A genre of music that was formed in the late 90s in the post-grunge era. The influences are the meaning of songs from the grunge bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains and the sound from the metals bands from the 70s, 80s and early 90s like Black Sabbath, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Pantera. Personally, I think nu-metal is o.k. Some of the bands are pretty good (Linkin Park, KoRn) while others are a disgrace to music all together (Limp Bizkit). The whole music war going on is pointless because nu-metal is no where near the best type of music out there and it will never be. For all of the die hard haters, just think of it as metal with maybe Megadeth or Motley Crue. For the die hard fans, listen to Queen, Sublime, STP or Foo Fighters for a little, then you'll see what good music is.
Linkin Park and KoRn are pretty good bands. Limp Bizkit is horrible. STP, Metallica, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin are 100x better than any nu-metal band out there.
by Jamarcus Fat May 31, 2010
Nu-metal is a non- existant sub-genre of metal. Though common cited as a "genre" it is merly a segregation between the larger family of metal.
Nu-metal is classified by it's heavy, downtuned guitar riffs, complementary bass riffs, and unique drumming/pecussion style.
Nu-metal comes under fire constantly because of it's "simple" guitar riffs, angry singing/screaming style, and the appearance of it's bands.
These arguements are very closed minded and ignorant, however. Those who complain about the simple guitar riffs fail to elaborate on how this is detrimental to the actual music: the repetitive arguement is that the guitarist fails to show any talent, but music isn't about the band, it's the sound they make. That is a fact, as any self respecting band of any genre will tell you that. There is also the arguement that "all the bands sound alike". This is true, but is just as common in other musical genres. For example, the nu-metal band "Limp Bizkit" can be closely compared to the band "Reveille". However, you can also say that Jack Johnson sounds similar to Jason Mraz, and AC/DC sounds like Guns N' Roses, and Green Day sounds like Sum 41 and so on. Every genre has bands that sound alike, because they are a genre! They are the same kind of style!
People, open up your eyes! Music is for everyone! There is no reason to critize an entire fanbase of people because they like something different than you.
Coming from a guy who likes Dave Mattews and Slipknot at the same time. C'mon, times are tough, share some love.
Nu-metal is classified by it's heavy, downtuned guitar riffs, complementary bass riffs, and unique drumming/pecussion style.
Nu-metal comes under fire constantly because of it's "simple" guitar riffs, angry singing/screaming style, and the appearance of it's bands.
These arguements are very closed minded and ignorant, however. Those who complain about the simple guitar riffs fail to elaborate on how this is detrimental to the actual music: the repetitive arguement is that the guitarist fails to show any talent, but music isn't about the band, it's the sound they make. That is a fact, as any self respecting band of any genre will tell you that. There is also the arguement that "all the bands sound alike". This is true, but is just as common in other musical genres. For example, the nu-metal band "Limp Bizkit" can be closely compared to the band "Reveille". However, you can also say that Jack Johnson sounds similar to Jason Mraz, and AC/DC sounds like Guns N' Roses, and Green Day sounds like Sum 41 and so on. Every genre has bands that sound alike, because they are a genre! They are the same kind of style!
People, open up your eyes! Music is for everyone! There is no reason to critize an entire fanbase of people because they like something different than you.
Coming from a guy who likes Dave Mattews and Slipknot at the same time. C'mon, times are tough, share some love.
Some Nu-metal bands include: Linkin Park, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Reveille, Genuflect, Taproot, and what ever other bands you think "should" be nu-metal, but remember, it's not really a genre.
by Foxtrot127 March 01, 2009
A genre of music that incorporates hiphop, decks and digital sound to metal music. Not to be confused with thrash or industrial, NuMetal bands tend to be more commercial than their underground counterparts and attract a certain subculture too.
Linkin Park are Nu-Metal.
by moonrat March 09, 2004
A much-hated subgenre of metal or hard rock, depending on how you view it, that started in the early 90s.
The main characteristics of nu-metal are as follows:
1. Rather short, simplistic songs with some sort of pop hooks
2. Lyrics about personal issues and feelings
3. Lack of guitar solos (if any solos are present, they are usually ahort or not very complex)
4. Many bands take in some elements of funk and rap and mix it with heavy metal music (early Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Korn, etc.)
5. Music which places more emphasis on lyrical meaning and image than technicality
While I agree that some nu-metal out there is quite terrible, a lot of nu-metal out there is hated for the wrong reasons. Some people hate it just because it's popular, some people hate it just because it has no solos, or some people hate it just because the lyrics are somewhat more emotional than lyrics of old-school metal.
Hating a band just because it's popular is like refusing to play a sport like, say, football, just because a lot of people love it. "No way, man! I'm TOTALEE underground and kvlt. I should not be doing any shit that more than 2 people are a part of. I must be DIFFERENT!1!" Honestly, no one cares if you're a rebel. No one is going to praise you or follow in your footsteps. Why must you try so hard to be different?
