Social media, especially TikTok , has played a key role in the resurgence of the Nu Metal/New Metal style.
Through short, dynamic, and viral videos, the platform exposes Generation Z youth – people born between the 1990s and the early 2010s – to excerpts of songs that were hits between the 1990s and 2000s.
One of the bands that saw their streaming numbers skyrocket as teenagers around the world discovered their music was Kittie . Initially, the group was on hiatus since 2017, when managers contacted them again in 2021 due to unexpected interest. In an interview on the Everblack , guitarist and vocalist Morgan Lander commented [transcription via Blabbermouth ]:
“I think a lot of that distance and time apart really highlighted how much something can grow because of things like TikTok or other social media platforms. We have another generation of people who discovered our music through those kinds of platforms. That’s where a lot of young people are discovering music these days. So the timing, I feel, was right for that too, because for us, even being away from Kittie, we were still seeing a lot of that growth, a lot of people saying, ‘There’s Kittie’ or asking for new music for years.”
“It’s incredible to me how young some of the people are, and how there are fans who say, ‘I saw you guys 25 years ago.’ And it’s just amazing to me that we can all share this together, and it kind of transcends generational barriers and things like that, where you can have a 16-year-old goth girl in front and a 50-year-old man screaming, and everyone enjoying the music. It’s incredible.”
Currently, another case cited by the Terra is that of Tyson Burden , who was surprised to see his 15-year-old Nia LaVey Burden Deftones . The moment happened when Tyson put the song on in the car. Nia discovered the band on TikTok. “It was a magical moment between father and daughter, we were enjoying the same thing,” he said.
The resurgence of Nu Metal
The subgenre, considered one of the most accessible forms of metal, blends heavy metal with elements of hip-hop. Furthermore, the lyrics often address dark themes such as pain, depression, and isolation.
Nu Metal had been threatening a comeback for years, but the initial push came with the Limp Bizkit in 2009. However, with the rise of TikTok and viral hits, the style truly exploded again in 2023. Thanks to the Sick New World in Las Vegas, it brought back a lineup featuring Korn, System Of A Down , Incubus , Evanescence , Kittie, and Papa Roach.
Even so, despite its popularity, nu metal also faces criticism, with some headbangers arguing that the style doesn't fit the traditional definition of heavy metal. However, many fans defend the genre, which has proven its relevance by making a strong comeback in recent years and uniting generations.
