grunge
what it is
Grunge is a subgenre of rock music that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, almost entirely in the Seattle area. "Grunge" was initially used to describe only the emerging music scene in Seattle; an unkempt collective of bands each with their own scuzzy take on 70s rock that was a reaction against the technicality and pretension of contemporary and dominant metal. Inspired by hardcore punk, metal (particularly 70s heavy metal like Sabbath and Led Zep and the overdriven proto-punk of the Stooges), and early alt.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make grunge a playlist
turn these 32 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is grunge?
Grunge is a subgenre of rock music that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, almost entirely in the Seattle area. "Grunge" was initially used to describe only the emerging music scene in Seattle; an unkempt collective of bands each with their own scuzzy take on 70s rock that was a reaction against the technicality and pretension of contemporary and dominant metal. Inspired by hardcore punk, metal (particularly 70s heavy metal like Sabbath and Led Zep and the overdriven proto-punk of the Stooges), and early alt.
What are good grunge albums to start with?
Try Dirt (2022 Remaster) by Alice in Chains, Nevermind by Nirvana, Bricks Are Heavy by L7, and Superunknown by Soundgarden.
Who are some women making grunge?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/grunge/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making grunge, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20