Playing Outside Of The Box! (An Alternative Metal Guide & Journey)

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Playing Outside Of The Box! (An Alternative Metal Guide & Journey)

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A list by
Guib
Created
August 20, 2023
Entries
148
Endorsements
13
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.

- - - - -

Guib's Best Alternative Metal Album Picks

Best of 2024
No Terror In The Bang - Heal

Best of 2025
Deftones - Private Music

- - - - - - - - - -

Last Updated: May 15th, 2026
148.
1.
Living Colour - Vivid
1988 / Alternative Metal, Funk Rock (best of 1988)
148.
2.
Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
1988 / Alternative Metal, Psychedelic Rock
148.
3.
Faith No More - The Real Thing
1989 / Alternative Metal
148.
4.
Godflesh - Streetcleaner
1989 / Industrial, Alternative Metal (best of 1989)
148.
5.
L7 - Smell The Magic
1990 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
6.
Primus - Frizzle Fry
1990 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Rock (best of 1990)
148.
7.
Alice In Chains - Facelift
1990 / Alternative Metal, Grunge
148.
8.
Jane's Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual
1990 / Alternative Metal, Psychedelic Rock
148.
9.
Infectious Grooves - The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move... It's The Infectious Grooves
1991 / Alternative Metal, Funk Rock
148.
10.
Primus - Sailing The Seas Of Cheese
1991 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Rock (best of 1991)
148.
11.
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
1991 / Alternative, Grunge, Stoner Metal
148.
12.
The Beyond - Crawl
1991 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
13.
Ministry - ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ
1992 / (Album also known as Psalm 69) Industrial, Alternative Metal (best of 1992)
148.
14.
Alice In Chains - Dirt
1992 / Alternative Metal, Grunge
148.
15.
Helmet - Meantime
1992 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
16.
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
1992 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
17.
Tool - Undertow
1993 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
18.
Primus - Pork Soda
1993 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Rock (best of 1993)
148.
19.
Clawfinger - Deaf Dumb Blind
1993 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
20.
Quicksand - Slip
1993 / Alternative Metal, Post-Hardcore
148.
21.
Therapy? - Troublegum
1994 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
22.
Rollins Band - Weight
1994 / Alternative Metal, Post-Hardcore (best of 1994)
148.
23.
Helmet - Betty
1994 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
24.
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
1994 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
25.
Alice In Chains - Alice In Chains
1995 / Alternative Metal, Grunge
148.
26.
Faith No More - King For A Day... Fool For A Lifetime
1995 / Alternative Metal (best of 1995)
148.
27.
White Zombie - Astro Creep: 2000 - Songs Of Love, Destruction And Other Synthetic Delusions Of The Electric Head
1995 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
28.
Fear Factory - Demanufacture
1995 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
29.
Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire
1996 / Alternative, Nu Metal (best of 1996)
148.
30.
Tool - Ænima
1996 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
31.
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
1996 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
32.
Mushroomhead - Superbuick
1996 / Alternative, Industrial, Nu Metal
148.
33.
Finger Eleven - Tip
1997 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
34.
Deftones - Around The Fur
1997 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
35.
Rammstein - Sehnsucht
1997 / Industrial, Alternative Metal (best of 1997)
148.
36.
Creed (US) - My Own Prison
1997 / Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
148.
37.
Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe
1998 / Industrial, Alternative Metal (best of 1998)
148.
38.
System Of A Down - System Of A Down
1998 / Alternative Metal
148.
39.
Korn - Follow The Leader
1998 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
40.
Katatonia - Discouraged Ones
1998 / Alternative, Gothic, Doom Metal
148.
41.
Rage Against The Machine - The Battle Of Los Angeles
1999 / Alternative, Nu Metal (best of 1999)
148.
42.
Slipknot - Slipknot
1999 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
43.
Dir En Grey - Gauze
1999 / Alternative Metal
148.
44.
Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip
1999 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
45.
Finger Eleven - The Greyest Of Blue Skies
2000 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
46.
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
2000 / Alternative, Nu Metal (best of 2000)
148.
47.
Disturbed - The Sickness
2000 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
48.
Mudvayne - L.D. 50
2000 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
49.
Kittie - Oracle
