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Rating: THE REVIEW
"Issues" comes out in 1999, a year after "Follow the leader". Musically, the two albums mentioned are quite similar.
To find a difference, I believe one must look for "the soul of the album": if "Follow the leader" was a sunny album, "Issues" is the exact opposite, that is, dark and somber. To confirm this, read the lyrics of the songs, where the singer Jonathan Davis "tells us" about his depression, his fears, his life as a rockstar.
Compared to the "crazy" songs of the masterpiece "Korn" (1994), the tracks are marked by more chromatic and lower tones.
As always, Jonathan Davis's voice is wonderful; in my opinion, he is among the best singers in the metal scene, but credit also to the other members, Munky, David, Fieldy, and Head (to the latter: stop talking nonsense, like the Korn don't play the music they sing).
The presence of the bagpipes is spot-on, as usual, as well as the threads of electronics (samplers, to be clear), although they appear less than in "Follow the leader".
Some tracks (AM I GOING CRAZY above all) are highly claustrophobic, other tracks are so highly emotive they give you chills (DIRTY and NO WAY). Excellent, too, the singles FALLING AWAY FROM ME, MAKE ME BAD, and SOMEBODY SOMEONE. Note that in many tracks, Jonathan Davis plays the drums instead of David Silveria, for example in the already mentioned DIRTY and AM I GOING CRAZY.
In conclusion, "Issues" adds itself to the other three masterpieces created by the Californian band, and for those who declare themselves true fans of Korn (like myself), it is an unmissable album.
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Summary by Bot
Released in 1999, Korn's Issues follows their breakthrough album Follow the Leader with a darker, more somber tone. Jonathan Davis delivers raw, emotional vocals reflecting his struggles, supported by the band's tight instrumentation. The album includes powerful singles like Falling Away From Me and Make Me Bad, with unique touches like bagpipes and electronics. Issues is considered an essential masterpiece for Korn fans and metal enthusiasts.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Korn
American nu metal band formed in Bakersfield, California (1993). Widely credited as pioneers of nu metal; led by vocalist Jonathan Davis and known for autobiographical lyrics and heavy, groove-oriented sound.91 Reviews
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 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."
By Aljik
Jonathan Davis may not have created a masterpiece this time, but never before has he managed to make himself heard as in this case.
'Falling Away From Me' alone encapsulates everything contained in the album, claiming itself as a phenomenon never repeated in KoRn’s entire musical career.
