Review Summary: Astonishingly mediocre, "Save Me From Myself" is an album that is too inconsistent and flawed to be considered anything but an average effort.
It would by no stretch of the imagination be an exaggeration to say that Korn was one of my absolute favorite bands of all time, and additionally, Head was arguably my favorite member of the band. Subsequently, when the album dropped, I was eager and open-minded. Thing is, however, is that this record is just not very good.
It is, at best, a flawed and uneven affair. At worst, though, "Save Me From Myself" is a run-of-the-mill and generic slab of industrial-tinged nu-metal tripe that is heavy on filler, but is sincerely lacking much thought, poignancy, and truly outstanding tracks.
Sure, it is not without a few beaming moments of potential. In fact, the record begins in very promising fashion, with "L.O.V.E." featuring enough heavy, catchy riff slices (which lurch and groove like many-a-great Korn riff) and trippy, electronic-tinged vocals to make it a very strong and catchy opener. The album's ensuing lead single, "Flush," is another keeper - it finds Mr. Welch adopting some wild, Deftones-esque banshee shrieks while churning out another memorable, meaty guitar lick.
Some of the other most memorable moments include the dark and creepy "Loyalty," which lays a bobbing, lurching guitar hook against venomously angry, Jonathan Davis-like vocal stylings; and "Re-Bel," which finds a children's choir providing the vocals to a soundtrack of heavy, churning rhythms. And then, following the skippable "Home," we are treated to the album's memorable title cut, and one that features one of the record's heaviest riffs, as well some really cool vocal patterns that range from ominous spoken words to visceral, snarly screaming, to dreary clean vocals in the song's choruses.
It is after that, though, that things start to go downhill...and fast. The next two tracks come too close to sounding like Korn outtakes, with "Die Religion Die" featuring vocals that essentially outright mimic John Davis, and "Adonai" coming across as more like something fished from a collection of Korn b-sides. And weaker still, "Money" and "Shake" are two other almost completely unremarkable and forgettable throw-aways, and so is "Washed By Blood." It tries, albeit failingly to conclude the album on an epic note, but ultimately comes across as rather bland and overlong.
"Save Me From Myself" does have a few standouts; but it is, in the end, an album that is too inconsistent and flawed to be considered anything but an average effort. Sure, it is definitely worth checking out if you are a Korn fan, but it, unfortunately, will more-than-likely disappoint. So approach it with a great deal of caution.
