Best Metal Band of the Past 20 Years

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Gut reaction. What is the answer to this question?

There are a million guidelines that could be set here. What counts as metal? Am I talking about studio albums only? Etc.

Just answer with whatever comes to mind first.

[73109]

Metallica

[True Death of Life]

Seconded.

[Sigz]

First thought: Opeth.

[King Postwhore]

Iron Maiden

[Zantera]

First thought: Opeth.

This.

[Gorille85]

First thought: Opeth.

[MetalManiac666]

Dream Theater

[bosk1]

Metallica

That was my initial gut reaction.  But as I thought through it, I don't really view what they've done in the last 20 years as very good or groundbreaking in any way, shape, or form.  To me, there was a serious dropoff in quality after the Black album, and one really solid album in the last 20 years doesn't earn them "best" by any standards.

Honestly, I would have to go with DT.  They obviously have not had as huge an influence on the metal scene as a more mainstream metal band.  But the sheer volume and quality of music they've put out in the past 20 years destroys what anybody else has done.

[zxlkho]

First thought was Opeth, second was Dream Theater. I can't really decide.

[Arcaeus]

I don't consider there to be a best anything when it comes to music, really, but my favorite is Pain of Salvation.

[El Barto]

Metallica

That was my initial gut reaction.  But as I thought through it, I don't really view what they've done in the last 20 years as very good or groundbreaking in any way, shape, or form.  To me, there was a serious dropoff in quality after the Black album, and one really solid album in the last 20 years doesn't earn them "best" by any standards.

Honestly, I would have to go with DT.  They obviously have not had as huge an influence on the metal scene as a more mainstream metal band.  But the sheer volume and quality of music they've put out in the past 20 years destroys what anybody else has done.

Similar opinion.  My issue isn't the quality of Metallica's music, which while certainly not as strong is often times still quite good.  I just consider them an 80s band more than anything else.  I take the question to be referring to bands from the 90's on. 

As for my pick, I'd probably go with DT, though Tool would easily take it if they were even slightly more prolific.  4 albums in 20 years doesn't hold up favorably to DT's 10 plus live albums and DVDs.

[Ultimetalhead]

My first thought was Nevermore, but on second thought it's probably DT or Opeth.

[LudwigVan]

Dream Theater

[yeshaberto]

DT

[Adami]

Whatever Devin Townsend has done. I know he has like 5 different solo band names, so I'm just saying him.

[FiberglassMoon]

Easily DT

Then Iced Earth then Opeth

[moffatt]

DT

[orcus116]

Hard to say since I've been straying away from metal these past few years. I'm surprised to see DT getting so many votes (though this is DTF) considering the metal sections in their songs are fairly run of the mill as far as metal goes. Now if they were cranking out Mastodon style riffs...

[lateralus88]

Iron Maiden

You do know how long Maiden has been around, right?


Also my gut reaction is Nevermore, followed by Strapping Young Lad.


DT and Opeth never register to me as just "metal". But that's just me being a prog-snob.

[Bombardana]

OPETH

 IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.

actually i don't know but they are definitely among the best them and have a very consistently good output

[Zantera]

I don't consider there to be a best anything when it comes to music, really, but my favorite is Pain of Salvation.

Would you classify PoS as a metal-band?

[Marvellous G]

Tool. If not, still Metallica for me.

[yorost]

Dream Theater, possibly Opeth, for me.  Metallica just doesn't fit the bill when you say the last 20 years.

[BRGM]

Dream Theater! there's really no other metal kinda band that I listen too

[zxlkho]

Tool is a very good pick for this. They totally slipped my mind earlier...

[King Postwhore]

Iron Maiden

You do know how long Maiden has been around, right?


Also my gut reaction is Nevermore, followed by Strapping Young Lad.


DT and Opeth never register to me as just "metal". But that's just me being a prog-snob.

And they've been playing the last 20 years.  That was my gut reaction like he asked. If it's strictly bands that just came out the last 20 years, I'd pick, DT, Opeth & Tool.

[lateralus88]

That was my assumption, King.

[King Postwhore]

That was my assumption, King.

You read me like a book.

[Adami]

That was my assumption, King.

You read me like a book.

And I read you like a porno.

[TL]

If we're going with what any particular band has done in the last 20 years, I'd definitely go with Dream Theater.

[King Postwhore]

That was my assumption, King.

You read me like a book.

And I read you like a porno.

I'm on top.

[glaurung]

Dream Theater or Opeth I guess.

If the question was best metal band of the past 30 years I would have to say Iron Maiden. But without their 80's output I don't think they make the cut.

[ehra]

They still might be too new a discovery for me for this to be a fair decision, but my gut reaction is still Strapping Young Lad.

[Gadough]

First thought before I even clicked the thread was Nevermore. But I guess I would say Opeth as well, I just didn't think they should be called "metal" in the same way we categorize bands like Nevermore and Metallica.