alternative metal
music subgenre of heavy metal and alternative rock
Alternative metal is a thrilling blend of hard-hitting rock and emotional depth, where aggressive riffs collide with melodic sensibilities. Picture heavy guitar distortion layered with nuanced vocals that oscillate between haunting and ferocious. The energy in this genre fluctuates like a wild ride; one moment it’s a cathartic scream of defiance, and the next, it’s an introspective reflection. It’s music that invites you to feel everything—anger, sadness, joy—with every pulse of the rhythm section driving the intensity.
Emerging in the late '80s and peaking throughout the '90s, alternative metal developed as a reaction to both the excesses of glam metal and the rigidity of grunge. Bands like Faith No More paved the way by mixing diverse influences—from funk to punk—while Korn and Tool took this forward with their unique takes on heavy music, entwining it with deep lyricism and experimental sounds. Albums like "The Real Thing" by Faith No More and "Dude Ranch" by Blink-182 illustrate the genre's broad palette, where each track challenges conventions and pushes boundaries.
For newcomers eager to dive in, start with “Soad” by System of a Down; it perfectly encapsulates the genre's eclectic spirit with its rapid shifts in tone. Then, check out Deftones’ “White Pony,” an album that melds atmospheric elements with brutal intensity. Also worth listening to is “Around the Fur” by Deftones for its raw emotional energy. Lastly, don’t overlook "Follow the Leader" by Korn; its impact on both nu-metal and alternative was monumental. If you enjoy this journey, keep an ear out for post-hardcore and progressive metal which often provides a similar emotional landscape.
591 artists in the catalog.
Guides for alternative metal artists
Top alternative metal albums
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Dog Fashion Disco
avant-garde metal
Skye Sweetnam
pop rock, pop-punk
Emil Bulls
Carajo
groove metal, hard rock
Alien Weaponry
groove metal, thrash metal
Tremonti
hard rock, thrash metal
Ocean Grove
nu metal
Louna
grunge, hard rock
Godhead
alternative rock, industrial rock
AqME
alternative rock, metal music
Dunderbeist
hard rock, progressive rock
Smash into Pieces
alternative rock, pop rock
Tomahawk
alternative rock, avant-prog
System of a Down
nu metal
Sweet Noise
Quicksand
post-hardcore
About alternative metal
What is alternative metal?
music subgenre of heavy metal and alternative rock
Where should I start with alternative metal?
Start with "One More Light" by Linkin Park. It captures what makes alternative metal worth exploring.
What are the best alternative metal albums?
The alternative metal albums worth hearing first: "One More Light" by Linkin Park, "Rage Against the Machine" by Rage Against the Machine, "¡Venganza!" by My Chemical Romance, "Schizophrenia" by Sepultura and "So Much for the Ten Year Plan" by Therapy?.
How many alternative metal artists are there?
northsound.fm covers 591 alternative metal artists, each with a recommended starting album and listening path.