Alternative metal (also known as alt-metal or hard alternative) is a style of heavy metal. Alternative metal usually takes elements of heavy metal with influences from genres like alternative rock, and other genres not normally associated with metal.
Alternative metal bands are often characterized by heavy guitar riffs, melodic vocals, unconventional sounds within other heavy metal genres, unconventional song structures and sometimes experimental approaches to heavy music.
The term has been in usage since the 1980s, although it came into prominence in the 1990s. It has spawned several subgenres, including nu metal, which expands the alternative metal sound, commonly adding influences from hip hop and groove metal.
The genre has been described as part of alternative rock and heavy metal. Bands tend to feature clean singing, influenced by those of alternative rock, in contrast to other heavy metal subgenres. However, more recent bands have also incorporated vocal styles like growls and screaming. It also features aggressive guitar riffs as well. Unlike nu metal, alternative metal may feature guitar solos.
Cradle of Filth - "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa" (Video Blog #1) Peaceville / Nuclear Blast Records by BlankTV
Jonathan Gold of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 1990 "Just as rock has an alternative, left-wing-bands like the Replacements and Dinosaur Jr.-so does metal. Alternative metal is alternative music that rocks. And alternative metal these days can reach 10 times the audience of other alternative rock. Jane's Addiction plays an intense brand of '70s-influenced arty metal; so does Soundgarden. In fact, the arty meanderings of Sab and the Zep themselves would be considered alternative metal." Houston Press has described the genre as being a "compromise for people for whom Nirvana was not heavy enough but Metallica was too heavy."
The first wave of alternative metal bands emerged from many different backgrounds, including hardcore punk (Rollins Band, Life of Agony, Corrosion of Conformity), noise rock (Helmet, The Jesus Lizard, White Zombie), Seattle's grunge scene (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden), stoner rock (Clutch), sludge metal (Fudge Tunnel, Melvins), post-hardcore (Quicksand, Hum), gothic metal (Type O Negative) and industrial (Ministry, Nine Inch Nails).
These bands never formed a distinct movement or scene; rather they were bound by their incorporation of traditional metal influences and openness to experimentation. Jane's Addiction borrowed from art rock and progressive rock, Quicksand blended post-hardcore and Living Colour injected funk into their sound, for example, while Primus included influence from progressive rock, thrash metal and funk and Faith No More mixed progressive rock, R&B, funk and hip hop. Fudge Tunnel's style of alternative metal included influences from both sludge metal and noise rock.
Alternative metal bands are often characterized by heavy guitar riffs, melodic vocals, unconventional sounds within other heavy metal genres, unconventional song structures and sometimes experimental approaches to heavy music.
The term has been in usage since the 1980s, although it came into prominence in the 1990s. It has spawned several subgenres, including nu metal, which expands the alternative metal sound, commonly adding influences from hip hop and groove metal.
The genre has been described as part of alternative rock and heavy metal. Bands tend to feature clean singing, influenced by those of alternative rock, in contrast to other heavy metal subgenres. However, more recent bands have also incorporated vocal styles like growls and screaming. It also features aggressive guitar riffs as well. Unlike nu metal, alternative metal may feature guitar solos.
Cradle of Filth - "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa" (Video Blog #1) Peaceville / Nuclear Blast Records by BlankTV
Jonathan Gold of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 1990 "Just as rock has an alternative, left-wing-bands like the Replacements and Dinosaur Jr.-so does metal. Alternative metal is alternative music that rocks. And alternative metal these days can reach 10 times the audience of other alternative rock. Jane's Addiction plays an intense brand of '70s-influenced arty metal; so does Soundgarden. In fact, the arty meanderings of Sab and the Zep themselves would be considered alternative metal." Houston Press has described the genre as being a "compromise for people for whom Nirvana was not heavy enough but Metallica was too heavy."
The first wave of alternative metal bands emerged from many different backgrounds, including hardcore punk (Rollins Band, Life of Agony, Corrosion of Conformity), noise rock (Helmet, The Jesus Lizard, White Zombie), Seattle's grunge scene (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden), stoner rock (Clutch), sludge metal (Fudge Tunnel, Melvins), post-hardcore (Quicksand, Hum), gothic metal (Type O Negative) and industrial (Ministry, Nine Inch Nails).
These bands never formed a distinct movement or scene; rather they were bound by their incorporation of traditional metal influences and openness to experimentation. Jane's Addiction borrowed from art rock and progressive rock, Quicksand blended post-hardcore and Living Colour injected funk into their sound, for example, while Primus included influence from progressive rock, thrash metal and funk and Faith No More mixed progressive rock, R&B, funk and hip hop. Fudge Tunnel's style of alternative metal included influences from both sludge metal and noise rock.
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