10 Current Bands Keeping Nu Metal Music Alive
9. Dropout Kings
Where many current bands blend nu metal with other sounds and styles, Dropout Kings put nu metal first and genre-blending second. Fully committed to the once titanic genre, the Phoenix, Arizona outfit have showcased a commitment to the heavily syncopated, guitar riff-focused sound of the '90s new urban scene in recent years.
The group's second LP, Riot Music, dropped earlier this year and showed an emphasis on the rap and trap aspects of the nu metal genre. Blending the rage of heavier music with a variety of funkier scenes is a custom of the nu scene that the still relatively early days group are showing an impressive aptitude for.
The group have highlighted the early work of Linkin Park as a key influence on their sound. The legendary group's debut LP, Hybrid Theory, marked the commercial peak of nu metal, dominating the charts and even securing a rare diamond label in sales. While the late, great Chester Bennington and co. branched out into vastly different genres with later releases, their impact on the nu metal genre can't be stressed enough.
Evidently, their influence continues to hold strong as budding, rising star groups like Dropout Kings carry the nu torch into a new generation.