Let’s get this straight right off the bat: Nu Metal fucking rules. Also, it’s “Nu” and not “n” followed by the motley crue letter. And no, I’m not gonna type that weird ”u” either. Or even use capital letters. Because that shit is old metal. The metal we’re talking about today is “Nu.”
Many people have music dedicated to certain moods or experiences. They may have a workout playlist or a rainy-day mix. For me, Nu Metal is the perfect soundtrack for when your normie parents provoke your righteous anger by doing something egregious like refusing to buy you a CD with a parental advisory sticker, forbidding you from piercing your eyebrow or hemming your JNCOs.
Are you pissed at your parents? Of course you are! So let’s crank up those speakers and show Mom and Dad who’s boss. Listen along with the playlist, click here.
50. Faith No More “Epic”
While “Epic” may sound the least “Nu” of all the songs on this list (which is exactly why it’s at the bottom), it’s the Godfather of the genre and deserves a place on any Nu Metal list. The song came out in 1989 and combined funk bass with metal guitar years before anyone asked if we were ready. It sounds primitive compared to the rest of this list, but it’ll still get the job done if you’re mad at your folks for something small like docking your allowance when you almost have enough cash to buy a bigger chain for your wallet.
49. Nonpoint “Bullet With a Name”
This is one of the weightier songs in the Nu Metal genre, lyrically speaking. It’s a bit too mature for a situation like this. We can still get hyped up to it because as the saying goes, “All Nu Metal, is real metal.”
48. Kittie “Brackish”
I didn’t expect to like this band at first since I’m more of a dog person. But it turns out you can like cats and still write anthems perfect for disobeying your parental units. Like a lot of the songs on this list, “Brackish” has moments of aggressive intensity that pair perfectly with task avoidance-based temper tantrums.
47. Taproot “Poem”
Listen to this song and tap into the root of your anger: your dickhead parents. Taproot provides the perfect soundtrack to punching a hole in the drywall of the minimum security prison they have the nerve to call a “home.” That’ll teach ‘em for shopping at Walmart buying you the edited version of this record.
46. (Hed) PE “Bartender”
(Hed) PE is one of the most underrated Nu Metal bands of their era, and I’m not just saying that because they were technically the first band I ever saw live. On that show, they were opening for Papa Roach, who are rated exactly where they should be. Anyway, Hed Physical Education’s song “Bartender” is badass and all, but it’s better for when you practice French kissing in the mirror, not when you’re mad at your Mom and your (hopefully step) Dad.
45. Zug Izland “Everything”
Okay, so here’s how this happened. Violent J from ICP wanted a rock band on Psychopathic Records. He essentially tried to make a Nu Metal album with his producer so they hired a group of musicians to be “Zug Izland.” They released their first album at it was clear that Violent J had only ever listened to Staind. The label dropped the band but the band kept going! And they clearly had a better sense of their genre than the original creators of the project because “Everything” is an actual Nu Metal song. That said, this song still isn’t great.
44. The Urge “Played Out”
The Urge is an alternative rock/ska band mostly, but they incorporated a ton of Nu Metal over the years. Listen to this riff and tell me Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)” didn’t learn a thing or two from it. Just like how if you listen to my parents they’ll tell you I can’t come out of my room until I apologize for cussing in front of grandma.
43. Incubus “A Certain Shade of Green”
Normally, Incubus would be the band you listen to when you’re trying to relax after a long day of rollerblading. But not today. Today, Mom and Dad have the misfortune of dealing with my dark side so “A Certain Shade of Green” will have to do. Ironically, this is a great song to smoke to, but the reason we don’t have our weed is the same reason we’re mad at Mom and Dad right now.
42. Ded “Anti-Everything”
This song encapsulates everything I feel about my surroundings. I am anti EVERYTHING in my life. Anti-homework. Anti-vegetables. Anti-getting in trouble for saying sweet cuss words that I know adults say to each other all the dang time. Ded nails it on this one. Very relatable stuff.
41. Dope “Die MF Die”
Don’t let the censored title fool you, Dope definitely says the f-word in this one. And we definitely said that word a lot after getting sent to our room. Just as soon as the door was closed and we heard Dad turn the TV back on. Listening to this song while feeling this intensely almost makes having to attend 7th grade worth it.
