100 Best Nu Metal Bands
As grunge began to lose steam in the mid-'90s, a new brand of riff-based metal came to the forefront. Nu metal, a subgenre of alternative metal, floored listeners with its raw intensity and theatrical tonalities. Its heavily syncopated sound, built on layered guitar riffs, paved the way for a new generation of heavy metal.
While nu metal may have gone through a drastic change in recent years, the muffled warmth of distorted guitar riffs still remain the central element in this mesmerizing form of music.
The list below showcases a diverse number of nu metal bands. If you are a fan of this genre, you will definitely have something to say. Feel free to share your views and opinions in the comments section.
Top 10 Best Nu Metal Bands
- Korn
- Slipknot
- Linkin Park
- Papa Roach
- Limp Bizkit
- System of a Down
- Deftones
- Static X
- P.O.D.
- Mudvayne
What Is Nu Metal?
Nu metal, also known as agro-metal, is an alternative metal subgenre that combines an eclectic mix of heavy metal, alternative rock, hip-hop, industrial, grunge, and funk instrumentation. The sound is characterized by syncopation, built around layered guitar riffs, often played on down-tuned guitars. The heavy guitar creates an intense background for a variety of different vocal styles, including harmonious singing, rapping, growling, screaming, and shrieking. Alongside drums and bass, the instrumentation also incorporates turntable scratching, sampling, and electronics. The rhythmic structures in nu metal are sometimes influenced by funk and hip-hop. The power chord structures in this genre often revolve around the Phrygian, Aeolian, or Dorian modes.
#11—20
11. Disturbed
12. Coal Chamber
13. Sevendust
14. Ill Nino
15. Godsmack
16. Stained
17. Adema
18. Mushroomhead
19. Drowning Pool
20. Soulfly
The Emergence of Nu Metal
The nu metal movement came into prominence in the late ‘90s. As the musical landscape changed, grunge began to fade away, making way for new forms of music. Early nu metal was largely influenced by alternative metal. This genre birthed many subgenres, including funk metal, rap metal, and groove metal. This genre also incorporated elements of hardcore punk, electronic, gothic rock, punk rock, new wave, dance music, post punk, symphonic rock, and synth pop.
#21—40
21. Emmure
22. Rage Against the Machine
23. Issues
24. Fear Factory
25. Saliva
26. From Ashes to New
27. Incubus
28. Ded
29. Taproot
30. Hed PE
31. Islander
32. Evanescence
33. Crazy Town
34. Of Men & Mice
35. Dope
36. Alien Ant Farm
37. Motograter
38. Flaw
39. Cane Hill
40. Snot
Mainstream Success of Nu Metal: ‘90s and 2000s
While alternative metal had a cult following, nu metal reached a wider mainstream global audience. A number of nu metal bands had a great deal of commercial success in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. The smooth blending of different musical styles made this genre hugely popular among non-heavy metal audiences. The rap elements incorporated by certain metal bands appealed to hip-hop audiences.
Certain nu metal bands collaborated with hip-hop artists to create a funky mix of metal and hip-hop. Although certain bands faced flak from music critics for commercializing heavy metal, turning it into a mainstream commodity, it did not deter them from making their brand of music. A number of emerging acts signed major record deals with recording companies in the 2000s. Certain metal bands in the 2000s changed their musical direction by adopting nu metal influences in their music. Alongside alternative metal, industrial metal, groove metal, and metalcore, nu metal became a key genre of what became known as the new wave of American heavy metal.
#41—60
41. Machine Head
42. Trapt
43. Otep
44. Nonpoint
45. Primer 55
46. Spineshank
47. Kittie
48. Nothingface
49. 311
50. Powerman 5000
51. The Union Underground
52. Chimaira
53. Hollywood Undead
54. Stray from the Path
55. American Head Charge
56. Orgy
57. Puddle of Mud
58. D’espairs Ray
59. Chevelle
60. 36 Crazyfists
Nu Metal Post 2010
Although nu metal faced a lull in the mid-2000s, the movement witnessed a revival post 2010. Many bands started to incorporate nu metal elements into their music, creating such genres as deathcore and metalcore. These bands found commercial success throughout the decade. Although modern nu metal comprises a wide variety of sounds from extreme genres, the riff-based structure remains true to its roots. A number of emerging metal bands incorporate progressive elements in their song structures as well. The success of nu metal has caused many older bands to evolve their sound.
