Alternative Metal 2010s Albums

BABYMETAL’s third album expands its universe through worldwide musical colors, major guests and a broad light-and-dark design.

Empath gathers the heaviness, pop instinct, ambience, extreme-metal intensity and humor of Devin Townsend’s work into one large emotional journey.

I, the Mask reconnects In Flames’ melodic-death-metal sharpness with the modern heavy-rock sensibility the band has developed over time.

The Nothing turns Korn’s long-developed sense of uneasy groove and emotional exposure into one of its heaviest sound worlds.

We Are Not Your Kind expands Slipknot’s anger and chaos through more detailed production and a deeply uneasy atmosphere.

The second album for Ranka Kustannus. It did not appear on the official Finnish album chart until August 2021, when it entered at number 30.

Evolution keeps Disturbed’s hard-edged riffs and David Draiman’s commanding voice intact while giving more space to inward-looking, melodic material.

And Justice for None puts Five Finger Death Punch’s heavy groove and radio-sized choruses in especially direct form.

When Legends Rise builds on Sully Erna’s low, powerful voice and Godsmack’s heavy riffs while expanding the melodic range of the band’s seventh album.

An early six-track EP that captures teenage urgency, envy, time pressure, ghosts and a return to zero through raw metalcore and fresh melody.

Synthesis reimagines Evanescence’s earlier songs through orchestra and electronic texture, while also adding new material.

The seventh studio album, built around themes of illness and time. Its opening track "Sultan's Curse" won Best Metal Performance at the 60th Grammy Awards, and the album was nominated for Best Rock Album.

Hydrograd mixes punk urgency, big hard-rock riffs and metal weight into songs that are rough-edged but immediately catchy.

BABYMETAL’s second album turns global momentum into power metal, metalcore and progressive scale, confirming the group’s strength.

The debut album, produced by Jonas Olsson. It closes with "Don't", a cover of the Ed Sheeran song.

Transcendence lets Devin Townsend move freely between massive guitar sound, layered choirs and quieter emotional expression.

Battles connects In Flames’ metallic guitar push with more open vocal melody and a carefully modern sound.

The Serenity of Suffering brings Korn’s low, sinking guitars, uneasy bouncing rhythm and pain-filled vocals to the front.

Immortalized puts Disturbed’s weighty riffs, stamping rhythms and large emotional vocal turns at the center of a powerful return.

Got Your Six unites Five Finger Death Punch’s low, thick riffs, stomping beats and choruses made to be shouted with a crowd.

The debut album that collided idol pop with extreme metal language and introduced kawaii metal as a worldwide surprise.

Z² unfolds Devin Townsend’s enormous sound density, pop melody, eccentric humor and deep emotion as two contrasting sides of one project.

1000hp condenses Godsmack’s thick guitar riffs, heavy groove and rough-edged vocals into something simple and forceful.

Siren Charms retains pieces of In Flames’ melodic-death aggression while emphasizing a cool, restrained atmosphere and modern tones.

The sixth studio album, and the band's highest US placing at number 6 on the Billboard 200. "High Road" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards.

Rubicon Cross is a debut built from strong vocals, thick guitars and the accessibility of melodic rock.

.5: The Gray Chapter carves anger and loss into Slipknot’s heavy riffs, explosive rhythms and urgent melodies.

The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 drives forward on Five Finger Death Punch’s heavyweight riffs, hard beats and vocals that move betw

The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 2 carries forward the year’s first chapter while showing more of Five Finger Death Punch’s heavy groo

The Paradigm Shift centers Korn’s low, rolling guitars, bouncing rhythms and anxious vocal expression to restore the band’s unmistakable uneasy groove.

House of Gold & Bones – Part 2 brings the story begun on its predecessor toward a conclusion through heavier riffs and urgent vocal melody.

Epicloud fuses Devin Townsend Project’s massive choirs, thick guitars, electronic texture and surprisingly accessible melodies into one wide-screen sound.

House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 is the first half of a concept work built around a protagonist at a crossroads, using heavy rock, melodic songs and more delicate mome

Deconstruction packs Devin Townsend’s extreme heaviness, complex turns, humor and unease into one ambitious work.

Ghost uses acoustic guitar, soft vocals and ambient-like sound to create Devin Townsend’s quieter, open-air side.

Evanescence’s self-titled album layers heavy guitar, electronic texture, Amy Lee’s striking voice and piano to update the band’s dark appeal for a new moment.

American Capitalist uses low chugging riffs, heavyweight beats and forceful vocals to push Five Finger Death Punch’s direct modern-metal impact.

Sounds of a Playground Fading retains melodic-death guitar language while moving In Flames toward a more direct, modern sound.

The Path of Totality pairs Korn with dubstep and EDM producers, placing the band’s heavy riffs directly against the impact of electronic sound.

The fifth studio album, which reached number 10 on the Billboard 200. "Curl of the Burl" was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards.

A Road to Depression uses the contrast of female dual vocals and metallic guitar to build shadowed, melodic rock.

Asylum builds dark hard rock from Disturbed’s low, heavy groove, tense riffs and commanding vocals.

The Oracle pushes Godsmack’s aggressive hard rock through low, rolling riffs, heavy drums and tense vocals.

Korn III: Remember Who You Are revisits Korn’s earlier rawness through rough riffs, bouncing bass presence and urgent vocals.

Audio Secrecy combines Stone Sour’s heavy guitar with melancholic melody and a sensitive ballad instinct.