Key Takeaways
- These are the 25 best nu-metal songs of all time, spotlighting the tracks that channeled late-’90s and early-2000s youth angst into a lasting rock movement.
- System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!” takes the top spot, followed by Korn’s “Freak on a Leash” and Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff.”
- The list limits each artist to one song, covering rap-rock anthems, industrial grooves and melodic confessionals to showcase the genre’s range.
The late ’90s and early 2000s were a transformative time for rock music, and a lot of that was based around what was happening in the world. Y2K was looming, Napster changed how music was consumed (for better or for worse) and there was a sense of angst and anger at the people in charge.
And while there was a middle-class comfort economically, an underlying rage built up behind the house and white picket fence. No genre tapped into that angst like nu-metal, which rose to prominence during this time and captured the youth mentality perfectly.
Backwards ballcaps, soul patches, oversized JNCO jeans with wallet chains and screaming your head off for the world to hear were the name of the game, and the genre had a death grip on the world at large for years.
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Nu-metal’s impact is still felt to this day, as a lot of the bands and songs on this list have stood the test of time and continue to fill arenas and stadiums.
We have compiled the top nu-metal songs of all time—the ones that perfectly define the genre and give the best examples of what it stood for. Similar to our albums list, we decided to keep it to one song per artist to give the genre a wide swath of representation.
Here are the 25 best nu-metal songs of all time.
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Alien Ant Farm, “Smooth Criminal” (2001)
Album: ANThology
Producer: Jay Baumgardner
Label: Cleopatra Records
Alien Ant Farm came out the gate with a banger. Turning Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” into a nu-metal anthem should be considered cheating, but I can’t deny that it worked. The song was a massive top-40 hit. They had a follow-up hit with “Movies,” but they never got anywhere near those heights again. Still, every once in a while, the “Smooth Criminal” video randomly goes viral again.
Ill Nino, “What Comes Around” (2001)
Album: Revolution Revolución
Producer: Dave Chavarri, Matt James, Ron Saint-Germain, Saint Chavarri & Ill Niño
Label: Roadrunner
The heavy guitar riffs and Latin-inspired percussion that made Ill Niño famous are ever-present in this song. This is the best song the band has ever made, with frontman Cristian Machado really shining. He somehow delivers a performance that’s both melodic and scream-y, and it’s what ties the song together, especially during the chorus. Heavy, lyrically deep, and catchy as all hell, this is a great entry point to Ill Niño if you aren’t familiar with the band.
Saliva, “Click, Click, Boom” (2001)
Album: Every Six Seconds
Producer: Bob Marlette
Label: Island
How many movie trailers has this song been in? If you don’t know the band Saliva, I guarantee you know the song. Saliva had other monsters, to be sure, but this one punched you right in the stomach and got your adrenaline pumping with an aggressive and catchy chorus that still resonates.
Crazy Town, “Butterfly” (1999)
Album: The Gift of Game
Producer: Bret “Epic” Mazur & Josh Abraham
Label: Columbia
Arguably one of the most recognizable and catchy guitar riffs in nu metal history (courtesy of a Red Hot Chili Peppers sample), “Butterfly” quickly rose to prominence when it was first released and was part of every teen’s playlist throughout the early 2000s.
This song still has the cool, edgy alternative vibe that it had when it first became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s unfortunate that the rest of the Crazy Town catalog doesn’t nearly measure up to this song’s greatness, but the band had a lot of staying power as a result of this one track. Lead singer Shifty Shellshock died of an accidental drug overdose in 2024.
P.O.D., “Alive” (2001)
Album: Satellite
Producer: P.O.D. & Howard Benson
Label: Atlantic
“Alive” is one of the more sonically uplifting songs on this list. While most of their nu-metal peers were mining angst and darkness, “Alive” paired rap-rock muscle with an unabashedly grateful, life-affirming message, and it was a breath of fresh air.
