"Jonathan Davis may not have created a masterpiece this time, but never before has he managed to make himself heard as in this case."

I believe that each decade, starting from the 1960s, has been vitally important for the birth and development of what we define as modern music. The '60s were the years of the new era, the '70s those of new genres (metal foremost), the '80s were the natural continuation of the previous decade, and the '90s were the years of experimentation. Excluding from the discussion, as is only fair, the sounds of the new millennium, which, rather than development, are leading to the total deficiency of masses and masses of listeners, I cannot but mention the experimental nature of KoRn. In reality, the band itself is synonymous with experimentation, as from their inception to modern times, they have always tried to take new paths, sometimes with full success.

"Issues" is perhaps the band's most experimental album from Baskerfield and at the same time their most characteristic. They move away from their primordial sound, Jonathan Davis himself is not the same as before; he is more mature, more willing to take risks, but he has not yet lost the desire to hit hard with his music. So goodbye to the "ghibberish" (Davis's singing style, which reached its peak with twist), farewell to desperate and tortured screams; now doors are open to darker, more melodic sounds, and most of the time, more "easy-listening", but not of low quality. "Issues" also marks a dividing line for a band at the entryway to a new reality, where KoRn struggles much more to be convincing: it is the swan song. However, for any listener wishing to approach the band for the first time, the album is strongly discouraged, as it's too different from the others, pushing those who hear it to fall in love with a band that, in reality, does not exist.

The album can be divided into two parts: the first includes the initial seven tracks, the second the remaining nine. The difference lies in the fact that while the first section's pieces have structures very different from each other, as you proceed, the songs start to become too similar. From this already one can understand that the further you listen, the more the overall quality decreases (although never falling below adequacy). An exclusive feature of this new work is the interludes, five in total, sprinkled throughout the album, as brief as they are interesting. Particularly "4U", a heartfelt song of less than two minutes, evokes a mix of melancholy and resignation in the listener. As for the songs, it must be said that this time the four from Baskerfield have chosen well the singles to extract: the crowning jewels of an already overall optimal album. "Falling Away From Me", "Make Me Bad", and "Somebody Someone" were the only good reason to stay constantly tuned to MTV in 1999. On one hand, we have the opening track ("Falling Away..."), which alone encapsulates everything contained in the album, claiming itself as a phenomenon never repeated in KoRn's entire musical career; on the other hand, we have track 11 ("Somebody Someone"), a perfect combination of melody and aggression, brilliantly avoiding the banal throughout its duration. "Beg For Me" is also fascinating, which, although it does not stand out among the band's greatest works, charms thanks to its blatant aggressiveness, becoming a perfect anthem for headbangers. Then we arrive at the so-called second part of the album. To be clear, nothing particularly blameworthy overall, but one cannot fail to notice the purely filler nature of these last tracks, further highlighted by the fact that the group wrote, recorded, and produced their longest album to date in just over a year.

Generally, the pattern followed by the pieces in question is typical of nu-metal tracks, but presented in reverse; thus we have verses characterized by calm and melodically dominant riffs, suddenly destroyed by frenzied and sonorously heavy choruses. From this, one realizes another obvious aspect: it is anger that is the true protagonist of "Issues", permeating every track with all its facets. One can choose between the "desperate" anger of "No Way" and the merciless fury of "Let's Get The Party Started", or the sadistic rage of "Wake Up" and that mixed with resignation of "Counting"; it's up to the listener in this case to decide which piece to make their own. That's that.

With "Issues", a window was opened that, unfortunately, closed forever with the release of "Untouchables." A sort of "psycho-somatic" music, a "delirium metal", an album that makes you feel on your own skin all the emotions it desires... and they are not feelings of joy. Jonathan Davis may not have created a masterpiece this time, but never before has he managed to make himself heard as in this case. 

Rating: 7

Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos

01   Dead (01:12)

02   Falling Away From Me (04:30)

Hey, I'm feeling tired
My time is gone today
You flirt with suicide
Sometimes that's OK
Do what others say
I'm here standing hollow
Falling away from me, falling away from me

Day, is here fading
That's when I'm insane
I flirt with suicide
Sometimes kill the pain
I can't always say
'It's gonna be better tomorrow'
Falling away from me, falling away from me

Beating me down, beating me, beating me down
Down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground

(Falling away from me)
It's spinning round and round
(Falling away from me)
It's lost and can't be found
(Falling away from me)
It's spinning round and round
(Falling away from me)
Slow it down

Beating me down, beating me, beating me
Down, down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground

Twisting me, they won't go away
So I pray, go away

Life's falling away from me
It's falling away from me
Life's falling away from me, FUCK!

Beating me down, beating me, beating me
Down, down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground

(Falling away from me)
Beating me down
(Falling away from me)
Beating me, beating me
(Falling away from me)
Down, down
(Falling away from me)
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
(Falling away from me)
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
(Falling away from me)
Into the ground

03   Trash (03:26)

How did it start?
Well I don't know
I just feel the craving
I see the flesh and it smells fresh and it's just there for the taking
These little girls, they make me feel so god damn exhilarated
I feel them up, I can't give it up
The pain, I'm just erasing

I tell my lies, and I despise
Every second I'm with you
So I run away and you still stay
So what the fuck is with you?

Your feelings
I can't help but rape them
I'm sorry, I don't feel the same
My heart inside is constantly hating
I'm sorry, I just throw you away

I don't know why I'm so fucking cold
I don't know why it hurts me
All I wanna do is get with you and make the pain go away
Why do I have a conscience?
All it does is fuck with me
Why do I have this torment?
All I wanna do is fuck it away

I tell my lies, and I despise
Every second I'm with you
So I run away and you still stay
So what the fuck is with you?

Your feelings
I can't help but rape them
I'm sorry, I don't feel the same
My heart inside is constantly hating
I'm sorry, I just throw you away

I tell my lies, and I despise
Every second I'm with you
So I run away and you still stay
So what the fuck is with you?

Your feelings
I can't help but rape them
I'm sorry, I don't feel the same
My heart inside is constantly hating
I'm sorry, I just throw you away

Just throw you away

I tell my lies, and I despise
Every second I'm with you
So I run away and you still stay
So what the fuck is with you?

Just throw you away

04   4 U (01:42)

05   Beg for Me (03:53)

Everyone is looking at me
I can't get out of bed, there is evil in my head
Everyone just let me be
Because when I hit the stage, it is gone and I am free

God damn you say you'll get up for me
You're the crowd, come on give it back to me
You won't beg for me, beg for me, beg for me

God damn you say you'll get up with me
You're the crowd, come on give it back to me
You won't beg for me, be there for me, beg for me

Tell me, how could this fade?
I am going insane, and I cry, it helps my pain
Everyone please let me be
Because when I hit the stage, it is gone and I am free

God damn you say you'll get up for me
You're the crowd, come on give it back to me
You won't beg for me, beg for me, beg for me

God damn you say you'll get up with me
You're the crowd, come on give it back to me
You won't beg for me, be there for me, beg for me

I feel the shame
I'm ive gone insane
The things I feel now
Arn't the same
Who gives a fuck if my life stops?
I just know one thing
I won't give up

Everyone just let me be [x3]

God damn you say you'll get up for me
You're the crowd, come on give it back to me
You won't beg for me, beg for me, beg for me

God damn you say you'll get up with me
You're the crowd, come on give it back to me
You won't beg for me, be there for me, beg for me

Be there, for me? [x4]

06   Make Me Bad (03:55)

[Verse 1]
I am watching the rise and fall of my salvation
There's so much shit around me, such a lack of compassion

[B-Section]
I thought it would be fun and games
Instead it's all the same
I want something to do
Need to feel the sickness in you

[Hook]
I feel the reason as it's leaving me, no not again
It's quite deceiving as I'm feeling, the flesh made me bad

[Verse 2]
All I do is look for you and when I fix you, Needed to
just to get some sort of attention...attention

[B-Section 2]
What does it mean to you
For me, it's something I just do
I want something
I need to feel the sickness in you

[Hook]
I feel the reason as it's leaving me no, not again
It's quite deceiving as I'm feeling, the flesh made me bad (2x)

--break--

I feel the reason as it's leaving me
No, not again
It's quite deceiving as I'm feeling
The flesh made me bad (2x)
(Does it make me bad)<--[repeating until fade]

07   It's Gonna Go Away (01:30)

08   Wake Up (04:07)

09   Am I Going Crazy (00:59)

All the lying and cheating will surely bite you
Dishonesty tears you apart and will eat you
All the anger and pain and the suffering and the shame
And the voices in your brain will surely haunt you

Let the guilt go, let the guilt go, let the guilt go, let the guilt go

I tell you one thing which leads to another thing
Then I backtrack which leads to hurt feelings
Then my brain spins off of fucking everything
When this happens I can't break through

All the anger, the pain and the suffering, and the shame
And the voices in your brain will really haunt you

Let the guilt go, let the guilt go, let the guilt go, let the guilt go

I tell you one thing which leads to another thing
Then I backtrack which leads to hurt feelings
Then my brain spins off of fucking everything
When this happens I can't break through

Now we waste our lives away
Letting guilt lead the way

I'm such a stupid fuck
Listening to my head and not my gut
Constantly thinking and thinking and thinking
And thinking and thinking and thinking

Now we waste our lives away
Letting guilt lead the way

I tell you one thing which leads to another thing
Then I backtrack which leads to hurt feelings
Then my brain spins off of fucking everything
When this happens I can't break through

I tell you one thing which leads to another thing
Then I backtrack which leads to hurt feelings
Then my brain spins off of fucking everything
When this happens I can't break through

10   Hey Daddy (03:44)

11   Somebody Someone (03:47)

I can't stand to let you in
I'm just watching you
And I don't know what to do
Feeling like a fool inside
Feeling all that you hide
Thought you were my friend
Seems it never ends

I need somebody, someone
Can’t somebody help me?
All I need is to be
Loved just for me

Giving you this and that
Giving, getting nothing back
It's all related to
All the things I do
Feeling like a fool inside
Seeming all the things you tried
I am nothing

