[2025] The Appeal of Mixed-Bag Sounds: A Roundup of Western Crossover/Mixture Bands

Stick ‘em UpQuarashi

Quarashi – Stick ‘em Up [HQ]

Quarashi is a band from Iceland known for their aggressive songs.

Their track “Stick ’Em Up” reached No.

27 in the U.

S.

, and they enjoyed popularity from their debut, but they disbanded in 2005.

Are You for Real?Zebrahead

Zebrahead – Are You for Real? [Official Video]

Since their formation in 1996, Zebrahead have fused pop punk, alternative rock, and rapcore, winning fans with a party-ready sound distinct from the nu-metal acts of the time.

Since the release of their 1998 major-label debut, Waste of Mind, they’ve enjoyed immense popularity in Japan and have regularly toured there to entertain their fans.

The band’s melody vocalist has changed three times up to 2024—early-era Justin Mauriello, mid-era Matty Lewis, and Adrian Estrella, who joined in 2021—so the current, third era of Zebrahead offers plenty to enjoy no matter which album you pick.

It’s also fun to explore each era through its vocalist!

MegalomaniacIncubus

Incubus – Megalomaniac (Video Version)

Incubus continues to captivate a wide audience with their rich musicality.

Since forming in 1991, they have explored a broad range of genres—from alternative rock and funk metal to pop rock—pushing into new musical frontiers with each album.

In particular, sophisticated, connoisseur-leaning hits like “Drive” from their 1999 album Make Yourself—so different from the typical ballads made by most rock bands—showcased their potential.

With Morning View, released in 2001, they delivered an even more refined sound and reached No.

2 on the U.

S.

charts, marking the moment they grew beyond the confines of nu metal to become one of the defining American rock bands.

Their live performances, which move listeners to the core, are another key part of their appeal, so if you’re interested, be sure to catch them in concert.

Ch-Check It OutBeastie Boys

Beastie Boys – “Ch-Check It Out”

In the music scene, the Beastie Boys—who embodied an innovative, free-spirited musicality and stood as icons of ’90s subculture—have earned respect from many artists for their style that shattered the boundary between rock and hip-hop.

In particular, their 1986 debut album “Licensed to Ill” brought a fresh wave with their intense rapping over hard rock-influenced tracks.

It was astonishingly the first rap album ever to reach No.

1 on the Billboard 200.

Continuing to evolve musically thereafter, they incorporated elements of jazz and funk, exploring a blend of live instrumentation and sampling.

Their talent and influence are immeasurable, and the Beastie Boys’ work continues to inspire many people to this day.

Roots Rock RiotSKINDRED

Roots Rock Riot Video

SKINDRED is a band known for its heavy sound and Latin-inspired groove.

Recently, they made headlines for remarks seen as disrupting BABYMETAL’s speech.

I hope this prompts you to give their music a listen.

How Can I LiveIll Nino

Ill Nino – How Can I Live [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Ill Niño is an American band formed in 1998, known for its heavy sound and Latin elements that incorporate percussion.

Nevertheless, their melodies are beautiful, adding a brilliance that enhances their sound.

New WavePleymo

Pleymo – New Wave (Clip officiel)

As you can tell from listening, Pleymo is a French band.

Their songs are captivating for the unique blend of French pronunciation and rhythm, an aggressive, heavy sound, and the sweet voice of vocalist Mark Maggiori that all mesh together perfectly.