10 Greatest Nu Metal Albums Of All Time
3. Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
For as much ground that nu metal covered in the late '90s, it was still known as a relatively underground genre. Even though bands like Limp Bizkit and Staind started to get regular rotation on TRL, you'd be hardpressed to find any kind of nu metal infiltrating the pop scene. The odds were stacked against the genre from the beginning, but Linkin Park played an unbeatable hand with Hybrid Theory.
Shaped with the nu metal aesthetic, Linkin Park's debut announced nu metal's arrival into the pop charts, with songs that were as tuneful as they were angsty.
Though most bands at the time were getting by on one commanding vocal presence, the tradeoff between Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington provided a healthy medium for fans just starting to get acquainted with the genre. That way, kids could sing along to the catchy choruses while the more seasoned fans could latch onto every word of Points of Authority or Papercut.
Sure, this might be considered the more gentle side of what nu metal stood for, but not many other acts on the scene can claim to have a Diamond certified album to their name.
Every band has that one classic record behind them, but Hybrid Theory isn't just a classic... it's the sound of a metalhead's childhood.