40. Trapt “Headstrong”
“Headstrong” is a song for getting in tune with your more sensitive emotions. For instance, it’s a great listen after breaking up with your long-term girlfriend of two weeks. But it’ll do in a pinch when you’re stuck in your room until Mom and Dad get over themselves. They should realize that grounding causes emotional trauma, which lasts forever. The fire we set on the lawn is almost out. Not exactly a proportional punishment, is it?
39. Mushroomhead “Qwerty”
This song is a bit too “theatrical” for me. I’m not a big fan of drama.
38. Orgy “Fiction (Dreams in Digital)”
At a certain point in every tantrum you tend to get introspective. You can put this on and contemplate your situation and your future. Will you break some stuff? Will you run away? Will you communicate your feelings in a civilized way that can mend this situation with ease? All questions you won’t find the answer to before the chorus kicks in and it’s time to rage once more.
37. Cold “Just Got Wicked”
My buddy Ryan told me this song was actually about… ya know, “doin’ it.” But that’s gross. It’s totally about a chill guy who was pushed too far by society and if I don’t get to go play outside in the next 10 minutes, I’m about to come with the wicked.
36. 36 Crazyfists “Bloodwork”
It goes without saying there is nothing more exhilarating than a snare so tight you could hang yourself with it. That’s a basic tenet of Nu Metal. 36 Crazyfists live up to their name and so will I if my brother knocks on the door again to make fun of me for being grounded.
35. Mudvayne “Dig”
It really sucks when people say Nu Metal is “gimmicky.” Especially when you have bands like Mudvayne out here expressing real, raw emotion and making a definitive statement. Granted, that statement is “Look at me! Look at MEEEE,” but it is very relatable during this time in my life.
34. Spineshank “New Disease”
I only have this one on a burned CD because Dad wouldn’t let me get it when we went to Best Buy. He saw the band name and got scared because he knew the monster it would turn me into. But this monster cannot be caged. Emotionally speaking, that is, as I am currently not allowed to leave my room.
33. Machine Head “Davidian”
Machine Head? More like machine drummer! Have you heard that dude pound the skins?! Anyway, our older brother said this song is too good to be considered Nu Metal. But whatever, he’s not the boss of me either. This song does make us want to do those cartwheelie dance moves though.
32. Ill Niño “What Comes Around”
This one gets us crazy emotional. Just listen to the lyrics. Until you’ve delved into Nu Metal, you can’t fathom how deep dudes with lip piercings can be.
31. E. Town Concrete “Mandibles”
This song is actually too aggressive for me. I want to make the world feel my pain and all, but I don’t wanna hurt anybody. I feel like listening to this song too many times will end in tragedy when several cars are keyed in my school’s parking lot. You gotta be careful with this stuff.
30. Evanescence “Bring Me To Life”
If you haven’t heard any songs on this list so far, here’s one to help you normies get inside the twisted, sick mind of a Nu Metal fan. Hopefully this song can wake the sheeple up to the reality all around them. The reality that Nu Metal is a legitimate genre and people should stop making fun of my platform boots.
29. Staind “Outside”
We’re gonna slow it down with this one. Despite their edgy beginnings, Staind managed to come into their iconic butt-rock sound with “Outside.” This one is great for singing along to when you’re all out of energy from one tantrum and you need to cool down while summoning more angst to fuel the next one.
28. Coal Chamber “Loco”
Sometimes when I’m feeling particularly “loco”—like when miss a UFO grind and bash my shins—that’s when it’s time to break out the Coal Chamber. I wanted to get hair like the singer but my mom wouldn’t let me. She says it’s too expensive to get that many dye jobs in one trip to the salon. She did say she’d take me though since I’m getting a little shaggy in the back.
27. Sevendust “Denial”
Whoever figured out that flanger guitar is perfect for Nu Metal intros is a genius. Probably Wes Borland since he’s the only Nu Metal genius. Either way, this song encompasses both my feelings of rage and my sense of superiority towards the world around me. The world can disagree, but it’s just in denial.
26. Snot “Snot”
There is literally nothing cooler than a band naming a song after themselves. Except for maybe when they drop their band name in the song like a rapper. Fortunately, “Snot” by Snot has both in spades. This song is perfect for the part of the tantrum where you get a little dizzy from all the yelling and poster-ripping and everything feels like pure chaos.
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