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Nu metal

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Nu metal
Stylistic originsAlternative metal, rap metal, grunge, funk metal, heavy metal, hip hop[1][2][3]
Cultural originsEarly 1990s, United States
Typical instrumentsGuitar, bass, vocals, drums
Regional scenes
California, United States
Other topics
List of bands

Nu metal (also known as nü-metal,[4] aggro-metal[5][6] or neo-metal[7]) is a subgenre[8] of heavy metal.[4][9][10][11] It is a fusion genre[10] which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop. The genre gained mainstream success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Characteristics

Bands associated with nu metal derive influence from a variety of diverse styles, including electronica/electronic music, funk, glam rock, gothic rock, grunge, hardcore punk, hip hop, industrial rock, jazz, post punk and synthpop.[2][5][10][12][13] Also, nu metal derives influence from multiple subgenres of heavy metal including rap metal, funk metal, alternative metal and thrash metal.[2][5][10]

Nu metal music is mostly syncopated and based on riffs.[4] Mid-song breakdowns and rare solos like the ones on Drowning pool's Tear away and Godsmack's Awake. Its virtuosity contrasts it with other metal subgenres.[4] Another way in which nu metal is contrasted with other metal subgenres is its emphasis on rhythm, tending to more elements of groove metal in rhythm.[10] Similarities with other heavy metal subgenres include its use of common time, distorted guitars, power chords and note structures primarily revolving around Dorian, Aeolian or Phrygian modes.[4]

Some nu metal bands use seven-string guitars over traditional six-string guitars.[2] 7-string guitars, which are sometimes downtuned[11] to increase heaviness, resulted in bass guitarists using five-string and six-string instruments.[2] DJs are also sometimes used for additional rhythmic instrumentation (such as music sampling, scratching and electronic backgrounds).[2]

The vocals of many bands may range from melodic singing to rapping to screaming to death growling or in some cases have all of these styles in a single song but it can range from song to song. The lyrics of many popular mainstream nu metal bands focused on pain and personal alienation rather than the themes of other metal subgenres.[2][13] In general many cases this is a trait from grunge bands and is sometimes seen as a disadvantage of the genre; Q Magazine argues that many of "(its) leading lights (focused on) abandonment issues they should have left behind on their first day of big school" which was focused in the mainstream music aspect of the genre.

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History

In Nu metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk, Joel McIver cites the bands Faith No More, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Jane's Addiction as setting up various musical characteristics which are prominent in the genre.[14] In Popular music genres: an introduction, Stuart Borthwick and Ron Moy identify Rage Against the Machine as an influence on nu metal.[15]

Many of the first nu metal bands came from California.[16] Its origins are often attributed to the work of producer Ross Robinson, sometimes called "The Godfather of Nu Metal", who worked with acts such as Korn and Limp Bizkit, producing their first albums and helping create the sound that defined them.[14] Korn pioneered the nu metal sound and released their first self-titled album in 1994,[17] but they did not gain mainstream popularity until years later. The most "pure" form of nu-metal is considered to be the one contained in their second studio album, Life is Peachy. However, Korn has repeatedly stated that they do not agree with the label "nu metal", saying they considered the term "dumb".

Nu metal gained mainstream success through MTV and Ozzy Osbourne's 1995 introduction of Ozzfest, which led the media to talk of a resurgence of heavy metal.[18] Also, the 30th anniversary of Woodstock (Woodstock 99) featured nu metal bands, notably Korn and Limp Bizkit.[19]

Established artists such as Sepultura,[20] Slayer,[21] Vanilla Ice,[22] and Machine Head[23] released albums which critics felt drew from the style. In Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal, Ian Christie wrote that the genre demonstrated that "pancultural metal could pay off."[24] However, some fans of traditional heavy metal did not fully embrace the style.[24] In 2001, nu metal reached its commercial peak with albums like Staind's Break the Cycle, P.O.D's Satellite, Slipknot's Iowa and Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory. New bands also emerged like Disturbed, Godsmack, and Papa Roach, whose major label debut Infest became a platinum hit.[25]

