Main criterias:
How much I love it(obviously)
Songwritting
Importance and originality
Consistency and diversity (consistency is more importance, but diversity can make a difference)

1.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

2.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

3.Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness

4.Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

5.Slayer - Haunting The Chapel

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As if my street-cred wasn't in the depths already, I submit to you the albums I undoubtedly get the most shit for listening to. There are a few on here that won't leave me beaten in a back alley, and I question the application of this genre to those albums. Nonetheless, all of the groups represented here were at least at one time associated with the 2nd Voldemort of metal. Anyone who says they don't have at least one of these albums is a filthy liar.

1.Deftones - White Pony

2.Deftones - Around The Fur

3.Korn - Issues

4.Korn - Korn

5.System Of A Down - System Of A Down

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Well, it's been over 8 years since their last album, at it this rate it may be over a decade. While we are waiting, here are some other bands with a similar sound to check out. Also don't forget to check out Maynard's other projects, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer.

1.Soen - Cognitive

2.Deftones - White Pony

3.Karnivool - Sound Awake

4.Chevelle - Point No. 1

5.September Sky - Bright Sides to Dark Days

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So here are ten alternative metal albums which I think are significant to defining the sound of alternative metal over the years, limiting it to one album per band and keeping to albums that are best described as alternative metal as opposed to subgenres like industrial or nu metal. I've also included what I consider to be the most important song from each album, even if it's not the best representative of the albums sound.

1.Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

2.Faith No More - Angel Dust

3.Helmet - Meantime

4.Alice In Chains - Dirt

5.Tool - Undertow

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1.Converge - Jane Doe

2.Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness

3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

4.Faith No More - Angel Dust

5.Slayer - South Of Heaven

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1.Opeth - Blackwater Park

2.Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

3.Green Carnation - Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness

4.Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja

5.Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet

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I updated the list, so there are now 100 entries, and I consider 100 to be to little. These are albums I listen to regularly, and some I listened to frantically for a while.

1.Rapture - Songs For The Withering

2.System Of A Down - Toxicity

3.Warning - Watching From A Distance

4.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson II

5.Converge - Jane Doe

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