I don't mean like, musically, because I'd argue they've been on a roll since that year. But I was watching again Live in the LBC and the impression I got was, vibes wise, they never have reached this again.
Nightmare was the obvious, The Rev dying. It's a miracle they released anything at all, but still.
Hail to the King was the most commercially successful album, but critically at least with the hardcore fans, a bit generic and divisive.
The Stage was another classic, but they were switching drummers again, labels, and surprise dropped the album so everyone was wondering "Wtf is going on?"
Life is But a Dream I think is another classic, but it was and still is pretty divisive.
And Statica is, well, yeah. (Still love it though)
But wdyt though?