Cold feat. Sierra Swan, “No One” (2000)
Album: 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage
Producer: Adam Kasper, Chris Vrenna & Cold
Label: Flip/Geffen
From an uplifting song to a much more sorrowfully downtrodden one, “No One” is certainly the antithesis of anything from the previously mentioned band.
The second single off Cold’s sophomore album, 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage, gave off a more complex, artistic vibe than the first single, “Just Got Wicked.” Scooter Ward, the frontman of Cold, always delivered emotionally charged ballads accompanied by heavy guitars and drums, topped off with a brooding atmosphere.
Coal Chamber, “Loco” (1997)
Album: Coal Chamber
Producer: Jay Gordon & Jay Baumgardner
Label: Roadrunner
Coal Chamber was not messing around whatsoever when they put out “Loco.” The song wastes no time, throwing you into the deep end immediately and not letting up for one second. Every instrument, from the guitar to the bass to the drums, is aggressively punchy and thick. The vocals are truly unique, with frontman Dez Fafara seeming to scream the song while clenching his teeth at the same time.
Dope, “Die MF Die” (2001)
Album: LIFE
Producer: Dope & Tripp Eisen
Label: Epic & Flip
I mean, the title alone perfectly paints the picture of what this song is about. The industrial sound, the aggressively confrontational lyrics and delivery—if you weren’t amped up on testosterone before this track, you were certainly teeming with it as soon as it hit.
A lot of songs from this era were not the most uplifting, but few achieved this level of audio hostility. It may not be the most complex nu-metal track of all time, but sometimes, with this genre, the simpler the better.
Mudvayne, “Dig” (2000)
Album: L.D. 50
Producer: Garth Richardson & Mudvayne
Label: Epic & No Name Recordings
Mudvayne’s first single, “Dig,” which was accompanied by an incredibly brutal music video, left a huge mark on the nu-metal scene. The opening scream, the heavy-ass drums and bassline, the wild makeup on the band members themselves—it was hard to deny Mudvayne came to take no prisoners. This is easily one of the more vicious, scorched-earth songs on the list. The rest of Mudvayne’s catalog doesn’t disappoint, but no other song really had the same effect on people as “Dig” did.
Kittie, “Brackish” (2000)
Album: Spit
Producer: Garth Richardson
Label: Ng & Artemis
In a genre that was overwhelmingly dominated by male acts at the time, “Brackish” put the all-female group Kittie on the map and made it abundantly clear they could more than keep up with the boys.
The song starts out with a seriously catchy guitar riff, then dives directly into heavy guitars and explosive kick drums, with melodic vocals backed by intense screaming on the chorus. What made it stand out was Kittie’s ability to sound like they belonged in the nu-metal scene while making the genre their own.
Powerman 5000, “When Worlds Collide” (1999)
Album: Tonight the Stars Revolt!
Producer: Sylvia Massy & Powerman 5000
Label: DreamWorks Records
Sometimes being a nu-metal fan is just about enjoying the ride and not looking for deeper meaning. “When Worlds Collide” is hectic, speedy and addictive—the song makes you feel like you’re listening to industrial rock from the future. It’s perfect for any gym soundtrack, or anytime you need an extra boost of energy when three cups of coffee don’t do the trick.
Drowning Pool, “Bodies” (2001)
Album: Sinner
Producer: Jay Baumgardner
Label: Wind-up
Chances are, if you were any sort of pro wrestling fan in the early 2000s, you heard this song everywhere you turned. The opening few seconds of “Bodies” grab you and tell you what an insane ride you’re about to take, as Dave Williams whispers the hook before screaming “floor!” as loud as humanly possible. It’s a frantic song with high-speed playing on every instrument, perfectly designed to keep your head thrashing throughout.
Orgy, “Blue Monday” (1998)
Album: Candyass
Producer: Josh Abraham & Orgy
Label: Warner Bros., Reprise, & Elementree
Orgy had a few other successful songs in their repertoire, but their cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday” was easily their most commercially impactful. The original was already an ’80s classic, but giving it a rawer, edgier feel with heavy metal guitars and an aggressively sung chorus made it the perfect reintroduction for a nu-metal crowd. Instead of replacing what made the original famous in the first place, Orgy leaned into the synths and electronics, giving their version a very futuristic sound.
