São Paulo nu metal upstarts InDharma cover a lot of ground on their eponymous debut EP, but no moment hits as unforgettably hard as the chorus on the LP-inspired anthem “Pêndulo.” Dueling emcees Rappa Nui and Nego Max capture the lightning-in-a-bottle energy of the Shinoda/Bennington dynamic like few others can, and against their fucking massive arrangements and use of samples, the band earnestly drills down on everything that gave Hybrid Theory and Meteora a quarter-century of staying power. Rappa Nui has an undeniable instinct for full-throated melodrama, making him a kindred spirit of Bloodywood’s Jayant Bhadula and, of course, the late Chester Bennington. And lyrically, “Pêndulo” is peak LP, delivering hooky choruses about facing adversity head-on and pushing through the often terrifying curve balls life throws our way. It doesn’t matter if the pendulum chooses you, what matters is how you face life’s intensity and come out stronger on the other side. It’s a beautiful and evocative tribute to one of nu metal’s most iconic acts, while simultaneously charting a path toward bright new horizons. Keep an eye on these guys.
Runner Up: Linkin Park - “Two Faced”. They did their best.
