Taking sides: Is the return of nu-metal a sign of the apocalypse?

Fred Durst is back, whether you like it or not. (Rich Lipski/TWP)

Undeniable sign that the end is nigh: The widely loathed rap-rock brohams of Limp Bizkit are gearing up to release a new album called "Gold Cobra" this March.

Or is it? Many view late-'90s nu-metal as rock-n-roll's nadir -- while others have found themselves curiously nostalgic for the "Nookie." In Click Track's weekly Taking sides column, our contributors tackle the question: Could a nu-metal relapse actually be a good thing?

(Share your comments, after the jump.)

Allison Stewart: I'm all for late '90s hard rock nostalgia -- at this point Chris Cornell wouldn't have a career without it -- but Limp Bizkit now represent everything indulgent and awful about the genre, and the era. It's hard to imagine any kind of path to a successful comeback. I shudder to think of the precedent it would set: If Limp Bizkit came back, Alien Ant Farm could, too. And that's not okay.

Chris Richards: With the prospect of a new Deftones album on the horizon (arguably one of the most slept-on, misunderstood rock groups of our generation), I am super-gluing the rose-colored glasses to my face and opening my arms to a nu-metal resurgence. Why not? Certain Korn songs sound way better than I remember and if anything, a new Limp Bizkit album would make for some interesting compare-n-contrast with Lil Wayne's latest.

Sarah Godfrey: I can accept of the resurgence of nu metal -- mostly because I'm enjoying the recent glut of '90s band comebacks. And I know that, as much as I'd like to, I can't control which bands reunite. If revisiting that decade of music means I must endure Limp Bizkit along with my Soundgarden and Brand Nubian reunions, I'm willing. It's a small price to pay, really.

David Malitz: Allow me a quick reminiscence - I was at Warped Tour in 1997 (hell yes I was) and right before Hepcat played I had to suffer through some loud, unknown rap-rock band fronted by a total [expletive] who spent most of his time insulting the audience and cursing. That band was, of course, Limp Bizkit. If nu-metal is making a comeback, it won't really mean anything except some bros might get to pay $45 to hear "Nookie" played live one more time. It's just another niche genre now and won't have the cultural impact. Kids these days would rather listen to MGMT. That's a good thing... I think?

How about you? Feeling nostalgic for dudes with braids and manscara slapping away at six-string bass guitars? Share your thoughts on nu-metal's resurgence in the comments below.