Evanescence feat. Paul McCoy, “Bring Me To Life” (2003)
Album: Fallen
Producer: Dave Fortman
Label: Wind-Up
“Bring Me To Life” is an emotional rollercoaster that sticks with you way after the song is over. The opening hypnotizing siren song of Amy Lee’s extraordinary vocal range lures you into a gothic atmosphere, which then transitions to heavy, melodic instrumentation. Combining orchestral piano passages with Linkin Park-esque explosiveness left people wanting more after this first taste of what Evanescence was capable of.
Incubus, “New Skin” (1997)
Album: S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
Producer: Jim Wirt
Label: Immortal & Epic
Incubus would later adopt a more laid-back style, but “New Skin” was more along the lines of the aggressive nu-metal sound they had early on in their career. The pounding drums, the distorted guitar shredding and some solid DJ turntable effects earn this song its spot.
Lead singer Brandon Boyd is also in tune with the genre as he alternates between melodic passages, angry shouts and rap-like verses throughout the track. Even though Incubus only lived in the realm of heavier nu-metal for a brief period of time, “New Skin” is strong enough to land on the list.
Papa Roach, “Last Resort” (2000)
Album: Infest
Producer: Jay Baumgardner
Label: DreamWorks
Inspired by a friend who attempted suicide, Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix delivers one of the more desperately passionate tracks about such a sensitive subject. That a song with this subject matter became a commercial success in this era is something to be studied.
Deftones, “Change (In The House Of Flies)” (2000)
Album: White Pony
Producer: Terry Date & Deftones
Label: Maverick
Deftones were always able to dive into the psyche of their listeners with their eerily melodic and emotionally complex music. “Change (In the House of Flies)” is a dark, beautiful audio journey about transformation, manipulation and the sometimes horrifying experience of witnessing someone change as they grow older.
Static X, “Push It” (1998)
Album: Push It
Producer: Static-X & Ulrich Wild
Label: Warner Bros.
Overflowing with industrial metal guitars and a sort of dance rhythm, “Push It” more than earns the “evil disco” label the band gave itself. Its heavy, danceable groove and Wayne Static’s staccato-style singing set it apart from its contemporaries with a sound exclusive to the band. There aren’t layers to this song, and it lacks any complexity or nuance, but that doesn’t stop it from becoming one of the more easily recognizable and distinctive songs on the list.
Slipknot, “Duality” (2004)
Album: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
Producer: Rick Rubin
Label: Roadrunner
“Duality” is not only the best song in Slipknot’s discography, but it also marks an important moment in their career when they transitioned from a more extreme level of their music to a melodic sound that was more accessible.
Corey Taylor’s vocals draw you into the core of the song before breaking down into a thunderous roar, vocally and musically. The track is heavy and brutal, in keeping with Slipknot’s sound, but it allows people to easily learn the lyrics and engage with the song, whether it’s on the radio, on streaming or live in person. As with most bands, whenever they try a slightly different sound, there will be detractors from their original fanbase, but many people saw this song for what it was: evolution.
Linkin Park, “Numb” (2003)
Album: Meteora
Producer: Don Gilmore, Brad Delson, Chester Bennington, Mr. Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Dave Farrell & Rob Bourdon
Label: Warner Bros. & Machine Shop
With such a vast discography and a plethora of amazing songs, it was hard to pinpoint the best Linkin Park song. While songs such as “One Step Closer,” “Faint” and “Crawling” are all valid choices, their biggest success, commercially and emotionally, is easily “Numb.” Linkin Park has always connected with fans, especially the disillusioned youth who feel like nobody else understands them and the changes they’re going through. The late Chester Bennington, Mike Shinoda and the crew have been able to make vulnerable music that shows people they are not alone, and “Numb” is a perfect example of that.
