The 1990s were a golden era for rock and metal because they showcased an explosion of creativity and genre-blending that redefined the music landscape. Grunge bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains brought raw emotion and authenticity to the mainstream, while metal evolved with Pantera’s groove metal and the rise of nü-metal with Deftones. Alt-rock acts like Stone Temple Pilots bridged grunge and hard rock with memorable hooks, while Type O Negative infused gothic melancholy and dark humor into metal. The decade was also marked by the DIY ethos of underground scenes, groundbreaking music videos on MTV, and a cultural shift that made heavy music more accessible and diverse than ever before.