What are the must-listen rock and metal albums from 2005 that will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2025? It’s astonishing to realize that two decades have passed since those iconic releases. But what was happening in the music scene back in 2005? Let’s delve deeper into that transformative year:

The music landscape was buzzing with change. Blink-182 announced their first “hiatus,” signaling a shift in pop-punk, while Pink Floyd reunited for an unforgettable performance at Live 8, marking the last time their legendary lineup played together. The gaming world was captivated by the revolutionary Guitar Hero, which brought rock music to the fingertips of fans everywhere.

In cinema, the Star Wars franchise was at its peak with the release of Revenge of the Sith, dominating box office revenues. Million Dollar Baby swept the Oscars, and television was ruled by American Idol and CSI. The public was also engrossed in celebrity news, particularly the much-discussed split between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, along with Tom Cruise‘s infamous couch-jumping episode on Oprah.

And yes, 2005 was the pivotal year when YouTube was launched, forever changing how we consume media.

Turning our focus back to the rock and metal music scene, 2005 was a significant year for emerging bands. Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco were pivotal in bringing emo music into the mainstream. Meanwhile, Thirty Seconds to Mars, led by Jared Leto, had everyone singing along to their hit “The Kill,” while Avenged Sevenfold began to break away from the metalcore scene, setting the stage for their future influence in heavy music.

System of a Down delivered two crucial albums before taking an extended hiatus, while Nine Inch Nails made a powerful return after a long break. The White Stripes clinched a Grammy, and both Disturbed and Nickelback released some of the year’s biggest albums, solidifying their places in rock history.

READ MORE: 10 Best God-Tier Rock Songs of the 2000s

In the metal genre, bands like The Black Dahlia Murder, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, and DragonForce released groundbreaking albums that significantly influenced their respective subgenres, pushing the boundaries of the genre forward.

As we reflect on the music of 2005, let’s revisit the rock and metal albums that not only defined that year but also became essential listening over the next two decades, shaping the sound of modern rock.