KORN - Take a look in the mirror REVIEW
Well, back with some older reviews, we at the Luau present our impressions of the latest from the boys in Korn -- and as is the case with KORN, your mileage may vary
KORN - Take a look in the mirror: B+
After the so-called download debacle that was the mostly underrated and underappreciated "Untouchables", Korn is back with a very surprisingly solid effort
Someday people will look back on this unique period in music and say, yes indeed at this point, in 2004 -- Nu-metal is confirmed as DEAD -- KORN emerges from the shadows of being lumped together with the DOA in this genre with its most coherent, physical, stripped down and straightforward effort that takes core in all new melodic, and dareisayit, LISTENABLE directions
It seems like the releases from the groups once grouped in the NU-MTL category either meander in the same direction or try and put some creative distance in -- on this disc, KORN comes out with some truly outstanding tracks -- the anthemic (and surprisingly catchy), melodic RIGHT NOW -- putting it all together with DID MY TIME (yes, the one off of the Tomb Raider s/t), their most complete track to date -- just beautiful crunch
Top to bottom, this is the most emotionally heavy and physical -- and most coherent of the recent KORN releases -- there really is no asymetrical hard to listen to track -- all have their own neat qualities, so those who typically would say that KORN tracks run all together, the variety here is refreshing -- and the melodies and hooks are nicely put together
It's funny but self-reflection and self-pity still remain themes -- however, they are now wrapped around really great physical music, this CD is not really down the middle of the core movement, but is a really neat piece of creative heavy music from KORN
All in all, a very surprising effort from KORN, they have proven that their music remains vital -- and the rumors of their demise can be deferred for this is a really solid effort -- very enjoyable music for f-d up days
PS. and listen to the backside of the last track for the boys' cover of Metallica's ONE taken from MTV ICON -- cool track
Comments
Hmm, interesting. I'll have to see if their site's got any clips or maybe Amazon or iTunes. As with most recordings, the newer stuff almost always sounds better, louder, bigger.
Posted by: Michael | February 24, 2004 10:10 AM
interesting question --I would say that this album even if it doesn't have the obvious hits of Issues or Follow the Leader is kind of a return to old Korn, but with more polish and focused energy (as opposed to the rawer earlier stuff)
Posted by: ownerguy | February 24, 2004 8:56 AM
Not the deepest Korn fan, but really liked Untouchables (maybe more so than some older Korn)...do you consider this and evolution from that record or is the sound reminiscent of early Korn? My money is on it if it's like the last record though.
Posted by: Michael | February 24, 2004 7:05 AM