metalcore album that has been influential. Most metalcore bands name In Flames and At The Gates' "Slaughter Of The Soul" (released in 1995) as their main influence, or maybe bands like Pantera and Sepultura (but that is early 90's).

We also have the folk metal scene, but although it has gained popularity in the 00's, it has been around since early 90's and the band Skyclad, and then a lot of different bands have emerged. I think Finntroll is the band that is most responsible for making the genre popular, or do you have any suggestions on any specific influential album in the genre released since 1997?

My vote for the most influential metal album since 1997 goes to Children of Bodom's "Something Wild", which (together with their later releases) is a typical example of how metal has evolved the last 15 years. Instead of creating new genres they are mixing as many genres as possible, and started what here usually is refered to as "extreme power metal", and had many followers.

edit: I have since I started this thread changed my mind, and I now think that Isis' "Oceanic" could be considered the most influential album. Neurosis was earlier (and definitely more influential, but outside the timeframe with their most influential album), but Isis expanded the sound further, and there are a lot of bands who have followed their path. I think that post metal is the genre that have evolved the most since 1997.

In the last 15 years... which means we can only go back to '97.

That leaves out too much old school stuff... everything after that was essentially just fusions of things that already existed. So... if this were a vote, I'd probably vote something like "there isn't one".

Besides, there's no discernible way to acknowledge the most influential album without asking every band over the course of the last 15 years to release an album which album they were most influenced by during that time.

It's difficult to say since many of the most influential releases in metal were released prior to 1997, I guess I could say Opeth's Blackwater Park or Death's The Sound of Perseverance, even though there's nothing exactly ground-breaking about them, just the fact that they are overwhelmingly great albums.

Ditto on Codera's post. I don't think there's a single answer here but if "influential" refers to an album being a staple within a certain sub-genre(s) then I'd suggest the following:

1. Pale Folklore by Agalloch is a major contributor to the whole blackened folk sub-genre (if you want to call it that).
2. Oceanic by Isis is one of post-metal's defining albums.
3. Leviathan by Mastodon is one of the finest and most prominent sludge albums out there.
4. Dopethrone by Electric Wizard is a stoner masterpiece.
5. Periphery's self-titled and Animals as Leaders' self-titled are probably the most popular/well-known post-Meshuggah djent albums out there.
6. White Pony by Deftones mixed experimental sounds with alt metal. I don't think anyone did that before them. It's also their most popular album.
7. Tool's Aenema and Lateralus fused alt metal with art rock or post-metal. Something like that lol.
8. Porcupine Tree's In Absentia shifted the band to metal and created a pretty unique sound within prog-metal.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.01.2012 at 22:05


Besides, there's no discernible way to acknowledge the most influential album without asking every band over the course of the last 15 years to release an album which album they were most influenced by during that time.

I'm guessing it's probably most influential albums as a listener?
Stuff that probably shaped your tastes as of today?
For me it would probably be

Gojira- From mars to sirius
Mastodon -Leviathan
The Ocean - Precambrian
Amplifier-Amplifier
Baroness-Red Album
Sleep-Dopesmoker/Jerusalem
Tool-Lateralus
Karnivool-Sound Awake
High on Fire - The Art of Self Defense/Death Is This Communion
Russian Circles-Station

Rhapsody's debut is the most influential power metal album of the late 90s.

Written by adace1 on 26.03.2012 at 12:39

Ditto on Codera's post. I don't think there's a single answer here but if "influential" refers to an album being a staple within a certain sub-genre(s) then I'd suggest the following:

1. Pale Folklore by Agalloch is a major contributor to the whole blackened folk sub-genre (if you want to call it that).
2. Oceanic by Isis is one of post-metal's defining albums.
3. Leviathan by Mastodon is one of the finest and most prominent sludge albums out there.
4. Dopethrone by Electric Wizard is a stoner masterpiece.
5. Periphery's self-titled and Animals as Leaders' self-titled are probably the most popular/well-known post-Meshuggah djent albums out there.
6. White Pony by Deftones mixed experimental sounds with alt metal. I don't think anyone did that before them. It's also their most popular album.
7. Tool's Aenema and Lateralus fused alt metal with art rock or post-metal. Something like that lol.
8. Porcupine Tree's In Absentia shifted the band to metal and created a pretty unique sound within prog-metal.