It's also pathetic to hate a song just because of the lack of technicality. "Ooo, look at me! I'm generic tr00 metal guitarist #628! I can wank off on a guitar and hit 6489789704 notes per second!!! I am so tr00 metal." Face it, some artists like Yngwie Malmsteen and Dragonforce may have a lot of skill and speed on guitar, but a lot of their songs get old REALLY fast. Speed does not always equal talent. There's more to songwriting than making sure that every song has more than 10,000 notes in it, and if you can't understand that, then you obviously know nothing about music.
Also, what's wrong with emotional lyrics? Even "real metal" bands like Megadeth and Dream Theater bring lots of emotion into their songs (Megadeth - Trust, or Dream Theater - The Glass Prison), but are they hated for that? No. Why should nu-metal be any different? It's sometimes pointless and dumb to write every song about random evil crap like Slayer just to prove how much of a "tough guy" you are. Everyone has feelings. Some people want to express them. Deal with it.
So, now that that's out of the way, once again, I'll agree with most of you that some nu-metal out there is definitely a false type of metal that's made just for money or mass appeal. These bands should be burned alive along with their music collections if they won't learn to make real music. But you should also know that some nu-metal out there can be really good. Don't just hate a whole genre to be "rebellious" and "different."
The main characteristics of nu-metal are as follows:
1. Rather short, simplistic songs with some sort of pop hooks
2. Lyrics about personal issues and feelings
3. Lack of guitar solos (if any solos are present, they are usually ahort or not very complex)
4. Many bands take in some elements of funk and rap and mix it with heavy metal music (early Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Korn, etc.)
5. Music which places more emphasis on lyrical meaning and image than technicality
While I agree that some nu-metal out there is quite terrible, a lot of nu-metal out there is hated for the wrong reasons. Some people hate it just because it's popular, some people hate it just because it has no solos, or some people hate it just because the lyrics are somewhat more emotional than lyrics of old-school metal.
Hating a band just because it's popular is like refusing to play a sport like, say, football, just because a lot of people love it. "No way, man! I'm TOTALEE underground and kvlt. I should not be doing any shit that more than 2 people are a part of. I must be DIFFERENT!1!" Honestly, no one cares if you're a rebel. No one is going to praise you or follow in your footsteps. Why must you try so hard to be different?
It's also pathetic to hate a song just because of the lack of technicality. "Ooo, look at me! I'm generic tr00 metal guitarist #628! I can wank off on a guitar and hit 6489789704 notes per second!!! I am so tr00 metal." Face it, some artists like Yngwie Malmsteen and Dragonforce may have a lot of skill and speed on guitar, but a lot of their songs get old REALLY fast. Speed does not always equal talent. There's more to songwriting than making sure that every song has more than 10,000 notes in it, and if you can't understand that, then you obviously know nothing about music.
Also, what's wrong with emotional lyrics? Even "real metal" bands like Megadeth and Dream Theater bring lots of emotion into their songs (Megadeth - Trust, or Dream Theater - The Glass Prison), but are they hated for that? No. Why should nu-metal be any different? It's sometimes pointless and dumb to write every song about random evil crap like Slayer just to prove how much of a "tough guy" you are. Everyone has feelings. Some people want to express them. Deal with it.
So, now that that's out of the way, once again, I'll agree with most of you that some nu-metal out there is definitely a false type of metal that's made just for money or mass appeal. These bands should be burned alive along with their music collections if they won't learn to make real music. But you should also know that some nu-metal out there can be really good. Don't just hate a whole genre to be "rebellious" and "different."
nu-metal hater #1: Man all nu-metal sucks! It's a bunch of guys with no instrumental talent making songs about their feelings that nobody cares about!! You should listen to REAL metal like (insert 80s bands here) because they make songs about Satan and play a billion notes per second!!
Normal Person: You, sir, are an idiot.
Normal Person: You, sir, are an idiot.
by Someone who likes metal June 16, 2007
Honestly.
I'm quite shocked.
So, let's get this defined.
Nu-metal.
A form of metal that uses influences from rap, hip-hop and various heavy-metal genres.
At first, it was quite a good genre, but now that it is popular, and therefore 'Mainstream', people have this idea that it is a brainwasher.
Yes, I will admit there are some bands I want to throttle, alot of them nu-metal, but I hafta get this off my chest.
The First Punching-bag of the "MAnStR34m 1S 4 l0zrs Lol!!!1!" Brigade;
Slipknot.
A Nu-metal band from Iowa, save for their bassist, who's from somewhere else.
I'm not a big fan, but their music's alright.
Korn.
A band from god-knows where, that I dont listen to them much.
I'm not that much of a fan, but I love the vocalist's mic-stand.
Limp Biz(s?)Cit.
I will admit I hate this band.
Look.
