Nu metal

Nu metal is a controversial subgenre of alternative rock. It sometimes bears some influence from hip-hop, because rhythmic innovation and syncopation are primary. Nu metal bands also feature aggressive vocals (either rapped, shouted, or sung), drop-tuned guitars that are clean or distorted, (with riffing similar to the Seattle scene of the early 1990's) a funk-based rhythm section, and occassional DJ techniques such as turntables and sampling. Generally speaking, the emphasis is on either communicating feelings of angst and hostility, or motivating a crowd to move with the beat -- ideally, both at once. The popularity of such music in the late 1990s led to widespread negative associations with the phrase "nu metal", particularly due to commercialisation, and many nu-metal fans and artists reject the term, which has become almost an all-purpose musical insult. A related term, mallcore, is used similarly to dismiss aggressive music that is seemingly calculated to appeal to angst-filled young teenagers.

Related Topics:
Controversial - Alternative rock - Hip-hop - Rhythm - Syncopation - Rap - 1990 - DJ - Turntables - Sampling - Angst - 1990s - Insult - Mallcore - Teenager

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The genre is occasionally called "nü-metal," using the traditional heavy metal umlaut.

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