The 29 Best Nu Metal Bands of All Time

Nu metal exploded in the late 1990s and early 2000s, blending heavy metal with hip-hop, funk, and electronic elements to create one of the most commercially dominant and controversial genres in rock history. Bands like Linkin Park, Korn, and Slipknot sold tens of millions of records while pushing the emotional and sonic boundaries of heavy music. Vote for the band that best defined the nu metal era and left a lasting impact on music.

1. 1
   Linkin Park

   The most commercially successful nu metal band, known for "In the End"
   1000pts
2. 2
   Korn

   Nu metal pioneers from Bakersfield who launched the genre
   699pts
3. 3
   Staind

   Massachusetts rock band known for "It's Been Awhile"
   635pts
4. 4
   Skindred

   Welsh band fronted by Benji Webbe that fuses reggae and ragga vocals with nu metal riffs, famous for the Newport Helicopter crowd ritual.
   635pts
5. 5
   Cold

   Jacksonville band fronted by Scooter Ward whose 2000 album 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage went gold behind the single No One.
   595pts
6. 6
   Sevendust

   Atlanta metal band known for their heavy groove and harmonies
   550pts
7. 7
   Static-X

   Los Angeles band led by Wayne Static whose 1999 debut Wisconsin Death Trip and single Push It defined the industrial-tinged 'evil disco' side of nu metal.
   550pts
8. 8
   Mudvayne

   Illinois metal band known for their technical playing and face paint
   498pts
9. 9
   Dope

   New York industrial nu metal band led by Edsel Dope, known for the anthem Die MF Die and a heavy cover of Rednex's Cotton Eye Joe.
   498pts
10. 10
    Crazy Town

    Los Angeles rap-rock band whose 2001 single Butterfly topped the Billboard Hot 100, one of nu metal's biggest crossover hits.
    440pts
11. 11
    Disturbed

    Chicago metal band known for "Down with the Sickness"
    440pts
12. 12
    Papa Roach

    California rock band known for "Last Resort"
    440pts
13. 13
    Guano Apes

    German band fronted by Sandra Nasić that became one of Europe's biggest nu metal acts with Open Your Eyes and Lords of the Boards.
    372pts
14. 14
    Saliva

    Memphis band whose 2001 album Every Six Seconds went platinum with Click Click Boom and the Grammy-nominated Your Disease.
    372pts
15. 15
    Nonpoint

    Fort Lauderdale band blending Latin rhythms and rap-metal vocals, best known for Bullet with a Name and their cover of Phil Collins's In the Air Tonight.
    372pts
16. 16
    Limp Bizkit

    Fred Durst's nu metal band known for "Nookie" and "Break Stuff"
    372pts
17. 17
    Kittie

    All-female band from London, Ontario that broke through as teenagers in 2000 with the gold album Spit and the single Brackish.
    372pts
18. 18
    Hed PE

    California nu metal punk band known for blending genres
    372pts
19. 19
    Soulfly

    Max Cavalera's band formed after leaving Sepultura, mixing tribal Brazilian rhythms with nu metal grooves on its 1998 gold-selling debut.
    372pts
20. 20
    Powerman 5000

    Boston band led by Spider One, Rob Zombie's brother, whose sci-fi themed 1999 album Tonight the Stars Revolt! went platinum with When Worlds Collide.
    372pts
21. 21
    Alien Ant Farm

    Riverside, California band whose 2001 nu metal cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal became a worldwide hit and an MTV staple.
    293pts
22. 22
    Coal Chamber

    Los Angeles nu metal band known for their dark aesthetic
    293pts
23. 23
    Slipknot

    Iowa masked metal band known for chaotic performances and nine members
    200pts
24. 24
    Deftones

    Sacramento alternative metal band known for their atmospheric sound
    200pts
25. 25
    Orgy

    Los Angeles band known for their synth-heavy cover of New Order's "Blue Monday"
    200pts
26. 26
    Taproot

    Michigan nu metal band known for "Poem"
    200pts
27. 27
    System of a Down

    Armenian-American metal band known for politically charged lyrics
    0pts
28. 28
    P.O.D.

    Christian nu metal band known for "Youth of the Nation"
    0pts
29. 29
    Drowning Pool

    Dallas band whose 2001 debut Sinner went platinum on the strength of Bodies, one of the most recognisable nu metal anthems.
    0pts

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