#61—80
61. A.N.I.M.A.L.
62. Damageplan
63. Cold
64. Suicide Silence
65. Apartment 26
66. Hacktivist
67. Bring Me the Horizon
68. Ocean Grove
69. Blindside
70. Family Force 5
71. The Gazette
72. Project 86
73. Demon Hunter
74. H-Blockx
75. Sworn In
76. Lifer
77. Karnivool
78. Eldrine
79. Hoobastank
80. Clawfinger
Nu Metal Fashion
Aside from changing the musical landscape in the late ‘90s, nu metal also started a fashion trend. The genre's clothing became a way of life for many young people in the early 2000s. The typical nu-metal outfit consists of baggy pants, baggy hoodies, shorts, shirts, JNCO jeans, cargo pants, sports jerseys, Adidas tracksuits, sweatpants, canvas shoes, and baseball caps. Hairstyles and facial hairstyles common amongst fans of this genre include spiky hair, shaved heads, dreadlocks, frosted tips, chin beards, goatees, bleached hair, and dyed hair. Some of the popular accessories in nu metal fashion are piercings, tattoos, wallet chains, masks, face paint, body paint, costumes, and jumpsuits.
#81—100
81. Dry Kill Logic
82. Skillet
83. Ra
84. Man With a Mission
85. Seether
86. Deadsy
87. Pleymo
88. Finger Eleven
89. Three Days Grace
90. Rev Theory
91. Flyleaf
92. Amen
93. Zebrahead
94. Maximum the Hormone
95. 40 Below Summer
96. Guano Apes
97. Hamlet
98. Saint Asonia
99. 3rd Strike
100. Skindred
Lyrics and Themes in Nu Metal
The lyrics and themes in nu metal songs are often associated with anger, nihilism, and rejection. It's common for lyrics in this genre to revolve around angst, pain, trauma, suffering, bullying, personal alienation, betrayal, and emotional issues. The lyrics tend to be direct, emphasizing the importance of brutal honesty.
While most bands in this genre sing about pain and agony, certain bands use positive lyrics to create a sense of hope in their music. While the themes and imagery used in the lyrics of this genre are often dark, this darkness is used to convey a sense of connection and a need to overcome our shared hardships.
Other Notable Nu Metal Bands
- 12 Stones
- Skrape
- Carajo
- Dangerkids
- Earshot
- SugarComa
- Oficina G3
- Beartooth
- Sick Puppies
- My Ticket Home
- Exilia
- Factory 81
- Depswa
- Slot
- Justifide
- From Zero
- Since October
- Darwins Waiting Room
- Blacklist
- Soil
- Unloco
- Index Case
- Rootwater
- Gizmachi
- Sylar
- Manga
- Bloodsimple
- Fury of Five
- Story of the Year
- Godhead
- Psychostick
- Black Snake Moan
- Trust Company
- Invidia
- Superheist
- Headkase
- Eths
- Stuck Mojo
- One Minute Silence
- 38th Parallel
- Sugar Ray
- FreshFabrik
- Ultraspank
- Flymore
- Mass Hysteria
- Spoken
- Professional Murder Music
- Skinlab
- Pressure 4-5
- Nocturne
- Five Foot Thick
- Twelvestep
- Slapshock
- Mad at Gravity
- Project Wyze
- Wicked Wisdom
- Sub Dub Micromachine
- Kells
- Thebandwithnoname
- Methods of Mayhem
- Red
- Five Pointe O
- Switched
- Pitchshifter
- 6Gig
- Five Bolt Main
- Dry Cell
- Genuflect
- Element Eighty
- Blindspott
- Pulse Ultra
- Moltov
- Crossfade
- Anew Revolution
- Segression
- Flou
- Twin Method
- Human Waste Project
- Rize
- Intwine
- No One
- Boiler Room
- Slaves on Dope
- Linea 77
- Peace of Mind
- Velcra
- Raging Speedhorn
- Cradle of Thorns
- Sev
- The Blank Theory
- East West
- Terror Universal
- Love and Death
- Testeagles
- Fire From the Gods
- Downthesun
- Bionic Jive
- Mayfly
- Shuvel
- Nokturnal
- Amatory
- Headplate
- Reveille
- E-Town Concrete
- Defenestration
- Lofofora
- Vegastar
- Grade 8
- Kill 2 This
- A Killer’s Confession
- Infected Rain
- Mt.Helium
- Thousand Foot Krutch
- Pillar
- FreakMind
- 2Cents
- Crossbreed
- 4Lyn
- Stereomud
- The Letter Black
- Dir En Grey
- Mnemic
- Endo
- Twisted Method
- Panik
- Ektomorf
- In This Moment
- Lostprophets
- Crossfaith
- Fingertight
© 2020 Ansel Pereira