System Of A Down, and so forth. bassist Shavo Odadjian not too long ago had some extra ideas to share on the nü-metal scene and his band’s proximity to it. Whereas System Of A Down got here up through the top of nü-metal and are sometimes seen as one of many pillars of the extra eclectic facet of the style, it’s a classification fellow members of his group have wrestled with.
Chatting with Revolver earlier this fall, his bandmate in vocalist Serj Tankian stated whereas naming Korn‘s self-titled debut one of the best nü-metal album, “I really assume individuals don’t consider System Of A Down as nü-metal.”
Conversely, System Of A Down guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian advised Metallic Hammer this fall he was “proud” of developing in that scene, providing, “All these bands like us, Korn and whoever have been getting performed on mainstream radio and actually helped put steel again in a superb place.”
For this newest chat, Odadjian discovered himself in dialog with somebody who possesses a sure degree of experience in relation to nü-metal in Matt Pinfield. With a resume that boasts stints as an MTV VJ, a report exec, a ‘Farmclub.com‘ host, plus a prolonged profession in radio and TV, Pinfield spent years alongside nü-metal’s largest bands through the late 90s/early 00s top of their fame.
Odadjian as soon as once more weighed in on the aforementioned style throughout an look on 95.5 KLOS‘ ‘New & Accredited‘. He said of the style trying again now:
“Somebody requested me not too long ago about being a nü-metal’ band. And I’ve a unique outlook on nü-metal. It’s not a mode. It was an period the place bands performed heavy music, however did it in one other manner.
They didn’t do the fundamental ’80s heavy. They blended rock-metal with one thing totally different, whether or not it’s hip-hop, punk rock, eclectic stuff, difficult, progressive stuff, psychedelic prog.
Folks did various things. For instance, Deftones had that Portishead vibe that they introduced into steel. It’s so freaking cool. There’s an entire model now — there’s an entire Deftones-style music proper now popping off on TikTok.”
Nevertheless, as with many scenes earlier than it, nü-metal’s recognition grew skinny as its influence was more and more diluted by cash-in’s, copycat artists and bitter personnel blowouts. After driving excessive for a number of years, the output of most of the main artists within the style additionally started to falter because the meteoric success and calls for of touring fostered not solely clashing egos, however a tradition of substance abuse that extracted a heavy toll.
The longevity of the style was additional stifled considerably by the exceptional breakout success of the likes of Linkin Park, Evanescence, Child Rock and extra. With main labels snapping up bands in a subsequent signing spree, the stress was on to ship.
This led to many artists altering their sound with industrial intent, whereas up and coming artists have been hardly ever given the possibility previous a primary album — if even just a few singles — to land successful or face the axe.
In the end the New Wave Of American Heavy Metallic, metalcore and indie rock scenes quickly took over, leaving nü-metal to be mocked very like glam steel was by grunge. Nevertheless, current years have seen audiences each younger and outdated return to the style. That change in tastes has been exhibited by the slew of profitable excursions and festivals carried by a number of the style’s unique brightest stars.
Odadjian is conscious of weathering the post-nü-metal increase too, telling Pinfield:
“If you concentrate on it, bro, though we obtained villainized a bit of bit — the nü-metal factor was tacky for some time as a result of each period comes out and it’s cool. Then some bands come up that ruined that cool vibe… Heavy steel was nice within the ’80s. Then these bands got here out that type of ruined it, the cheesier glam steel bands got here out. I don’t wanna identify ’em, however some tacky bands got here out.”
Whereas System Of A Down appear relegated to a legacy dwell act amid their prolonged inventive deadlock, Odadjian has for his half served because the nucleus for a brand new, extra trendy steel enterprise, Seven Hours After Violet. That supergroup finds him joined by members of Left To Endure, Winds Of Plague and extra. Their self-titled debut album was launched this previous October.