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glitter_n_goreAnd we're back! Almost forgot to cross-post this one, so apologies if you're getting this twice.
Originally, I wasn't going to get into Nu Metal for this retrospective. I promised myself I wasn't going to cover any bands I don't genuinely like, and several of the big names in Nu Metal are NOT bands I like. You can guess from process of elimination who that includes by the end of this post. *AHEM*
However, it would be disingenuous of me to pretend none of the music that came out of this particular sub-genre had a profound affect on me. Let me remind you that this is not a strictly linear retrospective, but I was introduced to Nu Metal in the late 90s, which was a big, formative period of my life music-wise. I have many positive memories of this era, of friends turning the radio all the way up on long drives, and learning to play the guitar in my bedroom. (Although I never got good at it, so don't ask.)
First, I should probably set some parameters for what I mean by "Nu Metal." Because even though it's one of the most hated sub-genres among True Metalheads (whom, I remind you, seriously need to chill out), it's also unique enough to have a fairly recognizable style. This was still a time of fusions between genres. Where Industrial was a combination of Shock Rock, Gothic, and Electronica, Nu Metal grew out of the existing scene and stirred in Alternative and Hip Hop. Also, much more radio-friendly than anything outside of Hair Metal.
This one's for you, Chester.
Among other things, 2016 was the year of high profile celebrity deaths. I don't want to dredge all that up again, but by the next summer we thought we were done for a bit. This one shook me.
In my memory--or at least in my social circles--Linkin Park was cool for a little while, then distinctly UNcool, then cool again. So, basically like most of the bands I liked in high school that were briefly deemed too popular to be any good. Or maybe that was just my experience. I've logged a lot of hours listening to bro-y jerks tell me the music I like isn't good enough, and it took some time to tune it out.
That said, even though I've yet to hear a Linkin Park song I don't like, I still think of myself as a casual fan here. Losing Chester Bennington was like losing, not a friend, but one of the popular kids I didn't know that well but was always nice to me. I went to Projekt Revolution in 2007 but left before their set. I may never stop regretting it.
Now, there's a conversation to be had here about appropriation--the fact that so many of these artists are white despite the influence of the Blues and later Hip Hop is not lost on me--but I'm not the right person to make it. I'm still in the process of educating myself on that subject, starting here, here, and here. The point is Black artists working in hard rock do exist. You just have to look for them.
But this list is about bands I already know and like. Let's talk about Sevendust.
Not everyone can pull off both the smooth melodies in the verses and the growls on the chorus (you'll notice many of these bands have at least two vocalists), but Lajon Witherspoon is outstanding at it. These guys are still together, by the way--and still touring. (Well, they will be once the plague is over, I guess.) The song I really remember from the 90s is "Waffle," but in retrospect I actually like this one better. Actually, in retrospect I've yet to come across a Sevendust song I don't like. I keep realizing that, don't I? See, this is why I decided not to write off Nu Metal entirely for this project.
Speaking of excellent vocalists: Disturbed.
There are some strong opinions out there about what good, or harm, it does to make these near-constant references to insanity, especially in Metal, but I'm not gonna get into that right now. Except to say that, as someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I find the concept comforting. And I'm not entirely sure why. (And there is an excellent Dark Knight fanvid out there featuring this song.)
To me, Disturbed and Linkin Park were on the same level. Maybe because I learned about them at roughly the same time, maybe because the kids my brother and I hung out with after church were into them both, maybe because they were just both on the radio A LOT. Nowadays, what really separates them for me is David Draiman's voice. The music is fine on its own, but he brings something powerful to it. What clinched it is this cover of The Sound of Silence. As I mentioned earlier, the ability handle both the loud and soft vocals elevates a band immensely in my mind. But put a pin in that thought, because I'll talk more about the softer side of Metal in a future post.
Finally, this band was trending recently because of an AMAZING video from a Nigerian wedding, and time has only made them finer:
System of a Down epitomizes that loud-soft-loud-soft juxtaposition this style became known for, but does it in a way that's utterly unique. You hear a System of a Down song and you know it immediately. Which isn't to say that their songs all sound the same, but their sound is very distinctive. In fact, I almost didn't put them here because referring to them as "Nu Metal" feels like I'm selling them short. I've also heard "Speed Metal," but that's still not quite right. Suffice to say System of a Down are in a class by themselves.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Where are the ladies? Don't worry: next time I will be talking about the hard rock divas of Symphonic Metal. See you then!