I need somebody, someone
Can’t somebody help me?
All I need is to be
Loved just for me

I look
I sign
I need
Someone
Inside
To help
Me out
With what
I'm trying
I'm crying
I'm frying
In a pile of
Shit
I'm dying
I'm dying
I'm dying

I need somebody (someone)
Somebody (somebody)
Someone
I need somebody (someone)
Somebody (somebody)
Someone
Someone

12   No Way (04:07)

13   Let's Get This Party Started (03:41)

[Verse 1]
When it's crying, takes me to a certain place which I don't often find
I see a family walking always thinking of being somewhere else in time
So I fall face down in a rut, I can't seem to get out of
Please wake me, please give me some of it back the feelings that I had

[Vamp]
Sometimes I wish I could be strong like you
It doesn't matter
Each time I wake I'm somehow feeling the truth
I can't handle

[Hook]
Let's get this party started, I'm sick of begging you
You make me feel insane which I give to you
Let's get this party started, You make me feel insane
I want to be the one to make myself sane

[Verse 2]
Time is ticking, It makes me feel content with what I have inside
Constant paranoia surrounds me, Everyone I see is out to get me
So I fall face down in a rut, I can't seem to get out of
Please wake me, please give me some of it back the feelings that I had

[Vamp]
Sometimes I wish I could be strong like you
It doesn't matter
Each time I wake I'm somehow feeling the truth
I can't handle

[Hook]
Let's get this party started, I'm sick of begging you
You make me feel insane which I give to you
Let's get this party started, You make me feel insane
I want to be the one to make myself sane

You make me feel insane

[Vamp]
Sometimes I wish I could be strong like you
It doesn't matter
Each time I wake I'm somehow feeling the truth
I can't handle

[Hook]
Let's get this party started, I'm sick of begging you
You make me feel insane which I give to you
Let's get this party started, You make me feel insane
I want to be the one to make myself sane

14   Wish You Could Be Me (01:07)

I am going insane
This shit is all of a pain
I cannot maintain as the shit gnaws at my brain
Wish you could be me
And then as you would see
How tired I am and how you get the best of me

At least you could look at me
While you're raping me
You are taking my life and selling it, tehehe
Why should I complain
At least it helps my pain
I am very cool now
And theres gossip bout my fame

I am going insane
This shit is all of a pain
I cannot maintain as the shit gnaws at my brain
Wish you could be me
And then as you would see
How tired I am and how you get the best of me

At least you could look at me
While you're raping me
At least you could look at me while you're raping me

You fuckin pussy !!!

15   Counting (03:37)

I came back to face what's growing in my head
Please get away from me
Take advantage of what I feel, yes you do
One day you'll beg for me

So I'm saying nothing
Each day taking that much more
As I'm screaming all my pain
You will be there counting

You just see me as something you throw around
You were there for me
Beating down to the ground
Yes it always seems
You take more from me

So I'm saying nothing
Each day taking that much more
As I'm screaming all my pain
You will be there counting

It's funny how we've just started
They get the money for the things on you
They give ya money, and the girls and the fame
I only do it for the fun and the games

It's funny how we've just started
They get the money for the things on you
They give ya money, and the girls and the fame
I only do it for the fun
That's my game

So I'm saying nothing
Each day taking that much more
As I'm screaming all my pain
You will be there counting

16   Dirty (07:50)

Keep knocking
No one’s there
Pouring down
Near people

I'm out here
By myself, all alone
Ready to blow my head off!
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again

Keep hoping
Nothing to spare
So my life
Isn't quite there
Feel like a whore
A dirty whore
Such a whore
Dirty

I'm out here
By myself, all alone
Ready to blow my head off!
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
Just wanna laugh again

I'll take it
I'll take it
I will take it
Give it to me
You dirty little fuck
Dirty little fuck
You dirty little fuck
Dirty little fuck

You dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
Dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
You dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
Dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
You dirty little fuck

I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again

I just wanna laugh again [x4]

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Other reviews

By valerio

 The emphatic and schizophrenic voice of Jonathan Davis shines, and the duels between Munky’s and Head’s guitars while the great Fieldy serves as a glue with the rhythms of David Silveria.

 'Issues' impresses with new wave influences mixed with the unmistakable cathartic funk metal.


By AR (Anonima Recensori)

 "Issues is the exact opposite [of Follow the Leader], that is, dark and somber."

 Jonathan Davis’s voice is wonderful; in my opinion, he is among the best singers in the metal scene.


By sofficino

 A unique, flawless, simply devastating sound.

 With these CDs, they have brought together old and new fans, an essential album for everyone.


By Kleine

 The predominant emotion in this album seems to be sadness: the wonderful intro Dead begins by saying 'all I want in life is to be happy' with an almost cheerful tone.

 Dirty: the right music to describe a nightmare, where hate, anger, and a bit of fear mix, taking your breath away.


By marko75

 "Issues hits from the first notes, a compelling, complete album, with clean sounds, an extraordinary voice, both suffering and angry at the same time."

 "Every single track deserves to be listened to more than once, an excellent work."