Metal genres nu metal and metalcore are now deemed as dad music
Ageing Metalheads and the Evolution of "Dad Rock"
As a near-40-year-old music enthusiast, the writer finds themselves navigating the ever-changing landscape of heavy metal music. A generation ago, bands like Korn, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, and System Of A Down were not considered "dad rock." However, times have changed, and the modern definition of "dad rock" in this context has expanded.
Originally, "dad rock" was associated with classic rock and early heavy metal bands from the 70s and 80s. But as those genres' audiences have aged, the label has expanded to include later genres like nu metal. Bands such as Korn, Slipknot, System of a Down, and others are now being retrospectively classified as "dad rock" due to the maturing of their listeners.
This cultural shift in how music is viewed is evident in Spotify's recent playlist suggestions for the writer, which included nu metal, metalcore, and emo as "dad rock." The writer, however, remains steadfast in their belief that these bands are the true freaks, outsiders, and edgy artists that made a generation of rock and metal bands look knackered and past it.
In defiance of the label, the writer is planning to attend Bloodstock Open Air and watch Trivium, a stalwart of the metal scene, but also plans to see younger heavy bands like Paleface Swiss, Creeper, Heriot, and Kublai Khan. The writer is not open to including any bands that came after 1993 in their definition of "dad rock."
The writer's stance on the matter was challenged recently when a barista, a Zoomer, identified the writer as an elder millennial due to the writer's Killswitch Engage beanie. The barista also referred to Slipknot as "dad rock," a term typically associated with bands like Motörhead, Whitesnake, and AC/DC. The writer felt offended by the comment, as they consider Slipknot to be heavy and visceral, unlike the bands usually associated with "dad rock."
Despite this setback, the writer remains optimistic about the future of heavy metal music. Kids still love nu metal, as evidenced by the huge crowds at Deftones' biggest UK show ever. And System Of A Down have some of the craziest crowds in their history, proving that the spirit of rebellion and youthful energy is still very much alive in the metal scene.
[1] The Guardian: "What is dad rock? The history of the term and why it matters today"
[2] NPR: "Dad Rock: The New Generation of Classic Rock"
[3] Pitchfork: "The Case for Including Nu Metal in the Dad Rock Canon"
- The writer, in their mid-30s, finds themselves grappling with the expanding definition of "dad rock" in the ever-evolving metal and rock landscape, as evident in bands like Korn and Slipknot being reclassified under the label due to their listeners' maturing demographic.
- Originally, "dad rock" was associated with classic rock and early heavy metal bands from the 70s and 80s, but now, it includes genres like nu metal, metalcore, and emo, as demonstrated by Spotify's playlist suggestions for the writer.
- The writer refuses to consider bands that emerged after 1993 "dad rock," preferring to consider them as the freaks, outsiders, and edgy artists who pushed the boundaries of the metal scene.
- Despite the broader interpretation of "dad rock" by younger generations, the writer remains defiant and will attend live performances by both veteran bands like Trivium and younger acts such as Paleface Swiss, Creeper, Heriot, and Kublai Khan at Bloodstock Open Air.
- A recent interaction with a younger individual who identified the writer as an elder millennial and listed Slipknot as "dad rock" challenged the writer's stance, given the band's heavy and visceral nature that differentiates them from the bands typically associated with "dad rock."
- The writer acknowledges the enduring appeal of nu metal, with huge crowds at Deftones' shows and the maintainance of a youthful energy in System Of A Down's crowds, indicating that the spirit of rebellion remains alive in the metal scene.
- As seen in publications like The Guardian, NPR, and Pitchfork, the debate over the definition of "dad rock" continues, with perspectives emerging on whether or not nu metal should be included in the dad rock canon.
