The P.O.D. Kast

Papa Roach make it very clear that they were not interested in riding the nu-metal wave after the massive success that was their previous album, "Infest". Unfortunately for them, it was only 2002. Nu-metal wasn't completely dead yet, and the problem with predicting the death knell of a genre is that even if you're right and you pivot, you have to have something to pivot TO. It's probably not this, a collection of songs that plays more like a sampler platter of directions Papa Roach COULD go, but they're reluctant to pick one, and none of them are a winner. It's one of the more pointed sophomore slumps in a genre full of them, and the putrid album cover didn't really help anyone want to pick it up and listen to it either. That said, the articles are a fascinating look into P-Roach's mind state at the time, and later, and a few of the songs still bang. One of the more fascinating albums we've ever covered. If you want to hear us cover more fascinating albums, why not donate to the Patreon? For the low price of $4/month, you'll get access to three brand-new bonus episodes every month, including last month where we had our friend Cran on to discuss Lamb of God's live effort, "Killadelphia". You also get immediate access to our back catalogue of over 200 bonus episodes, access to our Discord, and you can tell us what to cover for an episode! Check it out today at patreon.com/thepodkast.

Yes, there were more bald-faced attempts made by hip-hop artists to join the nu-metal wave, whether it was on the soundtrack that arguably started nu-metal (Judgment Night), whether it was guesting on a track with a nu-metal artist (Ice Cube) or whether it was doing a full nu-metal EP as an add-on to your regular album (Cypress Hill). But SPIRITUALLY, no one tried harder to tap into the nu-metal zeitgeist than Eminem on this, his second record and major label debut, The Slim Shady LP. From the monster hits to the threats of violence and drug use, this thing was laser-aimed at the same audience that liked nu-metal: suburban white kids whose problems weren't that big, but it felt like they were. Eminem creates a mythos on the record, in interviews, and the album feels like a true tentpole of an era, which we get into here. If you want to hear more about tentpoles of the era, why not donate to our Patreon? For just $4/month, you'll get 3 brand-new bonus episodes every month, immediate access to our entire back catalogue of over 200 episodes, access to our Discord, and MORE! Last month, Tegan Verheul returned to review the "House of Wax" OST and a great time was had. Don't miss out, support the show today at patreon.com/thepodkast.

John finally snares his white whale as he promised not to listen to this full album despite loving "Downfall" for two decades until it won a Poll. It won a Poll, and surprise surprise, he loves it. Bryan, however, does not. Ultimately we settle somewhere in the middle overall, as the album is extremely competent but came out at a time where all the heavy stuff was flattened a bit, and it may be to the album's detriment. We also discover through interviews that these guys didn't have a ton to say, which probably informs some of the lyrics, which also don't say a lot. All that is to say, nu-metal was in a weird place in 2002 and this episode covers an awful lot of it. You know where else we cover an awful lot of nu-metal? Our Patreon! We do three brand-new bonus episodes every single month including last month when Branson Reese joined the show for the first time to discuss Liquid Gang's "Sunshine"! It was a blast. You'll also get access to our entire back catalogue of bonus episodes that totals over 200, you'll get access to our Discord, and MORE! Check it out today at patreon.com/thepodkast.

How do you follow up selling roughly 16m copies of each of your last two records while dealing with your guitarist leaving the band and nu-metal collapsing? You release whatever this is, Limp Bizkit's 4th studio album and easily their worst, as Fred Durst is allowed to act on all of his worst instincts and the results, indeed, vary wildly. He runs a nationwide "contest" to hire a guitarist then hires his buddy from Snot who he then fires and tries to play most of the guitar parts himself. He sings WAY more than he should. He does his laziest rap song ever. He covers The Who, badly. There's an awful lot going on here, and we dig into all of it. At least if nothing else, it made both Fred and Wes realize they need each other, for better or for worse. If you want your life to get better, why not donate to our Patreon? For just $4/month, you'll get 3 bonus episodes every single month, including last month, where comedian Adam Christie rejoined us to discuss Disciple's "Disciple", a Christian nu-metal album 7 years too late. You'll also get immediate access to our entire back catalogue of over 200 episodes, you'll get access to our Discord, and you can tell us what to do for an episode. It's the best deal in podcasting and it's available only at patreon.com/thepodkast.

Is Creed nu-metal? Probably not. But it didn't stop them from putting out what is either a post-grunge album three years too late or a buttrock album about five years too early. Yes, this album somehow came out in 1997 (a fact so improbable Bryan says it came out in the 2000s multiple times during the episode), and it somehow sold six million American copies! That despite being largely devoid of hooks and hits, Scott Stapp doing a poor man's Eddie Vedder for 60 straight minutes, and the production sounding like garbage. But hey, at least Creed were awesome dudes everyone loved! Just kidding. The Spin profile we read in this episode has to be heard to be believed. In the immortal words of Arizona Cardinals' head coach Dennis Green, "they are who we thought they were". And yes, our bonus content is exactly what you think it is: more unbelievably honest reviews of nu-metal music from your two favorite dudes. For just $4/month, you'll get access to THREE new reviews every month, plus access to our entire back catalogue of bonuses, which totals over 200 episodes. You also get access to our Discord and at certain tiers, you can tell us what to cover for a bonus episode. It's the best deal in podcasting, and it's available now at patreon.com/thepodkast.