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Rating: I don't want to be inappropriate by saying that Korn were, are, and will be the most discussed and criticized band in the world: always riding the wave and at the same time on the brink of the abyss, from worldwide fame to the disoriented paths of some members, a sign for some critics and old fans that they are going through the descending phase of their career, at least in an artistic-creative sense. This theory seems quite valid especially after Head's departure, the production of the controversial "See You On The Other Side," and David Silveira's pseudo-hiatus during the sessions of this "Untitled."
The premises for yet another misstep by the Californian band were there, including the confirmation of the "SYOTOS" production team, but with Korn nothing is predictable. Like the phoenix, Korn rise from their ashes, where by ashes I mean the positive episodes of "SYOTOS," those so-called experimental songs that stood out from the banality of that album.
"Untitled" is something that at first glance you would not think to be a Korn-stamped product, an almost foreign body to their discography, but it remains something epic and innovative comparable to some artistic expression that goes beyond music itself (a film, a painting...), it cannot be labeled or cataloged into a genre or compared with other albums and artists, the sounds wink at industrial with electronic elements from the production but there is a strong prog cut in the songs and the typically Korn mark remains in the air.
The characteristic that strikes on first listen is the particular slowness of the tracks, which gives the entire album an aura of sadness and melancholy; this doesn't mean the tracks aren't heavy — on the contrary. The undisputed protagonist of this album is Jonathan Davis, whose vocal skills have been exalted by a never-before-seen production so functional to him: Munky no longer searches for the granite riff in every song and decides to use all the guitars (mandolin included) he possesses for this album, being creative and technical like never before, the same goes for Fieldy, who abandons the funky slap in favor of a very low groove giving a strong dark cut to the whole work.
There are two important innovations in the production session: his majesty Terry Bozzio on drums in some tracks and the addition of session keyboardist Zac Baird, the latter fundamental in the evolution of each song with the new sounds he brings. The themes of the lyrics are always autobiographical but completely different compared to previous productions: love, family and social affections.
I'll move on to the description of the sensations I had while listening to the individual tracks:
"Intro", circus sounds that invite us to attend the show;
"Starting Over", poignant and melancholic with Jonathan's cry to God "come take me" in the ending;
"Bitch We Got A Problem", schizophrenic with an engaging rhythm;
"Evolution", perfect alchemy between synthesizers and rhythms for a track that deals with social themes;
"Hold On", the typical song that encourages you and tells you not to give up, not just with words;
"Kiss", a beautiful semi-ballad with sad and melancholic tones, gentle Jonathan accompanied by Zac's piano, broken by Munky's distorted guitar in Kornish power-chords in the chorus, a unique and rare song;
"Do What They Say", the emblem of the album: a slow song but at the same time heavy, whispers intertwined with Jonathan's impetuous growl;
"Ever Be", slow, sad, and damnably prog, great to perform live as a manifesto of this untitled;
"Love & Luxury", the only discordant note, a track that could have easily been left out of the tracklist in favor of some B-side, a light and fun track that doesn't feel homogeneous with the rest of the album, the lyrics are explicitly directed at Head;
"Innocent Bystandar", great industrial headbanger groove;
"Killing", in this track all the musicians excel, with a great sound and sudden rhythm changes;
"Hushbye", the mandolin takes us through unexplored sonic realms by Korn, once again great Jonathan with his changes of tone and vocal register;
"I Will Protect You", epic with Terry Bozzio's manifesto in the interlude, this song could give birth to a new musical genre.
Album not recommended:
- to those expecting an "Issues" or a "Life is Peachy" because it stands apart and seems to deny the entire previous production
Recommended:
- to those who, like me, loved those SYOTOS songs ("Love Song", "Seen it All", "Tearjerker", "Throw Me Away" and B-sides) dark and damnably sad
- to those who aren't strictly Korn fans and are fascinated by sophisticated sounds
Each song has its own soul but unanimously they say Korn.
Creative and Unique.
Slow and Sad.
Not to be underestimated.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
03 Bitch We Got a Problem (03:22)
For every person I've tried to be
There's another ten inside
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I'M NEVER THERE
I'M ALWAYS WITH YOU BUT NEVER CARED
And you move in a hostile way
Like you're recently wounded
I REACH FOR YOUR WRISTS TO FEEL A PULSE
THERE'S BARELY A SOUND FROM BOTH OF US
We got a problem, it's plain to see
We got a problem
Which one, which one of you is into me?
Which one, which one of me is into you?
We're both schizophrenic I fear
Say how many voices you hear
Which one, which one of you is into me?
Which one, which one of me is into you?