While most of Linkin Park’s songs have rap-rock vocals placed throughout, this one by and large abandons them and goes full throttle with Bennington’s haunting vocals. Linkin Park’s songs don’t always cheer you up, but “Numb” succeeds in letting you know that they are there and can relate.
Staind, “It’s Been A While” (2001)
Album: Break the Cycle
Producer: Josh Abraham
Label: Flip & Elektra
“It’s Been Awhile” is one of the most commercially successful and transcendent songs that has ever come out of the nu-metal movement. The lead single from Staind’s third album, Break the Cycle, is without a doubt the biggest song they’ve ever put out to this day.
Their previous album, Dysfunction, leaned almost entirely into the traditional aggressive nu-metal sound, but this album showed the band’s variety and ability to embrace a more melodic and introspective approach. Aaron Lewis’ vocals and acoustic guitar are still very impactful despite this being a more somber song, and the message of trying to be a better person every day, regardless of the past, is one that anyone can connect to.
Disturbed, “Down With The Sickness” (2000)
Album: The Sickness
Producer: Disturbed & Johnny K
Label: Giant
Disturbed’s first album is a classic, no doubt about it, but they didn’t get as big as they would eventually become right away.
The first single off The Sickness was “Stupify,” a fantastic song that showcased David Draiman’s distinct staccato vocals and guttural screams. But when “Down With the Sickness” hit, everything changed. Almost instantly recognizable, within the first few seconds after an incredible build, Draiman’s war cry “Ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah!” hits you right in the face, and you are thrown into a ride of downtuned guitar riffs, pounding double kick drums and almost rap-like vocals.
Limp Bizkit, “Break Stuff” (1999)
Album: Significant Other
Album: Significant Other
Producer: Terry Date & Limp Bizkit
Label: Flip Records, Interscope Records & Geffen Records
“Nookie” is great, “Rollin’” is spectacular, even the “Faith” cover deserves its flowers, but no other song affects people on a deeper, more primal level than “Break Stuff.” From Wes Borland’s instantly recognizable guitar riff to Fred Durst going into a tirade about how sometimes days don’t go the way they should, woe be to the one who tries to test you on this of all days. To this day, when you see Limp Bizkit live, the effect this song has on the crowd is nothing short of incredible.
Korn, “Freak On A Leash” (1998)
Album: Follow the Leader
Producer: Korn, Steve Thompson & Toby Wright
Label: Immortal & Epic
Korn was already a nu-metal mainstay.
Then “Freak on a Leash” launched Korn to levels they hadn’t reached before. The opening guitar notes lure you into a sense of dread and a bit of fear of what’s to come next before the band punches you in the gut with heavy guitar riffs, thick bass lines, precise, funk-infused drumming and, of course, incredibly deep and emotional vocal delivery.
It’s another instance where a generation of angsty fans was perfectly spoken to through a track, and there’s nothing better than a song that seems to speak directly to you. “Freak on a Leash” perfectly captures the late-’90s vibe people, especially teens, were feeling, and it became an anthem of sorts for that generation. We would be remiss to not at least mention Jonathan Davis’ incredible scatting breakdown halfway through the song.
System Of A Down, “Chop Suey!” (2001)
Album: Toxicity
Producer: Serj Tankian, Rick Rubin & Daron Malakian
Label: American & Columbia
It’s really hard to fit in one paragraph just how impactful and structurally flawless System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!” is.
No other song captures the essence of the band as perfectly as this one, showcasing aggressive metal, their Armenian and Middle Eastern influences and beautifully melodic vocals in a way you won’t find anywhere else, not only in nu-metal but in music as a whole.
One of “Chop Suey!’s” greatest strengths is its unpredictability, as it bounces back and forth from soaring vocal melodies to hard-hitting, heavy metal-style screaming. This masterpiece was unfortunately the victim of poor timing, landing on Clear Channel’s infamous post-9/11 list of songs deemed inappropriate for airplay, but that couldn’t stop the impact this song would have on the world of music.
