00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest
00:11nu metal groups that either formed in or saw some of their greatest commercial success during the
00:172000s. So genre originators like Korn and Deftones will have to be saved for another day.
00:2310. Papa Roach
00:31The heyday of nu metal may be associated with the 90s, but many of the genre's most popular artists
00:44continue to deliver throughout the subsequent decade. Chief among them are Papa Roach, who
00:49expanded the 90s nu metal sound that brought them initial acclaim.
01:01Make no mistake, the Papa Roach of 2022 isn't just resting upon the laurels of last resort from their
01:082000 breakout, Infest. Instead, the band has become more melodic and diverse, incorporating influences
01:16from metallic hardcore, punk, and pop into their unique and catchy formula.
01:279. Kamara
01:34This Ohio-based band may have formed during the rise of the nu metal craze, but they quickly progressed
01:39past early influences to become one of the genre's heaviest prospects. It's actually not unfair to
01:45say that Kamara possessed creative feet in two worlds, as the band were also a noteworthy name
01:51amongst the new wave of American metal bands that flourished in the 2000s and 2010s.
02:03If anything, they have more musically in common with artists like Lamb of God or Unearthed than with
02:09Korn or Deftones. And that is definitely a compliment. Kamara's complex arrangements, heavy riffs,
02:15and dedication to a more old-school way of metallic creativity definitely made them stand out from
02:20the nu metal pack.
02:28Number 8. Limp Bizkit
02:38Limp Bizkit earned early success in the late 90s, thanks to their novelty cover of George Michael's
02:43faith. But this controversial group definitely earned their stripes as a nu metal leader around
02:49the turn of the new millennium. This is thanks largely to the commercial success of their significant
02:54other LP, as well as the naff titled Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. The former,
03:01released at the tail end of 1999, showcased Limp's most popular material to date. Break Stuff,
03:07in particular, would help the band ride a giant wave of success in the 2000s.
03:19The bloom may have fallen off the rose relatively quickly after that, but it's important to remember
03:24how huge this band was around this time.
03:32Number 7. Soulfly
03:41Soulfly was another nu metal act that became progressively heavier year after year. It's due
03:46primarily to the band's pedigree as a creative offshoot of Sepultura, specifically from that band's
03:52founder, Max Cavallaro. His death and thrash metal heritage couldn't be denied, with Soulfly's sound
04:03getting harder and more dynamic with albums like Dark Ages, Conker, and Omen. This was the sound of
04:09world music, filtered through the heaviest of grooves and an electric riff assault. Soulfly were the real
04:16deal, and they wanted metal fans all around the globe to hear their creative voice.
04:27Number 6. Evanescence
04:37The worlds of nu metal and goth collided with Evanescence's diamond-selling album,
04:42Fallen. The LP released back in 2003 was a creative collaboration between session guitarist Ben Moody
04:48and singer-songwriter Amy Lee, but it was the latter's vocals that truly led the charge.
04:54This was an emotionally bare and memorable selection of songs,
04:58a break from the aggro vibe that often permeated nu metal at the time.
05:02Evanescence comparatively felt like a breath of fresh air, with singles like Bring Me to Life,
05:16and My Immortal sitting nicely alongside deep-cut album tracks like Tourniquet. This one has held up
05:22remarkably well.
05:23Crying, trying to kick my suicide.
05:28Number 5. Kitty
05:35The aforementioned aggro of nu metal has been blamed for, among other things, the cultural zeitgeist that
05:42allowed tragedies like Woodstock 99 and Big Day Out 2001. To the point, we offer Kitty as a counterpoint,
05:50an example of female-empowered nu metal that has also offered up some of the genre's strongest
05:56songwriting. Kitty leader Morgan Lander has never compromised on her vision of releasing
06:01powerfully driven and heavy music with melodic vocals that hook the listener.
06:11This was done particularly well on the band's second album, Oracle, and was polished on each
06:16subsequent Kitty LP. Some nu metal bands have aged like moldy bread, but Kitty are not one of those bands.
06:32Number 4. Disturbed
06:39If there's been one constant theme running through this list, it's the habit of so many nu metal bands
06:45to expand their formula beyond the genre. Disturbed did do this, but they also had a
06:50secret weapon in David Draymond. The frontman just possesses one of the most powerful and dynamic
06:56voices in nu metal. One that feels indebted to the rich gothic vibes of a Depeche Mode, while also
07:03commanding stadiums the world over. Disturbed's songs are processed, and
07:14synthesized into an industrial riff army. A balance of anthemic melody and extended solos that serve
07:21as the orchestra for Draymond's soaring vocal conduction. There simply isn't a note out of place.
07:34Number 3. System of a Down
07:36System of a Down
07:43System of a Down may be the quirkiest and most idiosyncratic band on this list, but this ultimately
07:50serves as one of their greatest strengths. There's a wealth of influences that go into the band's stew,
07:56an amalgam of extreme metal, folk, and prog that shouldn't go together. But somehow, the band makes it all
08:03work. Jazzy licks? Check. Harsh, yet catchy riffs? Double check. All the while, System of a Down
08:18pepper their songs with fiery political content that makes them stand out from their contemporaries.
08:23Their mesmerized LP might serve as a creative highlight, but truth be told, it's all just so
08:29awesome.
08:36Number 2. Slipknot
08:44In the world of new metal, there's heavy and then there's Slipknot heavy. The band probably blew
08:50collective minds back when they appeared on network TV with Late Night with Conan O'Brien, bringing an
08:55all-out assault to the home audience's unsuspecting senses. And it just got more extreme from there.
09:08As each Slipknot album incorporated more and more from the worlds of extreme metal,
09:13this was a band that was determined to challenge their fanbase at every step, in the hopes that they
09:18would come along for the wild journey. And you know what? They succeeded.
09:30Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:34Seven Dust. Started in 97, but still going strong today.
09:44Static X. Life after the loss of Wayne Static.
09:55Mudvayne. New with a progressive edge.
09:58P.O.D. Spiritual Nu Metal for the masses.
10:17Trapped, headstrong, and proud of it.
10:20Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
10:31our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos, or all of them.
10:36If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
10:43Number 1. Lincoln Park.
10:44Chester Bennington may be gone, but his legacy with Linkin Park will never be forgotten. Not by
10:58the band's legions of fans, nor the Nu Metal landscape that received a unique jolt with the
11:03band's creative outputs. This was a group unafraid of melody and hip-hop, incorporating heavy doses of
11:10both into an electronically based sound that wasn't your daddy's Nu Metal. Does the term Nu Nu Metal fit?
11:24Linkin Park wrote songs for everyone, not just the mosh pit. There was sensitivity to balance out
11:30the aggression, and catchy hooks to offset the heaviest of heavy parts. Linkin Park was very
11:36successful at what they set out to do, and for that, their fans are eternally grateful.
11:47What's your favorite Nu Metal band? Let us know in the comments!
12:06What's your favorite Nu Metal band? Let us know in the comments!
12:07Let us know in the comments!
Comments