Right... Let's get this out of the way from the get-go. Alternative metal is hard to define. I guess that comes from it always wanting to experiment, explore and fuse heavy metal with non-metal music genres. It also makes it an ever changing and growing genre.

Also, before you guys flood me, yes my list contains a lot of Industrial & Nu Metal bands, as well as other genre.. As far as I'm concerned, my picks all fit quite well in the scope of an alternative metal list. Don't you agree? Wait... You disagree? Well, let's agree to disagree and move on.

As for the list itself, I'm going to try and list through time what I (me, myself & moi) consider as essential alternative albums. I will also limit myself to a maximum of 4 releases each year to prevent a messy list, which often makes it a difficult decision, especially in the early 2000's. So yes, it is possible your personal favourite won't be featured. You can tell me all about it in the comments below and we can discuss it, even argue it.

Now, have fun, enjoy my list and let me know what you think or would personally put in your favourite alt-metal list!

-Guib-

EDIT: I will now add my pick for best album of each year using the (best of xxxx) in the chosen album's description.

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Guib's Best Alternative Metal Album Picks

Best Of 2022
Polyphia - Remember That You Will Die

Best Of 2023
Mutoid Man - Mutants

Best of 2024 So Far
...tbd

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Last Updated: March 27th, 2024

1.Living Colour - Vivid

2.Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

3.Faith No More - The Real Thing

4.Godflesh - Streetcleaner

5.L7 - Smell The Magic

      View entire list ››

This is very simple, I took the ratings for a bunch of alternative metal albums on MS and ranked them accordingly

To qualify:
The album must have been released when the band was labelled as "Alternative Metal" by MS. So for example the three most recent Gojira albums count, but early Gojira does not.

The band must have more than 10 fans on MS

Therefore this is not a reflection of my opinions, rather a reflection of numbers so if you wanna get mad, get mad at the numbers, not me. And remember that this really isn't that serious

1.Mass Hysteria - Contraddiction

2.Tool - Lateralus

3.The Butterfly Effect - IV

4.Tool - Ænima

5.Mass Hysteria - Le Bien-Être Et La Paix

      View entire list ››

A little list series where I list my top 20 favorite metal albums every year starting from the year I was born in.

1999 was surprisingly a really solid year for metal at least outside the mainstream, this year saw the release of the album that made me fell in love with progressive metal, the release of more classic black metal albums, more great Gothic and Symphonic albums and even some fun death and Trash metal. In my opinion if you actually look outside the mainstream of the time, the 1990's were a pretty great decade for metal all things considered.

1.Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory

2.Estatic Fear - A Sombre Dance

3.Opeth - Still Life

4.Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter

5.Agalloch - Pale Folklore

      View entire list ››

1.Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

2.Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory

3.Korn - Korn

4.Soulfly - Prophecy

5.Linkin Park - Meteora

      View entire list ››

1.Anathema - Judgement

2.Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter

3.Dimmu Borgir - Spiritual Black Dimensions

4.My Dying Bride - The Light At The End Of The World

5.Cradle Of Filth - From The Cradle To Enslave

      View entire list ››

1.Judas Priest - Stained Class

2.Motörhead - Overkill

3.Judas Priest - British Steel

4.Venom - Welcome To Hell

5.Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

      View entire list ››

1.Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory

2.Slipknot - Iowa

3.Summoning - Stronghold

4.Septicflesh - Communion

5.Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

      View entire list ››

Wanna know what I headbang to on the regular? The releases that have seen countless re-spins... Well, this is a very simple list and something you've probably seen a lot of other MS users do in the past. Basically, I'm just going to list what are essential metal albums for me, my all time gems & masterpieces (very subjective and some are also in there due to nostalgia and sentimental value).

There's no particular ''Genre'' that I'll be covering and I will also try to limit myself to two albums per band and a few of my favorite tracks or highlights per album. Of course everything in this list is just my opinion, meaning that I'm not saying these albums are all masterpieces or whatnot, it's just my personal favorites. I hope most of you will agree with me and those few who don't, well... it's okay to be wrong, the next step is acceptance

🇨🇦 = From Canada, My Country!

Last Updated: April 15th, 2024

1.Absu - The Third Storm Of Cythrául

2.AC/DC - High Voltage

3.Alestorm - Black Sails At Midnight

4.Alien Weaponry - Tū

5.Amon Amarth - Fate Of Norns

      View entire list ››

in no particular order, I want to highlight metal's least popular genre(s).

1.Coal Chamber - Coal Chamber

2.Coal Chamber - Dark Days

3.Ill Niño - Revolution Revolución

4.Korn - Follow The Leader

5.Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone

      View entire list ››

1.Tristania - Beyond The Veil

2.Estatic Fear - A Sombre Dance

3.Anathema - Judgement

4.Lake Of Tears - Forever Autumn

5.Agalloch - Pale Folklore

      View entire list ››

1.Death - Human

2.Opeth - Still Life

3.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

4.Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream

5.Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

      View entire list ››

Here are my favorite METAL albums from 1990 to 1999.

1.Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

2.Sepultura - Roots

3.Sepultura - Arise

4.Sepultura - Chaos A.D.

5.Pantera - Cowboys From Hell

      View entire list ››