2006 was quite a year for rock and metal, with album releases from the likes of Mastodon, Killswitch Engage and Billy Talent joyfully pleasuring our earholes. Feeling a little nostalgic, we thought we'd take a trip down memory lane and revisit the albums that rocked our world a decade ago.
So without further ado and in no particular order, let us begin:
Honourable Mentions:
Source: Album Artwork
Trivium – The Crusade
After releasing the mind-blowing record that is Ascendancy in 2005, Trivium pretty much exploded on the UK metal scene, notably causing not one, not two, but EIGHT circle pits during their opening set at Download Festival. Needless to say, the band had quite a feat on their hands topping such a phenomenal record. Along came The Crusade, which for many was a disappointment, largely due to the absence of Matt Heafy‘s screamed vocals and being too heavily influenced by Metallica. There were some great tracks on the album though, including the fists-in-the-air swagger of ‘Anthem (We Are The Fire)’, ‘Unrepentant’ and eight-minute instrumental ‘The Crusade’.
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Iron Maiden – A Matter of Life and Death
The mighty Iron Maiden followed 2003’s Dance Of Death with the colossal A Matter Of Life and Death, which saw them transcend into a full-on progressive metal band. Showcasing a more ‘live’ and organic sound, the album pushed further beyond the boundaries than any of Iron Maiden’s albums before. For most, the record is considered one of Maiden’s best post-2000 albums and the closest to match up to the standards of their ‘classics’.
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My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
For most self-confessed emo kids, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge is one of the most important genre-defining albums of the early 00s, inspiring teenagers everywhere to inebriate their eyelids with black eyeliner and adopt a permanently gloomy demeanour. Imagine everyone’s surprise then, when My Chemical Romance released The Black Parade – a pompous, rock opera and concept album based on the sensitive subject of cancerous death. Widely compared to Green Day‘s American Idiot, the record transformed MCR into one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, with many still mourning their split.
