# List of alternative metal artists

This is a list of alternative metal artists. Alternative metal (or alt-metal) is a genre of heavy metal music that combines heavy metal with influences from alternative rock and other genres not normally associated with metal. Alternative metal bands are often characterized by heavily downtuned, mid-paced guitar riffs, a mixture of accessible melodic vocals and harsh vocals and sometimes unconventional sounds within other heavy metal styles. The term has been in use since the 1980s, although it came into prominence in the 1990s.
| Band | Origin | Active | Notes |
| 10 Years | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge and progressive metal. |
| 12 Stones | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge, alternative rock and Christian rock. |
| 36 Crazyfists | United States | No | Also classed as metalcore, post-hardcore and nu metal. |
| 311 | United States | Yes | Also classed as reggae rock, alternative rock, rap metal, funk rock, rap rock, and funk metal. |
| 3Teeth | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal, industrial, industrial rock, electronic rock, electro-industrial, and nu metal. |
| 40 Below Summer | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal and hard rock. |
| Adema | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, alternative rock, and post-grunge. |
| Alcest | France | Yes | Also classed as post-metal, shoegaze, blackgaze, post-black metal, and black metal (early). |
| All Ends | Sweden | No | Also classed as alternative rock and hard rock. |
| Alice in Chains | United States | Yes | Also classed as grunge, heavy metal, doom metal, sludge metal, and alternative rock. |
| Alien Ant Farm | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, nu metal, punk rock, and pop punk. |
| Alter Bridge | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, heavy metal, post-grunge, progressive metal, and alternative rock. |
| American Head Charge | United States | No | Also classed as nu metal and industrial metal. |
| American Standards | United States | Yes | Also classed as mathcore, metalcore, post hardcore and hardcore punk. |
| Anew Revolution | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal. |
| Apartment 26 | United Kingdom | No | Also classed as nu metal. and industrial metal. |
| A Perfect Circle | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, progressive rock, and art rock. |
| Apocalyptica | Finland | Yes | Also classed as neoclassical metal and symphonic metal. |
| Architects | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as mathcore (early), metalcore, post-hardcore and progressive metalcore. |
| Art of Anarchy | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge, hard rock, and alternative rock. |
| Asking Alexandria | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as electronicore, hard rock, heavy metal, metalcore and post-hardcore. |
| Atomship | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, post-grunge, and progressive rock. |
| At the Drive-In | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as post-hardcore. |
| Audioslave | United States | No | Also classed as hard rock, funk rock, and alternative rock. |
| Avatar | Sweden | Yes | Also classed as melodic death metal, groove metal, progressive metal, and industrial metal. |
| Avenged Sevenfold | United States | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal, hard rock, progressive metal, and metalcore (early). |
| Babymetal | Japan | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal, death metal, speed metal and j-pop. |
| Bad Brains | United States | Yes | 1986 album I Against I recognized as one of the first alternative metal albums. Also classed as hardcore punk and reggae rock. |
| Bad Omens | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore. |
| Baroness | United States | Yes | Also classed as sludge metal, progressive metal and post-rock. |
| Beartooth | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, hardcore, post-hardcore, and hard rock. |
| Black Veil Brides | United States | Yes | Also classed as melodic metalcore, glam metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. |
| Breaking Benjamin | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock and post-grunge. |
| Bring Me the Horizon | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, metalcore, deathcore, and post-hardcore. |
| Bullet for My Valentine | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, heavy metal, metalcore and thrash metal. |
| The Butterfly Effect | Australia | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock and progressive rock. |
| Butthole Surfers | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as alternative rock, neo-psychedelia, experimental rock and hardcore punk. |
| Chevelle | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, post-grunge, alternative rock, nu metal, and indie rock. |
| CKY | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge, alternative rock, stoner rock, and hard rock. |
| Clawfinger | Sweden | Yes | Also classed as rap metal, industrial metal and nu metal. |
| Clutch | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, stoner rock, blues rock, post-hardcore (early), funk metal and hardcore punk (early). |
| Coal Chamber | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, industrial metal and gothic metal. |
| Code Orange | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, hardcore punk, industrial hardcore, and industrial metal. |
| Cold | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge, hard rock and alternative rock. |
| Coldrain | Japan | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, post-hardcore, metalcore, hard rock and punk rock. |
| Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock. |
| Days of the New | United States | No | Also classed as alternative rock and post-grunge. |
| Decyfer Down | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock and post-grunge. |
