Korn
Live & Rare

THE REVIEW

After the controversial, yet aggressive and innovative enough, "See You On The Other Side," the quintessential nu-metal band, Korn, serves up to us a collection of live performances and rarities that positions itself as a follow-up to the 2003 "Greatest Hits," as the artwork is very similar.

The album has been heavily criticized, especially by the more purist metalheads, for being useless and fake. They're half right; indeed, from a live perspective, the collection is indisputable and showcases Korn's power live, but from a rarity standpoint, it is quite lacking, as it only includes "Earache My Eye" and "Proud." That's a bit limited, considering these songs are easily traceable (the first is a ghost track on "Follow The Leader" and the second is a B-side on "Life is Peachy"). If it weren't for this flaw, "Live & Rare" would deserve full marks because the first seven tracks recorded in 2003 present a true and proper sonic wall of high power. After all, we're talking about Korn, one of the last metal bands to really kick it live, and the titles are history in modern metal: "Did My Time", "Blind", "Falling Away From Me", "Right Now", "Got The Life", "Here To Stay", "Freak On A Leash."

Continuing with the group's two favorite covers, "Another Brick in The Wall," which is much more impactful live compared to the studio version present on "Greatest Hits," and "One," Metallica's classic performed at MTV Icon. Even this can be seen as somewhat ridiculous, as the track can easily be heard as a ghost track on "Take A Look In The Mirror." But let's not complain all the time; it is a great reinterpretation, performed perfectly. They reach into the past with "My Gift To You" and "A.D.I.D.A.S." taken from the historic Woodstock 1999 performance, concluding with the previously mentioned "rarities." All in all, it's a good appetizer for those awaiting the follow-up to "See You On The Other Side" (which seems to be coming out in 2007). At the same time, it seems to play the same role that "Take A Look in The Mirror" did after the risk of "Untouchables," that is, to win back old fans, as there is not even a single live performance from the new album, and the tracks focus on what was done up to "Take A Look In The Mirror," essentially presenting classic Korn (with Head) once again.

For those unfamiliar with Korn, "Live & Rare" not only provides a good view of their discography but allows listeners to understand just how much experience and capability the Bakersfield band has in live settings.