Discover the 25 most impactful metal songs released over the last 25 years that have shaped the genre and its evolution.

Since the turn of the millennium, metal has experienced an exhilarating transformation, marked by the emergence of countless subgenres and innovative fusions that continue to inspire today’s music scene. This era has witnessed a remarkable revival of classic styles that thrived after overcoming challenging periods, embodying the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth that many legendary pre-internet bands have faced.

While some styles, such as thrash and hair metal, faced decline during the ’90s, numerous new genres maintained their popularity. Among these, metalcore has emerged as a particularly surprising force, consistently evolving and cultivating its own vibrant community, often operating within its unique bubble.

READ MORE: The 25 Best Rock Songs of the Last 25 Years

The expansive landscape of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal showcases a passionate embrace of heavy rhythms, complemented by the tech-death phenomenon, which introduced groundbreaking sonic depths through deathcore and djent. Even power metal found a foothold in the U.S. during a pivotal moment in cultural history, illustrating the genre’s far-reaching influence.

With an inexhaustible variety of subgenres and an endless catalog of music produced over the past quarter-century, narrowing down the selection to just 25 remarkable songs is no small feat. The challenge of distilling hundreds of thousands of tracks into this exclusive list is daunting, but you can decide for yourself which songs deserve this prestigious recognition.

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