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.

Style

Themes

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Specifically, lyrics of most nu-metal bands reflect on the stresses and mishaps of everyday life. Topics range from childhood alienation or abuse, socio-economic status and relationship/marital difficulties. Homophobia and sexual themes has appeared in some lyrics as well.

Related Topics:
Lyrics - Nu-metal - Homophobia

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Drug use, particularly marijuana and heroin, is also touched upon, but usually in more celebratory or sarcastic manner. There is usually a fine line drawn, as a few prominent singers (and sometimes other band members) admitted to extremely hardcore drug addiction in the past and use music as "therapy" to denounce their days before recovery.

Related Topics:
Marijuana - Heroin

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Political progressivism and activism is a less common item, but still noticeable in many nu-metal bands, especially those that either influenced or started the genre in the late 1980's/early 1990's (most notably Rage Against the Machine). More often, this is usually discussed candidly rather than in songs.

Related Topics:
Political progressivism - Nu-metal - Rage Against the Machine

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Vocals

In the 1990s, many bands began to mix rapping and other new techniques with alternative rock guitar and drum sounds. As a result, fans and music journalists needed to differentiate between the more traditional heavy metal music and this "new breed" of bands who were using samples, DJs, raps and drum machines in a way that made their music distinct. "New metal" evolved into the trendier spelling "nu metal," and a genre was vaguely defined.

Related Topics:
1990s - Rapping - Samples - DJs - Drum machines

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Nevertheless, some distinction is usually maintained between rapcore and nu metal. Rapcore generally refers to a combination of singing, screaming, and/or rapping (for example, the vocals of Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park). Furthermore, some nu metal artists use no rapping at all. Other typical vocals are clean singing and screaming.

Related Topics:
Rapcore - Limp Bizkit - Linkin Park

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Tool has been a recognizable origin for some nu-metal vocal styles, if not nu-metal in general. Although dedicated fans distance the band as "different" and "progressive" compared to other popular rock acts, Chevelle's Pete Loeffler, Taproot's Stephen Richards and even Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst have cited Maynard James Keenan's signature "drone" style as an influence.

Related Topics:
Tool - Chevelle - Taproot - Limp Bizkit

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A similar nu-metal style often confused for rap vocals is "spoken lyrics", usually off-key or in a free-styled form. It is unclear as to whether this is on purpose, however, Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine, Mike Patton of Faith No More, and (also at present) Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers used a spoken word-form of singing a lot, which is likely the missing link to nu-metal's affiliation to rap and hip hop.

Related Topics:
Zack de la Rocha - Rage Against The Machine - Mike Patton - Faith No More - Anthony Kiedis - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Spoken word - Rap - Hip hop

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Guitar

While metal is very much guitar-based, with intricate guitar solos and complex riffs forming an important part of most songs, nu metal generally emphasizes the guitar as a rhythmic instrument. The riffs often consist of only a few different simplistic notes or power chords played in rhythmic, syncopated patterns. To emphasize this rhythmic "pulse," nu metal guitarists generally make liberal use of palm muting, a technique which itself blurs the boundary between melodic note and rhythmic attack. Another common tactic is the use of de-tuned strings (in drop-D or lower, sometimes adding a seventh string) whose lower pitch creates a thicker, more resonant sound. Finally, many nu metal guitarists seem to be fond of natural harmonics. The opening riff of Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" is a representative example of many of the above techniques. Guitar solos are generally not part of nu-metal songwriting, though there are exceptions, such as Adema, Saliva and System of a Down. They are usually very short. Helmet have been cited as one of the biggest nu metal guitar influences, along with Prong and Fear Factory. These bands, however, are not nu metal bands.

Related Topics:
Riff - Note - Power chord - Syncopated - Palm muting - Drop-D - Pitch - Linkin Park - Adema - Saliva - System of a Down - Helmet - Prong - Fear Factory

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Bass

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The speed and skill of a bassist in Traditional Heavy Metal plays

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a large part of outcome in the band's sound, complementing percussive tempos (and occasionally the guitar riffs) to add a strong rhythm to the tone.

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In nu-metal, however, the bass is often the star, with guitarwork only acting as a sample in the case for more "hip-hop geared" nu-metal.

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Although the nu-metal "bass line" is hard to classify, the "slap style" style made popular by Michael Balzary, Billy Gould and Les Claypool would be forefront in the styles of latterday bassists like Reginald Arvizu, Fluff! and Sam Rivers, who would follow in becoming influences themselves.

Related Topics:
Michael Balzary - Billy Gould - Les Claypool - Reginald Arvizu - Fluff! - Sam Rivers

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The nu-metal bass is also slower than Tradional Heavy Metal, strutting a funkier louder sound that would arguably compete with the presence of the band's vocalist.

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Drums

Nu-metal drummers usually consist of basic 4/4 beats (some say this could be from the hip-hop influence) but often reach beyond traditional heavy metal patterns for more syncopated beats, such as Eastern dance rhythms (as played by John Dolmayan of System of a Down), jazz drumming, and the complex breakbeats of hip-hop. Also, many notable nu-metal bands feature a DJ who provides sampled "beats" and other effects. Two of the more famous nu-metal DJs are DJ Lethal of Limp Bizkit and Joe Hahn of Linkin Park.

Related Topics:
Dance - John Dolmayan - System of a Down - DJ Lethal - Limp Bizkit - Joe Hahn - Linkin Park

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The Decline of Nu Metal

After Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland departed from the band in 2002, and Korn took a break from the media spotlight to record their fifth LP, Untouchables, Linkin Park was the only band that remained in the spotlight of significant media attention. During this time, hip hop's explosion back into the mainstream charts continued. By the time Limp Bizkit and Korn returned with new albums, the trend had finished. While most nu metal bands still release albums, sales are now significantly lower. Nu metal bands still having good record sales currently include Linkin Park, Korn, Mudvayne, Slipknot, Godsmack, Disturbed, Staind, Chevelle, and Papa Roach, though many of them have done so only by distancing themselves from the nu metal genre. For example, there are virtually no rap lyrics included in Papa Roach's latest album Getting Away With Murder.

Related Topics:
Limp Bizkit - Wes Borland - 2002 - Korn - LP - Untouchables - Linkin Park - Hip hop - Mudvayne - Slipknot - Godsmack - Disturbed - Staind - Chevelle - Papa Roach - Getting Away With Murder

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Also, seeing the start of the metalcore and hardcore boom of the early 2000's, some nu-metal bands had abandoned their original sound to lean more towards that musical direction; Chimaira and 36 Crazyfists being prime examples.

Related Topics:
Metalcore - Hardcore - 2000 - Chimaira - 36 Crazyfists

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