What Happened in Heavy Metal Music in 1992?

A look at the top albums and events in heavy metal music in 1992.

Introduction

heavy metal fans had a lot to be excited about in 1992. Not only was the genre enjoying a major resurgence in popularity, but some of the biggest and most influential bands in metal were releasing new music. This was truly a golden age for metal, and fans and critics alike were heralded 1992 as one of the best years for the genre. Let’s take a look back at some of the biggest heavy metal events of 1992.

Grunge Takes Over

Nirvana’s “Nevermind”

Nirvana’s “Nevermind” is not only one of the most important albums in the history of grunge and heavy metal music, but one of the most important albums of the 20th century. The album completely changed the sound of popular music and turned Nirvana into superstars. “Nevermind” is also notable for its influence on popular culture and fashion. The album’s success ushered in a new era of heavier, more aggressive music that would come to be known as grunge.

Pearl Jam’s “Ten”

Ten is the debut studio album by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote most of Ten while touring behind their debut album, Supersonic (1991). Dan Peterka from Seattle weekly The Rocket noted that the majority of the songs were written “on-the-road” and “between sound checks”. The band recorded the album at London Bridge Studios in Seattle between January 5 and February 3, 1991.

According to bassist Jeff Ament, the music on the record was influenced by 1970s hard rock: “We wanted to make a record that was heavy and worked really well live.” GuitaristMike McCready stated that the band incorporated more improvisation while recordingTen than on their previous album. Drummer Dave Krusen used a click track for several songs; something he had never done before.

The album cover design by Glen Morgan depicts a burning man descending to his doom. Design variations include different color schemes, Disc one features a light blue background with red text; disc two is entirely black with white text. There are also early pressings in blue vinyl (disc one), clear vinyl (disc one), and picture discs (both discs). The artwork was inspired by vintage matchbook covers and concerts posters from the 1960s and 1970s.

Alice in Chains’ “Dirt”

Alice in Chains’ second studio album, Dirt, was released on September 29, 1992 through Columbia Records. The album has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Dirt debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, selling 485,000 copies in its first week of release. The album is Alice in Chains’ most successful release and was responsible for bringing the band to mainstream popularity. It has since been ranked by multiple publications as one of the greatest metal albums of all time.

Dirt was recorded in 1992 at Eldorado Recording Studios in Burbank, California with producer Dave Jerden. The majority of the songs on the album were written by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell about his year-long struggle with heroin addiction and his girlfriend’s subsequent overdose. Several of the album’s tracks contain references to heroin and drug use, including the singles “Would?”, “Them Bones”, and “Angry Chair”.

Despite its heavy subject matter, Dirt also contains several moments of lightheartedness and humor, particularly on the track “Rooster”, which is about Cantrell’s father’s experience in the Vietnam War. “Rooster” is also one of the few Alice in Chains songs to feature a extended guitar solo, which was performed by Slash of Guns N’ Roses.

The success of Dirt propelled Alice in Chains to international fame and allowed them to tour extensively for more than two years in support of the album. The band toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia before returning to Seattle to begin work on their next album.

Metallica Releases “Metallica”

Metallica, one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, released their self-titled album, often referred to as “The Black Album”, in 1991. The album was a commercial and critical success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 16 million copies in the United States. “The Black Album” is the band’s best-selling album and is considered one of the greatest metal albums of all time.

“Enter Sandman”

Metallica’s self-titled fifth album, popularly known as “The Black Album,” was released on August 12, 1991. The record marked a change in the band’s sound from the fast tempos and thrash metal roots of previous albums to a slower and heavier one closer to hard rock. Despite the initial mixed reaction, “The Black Album” went on to become the band’s best-selling album. It was certified 15x platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.

The first single from the album, “Enter Sandman,” was an instant hit. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Metallica’s signature songs. The success of “Enter Sandman” helped propel “The Black Album” to become one of the best-selling albums of all time.

