Alter Natives
| Company type | Instrumental ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Greg Ottinger, Jim Thomson, Chris Bopst, Eric Ungar |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Richmond, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
| Parent | SST Records (from 1986) |
Alter Natives was a Richmond, Virginia-based instrumental ensemble active between 1984 and 1991. The group was established by Greg Ottinger, Jim Thomson, Chris Bopst, and Eric Ungar. Their sound incorporated a fusion of metal, tropical, surf, progressive, and space rock influences. Renowned for their disciplined and dynamic instrumental pieces, characterized by intricate guitar interactions and robust rhythmic foundations, they secured a contract with SST Records in 1986 and produced three albums under this label. Although officially only four albums were released, unfinished tracks from an unreleased fifth album can be found on their MySpace profile.
Members
- Chris Bopst – bass guitar
- Greg Ottinger – guitar
- Jim Thomson – drums
- Eric Ungar – saxophone and flute (1985–1988)
Discography
- 1985: Friends of The Farm (Self-released cassette)
- 1986: Hold Your Tongue
- 1988: Group Therapy
- 1989: Buzz