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Rating: I have heard quite a few criticisms about the latest Korn album, and most of them are unfounded, used only to discredit a band that has played a significant role in reshaping the concept of "heavy" music in the '90s, a difficult time for heavy metal. The difficulties and missteps have been there even for Korn themselves ("Untouchables" is an example), but they have always bounced back, proving to those who wanted them dead for a while that Korn is alive and kicking, and even quite pissed off (the aggressive "Take A Look In The Mirror"). Another proof is this "See You On The Other Side", a different album that moves away from the tight schemes of nu metal that the band itself helped create and seeks to explore new territories by embracing new influences. Fan or not, this shouldn't surprise anyone because the word Korn has always been synonymous with two important words: INNOVATION and EVOLUTION!
It’s obvious that in this album we don’t hear the groove metal of their debut and its heavy riffs because from "Korn" to "See You On The Other Side", there has been an evolutionary process in the band’s style, filtered through great albums like "Life Is Peachy" or "Issues". This process sees its first fruits in "See You On The Other Side", first because a band member, guitarist Head, as everyone knows by now, left the group for religious reasons. When a band loses an important member (Head was a co-composer with Davis and David Silveria of many Korn classics), it is forced to reinvent itself, and to me, Korn has done so adequately with this new form of alternative metal framed with strong industrial tendencies, all with a veil of pop/rock that increases the catchiness of the songs but at the same time does not compromise the heaviness of the sound. In short, "Korn can still be considered a heavy rock band", in the words of Jonathan Davis, who denies any softening of their sound towards calmer shores.
The album opens with its launch single, "Twisted Transistor", with a delightful heavy riff that drives the entire song, cheerful and beautiful from all points of view. However, one cannot deny a pop/rock aftertaste that doesn’t ruin the song. Korn wants to show everyone that they are still a "metal" band with this really tough "Politics", which also features a riff that propels the entire piece and has a chorus with a vague death touch, all with an incredibly groovy feel. More on classic themes is "Hypocrites" presented in preview during the concerts, beautifully rhythmic with Fieldy's bass slapping as it should, but perhaps it’s the most repetitive and unnecessary piece of the album. Very similar to "Hypocrites" is "Souvenir", which seems constructed on the same riff, but this one is more pleasantly listenable than the other. The first real change of direction is with "10 or A 2 Way", a murky mix of psychedelic drums and synthesizers, opening up to the typical Marilyn Manson sound, and the result is not bad. A beautiful song, particularly with Davis’s voice reaching elevated peaks of beauty. One takes a break with "Throw Me Away", presenting an acidic pop/rock mixed with Nine Inch Nails industrial rock. It leaves room for the first real standout track of "SYOTOS", the poignant and melancholic "Love Song", written by Davis, reminiscent of the writing style used in the "Queen Of The Damned" soundtrack. The dark-neo romantic veil covers the entire song, with the American frontman impressing with impeccable vocals, especially in the melodic parts—10 to this song!
Echos of Nine Inch Nails also in "Open Up", but it only serves to introduce us to the album’s other big cartridge, "Coming Undone", a crossover/rock piece featuring a riff that vaguely recalls the immortal "Walk" by the immortal Pantera, really leaving me headbanging until the end. The heaviness continues with "Getting off", where Davis returns to assault his microphone with an impressive growl. The whole song has trashy flavors seasoned with a good electronic side, and also Fieldy, a bit sleepy so far, makes himself heard. The nu metal revives with the cunning and straightforward "Liar", a funk-metal song with a cleverly opening riff and Davis’s voice at its peak. Towards the end, his mad growl resurfaces, which had made songs like "Twist" successful. This song seems like a homage to old fans as it doesn’t align well with the rest of the album, yet it stands out as one of the best. A skillful blend of electronics and what was done on "Take A Look In The Mirror" is "For No One", a decent piece still bogged down in nu metal, freeing itself only in the final part when Munky’s guitar becomes more substantial and Davis’s voice reveals its more pop/rock side.
