Top Ten – Nu-Metal Anthems

As selected by BSM's Kev Douch...

While Clash will be bathing in the Scottish sunshine at RockNess this weekend, taking in sets from Flaming Lips, Prodigy, Basement Jaxx and Dizzee Rascal, we’re also sparing a thought or two for those heading to the nation’s very best metal fest: Download.

The three-dayer features headline sets from the reunited Faith No More, masked monsters Slipknot and arena legends Def Leppard, plus performances from the likes of ZZ Top and Whitesnake for the oldies, and Marilyn Manson and Bring Me The Horizon for The Kids. Most interestingly of all, though, is the presence of nu-metal at the festival, with Papa Roach, Korn and Limp Bizkit all showing up. It seems it’s the summer of ’98 again…

To mark this return of decks and drums and rock ‘n’ roll, Kevin Douch of Big Scary Monsters – one of the country’s finest independent labels – has compiled a special top ten nu-metal tracks. Find ‘em, download, and then head to Download: it’s sure to be quite the retro blast.

And over to Kev…

– – –

I’ve been meaning to compile this list for a few months now but, like standing at the bottom of Everest and peering up through the clouds, it’s a daunting challenge. The fear of missing out someone crucial, although huge, is nothing in comparison with the worry of another misspent day wiled away on YouTube, regressing, swearing and wondering what happened to that old Family Values Tour DVD. I have a record label to run and, as a wise Irishman once rapped: “another day, another dollar”.

This weekend, myself and my great unwashed, mid-twenty-something compadres head off to Donington for Download festival and the greatest nu-metal showcase this side of the Millennium. Limp Bizkit, Korn, Staind, Papa Roach, Slipknot and even that interesting new, arguably decade-too-late mob, Hollywood Undead, will be peddling their wares to the rain-soaked crowd as we all jump da fuck up for the old hits and head to the bar for the new.

To mark the momentous occasion, I don’t think there’ll ever be a better time to bite the bullet and compile this: my all-time top 10 nu-metal anthems list.

– – –

1) Lostprophets – ‘Shinobivsdragonninja’

Swooping in towards the end of the glory years, Lostprophets were everything I ever wanted as a moody sixth former, now too cool for the American heavyweights but not quite ready to fully embrace emo. ‘Shinobivsdragonninja’ has been my number one ever since the first time I saw the band play to roughly 40 people at The Wheatsheaf in Oxford. I had gone expecting to see Vacant Stare (supported by Defenestration, fact fans), but the band pulled out at the last minute and were replaced by a bunch of Welsh unknowns. As the huddled group of men on the tiny stage, tight t-shirts, baggy jeans and big, beaded necklaces soared into the air, completely as one, before crashing to the ground right on the ‘d’ of the first ‘dung-gud-duggan’ riff, the eyebrows lifted clear off my face and I was in love.

‘Shinobivsdragonninja’ (live)

– – –

2) Papa Roach – ‘Last Resort’

A song that has transcended time. I recently DJ’d at the O2 Academy in Oxford and absolutely nothing provided a response from the dance-happy crowd as the immortal “cut my life into pieces” words piercing through the night and raising every single fist to the air. I still refuse to refer to Jacoby Shaddix by anything other than Coby Dick. I guess that means I’m nasty.

‘Last Resort’ (official video)

– – –

3) Limp Bizkit – ‘Rollin’’

It doesn’t matter who you are (“hey rockers, hip-hoppers”), we all know how to dance to this one. If it wasn’t for the sentimental reasons, this would have a damn good shot at the number one slot, even if it does break my “DJ Lethal ‘brings on’ all of the best Limp Bizkit songs” rule. It’s good to have you back, red cap.

‘Rollin’’ (official video)

– – –

4) Linkin Park – ‘One Step Closer’

They had it all. The gravel-throated angry sing-alongs, the rapped verses, the wacky guitarist parading around in his big headphones and the non-stop scratching: the boxes were ticked and I couldn’t have asked for more. The first time Jo Whiley play this song one weekday lunchtime, the woman on the desk next to me at work almost fell over. “Ooh, I don’t like all that screaming,” she said. I smirked and allowed myself a little daydream about the impending revolution.

‘One Step Closer’ (official video)

– – –

5) Deftones – ‘My Own Summer (Shove It)’

Arguably the hardest decision I’ve had to make so far: which Deftones (pictured) song gets the nod? This could almost be a list within a list, but ‘My Own Summer’ eventually wins out, and I don’t think I’d be alone in that choice. Oh, those bloody-curdling screams…

‘My Own Summer (Shove It)’ (live)

– – –

6) Mudvayne – ‘Dig’

Despite being some of the weirdest looking creatures around, the painted men in dungarees, boiler suits with funny blue hair and huge beards made some of the catchiest, bass-lead angry hits around. ‘Dig’, quite frankly, is A Tune.

‘Dig’ (live)

– – –

7) Dry Kill Logic – ‘Nightmare’

With lyrics like “you worthless piece of shit”, this was hardly the feel good hit of the summer. I missed watching England beat Germany 5-1 because I instead opted to see this bunch support Spineshank in Oxford. Footballing history or not, I don’t regret it.

‘Nightmare’ (live)

– – –

8) Korn – ‘Blind’

The Blur vs Oasis of the nu-metal world and a potentially volatile statement, but I always preferred Limp Bizkit. That said, ‘Blind’ was amazing. It’s Korn before they ran out of ideas, full of energy and enthusiasm. They made us want to wear Adidas and even contemplate dreadlocks for a few, youthful seconds.

‘Blind’ (official video)

– – –

9) Taproot – ‘Again And Again’

The most nasal man in nu-metal, and some of the most crushing riffs too. Hands up all of you were saw this bunch supporting Deftones and Likin Park at Docklands Arena all those years ago… (I was at the Manchester Apollo, actually – Ed.)

‘Again And Again’ (audio only)

– – –

10) Autonomy – ‘S/K/N/S’

Northampton’s greatest nu-metal act, the twin vocal assault (including a guy called Soup, who was apparently Chino’s room mate at college) of Autonomy won them a huge deal with Earache Records and the opening slot on the first ever Big Scary Monsters Records compilation release. Unfortunately for them, they peaked too early and quickly vanished.

(Can’t find a video – sorry!)

– – –

Well that’s Kev’s list – what, no System Of A Down?! Get involved and post your comments on our Top Ten Nu-Metal Anthems below…

(Find Big Scary Monsters online HERE.)

-
Join the Clash mailing list for up to the minute music, fashion and film news.