Blog author: Alex Mrkonjic I always wondered what kind of list I could come up with without having to mention bands from the 80’s like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer just to name of few. Looking back to my years in high school, there were quite a few bands back then that had quite an influence on me now. So you will not find any 80’s bands on this list, so if that is what you are hoping for, then turn away now. |
To qualify for this list, bands would have had to come out with albums between the years of 2004-2007 just to make it more challenging. These are just the albums I liked, so if there is an album on here I forgot about, its either that I didn't know about it or I just didn't like it, so ha!

10. MASTODON - Leviathan
You know this is going to be a hard list when I put this behemoth of an album at the ten spot. I really got into Mastodon when I saw them open for Judas Priest a couple years ago. Now of course even before that, I knew the song “Blood & Thunder”. However, there are other monsters (pardon the pun) such as “I Am Ahab”, “Seabeast” and one of my personal favourites “Aqua Dementia”. This album, loosely based on the novel Moby Dick is a perfect mix of modern metal riffs with progressive metal precision, with drummer Brann Dailor really standing out on this one. This is one you should listen to if you haven’t.
You know this is going to be a hard list when I put this behemoth of an album at the ten spot. I really got into Mastodon when I saw them open for Judas Priest a couple years ago. Now of course even before that, I knew the song “Blood & Thunder”. However, there are other monsters (pardon the pun) such as “I Am Ahab”, “Seabeast” and one of my personal favourites “Aqua Dementia”. This album, loosely based on the novel Moby Dick is a perfect mix of modern metal riffs with progressive metal precision, with drummer Brann Dailor really standing out on this one. This is one you should listen to if you haven’t.

09. DRAGONFORCE - Inhuman Rampage
Man, who doesn’t remember trying to play “Through The Fire & Flames” on the hardest difficulty on Guitar Hero? I never dared try, but what i did do was really enjoy how fast the music was. It was like listening to a video game soundtrack. Obviously the guitars from Herman Li and Sam Totman are what you are going to enjoy the most on this album. Don’t believe me? Just listen too “Operation Ground & Pound”. “Revolution Deathsquad”, and “Storming The Burning Fields”. You will honestly laugh with enjoyment (which is what I did). Thank you Guitar Hero (we salute you). See what I did there!
Man, who doesn’t remember trying to play “Through The Fire & Flames” on the hardest difficulty on Guitar Hero? I never dared try, but what i did do was really enjoy how fast the music was. It was like listening to a video game soundtrack. Obviously the guitars from Herman Li and Sam Totman are what you are going to enjoy the most on this album. Don’t believe me? Just listen too “Operation Ground & Pound”. “Revolution Deathsquad”, and “Storming The Burning Fields”. You will honestly laugh with enjoyment (which is what I did). Thank you Guitar Hero (we salute you). See what I did there!

08. AVENGED SEVENFOLD - Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is one band that took me quite a while to get used to. I started to like them when they came out with Nightmare in 2010. I then went back to this record and it got me hooked. The first song on the album “Critical Acclaim” brings the heaviness to 11 right off the bat. Combine that with strong songs like “Afterlife”, “ Almost Easy” and “Scream”, there is a lot to like. It’s a strong classic heavy metal album from one of the big acts of this day and age. It showed too with a debut at number 4 on the Billboard 200 at the time. Quite a feat for a metal band.
Avenged Sevenfold is one band that took me quite a while to get used to. I started to like them when they came out with Nightmare in 2010. I then went back to this record and it got me hooked. The first song on the album “Critical Acclaim” brings the heaviness to 11 right off the bat. Combine that with strong songs like “Afterlife”, “ Almost Easy” and “Scream”, there is a lot to like. It’s a strong classic heavy metal album from one of the big acts of this day and age. It showed too with a debut at number 4 on the Billboard 200 at the time. Quite a feat for a metal band.

07. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - As Daylight Dies
I was in history class the first time I heard of Killswitch Engage. My friend who was sitting behind me was really into these guys and he told me to listen to the new track called “My Curse”. At the time, I was also really into wrestling and one of the popular up and coming wrestlers was CM Punk, who’s entrance theme music was the song “This Fire Burns” on the special edition of the album. After that, I got hooked on this album. The crunching headbanging riffs on songs like “Unbroken” and “This Is Absolution” make this album a must listen, and all that I was listening too in those days. Also, lets not forget about their awesome cover of the Dio classic “Holy Diver”.
I was in history class the first time I heard of Killswitch Engage. My friend who was sitting behind me was really into these guys and he told me to listen to the new track called “My Curse”. At the time, I was also really into wrestling and one of the popular up and coming wrestlers was CM Punk, who’s entrance theme music was the song “This Fire Burns” on the special edition of the album. After that, I got hooked on this album. The crunching headbanging riffs on songs like “Unbroken” and “This Is Absolution” make this album a must listen, and all that I was listening too in those days. Also, lets not forget about their awesome cover of the Dio classic “Holy Diver”.

06. MACHINE HEAD - The Blackening
This was hard to put at number six considering Machine Head are now one of my favourite modern metal bands. This album already had quite a lot of hype at the time with the death of Dimebag Darrell, after that writer named William Grim wrote an article about the late guitarist basically praising his murder. As a retaliation to this horrible article, Robb Flynn wrote the song “Aesthetics Of Hate” which brings the anger right out of Flynn’s voice and is by far one of the best songs they have ever written. It showed as well, eventually being nominated for “Best Metal Performance” at the 50th Grammy Awards eventually losing to Slayer’s song “Final Six” (bonus track from Christ Illusion). However, that is not the only heavy hitter on the album. “Beautiful Morning”, “Now I Lay Thee Down”, “Wolves”, and of course their big hit “Halo” are all heavy-hitting songs that make this album a modern metal classic.
This was hard to put at number six considering Machine Head are now one of my favourite modern metal bands. This album already had quite a lot of hype at the time with the death of Dimebag Darrell, after that writer named William Grim wrote an article about the late guitarist basically praising his murder. As a retaliation to this horrible article, Robb Flynn wrote the song “Aesthetics Of Hate” which brings the anger right out of Flynn’s voice and is by far one of the best songs they have ever written. It showed as well, eventually being nominated for “Best Metal Performance” at the 50th Grammy Awards eventually losing to Slayer’s song “Final Six” (bonus track from Christ Illusion). However, that is not the only heavy hitter on the album. “Beautiful Morning”, “Now I Lay Thee Down”, “Wolves”, and of course their big hit “Halo” are all heavy-hitting songs that make this album a modern metal classic.

05. TRIVIUM - The Crusade
Now I realize that The Crusade is not a popular album amongst hardcore Trivium fans, especially after the release of their critically acclaimed previous effort Ascendancy. However I was never a fan of classic Trivium so it didn’t bother me as much. This album was a drastic departure for them at the time, changing their well known metalcore sound for a more thrash metal style record. You can definitely hear these changes on songs like “Anthem (We Are The Fire)”, “The Rising”, “Entrance Of The Conflagration” and “Becoming The Dragon”. My only issue with this album is frontman Matt Heafy’s vocals sounding like James Hetfield of Metallica. Aside from all that, this is a great heavy metal record which I heard throughout high school and my friends never stopped talking about.
Now I realize that The Crusade is not a popular album amongst hardcore Trivium fans, especially after the release of their critically acclaimed previous effort Ascendancy. However I was never a fan of classic Trivium so it didn’t bother me as much. This album was a drastic departure for them at the time, changing their well known metalcore sound for a more thrash metal style record. You can definitely hear these changes on songs like “Anthem (We Are The Fire)”, “The Rising”, “Entrance Of The Conflagration” and “Becoming The Dragon”. My only issue with this album is frontman Matt Heafy’s vocals sounding like James Hetfield of Metallica. Aside from all that, this is a great heavy metal record which I heard throughout high school and my friends never stopped talking about.

04. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - The Way Of The Fist
Success was bound for Five Finger Death Punch the moment they came out with their smash first hit song “The Bleeding”, which they still end their shows with to this day. The aggression is all over their debut album The Way Of The Fist, with the previously mentioned hit. Of course when you have someone like former Machine Head and Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader mixing the album, you are in good hands. The album is further strengthened by songs like “Never Enough”, “Stranger Than Fiction”, “Ashes” and of course “White Knuckles”, the latter of which being a live show staple. Today, their success is going strong with their latest release 2015’s Got Your Six being their best selling record to date and their 3rd consecutive album to debut at number 2 on the Billboard 200. So, if you want to hear where it all started, this is a good place to start.
Success was bound for Five Finger Death Punch the moment they came out with their smash first hit song “The Bleeding”, which they still end their shows with to this day. The aggression is all over their debut album The Way Of The Fist, with the previously mentioned hit. Of course when you have someone like former Machine Head and Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader mixing the album, you are in good hands. The album is further strengthened by songs like “Never Enough”, “Stranger Than Fiction”, “Ashes” and of course “White Knuckles”, the latter of which being a live show staple. Today, their success is going strong with their latest release 2015’s Got Your Six being their best selling record to date and their 3rd consecutive album to debut at number 2 on the Billboard 200. So, if you want to hear where it all started, this is a good place to start.

