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 ››

For those interested in suggestions of albums by genre

Removed:
- Trolls
- Limp bizkit outside of Alternative category
- albums already nominated. After the results, I will add the nominated albums that don't receive enough votes to be displayed in the results, as "staff write-ins".
- albums with a release date not in 2021

1.

2.Heleven - Into The Oceans

3.Imminence - Heaven In Hiding

4.Lantlôs - Wildhund

5.Leprous - Aphelion

      View entire list ››

Metallic World War 2021

2017 champions Archspire want to defend their leadership (strategy: we raze you with more BPM), while Dvne (3rd place in 2017) and Rivers of Nihil (3rd place in 2018) enhance their sonic arsenal by forcefully declaring war on sovereigns; however, the battlefield is filled with loose mines that could explode and blow everything up, ultra-technical mines called Inferi, Deviant Process and First Fragment (brand: Dominic Forest Lapointe). From afar, cautious and silent, veterans named Carcass, Dream Theater and Mastodon lurk. Steffen Kummurer of Obscura (3rd place in 2009, 2nd place in 2011, 6th place in 2016, 7th place in 2018) warrior experienced and reliable, re-sheaths his most powerful weapons (Jeroen Paul Thesseling and Christian Muenzner, champion with the Alkaloid in 2018) and prepares for the final assault on the Throne of Metal. The 2012 champions, Between the Buried and Me, dethroned but never tamed, take the field recalling the glorious colors of the past to regain what is rightfully theirs.

1.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

2.Dvne - Etemen Ænka

3.Archspire - Bleed The Future

4.Obscura - A Valediction

5.Mastodon - Hushed And Grim

      View entire list ››

1.Cân Bardd - Devoured By The Oak

2.Thy Catafalque - Vadak

3.Iotunn - Access All Worlds

4.Aquilus - Bellum I

5.Dordeduh - Har

      View entire list ››

Limited only to the albums I rate higher than 7.
Suggestions are extremely welcomed.

1.Theologian - Nonextant

2.She Spread Sorrow - Hunters

3.Choir - Songs For A Tarnished World

4.Five The Hierophant - Through Aureate Void

5.Fragment King - Retreat

      View entire list ››

Another boring the best of 2021 list..

Happy new year…,,

1.Exodus - Persona Non Grata

2.Carcass - Torn Arteries

3.Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined

4.Worm - Foreverglade

5.Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon

      View entire list ››

"The artwork was created by acclaimed Polish artist, Mariusz Lewandowski, whose art matched LIVLØS’ artistic vision" the band revealed to And Justice For Art..."

1.Gojira - Fortitude

2.Evadne - The Pale Light Of Fireflies

3.Imminence - Heaven In Hiding

4.Vildhjarta - Måsstaden Under Vatten

5.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

      View entire list ››

My top best albums of 2021!

1.Iotunn - Access All Worlds

2.Ethereal Shroud - Trisagion

3.Evergrey - Escape Of The Phoenix

4.Mare Cognitum - Solar Paroxysm

5.Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon

      View entire list ››

A list of Bands and Albums to check in 2021 in chronological(release) order

1.Need - Norchestrion: A Song For The End

2.Emma Ruth Rundle - The Helm Of Sorrow [Collaboration]

3.Soen - Imperial

4.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

5.Steven Wilson - The Future Bites

      View entire list ››

2021 albums that I enjoyed so far, a lot more coming, obviously a work in progress

1.Wheel - Resident Human

2.Needlepoint - Walking up That Valley

3.Sur Austru - Obârşie

4.Dordeduh - Har

5.Need - Norchestrion: A Song For The End

      View entire list ››

My favourite albums of 2021... Seemingly continuing the trend of containing more non-metal content each year.

Includes only albums rated 2.5/5 or higher.

1.Floating Points - Promises

2.Vildhjarta - Måsstaden Under Vatten

3.Black Midi - Cavalcade

4.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

5.Deafheaven - Infinite Granite

      View entire list ››

My List of the releases made during 2021. Score based on the excel sheet i've made https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Hk_3gkpCfeKtdZNus_z3sxg-U8XJ_MqklfC8tbealaE/edit?usp=sharing

1.Decline Of The I - Johannes

2.Vokonis - Odyssey

3.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

4.Kanonenfieber - Menschenmühle

5.Stortregn - Impermanence

      View entire list ››

1.Evergrey - Escape Of The Phoenix

2.Abiotic - Ikigai

3.Architects - For Those That Wish To Exist

4.Michael Schenker Fest - Immortal

5.Need - Norchestrion: A Song For The End

      View entire list ››

These are my favourite albums from the year 2021, ranked in order from my most favourite at number 1 to my least favourite.

1.Wheel - Resident Human

2.Carcass - Torn Arteries

3.Mastodon - Hushed And Grim

4.Thy Catafalque - Vadak

5.Spiritbox - Eternal Blue

      View entire list ››