What is Nu Metal?

Nu Metal is a sub category of the heavy metal music genre. Nu Metal has been known to blend different styles of music elements and styles into their music, such as Grunge, Hip Hop and Punk. Nu metal bands commonly used melodic singing, aggressive vocals and forms of hardcore punk.

The term "nu metal" was introduced in Spin magazine as the "new metal." Through time and presented in the end of the "Get Thrashed" movie it slimmed down to nu metal. This metal genre was introduced by Korn in 1990 and has grown through the 90's into the year 2000.

In 1998 Korn released their third album "Follow the Leader" which sold for 9 million copies worldwide, this was the start in bringing nu metal to the community. More and more Metal Music Bands were helping the nu metal community grow. With Korn's explosion of success, this opened the doors to other nu metal bands and helps bring the public aware of the nu metal community.

The nu metal bands popularity grew and so did the community. Bands like Coal Chamber, Limp Bizkit and Staind sold albums and became popular after the release of Korn's "Follow the Leader." The start of nu metal bands came from the Los Angeles scene, like Static-X, Spineshank and Coal Chamber. Bands like Godsmack, Soufly, Disturbed, Limp Bizkit, Sevendust and Slipknot starting making an impact on the nu metal community. All of these bands have had the opportunity to play in huge metal tours like Family Values Tour, Lollapalooza, Ozzfest. The biggest tour for the nu metal bands was the 30th anniversary of Woodstock.

The number of bands grew with time in the nu metal genre. Nu metal bands started releasing albums that earned the status of platinum, like Linkin Park, Papa roach, P.O.D and System of a Down. Nu metal was at its high in 2001 when nu metal was the most popular American metal music. Record tables were signing a majority of nu metal bands that approached them. With nu metal bands getting signed easily, this brought bad quality to the community.

Into the early years of 2000 nu metal's popularity died down and bands that started the wave wasn't selling their new albums as well as their previous ones. Nu metal came down from being at the top and metal lovers moved to a pop and emo punk metal. Most nu metal bands are still playing a similar style of music and staying in the genre, others have moved on.

Additional Reference

Ultimate Metal Forum
What is Nu Metal?
What is Nu Metal?