History Main / AlternativeMetal

See also NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly, a trope that many alt-metal bands possessed.

* Music/GuanoApes (overlaps with NuMetal and a [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly slew of other genres]]. Fourth album was more HardRock, fifth album however was pop rock)

* Music/MadeOutOfBabies (also NoiseRock, DoomMetal, {{Shoegaze}} and generally NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly)

* Music/{{Starset}} (overlapping with a [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly slew of other genres]], namely [[ElectronicMusic Electronic Rock]], SymphonicMetal, and ProgressiveMetal)

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: This genre brings in ''a lot'' of influences, depending on the band in question. Each band has their own unique style because of it. Here are some examples:
** Music/FaithNoMore has combined metal with just about every other genre, from {{Funk}}, ProgressiveRock, AlternativeRock, HipHop, and even genres like polka, easy listening, gospel, and {{Pop}} music. That's still not listing all of them. Somehow, Mike Patton took it to an [[UpToEleven even bigger extreme]] with his other band, Music/MrBungle. That band did every genre you could possibly imagine, while combined with metal. It was awesome.
** Music/{{Helmet}} infused this genre with GrooveMetal, PostHardcore, and NoiseRock. Their style has even been referred to as "Smart Rock".
** Music/RageAgainstTheMachine drew upon metal, HipHop, and {{Funk}} to create a sound that would be the precursor to the rap rock explosion of the late-'90s. Yet many would agree that no band has done it quite like them. The guitar work by Tom Morello has been known to sound like a completely different instrument due to his innovative playing style.
** Music/{{Tool}} mixed this with art rock and a slew of other genres such as PostHardcore, {{Ambient}}, PostRock, ProgressiveMetal, math rock, and more to create a DarkerAndEdgier version of this genre, gathering massive acclaim in the process.
** Music/AliceInChains featured a weird mixture of this genre, DoomMetal, and {{Grunge}} to become the heaviest band of the latter, capable of rivaling Tool above as the darkest band in alt. metal.
** Music/{{Primus}} is sometimes considered to have invented their own genre. "Thrash-funk meets Creator/DonKnotts" is what they've been called. They must be heard to be believed.
** Music/{{Korn}} is the most bizarre of all, in that they quite literally ''did'' invent their own genre. Their debut album featured elements of GrooveMetal, FunkMetal, {{Grunge}}, HardcorePunk, HipHop, and ProgressiveMetal combined with downtuned guitars, slap-style bass, {{angst}}y lyrics, and the complete absence of solos. This became the template for the "NuMetal" genre, which [[FollowTheLeader numerous other bands copied]].

* ''Music/AlienAntFarm'' (Their first album was definitely in this territory, but their later work shifted towards a more general AlternativeRock sound while still drawing from the genre. Also falls under AlternativeRock, NuMetal, PostGrunge and PopPunk)

* ''Biohazard'' (Fused with RapMetal, HardcorePunk, and ThrashMetal)

* ''Breed 77'' (Uniquely overlaps with Spanish flamenco music)

* ''Dharmata'' (GrooveMetal and {{Metalcore}} inspired guitars with AlternativeMetal / NuMetal styled vocals)

* ''Djerv'' (With strong BlackMetal influences)

* ''Hoobastank'' (early material, later transitioned to the {{post grunge}}[=/=]pop rock sound they became known for)

* [[Music/{{Kings X}} King's X]] (Also falls under HardRock and ProgressiveMetal)

* Nothing More (mixed with ProgressiveMetal)

* Onesidezero (mixed with PostGrunge and ProgressiveMetal)

* ''Prong'' (Also IndustrialMetal and ThrashMetal early on)

* ''Quicksand'' (Example of AlternativeMetal PostHardcore fusion)

* [[Music/RobZombie White Zombie]] (also IndustrialMetal)

* ''Rollins Band'' (A band that never really had a clear genre. Also falls under HardRock, FunkMetal, {{Jazz}} and PostHardcore)
* ''Saint Asonia'' (Overlaps with NuMetal and PostGrunge; best known as [[Music/ThreeDaysGrace Adam Gontier]]'s current band)

* Sponge (Mostly {{Grunge}} when they started recording, started branching into this trope with ''Wax Ecstatic'')

