There are some people that watch anime who simply listen to the opening songs once, then skip them every time from then on out. Boy are those people missing out. The opening sequences set the tone for what is in store during that season, both visually and audibly. The creators aim to capture the attention of viewers through the use of fascinating visuals depicting action scenes, characterization, and world-building in conjunction with music that encapsulates the plot and feel of the series. Many anime openings have become synonymous with the anime itself, such as "Gurenge" by LiSA for the first season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Oftentimes, having a song used for an anime can provide musicians with the opportunity for their popularity to skyrocket. As there are many different genres of anime, so too are there many different genres of music represented, nu metal included. Check out some of the most nu metal anime openings below. (Special shout out goes to AMV's, if you know you know.)
"rise" by Origa (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
This song is nu metal in the sense that Evanescence is nu metal. Vocalist Origa sounds like she could sing in an opera or church choir, with her beautiful tone and classically-trained technique, not unlike that of powerhouse Amy Lee. The instruments are what bring the nu metal to the song, sounds like a mix of White Pony-era Deftones and an industrial beat that belongs in a song by The Prodigy. Given that this song accompanied the second season of the anime, which aired in 2004, it wouldn't be a surprise if the creators wanted a sound similar to that of Evanescence, who had just taken the world by storm the previous year with their debut album, Fallen. The second half of the song boasts turntables and a headbanging guitar riff that contrasts the gothic beauty of the first half, drawing a similarity to "Cold" by Static-X. This merging of influences results in a funky yet haunting song that captures the essence of the futuristic cyberpunk world in which the anime takes place.
"Respect for the deadman" by Pay money To my Pain (Nobunagun)
Regrettably, Pay money To my Pain played their last concert and disbanded in 2013, but that didn't stop their music being used for an anime opening. "Respect for the deadman" is featured on Nobunagun, which aired in 2014. The title ties in to the plot of the anime, where the main characters are reincarnations of past historical figures. This song leans more post-hardcore, but the nu metal and alternative metal roots are definitely audible. The delivery of the chorus and the groovy beat of the drums are nu metal at heart. This song sounds like a combination of Sevendust during the chorus and Trivium during the rest of the song, a blend that works very well to make a catchy anime intro.
"the WORLD" by NIGHTMARE (Death Note)
This opening is constantly in the conversation for one of the best and most popular anime openings of all time, and for good reason. It's instantly recognizable to almost any anime fan, as Death Note is also one of the most popular anime series. After having watched the whole series, going back to this opening video package is a whole new experience, especially if you know what the lyrics are saying. The religious allegory with the visuals of the apple and the parody of The Creation of Adam painting, along with the lyric translating to "One day I'll show you a world shining with light", crafts the perfect representation of what the anime is about. The visuals are also beautifully colored, and much like the second opening later on in the series, complements the rock music in the background. The vocalist has a distinct voice as well, lending to the uniqueness and memorability of the track.
Honorable mention goes to the opening of Claymore, also performed by NIGHTMARE.
"Welcomeトゥ 混沌" by (K)NoW_NAME (Dorohedoro)
Dorohedoro is aesthetically one of my favorite anime, and this opening montage is a great example of why. The bright, vibrant colors mixed with interesting character designs stand out in contrast to the gritty post-apocalyptic world they live in. The main character, Caiman, is a human who now has a reptilian head and erased memories thanks to being cursed by a sorcerer. Spikes adorn the back of his head in a fashion reminiscent of the spiked hair trend that coexisted with the rise of nu metal. (K)NoW_NAME is a band who specifically make music for anime and they've covered multiple genres such as J-pop and rock. This song is super catchy and upbeat, with fast vocal delivery and energetic drums. The band also does the ending credits songs as well, which are also a joy to listen to.
"HUGs" by Paledusk (Gachiakuta)
The most recent opening on this list, "HUGs" is the major label debut from the genre-bending Japanese band Paledusk. Gachiakuta premiered in July of 2025, so I've only just recently found out about this anime; however, I've been a fan of Paledusk since their single "SLAY!!" came out in 2022. They mix so many different genres into a beautiful concoction of music, including but not limited to hip-hop, metalcore, EDM, hardcore, punk, and jazz. That right there is the heart of nu metal - defying genre expectations and creating music that has crossover appeal. The song used for this opening is already their top streamed song on Spotify. Paledusk have performed at KNOTFEST JAPAN, as well as toured alongside bands such as Deftones and Bring Me The Horizon. I'm so glad that they're being afforded more exposure due to providing this song for Gachiakuta. The anime itself delves into the interesting concept of the rich disposing of their waste and people they consider "beneath" them into The Pit, where beasts made from trash reside. If I haven't sold you yet, just watch this beautifully disturbing combination of music and visuals.