Tool's Aenima was released in 1996, and this thread starts from 1997. Otherwise Aenima, along with Neurosis' Through Silver And Blood, would be the most influential I guess.

I definitely agree with Oceanic as being one of the most influential, maybe the most since post metal is the genre that have developed the most last 15 years. I haven't heard Periphery or Animals as Leaders so I can't tell their influence. Otherwise I think the suggestions are good.

I'm also surprised noone mentioned System Of A Down's Toxicity. Although I'm not a fan of that band I understand they have their own sound.

Written by Aristarchos on 03.07.2012 at 12:31

I'm also surprised noone mentioned System Of A Down's Toxicity. Although I'm not a fan of that band I understand they have their own sound.

Not sure who they influenced, though. It's not like there's a swarm of SOAD copycats out there.

I'm a little unsure about the analysis of much modern music not creating something new but rather combining existing genres. When has that not been the case? Is there not an unbroken continuity you can trace in metal music from one style to another? I can't think of a single example of a purely formed genre jumping out of nowhere and establishing its place in the music world. Those few bands who may have been "ahead of their time" and released quite unique albums rarely immediately spawned followers that didn't take cues from established genres. I guess it's a matter of distance: recent stuff doesn't yet seem ahistorical and established to us, and we project clear distinctions into metal's childhood.

Sikth's The Trees are Dead and Dried Out and Death of a Dead Day have probably influenced all the Djent bands out there along with Meshuggah's Nothing, Catch thirtythree, etc.

How about...

Ensiferum - Ensiferum
Devin Townsend - Terria

Pretty much everything Jari Mäenpää has been involved with is both influential and massively acclaimed, therefore him emerging to the scene had a major impact. In case of Devin, a big bunch of today's artists refer to him as an influence, and not limited to just prog.

Not on everything, but for techmetal Dillinger Escape Plan's 'Calculating Infinity' along with Converge's 'Jane Doe' have really shaped what technical metalcore has become today.

I don't think there is one.

by the mid-90s metal had already fractured into an endless sea of sub-genres and sub-subgenres. i'm hard pressed to think of anything that was absurdly groundbreaking with significant influence on subgenres beyond those it straddled.

i suppose Opeth's Blackwater Park is about as big as it gets.

I think you hit it on the head BitterCOld. Metal is a much bigger beast than it used to be. It's not just everyone trying to be Sabbath, Slayer or Iron Maiden anymore.

Not sure why people are saying metal over the past 15 years is not greatly influential. Yes, there have been a tonne of endless sub-genres becoming established but the fact is certain groups have still attained a great image for improving and innovating. This is to the point where they become great archetypes themselves.

Also, it is true to say that metal will never have another ''Paranoid'' or ''Reign In Blood'' but relative to the past 15 years there are still great bands. I'd probably have to go with ''Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence'' and ''Leviathan'' by Dream Theater and Mastodon respectively. They both developed in an era where proggy, intricate metal is the way many groups have gone and I'd say they helped considerably.

Written by TrollandDie on 12.07.2012 at 16:33

Not sure why people are saying metal over the past 15 years is not greatly influential. Yes, there have been a tonne of endless sub-genres becoming established but the fact is certain groups have still attained a great image for improving and innovating. This is to the point where they become great archetypes themselves.

Also, it is true to say that metal will never have another ''Paranoid'' or ''Reign In Blood'' but relative to the past 15 years there are still great bands. I'd probably have to go with ''Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence'' and ''Leviathan'' by Dream Theater and Mastodon respectively. They both developed in an era where proggy, intricate metal is the way many groups have gone and I'd say they helped considerably.

So you think "Six Degrees" has been more influential than "Metropolis pt 2"? I don't know which has been most influential, but "Metropolis pt 2" seems to be their more popular.

Written by TrollandDie on 12.07.2012 at 16:33

Not sure why people are saying metal over the past 15 years is not greatly influential. Yes, there have been a tonne of endless sub-genres becoming established but the fact is certain groups have still attained a great image for improving and innovating. This is to the point where they become great archetypes themselves.

Also, it is true to say that metal will never have another ''Paranoid'' or ''Reign In Blood'' but relative to the past 15 years there are still great bands. I'd probably have to go with ''Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence'' and ''Leviathan'' by Dream Theater and Mastodon respectively. They both developed in an era where proggy, intricate metal is the way many groups have gone and I'd say they helped considerably.

