1995 was an incredible year for music, and metal was no exception. Yes, hip-hop and R&B dominated the charts—Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” was the top single of the year, and no one could escape TLC’s Waterfalls. And yes, this was the year that alternative music reached its cultural peak, with bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Pavement, Alanis Morissette, and Pulp releasing huge albums.