"We're not alone" by coldrain (Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin)
This song starts off with a heavy scream to punch you right in the face, followed by a gorgeous guitar riff. "We're not alone" takes no time in grabbing your attention from the start and doesn't let up once it has you. The lyrics encapsulate the theme of the anime, not giving up hope and binding together to fight against the evil in the world. What really stands out is the vocals of Masato Hayakawa. His singing voice has that classic nu metal whine, but the way he performs really demonstrates the anguish and desperation that the characters are feeling. The switching between screaming to singing is reminiscent of early Deftones. coldrain were initially inspired to start a band by bonding over their love of Sevendust, how cool is that? Other influences on the band members include Incubus and Linkin Park, with the bassist naming Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit and Tim Commerford of Rage Against The Machine as his favorite bassists. The band have embraced a number of different genres in their works such as metalcore, alternative metal, post-hardcore, and of course nu metal. This song makes me want to go check out more of their music, and you should too.
"Rage On" by OLDCODEX (Free!)
To be fair, an anime centered on the journey of a teenage boy swim team is one of the last places I'd expect to find a banger nu metal opening song, but Free! surprised me. Other entries on this list have songs that match the aesthetic of the anime, but this is an exception. It's very common for sports anime in particular to portray the sport like the most life-or-death activity in the world, which to those who participate, that could be an accurate depiction. Hearing this intense song over top of the dramatic and super serious visuals really does show how serious the situation is for the characters. The main character is at a crossroads in his life during this point in the anime, with constantly feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, a topic that has often been explored in nu metal, such as with Linkin Park and Taproot. Maybe Haruka could've found some insight from their discography.
"One Reason" by DWB, Fade (Deadman Wonderland)
If there is any anime that I've watched that embodies the nu metal vibe, it's this one. It's about a prison that doubles as a theme park where prisoners must compete in death games, with the prize for winning simply being survival until another day, whereas the price for losing is that of one's life. The premise sounds like something straight out of a Saw movie. "One Reason" sounds like a song that wouldn't feel out of place being played on a radio station in 2007. It really captures the angsty and edgy personality of Deadman Wonderland. The lyrics and visuals join together beautifully to paint the picture of what to expect from this anime, with blood red being the main color seen throughout, accented with only black, gray, and white. This anime isn't afraid to get down and dirty, even ugly, especially with the violence and a vulgarity that isn't often seen in English-dubbing, with the characters being allowed to cuss. Nu metal is raw rather than refined, much like Deadman Wonderland.
"Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" by Limp Bizkit (Devil May Cry)
Now, this song existed way before the anime was created, but the first Devil May Cry game came out in 2001, right when Limp Bizkit was at the height of their popularity. The characterization of Dante in Devil May Cry 3, released in 2005, is very similar to that of LB frontman Fred Durst in the early 2000's. This young version of Dante is brash, confrontational, and a smartass with a sense of humor who knows just the right buttons to push in order to get under people's skin, but also charm fans into loving him, much like Freddy D. While this anime adaptation exists outside of the canon timeline of the video games, it does draw inspiration from the first and third installments of the game series. The opening animation for the credits matches the pace of the song perfectly, with the transitions and action sequences lining up with Wes Borland's wicked riffs, John Otto's snazzy beats, and DJ Lethal's sweet scratching. While the original Devil May Cry: The Animated Series from 2007 gives off a beautiful, gothic vibe, the Netflix adaptation took a different, nu approach. Besides "Rollin'", the official soundtrack for season one includes other nu metal icons such as Evanescence, Papa Roach, and Crazy Town, among others. Devil May Cry just may be the most nu metal anime of all time.
"What's up, people?!" by Maximum the Hormone (Death Note)
In my opinion, the best nu metal anime opening ever and it will be damn hard to beat it. This Japanese band is a conglomeration of subgenres, including heavy metal, hardcore, punk, funk metal, metalcore, and of course nu metal. They are often compared to System of a Down due to their eclectic and experimental style, especially vocally. Death Note has already been mentioned on this list before, but "What's up, people?!" really encapsulates the progression of this story from a calculated cat and mouse game to one's descent into madness. The camera cuts, distortion, and explosion of colors are timed perfectly to the song, making it seem as if Light himself is vocalizing the opening growl, when the song slows down, so do the visuals, and when the song frantically picks back up, the video does too. This checks every box for what an effective anime opening should do. If you haven't listened to Maximum the Hormone's other songs, you should. They go just as hard as this one.
