Picking 4 of the top selling albums from 1997-2000 from 4 of Nu Metal’s most important and influential acts gives us a surprisingly varied view of a genre that deserves a deeper look. Mostly centered in California, the genre quickly spread across the US, spawning bands in Florida (Limp Bizkit), Michigan (Kid Rock), and of course Iowa (Slipknot) among many others.įor this rate, we’re not pulling from the roots of genre, but rather its commercial peak. Metal scholar Joel McIver cites Korn’s 1993 demo Neidermayer’s Mind as the first release of the genre although the first band to be tagged as such was Coal Chamber. Nu Metal was a unique blend of Metal, Hip-Hop, Funk, Grunge, and Industrial that absolutely took the world by storm before wearing out its welcome just as quickly.

By combining the sounds of Alt Metal bands like Primus, Faith No More, White Zombie, Rage Against The Machine, Helmet, Fishbone, and Biohazard with the aggressive deliveries of Run DMC, Public Enemy, KRS-One, Beastie Boys, and Ice Cube an entirely new genre was born. Both genres were completely ignoring and overlooking Hip-Hop’s takeover of the mainstream. Metal in the early 90’s still had too many solos and too much melody. Important rule: Even if you don’t have or use Spotify, please please pay attention to the playlist! I’ve removed some bonus tracks and throwaway interludes, as well as marked the timestamp to skip the silence at the end of Around The Fur so you can start “Damone”.

That’s right, our next rate is honoring one of the most classic and beloved genres of American music!įrom universally beloved to universally hated to ironically enjoyed to surprisingly influential and finally begrudgingly accepted, I fully expect this rate to be as controversial as the musicians who made it.

Rate deftones albums