2020

In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the planet, and the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic on 11 March. Lockdowns, cancelled events and the worst economic slump since the 1930s followed, with bushfires in Australia and the western United States, and worldwide protests after the murder of George Floyd, adding to the gloom. Time magazine called it "the worst year ever" on its cover.

With touring off the table, the albums did the talking. AC/DC returned with Power Up in November, while Ozzy Osbourne's Ordinary Man and Green Day's Father of All Motherfuckers arrived in February, the latter on the same day as Sepultura's Quadra. Deftones delivered Ohms in September, Pearl Jam's Gigaton came in March, and Metallica's S&M2 landed in August. Nine Inch Nails slipped out two instrumental ambient records, Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts, while The Smashing Pumpkins closed the year with CYR. Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory was given a twentieth-anniversary edition, and Iron Maiden's live set from Mexico City filled the gap left by the cancelled shows.

It was a sad year for the scene. Neil Peart of Rush died in January, and Reed Mullin of Corrosion of Conformity, plus Cynic's Sean Reinert, followed within weeks. Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot and Pete Way of UFO were lost in August, and Eddie Van Halen died in October at 65, after which Van Halen were listed among the year's ended bands. Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom died on 29 December. Reunions offered some cheer, with Rage Against the Machine, Faith No More and Linkin Park among those listed as reformed.