System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian recently spoke with Matt Pinfield on 95.5 KLOS’s New & Approved, reflecting on the nu-metal movement that dominated the mid-late nineties and went well into the mid-2000s. Odadjian expressed how it wasn’t necessarily a genre but more of an era within the rock and metal scene.
Odadjian expressed:
“Someone asked me recently about being a ‘nu metal’ band. And I have a different outlook on nu metal. It’s not a style. It was an era where bands played heavy music, but did it in another way. They didn’t do the basic ’80s heavy. They mixed rock-metal with something different, whether it be hip-hop, punk rock, eclectic stuff, complicated, progressive stuff, psychedelic prog. People did different things. For example, Deftones had that Portishead vibe that they brought into metal. It’s so freaking cool. There’s a whole style now — there’s a whole Deftones-style music right now popping off on TikTok.
If you think about it, bro, even though we got villainized a little bit, the nu metal thing was cheesy for a while because every era comes out and it’s cool. Then some bands come up that ruined that cool vibe… Heavy metal was great in the ’80s. Then these bands came out that kind of ruined it, the cheesier glam metal bands came out. I don’t wanna name ’em, but some cheesy bands came out.”
Looking back, Odadjian makes a strong point. The nu-metal “subgenre” emerged after the grunge era and brought a unique mix of industrial, progressive, and heavy metal elements that defied conventional labels. Its impact then was undeniable, and its resurgence today is evident in the diverse subgenres spanning modern metal, progressive metal, rap metal, and beyond.
Bands once thought forgotten, like Flaw and Union Underground, have made surprising returns, and groups like Kittie, who rose during the nu-metal scene, are now back stronger than ever with a new album, unalcoholic beer, and touring. The influence of nu-metal lives on through diverse modern acts: Knocked Loose, Infected Rain, Jinjer, and Spiritbox. This fresh take on the era has landed some of them Grammy recognition.
Meanwhile, nu metal subgenre icons like Slipknot and KoRn continue to headline major festivals, including ones of the former’s own with Knotfest. Even with the new chapter of Linkin Park, it’s clear that nu-metal continues to thrive and evolve from the ones who started it to those influenced by it.
