What are the substitutes for kitchen wall tiles above a kitchen counter?
You mean as a backsplash?

Just about any material can be used:  ceramic, glass, vinyl, ABS, wood, aluminum, steel, contact paper, etc.  See this gallery for many ideas.

While most of them are ceramic tile, which is the current fashion, look carefully and you'll see vinyls which look metallic.  Here is Home Depot's version of that.  We are considering that for behind the range.