This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2020.
Bands formed Act of Denial Bodom After Midnight Disembodied Tyrant Kanonenfieber Ov Sulfur Sleep Theory Worm Shepherd
Bands disbanded Abnormality Absu All Shall Perish Anathema (hiatus) Dream On, Dreamer Falconer Lynch Mob Morgoth Myka Relocate Nachtmystium Obey the Brave SHVPES Slapshock Stone Sour (hiatus) Unlocking the Truth Van Halen
Bands reformed Affiance The Amenta Attack Attack! Dark the Suns Darkwoods My Betrothed Forced Entry Genghis Tron I, the Breather To/Die/For Trail of Tears Vektor
Deaths January 4 – Nick Blagona, recording engineer of multiple Deep Purple, Ian Gillan, and Rainbow albums, died from multiple organ failure at the age of 74. January 7 – Neil Peart, drummer of Rush, died from brain cancer at the age of 67. January 24 – Joe Payne, former bassist of Nile and Divine Heresy, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 35. January 24 – Sean Reinert, former drummer of Cynic and Death, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 48. January 26 – Santtu Lonka, former drummer of To/Die/For, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 41. January 27 – Reed Mullin, drummer of Corrosion of Conformity, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 53. January 31 – Josh Pappe, former bassist of D.R.I. and Gang Green, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 53. February 6 – Diego Farias, former guitarist of Volumes, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 27. February 24 – Justin Frear, former guitarist of Ultimatum, died from a heart attack at the age of 47. March 7 – Mikro Virdis, former drummer of Trick or Treat, died from a car crash at the age of 38. March 9 – Keith Olsen, former producer of numerous artists, including Bruce Dickinson, Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, and Whitesnake, died from cardiac arrest at the age of 74. March 16 – Jason Rainey, former guitarist of Sacred Reich, died from a heart attack at the age of 53. March 24 – Bill Rieflin, former drummer of Ministry, KMFDM, and Revolting Cocks, died from cancer at the age of 59. March 28 – Lou A. Kouvaris, former guitarist of Riot, died from COVID-19 at the age of 66. April 21 – Derek Jones, guitarist of Falling in Reverse, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 35. April 26 – McKenzie Bell, former guitarist of He Is Legend, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 35. April 28 – Bob Fouts, former drummer of the Gates of Slumber and Burn It Down, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 45. May 13 – Derek Lawrence, former producer of Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, and Quiet Riot, died from cancer at the age of 78. May 28 – Bob Kulick, former session guitarist of Kiss and W.A.S.P., died from heart disease at the age of 70. June 1 – Joey Image, former drummer of Misfits, died from liver cancer at the age of 63. June 9 – Paul Chapman, former guitarist of UFO and Waysted, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 66. June 16 – Yuji "You" Adachi, guitarist of Dead End, died from sepsis at the age of 56. July 16 – Jamie Oldaker, former drummer of Frehley's Comet, died from cancer at the age of 68. August 4 – Tony Costanza, former drummer of Machine Head and Crowbar, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 52. August 7 – Alan Peters, former bassist of Agnostic Front, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 55. August 9 – Martin Birch, producer and engineer for albums by Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 71. August 14 – Pete Way, former bassist of UFO, Michael Schenker Group, Fastway and Waysted, died from life-threatening injuries at the age of 69. August 18 – Jack Sherman, former guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 64. August 20 – Frankie Banali, drummer of Quiet Riot and former drummer of W.A.S.P., died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 68. August 24 – Riley Gale, vocalist of Power Trip, died from fentanyl overdose at the age of 34. August 25 – Enrique Maseda, vocalist of NJ Bloodline, died from undisclosed reasons. August 31 – Jay White, bassist of the Agony Scene, died from undisclosed reasons. September 5 – Greg Messick, guitarist of Intruder, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 55. September 19 – Lee Kerslake, former drummer of Ozzy Osbourne and Uriah Heep, died from prostate cancer at the age of 73. September 25 – Brent Young, former bassist of Trivium, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 37. September 26 – Mark Stone, former bassist of Van Halen, died from cancer. September 28 – Donny Hillier, vocalist of Trauma, died from undisclosed reasons. October 6 – Eddie Van Halen, guitarist of Van Halen, died from throat cancer at the age of 65. October 12 – Timo Ketola, also known as Davthvs, illustrator and cover artist for numerous metal bands, including Asphyx, Deathspell Omega, Dissection, Funeral Mist, Grave, Marduk, Opeth, Therion, and Watain, died from leukemia at the age of 45. October 21 – Marc Evans, former guitarist of Hecate Enthroned, died by suicide at the age of 48. November 4 – Ken Hensley, former keyboardist of Uriah Heep, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 75. November 25 – Aaron Melzer, former vocalist of Secrets, died from undisclosed reasons. November 26 – Jamir Garcia, vocalist of Slapshock, died from committing suicide by hanging at the age of 42. December 9 – Sean Malone, bassist of Cynic, died from committing suicide at the age of 50. December 22 – Leslie West, vocalist and guitarist of Mountain, died from cardiac arrest at the age of 75. December 29 – Alexi Laiho, vocalist and guitarist of Children of Bodom and Bodom After Midnight, died from alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver at the age of 41.
