http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...nH/pantera.jpg
"That guy just said we're shit.... GET HIM!!!!!"

I am going to have to insist you listen to Fear Factory's newest release Mechanize (2010) before you pigeonhole them with the likes of Korn, Machine Head, and the Deftones.

Woah, take it easy with that vulgar display of power guys.

I agree apart from Fear Factory but even I know that they are very generic. Pantera are awful and Deftones? Yuk. Korn are only one step away from Green Day for me and for a previous post- Fates Warning? Their debut was 1984!! but that is nitpicking.

The bands that matter were 70's/80's and the 00's for me.

I don't want to come across like some know it all but as Janszoon says- most of those bands are from the 80's and easily traceable. Kreator started in '84, Sepultura in '85 and we are not talking beginnings either but album releases.

Okay, but a 2010 release from them probably won't do much to change my opinion of 90s metal. ;)

And Ministry started in 1981! Not to mention that all but one of their best albums were released in the 80s.

No but it will at least show you that bands are capable of change and it sort of proves what I said earlier, that bands formed in the very late '80's/'90's released their best material in the last decade. Here's just a few examples of what I (and many others) think are the band's best albums.

Opeth
Formed 1990
Best album - Blackwater Park (2001)

Solefald
Formed 1995
Best album - In Harmonium Universi(2003)

Neurosis
Formed 1985 (So a little older than my criteria, but they started off as a hardcore punk band, so if we're just judging their metal stuff I'd say '92)
Best album - Given to the Rising (2007)
Some qualifying statements: I'm well aware that Through the Silver in Blood (1996) and A Sun That Never Sets (2001) are generally regarded as their best work, but I was listening to Given To The Rising (2007) before class earlier this week and I think it really is their best instrumentation and most progressive album.

Sigh
Formed 1990
Best album - Imaginary Sonicscape (2001)

Meshuggah
Formed 1987
Best album - Nothing (2002)
Qualifying Statement: I know a lot of people have cited Destroy Erase Improve (1995) as their greatest album, but there's just something about Nothing (2005) that gets me going, then of course Catch 33 (2005) and obZen (2008) take it to the next level.

Devin Townsend
Formed in around 1993
Best album - Terria (2001)
Note: This is me just judging his solo material, not his work with Strapping Young Lad.

Therion
Formed 1987
Best album - Secret of the Runes (2001)

Just to name a few.

I'm confused by your post Pete. I already said the 00s were my favorite decade for metal.

What I'm saying is that Fear Factory, a band I would consider to be a '90's band, released their best material in the '00's. It pained me to see them listed with the likes of Korn and Machine Head.

Ah, I see. Well send me that album if you want and I promise I'll give it a listen.