1000 Fists: On The Stereotypes Of Alternative Metal

1000 Fists: On the Stereotypes of Alternative Metal
By Jared Boyd

    It goes without saying that Alternative Metal is the most hated form of music, ironically, hated by most metalheads. Alternative Metal includes genres such as Nu, Metalcore, Industrial, NWOAHM, and Deathcore Metal.

    Nu Metal, the most hated of all Alternative forms of Metal, started as a movement in the late 90s by incorporating Heavy Metal music and Rap music. The creators of this music was Korn, with their debut self-titled album. This style would later be carried on by acts such as Slipknot and Disturbed. Metalheads quickly labeled this genre as fake and non-metal, due to their playtime on channels such as MTV. The typical Nu Metalhead is stereotyped as a 13 year old kid who only listens to Slipknot, and has no idea who Slayer or Death even is. He is called fake, “mallcore goth”, and an unoriginal person.
    This person very rarely exists in real life. Almost all of the fans of Korn or Disturbed you find will be huge fans of “heavier” bands such as Emperor, Behemoth or Cannibal Corpse. The idea that a Nu Metalhead is uneducated about other forms of metal is completely fake and needs to be stopped. Most Nu Metalheads, including myself, came of age during the peak of Nu Metal’s popularity and fell in love with metal. It was during this time I became familiar with my favorite band, System of a Down (also a hated band), and other bands such as Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails. Fans of Nu Metal had to be introduced to metal in one way or another, and this is just how it happened. They moved on afterwards into heavier and darker metal, but still have a deep love for the music that inspired their musical development.
    The idea that Nu Metal is a music of “sellouts” who are only in it for the money has been blamed on several bands who are innocent of said accusations. This blame can be placed on bands who took the rising movement of Nu Metal in the late 90s, watered down the sound, then played their songs on any mainstream radio station that was willing to attract more listeners, I.E. all of them. The main two that are guilty of this are Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, taboo words to metalheads. These two bands made Alternative Rock music, placed it under the category of Nu Metal and received thousands more in sales than any Slipknot or Disturbed album ever would, mainly for it’s constant play time on Pop music stations. Most Nu Metal fans, when asked what their most hated bands are, will tell you these two first, as they are the reason their love for bands like Korn is a sin to metal.
    This hatred for Nu Metal doesn't stop there, no, several other genres are hated and ignored in the history of metal. Most Alternative, Metalcore, Deathcore or any metal band in the past 10 years is called fake, and not credited with any musical talent. Bands who have received this hatred include Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Bring Me The Horizon, and hundreds more. Because they either don’t use extreme playing styles for every song, have different inspirations for songs, or just have one too many shirts for sale at Hot Topic, they are lower than the dirt for Metal.
    While on the topic of where to and not to sell merchandise, I should point out wherever you can buy a A7X shirt, you can also buy an Iron Maiden shirt, but no one insults Maiden every time their name is mentioned. Yes, I believe Slayer has quite a bit of merch, more than Drowning Pool last time I’ve checked. Even Metallica and Megadeth, Kings of Sellout, have more respect than Trivium or Mushroomhead.
    In short, the ideas I have put forth should inspire those Metal Elitist to be able to learn toleration, and possibly appreciation for other musical styles. I’m a lifelong metalhead, but I can respect music I may hate and avoid listening to. Just let it be said, Nu, Metalcore, even Deathcore have talent and are brutal just as much as any Death or Trash metal band.

Written by :