Hate them or love them everybody has heard of Nu-Metal giants Korn, who have single-handedly created a new genre of Metal music and who changed the face of heavy music throughout the late 1990's. Korn's self-titled 1994 is regarded as their finest work to date and contains some of the most emotional and explicit lyrics every conveyed by a lyricist or metal band. The music was new, two 7-stringed guitars, loud hip-hop like bass, pounding drums and the growley voice of depressed teenager Jonathon Davis.
Are You Ready?!!!" signalled the intent of Korn from the start, and started the bands infamous career with a simple yet heavy guitar riff starting 'Blind'. Since their 1994 release, Korn have released 5 albums as well as a Greatest Hits. Korn have explored to the outer edge of Nu-Metal with some glorious results (Life is Peachy, Issues) but have also failed trying to find new material with their last two releases (Untouchables and the dreadful Take a Look in the Mirror).
Come 2005, the band have lost one half of their guitar-duo, Head, who has found the Lord Jesus as his saviour and decided to give up playing in Korn. The band themselves claim to be at their all-time best and have graced us with a follow-up to T.A.L.I.T.M with 2005's 'See You on the Other Side'. From the first listen, it is easy to see the band has moved away from Nu-Metal significantly, with the major influences coming from Industrial sounding effects and instruments throughout the album. This album sounds like nothing Korn has done before, it is not as heavy, and Jon's lyrics are about different subjects, rather than his life, including sex, politics and obviously the departure of Head. The album is not a failure; it is a rather good listen and is significantly different to anything Korn have done before. If you are a die-hard Nu-Metal Korn fan, brace yourself onto the tracks...
Twisted Transistor
The first single from the album and the listener can instantly tell that this album is going to be different. The album version features a 1 minute intro of Industrial noises and really ambience noises, signaling maybe a change of genre for Korn. The song itself is relatively catchy, yet the guitar really seems to lack, as only 1 guitar part was written for most of the songs, which was a bad idea considering they hire someone to play live so 2 guitar parts could have easily been played. The vocals are very different for Jon, but suit the song well, the bass is almost non-existent (a welcomed break from earlier albums!) and the drumming is a real let-down. Overall a catchy song, probably one of the best from the album and should be great live.
4/5.
Politics
This song starts off with a great guitar riff, but then goes into a distorted voice. The sound of Jonathan"s voice sounds very similar to Untouchables, before leading into the bridge. This is Korn's attempt at pulling off a political song, and comes off with mixed results. The drumming is great in this song, but the chorus is a let down. The verses build up well, and this song has definitely grown on me since my first listen. This is a solid song, as Jonathon really explores his vocal range. The interlude again is completely different, with almost 70's rock-sounding lyrics. Good song, definitely a new direction for Korn.
3.5/5
Hypocrites
One of the best songs on the album, and definitely one of the best intro's Korn have written. Almost a direct attack at ex-member Head with Jonathon repeating, 'Your messiah was never mine'. A heavy guitar riff launches us into the verse with a typical and predictable verse, but a great lead up to the chorus. The song has a simple chorus, 'Hypocrites! I'm gonna do it blind! But works extremely well with the song. Great guitar riffs used, but as with the album only 1 guitar has been recorded, and the lack of depth from the guitars is definitely noticed. One of the best on the album, one of the best and more emotional songs Korn has written.
4.5/5
Souvenir
The song starts with a distorted-slow intro, before moving into one of the best intro's on the album, the song soon disappoints, with the verse kicking in. The lyrics are a real let down apart from the chorus, the lyrics are extremely clich 'you know who you are so now look at me what do you have to say' and the extremely laughable bridge 'melting to the madness/hands up if you can feel this'. The song has the potential to be great with a heavy and non-repetitive guitar riff and great lyrics for the chorus, but the rest of the song lets down.
3/5
10 or a 2-WayIndustrial drumming starts this songs, moving into the surprisingly guitar-less verse, with Jonathan singing over simple drum beats. A song about sex, is surprisingly well pulled of by the quartet. Guitar is scarce, with the song mainly relying on the industrial drumming and Jon's voice throughout. The interlude is great, and the NIN-influences are really showing through. This is the first song off the album that is industrial for the most part and is pulled off extremely well, and definitely one of the best on the album.
4/5
Throw Me Away
Electronic drum beats can be heard at the start, followed by electronic sounding noises. This song is almost an industrial-ballad, and is extremely different to anything Korn has done before. Jonathon uses older style lyrics about his life that should have been incorporated more in this album. A great interlude, and a superb delivery of a great track.