2001 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
50.
Tool - Lateralus
2001 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
51.
Saliva - Every Six Seconds
2001 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
52.
System Of A Down - Toxicity
2001 / Alternative Metal (best of 2001)
148.
53.
Disturbed - Believe
2002 / Alternative, Nu Metal (best of 2002)
148.
54.
Otep - Sevas Tra
2002 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
55.
Audioslave - Audioslave
2002 / Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
148.
56.
Stone Sour - Stone Sour
2002 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
57.
Evanescence - Fallen
2003 / Alternative Metal
148.
58.
Static-X - Shadow Zone
2003 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
59.
Cave In - Antenna
2003 / Alternative Metal
148.
60.
Godsmack - Faceless
2003 / Alternative Metal (best of 2003)
148.
61.
Slipknot - Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
2004 / Alternative, Nu Metal (best of 2004)
148.
62.
In Flames - Soundtrack To Your Escape
2004 / Alternative, Melodic Death Metal
148.
63.
The Birthday Massacre - Violet
2004 / Alternative Metal
148.
64.
Chevelle - This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)
2004 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
65.
Soilwork - Stabbing The Drama
2005 / Alternative, Melodic Death Metal
148.
66.
System Of A Down - Mezmerize
2005 / Alternative Metal (best of 2005)
148.
67.
Soulfly - Dark Ages
2005 / Alternative, Groove Metal
148.
68.
Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
2005 / Alternative Metal
148.
69.
P.O.D. - Testify
2006 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
70.
Tool - 10,000 Days
2006 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2006)
148.
71.
Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
2006 / Alternative, Gothic, Doom Metal
148.
72.
Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist
2006 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
73.
Tomahawk - Anonymous
2007 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Rock
148.
74.
The Birthday Massacre - Walking With Strangers
2007 / Alternative Metal
148.
75.
Devin Townsend - Ziltoid The Omniscient
2007 / Industrial, Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2007)
148.
76.
Fair To Midland - Fables From A Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True
2007 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
77.
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
2008 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
78.
Dir En Grey - Uroboros
2008 / Alternative Metal (best of 2008)
148.
79.
Soulfly - Conquer
2008 / Alternative, Groove Metal
148.
80.
Scars On Broadway - Scars On Broadway
2008 / Alternative Metal
148.
81.
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue
2009 / Alternative Metal, Grunge
148.
82.
Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs
2009 / Alternative, Post-Metal
148.
83.
Devin Townsend - Addicted
2009 / Industrial, Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2009)
148.
84.
Sybreed - The Pulse Of Awakening
2009 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
85.
Shining (NOR) - Blackjazz
2010 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Jazz
148.
86.
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
2010 / Alternative Metal
148.
87.
Godsmack - The Oracle
2010 / Alternative Metal
148.
88.
Klone - Black Days
2010 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2010)
148.
89.
Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist
2011 / Alternative Metal, Psychedelic Rock
148.
90.
In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading
2011 / Alternative, Melodic Death Metal
148.
91.
Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors
2011 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2011)
148.
92.
Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us
2011 / Alternative, Post-Metal
148.
93.
Soen - Cognitive
2012 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
94.
Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage
2012 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2012)
148.
95.
Deftones - Koi No Yokan
2012 / Alternative Metal
148.
96.
Stone Sour - House Of Gold & Bones - Part 1
2012 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
97.
Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal
2013 / Alternative, Metalcore
148.
98.
Tomahawk - Oddfellows
2013 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Rock
148.
99.
Karnivool - Asymmetry
2013 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
100.
Dirty Shirt - Freak Show
2013 / Alternative, Crossover Folk Metal (best of 2013)
148.
101.
Babymetal - Babymetal
2014 / Alternative Metal, J-Pop
148.
102.
Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed
2014 / Alternative, Groove Metal (best of 2014)
148.
103.
Ghost Brigade - IV - One With The Storm
2014 / Alternative, Post-Metal
148.
104.
Amaranthe - Massive Addictive
2014 / Alternative Metal
148.
105.
Shining (NOR) - International Blackjazz Society
2015 / Alternative Metal, Experimental Jazz
148.
106.
Fear Factory - Genexus
