2003 IN THIS YEAR…

The Iraq war begins Greta Thunberg is born The first Download Festival is headlined by Iron Maiden and Audioslave – with Metallica appearing unannounced on the second stage!

STILLBORN

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY

It’s almost as if Zakk Wylde was trying to beat his own record of the most amount of pinched harmonics in one riff. Hats off!

FEELING THIS

BLINK-182

Feelingthis expanded the pop punk template in under three minutes with a Zeppelin-inspired drum groove, rap-tinged verses, and Beach Boys harmonies.

ARE YOU GONNA BE MY GIRL

JET

Its turbocharged Bo Diddley beat was irresistible, and proved that classic rock was not just a 20th century phenomenon.

MOLLY’S CHAMBERS

KINGS OF LEON

This high watermark of the garage rock revival was based around one undeniable riff that kickstarted the band’s entire career.

WINDOWPANE

OPETH

The opener on the Swedish quintet’s morbid masterpiece could arguably see them at their most stunning, delving deep into Mikael Åkerfeldt’s obsession with vintage prog.

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE

THE DARKNESS

Grunge killed off the pomp of 70s glam and hard rock. Les Paul devotees Justin and Dan Hawkins’ 2003 anthem almost singlehandedly revived them.

DON’T LOOK BACK INTO THE SUN

THE LIBERTINES

Perfect pop songs with filthy guitars win every time, and this is so perfect critics immediately hailed Pete Doherty a genius.

INERTIATIC ESP

THE MARS VOLTA

Prog rock was once exclusively for real ale enthusiast dads. The Mars Volta made it sound fresh and young again.

SEVEN NATION ARMY

THE WHITE STRIPES

Video: bit.ly/tg336video

You’d need to have hidden away on another planet for this track to have passed you by in the early 00s and, well, pretty much ever since. While 2001’s Whiteblood Cells brought Jack and Meg White an early taste of commercial success, it was this banger from 2003’s Elephant that blasted the pair into the stratosphere. Having achieved a new life beyond the original recording, these days you’ll more likely hear White’s gnarly riff chanted on the football stands or in political campaigns – just add your own lyrics! The secret to that grinding tone? A little light overdrive (easily achieved just using an amp, but a pedal is just as good) matched with an octavedown setting on a pitch shifter plus a dash of spring reverb. And you’ll get best results with the full-bodied tone of a semi-acoustic.

NEEDLED 24/7

CHILDREN OF BODOM

Turbo-charged Maiden-esque harmonies, earworm licks and rapid-fire soloing. This track from the melo-death pioneers has it all.

HOUSE OF PAIN

DEEP PURPLE

All the classic elements of Deep Purple were still there on album 17.