Top 10 Metal Bands Who Stopped Grunge
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Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul.
The band started out as a glam metal act in the 1980s with little success. After replacing their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, they signed a major record deal with... read more
To me, Pantera was always the most grunge metal band of all the bands that played metal. First of all, their balls-out approach to metal was to metal what the alternative and fuzzy guitars were to commercial rock. Second, Pantera dressed simply like the grunge bands did, so no big hair, plus plaid shirts, worn-out clothes, very humble in the same sense grunge was.
Lyrics were intelligent, like grunge bands' lyrics were, and weren't the typical metal type lyrics (sex, swords, wizards, and witches, or other fantasy themes). The sound of the band and production was close and in your face, more similar to true grunge. Also, the scales and riffs of Pantera were more bluesy and dark, closer to really amped-up rock and blues on steroids as opposed to classic metal harmonizing minor scale melodic bands like Iron Maiden, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian, Nightwish, In Flames, etc., play.
So yeah, Pantera rode the grunge wave just in Metal music. Definitely didn't stop it, lol. They were just really original so they were able to stay relevant after the genre's popularity subsided, even though they were never considered part of the genre either.
Though the same would go for Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, who would have comfortably been able to keep their audiences had they in fact stayed active as bands. Nirvana lost Cobain in '94, Alice and Soundgarden broke up in '97, and Pearl Jam were boycotting any mainstream outlets, be that Ticketmaster or MTV. So grunge wasn't actually stopped by anyone, the top bands either stopped working, existing, or deliberately avoided the spotlight in the case of PJ. Dumb poll. But yeah, Pantera is the best metal band so here's my vote.
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Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more
Every album they released in the '90s reached number 1 on the charts. That is very impressive.
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Tool
Tool is an American alternative and progressive metal band formed in 1990.
The lineup includes Maynard James Keenan (vocals), Danny Carey (drums), Adam Jones (guitar), and Justin Chancellor (bass), who joined in 1995. The band is recognized for incorporating electronic influences and for their... read more
Since they were so reclusive, they kept fans wondering who they were, always wanting more music from them.
Tool is very Grunge-like in some songs, particularly. I fail to see how they stopped Grunge at all.
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Marilyn Manson
The self-proclaimed Antichrist Superstar played a big role in taking down grunge for good. By collaborating with bands like NIN and keeping his appearance mainstream, he maintained an image and gimmick that is still strange by today's standards.
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Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. They have released eleven studio albums.
The band is known for its dark, moody lyricism and aggressive vocal delivery. Their biggest hits include "Closer," "Hurt," "Wish," "We're in This Together... read more
They gained mainstream success with their first 2 EPs and stayed relevant throughout the '90s.
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Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. The lineup consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk.
Their politically charged music, which blended rock, hip-hop, and funk, debuted... read more
With their "rebel against the government" style, they attracted a wide variety of fans. They also pioneered a vast majority of rap-metal styles and influenced bands like Korn, Deftones, and Limp Bizkit.
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Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica. They have released 16 studio albums to date and have undergone numerous lineup changes, with... read more
They were part of the first and final pushes against Grunge. Megadeth made one of several significant contributions with hits like Rust in Peace, A Tout Le Monde, and Symphony of Destruction.
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Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American funk-rock and alternative rock band founded in 1983 in Los Angeles. The current core lineup includes Anthony Kiedis, Michael "Flea" Balzary, Chad Smith, and Joshua Klinghoffer, although John Frusciante remains the most acclaimed guitarist associated with the... read more
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Korn
Korn is an American nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, along with Ray Luzier, who replaced original drummer David Silveria in 2007. Korn... read more
Korn was possibly the biggest force in diminishing the relevance of Grunge. Once they introduced Nu-metal to the scene, it was a whole new ball game, and Grunge became irrelevant.
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Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California. The band, which was founded in 1988, consists of Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Frank Delgado, Abe Cunningham, and Sergio Vega... read more
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White Zombie
White Zombie was an American heavy metal band formed in 1985 in New York City. The band began as a noise rock project and later evolved into a heavy metal group with a distinctive horror-inspired aesthetic. They gained mainstream popularity in the early 1990s before disbanding in 1998.
Pantera wasn't the only Groove Metal band during the '90s. Rob Zombie created this band with his girlfriend at the time. They broke up in '98 due to personal differences, and Zombie has his own larger-than-life solo project now.
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Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian post-grunge band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Canada. The band consists of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair.... read more