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.

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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

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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 ››

Taken around 8:30 pm GMT
There was no write-in for djent so I voted for one.
Not totally clean (trolls in last categories are kept for fun),
Thanks to the person who curated most of the write-is since yesterday, it really reduced the work to do!

PS : I cleaned the list listening to The Testament by Seventh Wonder, so I was particularly unhappy to see it in the biggest letdowns at the end

1.

2.A.A. Williams - As The Moon Rests

3.Disturbed - Divisive

4.Dog Fashion Disco - Cult Classic

5.Fleshwater - We're Not Here To Be Loved

      View entire list ››

1.Machine Head - Through The Ashes Of Empires

2.Machine Head - The Blackening

3.Machine Head - Burn My Eyes

4.Machine Head - The More Things Change...

5.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

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1.David Maxim Micic - Bilo IV

2.Porcupine Tree - Closure / Continuation

3.Charlie Griffiths - Tiktaalika

4.Devin Townsend - Lightwork

5.Wilderun - Epigone

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Top 50 of this forsaken year from the top to the abyss (but still good). 8 & above

Album count: 329
Average rating: 6.73

1.Cult Of Luna - The Long Road North

2.Sylvaine - Nova

3.Luminous Vault - Animate The Emptiness

4.White Ward - False Light

5.Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses

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These my top 50 albums for 2022

1.Fer De Lance - The Hyperborean

2.Messa - Close

3.Decapitated - Cancer Culture

4.Lorna Shore - Pain Remains

5.Immolation - Acts Of God

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1.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

2.Gaerea - Mirage

3.Andy Gillion - Arcade Metal

4.Early Moods - Early Moods

5.Sadness (USA) - Tortuga

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1.Machine Head - Øf Kingdøm And Crøwn

2.Alter Bridge - Pawns & Kings

3.Amorphis - Halo

4.Avatarium - Death, Where Is Your Sting

5.Arch Enemy - Deceivers

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1.Bloodywood - Rakshak

2.Crisix - Full HD

3.Get The Shot - Merciless Destruction

4.Alestorm - Seventh Rum Of A Seventh Rum

5.Electric Callboy - Tekkno

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1.Seventh Wonder - The Testament

2.Kreator - Hate Über Alles

3.Ghost - Impera

4.Jani Liimatainen - My Father's Son

5.Stratovarius - Survive

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1.Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor

2.Megadeth - The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!

3.Machine Head - Øf Kingdøm And Crøwn

4.Amorphis - Halo

5.Lamb Of God - Omens

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Another list, when autumn slowly rotts in, hard list to fix IMO

1.Blackbraid - Blackbraid I

2.Savage Master - Those Who Hunt At Night

3.Amon Amarth - The Great Heathen Army

4.Mimorium - The Route Of Haeresis

5.Sunstorm - Brothers In Arms

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Just a list of albums I’ve either already picked up or pre ordered for the year.

1.Abbath - Dread Reaver

2.Absent In Body - Plague God

3.Alcest - Spiritual Instinct

4.Allegaeon - Damnum

5.Amon Amarth - The Great Heathen Army

      View entire list ››

Fell just shy of 100 albums per month for the first half of the year, I imagine I won't be matching that but let's try to get to a full 1000 albums for the year at least.

1.Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality

2.Disillusion - Ayam

3.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

4.Panzerfaust - The Suns Of Perdition - Chapter III: The Astral Drain

5.Wake - Thought Form Descent

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1.Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality

2.White Ward - False Light

3.Disillusion - Ayam

4.Persefone - Metanoia

5.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

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