Arriving on planet Earth in the late 1990s, nu-metal is a genre-bending side of rock music that is experiencing a revival in popularity today. An eclectic fusion of metal, alt-rock and hip-hop allowed nu-metal to become extremely popular with listeners with a variety of different music tastes, with bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn becoming a staple among many music fans. What made nu-metal stand out in the first place was the genre's distinct aggressive guitars, exciting breakbeats and drum patterns, and the expressive and relatable, raw lyrics within songs in this genre.
Today, nu-metal is still thriving, with many of the original bands who defined the genre still touring the world. Additionally, many new and aspiring artists and bands are taking inspiration from the world of '90s nu-metal and are fueling it into their own modern take on the genre. It's a very exciting time for rock and metal music, and with nu-metal growing in popularity once again, it's proving something all nu-metal fans knew 20 years ago: nu-metal is eternal.
Behind the new breed of nu-metal bands keeping the genre alive in the modern music scene, are the songs that built their foundations. Released to huge acclaim in the original nu-metal era in the 1990s and early 2000s, these are the anthems that shaped the genre and which should appear on every essential nu-metal playlist.
10 Papa Roach - "Last Resort"
Released: March 7, 2000, Album: Infest
Alternative rock band Papa Roach contributed significantly to the original nu-metal movement in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with their hit song "Last Resort" achieving #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song's iconic guitar riff has made the track timelessly recognizable, and the song’s raw lyrics about mental health have provided an avenue for many listeners to resonate with them.
Despite the song's commercial appeal, because of the song's mainstream success, "Last Resort" helped the genre of nu-metal to reach a wider audience, and thus the genre gained a significant number of more fans.
9 Rage Against The Machine - "Killing In The Name"
Released: November 2, 1992, Album: Rage Against The Machine
One of the earliest songs released that fits into the world of nu-metal's original songs, "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against The Machine set an early standard. Although the song leans more towards rap-rock against a heavy rock track, the song was a revolutionary song in the movement that fused rap and metal.
The protest anthem is carried by its recognizable guitar riff and its minimal, but memorable lyrics, and its aggression in the vocals provided an emotional outlet for listeners. Despite the track not being fully nu-metal in its genre, "Killing in the Name" had a profound effect and influence on the future of the nu-metal genre.
8 Deftones - "My Own Summer (Shove It)"
Released: December 22, 1997, Album: Around The Fur
Boasting a truly unique sound that allowed them to stand out within the nu-metal genre, Deftones paved the way for many modern aspiring bands and artists with their track "My Own Summer (Shove It)". The band's signature atmospheric sound with Chris Moreno's haunting, chilling vocals and screams created a unique sound in the song, while its mood defined the song.
The song was featured on the soundtrack for The Matrix in 1999, during the peak of the rise of the original nu-metal movement. "My Own Summer (Shove It)", despite not topping the charts in a mainstream way, became a fan favorite for showing a darker side of the nu-metal genre.
7 Slipknot - "Wait And Bleed"
Released: February 28, 2000, Album: Slipknot
Incorporating a combination of alternative metal and groove metal, Slipknot's "Wait and Bleed" is still considered a nu-metal song. The song's intensity features downtuned, heavy guitar riffs and angsty lyrics which are delivered by a combination of Corey Taylor's singing as well as signature gutteral screams.
"Wait and Bleed" was initially released during the peak of the original nu-metal era in 1999, before a commercial release a year later, and its hybrid blend of the heavier elements of metal with its raw and angst-filled lyrics is what make the track a staple song in the shaping of the nu-metal genre as it is today.
6 Korn - "Freak On A Leash"
Released: February 25, 1999, Album: Follow The Leader
One of the most popular bands in the nu-metal genre who have become a household name, Korn have been pioneers of the scene since the 1990s. Their ground-breaking nu-metal song, "Freak on a Leash", featured many of the elements that classify a song in this genre, with downtuned, heavy guitars, dark and angry lyrics that resonate with listeners, and experimental rhythm patterns.
Jonathan Davis’ unique vocals explored the relatable lyrics in a melodic way that appealed to non-metal fans, paving the track’s way towards commercial appeal. The song achieved mainstream success and won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video, which helped to further widen the audience of the nu-metal genre.
5 Static-X - "Push It"
Released: June 10, 1999, Album: Wisconsin Death Trip
Static-X have always been considered a revolutionary band in the nu-metal genre, with their 1999 hit track "Push It" breaking their industrial-infused nu-metal sound into the scene. The song's heavy guitar rhythms and grooves are somewhat danceable, with Wayne Static's unique vocal style boosting the track from nu-metal to commercial success.
The aggressive energy of the track is complemented by its industrial, robotic sound elements and the track's overall sound is an exceptional blend between metal and electronic music. The song achieved media success, receiving attention from the likes of MTV.
4 Linkin Park - "In The End"
Released: October 9, 2001, Album: Hybrid Theory
The fourth single from Linkin Park's debut album, Hybrid Theory, "In The End" was a hit single in 2000. The song's heartfelt lyrics made it a deeply relatable track among listeners, with a classically nu-metal blend of rap verses and melodic vocals in the chorus.
The main piano riff in the song became a staple sound in the original nu-metal movement, particularly against the combination of the breakbeats heard in "In The End". Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory album was monumental in the evolution of nu-metal, with tracks like "In The End" blending the genre with a more radio-friendly, mainstream sound.
3 System Of A Down - "Chop Suey!"
Released: August 13, 2001, Album: Toxicity
Nominated for a Grammy and achieving worldwide success, System Of A Down's most well-known song, "Chop Suey!", is one of the most popular nu-metal songs of all time. With its chaotic energy and non-conventional song structure, "Chop Suey!"'s emotional lyrics and intense vocal changes made the track a memorable, mosh-pit favorite among nu-metal fans.
The song has had a broad appeal due to its elements of metal and rock, as well as its rapid shifts in tempo, which make it one of the most exciting songs ever to emerge from the nu-metal genre.
2 Evanescence - "Bring Me To Life"
Released: January 13, 2003, Album: Fallen
One of the most commercially successful songs released during the early 2000s era of nu-metal, "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence, was a global phenomenon. Although the song blends a combination of gothic rock and alternative metal, its nu-metal elements blend the song into this genre.
Fusing rap vocals with Amy Lee's gothic singing vocals and raw lyrical content, the song features heavy guitar riffs and nu-metal breakbeats, with a chorus that had a widespread commercial appeal. The song also integrated orchestral sounds that have made the track recognizable in any setting. The song won a Grammy and reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, further increasing the nu-metal audience.
1 Limp Bizkit - "Break Stuff"
Released: May 2, 2000, Album: Significant Other
Explosive, aggressive, and rebellious, Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff" perfectly conveys the original nu-metal movement of the late '90s/early 2000s. The song's angsty, and memorable, heavy guitar riffs against a classic nu-metal drum beat are complemented by Fred Durst's explicit and blunt rap and melodic vocals.
The frustration in the song's lyrics encapsulate the raw, rebellious energy that made nu-metal songs in the late 90s/early 2000s relatable to its audience, while the overall instrumental components of the song have made it a timeless classic that many can sing along to.
Ultimately, the nu-metal genre has been one of the most impactful movements in the metal world. Although the songs within the genre can be a little polarizing, many boast deniable commercial appeal, and have grown to be some of the most memorable rock releases of the past 30 years.