Here’s a bold statement: Metal music, one of the most passionate and influential genres of the past century, has been almost entirely snubbed by Rolling Stone in their latest list of the 250 Best Songs of the 21st Century (So Far). Out of 250 spots, only two metal songs made the cut. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this a fair representation of the genre’s impact, or is Rolling Stone missing the mark? Let’s dive in.
The first metal track to grace the list is Mastodon’s "Blood and Thunder" from their 2004 album Leviathan, landing at a modest No. 230. Slightly higher, at No. 174, is System of a Down’s iconic "Chop Suey!" from their 2001 masterpiece Toxicity. These inclusions are consistent with Rolling Stone’s earlier list of the 250 Best Albums of the 21st Century, which also featured just two metal albums—the very same ones that birthed these songs. Leviathan ranked No. 171, while Toxicity secured the No. 159 spot. But is two enough? And this is the part most people miss: Metal’s absence from mainstream lists like these raises questions about how we define musical greatness.
Rock, on the other hand, fared significantly better. Dozens of rock tracks peppered the list, showcasing the genre’s enduring appeal. Green Day’s "Jesus of Suburbia" (No. 205), Evanescence’s "Bring Me to Life" (No. 195), and My Chemical Romance’s "Welcome to the Black Parade" (No. 96) all earned their spots. Higher up, pop-punk and garage rock revival anthems like Fall Out Boy’s "Sugar, We're Goin Down" (No. 79), Paramore’s "Still Into You" (No. 63), and The Killers’ "Mr. Brightside" (No. 26) proved their staying power. The highest-ranking rock songs? The Strokes’ "Last Nite" at No. 12 and The White Stripes’ "Seven Nation Army" at No. 4—both undeniable classics.
Now, let’s talk controversy. Is Rolling Stone’s near-exclusion of metal a reflection of the genre’s niche appeal, or is it a symptom of mainstream bias? Metal has always been a powerhouse of innovation, storytelling, and raw emotion, yet it often gets sidelined in favor of more commercially palatable genres. What do you think? Is metal being unfairly overlooked, or is Rolling Stone’s list an accurate snapshot of the century’s musical landscape?
At Loudwire, we’re proud to champion metal’s greatness. Both "Blood and Thunder" and "Chop Suey!" earned spots on our list of the Greatest Metal Songs of the Past 25 Years, and Mastodon and System of a Down are staples in our Best Metal Albums rankings. But we want to hear from you: Which metal songs or albums do you think deserve more recognition? And does Rolling Stone’s list do justice to the diversity of 21st-century music?
Check out Rolling Stone’s full list here, and explore our own 25 Best Metal Albums of the Last 25 Years here. Let’s keep the conversation going—because music this powerful deserves to be heard.
