Genre
Alternative Metal
Alternative Metal is a metal genre, formative in the early 1990s. TheMetalNet maps 1,276 bands and 3,640 albums under it, across 5 sub-genres.
Explore the Alternative Metal galaxyWhat it is
Alternative metal blends heavy metal with the experimentation and unconventional song-craft of alternative rock, favoring downtuned mid-paced riffs, a mix of melodic and harsh vocals, and sounds drawn from funk, noise, and grunge. It emerged in the late 1980s with Faith No More, Living Colour, Soundgarden, and Jane’s Addiction, and peaked in the 1990s through Tool, Deftones, Alice in Chains, and Helmet. Lyrics lean toward psychology, trauma, and personal struggle rather than fantasy. It is metal’s most eclectic, boundary-blurring umbrella.
Facts
- Level
- Macro genre
- Formative era
- early 1990s
- Bands
- 1,276
- Albums
- 3,640
- Formation span
- 1961 to 2026
- Sub-genres
- 5
Sub-genres
Bands
The 60 most prominent of 1,276. The rest are in the galaxy.
- MuseUnited Kingdom · 1994
- Red Hot Chili PeppersUnited States · 1983
- Linkin ParkUnited States · 1996
- EvanescenceUnited States · 1995
- IncubusUnited States · 1991
- KornUnited States · 1993
- Marilyn MansonUnited States · 1989
- Alice in ChainsUnited States · 1987
- DeftonesUnited States · 1988
- Papa RoachUnited States · 1993
- Sum 41Canada · 1996
- SoundgardenUnited States · 1984
- 3 Doors DownUnited States · 1996
- HoobastankUnited States · 1994
- P.O.D.United States · 1992
- SlipknotUnited States · 1995
- System of a DownUnited States · 1995
- Avenged SevenfoldUnited States · 1999
- DisturbedUnited States · 1996
- Limp BizkitUnited States · 1994
- Serj Tankian1967
- Three Days GraceCanada · 1997
- Kid RockUnited States · 1971
- PrimusUnited States · 1984
- Rage Against the MachineUnited States · 1991
- SeetherUnited States · 1999
- ChevelleUnited States · 1994
- ExtremeUnited States · 1985
- GodsmackUnited States · 1995
- SalivaUnited States · 1996
- Stone Temple PilotsUnited States · 1990
- Trapt1995
- Zebrahead1996
- Alien Ant FarmUnited States · 1995
- Faith No MoreUnited States · 1983
- SevendustUnited States · 1994
- StaindUnited States · 1995
- Stone SourUnited States · 1992
- Bloodhound GangUnited States · 1988
- Breaking BenjaminUnited States · 1999
- Drowning PoolUnited States · 1996
- Finger ElevenCanada · 1996
- Oomph!Germany · 1989
- ShinedownUnited States · 2001
- Skunk AnansieUnited Kingdom · 1994
- ColdUnited States · 1996
- KittieCanada · 1996
- LitUnited States · 1989
- SOiLUnited States · 1997
- Therapy?United Kingdom · 1989
- 10 YearsUnited States · 1999
- Corrosion of ConformityUnited States · 1982
- DIR EN GREYJapan · 1997
- FuelUnited States · 1994
- HelmetUnited States · 1989
- HinderUnited States · 2001
- Lostprophets1997
- SkindredUnited Kingdom · 1998
- Anneke van GiersbergenNetherlands · 1973
- BiohazardUnited States · 1988
Where it is played
Bands formed by decade
| Decade | Bands formed |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 27 |
| 1980s | 61 |
| 1990s | 289 |
| 2000s | 200 |
| 2010s | 275 |
| 2020s | 140 |