Top 20 Greatest Rock and Metal Albums of the 1990s

By Deb Jones, from Loaded

Similarly to the 1980s, rock music was very popular in the 1990s, yet, unlike the new wave and glam metal-dominated scene of the time, grunge, Britpop, industrial rock and other alternative rock music emerged and took over as the most popular of the decade, as well as punk rock, ska punk and nu metal, amongst others, which attained a high level of success at different points throughout the years.

Rock and metal fans were blessed in the '90s, which gave us such a diverse and interesting offering. Some would argue that the decade was only second to the golden rock period of the '70s. So, to celebrate a magnificent decade for rock music, we've put together a list of the 20 greatest rock and metal albums of the 1990s (only one album per artist)...

20. Green Day, 'Dookie'

Dookie is the third studio album and major label debut by American rock band Green Day, released in 1994. The album is mostly based around his personal experiences, with themes such as boredom, anxiety, relationships, and sexuality. Dookie received critical acclaim upon its release, and won the band a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album in 1995. It was also a worldwide success, reaching number two in the United States and the top five in several other countries; it is credited with bringing punk rock to mainstream popularity, and propelling Green Day to worldwide fame.

19. Queensrÿche, 'Empire'

Empire is the fourth full-length studio album by the American heavy metal band Queensrÿche. The album stands as Queensrÿche's most commercially successful release, reaching triple-platinum status and the primary single, the power ballad "Silent Lucidity", reached no.1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and no.9 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Silent Lucidity" was also nominated for the Grammy Awards of 1992 in the categories Best Rock Song and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

18. The Smashing Pumpkins, 'Siamese Dream'

Siamese Dream is the second studio album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1993. The album fused diverse influences such as shoegazing, dream pop, and heavy metal, and has been described as "closer to progressive rock than to punk or grunge." This is an album that opened doors to new form of merging rock styles, and helped pave the way for what was to come.

17. Ozzy Osbourne, 'No More Tears'

No More Tears is the sixth solo studio album by English heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Released on 17 September 1991, the album charted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and number seven on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. IT is regarded by many fans and critics as the best rock album of the 1990s by a solo artist.

16. The Colour and the Shape, 'Foo Fighters'

Although their second studio album, The Colour and the Shape marked the official debut of the Foo Fighters as a band, as their eponymous 1995 debut album was primarily recorded by frontman Dave Grohl and producer Barrett Jones as a demo. After the debut became an international success, Grohl recruited guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer William Goldsmith to form the band's full lineup.

15. Stone Temple Pilots, 'Core'

Core is the debut studio album by American rock band Stone Temple Pilots, released on September 29, 1992 through Atlantic Records. The album, which peaked at no.1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and no.3 on the Billboard 200, was certified 8x platinum by the RIAA, making it the band's best-selling album, and one of the most popular rock albums of the decade.

14. Alice In Chains, 'Dirt'

Dirt is the second studio album by the American grunge band Alice in Chains, and many would argue that the 1992 hit is still the greatest grunge rock album ever made. Peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album was also well received by music critics and fans. Hits like "Down in a Hole," "Rooster," and "Them Bones," made it a much loved album, and probably the best of that year. 

13. Slipknot, 'Slipknot'

Slipknot smashed their way onto the nu-metal scene with perhaps the biggest statement ever, with their self-titled debut album. Once fans got past the masks, they found a band that emerged during the peak years of nu-metal with a crushing debut disc. This album made the band the most significant heavy metal outfit for over two decades.

12. Marilyn Manson, 'Antichrist Superstar'

Marilyn Manson were a bit of an unknown quantity before their 1996 smash hit Antichrist Superstar came out. And then it all changed. Industrial metal had been taken into a new, deep, dark world, with this magnificent core grinding album. A rock opera and a concept album, Antichrist Superstar was the first instalment in a trilogy which included succeeding releases Mechanical Animals (1998) and Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (2000). The central storyline on the album revolved around a supernatural being who seizes all power from humanity in order to initiate an apocalyptic end event; a populist demagogue who is driven solely by resentment, misanthropy and despair, he uses his newfound position to destroy the world.

