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.

- - - - -

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

- - - - - - - - - -

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 ››

It is not uncommon that album titles are chosen after the band`s name. However, song titles that include or are identical to the band`s name are relatively seldom found.
This is a list of song titles with the (entire) band name / band names after (their own) song titles.

Please feel free to suggest further titles/bands.

1.71TONMAN - 71TONMAN

2.A Feast For Lampreys - Graveyard Abyss

3.Aaskereia - Mit Raben Und Wölfen

4.Absent In Body - The Abyss Stares Back - Vol. V

5.Absu - Absu

      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.Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes

2.Virgin Steele - Invictus

3.Nightwish - Oceanborn

4.Amon Amarth - Once Sent From The Golden Hall

5.Death - The Sound Of Perseverance

      View entire list ››

I always assumed ‘98 was a Nu Metal year, after looking over it now I think this is the year of Power Metal! Top spot was super difficult to settle on...

Plus my top three favourite tracks from each release. \m/

Honourable mentions:
Marduk - Nightwing (Black)
Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes (Power/Thrash)

1.Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth

2.System Of A Down - System Of A Down

3.Nile - Amongst The Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka

4.Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe

5.Korn - Follow The Leader

      View entire list ››

It's been like 20 years now, is it safe to post this yet?

1.Korn - Korn

2.System Of A Down - Toxicity

3.Sepultura - Roots

4.System Of A Down - System Of A Down

5.Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists

      View entire list ››

One album per artist in alphabetical order which happen to be my favorites. Feels like an addendum to the ?Beginner's Guide To Building A Prog Collection" (http://www.metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=58) often mentioning the same band but different releases.

1.36 Crazyfists - A Snow Capped Romance

2.Agrypnie - 16[485]

3.Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea

4.Akercocke - Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone

5.Alkaloid - Liquid Anatomy

      View entire list ››

Current Top 100 as of September 2019. Having listened to metal for 45 years or so - here are my favourites (favourite track). One album limit per band. Enjoy!

1.Absu - Absu

2.AC/DC - If You Want Blood You've Got It

3.Agalloch - The Mantle

4.Akercocke - Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone

5.Alcest - Écailles De Lune

      View entire list ››

best album of each year from 1967 onwards

1.Wayfarer - American Gothic

2.Grima - Frostbitten

3.Beast In Black - Dark Connection

4.Havukruunu - Uinuos Syömein Sota

5.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

      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 ››

Metal albums that blow me away every time I hear them. Loosely ordered... list gets less organized as it goes on. My favorite song from each album is included.

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

2.Faith No More - Angel Dust

3.Dream Theater - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence

4.Tool - Ænima

5.Metallica - ...And Justice For All

      View entire list ››

1.Agent Steel - Unstoppable Force

2.Annihilator - Alice In Hell

3.Anthrax - Among The Living

4.Artillery - By Inheritance

5.Baphomet - The Dead Shall Inherit

      View entire list ››

My most listened to and favourite albums in my collection.

1.AC/DC - High Voltage

2.AC/DC - Highway To Hell

3.AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

4.Amon Amarth - Fate Of Norns

5.Amon Amarth - Once Sent From The Golden Hall

      View entire list ››

my 100 favorite metal albums of all times. Alphabetical order.

1.Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

2.Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere

3.Ahab - The Giant

4.Alice In Chains - Dirt

5.Altar Of Plagues - Mammal

      View entire list ››

1.AC/DC - Back In Black

2.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

3.Korn - Follow The Leader

4.Evanescance - Fallen

5.Morbid Angel - Covenant

      View entire list ››