Nu metal
Nu metal (also known as nü-metal or aggro-metal,) is a subgenre of heavy metal music. It is a fusion genre which combines sounds, influences and characteristics of heavy metal and its subgenres such as groove metal, thrash metal and alternative metal with other genres, including hip hop and grunge.It is classed as part of alternative metal. Notable nu metal bands include Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Deftones, Staind, and Slipknot.
Birth: 1992 Bloom: 1998 Death: 2007
Alternative metal, funk metal, rap metal and industrial metal bands of the 1980s and 1990s including Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Red Hot Chili Peppers (One Hot Minute era), Jane's Addiction, Tool, Primus, Rage Against the Machine, Helmet, Nine Inch Nails and Ministry have been identified as laying groundwork for the development of nu metal, such as combining aggressive riffs with pop structures and drawing influence from a variety of genres within and outside of heavy metal music.
Groove metal and thrash metal bands of the same era such as Pantera, Sepultura, Metallica and Anthrax have also been cited as influential to nu metal. Anthrax pioneered the rap metal sound by fusing hip hop with metal on their EP I'm the Man.
Bands associated with nu metal have derived influence from a variety of diverse styles, including electronic music, funk, glam metal, gothic rock, hardcore punk, hip hop, New Wave music, industrial metal, jazz, post-punk, symphonic rock and synthpop.Nu metal also derives influences from multiple sub-genres of heavy metal including rap metal, funk metal, alternative metal and thrash metal.
Nu metal music is largely syncopated and based on guitar riffs. Mid-song bridges and a general lack of guitar solos contrasts it with other genres that part of heavy metal, in which guitar solos play a major role. Another contrast with other metal genres is its emphasis on rhythm, rather than complexity or mood, tending towards groove metal in rhythm. Similarities with many heavy metal sub-genres include its use of common time, distorted guitars, power chords and note structures primarily revolving around Dorian, Aeolian or Phrygian modes.
Nu metal band Slipknot, who are known for their use of costumes and masks, performing in Buenos Aires in 2005
Many nu metal bands use seven-string guitars (which are sometimes downtuned to increase heaviness) over traditional six-string guitars. This results in bass guitarists using five-string and six string instruments. DJs are also sometimes used for additional rhythmic instrumentation such as music sampling, turntable scratching and electronic backgrounds.
Nu metal is also sometimes noted for participation of women in the genre in contrast to other metal genres, including bands such as Coal Chamber, Otep and the all-female band Kittie.
Nu metal vocal styles range between singing, rapping, screaming and death growling, sometimes using multiple of these styles within one song. The lyrics of many nu metal bands focus on pain and personal alienation, similar to that of grunge, rather than the themes of other metal subgenres. Nu metal uses the traditional pop structure of verses, choruses and bridges, contrasting it with other metal genres such as thrash and death metal.
Trevor Baker of The Guardian wrote "Bands such as Linkin Park, Korn and even the much reviled Limp Bizkit also, incidentally, did far more to break down the artificial barriers between "urban music" and rock than any of their more critically acceptable counterparts. Their concerts also drew huge numbers of women which is much more than you could say for any old-metal band." Nu metal fashion can include baggy shirts, sports jerseys and jackets, basketball singlets and shorts, hoodies, cargo pants, sweatpants, dreadlocks, spiky hair, body piercings, tattoos, long hair, jumpsuits and sweatsuits.[
Also read: Hip-hop/Rap, Turntablism, Alternative Rap
Umbrellate style: Rock
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