Korn : The Path Of Totality

Wow I’m really surprised at how this album has got under my skin. This normally heavy band have teamed up with various electronic music producers such as Skrillex, Excision and Noisia. I consider myself a Korn fan. I also generally despise electronic music. Let’s qualify that a little further, I generally despise all-electronic music. A little electronica is great if used tastefully, skillfully and to embellish real instrumentation.

The surprise comes from the fact that this album is more or less an electronic/dubstep album (with Jonathon Davis’ simultaneously bleak and electrifying vocals and lyrics out front.) But thankfully, it does not sound like weak, repetitive, cheesy disco music for eccy-heads to wave their glow sticks to, as I had feared. It’s a dark, expansive industrial rock record. The style seems to suit Korn’s music to absolute perfection. They’ve dabbled in electronica on previous albums, and the transition from their traditional alternative metal sound to the industrial approach on this record is virtually seamless.

It also suits them in a philosophical sense. This is a band that has always experimented. From the raw nu-metal assault of their debut, to the hip hop stylings that were smattered throughout Follow The Leader, to the aforementioned forays into electronica, to the stripped back return to their garage days on Remember Who You Are, these guys have never remained in their cushy comfort zone.

So it is no surprise that they’ve done an album like this. The revelation is simply how well done it is. I would consider this to be their best album since Follow The Leader. 

BY ROD WHITFIELD

Best Track: Let’s Go

If You Like These, You’ll Like This: MARILYN MANSON, MINISTRY, NINE INCH NAILS

In A Word: Industrial