Alternative Metal 2010s Albums

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

The sixth album by Britain's Bring Me the Horizon, from January 2019: a long step away from metalcore into electronics and pop.

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.

Lacuna Coil's ninth album, released on 11 October 2019, built around an idea of black souls that grew from losing people close to the band.

Rammstein's seventh album, from May 2019: their first in ten years, and certified diamond in Germany.

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

Tool's fifth studio album, released on 30 August 2019 after a thirteen-year wait; it topped the Billboard 200, and "7empest" won a Grammy.

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.

Breaking Benjamin's sixth album, from April 2018, produced by Benjamin Burnley himself.

Dir En Grey's tenth album, released on 26 September 2018, recorded at Studio Sunshine.

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.

Lacuna Coil's eighth album, released on 27 May 2016: their first self-production, set in an imagined asylum and deliberately heavier than before.

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

Faith No More's seventh album, from May 2015 and their first in the eighteen years since Album of the Year.

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.

Dir En Grey's ninth album, released on 10 December 2014: sixteen tracks running 68:01.

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.

Lacuna Coil's seventh studio album, recorded in Milan with producer Jay Baumgardner and released in March 2014, reached number 13 in Italy.

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 opens Five Finger Death Punch's two-part set with heavy riffs and huge choruses.

The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 2 closes Five Finger Death Punch's two-part set with darker grooves and melody.

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.

Lacuna Coil's sixth studio album, again produced by Don Gilmore, came out in January 2012 and reached number 15, their best, on the Billboard 200.

Soundgarden's sixth album, out on 13 November 2012: their first studio album in sixteen years, and a number-five debut on the Billboard 200.

House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 opens STONE SOUR's two-part concept work, telling a story by Corey Taylor through heavy riffs and melodic songs.

The third album by Miami's Torche, from 2012: thirteen songs in under forty minutes, heaviness and bright melody in the same place.

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.

Dir En Grey's eighth album, from 2011: fourteen tracks running 67:31, recorded between 2010 and 2011.

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.