We move towards the end with two beautiful tracks "Seen It All", melancholic and sad, uniting acidic rock, alternative metal, and a certain dark vein. "Tearjerker" is a worthy conclusion for "See You On The Other Side", where Davis reveals the most intimate and melodic side of his voice, initially accompanied only by a synthesizer, facing a kind of masterpiece of melody and the more psychedelic side of Korn. Summing up, this "See You On The Other Side" shouldn’t be considered as a confirmation or not of the band, but is a new starting point to resume their career by producing good albums like this one.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Politics (03:16)
Everyone's corrupt
You should just shut up
Lay down, back off
The demon you disrupted
Don't want to talk about politics
Don't preach or talk about politics
Don't let me talk about politics
Don't give a shit about politics
You want to sleep with him to get to who you need to know
Think that's the way to go don't you?
It's in religion, sex, and everything we do and say
I look the other way won't you?
Everybody's raped
Lying to your face
Kick's you in the gut
Slayed you here all messed up
Don't want to talk about politics
Don't preach or talk about politics
Don't let me talk about politics
Don't give a shit about politics
You want to sleep with him to get to who you need to know
Think that's the way to go don't you?
It's in religion, sex, and everything we do and say
I look the other way won't you?
Tiny spirits are in your soul (and they remain there)
Darkest life in the deepest hole (you sit and pray there)
All the deals from the things you've done (you wouldn't ever work for)
What you thought was so much fun (you have to pay for)
Don't want to talk about politics
Don't preach or talk about politics
Don't let me talk about politics
Don't give a shit about politics
You want to sleep with him to get to who you need to know
Think that's the way to go don't you?
It's in religion, sex, and everything we do and say
I look the other way won't you?
Don't want to talk about politics
Don't preach or talk about politics
Don't let me talk about politics
Don't give a shit about politics
Don't want to talk about politics
Don't preach or talk about politics
Don't let me talk about politics
Don't give a shit about politics!
03 Hypocrites (03:49)
Your messiah was never mine [x10]
Hypocrites!
Weeping rows of Jeremiah
Drops of blood drip off your medals
Representing all our tears
in a ring of burning metal
How you wanna be, what you gonna say
it doesn't bother me, who ya gonna pay
Sorcerers and Satan's come
To define the what and why
People travel across this earth
Over water, land, and sky
How you wanna be, what you gonna say
it doesn't bother me, who ya gonna pay
Pay the ferryman, pay the fucking driver
Pay the preachers and pay the fucking liars
Pay the angels they're touching on their dates, stand by
I'm not gonna pay it's already mine
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
Your messiah was never mine
Weeping rows of Jeremiah
Purity unlike no other
Offers help to those who need it
Don't forget care to the brother
How you wanna be, what you gonna say it
Doesn't bother me, who ya gonna pay
Little old lady at home
Writing out a check to send
It's all the money that she owns
She believes the world might end
How you wanna be, what you gonna say it
Doesn't bother me, who ya gonna pay
Pay the ferryman, pay the fucking driver
Pay the preachers and pay the fucking liars
Pay the angels they're touching on their dates, stand by
I'm not gonna pay it's already mine
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
Your messiah was never mine
Hypocrites!
Pay the ferryman, pay the fucking driver
Pay the preachers and pay the fucking liars
Pay the angels, they're touching on their dates
I'm not gonna pay it's already mine
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
I'm gonna do it blind
Hypocrites
Hypocrites! [x4]
04 Souvenir (03:49)
I never knew what i was gonna be
somebody saw what i couldnt see
and it did me up now
I never thought i could be worthy of
lovin under the sky above
don't let the wondeful
why does everybody have to fit in
you should feel comfortable in the skin
just like me i am the
souvenir of sadness
melting to the madness
hands where you can feel this
anyone who has this...
stand up! nobody's dryin to save you
speak up! nobody's waiting to see you
wake up! nobody's trying to play you
let me make it then you'll have this
back up! nobody to destroy you
now this! nobody else to be this hard
go this! whatever's wrong with your head
love is my souvenir of sadness
they never knew what i was gonna say
punch me and kick me and drown away
now you know you are so
now look at me what do you have to say
never give up for you anyway
you know who you are so
now look at me what do you have to say
never give up for you anyway
happy child look at that
souvenir of sadness
melting to the madness
hands where you can feel this
anyone who has this...
