The following article was written by Sugar: The Nü-Metal Party DJ Chaplin Hull. Sugar: The Nü-Metal Party is a traveling celebration of the musical phenomenon that brought us Korn, System Of A Down, Deftones, and Slipknot along with baggy jeans, pierced eyebrows and an onslaught of flame tattoos.
Initially I was asked for this to find my ten most underrated nü-metal albums and while most of these are, I also wanted to include some of the albums that made this all possible that are sometimes overlooked in the legacy of the genre.
Korn – Korn
I realize that this is one of the biggest bands not only of the genre but across music in general BUT I put this here to never forget how confident and intense of a debut this is. When people think of Korn, it's easy for the mind to initially go to Life is Peachy or Follow the Leader. I feel this has no reason to get lost in the shuffle as it holds up to even the best of their material to this date.
Seo Taiji – Seo Taiji IV
I know this is underrated because even I didn't know about it until recently and it hits everything you want to hear out of a band like this. Even upon first listen you can tell it is a classic and repeat listens don't dim the flame they got here.
Gojira – The Link
I might get flack for this because it's not directly in the genre but this album would have never been made without the movement before them. That breakdown at the end of "Death of Me"? I think it fits and is lost in the greatness of the Gojira catalog but always has me coming back
Deftones – Koi No Yokan
Although this is way late into their career and debatably "softer" than some of their earlier material there are HITS on this album. The tone shared between the bass and guitar throughout the production of this is unbelievably heavy and the riffs really don't stop, even when it calms down at parts.
Helmet – Strap It On
Too early for the production Ross Robinson and Rick Rubin would later bring to the genre and a slightly different attitude, but you cant have everything after this without this album. Drums alone we're talking some of the most influential pieces of the genre as a whole.
Vein.fm – Errorzone
Time will tell and this band already is getting the recognition they deserve but for a current band to take heed from the bands before them and execute and evolve so well is breathtaking.
Chat Pile – Remove Your Skin Please
Another band that is getting recognition in a great way but these four songs got me through a lot of flights and I am excited for anything they do especially after the intensity of God's Country. I heard that Korn influence and was finally vindicated when they talked about it specifically.
Static-X – Wisconsin Death Trip
RIP Wayne Static. Beyond pushing the boundaries of the genre visually and sonically, this album has unbelievable hooks and riffs while still being a fun ride.
White Zombie – Astro Creep: 2000 Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of The Electric Head
You have an album here that has "More Human than Human" on it and it's not even the best song. That is a HIGH bar and they surpass it over and over.
System of a Down – System of a Down
This is in a similar category as Korn self titled where it is easy to argue this is not in fact underrated. But it was what changed EVERYTHING and while Toxicity takes the cake of course this album is so important and overlooked you gotta keep your roots.
Catch Sugar: The Nü-Metal Party at one of the dates below.
3/10 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
3/18 Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
3/24 Fresno, CA – Strummer's
3/25 Cincinnati, OH – Bogart's
3/25 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
3/31 New York, NY – LPR
3/31 San Jose, CA – The Ritz
4/1 Detroit, MI – St. Andrew's Hall
4/1 Bakersfield, CA – Temblor Brew
4/7 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent
4/7 Reading, PA – Reverb
4/14 Chicago, IL – House of Blues
4/15 Niagara Falls – The Rapids Theatre
4/28 Orlando, FL – Level 13
4/29 Worcester, MA – Off The Rails
4/29 Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
4/29 Jacksonville, FL – 1904
5/5 Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
5/6 Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
5/6 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
5/12 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
5/13 Amityville, NY – Amityville Music Hall
5/13 Columbus, OH – Skully's Music Diner
5/19 Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Hall
5/19 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
5/20 Albany, NY – Empire Live
5/20 Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall
6/2 Memphis, TN – Growlers
6/9 Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
6/10 Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
6/10 Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground
6/16 Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre
6/16 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
6/17 Palatine, IL – Durty Nellies
7/15 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
