Korn is better than Deftones, and deserve the nu-metal mantle. It also wasn't easy for me to give props to Korn.

I love the new take where Korn has the edge.

I never had time for Deftones or pretty much any other nu-metal or adjacent band (waffles for System of a Down, I guess), but it's still weird to me how for anyone under-30 that's just completely acceptable music to be into when you were 12 and are still into when you're 28 even though now you know about Black Flag and Helmet and Shellac or whatever.

Deftones at least just seemed like small-city weirdos with their own take on Jehu/Jawbox/Hum, whereas I remember hearing that first Korn record shortly after it came out and even then I thought it was just horrible detuned bagpipe clown shit.

I remember getting the first two Korn albums when they came out, as I was in the right age demographic (junior high). I can't imagine 40+ year-olds still jamming that shit. On another forum, I discovered a guy my age cataloging all the "rare Korn guitars." Odd.

Deftones are probably a little more palatable to the older set, but Korn are more deserving of the crown.

tallchris wrote: Mon Apr 07, 2025 2:12 pm detuned bagpipe

lol...I think we need a nu-metal thunderdome. My vote is for Slipknot, as they seem to lean into the "metal", and their songs appear to be about fucking sheep rather than how profound getting a bj is.

zorg wrote: Mon Apr 07, 2025 2:43 pm

tallchris wrote: Mon Apr 07, 2025 2:12 pm detuned bagpipe

lol...I think we need a nu-metal thunderdome. My vote is for Slipknot, as they seem to lean into the "metal", and their songs appear to be about fucking sheep rather than how profound getting a bj is.

I don't think we need this (yuck) but if we did one I would choose SoaD or RAtM (if they count).

If nü-Metal had a Fugazi, it would be SoaD, no?

Re: Nü metal T-dome, it depends whether we're talking about who is most exemplary of the genre (hence my nod to Korn upthread) or about which is the best band.

Don't like either Deftones or Korn but I'd go with (early) Korn too...Deftones has always struck me as the type of band that music nerds give half-hearted props to as being "good for a nu metal band" simply because they sort of, kind of sounds like they are inspired by "good music" which has always struck me as a bad reason to compliment something..

Slipknots "Iowa" was better than both though hardly something I'd play voluntarily...