| Defrage | Estonia | No | Also classed as alternative rock and post-grunge. |
| Deftones | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, experimental rock, post-metal, post-hardcore, and art rock. |
| Demon Hunter | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, nu metal, groove metal, and Christian metal. |
| Depswa | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as nu metal. |
| Devilskin | New Zealand | Yes | Also classed as hard rock and heavy metal. |
| Disturbed | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal (early), hard rock, and heavy metal. |
| Dir En Grey | Japan | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal, nu metal, death metal, experimental metal, progressive metal, and extreme metal. |
| Dog Fashion Disco | United States | Yes | Also classed as experimental metal. |
| Dope | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal and nu metal |
| downset. | United States | Yes | Also classed as rap metal, funk metal, hardcore punk and rapcore. |
| Drowning Pool | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, heavy metal, hard rock and post-grunge. |
| Earshot | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock and post-grunge. |
| Earthtone9 | United Kingdom | Yes | |
| Echobrain | United States | No | |
| Enter Shikari | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, electronicore and post-hardcore. |
| Evanescence | United States | Yes | Also classed as gothic metal, nu metal, hard rock and symphonic metal |
| Failure | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, art rock, space rock and post-grunge |
| Fair to Midland | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as progressive rock. |
| Faith No More | United States | Yes | Recognized as one of the earliest alternative metal bands. Also classed as funk metal, experimental metal and alternative rock. |
| Fantômas | United States | Yes | Also classed as experimental metal. |
| Fear Factory | United States | Yes | Recognized as one of the first heavy metal bands to fuse metal with industrial and electronic stylings. Also classed as industrial metal and death metal. |
| Fightstar | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo, and heavy metal. |
| Finger Eleven | Canada | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, post-grunge, hard rock and funk metal. |
| Filter | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial rock, industrial metal and post-grunge. |
| Five Finger Death Punch | United States | Yes | Also classed as groove metal, nu metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. |
| Flyleaf | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, Christian rock and post-grunge. |
| From Ashes to New | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, rap metal and rap rock. |
| Fuel | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock and post-grunge. |
| Fudge Tunnel | United Kingdom | No | Also classed as noise rock and sludge metal. |
| Full Devil Jacket | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge. |
| Full Scale | Australia | No | Also classed as post-grunge |
| Funeral for a Friend | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as emo, post-hardcore, screamo and melodic hardcore. |
| Glassjaw | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore, hardcore punk, progressive rock and experimental rock |
| Godsmack | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, heavy metal, post-grunge, and nu metal. |
| Green Jellÿ | United States | Yes | Also classed as comedy rock. |
| Grinspoon | Australia | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge, alternative rock and nu metal |
| Guano Apes | Germany | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, nu metal, rap rock, post-grunge, pop rock, pop punk, punk rock and hard rock |
| Hayko Cepkin | Turkey | Yes | Also classed as alternative metal, heavy metal and industrial rock. |
| Halestorm | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock and alternative rock. |
| Handsome | United States | No | Also classed as post-hardcore. |
| Helmet | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore, noise rock, alternative rock, groove metal, post-metal and experimental metal. |
| Hollywood Undead | United States | Yes | Also classed as rap rock, alternative rock, nu metal, rap metal, hard rock and hip hop. |
| I Prevail | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, post-hardcore, pop punk, hard rock, rap metal, and nu metal. |
| Ill Niño | United States | Yes | Also classed as Latin metal, nu metal and metalcore. |
| Infectious Grooves | United States | Yes | Also classed as funk metal |
| In Flames | Sweden | Yes | Also classed as melodic death metal. |
| In This Moment | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, melodic metalcore, hard rock, industrial metal, gothic metal, and nu metal. |
| Incubus | United States | Yes | Also classed as funk metal (early), nu metal (early), rap metal (early), alternative rock (later) and art rock (later). |
| Jane's Addiction | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as alternative rock and progressive rock. |
| Jerry Cantrell | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, heavy metal, and grunge. |
| Jesters of Destiny | United States | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal, hard rock and psychedelic rock. |
| The Jesus Lizard | United States | Yes | Also classed as noise-rock and post-hardcore. |
| Karnivool | Australia | Yes | Also classed as progressive metal, progressive rock, alternative rock and nu metal (early) |
| Kittie | Canada | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, extreme metal, heavy metal, screamo, punk, thrash metal, hard rock, alt-punk and death metal. |
| Korn | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, industrial metal, rap metal, funk metal, groove metal and dark metal. |
| L7 | United States | Yes | Also classed as grunge, punk rock and riot grrrl. |
