Fair points, see your argument there. I’d say the first two albums were just metal, not enough of the nu signifiers for me: scratching, ‘break it down’, face-breaking, white people rapping, huge unfocused angst. Although they did have drop tuning, the occasional rap-esque verse and lots of shouting so hmmm.
That said, the Manics were around during Britpop but weren’t Britpop - and there was tons of crossover with their fans and Blur/Pulp etc. (probably)
Dunno, if they ever were nu-metal, they’ve grown out of it by now surely
The first two records are definitely nu metal. It’s why they got signed to Madonna’s label. Chino pretty much invented to massive trousers worn halfway down your arse thing. Engine no. 9 is an archetypal nu metal song. They had Max Cavelera doing a cameo on a rap heavy song. They grew out of it sure but you can’t retroactively separate them from all that nonsense.
Roots was one of those records like Angel Dust and RATM that inspired it all. Proto-nu metal, if you will. Unlike those bands Max really ran with it with Soulfly.
Fair point. He was definitely responsible for introducing the style to white English guys anyways. Korn were all about tracksuits - Chino started the baggy trouser thing.
I should have stayed out of this thread. I feel like Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence, and this thread is the Ed Harris that will bring back my long suppressed nu metal past. I’ve still got a pair of tent jeans somewhere. Might break them out and listen through all my Radio Kerrang! tapes/CDs.
