Once Pearl Jam and Nirvana made established their presence, Alternative Metal bands began addressing darker issues while producing stiff, percussive riffs with an unforgiving, overdriven guitar textures. Although the genre appears similar on the surface to Heavy Metal, post-punk impression and independent attitudes offered distinction. Representative Artists: Helmet, Stone Temple Pilots, Marilyn Manson, Primus.
Read more: the ListenSmart article on this style.