| Lacuna Coil | Italy | Yes | Also classed as gothic metal and dark metal. |
| Life of Agony | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, grunge, and post-grunge. |
| Lifer | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal. |
| Leprous | Norway | Yes | Also classed as progressive metal |
| Limp Bizkit | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, rap metal and rap rock. |
| Linkin Park | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, rap rock, electronic rock and rap metal. |
| Living Colour | United States | Yes | Also classed as funk metal, heavy metal and hard rock. |
| Loathe | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, melodic hardcore, nu metal, progressive metal, post-metal and shoegaze. |
| Lostprophets | United Kingdom | No | Also classed as alternative rock, post-hardcore and nu metal. |
| Love and Death | United States | Yes | Also classed as Christian metal and nu metal. |
| The Lounge Kittens | United Kingdom | No | Also classed as lounge music, rock music, parody music, and comedy rock. |
| Machine Head | United States | Yes | Also classed as groove metal, thrash metal, and nu metal. |
| Mallavora | United Kingdom | Yes | |
| Major Moment | United States | Yes | |
| Marilyn Manson | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal, industrial rock, shock rock and alternative rock. |
| Mastodon | United States | Yes | Also classed as sludge metal, progressive metal and stoner metal. |
| Melvins | United States | Yes | Also classed as various other genres, including grunge, sludge metal and doom metal |
| Mind Funk | United States | No | Also classed as funk metal, grunge and stoner rock. |
| Mind Over Four | United States | No | Also classed as progressive metal. |
| Motionless in White | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal, metalcore, gothic metal, and nu metal. |
| Mother Love Bone | United States | No | Also classed as grunge, glam metal, glam punk, hard rock, funk metal and heavy metal. |
| Mr. Bungle | United States | Yes | Also classed as various other genres, including avant-garde and funk metal. |
| Mt. Helium | United States | No | Also classed as progressive metal, post-grunge and nu metal. Formerly known as The Apex Theory. |
| Mudvayne | United States | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal, nu metal, progressive metal, math metal and groove metal. |
| Mushroomhead | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, industrial metal, experimental metal and electro-industrial. |
| Nebula | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as stoner rock, heavy metal and psychedelic rock. |
| Nine Inch Nails | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial rock, industrial metal, dark ambient, and alternative rock. |
| Nonpoint | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, hard rock, rap metal and groove metal. |
| Nothingface | United States | No | Also classed as nu metal. |
| Nothing More | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, hard rock, and progressive rock/metal. |
| Norma Jean | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, sludge metal and post-metal. |
| Northlane | Australia | Yes | Also classed as djent, industrial metal, metalcore, nu metal and progressive metalcore. |
| Odd Crew | Bulgaria | Yes | Also classed as groove metal. |
| Okilly Dokilly | United States | No | Also classed as heavy metal, metalcore, comedy rock, stoner rock, "Nedal", sludge metal, math metal, progressive rock, nu metal, experimental metal, art rock, bartcore, "krust" punk, and hardcore punk. |
| Only Living Witness | United States | No | Also classed as hardcore punk and grunge. |
| Orange 9mm | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore and rap metal |
| Orangutang | United States | No | Also classed as pop rock, and alternative rock. |
| Orgy | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial rock, industrial metal, nu metal, electronic rock and electropunk. |
| Otep | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal and death metal. |
| P.O.D. | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, rap metal, Christian metal, reggae rock. |
| Papa Roach | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, alternative rock, hard rock, rap metal, and glam metal. |
| Passenger | Sweden | No | Also classed as nu metal. |
| Paw | United States | No | Also classed as grunge and alternative rock. |
| Phoxjaw | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore and alternative rock. |
| Pitchshifter | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as industrial rock, nu metal and industrial metal. |
| Porcupine Tree | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as progressive rock, progressive metal, alternative rock, psychedelic rock, and experimental rock. |
| Powerman 5000 | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal, rap metal, nu metal, thrash metal, funk metal, electronic rock, alternative rock, and punk rock. |
| Primus | United States | Yes | Also classed as funk metal, alternative rock, experimental rock, funk rock, progressive rock, progressive metal, jam and nu metal (Antipop period). |
| Project 86 | United States | Yes | Also classed as Christian rock, Christian metal, alternative rock, nu metal, post-hardcore, and rapcore. |
| Prong | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal, thrash metal, groove metal and hardcore punk. |
| Puddle of Mudd | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge, hard rock, alternative rock and nu metal. |
| Quicksand | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore. |
| Queensrÿche | United States | Yes | Also classed as progressive metal, hard rock, heavy metal, power metal and glam metal. |
| Rage Against the Machine | United States | No | Also classed as rap metal, nu metal, and funk metal |
