Ask any metal purist and they’ll probably insist that their genre was barely breathing once “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hit the air. The reality, though, is that many heavy bands embraced the sea change, creating a fertile period where at any moment you might catch a dude with dreadlocks, a girl with a shaved head, and a gorilla with an MPC sampler all on the same stage. Here are 30 records released in 1994 that showcase the smorgasbord of musical flavors that arise when metal and alternative rock are thrown in the same pot.
King’s X “Dogman”
Hot off the heels of their successful 1992 self-titled album, Texas power trio Kings X decided to give their longtime producer Sam Taylor the boot in favor of grunge luminary Brendan O’Brien. You can sense a quiet wink and nod to the listener because these guys know they’re way too talented for grunge, with ultra-tight grooves and vocal harmonies to make Crosby Stills & Nash take a knee.
Prong “Cleansing”
On their fourth offering, NYC heavyweights Prong employed superproducer Terry Date and two ex-members of Killing Joke (Paul Raven and John Bechdel) to revolutionize their sound. The result is a satisfying slab of borderline industrial metal so tight and clean you can set every clock in the house to it, with lead single “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck” getting love bombed by Headbanger’s Ball.
Alice In Chains “Jar of Flies”
Essentially an audition tape for newly minted bassist Mike Inez, “Jar of Flies” bears the distinction of being the first EP ever to top the Billboard charts. Due to all the acoustic guitars we’re leaning much more “alt” on this one, but if you search “early Alice In Chains” on Google images you’ll know that these guys have always been metal to the bone.
P.O.D. “Snuff the Punk”
Long before they made your local rock station feel so “alive,” San Diego nü-metal crew Payable On Death dropped their debut LP on the very first day of 1994. What you get is basically what you expect from a band of this ilk just finding their bearings: bouncy metallic riffs, hip-hop flavored vocals, and enough slap bass to send Flea to the nearest restroom.
Therapy? “Troublegum”
If asked to choose a perfect example of the marriage between “alternative” and metal to shoot into space for future angsty teen extraterrestrials to enjoy, the lead single “Screamager” off this Irish band’s most commercially successful release would be the one. Sugary pop hooks soar over Helmet style stop/start riffage, and the goatee game is bulletproof.
Animal Bag “Offering”
The only reference point any normal person would have for Animal Bag is a scene of them performing their funked out ode to country livin’, “Everybody” on the pilot episode of “My So Called Life.” These North Cackalacka natives take a more laid-back, folky approach on their next LP, and also win the blue ribbon for band member with the coolest name in drummer Boo Duckworth, who unfortunately passed away in 2002. Rest easy, Boo.
Stabbing Westward “Ungod”
These Macomb, Illinois (wherever the hell that is) industrial rockers came out of the gates swinging with their major label debut, spawning the pinch harmonic-laden single “Nothing” and earning them opening slots with both Depeche Mode and Killing Joke the same year. 10,000 chain smoking goth girls sighed in approval.
Nailbomb “Point Blank”
A one-off collab between Sepultura’s Max Cavalera and Fudge Tunnel frontman Alex Newport, “Point Blank” is the musical equivalent of a Sawzall entering your skull, in the best way. While Cavalera revisited this record on tour with Soulfly in 2017, the one and only proper Nailbomb gig was at the Dynamo Festival in 1995. Do yourself a favor and go watch that set on YouTube right now. It’s damn near therapeutic.
Powerman 5000 “True Force”
Michael Cummings aka Spider One never managed to reach the height of success that his big brother Rob Zombie achieved, but that’s a lot for anyone to live up to, so let’s go easy on the fella. On his second EP, Spider serves up that distinct brand of sample-heavy proto-metal that seems frozen in the carbonite of the early ‘90s. It’s something a twenty-something with Ableton Live and a Depop account will never recreate.
downset. s/t
For all intents and purposes, Downset are an LA hardcore band, but they always seemed to exist on the periphery of said genre. One could also draw a line from their lack of commercial success to the fact that lead single “Anger” contains a not-so-subtle dig at superstar Zach De La Rocha’s street cred: “Fake motherfucker never even seen a nine.” In the interest of our physical health, we’ll leave it at that.
GWAR “This Toilet Earth”
The fourth album by Antarctica’s interplanetary metal ambassadors, “This Toilet Earth” was also their first to have its artwork and tracklist censored in stores due to the band’s rising popularity. This was in no small part thanks to frequent MTV spins, and their feature in the storyline of the Beavis and Butt-Head video game. Also, blood. Buckets and buckets of blood.
Rollins Band “Weight”
Everyone’s favorite fourth Black Flag frontman returned this year with another serving of that muscular, groovy post-hardcore we’d come to expect. He also, albeit maybe accidentally, endeared himself to the metal crowd with the music video for “Liar,” which is basically five kickass minutes of Hank screaming into the camera in cool makeup while shit is on fire all around him. Hell yeah.
Meshuggah “None”
Progenitors of the über technical, yet moshy flavor of metal now affectionately referred to as “djent,” this Swedish band’s fourth release might not be something you’d want playing in the car on a first date if you’re trying to get some, but it’s DEFINITELY something you’d want to blast on the way home if the night ends well. Remember kids, djent responsibly!
Killing Joke “Pandemonium”
On their ninth full-length, these British post-punk legends put the pedal to the metal and deliver a punishing collection of tracks that are as forward-thinking as they are true to the Killing Joke formula. It’s kind of like a family dinner. You don’t know why, but it’s just better when the old folks do the cooking.
Front Line Assembly “Millenium”
There was quite an obsession with the oncoming new millennium amongst industrial bands around this time. To be fair, all of their post-Y2K paranoias proved to be true and then some. On their seventh studio album, Canadian synth beaters Front Line Assembly pour on enough distorted guitars and apocalyptic samples to keep the fishnet and pleather crowd partying like it’s 2099.
