[floatboxright:
Primary Stylistic Influences:
+ {{Grunge}}, AlternativeRock, AlternativeMetal, SouthernRock
]
[floatboxright:
Secondary Stylistic Influences:
+ HardRock, NuMetal, HairMetal, GlamRock, ArenaRock, BluesRock, GarageRock
]

->''"I think the grunge-lite movement came not from bands so much as record labels. I think the record labels said, 'Hmm... Let's have more of that. Let's find bands who we can encourage to write songs that have a little bit of angst and a whole lot of melody and create something that's not challenging, it's not confrontational, and that the mainstream can just wholeheartedly embrace.'"''
-->-- '''Jon Weiderhorn''', ''Metal Evolution'' episode 7, "Grunge"

[[PostSomethingism Post]]-grunge is a derivative of {{Grunge}} music that became popular in the late '90s. The genre is primarily marked by its use of the apathetic, droning vocals, downtuned guitars and HardRock[=/=][[PunkRock Punk]] aesthetics commonly associated with Grunge, but removing the more unusual songwriting choices and less commercially-friendly influences from HardcorePunk and NoiseRock that many original grunge artists were known for, in addition to much more mid-tempo songs. In other words, taking, running-with and exploiting the more commercially viable qualities of Grunge while heavily watering down its oddity and offending harshness. Yeah, this genre doesn't go over well with the underground music scene. Its popularity has occasionally caused it to receive blame for AlternativeRock becoming more banal and losing its experimental qualities, as the genre's existence lead to the numerous less glossy bands previously snatched up by major labels after Music/{{Nirvana}}'s breakthrough being unceremoniously dumped.[[note]] Like Music/{{Boredoms}}, Music/ButtholeSurfers and Music/{{Jawbox}}, to name a few. [[/note]]

The genre has been known to use the more traditional rock structures often rejected by their predecessors in Grunge, modernized with straightforward, brooding lyrics. In this sense, the movement could be considered ([[{{Irony}} ironically]]) the SpiritualSuccessor to HairMetal, whose pop beats and polished production brought heavy rock to a widespread audience (Post-grunge is also well known for its "soul-searching" ballads). Indeed, many post-grunge bands take more influence from Music/{{Poison}}, Cinderella and Music/{{Whitesnake}} than Music/{{Nirvana}}; post-grunge players generally think of the old grunge-greats as idols/heroes rather than true influences, with more of an interest in stylistic emulation over artistic aspiration (the subtle difference between a direct or indirect influence from grunge can affect how well-received a post-grunge band is, both critically and to their audience). Post-Grunge tends to focus more on conventional lyrical structure than the music itself, often [[WordSaladLyrics the opposite stance of early grunge artists]]. Though the genre is rooted primarily in AlternativeRock, make no mistake, post-grunge was tailor-made for the mainstream, and is what helped Alternative become rooted as 'Mainstream' music. [[note]]Notice that [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Mainstream_Rock_Tracks Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks']] record-holders are almost entirely post-grunge bands.[[/note]] In essence, it took no influence from what Grunge was, but took every influence from what Grunge became; a commercial darling.

The rise of Post-grunge has gone to dominate and even embed itself in the standardly recognized sound of HardRock [[SmallReferencePools as most people can hear]], creating the assumption that post-grunge is, along with PopPunk and mainstream {{Emo|Music}}, the only form of modern rock. This has had the flip-side effect of some of the more straight-forward, contemporary rock groups [[note]]The kind who take their influence from the deep-seated 70's and 80's hard rock staples (Black Stone Cherry, Rev Theory, Hinder, Saving Abel, Buckcherry, Pop Evil, My Darkest Days, etc.)[[/note]] being lumped in with post-grunge, despite largely having no alternative qualities in their music[[note]]Music/{{Nickelback}} is a particularly odd case of this, taking on a more stadium/pop sound in their later albums and thus joining this group while still carrying the post-grunge label as an ArtifactTitle, probably because of their lead singer's scratchy voice[[/note]]. There is a bit of cross-over involved as well: Saliva, Music/{{Shinedown}}, [[Music/ThreeDoorsDown 3 Doors Down]] and Music/{{Daughtry}} like to dabble in/pay tribute to "regular" hard rock when they can, adding to this confusion. It seems the only way to escape this is to play ''very'' old-fashioned retro-rock, such as GarageRock revival, new BluesRock, [[PsychedelicRock neo-psychedelia]], [[HeavyMetal traditional-metal revival]], or modernized PowerPop.