“Sad but True”

The 1990s was a big decade for heavy metal music. There were many great bands that released some amazing albums during this time. One of the most influential and controversial bands of the decade was Metallica. In 1991, they released their self-titled album, “Metallica” ( commonly referred to as “The Black Album” due to its all black cover). The album featured some of the band’s heaviest and most popular songs such as “Enter Sandman”, “Sad But True”, and “The Unforgiven”. While the album was a huge commercial success, it was not without its share of controversy. Some fans felt that the band had “sold out” by making a more mainstream sounding album. Regardless of the controversy, “Metallica” is considered by many to be one of the greatest metal albums of all time.

“The Unforgiven”

“The Unforgiven” is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the second single from their eponymous fifth album Metallica. The music video from the single was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards. The song has been covered by a number of artists, most notably Apocalyptica, who released a version on their album Inquisition Symphony, which won them a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1998.

Pantera Releases “Vulgar Display of Power”

February 25, 1992, Pantera released their sixth studio album, Vulgar Display of Power. The album is considered to be a turning point in the band’s career, and is credited for helping to redefine the sound of heavy metal in the 1990s. The album was a commercial and critical success, and is often cited as one of the greatest metal albums of all time.

“Mouth for War”

In 1992, Pantera released Vulgar Display of Power, which many fans and critics consider to be the band’s best album. The album was a commercial success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It has been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.

The album features some of Pantera’s most well-known songs, including “Mouth for War”, “Walk”, and “A New Level”. “Mouth for War” was released as the first single from the album, and it quickly became a fan favorite. The song is about conflict and aggression, and it features one of Heavy Metal’s most famous riffs.

“Walk”

On February 25, 1992, Pantera released “Walk”, the lead single from their sixth album Vulgar Display of Power. The song is credited with popularizing the groove metal subgenre and is often considered one of the greatest metal songs of all time. The raw, primal energy of “Walk” struck a chord with heavy metal fans around the world, and the song quickly became a live staple for Pantera.

“A New Level”

On February 25th, 1992, Pantera released their sixth studio album Vulgar Display of Power. The album is often cited as a key influence in the development of groove metal, and is ranked by many publications as one of the greatest metal albums of all time. The album’s title refers to an incident in December 1986 whenPantera bassist Rex Brown was attacked and beaten unconscious by several men outside a nightclub in Dallas.

Soundgarden Releases “Badmotorfinger”

Seattle-based Soundgarden released their third studio album, “Badmotorfinger”, in October of 1991. The album was the band’s first to be released on a major label, and it was a critical and commercial success. “Badmotorfinger” helped to establish Soundgarden as one of the most important bands in the early 1990s grunge movement.

“Rusty Cage”

In March 1992, Soundgarden released their third studio album, Badmotorfinger. The album features the singles “Rusty Cage” and “Outshined”, which were both well-received by fans and critics alike. “Rusty Cage” in particular was praised for its heavy guitar riffage and singer Chris Cornell’s powerful vocal performance. The album would go on to be certified double platinum by the RIAA and is considered to be one of the essential grunge albums of the early ’90s.

“Outshined”

“Outshined” is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. Written by singer Chris Cornell, “Outshined” was released in September 1991 as the second single from the band’s second studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991). The song was included on Soundgarden’s greatest hits album, A-Sides (1997).

The music video for “Outshined” was directed by Duncan Jones and showed the band performing in an abandoned warehouse. The video received heavy rotation on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.

Cornell said of the song: “It’s about those times when you can’t do anything right, when you feel inadequate and like you’re not really worth anybody’s time. It’s those times when you feel like you’re just sort of a puppet.”

“Outshined” peaked at number five on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 24 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1992.

“Jesus Christ Pose”

“Jesus Christ Pose” is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, “Jesus Christ Pose” was released in 1991 as the first single from the band’s third studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991). It is one of Soundgarden’s best known songs and was ranked number 33 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s.

The song caused controversy upon its release due to its graphic and allegedly blasphemous music video, which was banned from MTV. Despite this, the song was a commercial success for the band, peaking at number eight on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number three on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 1992 was an important year for heavy metal music. With the rise of grunge and alternative rock, metal was no longer the dominant force in rock music. However, many metal bands released great albums in 1992, and the genre continued to have a strong underground following.