In the late '80s, two very different groups laid the groundwork for what would become alternative metal. Chicago's Smashing Pumpkins were mixing loud, distorted guitars with sensitive, troubled lyrics, miles apart from the he-man attitude of serious metal bands at the time. Meanwhile, in the waning hair-metal capitol of Los Angeles, Jane's Addiction was packing a lysergic punch long absent since the heyday of Led Zeppelin. Alt metal bands were harnessing the power of metal riffs and infusing them with some much-needed diversity. Record labels like Seattle's Sub Pop and Amphetamine Reptile (from Minnesota) were also pioneers in taking heavy, distorted sounds away from their headbanger roots. With the onset of grunge rock, technical proficiency became a liability to those who played metal and new strains emerged, including the downturned rhythms of rap-metal and the hypersensitive, punk-influenced emo movement. As the pendulum of popular culture sways back to the '70s, the thundering riffs of stoner rock and the experimental new progressive rock sounds continue expanding the umbrella of alt-metal.

Notable Artists: Papa Roach, Faith No More, Liquid Jesus