After dominating mainstream rock music in the late '90s and '00s, post-grunge eventually wore out its welcome in TheNewTens. Few new bands are playing post-grunge anymore, largely moving onto straightforward AlternativeRock or Pop Rock. The post-grunge bands that didn't sing about SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll are still charting well on Mainstream Rock radio ([[NewSoundAlbum usually because they added elements of other genres into their music]]), but everyone else retain [[CultClassic cult followings]] at best or are CondemnedByHistory at worst.

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Bands typified as Post-grunge:

'''First-wave Post-grunge''':
[[index]]
* Music/BetterThanEzra
* Music/{{Bush}} (occasionally considered genuine grunge, but this is highly controversial)
* Music/{{Candlebox}}
* Music/CollectiveSoul
* Music/{{Creed|band}} (one of the more infamous examples)
* Days of the New (a mostly acoustic band, sounding a bit close to Music/AliceInChains in acoustic mode)
* Dog's Eye View
* Music/Eve6 (overlaps with PopPunk)
* Music/{{Everclear}}
* Music/{{Failure}}
* Music/FooFighters ([[{{Irony}} ironic]], considering [[Music/{{Nirvana}} the band's origins]]; easily one of the most beloved and respected examples on this list)
** ''Music/FooFightersAlbum'' (1995)
* Music/GooGooDolls (as a result of a BlackSheepHit ["Name"] on their fifth album which in turn set off a GenreShift. The rest of those first five albums are closer to the music of Music/TheReplacements)
* Music/{{Live}}
* Music/{{Lit}} (overlaps with PopPunk)
** Music/{{Miserable}}
* Music/MarcyPlayground
* Music/MatchboxTwenty
* Music/OurLadyPeace (shifted to New Millennium-style in 2002)
* Music/{{Radiohead}} (briefly dabbled in the genre between the straight grunge of their first album and the art rock of their third onwards)
** ''Music/TheBends'' (1995)
* Music/SevenMaryThree
* Music/{{Silverchair}} (especially on second and third albums; first album could be considered straight up grunge, later work is more experimental)
* Music/StoneTemplePilots (debatable if they were the [[TropeMaker first example]] or just a radio-friendly form of proper {{grunge}})
* Music/PearlJam (also debatable since they were a straightforward {{Grunge}} band when they started, but some of their music from the late 90s onward can lean towards this for some)
* Music/SystemOfADown: Very respected band, hailing from California with more political lyrics than most of the genre. It's hard to group them in ''any'' genre, but their 1998 debut contained some AlternativeMetal material paired with Serj Tankian's [[MetalScream heavier voice]].
* Music/ThirdEyeBlind
* Music/{{Tonic}} (first album; they later became "adult alternative")

