In a latest interview with Matt Pinfield on 95.5 KLOS’s New & Accredited, System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian opened up concerning the “nu-metal” label that outlined an period of heavy music within the late ’90s and early 2000s. Talking on the style’s broad stylistic scope, Odadjian shared his evolving perspective.
“Somebody requested me just lately about being a ‘nü-metal’ band,” Odadjian defined, “And I’ve a distinct outlook on nü-metal. It isn’t a mode. It was an period the place bands performed heavy music however did it in one other means. They did not do the essential ’80s heavy. They combined rock-metal with one thing completely different, whether or not or not it’s hip-hop, punk rock, eclectic stuff, sophisticated, progressive stuff, psychedelic prog. Individuals did various things. For instance, Deftones had that Portishead vibe that they introduced into metallic. It is so freaking cool. There’s an entire fashion now — there’s an entire Deftones-style music proper now popping off on TikTok.”
Odadjian acknowledged the style’s fluctuating fame over time, including, “If you consider it, bro, although we obtained villainized slightly bit — the nu-metal factor was tacky for some time as a result of each period comes out and it is cool. Then some bands got here up that ruined that cool vibe… Heavy metallic was nice within the ’80s. Then these bands got here out that form of ruined it, the cheesier glam metallic bands got here out. I do not wanna identify ’em, however some tacky bands got here out.”
Though Odadjian initially resisted being grouped with bands like Korn, Slipknot, and Limp Bizkit, he informed Metal Hammer final month that age and perspective have softened his stance. “I by no means preferred being in comparison with anybody,” he admitted. “After they put us in a gaggle, I’d all the time be, like, ‘We’re not nü-metal. We’re our personal factor.’ Now I am older and wiser.”
Reflecting on his friendships inside the nu-metal scene, Odadjian mentioned: “These are my bros, man. I made nice pals in that group. Touring with these guys and hanging out with them each evening, it created some particular bonds and I am happy with that. We’re nonetheless in that group and that period. You’ll be able to’t examine System or Korn to Static-X. It was an period of doing metallic a distinct means. It was bringing in different parts to metallic as an entire and never giving a [expletive]. That is what the children of immediately are drawn to and bonding inside that style.”
Odadjian likened the variety inside nu-metal to the pioneering spirit of ’70s punk rock. “Our period was like that another way: we did not care we have been mixing Arabic and Armenian parts with loss of life metallic, Korn did not care that they have been mixing in hip-hop, Deftones did not care they sang like Sade. Static-X added disco… There was such a cool melting pot. You’ll be able to’t deny that it was cool and particular, proper?”
Nu-metal, with its experimental roots and daring disregard for conference, continues to encourage a brand new era of listeners, proving that its legacy is much from fading.
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