What is Nu-Metal Music?
Nu-metal is a blend of heavy metal and other genres that originated in the 1990s. The genre was especially popular in North America during the 2000s.
This genre is a fusion of styles, combining “new” with metal to create something people can enjoy listening to. A typical heavy song features a guitar riff that is played at a low pitch, an aggressive vocal style and emphasis on technical ability.
Notable Nu-Metal Artists
Some nu-metal bands—such as Linkin Park—have sold over 50 million albums worldwide and have been very successful in this subgenre.
Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and others also found success.
The Instruments of Nu-Metal
Nu-metal songs are created with the help of guitars, which provide much of the melody and rhythm.
In addition to guitars and bass, a drummer’s kit is another instrument commonly used in nu-metal.
Bass guitars can be particularly useful in adding depth and texture to a musical performance, especially when played with other instruments.
The Lyrics of Nu-Metal
Lyrics were often angsty and rebellious, but they also discussed social issues. The genre’s popularity grew during a time when young people felt disillusioned with the world around them—and nu-metal became an outlet for that frustration.
Bands use heavy instruments to make their songs sound aggressive and angry, while also incorporating hip hop rhythms into those same pieces.
The Motions of Nu-Metal
Headbanging
This is the most common form of motions in nu-metal and other metal subgenres. It involves moving your head back and forth at a very fast pace, usually with the music.
Moshing
This form of motions involves jumping around, pushing other people into each other. You can do it on purpose or because you’re too focused on your own!
Crowd Surfing
It’s when someone jumps into the crowd at a concert, then gets move along by other fans until they return to their original position or are lifted higher.
Nu-Metal in Popular Culture
Nu-metal has been around for almost 20 years. It first gained popularity in the late 90s with bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit, but is still going strong today.
If you’re in the mood for some great films or TV shows about nu-metal bands, here are some of ours:
The Dirt (2019) – A Netflix Original film starring Machine Gun Kelly as MUDVAYNE frontman Vince Neilstein.
Rock Star (2001) – Mark Wahlberg plays Chris Colefax, the frontman of Steel Dragon—a band on the verge of big-time success before he is kicked out.
Nu-Metal for Kids
If your child is interested in learning more about Nu-metal music, there are plenty of resources available. The best way to start is by listening together! You can also look up some bands mentioned above and listen to their music together.
If your child has a guitar or other instrument, encourage them to try playing along with some nu-metal songs on YouTube. You can also search online for tutorials that teach how to play certain riffs andsolos from popular songs by artists like Korn and Limp Bizkit (although these videos may not be kid-friendly).
