Alternative Metal: Difference between revisions

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'''Alternative metal''' is... what the hell is it, anyway?
'''Alternative metal''' is... what the hell is it, anyway?


OK, let's try this... you know [[Alternative Rock]]? Stuff like [[REM (Music)|REM]], [[Radiohead (Music)|Radiohead]] and [[They Might Be Giants (Music)|They Might Be Giants]]? Well, imagine alternative rock. Imagine all its weirdness, all its... "[[Shaped Like Itself|alternativeness]]". Now, imagine that with the sonic amplitude of [[Heavy Metal (Music)|metal]], and you've basically got alt-metal.
OK, let's try this... you know [[Alternative Rock]]? Stuff like [[REM]], [[Radiohead]] and [[They Might Be Giants (band)|They Might Be Giants]]? Well, imagine alternative rock. Imagine all its weirdness, all its... "[[Shaped Like Itself|alternativeness]]". Now, imagine that with the sonic amplitude of [[Heavy Metal|metal]], and you've basically got alt-metal.


Alt-metal started off in the mid-to-late-eighties as a response to [[Hair Metal]], which was the commercial darling of MTV and had in many people's eyes reduced (non-underground) metal to a watered-down pop movement; consequently, alt-metal bands sought to bring back metal's original fire. There was no specific "scene" for alt-metal bands, and not even a specific sound, but they were all united by experimental flourishes and influences from other genres.
Alt-metal started off in the mid-to-late-eighties as a response to [[Hair Metal]], which was the commercial darling of MTV and had in many people's eyes reduced (non-underground) metal to a watered-down pop movement; consequently, alt-metal bands sought to bring back metal's original fire. There was no specific "scene" for alt-metal bands, and not even a specific sound, but they were all united by experimental flourishes and influences from other genres.


The genre became popular in the late eighties/early nineties (around the same time that alt-rock got its big break) thanks to a few bands that are considered the founding members of the genre; these bands included [[Faith No More (Music)|Faith No More]] and [[Primus (Music)|Primus]]. A couple of years later, [[Tool (Music)|Tool]] took alt-metal [[Darker and Edgier|and made it considerably darker]].
The genre became popular in the late eighties/early nineties (around the same time that alt-rock got its big break) thanks to a few bands that are considered the founding members of the genre; these bands included [[Faith No More]] and [[Primus]]. A couple of years later, [[Tool]] took alt-metal [[Darker and Edgier|and made it considerably darker]].


The genre is wide enough that bands will often have totally different sounds to each-other (compare Primus and Korn - do they sound the same?), which causes a fair bit of annoyance with people who like to categorise their bands. At the end of the day, though, alt-metal is a handy catch-all term for bands that are both ''arguably'' metal and hard to classify.
The genre is wide enough that bands will often have totally different sounds to each-other (compare Primus and Korn - do they sound the same?), which causes a fair bit of annoyance with people who like to categorise their bands. At the end of the day, though, alt-metal is a handy catch-all term for bands that are both ''arguably'' metal and hard to classify.
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Bands typically classed as alt-metal include:
Bands typically classed as alt-metal include:


* 30 Seconds to Mars (also [[Progressive Metal]], [[Progressive Rock]], [[Space Rock]], [[Synth Rock]], [[Post Grunge]], [[Emo]], [[Post Hardcore]], and [[Hard Rock]])
* 30 Seconds to Mars (also [[Progressive Metal]], [[Progressive Rock]], [[Space Rock]], [[Synth Rock]], [[Post-Grunge]], [[Emo]], [[Post-hardcore]], and [[Hard Rock]])
* [[Alice in Chains (Music)|Alice in Chains]] (Nominally [[Grunge]]/[[Heavy Metal (Music)|Heavy Metal]]. Certainly the most metal-influenced grunge band alongside [[Soundgarden (Music)|Soundgarden]].)
* [[Alice in Chains]] (Nominally [[Grunge]]/[[Heavy Metal]]. Certainly the most metal-influenced grunge band alongside [[Soundgarden]].)
* [[Alter Bridge (Music)|Alter Bridge]]
* [[Alter Bridge]]
* [[Audioslave (Music)|Audioslave]]
* [[Audioslave]]
* Biohazard (fused with [[Rap Metal]] and [[Thrash Metal]])
* Biohazard (fused with [[Rap Metal]] and [[Thrash Metal]])
* [[Candiria (Music)|Candiria]]
* [[Candiria]]
* [[Chevelle (Music)|Chevelle]] (easily the most straightforward example, as they pretty much are a straight hybrid of metal and radio-friendly alternative rock)
* [[Chevelle]] (easily the most straightforward example, as they pretty much are a straight hybrid of metal and radio-friendly alternative rock)
* [[CKY (Music)|CKY]]
* [[CKY]]
* [[Crush 40 (Music)|Crush 40]] (also [[Hard Rock]] and [[Heavy Metal (Music)|Heavy Metal]])
* [[Crush 40]] (also [[Hard Rock]] and [[Heavy Metal]])
* [[Deftones (Music)|Deftones]]
* [[Deftones]]
* [[Demon Hunter]] (also [[Groove Metal]] and [[Metalcore]])
* [[Demon Hunter]] (also [[Groove Metal]] and [[Metalcore]])
* [[Diren Grey]] (their softer material. Their other material...well, what kind of metal is it?)
* [[Dir En Grey]] (their softer material. Their other material...well, what kind of metal is it?)
* [[Disturbed (Music)|Disturbed]] (later, fused with [[Heavy Metal (Music)|Heavy Metal]])
* [[Disturbed]] (later, fused with [[Heavy Metal]])
* [[Dog Fashion Disco (Music)|Dog Fashion Disco]]
* [[Dog Fashion Disco]]
* [[Evanescence (Music)|Evanescence]]
* [[Evanescence]]
* [[Faith No More (Music)|Faith No More]]
* [[Faith No More]]
* [[Fear Factory (Music)|Fear Factory]]
* [[Fear Factory]]
* [[Five Finger Death Punch (Music)|Five Finger Death Punch]] (also [[Groove Metal]])
* [[Five Finger Death Punch]] (also [[Groove Metal]])
* Helmet (bordering on [[Noise Rock]])
* Helmet (bordering on [[Noise Rock]])
* Hoobastank (though most people know them for their pop-rock hit [[Black Sheep Hit|'Reason']]. Also falls under [[Post Grunge]] for their mellower songs.)
* Hoobastank (though most people know them for their pop-rock hit [[Black Sheep Hit|'Reason']]. Also falls under [[Post-Grunge]] for their mellower songs.)
* [[Ill Nino (Music)|Ill Nino]] (fused with Latin and [[Nu Metal]] music)
* [[Ill Niño|Ill Nino]] (fused with Latin and [[Nu-metal]] music)
* [[Janes Addiction (Music)|Janes Addiction]]
* [[Janes Addiction]]
* [[Korn (Music)|Korn]] (also [[Nu Metal]] and [[Funk Metal]])
* [[Korn]] (also [[Nu-metal]] and [[Funk Metal]])
* [[Katatonia (Music)|Katatonia]] (later)
* [[Katatonia]] (later)
* King's X
* King's X
* [[Lacuna Coil (Music)|Lacuna Coil]] (later)
* [[Lacuna Coil]] (later)
* Life of Agony
* Life of Agony
* [[Limp Bizkit (Music)|Limp Bizkit]] (also [[Nu Metal]], [[Funk Metal]] and [[Rap Metal]])
* [[Limp Bizkit]] (also [[Nu-metal]], [[Funk Metal]] and [[Rap Metal]])
* [[Living Colour (Music)|Living Colour]]
* [[Living Colour]]
* [[Machinae Supremacy (Music)|Machinae Supremacy]]
* [[Machinae Supremacy]]
* [[Marilyn Manson (Music)|Marilyn Manson]] (mainly [[Industrial Metal]])
* [[Marilyn Manson]] (mainly [[Industrial Metal]])
* [[Maximum the Hormone (Music)|Maximum the Hormone]]
* [[Maximum the Hormone]]
* Melvins
* Melvins
* Mr. Bungle
* Mr. Bungle
* [[Mudvayne (Music)|Mudvayne]]
* [[Mudvayne]]
* [[Mushroomhead]] (also [[Industrial Metal]])
* [[Mushroomhead]] (also [[Industrial Metal]])
* [[Nine Inch Nails (Music)|Nine Inch Nails]] (mainly [[Industrial Metal]])
* [[Nine Inch Nails]] (mainly [[Industrial Metal]])
* [[Primus (Music)|Primus]] (overlaps with [[Funk Metal]] and [[Progressive Rock]])
* [[Primus]] (overlaps with [[Funk Metal]] and [[Progressive Rock]])
* [[Rage Against the Machine (Music)|Rage Against the Machine]] (also [[Rap Metal]] and [[Funk Metal]])
* [[Rage Against the Machine]] (also [[Rap Metal]] and [[Funk Metal]])
* [[Sepultura (Music)|Sepultura]] (later, fused with [[Groove Metal]])
* [[Sepultura]] (later, fused with [[Groove Metal]])
* [[Skindred (Music)|Skindred]]
* [[Skindred]]
* [[Slipknot (Music)|Slipknot]] (Also [[Nu Metal]] and [[Groove Metal]])
* [[Slipknot]] (Also [[Nu-metal]] and [[Groove Metal]])
* [[The Smashing Pumpkins (Music)|The Smashing Pumpkins]]
* [[The Smashing Pumpkins]]
* [[Soulfly (Music)|Soulfly]] (early material, fused with [[Nu Metal]] / [[Groove Metal]]; later became [[Thrash Metal]] / [[Death Metal]])
* [[Soulfly]] (early material, fused with [[Nu-metal]] / [[Groove Metal]]; later became [[Thrash Metal]] / [[Death Metal]])
* [[Soundgarden (Music)|Soundgarden]]
* [[Soundgarden]]
* Staind
* Staind
* [[System of a Down (Music)|System of a Down]]
* [[System of a Down]]
* [[Tool (Music)|Tool]] (Also [[Progressive Metal]])
* [[Tool]] (Also [[Progressive Metal]])
* [[Type O Negative (Music)|Type O Negative]]
* [[Type O Negative]]
* [[Rob Zombie (Music)|White Zombie]]
* [[Rob Zombie|White Zombie]]


