In a recent conversation with NME, Jacoby Shaddix said he thinks nu-metal is returning strong, unlike ’80s hair metal.
“I’m still blown away by the resurgence we’re seeing now,” the Papa Roach frontman said of nu-metal. “You didn’t see an ’80s hair metal comeback, but we are seeing motherf*cking nu-metal come back, along with all the characters in it!”
He named some of the pioneers of the genre, stating, “It’s great because there are so many unique personalities within this genre — Chino [Moreno, Deftones frontman] ain’t nothing like Fred [Durst] from Limp Bizkit. Same with me, and Jonathan [Davis] from Korn, and Serj [Tankian] and Daron [Malakian] from System of a Down…”
“Everybody is very unique in their own regard and none of us sound exactly alike. It’s f*cking cool that we all survived the ages and are now playing some of the biggest shows of our careers,” Shaddix also added.
Nu-metal saw a big revival in 2023, thanks to TikTok. Bands like Cane Hill, Ocean Grove, and Tetrarch, along with metalcore bands like Of Mice & Men, helped bring the genre back. Influencers like Nik Nocturnal and Kriss Krypt also played a role.
Festivals like Sick New World and When We Were Young, featuring bands like Korn and Papa Roach, helped grow nu-metal’s popularity among both older fans and Gen Z. Songs by Korn, Deftones, and Slipknot gained new streams from viral trends.
Host of the Roach Koach nu-metal podcast, Lorin Kozlowski, talked about the revival of nu-metal and said, via The Independent, “The short answer is the cyclical nature of nostalgia and pop culture.”
He also noted, “The longer answer is the consistency of bands like Korn, Deftones, and Slipknot to maintain a presence as both continued viable live acts but also bands that are cited as influences on current popular bands.”
Fred Durst previously credited social media for helping Limp Bizkit’s comeback. He said the internet lets kids discover music on their own, without others telling them what’s good or bad.
