Top 10 Most Underrated Metal Bands of the 2000s

While the 2000s had a lot of popular Metal bands like: Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold and etc. it also had a few underrated bands that got unnoticed. For this list I`m counting down those metal bands. If I forgot any, eh just add them.
The Top Ten
1 Edguy Edguy is a heavy metal band from Fulda, Germany that was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer.

I am addicted to Tobias Sammet voice. I agree they need more attention - this is a very good band, especially for beginners, because their songs aren't very heavy.

2 Blind Guardian Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing. They also incorporate large amounts of orchestral arrangements. Hansi Kürsch creates a huge choir effect by overdubbing his own voice multiple times in complex, overlapping harmonies. Thanks to overdubs and numerous backing vocals Blind Guardian stand out with a very dense sound.

Yes, stellar musicianship and perfectionism, especially after 2000. Most of their albums were professionally rated 9.5/10 (even those before 2000s). Now count how underrated they are and how unknown. As a reviewer wrote "Blind Guardian possess a track record and back catalogue of classic staples that perhaps only Iron Maiden can match."

3 Iced Earth Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. It was formed in 1984 under the name Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer, and original drummer Greg Seymour. The band's music has also been described as thrash metal and power metal.

They released their debut album in 1990 and have since released twelve studio albums, four EPs, three compilations,... read more

Thank God most of the bands on this list are really metal bands and really underrated. I mean, the popular metal bands mentioned in the list description aren't metal according to Encyclopaedia Metallum - Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold.
I even made a list "Top 10 Bands that Aren't Metal According to Encyclopaedia Metallum".

4 Primal Fear Primal Fear are a German metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner. They play heavy metal, power metal and speed metal. Primal Fear remind of Judas Priest but Primal Fear are faster and heavier. They use twin (dual) lead guitars. Ralf Scheepers voice reminds of Rob Halford.

They are shamefully underrated - crystal clear metal sound, enjoyable songs that are fast and melodic, remarkable twin lead guitars (solos), a singer with a 4 octave vocal range, great drummer(s), etc.
Songs - Strike, All For One, King For A Day, Riding the Eagle, Diabolus, Road to Asylum, Six Times Dead.

5 Skull Fist

A relatively new Canadian band with positive reviews. Formed in 2006, they play melodic speed metal and heavy metal. I like the guitar work very much. The singer voice is unusual as it is really very high and boy-ish.
Songs - Get Fisted, Hour to Live, Head of the Pack
For more info and songs with samples, go to the list "Top 10 Skull Fist Songs".

6 Demons & Wizards Demons and Wizards is a power metal band conceived as a side-project by vocalist for Blind Guardian, Hansi Kürsch, and the guitarist for Iced Earth, Jon Schaffer.
7 Theocracy Theocracy is a Christian progressive power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia.
8 Trivium Trivium is an American Heavy Metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Their frontman, Matt Heafy, lead guitarist Corey Beaulieu and Bassist Paulo Gregoletto are the band's most consistent members and have appeared in every album since. ...read more.
9 Kamelot Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011. On June 22, 2012, Youngblood announced ...read more.
10 Lost Society Lost Society is a thrash metal band from Finland, formed in 2010. Lost Society released their debut album in 2013 when band members were teens aged 17, 18, 19, and 19.

They are more unnoticed than underrated because they are a new thrash band - their debut album came out in 2013 when band members were still teens. If you like thrash, you are gonna like them.
Videos to start with: Kill (Those Who Oppose Me), Trash All Over You.
For more, go to my list: "Top 10 Lost Society Songs".

The Contenders
11 Epica Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever.

Not generally known by the time the 2000's decade came around this metal band was great but only few people knew about it at the time.

12 Fuel

Thanks for clarifying this BoredJeff02. However, this band isn't metal and the song Hemorrhage In My Hands is nowhere near metal in general. Details: guitars are punk guitars, vocal style is more like hard rock, melody isn't metal.

Do you mean the Spanish band with this name or something else? (because there are several bands with this name).

This band was quite underrated in the 2000's in fact this band still is.

