Nu Metal

Born in the 90s, nu metal broke the rules by blending heavy riffs, hip-hop rhythms, groovy basslines, and powerful choruses. Popularized by Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park, this style left its mark on an entire generation and continues to inspire today's scene.

Its albums alternate between aggressive passages, catchy melodies, and polished productions, offering a listening experience that is both raw and unifying.

This genre plunges you into a world that is both explosive and addictive, to feel the music as much as hear it!

Nu Metal Vinyl: Korn, Deftones, Linkin Park and Reissues to Compare

Nu metal on vinyl: what you'll find here

This page gathers nu metal vinyl: metal fused with hip-hop grooves and electronic textures, born in mid-1990s California, plus the new generation that claims it. The catalog puts Korn next to Clawfinger, the Swedish rap metal pioneers, and newer bands such as Bad Omens, Tallah, Atreyu and BABYMETAL. Each record page lists offers from several partner stores, so you can compare a standard pressing, a color variant or an anniversary edition before clicking through to the store.

Why original nu metal pressings are rare, and what to buy

Nu metal exploded in the CD era. In the late 1990s, labels pressed very little vinyl, and many albums got only a modest LP run, or none at all. As a result, period pressings are scarce and expensive on the used market. Most classics have since been reissued on vinyl, sometimes for the first time, often in a range of colors, and a few careful anniversary editions have appeared, such as the 20th anniversary edition of Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory".

Before paying top dollar for an "original", check the pressing year: many listings are actually recent represses. For listening, a recent official reissue usually offers the best value. Long albums from the CD era are often spread over two LPs, which usually means a better cut and more headroom on each side.

  • the actual pressing year
  • official reissue or unofficial edition
  • single or double LP for long albums
  • what the deluxe edition adds

Essential nu metal albums on vinyl

Korn's self-titled debut "Korn" (1994) set the template: down-tuned seven-string guitars and raw vocals. The band followed with "Follow the Leader" (1998). Deftones refined the formula on "Around the Fur" (1997) and "White Pony" (2000), and Limp Bizkit broke big with "Significant Other" (1999). The turn of the millennium brought Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" (2000), Slipknot's debut (1999) and "Iowa" (2001), System of a Down's "Toxicity" (2001), Papa Roach's "Infest" (2000) and Disturbed's "The Sickness" (2000).

The nu metal revival: following the new wave of bands

Nu metal has made a strong comeback in recent years: bands such as Tallah draw directly on its sound, and the original acts keep reissuing their classics. To keep up, watch the metal new releases and pre-order pages, and compare color variants, since some are exclusive to one store and sell out fast. To branch out, the Metal collection leads to metal fusion, which is close in sound, as well as hard rock and heavy metal.

Explore Nu Metal styles