French nu-metal quartet AqME, one of the most acclaimed hard rock acts of its generation, formed in 1999 and joined a loose-knit confederation of hip-hop-inspired metal bands lumped together under the Team Nowhere banner. The six-song 1999 demo University of Nowhere was released to strong sales and positive critical notice; an expanded version was released in 2000. A major French tour followed their debut, 2002's Sombres Efforts, and only in late 2003 did AqMe return to the studio to begin work on the follow-up, Polaroïds & Pornographie. The 2005 LP La Fin des Temps proved their commercial breakthrough, generating the radio smash "Pas Assez Loin." ~ Jason Ankeny