The 1990s gave the world some of the best rock and metal albums ever recorded. In the first half of the decade, bands from Seattle like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains introduced the world to grunge. Then came Green Day and a handful of other acts who helped usher in a new wave of punk rock. However, there is a goldmine of great tunes lurking just below the headline-grabbing surface of those high-profile movements.
Videos by American Songwriter
With that in mind, we’re going to take a trip back in time to look at some of the best rock and metal albums from the 1990s that flew under the radar. We’re not gathering the biggest hits of the decade, here. Instead, we’re stacking up some under-appreciated albums that stood the test of time and deserve a second (or first) listen.
1. NOLA by Down (1995)
Down is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based supergroup that, upon formation, consisted of vocalist Phil Anselmo (Pantera), drummer Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Eyehategod), guitarists Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity) and Kirk Windstein (Crowbar), and bassist Todd Strange (Crowbar). Heavily influenced by bands like Witchfinder General, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pentagram, and Saint Vitus, the band’s sound is a heavy, groove-laden combination of Southern rock and doom metal.
Their 1995 debut album, NOLA, sounds like what one would get if Black Sabbath formed in the swamps of Louisiana instead of Birmingham, England. It’s a near-perfect 13-song collection penned mostly by Anselmo and Keenan.
With this album, Down proved that not all supergroups are corny imitations of one band or another. Instead, they put their influences and experience to work in efficiently creating an album that combines monolithic riffs, deep grooves, and lyrics that will endlessly resonate with a certain red-eyed subset of fans.
2. The Ozzman Cometh by Ozzy Osbourne (1997)
Is adding a greatest hits compilation to this list cheating? Maybe. However, the songs on this album made it a must-have for fans of rock and heavy metal in the 1990s. Original pressings of The Ozzman Cometh featured a laundry list of hits from Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career, unreleased versions of Black Sabbath songs, and a handful of new songs. For a fan of Osbourne or Sabbath, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Come for the Osbourne solo hits like “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “Bark at the Moon” and stay for the unearthed and unreleased Black Sabbath tracks. This collection offers an early version of “War Pigs” with different lyrics, a version of “Black Sabbath” with an extra verse, and the previously unreleased tracks “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Behind the Wall of Sleep.” Those deep cuts make this a must-hear for fans of any age.
3. The Elephant Riders by Clutch (1998)
Clutch has released a long list of albums with little to no skippable material, and The Elephant Riders sits high on it. More than being packed to the gills with great riffs, lyrics, and grooves, it is one of the more interesting rock albums of the 1990s. For one, it is the band’s first and only release for Columbia Records, and one of only a few major-label albums. More than that, many of the songs contained in the album could easily be the inspiration for feature-length films.
One example of why this album deserves to be rediscovered is its title track. “The Elephant Riders” imagines an alternate history of the American Civil War in which both sides use airships as reconnaissance vehicles and the cavalry units ride elephants into battle.
4. Still Life by Opeth (1999)
Still Life is considered one of the best releases from the Swedish progressive metal outfit Opeth. Longtime fans will remember it as the first album to feature Martin Mendez on bass. As a result, it was the introduction of the band’s most lauded lineup. More than that, the album is a stunning display of balance. Few other bands could blend crushing guitar riffs with beautiful melodies with such seamless precision.
On top of all of that, Still Life is a concept album. It tells the story of an outcast who returns to his hometown after years of exile to rekindle a relationship with his lost lover. The story unfolds over the album’s seven tracks, delivering love, loss, tension, violence, and reconciliation. Between this story and the musical mastery presented by Mikael Akerfeldt (guitars/vocals), Peter Lindgren (guitars), Martin Mendez (bass), and Martin Lopes (drums), this is a must-hear album.
Featured Image by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.