"Nü Metal" is a pretty loaded term among fans of heavy metal. Not that it isn't obvious, but it refers to specific newer metal bands, and came into general use around 1994 (not coincidentally with the release of Korn's first CD). At the time, a lot of people on the metal scene seemed to feel as if the glory days of thrash legends Metallica and Megadeth were coming to an end, and the term was used to refer to a new wave of bands who looked as if they might make metal as popular as it had been. While this did indeed happen, it didn't end up being what most heavy metal fans wanted.
True, nü metal brought a huge audience and helped pull attention away from the church-burnings that Burzum and Gorgoroth (two prominent Black Metal bands) supported/perpetrated. But it also muddied the waters and created a huge division between those who wanted nothing to do with bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and Slipknot and those who sought to bring them under the huge umbrella genre that is heavy metal. Most nü metal music is defined by drop-d tuning, extensive bass lines, and the use of rap or rapcore elements. The division among the metal community has led to a lot of nü metal bands being classified as Funk Metal, Groove Metal, Alternative Metal, and more derisive names like mallcore or rapcore.
The reason I bring all this up is because I see a similar thing happening with Buddhism in my generation. A new "genre" of Buddhism seems to be gaining a lot of footing, especially in America and it seems based mostly in Zen. The reason I think it's drawn some controversy is because some of the folks who really value traditionalism and the more esoteric aspects of Buddhism are getting their panties in a bunch over people like Brad Warner. Brad is the author of Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, and the Truth About Reality. He's an ordained Buddhist priest who grew up on hardcore punk. On his website, blog, and in his book, he repeatedly and lucidly equates Buddhism with Punk ideals. His style of telling it straight and to the point, cultural references and jokes included, has garnered him that negative feedback from the aforementioned crowd (old-zen dudes, not nü metal kids).
Personally, I think it's great. Things need to be shaken up. I passed over Buddhism at least twice because any book I picked up was filled with all of these flowery words that sounded pretentious and meant shit to me. If I couldn't understand it, what was the point? Finally I read Brad's book - and it made sense! Not only was it clear and fun to read, but he definitely knows what he's talking about. He doesn't pretend to have all (or any) of the answers, and many of his examples are from experiences in his life that a lot of us can relate to.
While some of the old nü metal bands are starting to lose steam, more and more are replacing them, aided by the prominence of Hot Topics and disenfranchised youths. I'm still a fan of early Korn and Slipknot, and think that Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" is one of the most solid albums I've heard. But they aren't true heavy metal. Conversely, I think Brad's version of Buddhism is much closer to what Siddhartha really meant than the majority of what's out there. Hell, it could be that all of these Roshis and Senseis have actually got it right, but damned if I can wade through pages of buzz-words and vague quotes to see what it is they're trying to get at.
I guess the moral-of-the-blog is to quit labeling stuff and look at it for what it is! Names don't mean diddly. What's that maxim about good advice? It grows on the North side of trees? I don't know.