stand up! nobody's dryin to save you
speak up! nobody's waiting to see you
wake up! nobody's trying to play you
let me make it then you'll have this
back up! nobody to destroy you
now this! nobody else to be this hard
go this! whatever's wrong with your head
love is my souvenir of sadness
souvenir of sadness
melting to the madness
hands where you can feel this
anyone who has this...
stand up! nobody's dryin to save you
speak up! nobody's waiting to see you
wake up! nobody's trying to play you
let me make it then you'll have this
back up! nobody to destroy you
now this! nobody else to be this hard
go this! whatever's wrong with your head
love is my souvenir of sadness
05 10 or a 2-Way (04:41)
Precious fingers she knows how to hold the poison
Lick it dip it and for no particular reason
She crawls on the floor slides against the door
Precious fingers over blossom and it's season
Doesn't matter she'll be doing it her way
Doesn't care if it's a 10 or a 2-way
Doesn't matter she'll be doing it her way
Every night every day
Never meant to show up here anyway
Only f**king you till the season change
Treasure deep between the places that you hold dear
Can't it hurt to act as if we are in love here?
Lying across this chair fingers everywhere
To defying all the angels up above here
Doesn't matter she'll be doing it her way
Doesn't care if it's a 10 or a 2-way
Doesn't matter she'll be doing it her way
Every night every day
Never meant to show up here anyway
Only f**king you till the season change
When you cum (Be a good girl)
Hold your breath (Make it last long)
It is called (the)
the "little dead" girl
Never meant to show up here anyway
Only f**king you till the season change
Never meant to show up here anyway
Only f**king you till the season change
07 Love Song (04:18)
Murder!
Your holding my heart, screaming.
Motherfucker!
They left me broken, bleeding.
Son of!
The man you loved and left for
The son of a bitch!
Who tried to show me death's door.
(Ah)
Everything's illuminated.
Everything is dedicated.
(Ah)
Tried to leave this life I hated
Even that what's over-rated.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here...
Im dying here.
And then!
Obtituaries rain down.
And suddenly!
We're lying naked face down.
(Ah)
Once again decapitated.
Can't you see me fasinated.
(Ah)
Never knew enough to damage.
Even that can be mis-managed.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here.
Im dying here.
Dying here..
Don't bring me daffodils.
Bring a bouquet of pills.
See some drainum.
Cracked to the crainum.
Protect me when you can.
Respect me when I am...
Dying.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here.
I'm dying here.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here...
I'm dying here.
08 Open Up (06:15)
What were you thinking
I guess i'll never know
See your eyes thinking
Pupils begin to grow
Drilling you softly
Pulling you in
Making your mind up
What's sick or a sin
[Chorus]
Open up now
Let it all go
I'm quite certain
Say it aint so
You're corrupted by
Some sick fuck
Oh no
Open up now
Head in the sky
Here's the tongue that
Keeps telling lies
Feelings in my mouth
You breathe in but can't brethe out
What you've been taking
It makes you talk
Real slow
How come i'm thinking
You'd be the last
To know
(You'd be the last to know)
Choking you gently
Gaining control
Hand you the shovel
To dig your own hole
[Chorus]
Choking you gently
Gaining control
Hand you the shovel
To dig your own hole
Open up now
Let it all go
Open up now
Let it all go
Open up now
Head in the sky
Here's the tongue that
Keeps telling lies
Feelings in my mouth
You breathe in but can't brethe out
You breathe in but can't breathe out
09 Coming Undone (03:19)
Keep holding on
When my brain's tickin' like a bomb
Guess the black bots have come Again to get me
Sweet bitter words
Unlike nothing I have heard
Sing along mocking bird
You don't affect me
That's right
Deliverance of my heart
Be straight
Be deliverance
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Choke choke again
I find my demons are my friends
Getting me in the end
They're out to get me
Since I was young
I've tasted sorrow on my tongue
And this sweet chugga gun
Does not protect me
That's right
Trigger between my eyes
Please strike
Make it quick now
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
I'm trying to hold it together
Head is lighter than a feather
Looks like i'm not getting better