We are schizophrenic, don't stop
No, not till I fuck this all up
All the searching we do inside
Is a futile attempt to
DISSECT WHAT WE'RE MEANT TO NEVER KNOW
IT'S ALL SCREWED UP HOW THE RIVER FLOWS
And I know that you tried real hard
To center yourself, but
WHEN ONE SIDE OF ME STARTS SLIPPING THROUGH
A REAL DARK BITCH DOWN INSIDE OF YOU?
We got a problem, it's plain to see
Bitch, we got a problem
Which one, which one of you is into me?
Which one, which one of me is into you?
We're both schizophrenic I fear
Say how many voices you hear
Which one, which one of you is into me?
Which one, which one of me is into you?
We are schizophrenic, don't stop
No, not till I fuck this all up
Nice to meet you,
And you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you
And this is me, and me, and me, and me,
and me, and me, and me, and me, and me
Bitch, we got a problem
Which one, which one of you is into me?
Which one, which one of me is into you?
We're both schizophrenic I fear
Say how many voices you hear
Which one, which one of you is into me?
Which one, which one of me is into you?
We are schizophrenic, don't stop
No, not till I fuck this all up
Bitch, we got a problem!
Yeah!
We got a problem!
Bitch, we got a problem!
We got a problem, problem, problem
We got a problem, yes, yes
We got a problem
We got a problem
We got a problem, problem, problem.
04 Evolution (03:37)
I'm digging with my fingertips
I'm ripping at the ground I stand upon
I'm searching for fragile bones
(Evolution)
I'm never gonna be refined
Keep trying but I won't assimilate
Sure we have come far in time
(Watch the bow break)
And I'm sorry I don't believe
By the evidence that I see
That there's any hope left for me
It's evolution
Just evolution
[CHORUS]
And I
I do not dare deny
The basic beast inside
It's right here, it's controlling my mind
And why
Do I deserve to die?
I'm dominated by, this animal that's locked up inside
Close up I get a real good view
I'm betting that the species will survive
Hold tight, I'm getting inside you
(Evolution)
And when we're gonna find these bones
They're gonna wanna keep them in a jar
The number one virus caused by
(Procreation)
And the planet may go astray
In a million years they'll say
Those motherfuckers were all deranged
It's evolution
Just evolution
[CHORUS]
And I
I do not dare deny
The basic beast inside
It's right here, it's controlling my mind
And why
Do I deserve to die?
I'm dominated by, this animal that's locked up inside
Take a look around
Nothing much has changed
Take a look around
Nothing much has changed
Take a look around
Take a look around
Take a look around
Nothing much has changed
Take a look around
Take a look around
Nothing much has changed
Take a look around
Take a look around
Nothing much has changed
Take a look around
[CHORUS]
And I
I do not dare deny
The basic beast inside
It's right here, it's controlling my mind
And why
Do I deserve to die?
I'm dominated by, this animal that's locked up inside
Why?
Why do I deserve to die?
05 Hold On (03:05)
With aversion, this assertion
came so swiftly
Cut the cord, from this day forward
we'll be drifting
No direction, no affection
Watch the soul dive
You're dissected, resurrected
Still don't know why
This illness is like a monster that is
eating us alive
Hold on, be strong
So right, so wrong
With all of our senses
All of our defenses
Hold on, be strong
New arrival, our survival
still not certain
Once a virtue, where to go to
when you're hurting
It's a weakness, it's a sickness
in the gene pool
Show no mercy, people here say
"Kill the damn fool"
This illness is like a monster that is
eating us alive
Hold on, be strong
So right, so wrong
With all of our senses
All of our defenses
Hold on, be strong
My
soul
blood
raw
Don't ever let me go, no
Don't ever let me go, no
And I'll never let you go, no
I'll never let you go, no
Hold on, be strong
So right, so wrong
With all of our senses
All of our defenses
Hold on, be strong.
06 Kiss (04:09)
Some deny and search for things that never come around
Do I feel like a fool?
The places I have ran to all my life have disappeared
And I owe this all to you (all to you)
I'm feeling like I'm sinking
And nothing's there to catch me, keep me breathing
What do I have to do?
Why can't this hurt be through?
I'm going head on to something
I know I will fail
Why can't this kiss be true?
Why won't you please let me through?
I don't understand
why you always push me away
The last thing I would like to do before I go away
is cry there next to you (next to you)
Cry and talk about the good old days and where they've gone
And now how much I hate you
What do I have to do?
Why can't this hurt be through?
I'm going head on to something
I know I will fail
Why can't this kiss be true?
Why won't you please let me through?
I don't understand
why you always push me away
I feel the blood drip off my body as it pools right there
on the ground
What am I now?
