10 Rock Bands That Defined The 2000's

10. System of a Down

At the start of the decade, it really felt that rock had lost its edgy nature. No one was taking a ton of risks, especially in the lyrics department. Then out of nowhere comes this band from California with a harsh metal sound and pointedly political lyrics. Behold: System of a Down.

With System, 2000's kids had found their successor to Rage Against the Machine. Principal songwriters Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian crafted scathing critiques of government as a whole, while also finding time to write more heartfelt material on albums like Toxicity and the technically-double album Mesmerize and Hypnotize.

At the decade's halfway point, System decided to go on the dreaded hiatus with Tankian and Malakian going their separate ways.

While the band has reunited in recent years, it's anyone's guess as to whether we will be hearing any new material from them in the future. But we will forever have gems like "Chop Suey" and "B.Y.O.B" to look to as the gold standard of modern day rebel songs.