Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix discussed nu metal’s resurgence in a recent interview with Rock 108.
“Dude, it’s sick, man, because although the ’80s hair metal never really had this major resurgence — I mean, Mötley Crüe had a second wind — but nu metal, for real, is having like a second go-around right now,” Shaddix said. “It’s so dope.”
“It’s cool because there’s this underbelly of bands that were listening to our bands back in the day that we’re now sharing the stage with all these guys — Beartooth and Bring Me The Horizon, to name a couple — that were fans of this genre of music,” he continued. “You can hear how our music inspired and influenced them. They just flipped it on its head and did their own thing.”
“It’s just really cool to have this moment,” Shaddix added. “Watching our brothers in Deftones have another moment in their career. And ourselves experiencing that right now, it’s so dope, man. It really is. It’s so cool.”
Recent industry trends and cultural shifts in the rock music landscape support Shaddix’s observations about nu metal’s revival.
Data from Loudwire revealed nu metal’s strongest resurgence in two decades. The genre’s interest peaked in 2023, especially among Generation Z listeners.
Social media has powered this revival significantly. Louder Sound highlighted TikTok’s crucial role in introducing the genre to younger audiences. The platform has created thriving communities of new fans.
The European Conservative noted the Sick New World festival’s emergence as a cornerstone event for the genre’s comeback. The festival brings together veteran nu metal acts and newer bands influenced by the genre.
The festival’s success has created a unique musical environment. Established bands like Papa Roach, Korn, and Limp Bizkit now perform alongside newer acts. This collaboration fosters creative exchange between different generations of musicians. It helps evolve the genre for contemporary audiences.