By 2002 there were signs that nu metal's mainstream popularity was weakening.[26] Several factors contributed to this, including over saturation of the market, and a stigma associated with the genre.[27] Korn's long awaited fifth album Untouchables, and Papa Roach's second album Lovehatetragedy, did not sell as well as their previous releases, while nu metal bands were played more infrequently on rock radio stations and MTV began focusing on pop punk and emo.[27] Since then, many bands have changed to a more conventional hard rock or heavy metal music sound.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ This new sound was more about grinding .... Korn, Marilyn Manson, and Limp Bizkit were the biggest stars of this new movement
  2. ^ a b c d e f g McIver, Joel (2002). "How is nu-metal different from old metal?". Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 0711992096.
  3. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Heavy Metal: More Metal Genres". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved April 28, 2010. Combining heavy metal riffs with hip-hop influences and rapped lyrics, this genre became very popular in the late '90s through the early 2000's and then fell from favor.
  4. ^ a b c d e Pieslak, Jonathan (2008). "Sound, text and identity in Korn's 'Hey Daddy'". Popular Music. 27: 35–52. doi:10.1017/S0261143008001451.
  5. ^ a b c "Genre: Alternative Metal". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  6. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (2004). "Static X". Rock Stars on God: 20 Artists Speak Their Mind about Faith. Relevant Media Group. p. 180. ISBN 0972927697.
  7. ^ "Amen > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  8. ^ Wilson, Scott (2008). Great Satan's rage: American negativity and rap/metal in the age of supercapitalism. Manchester University Press. p. 119. ISBN 0719074630, 9780719074639. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  9. ^ Halnon, Karen Bettez (2006). "Heavy Metal Carnival and Dis-alienation: The Politics of Grotesque Realism". Symbolic Interaction. 29 (1): 33–48. doi:10.1525/si.2006.29.1.33.
  10. ^ a b c d e Tompkins, Joseph (2009). "What's the Deal with Soundtrack Albums? Metal Music and the Customized Aesthetics of Contemporary Horror". Cinema Journal. 49 (1). doi:10.1353/cj.0.0155.
  11. ^ a b Robinson, Greg (2008). Ozzfest. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 10. ISBN 1404217568, 9781404217560. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help); Text "lang_fr" ignored (help)
  12. ^ Iannini, Tommaso (2003). Nu Metal. Giunti. p. 12. ISBN 8809030516.
  13. ^ a b Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007). "Introduction: From heavy metal to extreme metal". Extreme metal: music and culture on the edge. Berg Publishers. p. 1. ISBN 1845203992.
  14. ^ a b McIver, Joel (2002). "It's their fault...the people who made it happen". Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. pp. 16–23. ISBN 0711992096.
  15. ^ Popular music genres: an introduction. Edinburgh University Press. 2004. p. 149. ISBN 0748617450, 9780748617456. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Iannini, Tommaso (2003). Nu Metal. Giunti. p. 11. ISBN 8809030516.
  17. ^ McIver, Joel (2002). "How did we get to nu-metal from old metal?". Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. pp. 10, 12. ISBN 0711992096.
  18. ^ Christie. p. 324. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ Thomas, Stephen (1999-10-19). "( Woodstock 1999 > Review )". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  20. ^ Thoroddsen, Arnar. "Roots". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Quintet Publishing Limited. p. 782. ISBN 0789313715. {{cite book}}: Text "year2006" ignored (help)
  21. ^ Begrand, Adrien (2004-01-23). "The Devil in Music". PopMatters. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  22. ^ Vontz, Andrew. "Ice capades". Salon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-10. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ^ "Machine Head - Where to Start with - Kerrang". Kerrang!. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  24. ^ a b Christie, Ian (2003). "Virtual Ozzy & Metal's Digital Rebound". Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins. p. 327; 329. ISBN 0380811278.
  25. ^ B. Reesman, "Sustaining the success", Billboard, June 23, 2001, 113 (25), p. 25.
  26. ^ T. Grierson, "What Is Rap-Rock: A Brief History of Rap-Rock", About.com, retrieved 31 December 2008.
  27. ^ a b c J. D'Angelo, "Will Korn, Papa Roach and Limp Bizkit evolve or die: a look at the Nu Metal meltdown", MTV, archived from the original on 14 February 2011.
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