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Album Review
by SashaS
26-11-2003
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| Korn: reflections in the mirror past |
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Korn: 'Take a Look In The Mirror'
(Columbia)
Korn step back to their angry roots, sort of
Korn, the HM leaders others followed, are on the musical path’s crossroads: their previous album, ‘Untouchables’, appeared to have been taken literally by their fans who turned toward some other acts. The Korn’s case wasn’t helped by the album being uploaded online for all Internet ‘pirates’ to burn their copies well in advance of the streetdate. The band also looked within themselves to produce the album and thus the title.
The security for the new disc ‘Take A Look In A Mirror’ was reasonably strict and no preview or advance copies were released ; the only way to hear the album was to go to a playback for which singer Jonathan Davis and guitarist Munky (aka James Shaffer) flew over to London, which they hadn’t done for ‘Untouchables’ and failed to tour over here. Well, the things are gonna a-change… Although, the album got uploaded again and the release date had to be pushed forward.
Korn’s ‘TaLitM’ sees the band returning to its original, more basic HM sound but are also planning an extensive Euro-tour that will commence in May and continue over the summer’s festival season. Korn - aside Jon and Munky, consisting of Head (Brian Welch, guitar), Fieldy (bass) David Silveria (drums) - have been together for a decade and have truly headed the ‘nu-skool’ of metal with their tortured-issues, audio-psychotic sounds and volume that would leave The Spinal Tap looking quizzically at their ‘11’ setting.
Korn won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance with ‘Here To Stay’ this year and Davis wrote a theme song to the ‘The Twilight Zone’ series… The new album contains a song entitled ‘Ya’ll Want A Single?’. The track is a humorous, middle-finger salute to their record company, Sony, for asking the band to “write a radio hit” for this self-produced album. It opens with frontman Jonathan Davis rapping in a kooky Southern-drawl, “Ya’ll want a single? Say, ‘F**k that!’” before the band blast out some super heavy, down-tuned grooves they are such masters of.
The suits always think the same thing - profit. Plus, any subversion has to be dwarfed by the biz, brought under control. The story of capitalism versus punk, or any kind of challenging music… And, not only that lately but the bubblegum kind. Davis’s vocals on Korn’s sixth studio recording abandons (voice-coached) singing utilized on ‘Untouchables’ and returning to his shouty, primal screaming while the other four members are attempting to blow your speakers/headphones/mind.
It may all have to do with Munky dropping such huge riffs due to a personal tragedy. And for Jon, he’s still as pissed off of everything as ever; he sings about “bad times; although there were some good times, I don’t like singing about them,” he commented recently before adding, “The reason is that it doesn’t fit the music.” ‘Play With Me’, Nas guests on, is one of the finer moments of this disc where bass is even more God-sent.
Therefore, things appear to be back to normal within the Korn compound. Let’s get rocking in front of a lonely reflection!
8-/10
SashaS
26-11-2003
Korn album 'Take A Look In The Mirror' is released 24 November 2003 on Columbia
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