'''New Millennium style post-grunge''':
* Music/ThreeDoorsDown
* [[Music/TwelveStones 12 Stones]]
* 32 Leaves
* Music/{{Adema}}
* American Hi-Fi (an unusal hybrid with PopPunk)
* Music/{{Aranda}} (on their second album, "Stop the World")
* Music/ArtOfDying
* Music/{{The Calling|Band}}
* Music/{{Cavo}} (their song "Champagne" was a number one hit on rock radio in 2009).
* Dark New Day
* Music/{{Daughtry}} (widely recognized as one of the heaviest things to come out of ''Series/AmericanIdol'')
* Music/{{Default}}
* Music/EvansBlue
* Music/{{Feeder}} (probably the only known band who also overlaps with [[{{Britpop}} post-Britpop]])
* Music/FingerEleven (best known for the hits "One Thing" and "Paralyzer.")
* Music/{{Fuel}}
* Music/{{Garbage}} (mostly AlternativeRock, but can fit into post-grunge at times)
* Hinder (a band from the SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll wave influenced by GlamMetal)
* Music/{{Hoobastank}} (was more NuMetal in on their debut album, but this seems to better apply to their second album)
* Jet Black Stare
* Music/{{Lifehouse}}
* Music/MyDarkestDays (short-lived SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll act, known as the original band of Music/ThreeDaysGrace’s second frontman Matt Walst.)
* Music/{{Nickelback}} (easily the most successful, yet hated example)
* Music/PapaRoach (later work)
* Music/PoetsOfTheFall
* Music/PopEvil (earlier work, though they've since embraced a more metal-influenced sound)
* Music/ThePrettyReckless (fronted by popular actress Creator/TaylorMomsen)
* Music/PuddleOfMudd (started out as more nu-metal influenced but later work was in the SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll style)
* Rev Theory
* Music/{{Saliva}} (bordering on nu-metal)
* Music/SavingAbel (Another SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll act, fairly similar to Hinder although more influenced by southern rock)
* [[Music/SixxAM Sixx:A.M.]] (a rock trio featuring [[Music/MotleyCrue Nikki Sixx]]; their sound is far removed from that of Sixx's more well-known band)
* Music/{{Stereomud}} (a nu-metal group whose bassist is the brother of Music/{{Sevendust}}’s guitarist)
* Music/{{Switchfoot}} (overlaps with Christian rock)
* Music/{{Tantric}} (a spiritual successor to Days of the New, with a heavier emphasis on acoustic guitars than most bands)
* Music/TheoryOfADeadman (also a SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll group who are closely tied to Nickelback. They were for the most part the lone survivor of that wave of bands after they went out of style)
* Music/TheVeerUnion (one of few examples with a black lead singer)
[[/index]]

'''Post-Grunge / [[AlternativeMetal Alt-Metal]] crossover:'''

Some post-grunge bands take more after Music/{{Tool}} and Music/AliceInChains than Music/PearlJam or Music/{{Nirvana}}, while some like to add a heavier edge to their sound as not to be lumped with their softer post-grunge contemporaries while maintaining their alternative status. Thus, the overlap with AlternativeMetal was inevitable. Note that all or most post-grunge bands fall under the HardRock umbrella (a genre related to alt-metal and HeavyMetal}), but post-grunge bands with similarities to metal aren't necessarily an example of alt-metal. Given their similar pop-leanings, normally when a post-grunge band makes their sound heavier they become [[NuMetal nu-metal]] rather than pure alt-metal; achieving the sound of alt-metal requires a distinctly guitar-driven, alternative rock approach with less of the aggression, rap elements and simplicity associated with nu-metal[[note]]Also note that post-grunge/alt-metal bands tend to sound very far from the "normal", Guns N' Roses/Bon Jovi-style hard rock described earlier, aside from the odd GenreShift[[/note]]. In other words, bands like Papa Roach, who practiced more standard-fare nu-metal early in their career only to switch to post-grunge later, wouldn't be an example of post-grunge/alt-metal crossover. Post-grunge/alt-metal crossover bands melodically tend to follow more in line with classic grunge, AlternativeRock and NWOBHM. They are generally much more acclaimed and respected than regular post-grunge. These include:

