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Album Review
by SashaS
5-6-2002
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| (Untouchable) Korn's 'Untouchables' |
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Korn: 'Untouchables'
(Immortal/Epic)
Korn are spearheading the nu-ro-metal
If it is true that the Korn’s new album, ‘Untouchables’, has cost $4 million to make – it s been a worthwhile investment. Korn shaped the nu-metal but have now turned their attention to exploring different sonic ranges. So much more music is on this album that will surprise a lot but hopefully not shock their fans. It’s that different.
From the opening ‘Here To Stay’, with its big, heavy riff and huge slappy Fieldy bass, to the concluding ‘No One’s There’ that it is like a metal Duran Duran, it is a ride you don’t wanna get off in a hurry. It takes in Goth – ‘Wake Up Hate’ (think Marilyn Manson) is so dark and spacey, prog-rockness – ‘Thoughtless’ is like a nod to Tool, tribal and world-beaty – ‘One More Time’ is rock-funkness, and Jonathan Davis sings, for real.
To demonstrate how radical the new album is, some of the tracks’ working titles reveal all: (Pink) ‘Floyd’ and ‘Inja’ are the best examples; another one was referred to as ‘Anaconda’… But, we’ll let you have fun working out which ones. There is plethora of sounds here but one constant is Fieldy’s bass: it is the cohesive element, it proves that bass is the king. The recent hit single, ‘Here To Stay’, has hinted at the bass-world that is so low, like hell, and old-skoolish, with four-strings sounding as huge as K2. This truly is Fieldy’s album.
This doesn’t take away from Davis who’s really let himself explore his singing range and even sings the backing vocals often. It is more than welcoming to see that the man is not all intensity, fury and screams. His themes might remain full of ‘issues’ but are expended into a world that is not constricted by its HM- lexicon. Aside the bizarre-keys-plus-pop-heavy-guitars of ‘Hatred’, there is deconstructed riff-a-rama, strange noises and distorted up-beat of ‘Make Believe’ as well as a possibly huge single in the future, ‘Hallow Life’, sounding like heavy Fun Young Cannibals… erm, ask your parents.
At a possible cost of $285,714 per track, Korn are back and about to make everyone realise all the unoriginal shite that’s been clogging up the airwaves of late just isn’t good enough. (Thank the Lord.)
The band’s third el-pee was entitled ‘Follow The Leader’ and the nu-metal brigade would find even less choice this time. Another milestone.
8.6/10
Live dates:
07 September - Docklands Arena, London
10 September - RDS, Dublin
11 September - SECC, Glasgow
12 September - Arena, Manchester
SashaS
5-6-2002
Korn album ‘Untouchables’ is released 10 June on Immortal/Epic
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