* Tad (another {{Grunge}} band that also fits here. Sounds somewhere between Alice in Chains and Helmet)
* ''Taproot'' (Started as a NuMetal band, later became this)

* ''Therapy?'' (Yes, the question mark is part of the name)

* ''Trapt'' (Started as a mix of NuMetal and PostGrunge, eventually combined the latter with this)
* ''Tremonti'' (Mixed with PostGrunge and ThrashMetal of all things)

* [[GatewaySeries Gateway Music]]: If you're a metalhead, and you're close to graduating college, you either got into metal through this or NuMetal. More likely the latter, but the trope still applies to alt-metal.

* HeavyMetal: It's this mixed with AlternativeRock.

* MorePopularSpinoff: Nu-metal was this to the original alt-metal movement for a period.

* TropeMakers: Generally considered to be Music/FaithNoMore.
* UrExample: Possibly Mother's Finest.

* ''King's X'' (Also falls under HardRock and ProgressiveMetal)

Depending on the band, alternative metal can either lean more towards alternative (Chevelle, Incubus, Primus, Three Days Grace, most of Seether, etc.), or more towards metal (Sevendust, Alice in Chains, Mudvayne, latter-day Alter Bridge, Godsmack, etc.). Because of this, much like NuMetal, it's better to discuss the "metalness" of alt-metal on a case-by-case basis.

* Music/{{Mudvayne}} (also NuMetal in their earlier material, before combining this with ProgressiveMetal)

* NuMetal: Numerous bands fall under both genres (at least at some point in their careers), such as Korn, Deftones, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Disturbed, Sevendust, Linkin Park, Godsmack, and Evanescence. Not surprising, since nu metal spawned from this genre.

* Mudvayne - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G4yKbkZJMg Happy?]]

* Music/{{Metallica}} (experimented with this style on their ''Load'' and ''Reload'' albums, mixing it with HardRock and {{Grunge}} )

* Music/QueensOfTheStoneAge (also HardRock and [[DoomMetal Stoner Metal]] in places)
** 2002 - ''Music/QueensOfTheStoneAge''

* Alice in Chains - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJzrVtioigo Angry Chair]]

* Bring Me the Horizon - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBRAnuT48qo Happy Song]]

* ''Alien Ant Farm'' (Their first album was definitely in this territory, but their later work shifted towards a more general AlternativeRock sound while still drawing from the genre. Also falls under AlternativeRock, NuMetal, PostGrunge and PopPunk)

* Music/Lostprophets

* Music/{{Slipknot}} (third album onward)

* Music/{{Soundgarden}} (nominally {{Grunge}}, but heavy enough to fit here as well, like Alice in Chains)

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Usually most bands under alt-metal tend to be in the 7 range, with a few bands around level 6 and some getting up to 8. Due to its eclectic nature however, songs can be literally anywhere on the scale, for instance Music/DirEnGrey and Slipknot are both capable of surpassing an 8.

Secondary Stylistic Influences ):

* Music/TheSmashingPumpkins (also influenced by {{Shoegazing}}, ProgressiveRock, PsychedelicRock, DreamPop, GothRock and AlternativeRock - basically, think Deftones but with more nasal vocals, and you'd be reasonably close.)

* Music/InFlames (later material fuses this with MelodicDeathMetal; music from 2011 onwards is largely straight alt-metal)

Primary Stylistic Influences (70s Punk):

Secondary Stylistic Influences (70s Punk):
+ {{Grunge}}, HardRock, ThrashMetal, various subgenres of AlternativeRock

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Usually most bands under alt-metal tend to be in the 5-7 range, with a few bands getting up to 8. Due to its eclectic nature however, songs can be literally anywhere on the scale, for instance Music/DirEnGrey and Slipknot are both capable of surpassing an 8.

* ''Of Mice & Men'' (Later material, overlapping with {{Metalcore}} and NuMetal)

** Music/{{Tool}} mixed this with art rock and a slew of other genres such as PostHardcore, {{Ambient}}, PostRock, ProgressiveMetal, math rock, and more to create a DarkerAndEdgier version of this genre, gather massive acclaim in the process.