
MTV states that Korn "arrived in 1993 into the burgeoning alternative metal scene, which would morph into nü-metal the way college rock became alternative rock." Coal Chamber, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Kittie and Disturbed are prominent bands in this genre.īlack metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. The Bakersfield-based Korn became the first band to be labeled as "nu metal". Nu metal vocal styles range between melodic singing, rapping, screaming and death growling.

Turntables, sequencers and samplers are sometimes included. Some nu metal bands use seven-string guitars, which are sometimes down-tuned to increase heaviness, resulting in bass guitarists using five and six-string instruments. The style is mostly syncopated and based on riffs, and is influenced by groove metal rhythm. Nu metal is a fusion genre that blends alternative metal and groove metal elements with other styles, including grunge, industrial, funk and hip hop. Subgenres of alternative metal Funk metal More modern bands include Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Godsmack and System of a Down. Prominent bands in this genre include Alice in Chains, Faith No More, Helmet, Life of Agony, Rollins Band and Tool.

Many of the early alternative metal bands originated from Los Angeles. Alternative metal bands are also often characterized by melodic vocals, unconventional sounds within other heavy metal genres, unconventional song structures, and sometimes experimental approaches to heavy music. One of the main characteristics of alternative metal and its subgenres are heavily downtuned, mid-paced "chug"-like guitar riffs. Īlternative metal usually combines heavy metal with influences from genres like alternative rock, and in some cases, other genres not normally associated with metal as well. Alternative metal is a style of heavy metal and alternative rock which emerged in the mid-1980s, and gained popularity in the early 1990s.
