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Alternative metal, or alt-metal, is a fusion of heavy metal with alternative rock and other unconventional influences, characterized by downtuned, mid-paced guitar riffs, a blend of melodic and harsh vocals, and occasional experimental sounds. Emerging in the 1980s with bands like Faith No More, Living Colour, Soundgarden, and Jane’s Addiction, the genre gained prominence in the 1990s through acts like Helmet, Tool, and Alice in Chains..
Subgenres such as rap metal and funk metal played a role in shaping nu metal, which further expanded alt-metal’s sound by incorporating hip-hop, thrash, hardcore punk, and industrial elements. Nu metal surged in mainstream popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s with bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, System of a Down, Linkin Park, and Slipknot, but its dominance waned after the mid-2000s as many bands evolved into different styles.
Pop Evil’s What Remains ups the intensity with heavier riffs and raw emotion. From the anthemic “When Bullets Miss” to the eerie “Deathwalk,” it blends hard rock grit with sharp hooks. Familiar yet fierce, it proves the band’s staying power.
Spiritbox’s Tsunami Sea crashes in with bold genre-blending and Courtney LaPlante’s dynamic vocals. From crushing riffs to eerie melodies, it’s a storm of sound. Experimental yet powerful, it cements their place as fearless metal innovators.
Shinedown blends post-grunge grit, Southern intensity, and emotional catharsis to craft anthemic, stadium-ready rock. With every album, they push boundaries, making music that resonates deeply and never loses its raw, urgent power.
Shinedown craft anthems that hit like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart—music that lifts you up even when it’s dragging you through the dirt. They’ve never been the cool kids, but that’s part of their appeal.
Architects’ The Sky, The Earth & All Between blends crushing riffs with melodic depth, tackling themes of resilience and introspection. It’s a bold, mature leap forward—ferocious yet reflective, proving evolution doesn’t mean losing your edge.
Shinedown has scored the most #1s on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart (19). But there is more to the band than the chart toppers. The following is a list of their Top 10 songs. #10. Save Me – Us And Them (2005) “‘Save Me’ is a song about how people will take on everyone else’s…
High school is a great place to start a Rock band. However, it’s difficult to keep the thing going once everyone graduates. In ’91, Incubus came together with school chums Brandon Boyd (vocals), Mike Einziger (guitars), Alex Katunich (bass) and Jose Pasillias (drums). Soon the group was playing the all-ages club circuit throughout their native…
Sleepless Empire reaffirms Lacuna Coil’s position in the gothic metal genre. The album balances innovation with the band’s signature sound, offering both longtime fans and newcomers a rich auditory experience.
Stone Temple Pilots, or STP, emerged from the alternative rock scene in the early ’90s, and became one of the most successful and polarizing bands.
Artist Bios Stone Temple Pilots Stone Temple Pilots (STP) are an American rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1989. The band’s classic lineup consisted of Scott Weiland (vocals), brothers Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals) and Dean DeLeo (guitar), and Eric Kretz (drums). Emerging during the early ’90s grunge explosion, STP distinguished themselves with…