Image: Bring Me The Horizon Live [Cat Eye Photography]
Throwback to 2006—a year that produced some truly legendary albums in the rock and metal scene. Records that are still considered timeless today and have become defining milestones for many bands and artists, shaping their respective genres in a major way.
This year, these very records turn 20. Reason enough for us to take a closer look at some of them.
Bring Me The Horizon - Count Your Blessings
Few bands in the modern alternative scene have undergone a transformation as drastic as Bring Me The Horizon. Back in 2006, Oli Sykes and co. broke into the scene with raw deathcore and released their debut album Count Your Blessings, laying the foundation for their rapid rise. The album celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is even getting a reissue. Even though BMTH have since evolved musically, tracks like “Pray For Plagues” are still part of their live sets—and fans continue to love it.
Hatebreed - Supremacy
In 2006, Hatebreed released their fourth studio album Supremacy, marking their first record to achieve notable international chart success. It was also their first—and last—release via Roadrunner Records, suggesting the partnership may not have been entirely smooth despite the album’s success. Fun fact: the band initially shared songs from Supremacy on their MySpace page… If that doesn’t hit you with a wave of nostalgia, we don’t know what will.
In Flames - Come Clarity
In Flames released their eighth studio album Come Clarity in 2006. At the time, it became the band’s first record to reach No. 1 on the Swedish album charts. Musically, Anders Fridén and co. leaned slightly back toward their heavier roots compared to their immediate predecessors. The track “Take This Life” remains one of their most-streamed songs on Spotify to this day.
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
That iconic high G note—bringing emo fans together faster than discounted eyeliner. In 2006, My Chemical Romance released their third studio album The Black Parade, which also became their most commercially successful record to date. While the band was already well known in the emo scene thanks to their earlier work, this album took things to another level. The title track “Welcome To The Black Parade” is still considered the ultimate emo anthem, while songs like “Teenagers” and “I Don’t Love You” are still sung (or cried) along to at emo parties everywhere.
Trivium - The Crusade
In 2006, Trivium released their third album The Crusade—just a year and a half after their breakthrough record Ascendancy. The album marked a clear stylistic shift for the band around frontman Matt Heafy: while their earlier work leaned heavily into metalcore, this release saw them embrace more thrash metal elements. Heafy’s signature screams were also largely absent. With The Crusade, Trivium achieved their first significant chart success.
All Shall Perish - The Price Of Existence
All Shall Perish have been part of the scene since 2002, though their activity has fluctuated over the years. After going on hiatus in 2020, they returned in 2024. Of their four albums, The Price Of Existence—released in 2006—stands out as their second full-length and the first to feature Eddie Hermida (later of Suicide Silence) as a full member. The record is often regarded as one of the most important deathcore albums and played a key role in shaping the genre in the early 2000s.
Billy Talent - Billy Talent II
Early on, Billy Talent clearly weren’t too concerned with creative album titles. Their first three major releases were simply called Billy Talent, Billy Talent II, and Billy Talent III. The second installment came out in 2006 and is therefore also turning 20 this year. Technically, however, it wasn’t their second studio album but their third, as the band had already released Watoosh! in 1999 under their former name Pezz. Billy Talent II ultimately marked the band’s breakthrough. Tracks like “Devil In A Midnight Mass,” “Red Flag,” and “Surrender” became mainstream hits, receiving heavy rotation on music TV and even radio. This year, the band is also playing special anniversary shows celebrating the 2006 release.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
The Red Hot Chili Peppers delivered big time in 2006. Stadium Arcadium became the band’s most successful release up to that point, topping the charts in major markets worldwide, including the US. The album spawned hits like “Dani California,” “Tell Me Baby,” and “Snow (Hey Oh)”—songs that probably get stuck in your head just by reading their titles. Shortly after the album cycle, guitarist John Frusciante left the band, before rejoining in 2019.
Yellowcard - Lights And Sounds
In the early 2000s, Yellowcard truly struck a chord—quite literally. Known for incorporating violins into their music, the band showcased this signature element once again on their 2006 album Lights And Sounds. The band’s fifth studio record followed the hugely successful Ocean Avenue and had big shoes to fill—but it delivered, as reflected in its chart performance. The album is also a concept record, exploring the creative process and the emotions tied to its creation.