2015 / Industrial, Alternative Metal (best of 2015)
148.
107.
Agent Fresco - Destrier
2015 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
108.
Caligula's Horse - Bloom
2015 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
109.
Zeal & Ardor - Devil Is Fine
2016 / Alternative, Black Metal
148.
110.
Lacuna Coil - Delirium
2016 / Alternative Metal
148.
111.
Gojira - Magma
2016 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2016)
148.
112.
Polyphia - Renaissance
2016 / Progressive, Djent, Alternative Metal
148.
113.
Soen - Lykaia
2017 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2017)
148.
114.
Prophets Of Rage - Prophets Of Rage
2017 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
115.
Mutoid Man - War Moans
2017 / Hardcore, Progressive, Alternative Metal
148.
116.
Mother Of Millions - Sigma
2017 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
117.
Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit
2018 / Alternative, Black Metal (best of 2018)
148.
118.
Scars On Broadway - Dictator
2018 / Alternative Metal
148.
119.
Polyphia - New Levels, New Devils
2018 / Progressive, Djent, Alternative Metal
148.
120.
Poem - Unique
2018 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
121.
Soen - Lotus
2019 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2019)
148.
122.
Wheel - Moving Backwards
2019 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
123.
Lacuna Coil - Black Anima
2019 / Alternative Metal
148.
124.
The Offering - Home
2019 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
125.
Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant
2020 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2020)
148.
126.
Static-X - Project: Regeneration Vol. 1
2020 / Industrial, Alternative Metal
148.
127.
Tallah - Matriphagy
2020 / Alternative, Nu Metal
148.
128.
Deftones - Ohms
2020 / Alternative Metal
148.
129.
Soen - Imperial
2021 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2021)
148.
130.
Chevelle - NIRATIAS
2021 / Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
148.
131.
Wheel - Resident Human
2021 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
132.
Gojira - Fortitude
2021 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
133.
Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor
2022 / Alternative, Black Metal
148.
134.
Polyphia - Remember That You Will Die
2022 / Progressive, Djent, Alternative Metal (best of 2022)
148.
135.
Machine Head - Øf Kingdøm And Crøwn
2022 / Alternative, Groove Metal
148.
136.
Dir En Grey - Phalaris
2022 / Alternative Metal
148.
137.
Voice Of Baceprot - Retas
2023 / Alternative, Nu, Funk Metal
148.
138.
Mutoid Man - Mutants
2023 / Alternative, Hardcore, Progressive Sludge (best of 2023)
148.
139.
Soen - Memorial
2023 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
140.
Molybaron - Something Ominous
2023 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
141.
Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace
2024 / Alternative, Progressive Metal
148.
142.
Five The Hierophant - Apeiron
2024 / Alternative, Jazz, Post-Metal
148.
143.
Julie Christmas - Ridiculous And Full Of Blood
2024 / Alternative, Post-Metal
148.
144.
No Terror In The Bang - Heal
2024 / Alternative, Progressive Metal (best of 2024)
148.
145.
Deftones - Private Music
2025 / Alternative Metal (best of 2025)
148.
146.
The Callous Daoboys - I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven
2025 / Alternative, Mathcore, Metalcore
148.
147.
Black Magnet - Megamantra
2025 / Industrial Metal
148.
148.
Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power
2025 / Alternative, Shoegaze, Atmospheric Black Metal
More lists by Guib ››
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Guib ]

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Guib
Thrash Talker

Posts: 3535
Permalink
20.01.2025 - 02:19
Guib
Thrash Talker

Posts: 3535


Finally updated it and solidified my 4 picks for 2024. My favourite is definitely by No Terror In The Bang, this album is so much fun, dynamic and engaging and I still can't get enough of it. Big kudos to Five The Hierophant for making an instrumental jazz album that's not only great but that I can actually properly stomach in one sitting. Finally, Julie... Yeah I missed Julie Christmas, been a fan of hers since her collab with Cult Of Luna on Mariner and she's such a mesmerizing performer.

So this list's now open to begin a new year of experimental metal!
----
- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
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Guib
Thrash Talker

Posts: 3535
Permalink
16.05.2026 - 01:07
Guib
Thrash Talker

Posts: 3535


I've been a little slow this year and the last to update all my lists but I just added my finalized roster of the best 4 alternative albums for 2025 (In my opinion of course) !

1. Deftones - Private Music
2. The Callous Daoboys - I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven
3. Black Magnet - Megamantra
4. Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power
----
- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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