Corrosion of Conformity “Deliverance”
On their fourth full length, these North Carolina metal mainstays eschew their crossover thrash roots in favor of some Southern fried stoner groove, with guitarist Pepper Keenan fully in place as lead singer and songwriter. This creative shift earned them a gold record, and you can even embarrass yourself trying to play “Albatross” on Guitar Hero.
Helmet “Betty”
The flagship outfit of the crew cut and stripey t-shirt generation of heavy music, NYC’s Helmet scored some generous MTV rotation and a spot on “The Crow” soundtrack with lead single “Milquetoast.” By generous I mean that shit was played ad nauseum every day, but can you imagine a time when a band this awesome was on TV enough to make you sick of them? The early ‘90s were magic like that.
Widowmaker “Stand By For Pain”
Somewhere in the murk between MTV superstardom fronting Twisted Sister and box office floppery in writing 1998’s torture porn “Strangeland,” Dee Snider assembled some of his most able-bodied rocker pals to form Widowmaker. The result sounds like a bunch of highly competent metal musicians attempting grunge, which honestly could be a lot worse, ya know?
Kyuss “Welcome to Sky Valley”
The third full-length by future stone age queen Josh Homme and crew serves up another helping of the desert-grown Sabbath-worshiping stoner rock they put the trademark on. Ten tracks clocking in at just under an hour might rub your punk rock ADD the wrong way but, like, maybe just rip a bong and chill out, man.
Drown “Hold On to the Hollow”
As per Amazon’s product description: “Corrosive industrial metal with all the requisite torment on the lyrical front marks this debut from a Los Angeles quartet.” Amazon might be the only place you can snag a hard copy of this obscurity, too, but at least your lyrical torment comes with next-day shipping.
Infectious Grooves “Groove Family Cyco”
The third installment by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir’s funk metal supergroup boasts a murderous rhythm section in future Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo and future Avenged Sevenfold drummer Brooks Wackerman. It also turns out to be the second album on our list with a diss track against Rage Against the Machine: “Now you’re makin’ your political statement, or are you tryin’ to add to your financial statement?” Sick burn, bro.
Melt-Banana “Squeak Squeak Creak”
Attempting to put into words Japanese noise rock unit Melt-Banana’s sound is a tall order, but let’s give it a try: Imagine suffering a grand mal seizure while a group of children in animal masks smash a pinata full of colorful broken glass all over you. It’s both as uncomfortable and fun as it sounds, and it only lasts half an hour.
Warrior Soul “The Space Age Playboys”
Legend has it that Warrior Soul frontman Kory Clarke started the band on a bet, and within months scored himself a multi-album deal with Geffen. By “legend” I mean Wikipedia, because nobody is actually talking about this band in 2024. Apparently Lars Ulrich really took a liking to this album, though, inviting the band to open for Metallica at Donington. Suffice to say, Kory won the hell out of that bet.
Marilyn Manson “Portrait of an American Family”
Legendary edgelord Brian Warner aka Marilyn Manson dropped his debut full-length this year, sparking a generation of bad fashion decisions and… possibly even worse behavior. “Portrait of an American Family” does contain some bangers, though, particularly the bass heavy anti-bullying anthem “Lunch Box” and the stompy, b-movie horror inspired “Dope Hat.” Just don’t lose a rib over it.
Danzig “Danzig 4”
Original Misfits front ghoul Glenn Danzig described his fourth solo offering as “A very challenging record, philosophically, vocally and musically.” Maybe for him, but for us it’s more of that good bluesy, devil worshiping rock ‘n roll we’ve grown to love him for. No need for hyperbole, Glenn. We’re here for it.
Tiamat “Wildhoney”
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Scandinavian death metal band discovers psychedelic drugs, this Swedish group’s fourth release is a pretty good case study. Spoiler alert: there are keyboards, acoustic guitars and… rain sound effects? Also, you can rest assured at least one of these guys was rocking a hemp poncho at the time.
Melvins “Prick” & “Stoner Witch”
It’s no surprise that the most prolific band in all of heavy music would drop two releases this year, “Prick” being an intentionally inaccessible clusterfuck on underground noise rock label “Amphetamine Reptile,” and “Stoner Witch” being their most commercially palatable offering, released on the very major Atlantic Records. Proof positive that even a maniac like Buzz Osbourne enjoys a little balance in life.
The Jesus Lizard “Down”
Both their final release on Touch & Go Records and their last to be produced by Steve Albini, “Down” continues this Chicago band’s legacy of bottom-heavy, stompy noise rock. A fun music video for “Destroy Before Reading” accompanied the release, depicting singer David Yow’s severed head being tinkered with by children in a laboratory. It’s the kind of tongue-in-cheek nightmare fuel that Gen X couldn’t get enough of.
Body Count “Born Dead”
With the smoke still simmering from their controversial 1992 ode to law enforcement “Cop Killer”, the second studio album by Ice-T’s metal project Body Count experienced a much quieter release. A pretty competent rendition of “Hey Joe” (which also appeared on the Jimi Hendrix tribute album “Stone Free”) serves as the standout here, proving that Ice is as multi-talented as he is utterly terrifying.
Cop Shoot Cop “Release”
Ok, this is gonna be a tough sell, but hear me out… This band didn’t have a guitarist. Are you still there? Good. Now what if I told you that instead of a guitarist, they had TWO bassists? Please don’t run away, because Cop Shoot Cop was legitimately awesome. Like, should have sold a million records awesome. Listen to Cop Shoot Cop. Stream them until they’re rich.