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Thumbs up: +10
Playing Outside Of The Box! (An Alternative Metal Guide & Journey)

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

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Created by Guib on 20.08.2023



Thumbs up: +5
Top 200 Alternative Metal Albums

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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Created by Wildebean on 05.04.2023



Thumbs up: +3
Top Metal Albums Each Year I Have Been Alive, 1989

A little list series where I list my top 20 favorite metal albums every year starting from the year I was born in.

1989 was another great year for metal, I tried to add more obscure and overlooked albums on this list

My favorite non heavy metal albums of 1989

1. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814

1.Running Wild - Death Or Glory
2.Coroner - No More Color
3.Faith No More - The Real Thing
4.Alice Cooper - Trash
5.Titan Force - Titan Force

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Created by Handala on 12.06.2022



Thumbs up: +1
1001 Metal Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Welcome to what I consider the "1001 Metal Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" or in other words, a list of records of various genres in the arrays of Metal and Hard Rock that I deem essential or at least very recommended to listeners of hard and heavy music. This may be a very overwhelming list but I essentially try to collect all albums in the History of Metal that strike me as worthwhile. May this be a guideline for people that seek for an entrance to a particular genre or certain bands. In no means I am saying, that this list is indisputable by any means. I consider these my personal picks for albums that should be listened to by die-hard metal fans at least once. Hopefully you can discover some new music or relate with my picks. If I missed something that you would include in such a list, please tell me in the form of a comment. Enjoy! \,,/

1.High Tide - Sea Shanties
2.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come
5.Josefus - Dead Man

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Created by pandrstudios on 31.05.2022



Thumbs up: +2
Top 25 Alternative Metal Albums

1.System Of A Down - Toxicity
2.Soen - Lotus
3.Tool - Lateralus
4.Faith No More - The Real Thing
5.Tool - Ænima

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Created by Mrtvozornik on 14.01.2022



Metal At The End Of The 80’s 88-89

The eighties was the most productive decade in metal history, the biggest bands born during this decade Iron Maiden, Dio, Slayer, Death, Metallica… for named a few.
The eighties starts with the NWOBHM invasion and new releases from the classic heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Judas Priest with renewed sound and heaviness.
New genres of metal start’s in the 80’s Speed Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal , the rise and fall of the Glam Rock and the first sign in what dominated the nineties alternative and Grunge.
The most representative records in the end of the 80’s

1.Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
2.Testament - Practice What You Preach
3.King Diamond - Conspiracy
4.Death - Leprosy
5.Voivod - Nothingface

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Created by Blackcrowe on 13.01.2022



Thumbs up: +2
Some Albums With 8.50 Or More

1.Shylmagoghnar - Emergence
2.Galneryus - Angel Of Salvation
3.Blindead - Affliction XXIX II MXMVI
4.Batushka - Litourgiya
5.Leprous - Bilateral

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Created by JavierPaper on 28.11.2021



Thumbs up: +6
1001 Metal Albums to Hear Before You Die

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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Created by metalriff on 05.02.2021



BEST 80'S ALBUMS

1.Queensrÿche - Rage For Order
2.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
3.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I
4.Crimson Glory - Transcendence
5.Running Wild - Port Royal

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Created by FELIX42 on 11.06.2020



Thumbs up: +2
Best Album Of Each Year

Fifty years of metal, 50 best albums of the year. Note that in order to diversify the list I limited it to one album per band, otherwise there would have been too much Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

1.Black Sabbath - Paranoid
2.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
3.Deep Purple - Machine Head
4.Budgie - Never Turn Your Back On A Friend
5.Queen - Queen II

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Created by Ganondox on 17.10.2019



Thumbs up: +6
I Like Big Hits And I Can Not Lie (Part I: 20th Century)

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

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Created by Starvynth on 10.05.2019



Saturday Night Party List

Party albums!!

1.Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
2.
3.Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
4.Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
5.Anthrax - Persistence Of Time

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Created by Haarr on 15.02.2019



Thumbs up: +21
Top 500 Albums of All Time

I've been listening to Metal since 2005 and it has become my biggest passion in life.

Rarely a day goes by where I don't listen to it in one form or another. The bands I listened to in my teens inspired me to pick up the guitar (and later drums) and start making music of my own.

So here are the albums that have stood out and made the largest impact on me. To be as transparent as possible, I've labelled albums as 'nostalgia bias' where my memories of the album give it an advantage over others.

(Score is an average of each album's song ratings, full list located here. There are a ton of albums that I've rated 9/10 in the 'TBR' tab that may never make it to this list, be sure to check those out.)

If you discovered any new albums or like the same sort of metal, be sure to give this list a thumbs-up and leave a comment so more people can find these amazing bands!

My other lists:
Top 25 EPs (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
Top 200 Overrated Albums (trigger warning)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)

Genre-Specific:
Top 50 Black Metal Albums
Top 50 Melodic Death Metal Albums
Top 45 Thrash Metal Albums
Top 40 Power Metal Albums
Top 30 Doom Metal Albums
Top 30 Heavy Metal Albums

1.Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
2.Opeth - Blackwater Park
3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets
4.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
5.Opeth - Still Life

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Created by nonZero on 06.10.2018



Thumbs up: +2
Best Album From Different Genres

My favorite albums from various genres

1.Slipknot - Iowa
2.Nirvana - Nevermind
3.Summoning - Stronghold
4.Septicflesh - Communion
5.Anathema - Judgement

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Created by Anghellic67 on 02.02.2018



Thumbs up: +2
Best Metal Albums Ever (IMO)

Metal albums that blow me away every time I hear them. Loosely ordered... list gets less organized as it goes on. My favorite song from each album is included.

1.Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
2.Faith No More - Angel Dust
3.Dream Theater - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
4.Tool - Ænima
5.Metallica - ...And Justice For All

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Created by matthewdurham on 09.05.2017