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List of alternative metal bands, sorted by date - oldest first (all time)

A list of alternative metal music bands (also known as alt-metal bands or hard alternative bands).

Year:
Loc:
Active
Faith No More
1

Faith No More

(1981)
Faith No More is an American metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1981. The band was originally named Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Roddy Bottum and drummer Mike Bordin are the longest remaining me...
8.5
8.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Voivod
2

Voivod

(1982)
Voivod is a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Québec.
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Soundgarden
3

Soundgarden

(1984)
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Matt Cameron became the band's full-time drummer in 19...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Primus
4

Primus

(1984)
Primus is an American experimental rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander. Primus originally formed in 1984...
8
8
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
White Zombie
5

White Zombie

(1985)
White Zombie was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1985. The group officially disbanded in 1998.
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Stone Temple Pilots
6

Stone Temple Pilots

(1985)
Stone Temple Pilots (often abbreviated as STP) is an American rock band from San Diego, California, that consists of brothers Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals) and Dean DeLeo (guitar), Eric Kretz (drums, percussion), and formerl...
9
9
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Alice in Chains
7

Alice in Chains

(1987)
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney and bass...
8.3
8.3
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
Deftones
8

Deftones

(1988)
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Stephen Carpenter (lead guitar), Frank Delgado (keyboards and turntables...
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
311
9

311

(1988)
311 (pronounced "three-eleven") is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist and guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson (who would later be replaced by Tim Mahoney), bassist Aaron...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Pitchshifter
10

Pitchshifter

(1989)
Pitchshifter are a British industrial metal band from Nottingham, United Kingdom formed in 1989. The band was started by bassist and vocalist Mark Clayden, lead guitarist and programmer Johnny A. Carter and rhythm guitarist Stuart...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Fear Factory
11

Fear Factory

(1989)
Fear Factory is an American extreme industrial metal band that was formed in 1989.
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Marilyn Manson
12

Marilyn Manson

(1989)
Marilyn Manson are an American rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by frontman Marilyn Manson and Daisy Berkowitz, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids in the early 1990s. The band's...
8
8
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Tool
13

Tool

(1990)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up includes drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band...
8
8
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Powerman 5000
14

Powerman 5000

(1991)
Powerman 5000 (sometimes abbreviated to PM50K) is an American rock band formed in 1991. The group has released seven albums over the course of their career and gained their highest commercial success with 1999's Tonight the Stars...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Incubus
15

Incubus

(1991)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and later expanded...
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Rage Against the Machine
16

Rage Against the Machine

(1991)
Rage Against the Machine was an American rap metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consisted of rapper and vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello...
8.8
8.8
from 5 votes
Discuss [-]
Puddle of Mudd
17

Puddle of Mudd

(1991)
Puddle of Mudd is an American rock band, originally from Kansas City, Missouri.
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
P.O.D.
18

P.O.D.

(1992)
Payable on Death (abbreviated as P.O.D.) is an American Christian alternative metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Danie...
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Stone Sour
19

Stone Sour

(1992)
Stone Sour is an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1992, performing for five years, before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2006, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor (lead vocals), Josh Rand (...
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Korn
20

Korn

(1993)
Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993.
7.5
7.5
from 6 votes
Discuss [-]
Orgy
21

Orgy

(1994)
Orgy is an American electropunk band formed in 1994, from Los Angeles, California. Orgy described their music as "death pop".
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
System of a Down
22

System of a Down

(1994)
System of a Down, often shortened to SOAD or System, is a four-piece Armenian-American rock band formed in 1994 in Glendale, California. The band currently consists of Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (vocals,...
8.5
8.5
from 8 votes
Discuss [-]
Hoobastank
23

Hoobastank

(1994)
Hoobastank (often stylized as h∞bastank) is an American rock band. They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California with lead singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Sevendust
24

Sevendust

(1994)
Sevendust is an American alternative metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Trapt
25

Trapt

(1995)
Trapt is an American rock band that formed in Los Gatos, California in 1995, best known for their 2002 single "Headstrong". The group consists of lead vocalist Chris Taylor Brown, bassist Peter "Pete" Charell, drummer Dylan Thomas...
7.5
7.5
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Godsmack
26

Godsmack

(1995)
Godsmack is an American alternative metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Alien Ant Farm
27

Alien Ant Farm

(1995)
Alien Ant Farm is an American rock band that formed in Riverside, California, United States, in 1995. Their name comes from an idea original guitarist Terry Corso had about aliens and the Earth: "it was just my daydream about our...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Staind
28

Staind

(1995)
Staind is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts. For years, the band consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wyso...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Slipknot
29

Slipknot

(1995)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in September 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray. After several line-up changes in their early years, the band sett...
8.4
8.4
from 5 votes
Discuss [-]
Evanescence
30

Evanescence

(1995)
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody.
6
6
from 2 votes
Discuss [-]
Saliva
31

Saliva

(1996)
Saliva is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in September 1996. Saliva released their self-titled debut album on August 26, 1997, under Rocking Chair Records.
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
3 Doors Down
32

3 Doors Down

(1996)
3 Doors Down is an American rock band from Escatawpa, Mississippi that formed in 1996. The band originally consisted of Brad Arnold (vocals/drums), Todd Harrell (bass guitar) and Matt Roberts (guitar).They were soon joined by guit...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Linkin Park
33

Linkin Park

(1996)
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory (2000), which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinu...
7.4
7.4
from 8 votes
Discuss [-]
Kittie
34

Kittie

(1996)
Kittie (stylized as KiTTiE) are a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996.
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Sum 41
35

Sum 41

(1996)
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario, Canada. The band was formed in 1996 and, as of 2015, consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Deryck Whibley, co-lead guitarists Dave Baksh and Tom Thacker, bassist Cone McC...
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Taproot
36

Taproot

(1997)
Taproot is a rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Seether
37

Seether

(1999)
Seether are a South African hard rock band founded in May 1999 in Pretoria, South Africa. The band was originally formed under the name Saron Gas until renaming it to Seether in 2002...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Mastodon
38

Mastodon

(2000)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in early 2000 and composed of bassist Troy Sanders, guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor.
8
8
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Pop Evil
39

Pop Evil

(2001)
Pop Evil is an American rock band that was formed in North Muskegon, Michigan in 2001 by Leigh Kakaty.
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Audioslave
40

Audioslave

(2001)
Audioslave was an American rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2001 and disbanded in 2007. The four-piece band consisted of then-former Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, and then-former Rage...
7
7
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Alter Bridge
41

Alter Bridge

(2004)
Alter Bridge is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Sc...
6
6
from 1 vote
Discuss [-]
Hollywood Undead
42

Hollywood Undead

(2005)
Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio alb...
8
8
from 3 votes
Discuss [-]
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