Making A Point of It

It seems to me that the band Nonpoint is underrated and practically unaccepted in the world of metal. They appear to be shrugged off as just another one of those crappy nu metal band. While this may be one of the sub-genres of music that they fall under they are so much more than just a nu metal band. In reality they are one of the most complete, talented, and diverse bands in metal music today. Allow me, if you will, to provide some examples to make my most compelling of arguments.

First there are the standard nu metal stylings of semi-rapped vocals over irresistibly powerful, pounding guitar riffs as in this first song...:


...or almost full on rapped vocals over snaking, ambient guitar lines as in this song:


But wait! We're not done yet! Because, as I said earlier, Nonpoint is so much more than just another throwaway nu metal band. They are also rather capable purveyors of modern thrash metal as in the case of this next song:

Granted their thrash attack may lack the technical proficiency of say Slipknot or Mudvayne (other talented bands unfairly jumbled into the nu metal category) but they make up for it in the sheer ferocity of the music.

Every good band needs to have some good ballads to give variety to the music. Nonpoint has those as well as exemplified by this song:


Still not convinced that Nonpoint is more than they're made out to be by the metal snob masses? Well they also can produce some sick, straight ahead, grooving metal riffs that get you in the mood to kick some serious ass:


Hell, for good measure they even throw in some flamenco tinged metal...:


...and some salsa tinged metal (start at the 2:03 mark of the following song):


Although they are clearly more than they are made out to be, Nonpoint would still be a kick ass band if they stuck to their nu metal roots. Nu metal is a rather misleading term as it is. All it really means is modern metal. Nu metal in and of itself is not exclusive to the bad rap metal connotations that is has come to be stuck with. Contrary to popular belief and urban legend, nu metal is still freakin' metal.

I'm not saying there are no shitty nu metal bands out there. There are actually probably more awful bands than there are good ones. But the whole point of this post is to provoke thoughtful questions about what makes the good nu metal bands rise above the steaming mass of shit. Most likely it is because they are so much more than the limited confines of their sub-genre will allow them to be. And as my persuasive arguments (personified by YouTube music videos) have shown, Nonpoint is definitely one of the great ones.