System of a Down may be seen as part and parcel of the nu-metal explosion of the late-'90s, but their style is less akin to the likes of Limp Bizkit and Korn than to vintage thrash from the '80s, spiced with a touch of hardcore punk. The band's sound…

Heavy metal was in danger of losing its hold on the mainstream by the early 1990s, but Korn helped jolt the genre back to life again. Combining rage-purging, rapped/shouted vocals and explosively heavy riffs, these rap-metal pioneers spawned a slew o…

This nu-metal outfit was formed in Peoria, Illinois, USA in 1996 by Gurrg (b. Greg Tribbett; guitar), Spag (b. Matthew McDonough; drums), Kud (b. Chad Gray; vocals), with Ryknow (b. Ryan Martinie; bass) added to the line-up two years later. Always co…

While heavy metal band Disturbed displays all the expected aggression and angst of its peers, it has achieved a wildly successful, chart-busting popularity, bolstered by a melodic complexity and frontman Dave Draiman's persuasive swagger. Formed in C…

Those who mourn MIA grunge rockers Alice In Chains may find relief in some of AIC's late-'90s musical offspring, especially Godsmack (named after an Alice In Chains song). Leader Sully Erna has a voice that's a dead ringer for that of Layne Staley, a…

The members of metalcore outfit Avenged Sevenfold or A7X were still in high school when they formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach CA Still it didnt take long for M Shadows vocals Zacky Vengeance guitar Synyster Gates guitar the Reverend drums and Johnn…

These Vacaville, CA boys first got together in high school, influenced by the likes of Rage Against the Machine and Faith No More, they constructed their own rap-metal hybrid. Papa Roach was no overnight success; they toured relentlessly, building up…

Initially mentored by Nine Inch Nails mainman Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson created an accessible, highly successful variant on the former's electronic-tinged industrial rock. Manson took shock-rock to a whole new plateau in the late-1990s, influenced…

This melodic US metalcore band was formed after the demise of two local Massachusetts bands, Aftershock and the underrated Overcast. Combining modern hardcore à la Hatebreed, with the fluid Scandinavian thrash sound of In Flames, Killswitch Engage he…

This Los Angeles, California, USA-based nu-metal outfit comprises Wayne Static (b. 4 November 1970, Muskegon, Michigan, USA; vocals/guitar), Tony Campos (b. California, USA; bass), Koichi Fukuda (b. Osaka, Japan; keyboards, programming) and Ken Jay (…

Rob Zombie formed the New York City-based punk/metal band White Zombie in 1985. As frontman, Zombie also shaped the group's aesthetic, a bizarre blend of horror/sci-fi imagery, combined with a trashy go-go/hot-rod look. After numerous indie offerings…

Originally known by the less-than-subtle moniker Burn the Priest Richmond VA-based Lamb of God decided to change their name shortly after the release of a self-titled debut in 1998 Featuring vocalist Randy Blythe guitarists Mark Morton and Will Adler…

When death metal is mentioned, you can't help but automatically think of the genre's originators--Slayer. By merging brutal speed metal and scream-singing with disturbingly dark tales of death, the occult, and serial killers, the California quartet h…

The members of Three Days Grace began bashing punk chords when they were in their teens carving a derivative yet energetic sound that fueled their live performances Three Days Grace was formed in Norwood Ontario Canada in 1997 by Adam Gontier vocals …

After a false start as a 1980s glam-metal band, Pantera reinvented itself as a fierce thrash combo for 1990's landmark album COWBOYS FROM HELL. The Texan band distinguished itself by offering up its trademark "power groove" sound--a potent, slowed-do…

Hard rock acts with a Christian message became quite common in the new millennium, as chart-toppers such as Creed and P.O.D. helped pave the way for newer bands such as Chevelle. Comprising three brothers, Sam Loeffler (drums), Pete Loeffler (vocals/…

Unbeknownst to most Nirvana fans, its drummer David Grohl was also a singer/guitarist/songwriter who wrote numerous songs during his tenure with the band. After Kurt Cobain's death in 1994, Grohl decided to head out on his own and formed the Foo Figh…

While a select few hard rock bands incorporated rap into their sound (Anthrax, Faith No More, etc.), it was Rage Against The Machine that perfected and popularized the rap-metal genre in the 1990s. Unlike the aforementioned bands, the Los Angeles-bas…

US alt-rock band formed in 2000 by Ben Burnley (vocals/guitar), Aaron Fink (guitar), Mark James Klepaski (bass), and Jeremy Hummel (drums). Fink and Klepaski were both previously members of alt-metal band Lifer, while Fink had attended high school wi…

Originating from Los Gatos, California, USA, this nu-metal outfit was formed by Chris Brown (b. 1981, Los Gatos, California, USA; vocals/guitar) and Peter Charell (b. 1982, California, USA; bass) in 1997, when they began playing hard rock covers in h…