”Grunge was musically interesting for roughly 18 seconds in 1991, but Liquid Jesus shrewdly lurked on its periphery and enjoyed the freedom that such an ephemeral association entailed. Brave, diverse and full of insidious melodic anthems, their 1991 album Pour In The Sky remains one of the most absorbing albums of the era: a subtly psychedelic masterpiece with charm to burn. Quite how the band were ignored in favour of smarmy cack like Stone Temple Pilots is anyone’s guess.”

Grotus

”While the world thralled to the sound of drooling smackheads in plaid shirts, Grotus were messing with heavy music’s intrinsic formulae and making some of the strangest and most distinctive music of the ‘90s. Combining DIY industrial clatter with lolloping grooves and dense, Neurosis-like atmospherics, Grotus sounded like the future when metal was in dire need of some focus and foresight. Check out the mind-blowing Slow Motion Apocalypse album for ample proof.”

Demolition Hammer

”Although they formed in NYC in 1986, urban thrashers Demolition Hammer came into their own with a trio of albums released between 1990 and 1994. Alongside the likes of Pantera, Machine Head, Skinlab and Pro-Pain, they forged a new path for the thrash scene’s hardiest survivors and made some brutal and irresistibly intense music along the way. But do they ever get the props they deserve? Do they bollocks.”

Xysma

”With the possible exception of Japan, no one does batshit crazy like the Finns. Xysma were utterly bonkers: they began life as a straightforward death metal band with songs called things like Paradise Of Steaming Cadavers, but by 1993’s First And Magical album they were throwing 70s hard rock riffs, acoustic psychedelia and all manner of sonic kitchen sinks into the mix. Years ahead of their time and probably ignored as a result, Xysma were mad scientists on a mission to blow minds and give underground metal a sturdy kick up the turdpipe.”