13 Avantasia Avantasia is a German supergroup rock opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy.
14 Nightwish Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and lead singer Tarja Turunen. It's currently formed by Tuomas, Emppu, lead vocalist Floor Jansen, bassist and vocalist Marco Hietala, multiinstrumentist and vocalist Troy Donockley, and drummer Jukka Nevalainen (currently on hiatus and replaced by Kai Hahto).

God-like (or Goddess like) status since the arrival of Floor Jansen, the line-up is now flawless!

15 Gojira Gojira is a progressive metal band from Bayonne, France. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier on vocals and rhythm guitar, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on lead guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass.
16 Ancient Drive
17 Smile Empty Soul Smile Empty Soul is an American post-grunge band formed in Santa Clarita, California, in 1998. They gained fame with their self-titled debut album, which included the hit single "Bottom of a Bottle." Known for their emotive lyrics and grungy musical style, the band has built a dedicated following. Smile Empty Soul has released several albums over the years, touching upon themes of angst, emotional turmoil, and societal issues.

Umm, I think they aren't a metal band. Encyclopaedia Metallum think the same and this band have no page on their site.

18 Staind Staind was a post-grunge/alternative metal band formed in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1995.

Staind is Aaron Lewis (vocalist and guitarist), Jon Wysocki (drummer, left in 2011), Johnny April (bassist), and Mike Mushok (guitarist). After Jon's departure Sal Giancarelli filled in as drummer until the band's hiatus in 2012.

Staind's early sound was predominantly nu metal, then they verged into softer territory with passing albums, becoming more post-grunge in sound.

Many of Staind's song deal with depression, substance abuse, death, and similar subjects. The band has enjoyed modest success off of such songs. ...read more.

Similarly to Smile Empty Soul, it's not exactly a metal band. Don't take me wrong - I know that the most difficult thing is to tell the difference between metal music and loud/heavy music that isn't metal.
The song "It's Been A While" isn't metal and the reason isn't that it's a mellow song - there are many mellow metal songs but this one isn't from the metal family.

Besides their popular song "It's Been A While" this band is quite underrated and became underrated by the mid-later 2000's.

19 Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name of "Majesty", only to change its name to Dream Theater later.

The members of the band’s original lineup consisted of John Petrucci (Guitar), John Myung (Bass) and Mike Portnoy (Drums). The band had multiple keyboardists and singers, but as of and since 1991, the band's lead vocalist has been James LaBrie.

The band released their debut album "When Day and Dream Unite" in 1989, but only gained success and notoriety after the release of their second album, "Images and Words" in 1992. ...read more.

No, they aren't underrated, come on. They were underrated in the 90s but they already got critical acclaim and fans recognition.

20 Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg, Northern Germany. The band is a pioneering force in the power metal genre, and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I and Part II, are considered masterpieces of the genre.
21 Opeth Opeth is a Swedish progressive death metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Akerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which lead to Mikael becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force. Along with Edge of Sanity, Opeth is credited with being the first progressive death metal band, although they now play progressive rock. Akerfeldt is good friends with Jonas Renkse of Katatonia, and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree.

I don't think Opeth is that much of underrated

22 Pain of Salvation Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock band led by Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the band's main songwriter, lyricist, guitarist, and vocalist.
23 Straight Line Stitch

Metal band from Tennessee. Its members are Alexis Brown (vocalist), Ian Shuirr (drummer), Kris Hawkins (guitarist), Nathan Palmer (guitarist), and Jason White (bassist). Super underrated. Never heard of this band myself until some random guy in my college class mentioned it to me.

24 Hatebreed Hatebreed is an American metalcore band from Connecticut, formed in 1994. They have released 7 studio albums to date, most recently The Concrete Confessional on May 13, 2016. Their musical style blends influences from hardcore punk and heavy metal; a prominent band within the hardcore scene, they have ...read more.
25 Vektor Vektor is an American progressive thrash metal band from Tempe, Arizona. The band was formed under the name Locrian around June 2003, but changed their name to Vektor in 2004.
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