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What rock and metal albums from 1996 are turning 30 this year?<\/p>\n
It certainly was an interesting time for music. Soundgarden<\/a>‘s final album (for then), Down on the Upside<\/em>, seemed to mark the end of the grunge era. Pearl Jam<\/a> started shifting away from grunge on No Code<\/em> and Stone Temple Pilots<\/a> were mostly sidelined due to Scott Weiland’s substance abuse issues keeping them from touring their Tiny Music<\/em> album.<\/p>\n What would come next? Nu-metal and rap-rock seemed to be ready to step up with killer albums from Rage Against the Machine<\/a> and Korn<\/a> leading the way. Pantera<\/a>, Tool<\/a> and Metallica<\/a> seemed to be grunge-proof metal bands that continued to thrive, while Opeth<\/a> and In Flames<\/a> were just starting to make a name for themselves as more extreme metal outfits.<\/p>\n It was a year that introduced us to The Daily Show<\/a><\/em>, the Mission: Impossible<\/a><\/em> film franchise, MTV2<\/a> and Tickle Me Elmo<\/a>, but it was also a year where we enjoyed the bittersweet success of Sublime<\/a>‘s stellar self-titled set released shortly after the death of signer Bradley Nowell.<\/p>\n READ MORE: The Most Anticipated Rock + Metal Albums of 2026<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n A lot has changed in 30 years. We’re no longer having to dial-up AOL to speak with friends in chat rooms about our favorite bands or see which groups now have their own websites. It’s now all at our fingertips.<\/p>\n So let’s take the calendar back three decades as we look at these 31 Rock and Metal Albums from 1996 that are turning 30 in 2026.<\/p>\n It was a year with grunge on the way out and nu-metal’s explosion about a year away. Let’s look at the transitional year of rock and metal albums from 1996.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now see the albums turning 40 in 2026!<\/p>\n The hair metal era exploded in a big way while some classic rock and thrash favorites were still going strong in 1986.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n31 Rock + Metal Albums Turning 30 in 2026<\/h2>\n
31 Rock + Metal Albums Turning 40 in 2026<\/h2>\n