| Red | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, hard rock, christian rock, and post-grunge. |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | United States | Yes | Also classed as funk rock, alternative rock, funk metal and rap rock. |
| Reuben | United Kingdom | No | Also classed as alternative rock, hard rock, and post-hardcore. |
| Rob Zombie | United States | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal, industrial metal, groove metal, industrial rock and nu metal. |
| Rollins Band | United States | No | Also classed as hard rock, post-hardcore, funk metal and jazz fusion. |
| Roses Are Red | United States | No | Also classed as emo and alternative rock. |
| Scar the Martyr | United States | No | Also classed as post-grunge. |
| Scum of the Earth | United States | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal. |
| Seether | South Africa | Yes | Also classed as post-grunge. |
| September Mourning | United States | Yes | |
| Sepultura | Brazil | Yes | Also classed as groove metal, death metal, and thrash metal. |
| Serj Tankian | United States | Yes | Also classed as progressive rock, experimental rock, art rock and classical. |
| Sevendust | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal and heavy metal. |
| Shihad | New Zealand | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, hard rock, and industrial rock. |
| Shinedown | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, post-grunge and alternative rock. |
| Sick Puppies | Australia | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, hard rock, and post-grunge. |
| Skillet | United States | Yes | Also classed as Christian rock, Christian metal, post-grunge, alternative rock, hard rock, nu metal, symphonic metal and industrial metal (early). |
| Skindred | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as ragga and nu metal |
| Slaves on Dope | Canada | Yes | Also classed as nu metal. |
| Sleep Token | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as indie pop/rock, post-metal, and progressive metal. |
| Slipknot | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal. |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, gothic rock, psychedelic rock, dream pop, grunge, progressive metal, progressive rock and shoegazing. |
| Smash into Pieces | Sweden | Yes | Also classed as pop-rock and alternative rock. |
| Snot | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, hardcore punk, and funk metal. |
| SOiL | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, hard rock, heavy metal, groove metal and post-grunge. |
| Soundgarden | United States | No | Also classed as grunge, heavy metal, alternative rock, and garage punk. |
| Spiritbox | Canada | Yes | Also classed as djent, metalcore, nu metal, progressive metal and post-metal. |
| Sum 41 | United States | No | Also classed as punk rock, pop punk, alternative rock, and skate punk. |
| Stabbing Westward | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial rock and alternative rock. |
| Staind | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal and post-grunge |
| Static-X | United States | Yes | Also classed as industrial metal and nu metal. |
| Stereomud | United States | No | Also classed as hard rock and nu metal. |
| Stone Sour | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as post-grunge, hard rock and heavy metal. |
| Stone Temple Pilots | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, hard rock, grunge and neo-psychedelia |
| Stuck Mojo | United States | Yes | Also classed as rap metal and nu metal. |
| SugarComa | United Kingdom | No | Also classed as nu metal. |
| System of a Down | United States | Yes | Also classed as heavy metal, nu metal, progressive rock, progressive metal, hard rock, alternative rock, experimental rock, and art rock. |
| Tad | United States | No | Also classed as grunge, groove metal and alternative rock. |
| Tallah | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, metalcore, hardcore punk, industrial metal, rap metal, and nu metalcore. |
| Taproot | United States | Yes | Also classed as nu metal, alternative rock and post-grunge. |
| Therapy? | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, punk rock, and noise rock. |
| Tomahawk | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, experimental rock, progressive rock and Native American music. |
| The Veer Union | Canada | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, post-grunge, melodic metal, and hard rock |
| Three Days Grace | Canada | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock, post-grunge, and hard rock |
| Tool | United States | Yes | Also classed as progressive metal, progressive rock, heavy metal, and art rock. |
| Trapt | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, post-grunge and nu metal. |
| Tremonti | United States | Yes | Also classed as thrash metal and speed metal. |
| Twelve Foot Ninja | Australia | No | Also classed as experimental rock, funk metal and djent |
| Ugly Kid Joe | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal and funk metal. |
| Vampires Everywhere! | United States | Yes | Also classed as post-hardcore, metalcore, gothic metal, shock rock, industrial metal and horror punk. |
| Vimic | United States | On hiatus | Also classed as groove metal. |
| Waltari | Finland | Yes | Also classed as progressive metal, crossover thrash, hard rock, avant-garde metal, death metal, punk rock, symphonic metal, pop rock, and techno. |
| Warrior Soul | United States | Yes | Also classed as hard rock. |
| We Came as Romans | United States | Yes | Also classed as metalcore, post-hardcore, melodic hardcore, symphonic metal, and electronicore. |
| White Zombie | United States | No | Also classed as groove metal, industrial metal, and noise rock. |
| While She Sleeps | United Kingdom | Yes | Also classed as metalcore. |
| Within Temptation | Netherlands | Yes | Also classed as doom metal (early), gothic metal and symphonic metal. |
| Zug Izland | United States | Yes | Also classed as alternative rock |