By the way, of course I think metal is still developing. For example Mastodon, as you mention, have created a unique sound. Sludge metal isn't my favourite genre, so I'm not sure of how many Mastodon clones there are yet, or how many new bands who have mentioned them as an influence, but I like Kylesa, who is often compared to Mastodon.

Personally I would say that since the start of heavy metal to 1996, there have for each year been at least one album that has been more influential than any album since 1997.

Yeah, metal has expanded so much since 1997 it's really difficult to pin-point a particularly "groundbreaking" release for all of metal that has come out since that point. I suppose maybe Death's last album SoP, or Opeth's Blackwater Park, but I think that's about it.

If my knowledge of history is correct, KSE's AOJB and TEOH were the primary albums in launching metalcore to mainstream popularity, which would place them as some of most influential albums of the past 15 years. And Necrophagist's Epitaph seems to have influenced a shitload of the so called "wank tech death" bands. Isis's Oceanic and Panopticon were essential in establishing the whole post metal scene that's been a big thing for a while. And like it or not (I sure don't), JFAC's doom EP has influenced pretty much every deathcore band after its release.

I would think it's probably a metalcore or deathcore album that really kick started that genre's growth. But I know too little about either genre to say whether that applies to this timeline or what band it would be.

Written by [user id=111774] on 06.09.2012 at 10:32

If my knowledge of history is correct, KSE's AOJB and TEOH were the primary albums in launching metalcore to mainstream popularity, which would place them as some of most influential albums of the past 15 years. And Necrophagist's Epitaph seems to have influenced a shitload of the so called "wank tech death" bands. Isis's Oceanic and Panopticon were essential in establishing the whole post metal scene that's been a big thing for a while. And like it or not (I sure don't), JFAC's doom EP has influenced pretty much every deathcore band after its release.

I don't have much knowledge of metalcore, I don't listen to that kind of music, but I have seen Underoath getting the credit for the metalcore genre. Their debut was released in 1999 and Killswitch Engage's debut in 2000. I haven't heard any of them, so I couldn't say how they sound. Perhaps you're right about KSE making the genre mainstream, I have know idea about that since here in Sweden it has never been mainstream. We have In Flames and Dead By April, whatever you want to call those bands, otherwise power metal is the most commercial successful metal genre here (Sabaton, HammerFall, Nightwish). The question is also how important commercial success is for influence. Often it is the albums that was before its time that could be considered most influential, but as i said, I don't know how it is in this case.

I definitely agree with Necrophagist and Isis as being two of the most influential mordern metal bands. The deathcore genre is another genre I don't have any knowledge of, since it isn't big in Sweden and I haven't cared to check it out. What does JFAC stand for?

The only truly ground-breaking album from that period that I can think of now is "Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale."

Written by Aristarchos on 16.09.2012 at 11:45


I don't have much knowledge of metalcore, I don't listen to that kind of music, but I have seen Underoath getting the credit for the metalcore genre. Their debut was released in 1999 and Killswitch Engage's debut in 2000. I haven't heard any of them, so I couldn't say how they sound. Perhaps you're right about KSE making the genre mainstream, I have know idea about that since here in Sweden it has never been mainstream. We have In Flames and Dead By April, whatever you want to call those bands, otherwise power metal is the most commercial successful metal genre here (Sabaton, HammerFall, Nightwish). The question is also how important commercial success is for influence. Often it is the albums that was before its time that could be considered most influential, but as i said, I don't know how it is in this case.

I definitely agree with Necrophagist and Isis as being two of the most influential mordern metal bands. The deathcore genre is another genre I don't have any knowledge of, since it isn't big in Sweden and I haven't cared to check it out. What does JFAC stand for?

Metalcore has been in existence since 1986 (Agnostic Front releases Cause for Alarm) pretty much. But if we are talking melodic metalcore then the first ones were Prayer For Cleansing, Diecast and Unearth. However the reason KSE gets mentioned is because it was KSE who launched it into popularity and I think they were the ones who added the clean choruses/good cop-bad cop vocals the first time.

