2 cents: The music press is responsible IMO. They (Kerrrang/Metal Hammer) used to praise bands like papa Roach, Limp Bizkit etc. Then all of suuden Nu-metal was shit and old-school was the thing to listen to. Bands like Chimaira were praised for wearing 'Ride the lightening' T-shirts. Chimaira had a more Nu-Metal sound when they first came out, then quickly changed to sound heavier/more old school. At that point the media came up with the term 'New Wave of American Heavy Metal'. Lots of bands with a similar sound were becoming popular at that time, includng Killswitch Engage etc. etc. From there we got EMO! There was kinda 2 waves of Nu Metal in my mind. The first was the heavier stuff like Korn, Slipknot, Deftones. Then Limp Bizkit got big and there was bands like Papa Roach and Crazy town gaining popularity. I still rate the Deftones as an awesome band, System of a Down are funny and some slipknot stuff is pretty cool. I think Korn did some interesting/different things musically at the time. The second wave of stuff is just pop crap!!!