The golden age of nu metal is somewhere between 1996 and 2003. After the breakthrough of Korn‘s debut album in 1994, it was their release of Life Is Peachy in 1996 when nu metal began to hit the mainstream. In 1997 we had Coal Chamber and Limp Bizkit‘s debut albums. By 1999 we had debut albums from Slipknot and System of a Down, and Machine Head had released The Burning Red (see here for why this album is misunderstood).
However, it was in the year 2000 when nu-metal really hit the mainstream hard to huge commercial success. Some of the biggest albums of this generation were released, with Linkin Park‘s debut album Hybrid Theory becoming one of the best selling albums of all time.
On a personal level, this is the time in which I first got into heavy music. Check here for the specific albums that got me listening to heavy music. Nu metal has gathered simultaneously the most love and hate from the metal community above all else – even amongst genres with ‘core’ in the title.
For those born after 1995; what is this nu metal?
So what categorised nu-metal anyway? Above all else it’s 2 things. Firstly, the influence and inclusion of outside styles on metal. Rap, grunge, hip-hop and industrial are probably the biggest and most notable influences. The term nu metal (derived from new metal) described a period of time as much as a style of music. A time when metal broke free of tradition and anything was on the table.
Secondly, it is the use of the ‘bouncy’ riff, and the stripped back nature of the composition. By bouncy I mean the syncopated accent on the back beat that gives the music a jumpy feel. Rather than a headbanging 1-2-3-4 feel you get the x-2-x-4 feel more commonly associated with dance music. A very noticeable and obvious difference when you listen to it. There is also a heavy helping of self reflective aggression present.
Heavy metal has a well understood issue with progression and evolution. Compared to other styles of music, metal evolves at the same pace I get up for work on Monday morning. Also the notion of overnight success commonly associated with pop stars is very much frowned upon. So the meteoric rise of many nu metal bands, plus the strong influence on embracing a new style was never going to please the traditionalists.
What’s my take on this? I definitely hear you ask….
Personally I think a lot of this is faux outrage. Yes nu metal had mainstream success, but it also had a huge following from the metal community. It’s one of things that is ‘cool to hate’. No-one in their right mind would accept to liking nu metal, but at the same time likely listen to it behind 12 inch thick blast doors anyway.
I have no problem admitting that nu metal is and always will be one of my favourite genres of music. I grew up on it, and there are plenty of absolute gems from those bands. It’s also extremely easy to mosh to in a metal club, adding to it’s popularity. It quite clearly had huge popularity within the metal scene, given how popular these bands still are today. Limp Bizkit still headline festivals today and haven’t released a relevant album since 2001!
So to celebrate a time when you could still hear a guitar in popular music, here we shall look at 10 albums which turned 20 in 2020. Ones which defined an entire generation.
Hybrid Theory – Linkin Park
I have previously discussed the legacy of this album. The highest selling album worldwide in 2000. One of the best selling albums of all time, the impact of Hybrid Theory cannot be understated. Combining rap metal with melodic and screaming vocals. A gateway into heavy music for an entire generation. I wonder how many metal fans today would be listening to heavy music had this album not been released?
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavoured Water – Limp Bizkit
Probably the most equally loved and despised band in all of nu metal. Limp Bizkit‘s third album Chocoloate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavoured Water contained some absolutely huge hit singles still popular today. Such was the popularity of Limp Bizkit at this time that frontman Fred Durst was a legit pop star. Look past the bluster though, and see some terrific individual performances. Most notably the signature style of guitarist and body paint enthusiast Wes Borland.
Spit – Kittie
Written when the band were around 14 years old, the girls of Kittie gave us a huge helping of teenage angst and aggression with their debut album Spit. Choc full of bouncy nu metal riffage and self reflective and mature lyrics. There isn’t a huge amount of variation on the album, and it is very rough around the edges. But who needs overproduction anyway. This is pure raw, emotional nu metal.
The Sickness – Disturbed
As has happened quite often with nu metal bands who burst onto scene around 2000, listen to Disturbed today and you could be forgiven for thinking they are two separate bands. Prior to vocalist David Draiman showing the capability of his pipes, he spat his lyrics out in the classic nu metal style. Down with the Sickness is one of the defining tracks of this generation. Is there a more recognisable throat clearing in history?
Infest – Papa Roach
An even more extreme transition than Disturbed above, Papa Roach completely abandoned nu metal after Infest. First embracing emo, then going full glam rock. However Infest is still their biggest selling and most popular album (and honestly the only one with real staying power). Last Resort was the anthem for a generation of youthful outcasts.
White Pony – Deftones
Deftones third studio album White Pony was equal parts experimental, emotional and heavy. The clash of styles between vocalist Chino Moreno and guitarist Stephen Carpenter give Deftones a unique style. Commonly regarded as the turning point in their career. Back to School (Mini Maggit) and Change (In the House of Flies) were both big hits and still remain amongst their most popular songs.
L.D. 50 – Mudvayne
What ever happened to bands looking different? Most metal bands now are largely indistinguishable in appearance. Mudvayne however, were clearly identifiable. Having spikes all over your face will do something to help that. Their following album The End of all Things to Come would be their breakthrough, L.D. 50 with its almost jazz-like, progressive elements can be hard work to listen through – however provides a welcome change to the typical simple nu metal style.
Holy Wood – Marilyn Manson
Returning to the industrial style, and in response to media and public criticism – notably in response to school shootings in America being blamed on his music, Holy Wood is Marilyn Manson‘s greatest work, containing hits The Fight Song, Disposable Teens and The Nobodies. Creepy, hard hitting and with a large helping of anti-Christian messaging, no punches were pulled.
Awake – Godsmack
An example of nu metal covering a wide berth – Godsmack being closer to a hard rock band than a metal band. However, Awake was released during the nu metal onslaught, and contains the most nu metal influence of all of their work. The fact that guitar solos are present is almost an automatic disqualification from being called a nu metal album! Groovy and raw however, we shall let them off on that one.
The Height of Callousness – Spineshank
Embracing the Static-X brand of industrial/techno influenced heavy music, Spineshank‘s defining album was their second release The Height of Callousness. Containing hit songs New Disease and Synthetic, this album is 37 minutes of fast paced, face pummelling, no nonsense nu metal.
Will there ever be another period like back in 2000? I don’t think so. A perfect combination of a fresh, new brand of heavy music mixed in with catchy hooks and the presence of guitar music in the charts (taking pop punk into account here too) made it an exciting time for bringing newcomers into heavy music.
However, with the rise of newcomers like Tallah and Tetrarch incorporating a classical nu metal style in with a modern twist, maybe we are due a comeback?
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