4.5/5
Love Song
Korn again move into new ground with this song, with an extremely gothic Marilyn Manson sounding song. Great verse and the guitar makes a welcome return with great distorted riffs uses throughout. At first read the lyrics seem predictable and clich but suit the song very well, with a depressing feeling 'love song for the dear departed/head song for the broken hearted'. Another song that has been well produced and continues the flow of the album, this song sounds nothing like Korn have done, with a vocal solo over strings (yes strings!) by Jonathan towards the end. 4.5/5
Open Up
The bass can finally be heard, with a bass riff intro, and prominent throughout the song. This song doesn't live up its 2 predecessors, although not a bad song the lyrics definitely aren't up to standard. Fans of earlier albums may find this song appealing with guitar, bass and drums the main instruments used with little distortion and industrial sounds before the end of the song. There is a nice humming part by Jon around 3:00, followed by clapping, which really add some emotion to the song. A hugely distorted finally and Outro before an extremely unfamiliar piece at the end of the song, with acoustic guitars and what sounds like a xylophone, with backing strings, definitely an interesting listen. This is then followed by the classical bagpipes, and slowed-down scatting by Jon played over distorted sounds and drum beats.
3.5/5
Coming Undone
A heavy guitar introduces this song before exploding into the verse, with computerised clapping over the verse and Jonathan's singing. This song has been played live for many weeks before the release of this album, and definitely sounds better on CD, one of the album's stronger tracks. Improved song writing, lyrically by Jonathan shines through and the matured musicianship by the band shines through. Wouldn't be surprised if this song was even released as a single off the album. A good strong track, less industrial compared to the rest of the album but a good listen.
4/5
Getting Off
The song title would suggest another sex-based song, and it is, but it is definitely not as good as 10 or a 2-way. The lyrics are dismal, and although the guitar riff is great the chorus is too repetitive and the lyrics are basic and predictable Getting off Im getting off Keep getting off Keep getting offA great song instrumentally, but the lyrics and repetitive chorus definitely make this one of the worse songs on the album.
2.5/5
Liar
This is another song that has been played live before the album was released. Liar is one of the best songs on the album, and is a superb example of how Korn have improved all-round musically since their last release. This song is another attack at ex-member Head, with the emotional lyricsOh my God How can you deny the blood That's flowing through youA great guitar riffs and superb drumming by David which is a skill used less on this industrial dominated album. Typical Korn verses and the lyrics have vastly improved since T.A.L.I.T.M. The interlude includes reminisants of twist with a great scat interlude. A slow guitar piece in the outro followed by Jon's traditional bagpipes. One of the albums stronger songs and shows Korn's change in the direction they are heading with their music.
4.5/5
For No One
From one of the best songs in 'Liar' to one of the worst in 'For No One'. A great drumming intro, the song soon disappoints with repetitive guitar riffs and some of the worst lyrical material on the album, with the song being about a drive in a car and destroying things. we're flippin off the poeple who just thought us that's just a game we're throwin bricks right thru their windows and then we drive awayThis song is definitely the worst on the album, the album would be much better without this song on it.
2/5
Seen It All
Korn turn back to the industrial theme of the album with this song, with a distorted guitar intro and electronic noises backing the drums. The verse is something that Korn haven't tried before, and it suites the moods of the song. Great lyrics by Jonathan and a slow melodic interlude with Jon singing over a clean guitar and a piano, before almost a string-solo leads us back into the final chorus. A great song and it shows that Korn are not afraid to explore musically on this album. The end of the song fades out with guitar noises barely heard, before the bagpipes make yet another appearance on the end of a song.
4/5
Tearjerker
The final songs of Korn album seem to be remembered as some of the best or different, 'Daddy', 'Kill You', 'My Gift to You', 'Dirty' and 'No One's There' are all some of the best songs on their respected album. If you are a die-hard Nu-Metal Korn fan, brace yourself. This song is completely different to anything you have ever heard from Korn. The starts off with Jonathan singing over quiet effects, with an echo affect over his voice. The majority of this song is a solo affair from Jonathan, and his true vocal range is extraordinarily shown in this song. Some of the best and emotional lyrics are shown here by Jon, showing how he has matured as a songwriter. Finally at 3:30 drums and guitars are heard for the first time with Jon yelling over the topAnd I wish I could steal it And I wish I could feel it Abduct it, corrupt it But I never canI never can Never CanWith one of the best interludes and endings to a song or album that Korn have ever produced. This song is definitely a masterpiece and is something completely new by the band. Die-hard Korn fans may despise it, but anyone who can recognise talent must give credit when credits due as this is definitely one of the best songs Korn have produced.
5/5
Overall
Although some listeners may think that they have purchased the wrong CD first listen, this is Korn. This album has shown Korn's dramatic matured approach to writing both music and lyrics. Korn have made the right choice in moving away from the Nu-Metal genre with this album, and have definitely found a home in the Industrial genre. Influences from Nine Inch Nail's Producing team, Atticus Ross as well as pop-producers The Matrix. Korn have produced something they haven't been able to successfully accomplish since Issues; A successful album. The album, apart from the odd track, flows well together and a wide range of musical techniques, specifically Industrial effects, have been used to fill in the gap left by Head. This album is one of the more surprising releases of 2005, and should give Korn some well needed credit from the music world.
If you are a long time Korn fan or not, this is a great album and appeals to many musical tastes. The band have (finally) successfully pulled of the accomplishment of developing new ideas, something that has let the band down their past two albums. This album is a good listen to all music fans and definitely one of the pleasant surprises of 2005 album releases.
3.5/5
