Think back to 1999. A time when pop punk reined supreme, culminating in the seminal cultural phenomenon that was American Pie. Through to 2001 – and with the explosion of nu-metal into the mainstream via 2000’s Hybrid Theory, it was like summer would never end. However with the explosion of metalcore and emo taking over pop-punk, alas that musical era ended rather swiftly.
Since then, with the demise of American Pie ‘sex comedy’ films and every nu-metal band turning to mainstream radio metal and pretending they were never nu-metal, music has moved on. Usually this would be the end of it, music comes and goes in waves and never usually looks back – at least en mass. Disco never made a comeback. Neither did glam. Nor bubblegum pop. They’re very much dated into their respective decade and stay there. Yes sometimes we see a throwback hit here and there, but a rare event still.
Kerrang! TV here in the UK (the premier rock TV channel in the noughties) was absolutely dominated by nu-metal and pop punk in the early 2000s. It was a wave to match any other musical dominance, especially in a time when it had to battle through the pop and hip-hop mainstream normie sustenance.
However in the past few years, there is something of a change brewing. Nu-metal and pop punk is hitting the airwaves again. Nu-metal in particular has seemed to come full circle. From exploding to the mainstream and earning the ire of purists worldwide. Now bands are wearing it as a badge of honour and the bland hatred for it has worn a little tiresome now. Pop-punk, which run its course once Road Trip movies had disappeared from cinema has come through an even more remarkable comeback.
Now, just to pump the brakes a little bit, this will never dominate the mainstream again like back at the turn of the century. You could never get away from them then, but the dominance of pop, hip-hop and EDM today will not be beaten. Not that it matters anyway, who wants to be in with the normies.
Here in 2022, we can look back through the past few years and see not only new bands taking up old-school nu-metal and pop punk, but bands turning back the clock and pretending the last 2 decades never happened. Even some bands who have never dabbled before are giving it a go!
Lets put some more specifics to this. There are too many to go through in a sensible length article! But here are a number of tracks that have been released in the last couple of years to remind you what it was like back in the turn of the century:
Disturbed – Hey You
Sounding like old Disturbed again, the rasping rapid fire lyrics from David Draiman and the bouncy riffs is something that hasn’t been heard from Disturbed in a long time. They have favoured the radio friendly hits for over a decade now, so nice to see they have the old snarl still there.
Death Blooms – Gore
Groovy nu-metal rhythms, violent lyrics, aggressive spitting vocals and an anthem interlude. All the ingredients in a turn of the century metal pie. Make you think it’s 2001 again? UK’s Death Blooms throw maximum aggression into everything and I’m all here for it. Even get a turn of the century pro wresting reference with Rhyno’s trademark move.
In Flames – State of Slow Decay
Even more stark than Disturbed, In Flames first moved from Melodic Death Metal early on to more radio friendly melodeath, then onto soft radio rock barely resembling who they used to be. On State of Slow Decay however they have brung back much of the aggression missing for an eon. Unlikely they will ever return to their roots, but this is a welcome change.
Limp Bizkit – Dirty Rotten Bizkit
One of the bands at the forefront of nu-metal, and one of the very few who never turned their back on the genre. Whilst remaining hugely popular ever since their breakthrough in the early nu-metal days, they haven’t released anything of note for a long time. However their return with Still Sucks shows the old dog might indeed retain a few tricka-tricka-tricks.
Tetrarch – Negative Noise
One of the best new bands to emerge in the last few years, Tetrarch‘s sophomore album Unstable is a terrific throwback nu-metal album. It’s great to see a new band understand how how catchy nu-metal songwriting works. Negative Noise encapsulates the spirit of early Slipknot angry mayhem perfectly.
Tallah – Overconfidence
Another new band, this time in the modern nu-core style, leaning harder to metalcore that sprung after nu-metals dominance. Having legendary drummer Mike Portnoy‘s son on drums certainly helps. Tallah enjoy throwing a little sickness into their songwriting, with their debut album Matriphagy about a not so loving mother-son relationship. Nu-metal approves.
Avril Lavigne – Bite Me
One of the definitive queens of pop-punk, Avril Lavigne hasn’t lost a beat on Bite Me. If it didn’t feel early 2000s enough for you enter Travis Barker to sweeten the deal. I’m not sure how Avril Lavigne hasn’t aged a day in the last 2 decades, need to find me that fountain of youth…
Chaoseum – Smile Again
Korn never sounded so good. Wait that isn’t Korn you’re hearing? No it’s Swiss nu-metalcore band Chaoseum continuing where Korn left off 2 decades ago. They even got the nu-metal theatrics on full show too, is it 2001 again? Damn right it is.
Slipknot – The Chapeltown Rag
Slipknot have retained their status at the very height of metal since their breakout album Iowa, but have been a little tamer since Vol 3. Embracing their popular status. However on The Chapeltown Rag the spirit of Wait and Bleed is back, with the machine gun drums and a merciless rasping Corey Taylor spitting vocals like it’s 2001.
Electric Callboy – FCKBOI
German electronicore giants Electric Callboy like to swim around the genre-bending pool. Racking up huge popularity in the last couple of years. However they have gone full early 2000s pop-punk with their latest track FCKBOI. They really can get it done however they want to play. Definitely begs the question, is it 2001 again? These folks certainly think so.
Muse – Kill or be Killed
And finally, even the behemoth that is Muse are getting in on the 2001 action. Throwing in a classic nu-metal rhythm, a chunky breakdown and even a death growl, Kill or be Killed is a generation removed. Who would have thought that from a hugely popular stadium rock band. What is going on indeed? 2001 vibes getting under everyones skin.
So is it 2001 again? That’s probably pushing it a little bit. But for those of us that grew up on a cocktail of red caps, cargo pants and Adidas tracksuits, it’s nice to hear a few tracks from our youth given new life once more.
For more turn of the century nourishment: All System of a Down Albums Ranked Worst to Best
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