The point I'm trying to get across is this.
Give it a chance!
You might find something you like!
Because, if you go around claiming that all music from that genre sucks, you're no better than the people who resent metal entirely.
I'm quite shocked.
So, let's get this defined.
Nu-metal.
A form of metal that uses influences from rap, hip-hop and various heavy-metal genres.
At first, it was quite a good genre, but now that it is popular, and therefore 'Mainstream', people have this idea that it is a brainwasher.
Yes, I will admit there are some bands I want to throttle, alot of them nu-metal, but I hafta get this off my chest.
The First Punching-bag of the "MAnStR34m 1S 4 l0zrs Lol!!!1!" Brigade;
Slipknot.
A Nu-metal band from Iowa, save for their bassist, who's from somewhere else.
I'm not a big fan, but their music's alright.
Korn.
A band from god-knows where, that I dont listen to them much.
I'm not that much of a fan, but I love the vocalist's mic-stand.
Limp Biz(s?)Cit.
I will admit I hate this band.
Look.
The point I'm trying to get across is this.
Give it a chance!
You might find something you like!
Because, if you go around claiming that all music from that genre sucks, you're no better than the people who resent metal entirely.
Me: Wow, this Slipknot's not bad, they got good sounds.
Friend: shmeh, I'm not into nu metal, but yeah, I'll go with the flow.
That was a good example, here's what not to do:
Me: Wow, this slipknot's pretty awesome.
Friend: What? But they're nu-metal! That's so mainstream!
Me: And?
'Friend': And nothing! Stop listening to that and put on (Generic band)!
Me:...
Friend: Even though I bitch about equal treatment, I still think everything form that genre must sound bad becau-, Hey, whatcha doing with that chainsa- YEEAAARRGGGHHHBEEGHG!
So, give a genre a chance, and shut up.
Jesus, whiny c*nts.
Friend: shmeh, I'm not into nu metal, but yeah, I'll go with the flow.
That was a good example, here's what not to do:
Me: Wow, this slipknot's pretty awesome.
Friend: What? But they're nu-metal! That's so mainstream!
Me: And?
'Friend': And nothing! Stop listening to that and put on (Generic band)!
Me:...
Friend: Even though I bitch about equal treatment, I still think everything form that genre must sound bad becau-, Hey, whatcha doing with that chainsa- YEEAAARRGGGHHHBEEGHG!
So, give a genre a chance, and shut up.
Jesus, whiny c*nts.
by Your Best F(r)IEND. August 07, 2008
A form of hard rock, that started in the early 1990s, with such bands as Korn. Contrary to popular belief, Nu Metal is not actuualy a Metal style, because it evolved from hardcore, which in turn evolved from punk, and not metal.
Nu Metal is closely related to rapcore.
Nu Metal is closely related to rapcore.
by Velvokai May 22, 2005
A new subgenre of metal which includes bands such as Korn, Slipknot, Disturbed, and various others from the late 80's to today.
Is often bashed and heavily criticized by "true metal fans" for being "mainstream", or for having "no talent"
These guys are just introducing a new metal sound, guys. Get over it. Many people like it, and that's why it became mainstream. I might not like some of the bands, but I don't call them "fake" because of that. They're just as much metal as Metallica or Slayer are, and just because they sound different doesn't mean they suck. It sure would be boring if all bands sounded the same, don't you think?
I like all kinds of metal - power, thrash, progressive, and even nu. Here are some examples: I like Slipknot but I don't like Slayer. I like Children of Bodom but I don't like Korn.
It's still that metal I know and love, so I listen to it. If I don't like a band, I just don't listen to it. I don't come here and call them fake. If I wanted to complain, I'd at least give good reasons for my complaint.
Is often bashed and heavily criticized by "true metal fans" for being "mainstream", or for having "no talent"
These guys are just introducing a new metal sound, guys. Get over it. Many people like it, and that's why it became mainstream. I might not like some of the bands, but I don't call them "fake" because of that. They're just as much metal as Metallica or Slayer are, and just because they sound different doesn't mean they suck. It sure would be boring if all bands sounded the same, don't you think?
I like all kinds of metal - power, thrash, progressive, and even nu. Here are some examples: I like Slipknot but I don't like Slayer. I like Children of Bodom but I don't like Korn.
It's still that metal I know and love, so I listen to it. If I don't like a band, I just don't listen to it. I don't come here and call them fake. If I wanted to complain, I'd at least give good reasons for my complaint.
Idiot: omg liek nu metal sukks its soo fake lol omg lizzen to real metyl liek Metallica or Slayer lol roflz
Non-Idiot: Dude, just because it's a different genre doesn't mean it's fake. Just appreciate it or shut up about it.
Non-Idiot: Dude, just because it's a different genre doesn't mean it's fake. Just appreciate it or shut up about it.
by SomeBadJoke August 11, 2006