The History of Post-Grunge Music
Post-grunge tends to be less raw and abrasive than grunge music, but it still has that aggression and angsty mood. – Author: Scarlett Hunter, Courtesy photo of Staind
Post-grunge music was born from, well, grunge music. As its name implies, it’s a derivative from the classic grunge sounds of bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Grunge really died when Kurt Cobain of Nirvana sadly passed away in 1994, and a lot of the music that sounds like grunge that arrived after Cobain’s death is labeled as post-grunge.
Post-grunge tends to be less raw and abrasive than grunge music, but it still has that aggression and angsty mood. It was certainly most polished than grunge music and had less of a lo-fi character. Of course, we talk about it in the past tense, but the genre is still alive today. It’s still one of the most popular genres on rock radio, and the genre’s bands continue to release new music that tops the charts.
As Live About describes, “where grunge took inspiration from darker genres, like punk and metal, post-grunge transformed the thick guitar sounds and candid lyrical themes of the Seattle bands into an accessible, often uplifting mainstream aesthetic. Post-grunge songs tend to be mid-tempo numbers that combine the searching spirit of ballads and the power-chord energy of hard rock anthems.”
Yellow Brick also adds of the sound of post-grunge, “The genre often features powerful guitar riffs, catchy hooks, and introspective lyrics that touch on themes of personal struggle, introspection, and emotional vulnerability. The music tends to be more radio-friendly compared to its grunge predecessor, with a focus on melodic choruses and relatable songwriting.”
Popular Post-Grunge Bands
So, who are the biggest post-grunge bands of all time? Most would agree that bands that fall into this category include Foo Fighters, Bush, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, Nickelback, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Seether and Skillet to name a few.
Ultimate Guitar names Shinedown as one of the biggest post-grunge bands of all time, stating, “Few post-grunge bands can claim to still have the same commercial appeal nowadays as they did 20 years but Shinedown might just be one of those rare exceptions, as the group holds the record for most No. 1 rock singles on Billboard. The band built a strong following in the 2000s thanks to albums like 2005’s ‘Us and Them’ and 2008’s ‘The Sound of Madness,’ showcasing Shinedown’s mix of post-grunge, pop and Southern rock.”
We here at Audio Ink Radio recently named Massachusetts rock band Staind the No. 1 best post-grunge band of all time, stating that the group is “undeniably one of the first bands that earned that ‘post-grunge’ label, but no matter what you call their music, you can’t deny that Staind just make great rock songs.”
In our feature on Staind being the best group in the genre, writer Anne Erickson states, “One of the first rock songs I ever heard was “Outside,’ followed by ‘It’s Been a While.’ Aaron Lewis has the ability to really make you feel what he’s feeling as he’s singing. That coupled with Mike Mushok’s incredibly grunge guitar playing makes for some of the greatest songs in the post-grunge genre. The guys are still a force in rock music, too. They just released a new album, ‘Confessions of the Fallen,’ in 2023.”
Check out Audio Ink Radio’s interview with Staind guitarist Mike Mushok here.
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