=== Tropes that apply to the alternative metal genre: ===
=== Tropes that apply to the alternative metal genre: ===


* [[Gateway Series|Gateway Music]] - If you're a metalhead, and you're close to graduating college, you either got into metal through this or [[Nu Metal]]. More likely the latter, but the trope still applies to alt-metal.
* [[Gateway Series|Gateway Music]] - If you're a metalhead, and you're close to graduating college, you either got into metal through this or [[Nu-metal]]. More likely the latter, but the trope still applies to alt-metal.
* [[Heavy Metal (Music)|Heavy Metal]]
* [[Heavy Metal]]
* [[Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness]] - Usually most bands under alt-metal tend to be in the 5-7 range, with a few bands getting up to 8.
* [[Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness]] - Usually most bands under alt-metal tend to be in the 5-7 range, with a few bands getting up to 8.
* [[More Popular Spinoff]] - Nu-metal was this to the original alt-metal movement for a period.
* [[More Popular Spinoff]] - Nu-metal was this to the original alt-metal movement for a period.
* [[Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly]] - Demonstrated by many bands in the subgenre, whether prominently (Faith No More, Primus) or subtly (Living Colour, Deftones).
* [[Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly]] - Demonstrated by many bands in the subgenre, whether prominently (Faith No More, Primus) or subtly (Living Colour, Deftones).
* [[Trope Maker]] - Generally considered to be Faith No More.
* [[Trope Maker]] - Generally considered to be Faith No More.
* [[What Could Have Been]]: [[Nu Metal]] is perceived as being more commercial than Alternative Metal, and the current lack of commercial interest in [[Nu Metal]] has kept Alternative Metal from reaching or even eclipsing the popularity [[Nu Metal]] once had.
* [[What Could Have Been]]: [[Nu-metal]] is perceived as being more commercial than Alternative Metal, and the current lack of commercial interest in [[Nu-metal]] has kept Alternative Metal from reaching or even eclipsing the popularity [[Nu-metal]] once had.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 14:37, 8 April 2014

Alternative metal is... what the hell is it, anyway?

OK, let's try this... you know Alternative Rock? Stuff like REM, Radiohead and They Might Be Giants? Well, imagine alternative rock. Imagine all its weirdness, all its... "alternativeness". Now, imagine that with the sonic amplitude of metal, and you've basically got alt-metal.

Alt-metal started off in the mid-to-late-eighties as a response to Hair Metal, which was the commercial darling of MTV and had in many people's eyes reduced (non-underground) metal to a watered-down pop movement; consequently, alt-metal bands sought to bring back metal's original fire. There was no specific "scene" for alt-metal bands, and not even a specific sound, but they were all united by experimental flourishes and influences from other genres.

The genre became popular in the late eighties/early nineties (around the same time that alt-rock got its big break) thanks to a few bands that are considered the founding members of the genre; these bands included Faith No More and Primus. A couple of years later, Tool took alt-metal and made it considerably darker.

The genre is wide enough that bands will often have totally different sounds to each-other (compare Primus and Korn - do they sound the same?), which causes a fair bit of annoyance with people who like to categorise their bands. At the end of the day, though, alt-metal is a handy catch-all term for bands that are both arguably metal and hard to classify.

See also Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly, a trope that many alt-metal bands possessed.

Bands typically classed as alt-metal include:

Tropes that apply to the alternative metal genre:

  • Gateway Music - If you're a metalhead, and you're close to graduating college, you either got into metal through this or Nu-metal. More likely the latter, but the trope still applies to alt-metal.
  • Heavy Metal
  • Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness - Usually most bands under alt-metal tend to be in the 5-7 range, with a few bands getting up to 8.
  • More Popular Spinoff - Nu-metal was this to the original alt-metal movement for a period.
  • Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly - Demonstrated by many bands in the subgenre, whether prominently (Faith No More, Primus) or subtly (Living Colour, Deftones).
  • Trope Maker - Generally considered to be Faith No More.
  • What Could Have Been: Nu-metal is perceived as being more commercial than Alternative Metal, and the current lack of commercial interest in Nu-metal has kept Alternative Metal from reaching or even eclipsing the popularity Nu-metal once had.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Alternative_Metal?oldid=898033"