well, EMG's are from the 80's and they will always sound "modern" to me, cause that only became a popular signature sound after late 90's (although a lot of big bands used them since the 80's)
it's not like the pickup industry did any relevant innovation attempts after the early 80's
riff raffs sound great for modern metal but they do not sound modern by themselves
the miracle man sounds great for a lot of 80's stuff, but it's not an actual 80's sounding pickup like the cold sweat or rebel yell
there are some obvious combos that just sound exactly like some would expect from an era signature sound
a nailbomb can do great classic rock into a plexi, but it won't sound like early 70's AC/DC like a Riff Raff would
a miracle man into a rectifier or 5150, for example, sounds just like a lot of metal bands from the last decade, like they were made for each other, specially with the most obvious overdrive pedals that just make things better, but also fall into a (good) tone cliché
it doesn't mean it can't do 80's hard rock well in other amps
a cold sweat also sounds modern through a rectifier, but not miracle man modern
after the djent phenomenon seems like pickups should sound tighter and scratchier to be even perceived as modern sounding
