This review is going to be biased, so you’ve been warned. I’ve been hooked to Korn ever since it revolutionized the music scene in 1994 with its self-titled debut. That being said, read on.
Upon receiving the new album, I was captured by the cover with its gloomy visual of expressionless children staring back at me - every face conveying scarred histories. A young generation of misunderstood and mistreated individuals sentenced to an unwanted life of struggle.
This image exactly describes Korn’s music. Its records have mixed emotionally arduous lyrics with a dark wall of guitar and pounding drums and bass. Each song has meaning; a purpose to motivate and captivate its listeners with truth. Korn is more than just about the music, it’s about producing lasting songs that grab you by the throat and tell you exactly how it is.
Korn’s latest effort, “Untouchables,” has perfectly blended its trademark opposition of crushing heaviness and gentle melodies - its ugly yet beautiful at the same time.
Korn has created tracks which will enthrall all varieties of listeners. Hard-core fans may be thrown away at first by some enhancements the band has attempted, such as the song “Alone I Break,” which has an acoustic guitar during the chorus, but it executes it well and adds to the already vast experimentation Korn has produced.
The track “Hollow Life” opens with a slight synthesizer and bass riff reminiscent of the ’80s, morphing back and forth from traditional Korn and music of that era.
“Hating” is softer than most, but the guitar combing with the vocals during the chorus creates a convincing effect that makes anyone pay attention.
Jonathan Davis focuses more on singing this time around. His trademark grunts and growls are still present, but they are very subtle and few.
But rest assured, there are still plenty of tracks capturing Korn’s energetic release of anger.
“Thoughtless” is an anthem for anyone that’s ever been cast aside, treated like dirt and the enraged effects it can create.
“Bottled Up Inside,” “Make Believe,” “Wake Up Hate” and “One More Time” all follow the instantly recognizable sound yet display a sense of development, proving the band can still move forward in the genre it created.
Korn began the n
