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 list shows only my preferences in metal. These albums are not necessarily the best of the bands written by, but I return to them again and again. In my opinion, all this masterpieces confirm the variety and greatness of metal music.
Rules:
1. One album per band.
2. Ordered from highest position (top) to lowest (bottom).
3. No heavy, power, doom, gothic, sludge/stoner albums.

1.Children Of Bodom - Follow The Reaper

2.Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

3.In Flames - Clayman

4.Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos

5.Gojira - From Mars To Sirius

      View entire list ››

1 album per band per subgenre
work in progress, updating as I go through the song-by-song ratings on RateYourMusic.com
I will typically update my black metal faves - https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6924
and my death metal faves - https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6298
prior to updating this one

1.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

2.King Diamond - Abigail

3.Voivod - Dimension Hatröss

4.Mastodon - Crack The Skye

5.Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris

      View entire list ››

1.Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power

2.Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction

3.Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer

4.Alice In Chains - Dirt

5.Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond

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1.Rammstein - Mutter

2.Ministry - Rio Grande Blood

3.Samael - Solar Soul

4.Rammstein - Reise, Reise

5.Fear Factory - Demanufacture

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The albums below is my definition of extreme metal music, regardless of their genre. Entire list is based only on my personal preferences in metal.
Rules:
1. One album per band
2. 305 groups/305 albums

1.In Flames - Clayman

2.Metallica - ...And Justice For All

3.Chimaira - Chimaira

4.Death - Symbolic

5.Testament - The New Order

      View entire list ››

(Easiest choice for number one so far)

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

Honourable mentions:
Deicide - Legion (Death)
Candlemass - Chapter VI (Doom)
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction (Heavy)
Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark (NWOBHM)

Non-Metal mentions:
Dr. Dre - The Chronic (Rap)

1.Alice In Chains - Dirt

2.Ministry - ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ

3.Obituary - The End Complete

4.Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

5.Holy Moses - Reborn Dogs

      View entire list ››

1.Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

2.Rammstein - Mutter

3.Godflesh - Streetcleaner

4.Skinny Puppy - Too Dark Park

5.Ministry - ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ

      View entire list ››

Pretty straight-forward, these are my favourite industrial rock/metal albums I've heard to date. Limiting it to 3 albums per band.

1.Rammstein - Mutter

2.Rammstein - Reise Reise

3.Rammstein - Rosenrot

4.Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip

5.Static-X - Shadow Zone

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A (most probably incomplete) list of albums on which I really enjoy only a single song (in alphabetical order, excluding one-track albums).
They turn out to be albums that I rate a 6 or 7 overall -- with few exceptions.
The songs mentioned though are all-time favourites, which I would rate at 9 or 10.
I only listed albums on which I found exactly one such song.

1.Agalloch - Pale Folklore

2.Amorphis - Far From The Sun

3.Annihilator - Set The World On Fire

4.Asphyx - The Rack

5.Bathory - Blood Fire Death

      View entire list ››

Stuff that got me hooked in the course of the years, from my very first blurred memories as a toddler to the present day.
Lots of catchy tunes, some cheese, very few flowers.
Songs that had a big impact on me and influenced my taste in music.
Stuff to let it all hang out, songs for campfire sing-alongs and soundtracks to slit your wrists to.

1.Queen - Jazz

2.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

3.Dio - Holy Diver

4.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

5.Einstürzende Neubauten - Halber Mensch

      View entire list ››

1.Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

2.Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction

3.Running Wild - Pile Of Skulls

4.Alice In Chains - Dirt

5.Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky

      View entire list ››

Industrial metal pioneers. One of the most innovative and creative bands from the 90s and early 2000s. This is how I would sum up, in a few words, Ministry and its mastermind, Al Jourgensen.

Although a genius songwriter, a jack-of-all-trades in terms of instrumental usage (and a master of none, as he told us), Al Jourgensen left a deep and lasting impression upon the realm of metal and not only. Aside from his demented, marxist political views and the sheer stupidity which is exemplified in the lyrics, one cannot deny that his music is stellar and brilliantly crafted.

1.Ministry - ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ

2.Ministry - Houses Of The Molé

3.Ministry - Filth Pig

4.Ministry - The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste

5.Ministry - Dark Side Of The Spoon

      View entire list ››

What the title says.

1.Metallica - ...And Justice For All

2.Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

3.Alice In Chains - Dirt

4.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

5.Faith No More - Angel Dust

      View entire list ››

Metal albums of all things techy, futuristic, distorted, synthetic and artificial of the industrial nature.
Includes some single tracks and full albums from YouTube.
Recommendations/suggestions are welcome and one album per band.

1.2 Times Terror - Equals One Sudden Death

2....And Oceans - Allotropic/Metamorphic Genesis Of Dismorphism (A.M.G.O.D.)

3.Aborym - With No Human Intervention

4.Atrophia Red Sun - Twisted Logic

5.Black Comedy - Instigator

      View entire list ››