Alternative metal is an eclectic form of rock music that gained popularity in the early 1990's alongside grunge. In many instances, it can be accurately described as a fusion of heavy metal and alternative rock, especially the indie rock of the 1980's. It is characterized by some heavy metal trappings (most notably heavy riffs), but usually with a pronounced experimental edge, including unconventional lyrics, odd time signatures, unusual technique, a resistance to conventional approaches to heavy music, and an incorporation of a wide range of influences outside of the metal music scene.
The term is used as a very loose categorization, but is usually used to describe artists playing a style of metal which is considered either a unique approach to metal music or difficult to define as strictly metal or alternative. Faith No More is a good example of a band in which both criteria apply.
Heavy metal is an essential component of the music, but it was very different from the thrash underground of the 1980s. Initially alternative metal appealed mainly to alternative rock fans since virtually all 80s alt-metal bands had their roots in the American indie underground scene. Alt-metal bands commonly emerged from hardcore punk (Corrosion of Conformity), post-punk/gothic rock (Jane's Addiction), noise rock such as the "pigfuck" sound of Big Black and Sonic Youth (Helmet, White Zombie), grunge (The Melvins, Soundgarden), industrial music (Ministry, Nine Inch Nails), and other movements in the indie underground scene, although it was not uncommon for bands to incorporate a wide variety of influences (such as Soundgarden, who lists Bad Brains, Bauhaus, and the Butthole Surfers as major influences). These bands never formed a distinct movement or scene; rather they were bound by their incorporation of traditional metal influences and openness to experimenting with the form, usually by way of their eclectic influences and uncommon approaches. For example, Jane's Addiction utilized performance art and a bohemian aesthetic, Corrosion of Conformity, The Melvins and the now defunct grunge band Soundgarden had a fondness for subverting '70s metal, and Faith No More injected funk and rap music into their brand of alternative metal, while Primus incorperates funk, progressive rock, elements of thrash metal and punk rock, and an obscure Residents-esque touch in to their form of the genre.
The grunge movement of the early 1990s, which itself was a combination of 70's metal like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and underground punk, helped increase the audience for such bands, and these artists were as comfortable playing to alternative rock fans on various Lollapalooza line-ups (itself founded by Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell) as they were opening for metal bands like Metallica. With the changing of the musical landscape by the popular breakthrough of alternative rock, "alternative metal" became a new phrase used to describe bands in the early 1990s who managed to make relevant Nirvana era music that, as metal historian Ian Christe states, was "heavy without necessarily being metal". Newer bands emerged in this era with their distinctive takes on metal: White Zombie, Nine Inch Nails and Fear Factory started the industrial wave, combining techno-like beats and heavy guitars, Tool immersed itself in prog-rock influences, Rage Against the Machine was as informed by hip hop and post-punk agitprop such as Gang of Four as it was by metal, and Helmet molded a background in jazz and noise-rock/post-hardcore influences into a highly influential strand of intense rock music.
As the 90s progressed, alternative metal's sound became more standardized as newer bands drew inspiration for the same collective set of influences that included RATM, Korn, Nine Inch Nails, and Helmet. Helmet in particular, with its downtuned riffs and aggressive dissonance, created the sonic template for the nu metal movement. The chief distinctions between alternative metal and nu metal, aside from the generic sound, are the latter's tenuous (or even non-existant) connection to the underground rock scene and the DIY ethos that informed the musical approaches of past alternative metal bands, as well as the reluctancy of alternative metal bands to explicitly align themselves under the heavy metal banner.
The term is used as a very loose categorization, but is usually used to describe artists playing a style of metal which is considered either a unique approach to metal music or difficult to define as strictly metal or alternative. Faith No More is a good example of a band in which both criteria apply.