Not getting better
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
11 Liar (04:14)
My brother, you love her
But don't give up your instincts
Hang onto you know what
They'll be gone fast as you blink
They're trained to suduce you
Suck you dry quick as they can
They tried to reduce you
Now you're barely a man
Oh my God
How can you deny the flood
That's flowing through you
Hey you
You're saying that she's all that you desire
Liar
Hey you
You think you can throw water on this fire
Liar
It's not wrong to let go
And let the woman ride you
For fuck sake, don't lose touch
With the dog that's inside you
She wanted what you had
You bet she smelt the spore
Don't give up, fuck her up
One more time, slam that door
Oh my God
How can you deny the flood
That's flowing through you
Hey you
You're saying that she's all that you desire
Liar
Hey you
You think you can throw water on this fire
Liar
Oh my God
How can you deny the flood
That's flowing through you
Hey you
You're saying that she's all that you desire
Liar
Hey you
You think you can throw water on this fire
Liar
Oh my God
How can you deny the flood
That's flowing through you
13 Seen It All (06:19)
I'm an animal
I'm a victim
I'm the answer to your prayers
I'm a witness
On the witchhunt
I'm the monster of the stairs
I'm ghost that's
In the mirror
I'm everything that you fear
I'm the riptide
I'm the soldier
I'm the voice that's in your head
[Chorus]
I've seen it all
Still can't taste it
Smashed to the wall
That brought me to my knees
I've done it all
Fucked up
Wasted
Still in my blood
But now inside unseen
I'm the hunted
I'm a predator
I'm the answer to the riddle
I'm the upbeat
I'm the headfuck
I'm the way yarn flips to the middle
I the payer
I'm maniving
I'm the one who's not addicted
I'm illogic
Turn the fuck up
I'm the broken one who fixed it
[Chorus X2]
I'm just a child
With tears in it's eyes
I am holding this gift
That is broken
What do I have left now
I've seen it all
I've done it all
I've seen it all
I've done it all
[Chorus X2]
Now inside unseen
14 Tearjerker (05:05)
Well I wish there was someone
Well I wish there was someone
To love me
When I used to be someone
And I knew there was someone
That loved me
As I sit here frozen alone
Even ghosts get tired and go home
As they crawl back under the stones
And I wish there was something
Please tell me there's something better
And I wish there was something more than this
Saturated loneliness
And I wish I could feel it
And I wish I could steal it
Abduct it, corrupt it, but I never can
it's just saturated loneliness
Does the silence get lonely?
Does the silence get lonely?
Who knows?
I've been hearing it tell me
I've been hearing it tell me
Go home
Cause the freaks are playing tonight
They packed up and turned out the lights
And I wish there was something
Please tell me there's something better
And I wish there was something more than this
Saturated loneliness
And I wish I could feel it
And I wish I could steal it
Abduct it, corrupt it, but I never can
It's just saturated loneliness
And the bath water's cold
And this life's getting old
And I wish I could feel it
And I wish I could feel it
And I wish I could steal it
Abduct it, corrupt it
And I wish I could feel it
And I wish I could steal it
And I wish I could feel it
Abduct it, corrupt it
But I never can
I never can
Never can
Never can
Never can
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Other reviews
By CoolOras
Having a singer like Jonathan Davis in a band is a luxury that few can afford.
In my opinion, a great comeback for KoRn, who never disappoint.
By Mr.Room
"Still (partially) insane, but the Korn of the past seems like a distant memory."
This album convinces and does not convince, perhaps the secret to forming a real and objective opinion of this album is to pretend or forget that they are Korn.
By Adil
This is probably the worst album ever released by Korn.
The album does not seem to suffer from the absence of a second guitar, but the rhythm section dominates many tracks.
By Brizz89
This new album can be defined as half a success...
Honestly, I do not recommend it to those who have heard a lot of good things about Korn, but I recommend it to those interested in hearing experimentation in this field.
By Indio
This album is an insult to music and to the band itself.
'See You On The Other Side' is cloying from start to finish, it has neither head nor tail.
