The 10 biggest rock albums of the 21st century revealed
The Official Charts Company has revealed the biggest sellers
Last updated 20th Oct 2025
Green Day’s 2004 concept album ‘American Idiot’ has been named the biggest rock album of the 21st century in the UK.
To celebrate National Album Day last Saturday (18th October), which this year celebrated rock music, the Official Charts revealed the UK's biggest rock and metal studio albums of the past 25 years.
Green Day’s politically-charged seventh studio album ‘American Idiot’ took the top spot having shifted more than 2.6 million chart units, based on combined UK sales and streams, since its release in September 2004.
In second spot is Linkin Park’s ‘Hybrid Theory’, while The Darkness’ blockbuster debut album ‘Permission to Land’ is at Number 3.
Evanescence, Muse, My Chemical Romance, Nickelback and Limp Bizkit also featured inside the noughties-centric Top 10.
Reacting to their Number 1 spot, Green Day said: "We made American Idiot as a protest album - against fear, against lies, against apathy. But also a character-driven concept album. It was risky, it was loud, it was personal - and it changed everything for us.
“Twenty years later, the fact that it still resonates means the world and we’re very proud that it continues to inspire people everywhere."
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive, Official Charts adds: "We are delighted to use National Album Day's celebration of rock to throw the spotlight on the heavier end of the spectrum – and acclaim Green Day's American Idiot as the biggest heavy rock studio album of the 21st century.
"It is remarkable that, more than 20 years after its release, the album's message of generational disillusionment is as relevant as it ever was. Its enduring power underlines the importance of music as a reflection of and reaction against the political temperature of our times."
The 10 biggest rock albums of the 21st century:
10 – Limp Bizkit: ‘Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavoured Water’ (2000)
9 – Nickelback: ‘All The Right Reasons’ (2005)
8 – Linkin Park: ‘Meteora’ (2003)
7 – Nickelback: ‘Silver Side Up’ (2001)
6 – My Chemical Romance: ‘The Black Parade’ (2006)
5 – Muse: ‘Black Holes & Revelations’ (2006)
4 – Evanescence: ‘Fallen’ (2003)
3 – The Darkness: ‘Permission to Land’ (2003)
2 – Linkin Park: ‘Hybrid Theory’ (2000)
1 – Green Day: ‘American Idiot’ (2004)
Iron Maiden, who surprisingly didn’t even feature within the Top 40, were among the Album Champions for National Album Day 2025, alongside Wolf Alice, Architects and Nova Twins.
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson says: “Albums matter. They always have not just to Maiden but to all of the band members that have done solo projects – none of them have just toured – they have always recorded and released product too – especially me!!
“The rush of first seeing the vinyl or the CD or back in the day the cassette for the first time never leaves you, and it’s great that fans are coming full circle to enjoy the totemistic experience that was lost for a while in this digital era.”