What am I now?
What am I now?
What do I have to do?
Why can't this hurt be through?
I'm going head on to something
I know I will fail
Why can't this kiss be true?
Why won't you please let me through?
I don't understand
why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
Why you always push me away
07 Do What They Say (04:17)
Walk away when you're angry
Brace yourself, there's nothing to gain
Old enough to know the outcome
More blood, it's always the same
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For facing death we run head-on
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For God we search for something so long
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For facing death we run head-on
Do what they say
Or they take it away
I'd rather be dead than carry on
(wait) Bite your lip, don't be cursing
(we must) We musn't take God's name in vain
(in vain) Blunt your knife, pull the curtain
(impulse) Impulses you must refrain
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For facing death we run head-on
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For God we search for something so long
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For facing death we run head-on
Do what they say
Or they take it away
I'd rather be dead then carry on
So I carry on with this burden
I can't remember anything
I can't be certain
Aren't we cool and aren't we calm
For facing death we run head-on
Do what they say
Or they take it away
I'd rather be dead than carry on
08 Ever Be (04:48)
You're the infection my friend, disgusting right to the end. Didn't I know it then, I knew it I knew it. You're basic but hard to define, simple yet somehow sublime. Knew you will strike again, I knew it I knew it. You're all that's wrong with your dumbass psalms. Ya that's all that you will ever be. Nothing you can do because that's all that you will ever be. Polished you shiver when shined. Forgotten and seething inside. Everyone falls for this, I knew it I knew it. You're all that's wrong with your dumbass psalms. Ya that's all that you will ever be. Nothing you can do because that's all that you will ever be. Ever be, never be, want to be mine. All to be, made to be, holding your side. Throwing it, breaking it, all by your fame Sending you back to the place you once came. Leaving behind you. No one around you. You will never be! You want to be god, It's all gone.
12 Hushabye (03:52)
This sunny Sunday
Is a good day to go
Guess you'll be staying on, let me know
And I hate to say
It's been a waste of time
I hate to interrupt the flow
Why, Why, Why
Hushabye
Hushabye, why aren't you ready to go?
Why, Why, Why
Hushabye
Couldn't we fast forward on through this show?
You say you'd love to
But you've lots left to do
Almost decided to stay 'cause of you
And I hate to tell you to exchange your dreams
For a one-way ticket, no return
Why, Why, Why
Hushabye
Hushabye, why aren't you ready to go?
Why, Why, Why
Hushabye
Couldn't we fast forward on through this show?
Why, why
What you hanging on for?
What you doing that for?
What you begging on for?
Why, hushabye
A waste of time
I'd hate to interrupt the flow
For a one way ticket, no return
This sunny Sunday is a good day to go
Why, Why, Why
Hushabye
Hushabye, why aren't you ready to go?
Why, Why, Why
Hushabye
Couldn't we fast forward on through this show?
Hushabye
Why, why, why I
What you begging on for?
Why
Hushabye
We've wasted it, our time is up
13 I Will Protect You (05:31)
Whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna feel
When suddenly I slip away?
Almost am a ghost
Of who I used to be
Yesterday.
How you gonna touch
And how will you collect
The beauty when it turns to dust?
Everything we make
The cells we generate
Of both of us..
Please be aware that I am you!
Nothing could be more certain
This ain't the time the place for us
To understand this life!
Hold you in my arms
Hold you in my gaze
Singing with my dying breath
Underneath this earth
A resurrected soul
And nothing else
Sorry for this space
If I could fill a void
An ocean wouldn't hold my love
And everything I have
And all I ever was
Is not enough
Please be aware that I am you!
Nothing could be more certain
This ain't the time the place for us
To understand this life!
(I will protect you)
Please be aware that I am you!
Nothing could be more certain
This ain't the time the place for us
To understand this life!
This ain't the time! This ain't the place!
This ain't the time! This ain't the place!
This ain't the time! This ain't the place!
I will protect you...
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Other reviews
By Deviljin
Untitled is unexpectedly great without being innovative at all.
Songs like 'Evolution,' 'Ever Be,' and 'Starting Over' are worthy of the best Korn.
By thetrooper
Korn did not repeat themselves, writing and playing a complete album, with heavy tracks but with good melodies, all in the name of experimentation.
'Untitled' surpasses every musical barrier and... is the best since 'Issues' because it contains all the essence of the latest Korn.
By Thoughtless
Korn has always been one of the most innovative bands in the Nu Metal scene (they invented this genre)!
This CD will surely not appeal to everyone who was used to the old raw Korn, but if one considers themselves true Korn fans, well, this album will be greatly appreciated.
