Another year begins, same scenario, ranking ordered from favorite down to least favorite. I've no specific target set this year, but it's doubtful I'll reach last year's monstrous amount. I might even throw in the odd EP this time round.

The list is also edited daily so the ranking may be subject to change.

1.Cistvaen - At Light's Demise

2.Khirki - Κ​υ​κ​ε​ώ​ν​α​ς

3.Dödsrit - Nocturnal Will

4.Sgàile - Traverse The Bealach

5.Hauntologist - Hollow

      View entire list ››

Hoping to not beat last year's total albums, but to still find the good stuff this year.

1.Dvne - Voidkind

2.Persefone - Lingua Ignota: Part I

3.Eternal Storm - A Giant Bound To Fall

4.Cave Sermon - Divine Laughter

5.Dark Oath - Ages Of Man

      View entire list ››

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 2022
Polyphia - Remember That You Will Die

Best Of 2023
Mutoid Man - Mutants

Best of 2024 So Far
...tbd

- - - - - - - - - -

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 ››

I doubt I’ll get to half the releases of last year due to changes in my work but I’ll find some good stuff

Here’s a playlist with my favorite songs, max 2 songs per album: Best Songs of 2024

1.Suldusk - Anthesis

2.Maruja - Connla’s Well

3.Sgàile - Traverse The Bealach

4.Couch Slut - You Could Do It Tonight

5.Labyrinthus Stellarum - Vortex Of The Worlds

      View entire list ››

Albums that share their name with a song usually have only one title track. However, there are also examples of albums where several songs contribute to the album name.

Please feel free to suggest more examples for albums with multiple title tracks.

1.Alpinist - Lichtlærm

2.Ayreon - The Theory Of Everything

3.Black Flag - Damaged

4.Blindead - Absence

5.Bolt Thrower - Honour - Valour - Pride

      View entire list ››

1.Labyrinthus Stellarum - Vortex Of The Worlds

2.Einvigi - Monokroma

3.Far Beyond - The End Of My Road

4.Riitasointu - Pedon Leikki

5.Dödsrit - Nocturnal Will

      View entire list ››

So it begins. 3rd year at MS, 5th year of devoted metal listening. Nothing particularly exciting coming up, but Eternal Storm looks promising, and any new Persefone is a good thing. It's early days after all.

Goal? I made it to 625 albums last year, with a pretty slack first 6 months. Aiming for 800.

Update: This list is officially discontinued, apart from albums that are good enough to warrant multiple listens, aka the top end. There are various reasons for this, but a lot of changes are happening in life and I cannot/do not want to give this much time to every release I can.

1.Aquilus - Bellum II

2.Cave Sermon - Divine Laughter

3.Illumishade - Another Side Of You

4.Persefone - Lingua Ignota: Part I

5.Solbrud - IIII

      View entire list ››

I haven't listened a lot of 2024 albums so far, here are a few I enjoyed so far.

1.Sgàile - Traverse The Bealach

2.Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

3.For All We Know - By Design Or By Disaster

4.Turbulence - Binary Dream

5.North Sea Echoes - Really Good Terrible Things

      View entire list ››

1.In Vain - Solemn

2.Borknagar - Fall

3.Ihsahn - Ihsahn

4.Necrophobic - In The Twilight Grey

5.Persefone - Lingua Ignota: Part I

      View entire list ››

Another year, another list. Every 2024 release I hear at least once in entirety will be featured here. This is not a best-of nor a ranking so albums will be displayed in chronological order (newest at the top). (I had to restart this list because I accidentally deleted the last one lol).

1.Elvellon - Ascending In Synergy

2.Hell:On - Shaman

3.Pallbearer - Mind Burns Alive

4.Shokran - Duat

5.2 Wolves - Not Worth It

      View entire list ››

1.Vitriol - Suffer & Become

2.Borknagar - Fall

3.Vanden Plas - The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things

4.Hiraes - Dormant

5.Hauntologist - Hollow

      View entire list ››

1.Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project

2.For All We Know - By Design Or By Disaster

3.Sonata Arctica - Clear Cold Beyond

4.Khirki - Κ​υ​κ​ε​ώ​ν​α​ς

5.Neal Morse - The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two

      View entire list ››

The list will be updated every week until the end of the year...

1.In Vain - Solemn

2.Drown In Sulphur - Dark Secrets Of The Soul

3.Borknagar - Fall

4.Enterprise Earth - Death: An Anthology

5.Dödsrit - Nocturnal Will

      View entire list ››

1.Job For A Cowboy - Moon Healer

2.Slimelord - Chytridiomycosis Relinquished

3.Labyrinthus Stellarum - Vortex Of The Worlds

4.Civerous - Maze Envy

5.Borknagar - Fall

      View entire list ››

1.Manticora - Mycelium

2.Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace

3.Striker - Ultrapower

4.Ihsahn - Ihsahn

5.Borknagar - Fall

      View entire list ››