10 Amazing Hard Rock Concept Albums

Once the '00s kicked off a new beginning for rock and roll, it took the mainstream a bit of an adjustment period to catch up. While the pop punk and nu metal crowds were still thriving well after their '90s heyday, some of the breakout bands from around this time normally had to come from the underground, like the Strokes and Arctic Monkeys gaining prominence a few years later. There was commercial rock and roll to be found though, and Joshua Homme gave us a peek at the dark side of life on Songs for the Deaf.

Already fresh off of the stoner rock bandwagon with Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age was looked at as a much different beast for Homme, showcasing him and a revolving door of musicians working with him. Having a clear vision for Songs for the Deaf, this entire record acts as a trip through the seedy side of California, taking place entirely in a car as you make your way through the desert before finally ending up in Joshua Tree.

Throughout your journey, you come across some of the most drug fueled mayhem you will ever hear, whether that means the macabre side of Hanging Tree or the apocalyptic imagery that turns up on a song like the Sky Is Fallin. All the while, you have joke radio stations leading the way, working as breaks between the action as you settle into the grooves. It's going to be a long night, so you're going to need music like this to keep you sane.