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.

Definition

Beyond the pronounced hip-hop influence, nu metal has--like most forms of alternative rock--proven somewhat difficult to define. Some fans and musicians have a firm concept of genre and subgenre, but others reject such categorization as unnecessary, limiting or useless.

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Nu metal is not considered a form of heavy metal music at all, it is simply mis-construed as such.

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While Deftones, Tool, Rage Against The Machine, Helmet, and Ko?n are typically cited as the genre's instigators, bands like Fishbone, Body Count, Urban Dance Squad, Faith No More, Suicidal Tendencies, Jane's Addiction, Prong, Soundgarden, ScratchFace,and others are cited as progenitors. Producer Ross Robinson, for example, was labelled by some as "The Godfather of Nu-Metal" due his producing of several notable Nu-Metal albums. Entertainment!, the 1979 debut from British punk rockers Gang of Four has been cited as an indirect influence. Critic Andy Kellman suggests that the album's "vaguely funky rhythmic twitch, its pungent, pointillistic guitar stoccados, and its spoken/shouted vocals have all been picked up by many,". including some rap rock groups "not in touch with their ancestry enough to realize" the connection.http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:3sn20r8ac48n

Related Topics:
Deftones - Tool - Rage Against The Machine - Helmet - Ko?n - Fishbone - Body Count - Urban Dance Squad - Faith No More - Suicidal Tendencies - Jane's Addiction - Prong - Soundgarden - ScratchFace - Ross Robinson - Entertainment! - Gang of Four - Funk - Rap rock

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Categorization of specific artists as "nu metal" is difficult, considering the widespread mistrust of the term among artists and fans alike, and the "edges" are fuzzy where nu-metal bleeds into other genres. In general, the artists in question are American bands that found their first success in the mid- to late 1990s. Immediately, other artists began shaping their sound to resemble the new groove-driven metal, and its influence is still felt today. For example, the American metalcore scene of the early 2000s owes much to nu metal, as do recent releases from artists like Metallica and In Flames.

Related Topics:
American - Metalcore - 2000s - Metallica - In Flames

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Although many attributions exist as to the origin of the term, the version with the most-common spelling ("Nu") emanated from disc jockeys who referred to radio programs and playlists as "Nu Rock". While alternative rock and post-grunge were prime genres, "heavier" bands with groove-driven beats and hip hop syncopation were also played, and mis-labeled by the radio station DJ's (and media) as "new metal". In a show of mockery, the mainstream airplay eventually lead detractors to call the music "nu-metal", meaning "no-metal".

Related Topics:
Alternative rock - Post-grunge - Syncopation - Media

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An earlier rendition of the term also flew around in the 1980s during the height of hair metal. Those who considered themselves fans of "true heavy metal music" dismissed the genre for its preference toward trend and commercialism rather than musical innovation, and thus passed it off as "new metal". Following, many thrash and speed metal bands distanced themselves from media exposure and press as much as possible to avoid being associated with the genre.

Related Topics:
Hair metal - Thrash - Speed metal

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