10 Best Metal Albums Of The 90's

As the thrash metal sounds of the early 90's were slowly dwindling, many fans were wondering what the face of metal to come would look like. While there were still bands in the alternative sphere with a more metallic edge, nothing had arrived that metal could truly call its own. Thanks to a bunch of wounded kids from Bakersville, metal had a fresh sound that was altogether...nu.

Before the genre got bogged down in hip-hop tropes, Korn's self-titled debut was one of the most soul-stirring metal music that the genre had seen in quite a while. The delivery from singer Jonathan Davis verged from eerie whispers to gutteral yelps as if he is a man locked in a mental ward. There were certainly melodic moments in the record, but the emphasis always seemed to be centered around grooves that could get under your skin and tap into your innermost psyche.

This album is also famous for its guitar sound, as they were tuned down lower than anyone thought possible to create some of metal's heaviest six-string soundscapes. Korn's debut stands as one of the defining moments in heavy music and the inception of what is known today as nu metal. It may not be a fun-filled ride, but it's a ride worth taking nonetheless.