03. LAMB OF GOD - Sacrament
How could I not put this in the top three? Lamb Of God’s fifth studio masterpiece Sacrament was the top selling metal album of 2006 and it’s pretty clear why. Metal was making a comeback in the early 2000’s and Lamb Of God was considered to be the reason. Their previous effort 2004’s Ashes Of The Wake further strengthened that claim when they featured Alex Skolnick of Testament fame and former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland on their song “Ashes Of The Wake”. On this album however, they took things to the next level with songs like “Walk With Me In Hell”, “Descending”, “Again We Rise”, “Blacken The Cursed Sun” and of course one of my favourite songs “Redneck”. If you want to know why metal made a big comeback, listen to this record and you will know the answer.
How could I not put this in the top three? Lamb Of God’s fifth studio masterpiece Sacrament was the top selling metal album of 2006 and it’s pretty clear why. Metal was making a comeback in the early 2000’s and Lamb Of God was considered to be the reason. Their previous effort 2004’s Ashes Of The Wake further strengthened that claim when they featured Alex Skolnick of Testament fame and former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland on their song “Ashes Of The Wake”. On this album however, they took things to the next level with songs like “Walk With Me In Hell”, “Descending”, “Again We Rise”, “Blacken The Cursed Sun” and of course one of my favourite songs “Redneck”. If you want to know why metal made a big comeback, listen to this record and you will know the answer.

02. SLIPKNOT - VOL. 3: (THE SUBLIMINAL VERSES)
I owe a lot to Slipknot. They were my first metal concert ever. I remember the lineup to this day. They were touring with As I Lay Dying and Unearth. Neither of which I listen too, but it was good show overall. I remember seeing the nine of them on stage playing songs from their previous two albums and playing some songs from the newest release at the time: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses). Some of my favourites include “Duality”, “Vermillion”, “The Blister Exists” and of course my two favourites “Pulse Of The Maggots” and “Before I Forget”. The latter of which won them their first Grammy award for Best Metal Performance. Even though the album was labeled as a little too commercial compared to their previous two albums, the lyrics were just as important. “Pulse Of The Maggots” was one of those songs being about the fans and at the same time, a big "F*** You!" to music executives who had turned them down or said "No" to them. They are just as important to me now as they were back then.
I owe a lot to Slipknot. They were my first metal concert ever. I remember the lineup to this day. They were touring with As I Lay Dying and Unearth. Neither of which I listen too, but it was good show overall. I remember seeing the nine of them on stage playing songs from their previous two albums and playing some songs from the newest release at the time: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses). Some of my favourites include “Duality”, “Vermillion”, “The Blister Exists” and of course my two favourites “Pulse Of The Maggots” and “Before I Forget”. The latter of which won them their first Grammy award for Best Metal Performance. Even though the album was labeled as a little too commercial compared to their previous two albums, the lyrics were just as important. “Pulse Of The Maggots” was one of those songs being about the fans and at the same time, a big "F*** You!" to music executives who had turned them down or said "No" to them. They are just as important to me now as they were back then.

01. DISTURBED - Ten Thousand Fists
The moment I thought of doing this list, I knew I was going to put this monster of an album at number one. I got Ten Thousand Fists as a birthday present the year it came out, and I would listen to it every morning on the way to school for the rest of the year. The first two albums were quite different from one another, but this was the album I felt Disturbed really established themselves as the modern day Metallica. The results certainly back that claim as well. The album was the band’s second straight album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It’s a kick ass album from start to finish with no curve balls whatsoever. Of course we all remember trying to master “Stricken” on Guitar Hero 3 on the hardest difficulty, but it made me appreciate the song even more. “Sons Of Plunder”, “Overburdened”, “Decadence”, “Avarice”, Forgiven”, I could go on and on with all the strong tracks. Of course though, who could forget their awesome Genesis cover “Land Of Confusion”? There is so much to love here. A modern metal masterpiece. If you haven’t heard it yet, go listen to it.
The moment I thought of doing this list, I knew I was going to put this monster of an album at number one. I got Ten Thousand Fists as a birthday present the year it came out, and I would listen to it every morning on the way to school for the rest of the year. The first two albums were quite different from one another, but this was the album I felt Disturbed really established themselves as the modern day Metallica. The results certainly back that claim as well. The album was the band’s second straight album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It’s a kick ass album from start to finish with no curve balls whatsoever. Of course we all remember trying to master “Stricken” on Guitar Hero 3 on the hardest difficulty, but it made me appreciate the song even more. “Sons Of Plunder”, “Overburdened”, “Decadence”, “Avarice”, Forgiven”, I could go on and on with all the strong tracks. Of course though, who could forget their awesome Genesis cover “Land Of Confusion”? There is so much to love here. A modern metal masterpiece. If you haven’t heard it yet, go listen to it.
There you have it, my top ten list of albums from my high school years. Let me know what you think of my list. What artists do you think deserve to be on this list? Remember, they have to be albums released between 2004-2007. Comment and like this page. Thank you very much.