What defines Nu-Metal?

[Zalbu]

Like dude said, that's way too nebulous of a genre.

No band on Earth sounds like Sigur Ros.

Plenty of bands sounds like Sigur Ros, the only thing that sets them apart is that they created a new language to sing in and how Jonsi plays the guitar with a violin bow.

 

[DarkWolfXV]

After listening to half of the album you recommended, abandonist, I can say that they aren't really that special. Pretty good, but they seem pretty "clone-able" so to speak. I dont know anything about post rock scene but I'm sure there are bands that sound like Sigur Ros. So yeah, post rock.

 

[abandonist]

Plenty of bands sounds like Sigur Ros, the only thing that sets them apart is that they created a new language to sing in and how Jonsi plays the guitar with a violin bow.

They only use that on one album. Everything else is Icelandic.

What other bands would you say sound like them?

 

[Rick]

I see some posts about seven string guitars in Nu-Metal, but all I can think of is Korn, Jaxon Benge of Hed-Pe, Stephen of Deftones, and that is pretty much it. The list of 6 stringers in Nu-Metal is endless. Drop C tuning, anyone?

I think thrash and deathmetal guitarists like Dino Cazares and Trey Azagtoth did much more for the sevenstring, with the exception of Korn of course.

Jon/Apartment 26, Lance and Jason/Flaw, Joe/Sw1tched, Wes/Limp Bizkit started on 7s, Ryan/Orgy. Just a few on the top of my head.

Whether or not these bands are "nu-metal" is up for debate, I'm just naming bands in that timeframe.

 

[leonardo7]

Hard Rock that's heavy but not quite metal, and not bluesy

 

[coreysMonster]

All popular heavy music from 1995 to 2000.

I can't explain a genre that supposedly contains Linkin Park, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, System of a Down and Disturbed any other way.

 

[8last]

I know if the lyrics contain repeated use of 'falling' 'breaking' 'away' 'sick' 'inside' and 'down' its probably nu metal

 

[Primitive Guitarist]

Use a motograter......

 

[lucasreis]

Jon/Apartment 26, Lance and Jason/Flaw, Joe/Sw1tched, Wes/Limp Bizkit started on 7s, Ryan/Orgy. Just a few on the top of my head.

Whether or not these bands are "nu-metal" is up for debate, I'm just naming bands in that timeframe.

Still, most of them used six string guitars in drop tunes and some of them used baritone guitars. And a plethora of tunings, most bands in drop-C, drop-C#, some in drop-D, several in drop-B, Taproot in drop-A, etc, etc

 

[Rick]

Still, most of them used six string guitars in drop tunes and some of them used baritone guitars. And a plethora of tunings, most bands in drop-C, drop-C#, some in drop-D, several in drop-B, Taproot in drop-A, etc, etc

I know, I was just pointing out other bands around that time that used 7s. I always thought Taproot played in A standard on 6s, that's funny.

 

[lucasreis]

I know, I was just pointing out other bands around that time that used 7s. I always thought Taproot played in A standard on 6s, that's funny.

If I recall correctly, back then, one of them used A standard and the other used a sort of Drop D tuning with a low A and they made it work

 

[DeKay]

Thanks for all the replies, I didn't thought to get so many different views on this whole thing. Really interesting to read.

 

[WhoThenNow7]

My favorite "nu-metal".

Nice! My band actually just played a show with Taproot here in Charlotte, NC. I was real impressed with them, it was a really fun night.

 

[Xaios]

Challenge Accepted.

Sigur Ros.

I believe the name of that particular genre is "when whales get high."

 

[Rick]

If I recall correctly, back then, one of them used A standard and the other used a sort of Drop D tuning with a low A and they made it work

Correct, Mike was in A standard and Stephen played in the Drop D/low A you spoke of starting on the Welcome album.

 

[lucasreis]

Nice! My band actually just played a show with Taproot here in Charlotte, NC. I was real impressed with them, it was a really fun night.

I love Taproot, I even recorded this video of me playing Poem recently, just for fun! lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B6L8PF2Npc

ps: I can't seen to embed this properly

 

[TIMEwaveXERO]

Nu-metal ..yes?

 

[chassless]

I agree that nu metal is a 'nebulous genre' and that its defining characteristics are vague, as already discussed in this thread. many bands that seem to be different on paper are grouped together under the nu-metal monicker.

but somehow, there's still this vibe that's common to all these bands that just convinces me that "yes, to a certain extent at least, these are nu-metal". it might be the focus on down-tuned power chords groove in some bands, the rap and hip hop influence on vocals, or the edgy and aggressive lyrical content in others, the 'street' fashion sense/crazy attires ...
all of these bands share at least SOME of the characteristics that define nu metal. it also happens that they all peaked in popularity around the same few years, 97-03 i guess ?

What other bands would you say sound like them?

often people have compared Sigur Ros to these guys :



i don't have a pretty strong opinion about this. there are similarities, but i still think Sigur Ros are easy to describe : Post Rock with some influences by traditional Icelandic music. there are probably (and hopefully) more people from Iceland releasing similar music

 

[TIBrent]

What defines Nu Metal????

...

DOING IT ALL FOR THE NOOKIE SON!

 

[TIBrent]

Having rap influences in a couple of songs doesn't make you nu metal.

Yeah but having a Nu Metal influence in a bunch of songs does