Gen Z Appears to Really Dig Nu Metal in New Reaction Video
One of the latest videos from REACT has members of Gen Z reacting to nu metal songs. Surprisingly, they seem to really like many nu metal standards.
The songs/videos that were highlighted in the video below were the following:
-Linkin Park: “In the End”
-Rage Against the Machine: “Killing in the Name”
-Korn: “Freak on a Leash”
-Limp Bizkit: “Nookie”
-System of a Down: “Chop Suey!”
-Disturbed: “Down with the Sickness”
-Papa Roach: “Last Resort”
-Static X: “Push It”
-Powerman 5000: “When Worlds Collide”
-Godsmack: “I Stand Alone”
-Drowning Pool: “Bodies”
-Evanescence: “Bring Me to Life”
If you have 19 minutes to spare, the whole video is worth watching. Many of the Gen Z panelists featured in the video are often surprised by how familiar they are with nu metal and how much they like it. In fact, Noah (the Gen Z-er with the purple/pink hair) says, “I honestly didn’t think that I knew what nu metal was. But now listening, I was like, ‘Oh, I know what this is, and I love it, and it’s actually one of my favorite genres.'”
Latest from Linkin Park
Linkin Park was highlighted in REACT’s video about nu metal, which is a fun coincidence since the band recently dropped a previously unreleased track.
Last week, Linkin Park shared “Friendly Fire.” The track will be featured on the band’s new greatest hits album Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023).
As previously reported, “Friendly Fire” was recorded as part of the sessions for Linkin Park’s 2017 album One More Light. The album was released two months before Chester Bennington died by suicide at age 41.
Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023) comes out on April 12th and is available for pre-order at Papercuts.LinkinPark.com. The collection is available in a variety of formats and exclusive bundles via Linkin Park’s website.
Linkin Park: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked
Linkin Park’s debut full-length, Hybrid Theory arrived at a pivotal point in rock music’s sidewinding trajectory. In 2000, grunge had long worn out its welcome. Nu metal was having its moment. Indie rock had become diluted in the mainstream spotlight. Cue Linkin Park, who rewired the machine to build something completely new.
This album was the first to expertly balance the trifecta of hard rock, hip-hop and electronic music. It’s in the name: a hybrid of sounds. It could have easily dissolved into a pretentious, self-serving mess. However, the band used their collaborative chemistry and pop sensibilities to create huge, hooky songs. It became a gateway album for music lovers who were confined to one corner of the record store until this LP made it acceptable to examine other genres. The album has gone on to rack up 32 million units sold – huge for any album, especially a debut.
October 24th is the 20th anniversary of Hybrid Theory, but Linkin Park is so much more than their iconic debut. The introspective fury of vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda rejected the macho I-hate-my-ex narrative of much of late ‘90s rock, and provided space for self-examination. Along with bandmates Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell and Joe Hahn, they welcomed the weary, cultivating a massive fan community and prioritizing community outreach.
Linkin Park has aged gracefully over two decades. Far outpacing their nu metal contemporaries in album and ticket sales, their crossover appeal and wide influence make them deserving of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame status, (they won’t be eligible until 2025). They’ve made a conscious effort to avoid becoming sonically stagnant, and that’s especially clear on their latest release One More Light. (It was the last album they created before the passing of Chester by his own hand in 2017passing of Chester by his own hand in 2017. )
To celebrate Hybrid Theory and the music that followed, we’ve ranked 20 of Linkin Park’s best songs. We left remixes out of the running, but you can find plenty of those on the brand new Hybrid Theory box set.
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
