10 Underrated Albums By Legendary Bands

Some bands are so big that they seem to defy the typical rock act. While their songs may not be as catchy as your personal favorites, these bands have arrived in the collective consciousness to such an extent that their aura is almost more recognizable than their music. As much as these bands have been celebrated, even the most popular bands have a few lowlights.

Across several decades, these monumental acts have created some works that have been bypassed by the public for one reason or another. Whether it was because of a lack of hooks or just an intense period during the band's development, these albums don't seem to get nearly as much attention as the more legendary releases in their catalogs.

However, these records have proved to be more than worthy of inclusion among these bands' more noteworthy moments. Sometimes these records aren't necessarily what you'd expect, but they still deserve to be discussed for more than just "that one record." In hindsight, some of these records have held up as bold new directions in the band's sound or their artistic direction going forward. Even if they aren't as essential as the band's classics, these records are way too good to be swept under the rug.

In the early 2000s, Slipknot was the bridge between heavy music and the rock mainstream. While the band may have been looked at as just another nu metal band coming out of Iowa, the quality of their songs brought some of the heaviest music ever released onto the album charts. However, things started to get a little sticky once the band started to soften up.

2008's All Hope Is Gone is generally looked at as an afterthought in the band's overall discography. With songs that focus on a more hard rock direction, even the band members themselves find it to be one of their more unremarkable releases. On the other hand, this album shows them diving into more adventurous sonic territory, with the hard rock moments of "Sulfur" and the gut-wrenching ballad "Snuff." Also it's not like the heaviness of the band's previous albums has gone anywhere, with "Gematria" and the title track hitting you over the head with Corey Taylor's visceral shout.

Even if the more jaded metalheads get up in arms about this record, no one can deny the headbanging anthem the band created with "Psychosocial". This might not be Slipknot in top form, but the songs on here show signs of the band growing into an updated version of themselves.