Sounds of the Underground

The alternative/underground forms of music are one of the first things that turns people away from the lifestyles. Don't lie, you hear some of it and think "WTF?" Just hear me out. Listening to things like pop and R&B are drastically different from listening to things like metal and techno. Now with pop and hip hop the different sounds and instruments mesh with each other and create one harmonious sound, right? With metal it's different, all of the instruments are sort of "doing their own thing" but in a way that they all can be heard together. The trick is this: find the instrument that is taking the lead. This involves some practice, but once you listen to enough music it'll come naturally. Take for instance if you were listening to a song entitled "Psychosocial" by Slipknot. You want to mainly listen to the main guitar. The main guitar sets up the bottom line for the rest of the instruments to follow. This is an easier example because the drums follow along very closely with it.
Now for those who just want to ease themselves gently into the genres alternative and underground have to offer I might suggest:
1) Jack Off Jill - Clear Hearts Grey Flowers
2) In This Moment - The Dream
3) Lacuna Coil
These albums get you off to a gentle start. Most of the time it's normal singing with drums and guitars playing metal melodies. There is some screaming, which is going to turn some people away instantly. Don't let it, you just have to find the singers that can do it well. And if you want to dive head-on into metal listen to "Nymphetamine" by Cradle of Filth. It's where being a metal-head started for me.