A 90-es évek az egyik legizgalmasabb időszak volt a rock és a metal történelmében. A két műfaj közti határvonal egyre élesebbé vált, ami a rajongókat is megosztotta: sokan kitartottak felvarrókkal tarkított farmermellényük mellett, mások viszont flanelingekre cserélték azt. A fordulópontot a grunge felbukkanása jelentette: a metal underground műfajjá vált, míg a rockzenekarok a világ legnagyobb színpadain léptek fel.

Az alábbi listán stílusosan 90 albumot az évtized legjobb hard rock és metal lemezei közül:

90. Gwar, 'Scumdogs of the Universe' (1990)
89. White Zombie, 'La Sexorcisto' (1992)
88. Melvins, 'Houdini' (1993)
87. Incubus, 'Make Yourself' (1999)
86. Helmet, 'Meantime' (1992)
85. Eyehategod, 'Take as Needed for Pain' (1993)
84. Godsmack, 'Godsmack' (1997)
83. Suffocation, 'Effigy of the Forgotten' (1991)
82. Deftones, 'Around the Fur' (1997)
81. Death, 'The Sound of Perseverance' (1998)
80. Green Day, 'Insomniac' (1995)
79. Cynic, 'Focus' (1993)
78. Soundgarden, 'Down on the Upside' (1996)
77. Cannibal Corpse, 'Tomb of the Mutilated' (1992)
76. Emperor, 'In the Nightside Eclipse' (1994)
75. The Dillinger Escape Plan, 'Calculating Infinity' (1999)
74. Immortal, 'Pure Holocaust' (1993)
73. Guns N' Roses, 'Use Your Illusion I' (1991)
72. Darkthrone, 'Transilvanian Hunger' (1994)
71. Alice in Chains, 'Alice in Chains' (1995)
70. Sepultura, 'Roots' (1996)
69. Ministry, 'Psalm 69' (1992)
68. Rage Against the Machine, 'The Battle of Los Angeles' (1999)
67. Suffocation, 'Pierced From Within' (1995)
66. Pantera, 'The Great Southern Trendkill' (1996)
65. Stone Temple Pilots, 'Core' (1992)
64. Alice in Chains, 'Facelift' (1990)
63. Foo Fighters, 'Foo Fighters' (1995)
62. At the Gates, 'Slaughter of the Soul' (1995)
61. Kid Rock, 'Devil Without a Cause' (1998)
60. Soundgarden, 'Badmotorfinger' (1991)

59. Carcass, 'Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious' (1991)
58. Korn, 'Korn' (1991)
57. Faith No More, 'Angel Dust' (1992)
56. Sepultura, 'Arise' (1991)
55. Rancid, '...And Out Come the Wolves' (1995)
54. Opeth, 'Still Life' (1999)
53. Offspring, 'Smash' (1994)
52. AC/DC, 'The Razor's Edge' (1990)
51. Queensryche, 'Empire' (1990)
50. Mayhem, 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas' (1994)
49. Emperor, 'Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk' (1997)
48. Guns N' Roses, 'Use Your Illusion II' (1991)
47. Stone Temple Pilots, 'Purple' (1994)
46. Dream Theater, 'Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory' (1999)
45. Children of Bodom, 'Hatebreeder' (1999)
44. Rammstein, 'Sehnsucht' (1997)
43. Rob Zombie, 'Hellbilly Deluxe' (1998)
42. Type O Negative, 'Bloody Kisses' (1993)
41. Pearl Jam, 'Vs.' (1993)
40. Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Californication' (1999)
39. Marilyn Manson, 'Mechanical Animals' (1998)
38. Jane's Addiction, 'Ritual de lo Habitual' (1990)
37. Tool, 'Undertow' (1993)
36. Pantera, 'Far Beyond Driven' (1994)
35. Dissection, 'Storm of the Light's Bane' (1995)
34. Korn, 'Follow the Leader' (1998)
33. Soundgarden, 'Superunknown' (1994)
32. Foo Fighters, 'The Colour and the Shape' (1997)
31. Social Distortion, 'Social Distortion' (1990)

30. Megadeth, 'Countdown to Exctinction' (1992)
29. Death, 'Human' (1991)
28. Smashing Pumpkins, 'Siamese Dream' (1993)
27. System of a Down, 'System of a Down' (1998)
26. Hole, 'Live Through This' (1994)
25. Anthrax, 'Persistence Of Time' (1990)
24. Rage Against the Machine, 'Evil Empire' (1996)
23. Dream Theater, 'Images and Words' (1992)
22. Ozzy Osbourne, 'No More Tears' (1991)
21. Marilyn Manson, 'Antichrist Superstar' (1996)
20. Fugazi, 'Repeater' (1990)
19. Nirvana, 'In Utero' (1993)
18. Pantera, 'Cowboys From Hell' (1990)
17. Slipknot, 'Slipknot' (1999)
16. Morbid Angel, 'Covenant' (1993)
15. Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (1991)
14. Sublime, 'Sublime' (1996)
13. Smashing Pumpkins, 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' (1995)
12. Judas Priest, 'Painkiller' (1990)
11. Slayer, 'Seasons in the Abyss' (1990)
10. Pearl Jam, 'Ten' (1991)
09. Megadeth, 'Rust in Peace' (1990)
08. Alice in Chains, 'Dirt' (1992)
07. Rage Against the Machine, 'Rage Against the Machine' (1992)
06. Tool, 'Ænema' (1996)
05. Green Day, 'Dookie' (1994)
04. Metallica, 'Metallica' (1991)
03. Nine Inch Nails, 'The Downward Spiral' (1994)
02. Pantera, 'Vulgar Display of Power' (1992)
01. Nirvana, 'Nevermind' (1991)