12 '90s Hard Rock Albums Everyone Should Own

12. Alice In Chains - Dirt

Of all the bands lumped into the early ‘90s grunge scene, Alice In Chains are perhaps the most deserving of the label - not because their music particularly defines the genre, but because they sound genuinely mucky. The title of sophomore album Dirt is not a misnomer - this is a record steeped in filth and grime.

A band with more than its share of demons, Alice In Chains were in soul searching mode for Dirt. Singer Layne Staley particularly found himself in a dark place, and channelled his issues with substance abuse into songs like "Sickman" and “Junkhead”, titles that tell you exactly what the songs are going to be like.

Their vibe is apocalyptic, and much of the metal scene that shortly followed grunge are inspired by Dirt to the point of taking liberties. Guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell achieves one of the heaviest six string sounds on record, and the slow, grinding pace of the songs only makes things more ominous.

Alice In Chains’ music only gets gloomier from here as certain members descended further into darkness which may not be to everyone’s taste, but this album captures them at an incredible moment, far more inventive and inspirational than they often get credit for.