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

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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

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An ongoing list for personal use as well as for reference for beginners (& veterans alike). This is solely my personal opinion and taste (Death & Prog mostly but do give every genre a try). Basically will include albums I've rated 8 & above. Sorted by year since I'll need a Venn diagram to sort by genre (seriously MS please make it happen if possible). Will feature multiple releases per year (obviously) and per band (since if a band is putting out better albums it deserves more recognition). Keeping the metal faith alive from India

1.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

2.King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III

4.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

5.Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself

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1.Primus - Frizzle Fry

2.Primus - Sailing The Seas Of Cheese

3.Primus - Pork Soda

4.Primus - The Desaturating Seven

5.Primus - Green Naugahyde

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"CALENDAR MADE OF METAL"
January = Progressive Metal
Listening to as many albums as possible in said genre during said month and listing them here as I go. Suggestions welcome.

1.Rush - Caress Of Steel

2.Threshold - Wounded Land

3.Shadow Gallery - Carved In Stone

4.Porcupine Tree - Up The Downstair

5.Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways

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1.Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

2.My Dying Bride - The Angel And The Dark River

3.Opeth - Morningrise

4.Gojira - From Mars To Sirius

5.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

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Smooth as a babe's bottom on a well oiled judas chair.

1.Pantera - Far Beyond Driven

2.Strapping Young Lad - Alien

3.Reverence - The Asthenic Ascension

4.Meshuggah - Contradictions Collapse

5.Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill

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I consider myself very lucky to have grown up, not just on the West Coast of the United States, but right in the heart of one of history's great metal scenes--the San Francisco Bay Area. So many awesome memories from so many incredible local bands, with other acts from all over the world regularly passing through as well. Time to memorialize in no particular order.

1.Anthrax - State Of Euphoria

2.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II

3.Exodus - Fabulous Disaster

4.Testament - The New Order

5.Voivod - Nothingface

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Pure awesomeness! 1 album from each of my favorite metal/rock bands.

1.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

2.Danzig - Danzig 4

3.Monster Magnet - Dopes To Infinity

4.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

5.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

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No specific order

1.Lamb Of God - Ashes Of The Wake

2.Opeth - Ghost Reveries

3.Strapping Young Lad - Alien

4.Slipknot - Slipknot

5.Divine Heresy - Bleed The Fifth

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Limited to only those albums featured on Metal Storm.

1.Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

2.Rush - Moving Pictures

3.King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

4.Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane

5.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

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