Alternative Metal 1990s Albums

Dir En Grey's debut album, released on 28 July 1999, thirteen tracks running 64:47.

Colony weaves chiseled riffs, rapid drums and memorable twin-guitar melody into a high-density In Flames record.

Issues layers low, unsettling guitar, bouncing bass and nervous rhythm to make Korn’s themes of isolation and anger feel especially close.

Lacuna Coil's first full-length album, recorded with Waldemar Sorychta in Germany in late 1998 and released by Century Media in February 1999.

Nine Inch Nails' third album, issued by Nothing and Interscope in 1999. Twenty-three pieces across two CDs, a good many of them instrumental.

The Battle of Los Angeles unites bouncing bass, hard drums, unorthodox guitar sounds and sharply delivered words in Rage Against the Machine’s tense political rock.

Slipknot’s debut collides heavy riffs, accelerating drums, layered percussion and screaming vocals into an overwhelming whole.

Infinity joins Devin Townsend’s layered guitars, unpredictable movement and fragile, highly melodic writing.

Godsmack’s debut combines low-tuned guitar, dragging rhythm and rough-edged vocals.

Follow the Leader expands Korn’s unique heaviness through low, rolling bass, bouncing rhythm and vocals that expose raw hurt.

Lacuna Coil's first record, a six-song EP produced by Waldemar Sorychta at Woodhouse Studio in Germany and released by Century Media in 1998.

System of a Down's debut album, out on 30 June 1998: thirteen songs produced by Rick Rubin with the band, including the singles Sugar and Spiders.

Ocean Machine: Biomech joins Devin Townsend’s huge guitar layers, wide space and fragile melody.

Whoracle brings sharp riffs, flowing twin guitar and intense vocals together with high density.

Rammstein's second album, released on 22 August 1997. It is the only album entirely in German to be certified platinum by the RIAA.

The Jester Race retains extreme speed and bite while pushing twin-guitar melody into a leading role.

Life Is Peachy collides low, twisting guitar and bass with bouncing rhythm and Jonathan Davis’s urgent voice.

Marilyn Manson's second album, issued by Nothing and Interscope on 8 October 1996. It is a concept record built over eight months in New Orleans.

Evil Empire binds funk-rooted rhythm, rap’s sharp cadence and Tom Morello’s strange guitar vocabulary even more tightly.

Soundgarden's fifth album, out on 21 May 1996: sixteen songs the band produced themselves, and a number two on the Billboard 200.

Tool's second album, released on vinyl on 17 September and on CD on 1 October 1996: the first with Justin Chancellor, and a No. 2 debut.

Rammstein's debut album, released in September 1995 on Motor Music by the six players who have been the band ever since.

Lunar Strain, the IN FLAMES debut, lays Nordic folk-like melody and acoustic shading over the sharp aggression of death metal.

Korn finds KORN in a phase that uses down-tuned guitars, elastic bass and exposed emotional fracture to lay a foundation for what would become nu metal.

Nine Inch Nails' second album, out on 8 March 1994. It follows one man's disintegration from end to end, and it was made in a house in Los Angeles turned into a studio.

Soundgarden's fourth album, released in 1994. It entered the Billboard 200 at number one, and "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman" both won Grammy Awards.

Tool's first full-length album, released on 6 April 1993 and made with Sylvia Massy, the only one with original bassist Paul D'Amour.

Alice in Chains' second album, out on 29 September 1992. Dave Jerden produced it as he had the debut, and it is the last record made by the four original members.

Faith No More's fourth album, out on 8 June 1992. It is the first on which Mike Patton had a real hand in the writing, and the last with guitarist Jim Martin.

Helmet's second album and major-label debut, issued by Interscope on 23 June 1992. Wharton Tiers recorded it in two weeks.

Rage Against the Machine's self-titled debut made a striking entrance in 1992, binding rap, funk groove and metal riffs with political urgency.

Tool's debut EP, released on 10 March 1992: four studio songs and two live tracks, picked for their heaviness at the label's urging.

Soundgarden's third album, released in 1991. It is the first with bassist Ben Shepherd, built on alternative tunings and odd metres, and it was the band's first record to chart high in the United States.

Alice in Chains' debut, released by Columbia in 1990. It was the first grunge album certified gold by the RIAA, reached number 42 on the Billboard 200 and has since gone triple platinum.