Albums released January Day Artist Album 3 Stabbing Westward Dead & Gone (EP) 10 Apocalyptica Cell-0 Haunt Mind Freeze Mystic Prophecy Metal Division Poppy I Disagree Rage Wings of Rage 17 Antagonist A.D. Through Fire (EP) Bleed the Sky This Way Lies Madness British Lion The Burning Kaoteon Kaoteon Mark Morton Ether (EP) Odious Mortem Synesthesia Sons of Apollo MMXX 20 Impiety Versus All Gods 24 Annihilator Ballistic, Sadistic Breaking Benjamin Aurora Davey Suicide Rock Ain't Dead Dawn of Solace Waves Higher Power 27 Miles Underwater Jorn Heavy Rock Radio II – Executing the Classics (covers album) Kirk Windstein Dream in Motion Marko Hietala Pyre of the Black Heart Nero di Marte Immoto Novelists Cèst La Vie Pyogenesis A Silent Soul Screams Loud Temperance Viridian Thy Catafalque Naiv 29 Lovebites Electric Pentagram 31 Amberian Dawn Looking for You Clint Lowery God Bless the Renegades Gnaw Barking Orders (EP) Lordi Killection Lorna Shore Immortal Serenity The Last Knight Theory of a Deadman Say Nothing
February Day Artist Album 7 Delain Apocalypse & Chill God Dethroned Illuminati Loathe I Let It in and It Took Everything Napalm Death Logic Ravaged by Brute Force (EP) Sepultura Quadra Stone Temple Pilots Perdida Sylosis Cycle of Suffering 14 Anvil Legal at Last Diabulus in Musica Euphonic Entropy Hollywood Undead New Empire, Vol. 1 Ihsahn Telemark (EP) Kreator London Apocalypticon – Live at the Roundhouse (DVD) Kvelertak Splid Necrowretch The Ones from Hell Psychotic Waltz The God-Shaped Void Suicide Silence Become the Hunter 20 Reflections Willow 21 The Amity Affliction Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave Them Biff Byford School of Hard Knocks Demons & Wizards III H.E.A.T H.E.A.T II Lost Society No Absolution Mondo Generator Fuck It On Thorns I Lay Threnos Ozzy Osbourne Ordinary Man Polaris The Death of Me The Word Alive Monomania 28 Beneath the Massacre Fearmonger Dark Fortress Spectres from the Old World Five Finger Death Punch F8 Intronaut Fluid Existential Inversions John Dolmayan These Grey Men (covers album) Neaera Neaera Nils Patrik Johansson The Great Conspiracy Shakra Mad World Today Is the Day No Good to Anyone Tombs Monarchy of Shadows (EP)
March Day Artist Album 6 Allen/Olzon Worlds Apart Body Count Carnivore Crematory Unbroken Harem Scarem Change the World My Dying Bride The Ghost of Orion Ross the Boss Born of Fire Semblant Obscura Trauma Ominous Black 12 Ded Mannequin Eyes (EP) 13 Burzum Thulêan Mysteries Code Orange Underneath Conny Bloom Game! Set! Bloom! Gotthard #13 Haggard Cat Common Sense Holiday Invent Animate Greyview Stitched Up Heart Darkness Vulcano Eye in Hell Wolf Feeding the Machine 18 Lynch Ultima 20 Heaven Shall Burn Of Truth and Sacrifice Lucifer Lucifer III Myrkur Folkesange Thanatos Violent Death Rituals VV Gothica Fennica, Vol. 1 (EP) 23 Old Man Gloom Seminar IX: Darkness of Being 26 Nine Inch Nails Ghosts V: Together Ghosts VI: Locusts 27 Ayreon Electric Castle Live and Other Tales (live album) Candlemass The Pendulum (EP) Deranged Deeds of Ruthless Violence Disbelief The Ground Collapses Igorrr Spirituality and Distortion In This Moment Mother Mamaleek Come & See Parkway Drive Viva the Underdogs (live album)
