The 9 Best Non-Hair Metal Albums by Hair Metal Bands

Here are the 9 best non-hair metal albums released by hair metal bands.

The 1980s were synonymous with larger-than-life personas, infectious, anthemic choruses, long, flowing locks, skin-tight leather, and guitars drenched in reverb and distortion. It was a time of excess, big parties, and bigger riffs. Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Poison, and others ruled the airwaves and arenas worldwide with their catchy hits serving as the soundtrack to a generation of rock ‘n’ roll enthusiasts.

However, as the 1990s dawned, the landscape of rock music shifted quite dramatically. As we know, grunge, alternative rock, and a more stripped-down, raw approach to music began gaining traction, and the once-vibrant world of hair metal started to wane. As a result, many of the bands who had personified the glitter and glam of the Sunset Strip began evolving their sounds to survive and stay relevant. These changes weren’t merely cosmetic; they were sonic transformations. The bands that had once thrived on the colorful, over-the-top glam of the ’80s now found themselves faced with a new reality.

READ MORE: The 6 Most Underrated Hair Metal Guitarists

Many hair metal bands released albums throughout the 1990s and beyond that reflected their attempts to break free from the excesses of their past and explore new musical territories. These albums are notable not only for their deviation from the sound that made these bands famous, but also for their willingness to embrace more serious, mature, and at times, more experimental approaches.

Here’s a deeper look at nine albums from well-known hair metal bands that marked a departure from the glitter and glam, exploring new musical landscapes:

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