JFAC stands for Job For A Cowboy, and their debut EP, titled Doom was the release that caused deathcore bands to pop up all over the place. It was Animosity who created the style however and there were multiple deathcore albums in existence before Doom from various other bands, like All Shall Perish, Despised Icon, Ion Dissonance, etc.

As for the topic, although it falls just outside the timeframe, I'd name Through Silver In Blood. It was pretty much the album that created post-metal, although it was Oceanic that formed its sound to what it is now.

Well, the band that actually stands out for me in the 2000s is Amon Amarth, they are the ones who came back with the link between classic and metal the way Manowar did years before.
Yes, Amon Amarth are the Manowar of Death Metal.
And their albums are a pleasure to the ears, and they have the attitude.
Versus the World rules, but every Amon Amarth album has a song that goes directly in history.
Strangely and fortunately enough, metal bands don't dare copying them that much.

Written by Uldreth on 16.09.2012 at 13:50

Metalcore has been in existence since 1986 (Agnostic Front releases Cause for Alarm) pretty much. But if we are talking melodic metalcore then the first ones were Prayer For Cleansing, Diecast and Unearth. However the reason KSE gets mentioned is because it was KSE who launched it into popularity and I think they were the ones who added the clean choruses/good cop-bad cop vocals the first time.

JFAC stands for Job For A Cowboy, and their debut EP, titled Doom was the release that caused deathcore bands to pop up all over the place. It was Animosity who created the style however and there were multiple deathcore albums in existence before Doom from various other bands, like All Shall Perish, Despised Icon, Ion Dissonance, etc.

As for the topic, although it falls just outside the timeframe, I'd name Through Silver In Blood. It was pretty much the album that created post-metal, although it was Oceanic that formed its sound to what it is now.

First: Thanks for teaching me the history of metalcore and deathcore!

I know Agnostic Front, I just forgot to write melodic before metalcore, but how much do the melodic metalcore bands have in common with classic metalcore bands like Agnostic Front, who have more in common with hardcore than metal? I guess the album most melodic metalcore bands have been influenced by is At The Gates' "Slaughter Of The Soul".

Perhaps I mixed up Underoath with Unearth, they have so similiar name and I haven't listen to either of them.

I don't think it is allowed in this thread to choose an album from 1996, although I agree with it being the most influential since 1996, but if we start in 1997 I guess "Oceanic" wins.

Written by [user id=37197] on 17.09.2012 at 22:21

Well, the band that actually stands out for me in the 2000s is Amon Amarth, they are the ones who came back with the link between classic and metal the way Manowar did years before.
Yes, Amon Amarth are the Manowar of Death Metal.
And their albums are a pleasure to the ears, and they have the attitude.
Versus the World rules, but every Amon Amarth album has a song that goes directly in history.
Strangely and fortunately enough, metal bands don't dare copying them that much.

If not many bands copying them, I can't consider any of their albums the most influential since 97, which this thread is about.

Written by Aristarchos on 24.09.2012 at 13:42

Written by [user id=37197] on 17.09.2012 at 22:21

Well, the band that actually stands out for me in the 2000s is Amon Amarth, they are the ones who came back with the link between classic and metal the way Manowar did years before.
Yes, Amon Amarth are the Manowar of Death Metal.
And their albums are a pleasure to the ears, and they have the attitude.
Versus the World rules, but every Amon Amarth album has a song that goes directly in history.
Strangely and fortunately enough, metal bands don't dare copying them that much.

If not many bands copying them, I can't consider any of their albums the most influential since 97, which this thread is about.

Well, if you wanna talk semantics, you can't reduce the influence of a band to a strict musical one.
The image, the attitude, the resonance on other styles are other aspects that you have to take into consideration. It's not more about how many copycats it spawned, than about what it did for Metal in general, and in this light, I think Amon Amarth delivered. The most influential artists are also often the most difficult to copy.
And remember that a thread is a way to discuss things, if there was one answer to any subject, forums would get boring very fast.
Thanks for the interest though.

Written by Irritable Ted on 10.04.2012 at 11:26

Nightwish Oceanborn. Not their first album but probably more influential. You could talk all day about the bands that launched themselves after this album's release. Not sure if this launched the whole genre, but wouldn't be surprised.

Stratovarius Visions came out as well. Not the originator of power metal, but certainly shaped Finland's sound for a few years (Sonata Arctica, Thunderstone).

