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Rating:
"...Still (partially) insane, but the Korn of the past seems like a distant memory..." The Korn took big risks with this album, even more so with "Untouchables", and they are well aware of it. Have they taken another step forward? It's uncertain, but one cannot accuse them of taking a step back or repeating themselves. The new Korn is the (classic) album you don't expect, meaning both in a good and bad way. Honestly, after "Untouchables" (ignoring "Take A Look...", which was more a way to satisfy some old and new fans and make some "money" while waiting for the new album), there seemed to be few further margins for improvement: partly an accurate intuition, because with this new album, it seems that Korn are again changing direction (this time drastically), and once more they surprise the audience, who certainly would not have expected this.
First of all, it's an album that, beyond the easy choruses and pop-commercial appeal, is not at all an easily accessible album, and certainly not one of those albums that convinces at the first listens. A challenging album indeed. An album saturated with effects (especially on the percussion) that give Korn's music a cold aspect, an album steeped in industrial. It seems Korn wanted to clean their sound of anything they considered superfluous, refining it with cold technology and studied songs (with no semblance of improvisation or spontaneity), which will certainly once again disgust longtime fans. The mood of Korn is once again gloomy, but a different darkness than in the past, as already mentioned, colder and almost "aware" or now atrophied, resigned, and more cynical/insensitive.
The thread that binds each song is the spectral sound of a bagpipe, which seems to want to return from the past occasionally, to remind us that the past is not entirely dead yet. The surreal cover shows a child, with two grotesquely dressed and almost demonic animals behind him: the rabbit crowns the child, while the horse holds the decapitated head of the stuffed animal the child holds, almost representing that although Korn have become the absolute kings in their musical genre, they are still connected to a past that cannot be completely erased, scars that remain in the soul, but this time accepted with less fear compared to the past. Like it or not, even though Jonathan has long been bathing in $, his childhood seems to always be a burden to carry, for him and therefore also for Korn's music. This have gained something but inevitably lost another: a situation that balances out where the two things are equivalent.
The guitars play a slightly less primary role compared to the last albums: here they are accompanied by a layer of effects that wriggle and want to insinuate themselves into the listener's psyche. The production is no longer the same: the guitar sound has become less pachydermic and "sticky", and with a less low tuning, just as the bass is no longer slapped as before. What remains of the previous Korn? Some parts or passages, certainly not the actual songs. Before continuing to analyze the album, I wanted to clarify a few things: statements like "Korn sold out, they’re a band for MTV and kids" etc., honestly, I leave to the incorrigible obstinate ones, who persist in not wanting to let it sink into their empty heads that the point to raise the question is whether they will do well and be clever in making music as a band that sells a lot. In short, it's no secret that at some point in their career, Korn began to enjoy popularity. Let's consider it, frankly and without unnecessary polemics, a mainstream band: I like them as a mainstream band (it's no secret), and so far, as a mainstream band, they have kicked everyone's ass (their peers), but also many other bands from other categories.
To those who thought the new album would follow in the footsteps of that "discard" song floating around before the release, this album is the answer: here's how Korn fooled us. Negative side: the real brutality is the factor that, for the first time, I feel is missing in a Korn album: where did those putrid riffs of unhealthy beauty go that, very close to the sound and tuning of death metal, confirmed to you that Korn were not yet ready for the most blatant commercialization? The brutality is missing, the real disease has transformed into something more mature but, alas, perhaps excessively too cold and studied. A sincere transformation or dictated by the desire to align themselves with Britney Spears & co? Who can say, certainly not the sales, as usual the truth usually lies somewhere in between. In this album, there is no fair or correct balance of the parts (often done to please a bit of everyone), but you immerse yourself in a unique world where nuances matter. Every Korn album tests you, and this is definitely a very positive factor. 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, although this is not so simple.
"Twisted Transistor" opens the dances and partly represents what we should expect next. With an apocalyptic flavor, this opening song reminded me of a song like "Pure" by Helmet: don't misunderstand me or take me for crazy, but the two songs have a similar structure, one-directional, even almost insignificant, but at the slightest change/change that occurs, they can suddenly reveal their meaning. "Politics" is a modern song, supported by a taste for melody and a catchy chorus. "Hypocrites": a song that seems to mock the listeners, with muted guitars that create a wall of sound, and sounds and effects that "creep" into the background. "Love Song" is an ambiguous, unusual, and disturbed song, very dark that perhaps best unites the new Korn with the old ones: the sickness returns to pervade this song, and the dazed and almost cunning chorus creates a very interesting contrast between mental illness and sweetness/melody. Definitely one of the most interesting songs on the album. "Souvenir of Sadness" opens with a guitar riff that seems to choke, modern and direct. The vocals in this piece follow the new course of Jonathan's singing, nothing cunning or overly melodic, indeed overall it is a fairly direct song. The rhythm and pace of "10 or a 2-way" can remind us of Nine Inch Nails: a more sparse whispered part where the chorus then explodes. "Throw me away" is one of the songs most mixed with electronics of the album, with cold rhythms but with melodic openings in the chorus: the atmosphere released from the mix of sounds seems almost out of reality. "Open Up" is very electronic, a song that seems to take you to the light but then brings you back, without much surprise, towards the abyss. Another dark song, where Jonathan's vocal lines and melody, towards the end, create an atmosphere not too distant from things like Type 0 Negative. Indeed towards the end of this song, even if a semblance of calm and serenity is once again breathed, it is immediately broken by a psychotic loop. "Coming Undone" begins with a nice full riff, which suggests a return to the old Korn: nothing could be more wrong, because immediately afterward a semi-industrial rhythmic base starts, and the piece moves towards obsessive and pounding territories, with the chorus that is not too ashamed to be cunning. A catchy song, no doubt. "Getting Off": once again a guitar riff sets the trend, and the drums (mixed with some effects) start the piece. Here Jonathan goes back to "growling", in contrast to the always melodic chorus. "Liar": even if not excessively sprinkled with electronics, the chorus is one of the most melodic and cunning I have ever heard from Korn. Cunning? Oh yes, but don't forget that when you least expect it, the more mentally disturbed and schizoid Korn might come back to kick you in the balls, with those old-style Jonathan Davis screams picked up from the "Twist" style. "For No One": a song that rocks, the bass returns to be felt "slapping", the progress is damn catchy, the guitars become assertive again, Jonathan's singing is wonderful and charts new horizons of sensations. In "Seen it all" Korn returns to their new dimension, where electronics and effects immerse us in the coldness of machines, and the dark atmosphere gives the song an almost mysterious aura, also due to a viola (or cello) of rarefied beauty. The album closes with a simple yet emotional "Tearjerker", with a piano, Jonathan's delicate, stunning voice, and various effects, placing the listener in a state of disorientation.
To sum up, my point of view is that the most exciting part of the album starts from "Throw me away". I hope, however, that this album will grow on me, little by little, as happened with "Untouchables". On first listens of "Untouchables", there were only a couple of pieces to my liking, but as I listened more, the typical "mushroom" effect happened. So I considered Untouchables a masterpiece. Nu-Pop? Probably, and it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Whether you like it or not, whether it's better or worse, currently, Korn are truly unique in the music they make.
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 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.
By Metal89
One word will suffice to describe this album; a piece of crap.
It is clear that these four are together just for the money.
