Is Linkin Park "metal"?

opethdisciple

opethdisciple

opethdisciple

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Having debate with a friend whether Linkin Park is "metal".

I argue that it being "nu-metal" which is considered to be a sub genre of metal makes it a metal band.

He's argument is that the metal scene is divided on the subject and points me at articles such as this.

So please give me your opinions is Linkin Park "metal"?
 
It’s ‘nu-metal’ which sits under the ‘metal’… much in the same way that ‘progressive rock’ and ‘punk rock’ are sub-genres of ‘rock’.
 
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People were making this argument when Hybrid Theory came out when I was in 6th form. Most of it is just people wanting to gatekeep because they don’t want stuff that appeals to a larger audience /gen pop attached to their subgroup, since this is a threat to their identity as a metalhead. It spirals down into the weeds too - pick any metal sub-genre and you’ll find internet enforcers insisting x band isn’t really blackened technical death metal because of y or z. Worst thing about ‘the community’ (as someone who has been listening to heavy music for over half his life).
 
My main memory of that era is that everyone who was into old school metal like Iron Maiden and Metallica looked down on the people who liked Nu Metal such as Korn and Limp Bizkit and then a few years later everyone who was into Korn and Limp Bizkit looked down on the people who liked Linkin Park. It was like some form of Metal hierarchy and Linkin Park and their fanbase were planted firmly at the bottom of it, the filthy casuals.

They were the watered-down radio-friendly 'my first metal band', basically what Pendulum were to DNB.
 
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You wouldn't define linken park metal but it is part of the family tree.

Metal_Genealogy.jpg


This is from the movie "Metal: a head bangers journey" which is worth a watch for the origins and understanding the genre. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal:_A_Headbanger's_Journey
 
I lost track of all the genres years ago. I know the point of the thread is due to a discussion between friends, but who really cares if a band is X or not? Would it maximise your enjoyment if you could slot it neatly into a category?

As has been said, that’s one of the really naff things about the general community who like heavier music, it comes across as elitist and something to beat others with if they don’t conform to someone’s own tastes, when really it doesn’t matter one jot.
 
Converge said:
I lost track of all the genres years ago. I know the point of the thread is due to a discussion between friends, but who really cares if a band is X or not? Would it maximise your enjoyment if you could slot it neatly into a category?

As has been said, that’s one of the really naff things about the general community who like heavier music, it comes across as elitist and something to beat others with if they don’t conform to someone’s own tastes, when really it doesn’t matter one jot.
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Yes, its not that I particularly care about if said band is x or y, its the point that every resource out there puts them as nu-mtal which is a subgenre of metal and yet my friend refuses to believe that nu-metal is a sub genre of metal at all.

Apparently its a big debate amongst the community.

The fact its even a debate means there must be some truth that nu-metal is a sub genre of metal.

Ask google it tells you yes its a sub genre.

Ask an AI chat bot and it tells you its a sub genre.

Look at Wikipedia and it tells you its a sub genre.

Look up metal concerts 2025 and your find linking park.

Even look at discussions on redit and nu-metal is listed as a subgenre.

However apparently we are wrong and Nu-metal is in fact NOT a subgenre of metal....
 
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I used to frequent DJ forums back in the early days of t'internet, and one of the most commonly discussed and debated topics was what genre of music a tune came under, with the most offended people being those that would refuse anything as being "proper house music" unless it was something they basically liked and would play themselves. This is despite that arguably most electronic stuff with a 4/4 beat can be said to be a derivative of house. But anyway, music genre discussion will end in nobody "winning" as such. There is just too much overlap to define stuff. Linkin I listen to a lot and would describe as nu-metal. :)
 
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