nu-metal comeback
/njuː ˈmɛtəl ˈkʌmbæk/
UncommonThe resurgence of nu-metal sounds and aesthetics from the early 2000s in contemporary music and online culture.
Some users use this sincerely as fans of the genre. Others use it semi-ironically because nu-metal was critically dismissed for years before becoming cool again.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | the nu-metal comeback was NOT on my 2024 bingo card but here we are | The speaker is surprised but accepting of the genre's return to popularity. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | this new track is nu-metal comeback in the best way possible | The new music successfully channels the energy of the era without feeling dated. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | my 12 year old is asking me about korn and i think this is what they mean by the nu-metal comeback | A parent noticing younger generations discovering the genre. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | i made fun of this music for 20 years and the nu-metal comeback is forcing me to eat every single word | The speaker admits they were wrong to dismiss the genre. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- A new artist sounds heavily influenced by early 2000s nu-metal.
- Discussing how nu-metal is getting reappraised after years of being dismissed.
- Reacting to nu-metal tracks suddenly showing up on playlists or charts again.
- Someone who grew up in the 2000s is feeling seen by a current music trend.
Do not use it when
- You are talking about the original nu-metal era itself.
- You mean heavy metal generally, not the specific 2000s rap-rock crossover sound.
Nu-metal comeback vs pop-punk resurgence
nu-metal comeback
Nu-metal comeback focuses on the rap-rock heavy sound of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park.
pop-punk-resurgence
Pop-punk resurgence focuses on the melodic punk sound of Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and similar bands.
Origin and context
Nu-metal peaked commercially around 1999-2003 and was largely dismissed by critics afterward. Online discourse around 2022-2024 began reassessing the genre seriously, with younger audiences discovering it and artists sampling or referencing it.
- First seen
- 2022
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/nu-metal-comeback