[[index]]
* [[Music/TenYears 10 Years]] (an Main/EnsembleDarkHorse that is one of the most Tool influenced of the lot, also considered ProgressiveMetal)
* Music/AdelitasWay
* Music/AlterBridge ([[TheBandMinusTheFace made of Creed minus Scott Stapp]], and much more respected than their parent group. Possibly the only post-grunge band in existence who overlaps with {{progressive rock}} and {{speed metal}}).
* Music/{{Audioslave}} (Which is [[Music/{{Soundgarden}} Chris Cornell]] with Music/RageAgainstTheMachine backing him.)
* Music/BreakingBenjamin (one of the more well received bands belonging to the genre, still enjoying success well into TheNewTens)
* Music/BurnHalo (once again from the SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll wave, though less successful)
* Music/{{Chevelle}} (most obvious example of the Tool influence within Alt-metal[=/=]post-grunge)
* Music/{{CKY}} (generally regarded as somewhere between here and straight alt-metal or [[GenreBusting something else altogether]], they also have very strong [[DoomMetal stoner]] influences that are very uncommon in this genre)
* Music/{{Cold}}
* Music/{{Crossfade}} (known for a song called "Cold", unrelated to Cold the band)
* Music/DarkNewDay (best known for their hit song "Brother;" featured members of Sevendust and Stereomud, and was significantly more grunge-influenced than their parent projects).
* Music/{{Cryoshell}} (Mixed with SymphonicMetal , and they have a definite Music/{{Evanescence}} influence )
* Music/DecyferDown (a ChristianRock group known for minor radio hits "Fading" and "Crash")
* Music/DrowningPool (originally a NuMetal act; third album onward)
* Music/TheExies
* Music/{{Filter}} (crosses over with IndustrialMetal, given they’re an offshoot of Music/NineInchNails)
* Music/{{Flyleaf}} (a rare female-fronted example of such).
* Music/{{Godsmack}} (most obvious example of the Alice in Chains influence within Alt-metal[=/=]post-grunge. Primarily was NuMetal at the beginning of the era)
* Music/{{Guano Apes}}
* Music/{{Halestorm}} (like Flyleaf, they have a female lead singer).
* Music/{{Hurt}} (once again, a big EnsembleDarkhorse of the genre, being very experimental and Tool-esque)
* Music/{{Kilgore}}
* Music/{{Lostprophets}} (A Welsh band who nowadays are notorious for having been fronted by a convicted child predator; overlaps with PostHardcore)
* Music/{{Presence}} ( their first album was straight NuMetal. They switched to this still for their second and final album)
* Music/{{Onesidezero}} (another Tool influenced band)
* Music/PopEvil
* Music/{{Red|Band}} ( Mixed with ChristianRock and SymphonicMetal)
* Music/{{Seether}} (a successful South African import)
* Music/{{Sevendust}} (not always, but a lot of their more radio-friendly material leans towards this)
* Music/{{Shinedown}} (Probably the PostGrunge band with the most Music/{{Soundgarden}} influence)
* Music/SickPuppies (an Australian act, known for having a female bassist who occasionally sings)
* Music/{{Skillet}} (Which is also one of the most famous examples of ChristianRock)
* Music/SmileEmptySoul (arguably the most respected example)
* [=SOiL=] (not coincidentally, their original singer Ryan [=McCombs=] went on to join Drowning Pool and play on their third and fourth albums)
* Music/{{Staind}} (initially nu-metal, then switched to post-grunge after the success of "[[BlackSheepHit It's Been Awhile]]". Their latest album however, is a complete return to their nu-metal roots.)
* Music/StoneSour (Corey Taylor occasionally lapses into this genre when with Music/{{Slipknot}} when singing melodically)
** Creator/CoreyTaylor
* Taproot (have had run-ins with the nu-metal label)
* Music/ThousandFootKrutch (Another ChristianRock example; as of ''War of Change'', earlier work is NuMetal)
* Music/ThreeDaysGrace (later work showcases their post-grunge/alternative side more)
* Music/{{Trapt}} (one of the only bands who fall under this and NuMetal simultaneously)
* Music/{{Tremonti}} (Side project of Music/{{Creed|band}} and Music/AlterBridge’s guitarist; less PostGrunge / AlternativeMetal, more PostGrunge ThrashMetal, and one of the consistently heaviest of PostGrunge bands)
[[/index]]

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Here's [[DrinkingGame/TVTropes a way to pass the time]]: count how many of these bands:

* Come from Canada (specifically, British Columbia and Southern Ontario), UsefulNotes/{{California}}, [[UsefulNotes/TheOtherRainforest the Pacific Northwest]], and [[FlyoverCountry the Upper Midwest]]. [[DeepSouth The southern]] [[{{Eagleland}} US]] is also optional.
** There's a good reason for the first one: Nickelback is from Hanna, Alberta (curently based in UsefulNotes/{{Vancouver}}), and Chad Kroeger loves seeking out bands that sound similar to his own so he can sign them (in the hopes of "bringing back rock n' roll").
* Insist on being called [[RockNRoll straight-rock]], AlternativeRock, or "real" {{grunge}}.
* Either have a vocal {{hatedom}} that decries them as "buttrock", or are (more charitably) viewed as [[SoOkayItsAverage middle-of-the-road]], [[GuiltyPleasure comfort-food]] rock.
* Have been called ChristianRock at some point. Bonus points if they actually ''did'' start out as a Christian rock band (Skillet and Switchfoot are two examples). Or they write [[AmbiguouslyChristian vaguely spiritual]] lyrics.
* Regularly played large summer package tours, usually [[Music/MotleyCrue Cruefest]] or Uproar Festival.
* Have a sizable amount of single-word-title songs.
* Have a member with a Music/KurtCobain-like shaggy hair cut and goatee combo. Some like Jon Foreman from Switchfoot evolved into it due to pressure from record executives to look edgier. When the band started, Foreman had short, spiked hair with very little gruff.
* Took a more HairMetal-oriented turn in the mid-to-late 2000s (due primarily to acts like Hinder, Saving Abel, and Rev Theory, who mixed the two genres and became quite successful as a result).
* Sing like [[Music/PearlJam Eddie Vedder]] or (with some bands) [[Music/KurtCobain Kurt]] [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Cobain]] or [[Music/AliceInChains Layne Staley]]. Or in light of this, claim their vocalizations were influenced by [[Music/TheDoors Jim Morrison]]. This has been known to reach {{Flanderization}} levels: sounding like Kurt Cobain means SuddenlyShouting during the chorus in between PerishingAltRockVoice passages, sounding like Eddie Vedder means [[{{Yarling}} groaning and mumbling]], and sounding like Layne Staley means an exaggerated nasal characteristic and vibrato on almost every note.
** Cobain-style vocalists include [[Music/PuddleOfMudd Wes Scantlin]], [[Music/{{Lifehouse}} Jason Wade]], [[Music/TheoryOfADeadman Tyler Connolly]], and [[Music/{{Chevelle}} Pete Loeffler]]. Vedder-style examples include [[Music/CreedBand Scott Stapp]], [[Music/TheCalling Alex Band]], [[Music/{{Staind}} Aaron Lewis]], and [[Music/{{Seether}} Shaun Morgan]]. Staley-style includes [[Music/ThreeDaysGrace Adam Gontier]], [[Music/SixxAM James Michael]], and [[Music/{{Skillet}} John Cooper]].
* Have [[http://www.last.fm/tag/post-grunge major radio success]]. Additionally, has at least one song that's all over Top 40 radio and another that's all over rock radio.
* Were huge in their heyday and now plays small clubs and bars, most of which are in third-tier rural markets.
* Were all over the airwaves in '00s but airplay today is limited to "adult contemporary" or "adult alternative" radio, aside from having one or two big hits that still regularly make it onto modern rock stations.
* Are blamed for having "[[DarthWiki/RuinedForever killed rock music]]".
* You've heard a softer SignatureSong from any of them on rock radio lately? (possibly an acoustic ballad)
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJJsoquu70o Blurry - Puddle of Mudd]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrr3lRLjZ1Y Cold - Crossfade]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPBzTxZQG5Q Here Without You - 3 Doors Down]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J16lInLZRms Higher - Creed]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5VBBMxMPE How You Remind Me - Nickelback]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=araU0fZj6oQ It's Been A While - Staind]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2ZwXj1tXM Never Too Late - Three Days Grace]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTVl2GeNfqI Remedy - Seether]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H25ORRgLxdA Second Chance - Shinedown]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAocvKHUidg Wasting My Time - Default]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAP9AF6DCu4 Wherever You Will Go - The Calling]]

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