April Day Artist Album 2 Necrodeath Neraka (EP) 3 Ad Infinitum Chapter I: Monarchy August Burns Red Guardians Blaze Bayley Live in Czech (live album) Bonfire Fistful of Fire Conception State of Deception Dynazty The Dark Delight Red Declaration Testament Titans of Creation WVRM Colony Collapse 10 Archgoat Black Mass XXX (live album) Azusa Loop of Yesterdays Benighted Obscene Repressed Dream On, Dreamer What If I Told You It Doesn't Get Better Metal Church From the Vault (compilation album) Nightwish Human. :II: Nature. 15 Outrage Run Riot 17 Aborted La Grande Mascarade (EP) Abysmal Dawn Phylogenesis The Black Dahlia Murder Verminous Cadaver D.G.A.F. (EP) Khemmis Doomed Heavy Metal (EP) Myrath Live in Carthage (live album) Oranssi Pazuzu Mestarin Kynsi Turmion Kätilöt Global Warning 22 Matenrou Opera Chronos (EP) 24 Axel Rudi Pell Sign of the Times Cirith Ungol Forever Black Danzig Danzig Sings Elvis (covers album) Elder Omens Katatonia City Burials Mantric False Negative Trick or Treat The Legend of the XII Saints Trivium What the Dead Men Say Ulcerate Stare into Death and Be Still Warbringer Weapons of Tomorrow
May Day Artist Album 1 Havok V Killswitch Engage Atonement II: B-Sides for Charity (EP) Orange Goblin Rough & Ready, Live & Loud (live album) Vader Solitude in Madness Witchcraft Black Metal 8 ...And Oceans Cosmic World Mother Brant Bjork Brant Bjork Destruction Born to Thrash – Live in Germany (live album) Forgotten Tomb Nihilistic Estrangement Green Carnation Leaves of Yesteryear Mekong Delta Tales of a Future Past Naglfar Cerecloth Oathbreaker Ease Me & 4 Interpretations (EP) Secrets of the Moon Black House Winterfylleth The Reckoning Dawn 15 Abramelin Never Enough Snuff AC×DC Satan Is King Asking Alexandria Like a House on Fire Binary Code Memento Mori Firewind Firewind Paradise Lost Obsidian Ravenscry 100 Tokyo Blade Dark Revolution Triptykon Requiem (Live at Roadburn 2019) (live album) Voodoo Gods The Divinity of Blood 22 Caligula's Horse Rise Radiant Crossfaith Species (EP) Fairyland Osyrhianta Killitorous The Afterparty Old Man Gloom Seminar VIII: Light of Meaning Oz Forced Commandments Revenge Strike.Smother.Dehumanize Sinister Deformation of the Holy Realm Soulfly Live Ritual NYC MMXIX (EP) 27 Novelbright Wonderland 29 Acârash Descend to Purity Alestorm Curse of the Crystal Coconut Behemoth A Forest (EP) Bleed from Within Fracture Centinex Death in Pieces Def Leppard London to Vegas (live album) Grave Digger Fields of Blood Sorcerer Lamenting of the Innocent Xibalba Años en Infierno
June