SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s SHAVO ODADJIAN On Nü-Metal: “It’s Not A Style”

In a latest interview with Matt Pinfield on 95.5 KLOS’s New & Permitted, System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian opened up concerning the “nu-metal” label that outlined an period of heavy music within the late ’90s and early 2000s. Talking on the style’s broad stylistic scope, Odadjian shared his evolving perspective.

“Somebody requested me not too long ago about being a ‘nü-metal’ band,” Odadjian defined, “And I’ve a unique outlook on nü-metal. It isn’t a mode. It was an period the place bands performed heavy music however did it in one other manner. They did not do the fundamental ’80s heavy. They blended rock-metal with one thing completely different, whether or not it’s hip-hop, punk rock, eclectic stuff, difficult, progressive stuff, psychedelic prog. Individuals did various things. For instance, Deftones had that Portishead vibe that they introduced into metallic. It is so freaking cool. There’s a complete fashion now — there’s a complete Deftones-style music proper now popping off on TikTok.”

Odadjian acknowledged the style’s fluctuating repute over time, including, “If you consider it, bro, regardless that we received villainized a bit bit — the nu-metal factor was tacky for some time as a result of each period comes out and it is cool. Then some bands got here up that ruined that cool vibe… Heavy metallic was nice within the ’80s. Then these bands got here out that type of ruined it, the cheesier glam metallic bands got here out. I do not wanna title ’em, however some tacky bands got here out.”

Though Odadjian initially resisted being grouped with bands like Korn, Slipknot, and Limp Bizkit, he informed Metal Hammer final month that age and perspective have softened his stance. “I by no means appreciated being in comparison with anybody,” he admitted. “After they put us in a gaggle, I’d at all times be, like, ‘We’re not nü-metal. We’re our personal factor.’ Now I am older and wiser.”

Reflecting on his friendships throughout the nu-metal scene, Odadjian stated: “These are my bros, man. I made nice buddies in that group. Touring with these guys and hanging out with them each night time, it created some particular bonds and I am happy with that. We’re nonetheless in that group and that period. You possibly can’t evaluate System or Korn to Static-X. It was an period of doing metallic a unique manner. It was bringing in different parts to metallic as a complete and never giving a [expletive]. That is what the children of at present are interested in and bonding inside that style.”

Odadjian likened the variety inside nu-metal to the pioneering spirit of ’70s punk rock. “Our period was like that another way: we did not care we had been mixing Arabic and Armenian parts with demise metallic, Korn did not care that they had been mixing in hip-hop, Deftones did not care they sang like Sade. Static-X added disco… There was such a cool melting pot. You possibly can’t deny that it was cool and particular, proper?”

Nu-metal, with its experimental roots and daring disregard for conference, continues to encourage a brand new technology of listeners, proving that its legacy is way from fading.