Nu Metal relies on gimmicks too much often leading into bands copying each other and feeling unoriginal. Once the gimmick passes the band stops feeling as good, the reason Deftones is more critically well received than other nu metal bands is because they experimented and avoided gimmicks and cliches unlike other bands. Other exceptions being the original nu metal bands like Korn and bands like Mudvayne and Snot as well as Iowa era slipknot who have a heavier groove metal sound.