(Cross-posted torhoda_rants.)
Originally, I wasn't going to get into Nu Metal for this retrospective. I promised myself I wasn't going to cover any bands I don't genuinely like, and several of the big names in Nu Metal are NOT bands I like. You can guess from process of elimination who that includes by the end of this post. *AHEM*
However, it would be disingenuous of me to pretend none of the music that came out of this particular sub-genre had a profound affect on me. Let me remind you that this is not a strictly linear retrospective, but I was introduced to Nu Metal in the late 90s, which was a big, formative period of my life music-wise. I have many positive memories of this era, of friends turning the radio all the way up on long drives, and learning to play the guitar in my bedroom. (Although I never got good at it, so don't ask.)
First, I should probably set some parameters for what I mean by "Nu Metal." Because even though it's one of the most hated sub-genres among True Metalheads (whom, I remind you, seriously need to chill out), it's also unique enough to have a fairly recognizable style. This was still a time of fusions between genres. Where Industrial was a combination of Shock Rock, Gothic, and Electronica, Nu Metal grew out of the existing scene and stirred in Alternative and Hip Hop. Also, much more radio-friendly than anything outside of Hair Metal.
This one's for you, Chester.
Among other things, 2016 was the year of high profile celebrity deaths. I don't want to dredge all that up again, but by the next summer we thought we were done for a bit. This one shook me.
In my memory--or at least in my social circles--Linkin Park was cool for a little while, then distinctly UNcool, then cool again. So, basically like most of the bands I liked in high school that were briefly deemed too popular to be any good. Or maybe that was just my experience. I've logged a lot of hours listening to bro-y jerks tell me the music I like isn't good enough, and it took some time to tune it out.
That said, even though I've yet to hear a Linkin Park song I don't like, I still think of myself as a casual fan here. Losing Chester Bennington was like losing, not a friend, but one of the popular kids I didn't know that well but was always nice to me. I went to Projekt Revolution in 2007 but left before their set. I may never stop regretting it.
Now, there's a conversation to be had here about appropriation--the fact that so many of these artists are white despite the influence of the Blues and later Hip Hop is not lost on me--but I'm not the right person to make it. I'm still in the process of educating myself on that subject, starting here, here, and here. The point is Black artists working in hard rock do exist. You just have to look for them.
But this list is about bands I already know and like. Let's talk about Sevendust.
Not everyone can pull off both the smooth melodies in the verses and the growls on the chorus (you'll notice many of these bands have at least two vocalists), but Lajon Witherspoon is outstanding at it. These guys are still together, by the way--and still touring. (Well, they will be once the plague is over, I guess.) The song I really remember from the 90s is "Waffle," but in retrospect I actually like this one better. Actually, in retrospect I've yet to come across a Sevendust song I don't like. I keep realizing that, don't I? See, this is why I decided not to write off Nu Metal entirely for this project.
Speaking of excellent vocalists: Disturbed.
There are some strong opinions out there about what good, or harm, it does to make these near-constant references to insanity, especially in Metal, but I'm not gonna get into that right now. Except to say that, as someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I find the concept comforting. And I'm not entirely sure why. (And there is an excellent Dark Knight fanvid out there featuring this song.)
To me, Disturbed and Linkin Park were on the same level. Maybe because I learned about them at roughly the same time, maybe because the kids my brother and I hung out with after church were into them both, maybe because they were just both on the radio A LOT. Nowadays, what really separates them for me is David Draiman's voice. The music is fine on its own, but he brings something powerful to it. What clinched it is this cover of The Sound of Silence. As I mentioned earlier, the ability handle both the loud and soft vocals elevates a band immensely in my mind. But put a pin in that thought, because I'll talk more about the softer side of Metal in a future post.
Finally, this band was trending recently because of an AMAZING video from a Nigerian wedding, and time has only made them finer:
System of a Down epitomizes that loud-soft-loud-soft juxtaposition this style became known for, but does it in a way that's utterly unique. You hear a System of a Down song and you know it immediately. Which isn't to say that their songs all sound the same, but their sound is very distinctive. In fact, I almost didn't put them here because referring to them as "Nu Metal" feels like I'm selling them short. I've also heard "Speed Metal," but that's still not quite right. Suffice to say System of a Down are in a class by themselves.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Where are the ladies? Don't worry: next time I will be talking about the hard rock divas of Symphonic Metal. See you then!
(Cross-posted to
rhoda_rants.)