Nu metal might still rank among pop culture’s most maligned musical movements, but it was always destined for a comeback. It was just too big to forget – and too dumb to die.
Talk of a revival has been brewing for years now, fuelled by the emergence of emo rap and trap metal, crossover genres taking clear precedent from nu metal’s syncopated stew of pneumatic riffing, peppered with hip-hop beats, rhymes and turntablist trickery.
Newer metal bands from Code Orange to Fever 333 have inherited this once-sacrilegious stylistic DNA without shame, while artsy electro singer-songwriters Poppy and Grimes have flirted with nu metal’s outsized aesthetics. Last year, the hyperpop 100 Gecs duo dropped a provocative reimagining of Linkin Park anthem One Step Closer which just sent us all rushing back to the original.
More evidence? There’s an unusual amount of digital hype about the February 4 arrival of Korn’s 14th album, Requiem, a slender 32-minute set that marks a pointedly “punchy and hooky” return (although real fans will tell you that work rate reveals the California quintet never went away – the limelight was simply looking elsewhere).
Lauded and lamented equally as the OG progenitors of nu metal, Korn dropped their eponymous debut into the post-grunge landscape of 1994, pogoing down the path ahead for vitriolic debut outings from also-rans Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach (both 1997), System of a Down (1998) and Linkin Park, whose 2000 debut Hybrid Theory arguably marked the movement’s critical and commercial peak – immortalised by karaoke staple In The End.
“The first Korn record brought the seven-string [guitar] as the main ingredient of their sound – downtuned, weird sounding, no one had done it before,” remembers French metal guitarist Antonin Carre. “It was aesthetically different, with a lack of obvious harmonies, a bit dissonant – very heavy, two- or three-note riffs. The simplicity and sheer impact of those riffs brought it mass visibility.”
Nu metal took the worst parts of hip-hop and brought it to rock music, and rock fans got snobby
Lauren James,
music critic
And after a while, it all started to sound the same. “Somehow for the mainstream audience, you had just a few bands and they all had the same very recognisable elements,” he says.
Inevitably, the bite back was swift. It wasn’t just the petty, obnoxious “u” — the very idea of a populist metal trend was anathema to the world’s most puritanical musical subculture. Metal, and metallers, are defined by their very opposition to the mainstream, to changing trends and seasons — dirgy drop tunings, demonic howls and a whole lot of black will never be in, or out, of fashion. This petulant, blasphemous hybrid was soon dismissed as “mallcore”.
“It became a joke,” recalls British rock and metal critic Lauren James. “There was nothing to decode about it, it was heavy head-banging tunes you could blast out of your car and feel angry about something.”
A sample Limp Bizkit lyric? “It's just one of those days / Where you don't want to wake up … / Everybody sucks”, runs heyday fan fave Break Stuff.
“People thought it was just dumb, there was no substance to it. Nu metal took the worst parts of hip-hop and brought it to rock music, and rock fans got snobby,” says James. “Limp Bizkit were the symptomatic straw man for that, for years they were the butt of all jokes.”
But the Bizkit are enjoying the greatest critical reappraisal of all. Last year’s long-delayed comeback Still Sucks –– the Florida quintet’s first new album in a decade was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, the knowing, nod-wink Dad Vibes declared Loudwire’s Rock Song of the Year.
Like every meaningful trend, there’s an inevitably cyclic nostalgia play: the teenagers who pogoed into Y2K are now in their stable, affluent thirties, looking back on their misspent youth with enviously rosy designer spectacles. While the diehard tastemakers of yesteryear may have scorned the likes of Korn, POD, Staind and, most especially, Limp Bizkit, many of today’s millennial metalheads might reluctantly admit it was these commercially visible crossover acts that first introduced them to the genre.
“A lot of people won’t admit to liking nu metal even though it was their gateway into heavier music,” says James. “It demystified heavier music to people who might have been into hip-hop or pop – it was really catchy and poppy, and got on to the radio, it was just everywhere.”
But there’s also a younger generation apparently embracing the simpler times of vintage nu metal. The genre’s brazen sonics and blunt themes appear to resonate with Gen Z, its themes of alienation, injustice and despair sounding a sombre harmony to our increasingly polarised, unequal world. Nu metal’s earnest sincerity has been repackaged as a ready-made, ironic middle finger to the pervading world order.
Plus, let’s face it, the merging of rock and rap that felt so tastelessly blasphemous to casual listeners 20 years ago is pretty tame by 2022 standards. Thanks to streaming technologies, we’ve long been habitualised to the “post-genre” age, where listeners click between eras and styles as thoughtlessly as artists cross-contaminate them – in evidence in everything from Robert Glasper’s alchemy of jazz and hip-hop to Lil Nas X’s world-conquering “country rap” breakout Old Town Road.
If the re-emergence of nu metal had a moment it was surely Limp Bizkit’s meme-starting Lollapalooza appearance last summer. Used to being pop culture’s punching bag, frontman Fred Durst reset the narrative by ditching his trademark wide trousers, baseball cap and chains, instead hobbling on stage in deliberate dad dress — now aged 51 — an ugly beige shirt and windbreaker, topped by a head of (likely fake) curly grey hair. The memes were unrepentant — but largely kind-hearted.
Nu metal never went away, it just got kudos again, and got edgy again
Lauren James
“The gig showed they were in on the joke,” says James, “and that reached out to all these Gen Zedders. Something in that appeals to people nowadays. In meme culture, people gravitate towards stuff that’s ironic – something that wasn’t cool, now you pretend and make it cool.
“And now older people have realised it's OK to like these bands – and to say it. They’ve realised what was once a bit of a guilty pleasure are actually real artists, and they’re less embarrassed by it all.
“Nu metal never went away, it just got kudos again, and got edgy again – it found what it had lost in the intervening decades.”
So, in the immortal words of Durst himself: “DJ Lethal, bring it awwn!”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFatigue%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3Enumbness%20and%20tingling%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELoss%20of%20balance%20and%20dizziness%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStiffness%20or%20spasms%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETremor%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPain%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBladder%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBowel%20trouble%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVision%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EProblems%20with%20memory%20and%20thinking%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE%20JERSEYS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERed%20Jersey%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EGeneral%20Classification%2C%20sponsored%20by%20Fatima%20bint%20Mubarak%20Ladies%20Academy%3A%20Worn%20daily%2C%20starting%20from%20Stage%202%2C%20by%20the%20leader%20of%20the%20General%20Classification.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGreen%20Jersey%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EPoints%20Classification%2C%20sponsored%20by%20Bike%20Abu%20Dhabi%3A%20Worn%20daily%2C%20starting%20from%20Stage%202%2C%20by%20the%20fastest%20sprinter.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWhite%20Jersey%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYoung%20Rider%20Classification%2C%20sponsored%20by%20Abu%20Dhabi%20360%3A%20Worn%20daily%2C%20starting%20from%20Stage%202%2C%20by%20the%20best%20young%20rider%20(U25).%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBlack%20Jersey%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EIntermediate%20Sprint%20Classification%2C%20sponsored%20by%20Experience%20Abu%20Dhabi%3A%20Worn%20daily%2C%20starting%20from%20Stage%202%2C%20by%20the%20rider%20who%20has%20gained%20most%20Intermediate%20sprint%20points.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Woman%20King%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gina%20Prince-Bythewood%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Thuso%20Mbedu%2C%20Sheila%20Atim%2C%20Lashana%20Lynch%2C%20John%20Boyega%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution