'alternative' metal... discuss

^Or maybe they are pushing the boundaries of the genre, adding sludge and prog elements to the sound.

The Angry Scotsman wrote: Alternative Metal. It certainly does exist. What exactly qualifies it...I'm not sure It is a bit of a dumping ground, but I actually like this sites definition for it. Not my favorite sub genre, but I do like it. Of course SoaD my all time favorite band is Alt Metal! I am not a fan of "nu metal" at all though

you don't like Deftones,

best Nu metal band their ever was

I'm rather late in this discussion, but some bands I would call "Alternative Metal" that I listen to would include:

I feel a Nu-Metal subgenre wouldn't be an exercise in extreme categorization. Nevertheless, it could find inclusion as sub-genre in the Alternative Metal category, much to the likes of NWoBHM in Traditional Heavy Metal.

The bands that fit in such sub-genre share elements present in the overall sound of Alt Metal, yet it seems that Faith No More, or early Tool is on a completely different range than, say, Limp Bizkit (and it's not just because they'd mop the floor with the latter).

True that intense categorization leads to an overbearing w**kery of labels, but I find this case would lead to structural benefit, since Nu-Metal is a pretty specific wave, in which its fans would enjoy to find discriminated among the existent categories to further enrich their own database and discover new tastes.

In addition, the opposite can also be accountable, if one is looking for Alternative Metal, but wishes to exclude the Nu-Metal sub-genre from his/her findings.

It's just a thought I don't think would strike as nitpicking or extremely difficult to perform.

^ I'm not sure. What ARE we doing here? This really shows people how little life I actually have. *slinkers away*

In my opinion, 'Nu Metal' was never really a true genre. Ir was more of a trend/fad/era that lasted for a decade or two then died off. Bands that were considered part of that particular style continued on even after that definition was no longer being used, and their sound has evolved and changed like any other band that you might consider 'Alternative'. Why not include them?

Edited by JLocke - 20 May 2010 at 3:50pm

Alternative metal is a mix between the 80s alt rock(R.E.M., Smiths) and heavy metal. Some times, it can also be mixed with hip hop elements (this genre is known as Nu Metal)

I realised that Sepultura are under Alt metal - blasphemy?

Honestly, I see them in the thrash metal category - they were just groovier than similar bands of the genre...

Beekeeper wrote: Alt metal seems like a fairly flimsy descriptor. I see genres as primarily a means of distinguishing artists and categorising similar artists for the sake of exploring and understanding music but 'alt metal' - does it really correspond to anything concrete? I mean I know all genres are abstract concepts with subjective definitions but this one just seems a lot less obvious than the instantly recognisable thrash or power metal genres for example. Slight tangent: I would really like a stoner metal subgenre at some point in the future.

Alternative metal is a definition used by other sites too. As you may have noticed, most of the genre definitions are shared by most metal sites (just like the majority of those at PA are). This does not mean we cannot improve upon those definitions, but we need viable suggestions. Personally, being familiar with a good deal of the bands included in that particular subgenre, I think 'alt metal' is a very fitting description, therefore don't feel the need to change it. This does not mean I'm right, as you pointed out... However, I am all too aware that finding the perfect definition (unless it is an old, already established one, like 'thrash' or 'power' metal) is far from easy, and that an imperfect definition is better than none.

Well, it is for people who live by it/abuse it.