Angels Fall First is completely different from Oceanborn, and I completely support that hypothesis, and I actually think of Nightwish as being the main innovators in the whole female fronted symphonic metal scene.

Written by [user id=37197] on 26.09.2012 at 13:06

Written by Aristarchos on 24.09.2012 at 13:42

Written by [user id=37197] on 17.09.2012 at 22:21

Well, the band that actually stands out for me in the 2000s is Amon Amarth, they are the ones who came back with the link between classic and metal the way Manowar did years before.
Yes, Amon Amarth are the Manowar of Death Metal.
And their albums are a pleasure to the ears, and they have the attitude.
Versus the World rules, but every Amon Amarth album has a song that goes directly in history.
Strangely and fortunately enough, metal bands don't dare copying them that much.

If not many bands copying them, I can't consider any of their albums the most influential since 97, which this thread is about.

Well, if you wanna talk semantics, you can't reduce the influence of a band to a strict musical one.
The image, the attitude, the resonance on other styles are other aspects that you have to take into consideration. It's not more about how many copycats it spawned, than about what it did for Metal in general, and in this light, I think Amon Amarth delivered. The most influential artists are also often the most difficult to copy.
And remember that a thread is a way to discuss things, if there was one answer to any subject, forums would get boring very fast.
Thanks for the interest though.

Don't take my comment too seriously. I'm actually very glad for every suggestion I get in this thread. And I agree that often it is the most influential artists that is the most difficult to copy. You can't for example deny the influence of Venom and Mercyful Fate, but I don't know how many bands there are that sounds exactly like them. But I'm not really sure what Amon Amarth have contributed to metal to be considered one of the most influential bands in recent years, at least if you compare to Opeth, Isis etc. but that is just my opinion and I could be wrong, and I respect that you have your opinion. I only think it is interesting to discuss things like this. And with the image, I don't think there is anything special with their viking image, since bands have had viking images since Bathory (and already in the 70's the american heavy metal band Legend introduced a viking image), but once again, this is just my opinion.

Nightwish - Oceanborn

Written by Aristarchos on 04.10.2012 at 17:22

Written by [user id=37197] on 26.09.2012 at 13:06

Written by Aristarchos on 24.09.2012 at 13:42

Written by [user id=37197] on 17.09.2012 at 22:21

Well, the band that actually stands out for me in the 2000s is Amon Amarth, they are the ones who came back with the link between classic and metal the way Manowar did years before.
Yes, Amon Amarth are the Manowar of Death Metal.
And their albums are a pleasure to the ears, and they have the attitude.
Versus the World rules, but every Amon Amarth album has a song that goes directly in history.
Strangely and fortunately enough, metal bands don't dare copying them that much.

If not many bands copying them, I can't consider any of their albums the most influential since 97, which this thread is about.

Well, if you wanna talk semantics, you can't reduce the influence of a band to a strict musical one.
The image, the attitude, the resonance on other styles are other aspects that you have to take into consideration. It's not more about how many copycats it spawned, than about what it did for Metal in general, and in this light, I think Amon Amarth delivered. The most influential artists are also often the most difficult to copy.
And remember that a thread is a way to discuss things, if there was one answer to any subject, forums would get boring very fast.
Thanks for the interest though.

Don't take my comment too seriously. I'm actually very glad for every suggestion I get in this thread. And I agree that often it is the most influential artists that is the most difficult to copy. You can't for example deny the influence of Venom and Mercyful Fate, but I don't know how many bands there are that sounds exactly like them. But I'm not really sure what Amon Amarth have contributed to metal to be considered one of the most influential bands in recent years, at least if you compare to Opeth, Isis etc. but that is just my opinion and I could be wrong, and I respect that you have your opinion. I only think it is interesting to discuss things like this. And with the image, I don't think there is anything special with their viking image, since bands have had viking images since Bathory (and already in the 70's the american heavy metal band Legend introduced a viking image), but once again, this is just my opinion.

Alright, I'm not gonna go on with the reasons why Amon Amarth is the most influential one, since it's probably factually wrong anyway. But one thing they did for sure is make Metal fun again, which is, for an eighties metal soul like me something to treasure.
And I can't talk about Opeth, since Fates Warning is as progressive as I can go. Ha.
Now let's grab a beer. Another one.