Heavy metal is an essential component of the music, but it was very different from the thrash underground of the 1980s. Initially alternative metal appealed mainly to alternative rock fans since virtually all 80s alt-metal bands had their roots in the American indie underground scene. Alt-metal bands commonly emerged from hardcore punk (Corrosion of Conformity), post-punk/gothic rock (Jane's Addiction), noise rock such as the "pigfuck" sound of Big Black and Sonic Youth (Helmet, White Zombie), grunge (The Melvins, Soundgarden), industrial music (Ministry, Nine Inch Nails), and other movements in the indie underground scene, although it was not uncommon for bands to incorporate a wide variety of influences (such as Soundgarden, who lists Bad Brains, Bauhaus, and the Butthole Surfers as major influences). These bands never formed a distinct movement or scene; rather they were bound by their incorporation of traditional metal influences and openness to experimenting with the form, usually by way of their eclectic influences and uncommon approaches. For example, Jane's Addiction utilized performance art and a bohemian aesthetic, Corrosion of Conformity, The Melvins and the now defunct grunge band Soundgarden had a fondness for subverting '70s metal, and Faith No More injected funk and rap music into their brand of alternative metal, while Primus incorperates funk, progressive rock, elements of thrash metal and punk rock, and an obscure Residents-esque touch in to their form of the genre.
The grunge movement of the early 1990s, which itself was a combination of 70's metal like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and underground punk, helped increase the audience for such bands, and these artists were as comfortable playing to alternative rock fans on various Lollapalooza line-ups (itself founded by Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell) as they were opening for metal bands like Metallica. With the changing of the musical landscape by the popular breakthrough of alternative rock, "alternative metal" became a new phrase used to describe bands in the early 1990s who managed to make relevant Nirvana era music that, as metal historian Ian Christe states, was "heavy without necessarily being metal". Newer bands emerged in this era with their distinctive takes on metal: White Zombie, Nine Inch Nails and Fear Factory started the industrial wave, combining techno-like beats and heavy guitars, Tool immersed itself in prog-rock influences, Rage Against the Machine was as informed by hip hop and post-punk agitprop such as Gang of Four as it was by metal, and Helmet molded a background in jazz and noise-rock/post-hardcore influences into a highly influential strand of intense rock music.
As the 90s progressed, alternative metal's sound became more standardized as newer bands drew inspiration for the same collective set of influences that included RATM, Korn, Nine Inch Nails, and Helmet. Helmet in particular, with its downtuned riffs and aggressive dissonance, created the sonic template for the nu metal movement. The chief distinctions between alternative metal and nu metal, aside from the generic sound, are the latter's tenuous (or even non-existant) connection to the underground rock scene and the DIY ethos that informed the musical approaches of past alternative metal bands, as well as the reluctancy of alternative metal bands to explicitly align themselves under the heavy metal banner.
A few good examples of Alternative metal acts are (but not limited to): Alice in Chains, Biohazard, Corrosion of Conformity, Deftones, Faith No More, Helmet, Jane's Addiction, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Living Colour, Marilyn Manson, Melvins, Ministry, Mr. Bungle, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Primus, Rage Against the Machine, Rollins Band, Soulfly, Soundgarden, System of a Down, Tool, and White Zombie.
by Beeblicowcarapis™ February 10, 2006
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They usually started out as a scene, punk or goth chick in High School.
They usually started out as a scene, punk or goth chick in High School.
by California Bae Area January 14, 2017
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Get the Queen Of Alternative mug.A Pennsylvania based acoustic-fusion band beginning in 1983 started by Jill Haley, Mark Oppenlander, and David Bozenhard. As quoted from their website:
"ONE ALTERNATIVE describes its sound as an acoustic fusion that blends the compositional form of classical music with the spontaneity of jazz and rock."
They got their name from co-founding member Frank McDermott. It comes down to the thought that their sound is one alternative to whatever different sounds one would want to listen to.
They currently have 5 members of the group:
--> Jill Haley-French Horn and Oboe
--> Mark Oppenlander-Guitar
--> Dave Bozenhard-Guitar
--> Cooke Harvey-Bass Guitar
--> Tony Deangelis-Drums
They also have 6 albums:
--> Greenlawn (1985)
--> Take Note (1988)
--> Shadows (1990)
--> Yet to be (1996)
--> Changes (1998)
--> Pendulum (2003)
You can check out some of One Alternative's music and get their gig schedule on their website at www.onealternative.com
"ONE ALTERNATIVE describes its sound as an acoustic fusion that blends the compositional form of classical music with the spontaneity of jazz and rock."
