There's a few "tiktok bands" though that get popular every now and then. Deftones is the major one but I've seen the likes of Mayhem or Acid Bath get random exposure online and they tend to have a surprisingly young fanbase

Although tbh most people never really go beyond those genres. Sometimes they get into deathcore with like Lorna Shore and stuff like that but it's not often that you see these people get interested in other genres

Lots of more modern stuff is also blowing up like Sleep Token, Bad Omens but also older bands like Bring Me The Horizons. Overall it's really the nu metal and metalcore stuff (from my experience) that act as gateways into metal

I got into metal 7 or so years ago now so my own experience isn't the most accurate but bands like Slipknot and System Of A Down are still super popular and I think Deftones are actually more popular than ever

Sleep Token for the youngsters

@Roman Doez - that is really interesting. Nu metal was a gateway for me and a lot of others the first time around, do you think it might act as the same today? What bands are all you young dudes listening to?

NU METAL MENTIONED. [link]