Staind were often lumped in with nu-metal, but always offered a darker take on heavy riffs. Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst co-produced their first major release, Dysfunction, which showcased frontman Aaron Lewis's impassioned, heartfelt vocals. However, it was 2001's Break the Cycle and the band's aptitude for moody hard rock ballads that made them mainstream stars. The album topped the charts, as did their next three, and they went on to rule alternative rock and post-grunge in the '00s.