They got their name from co-founding member Frank McDermott. It comes down to the thought that their sound is one alternative to whatever different sounds one would want to listen to.
They currently have 5 members of the group:
--> Jill Haley-French Horn and Oboe
--> Mark Oppenlander-Guitar
--> Dave Bozenhard-Guitar
--> Cooke Harvey-Bass Guitar
--> Tony Deangelis-Drums
They also have 6 albums:
--> Greenlawn (1985)
--> Take Note (1988)
--> Shadows (1990)
--> Yet to be (1996)
--> Changes (1998)
--> Pendulum (2003)
You can check out some of One Alternative's music and get their gig schedule on their website at www.onealternative.com
John: Hey, did you go see One Alternative last night at Taylors music?
Maria: Yea! It was mind-blowing!
Maria: Yea! It was mind-blowing!
by music_lover125 May 27, 2009
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by Kay Smith February 3, 2015
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The music: Alternative and indie are similar, and both came from college rock, which is what happened when goth became more mainstream (and goth was what happened when punk became more mainstream). The difference between alternative and indie is simple. Indie bands are on an independent label (or unsigned) and alternative bands aren't. Thus, alternative is more 'mainstream' than indie.
The...other thing: Like most music, people who listen to it are sometimes labeled by it. Alternative and indie are once again similar, but often times indie kids are contemptuous of alternative kids because they're mainstream, which is stupid because the whole point is the music, and is also the reason that punk and goth etc. died because they became 'mainstream'. Thus, sometimes indie kids are obsessed with not becoming mainstream, and consider bands that sign with a major label and the people who listen to the sellouts. Alternative kids usually care less about that (even if they listen to indie bands) and listen to the music that they like, even if it isn't indie or even alternative or rock, the music they like is the music they like. Like indie kids though, alternative kids will never label themselves that way, and no one will ever label them that way either, except to say 'people who listen to alt'. If you label yourself that way, you're probably just like someone who labels themselves punk or goth, trying to be 'unique' instead of yourself.
The music: Alternative and indie are similar, and both came from college rock, which is what happened when goth became more mainstream (and goth was what happened when punk became more mainstream). The difference between alternative and indie is simple. Indie bands are on an independent label (or unsigned) and alternative bands aren't. Thus, alternative is more 'mainstream' than indie.
The...other thing: Like most music, people who listen to it are sometimes labeled by it. Alternative and indie are once again similar, but often times indie kids are contemptuous of alternative kids because they're mainstream, which is stupid because the whole point is the music, and is also the reason that punk and goth etc. died because they became 'mainstream'. Thus, sometimes indie kids are obsessed with not becoming mainstream, and consider bands that sign with a major label and the people who listen to the sellouts. Alternative kids usually care less about that (even if they listen to indie bands) and listen to the music that they like, even if it isn't indie or even alternative or rock, the music they like is the music they like. Like indie kids though, alternative kids will never label themselves that way, and no one will ever label them that way either, except to say 'people who listen to alt'. If you label yourself that way, you're probably just like someone who labels themselves punk or goth, trying to be 'unique' instead of yourself.
Indie kid: Death Cab for Cutie is a sellout! I'm never going to listen to them again, they were on a major label and got mentioned on a TV show. Now tons of people are going to listen to them and that makes them stupid.
Alternative kid: Sure, that sucks and all, but I still like their music, so I don't care that much.
Alternative kid: Sure, that sucks and all, but I still like their music, so I don't care that much.
by boredtodeath November 12, 2005
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Person 1: Ugh, why do people use alternating caps as a way to insult people when really its annoying and that they can't think for themselves?
Person 2: wHY dO pEOplE usE AlTernAtING CApS AS a wAY tO iNsuLt PeOplE WHen REally ITs AnNoYInG And THat THEY cAn'T tHinK foR THEmSelves?
Person 2: wHY dO pEOplE usE AlTernAtING CApS AS a wAY tO iNsuLt PeOplE WHen REally ITs AnNoYInG And THat THEY cAn'T tHinK foR THEmSelves?
by epic MeMelord MAGNificEnT November 21, 2019
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