11. Judas Priest, 'Painkiller'

Painkiller is the twelfth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in September 1990. It is the last Judas Priest album to feature lead singer Rob Halford until his return for the 2005 album Angel of Retribution and the first to feature drummer Scott Travis. Bands often lose their spark after their first few albums, but Painkiller showed that these heavy metal giants could still produce great work deep into their career.

10. Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik'

The band's fifth studio album release was without doubt their most significant, and still hailed as of the best albums of the decade, of any music genre. Blood Sugar Sex Magik peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200, and produced the hit singles "Under the Bridge", "Give It Away", "Suck My Kiss", "Breaking the Girl", and "If You Have to Ask". It was the Chili Peppers' introduction into worldwide popularity and critical acclaim.

9. Pantera, 'Vulgar Display Of Power'

Released in late winter of 1992, Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by the American heavy metal band Pantera. The smash hit showed the way forward for scores of beleaguered metal merchants. Its brain crushing offerings like "Mouth for War," "Walk" and "F**king Hostile" whipped fans into a frenzy, and set the tone for what we would soon follow.It is often considered one of the most influential heavy metal albums of the 1990s, which brought groove metal to the mainstream.

8. Pearl Jam, 'Ten'

Often referred to as grunge's second best album of the '90s, Pearl Jam's Ten is in itself a masterpiece. Packed with killer and absolutely no filler, this album flows from the very start to its end, with colossal tracks like "Alive," "Oceans," "Even Flow," and "Black." 

7. Slayer, 'Seasons Of The Abyss'

The dark, crushing masterpiece that is Seasons Of The Abyss, is what catapulted Slayer to even greater heights of thrash metal, and this was after their flagship album, Reign in Blood. With its controversial themes, inspired songwriting, and breathless riffs, many would argue that Seasons Of The Abyss is one of the ultimate thrash metal albums.

6. Megadeth, 'Rust in Peace'

Hugely popular, and described by many metalheads as a masterpiece, Rust in Peace put order into Megadeth's notoriously chaotic career with a technical tour de force quite unlike the combustible, exciting, but often inconsistent efforts before it. In the equally talented Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine found his perfect twin guitar foil, and the resulting performances were pure magic. This album is thrash brilliance from start to finish.

5. Soundgarden, 'Superunknown'

Superunknown is the fourth studio album by American grunge band Soundgarden, released in spring 1994, through A&M Records. It is the band's second album with bassist Ben Shepherd, and features new producer Michael Beinhorn. Many fans and critics regard this album as not only the band's best, but one of the greatest rock records of the decade. It set a mature tone for the grunge genre, with one of rock's most iconic voices.

4. Nine Inch Nails, 'The Downward Spiral'

The Downward Spiral is the second studio album by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released in 1994. Is is regarded as one of the most important, game-changing albums of the decade. The Downward Spiral was a commercial success, and established Nine Inch Nails as a reputable force in the 1990s music scene, with its sound being widely imitated and Reznor receiving media attention and multiple honours, while diverging into drug abuse and depression.

3. Metallica, 'Metallica'

Metallica, or more commonly referred to as the 'Black Album', exploded onto the scene in 1991, and with it came a whole bunch of new fans. Metallica, to the dismay of many of their hardcore followers, had ditched the thrash in favour of a more commercial friendly hard rock album. Whether you like the shift or not, it makes no difference -- this is the best produced hard rock album of them all. Every second of it is near perfect, right to the core. 

2. Nirvana, 'Nevermind'

Nirvana didn't start grunge, but Nevermind certainly helped shoot it to the stratosphere, killing all hair metal before it in one clean swoop! "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song that single-handedly changed the rock landscape -- grunge was about to take over, and even though it didn't dominate for very long, its significance was huge, and lasting. 

1. Guns N' Roses, 'Use Your Illusion I'

Use Your Illusion I is the third studio album by American rock band Guns N' Roses, released on the same day as its counterpart Use Your Illusion II. This album, along with its counterpart, was a brave, forward thinking project that saw the band experiment with progressive, synth-induced ballads, as well as the more traditional gritty, speedy, hard rock numbers. This is an album that pushed the boundaries with rock classics, including the greatest rock ballad of them all - "November Rain."