Preview Of Korn's New Album Untitled

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Posted by Erin DeWitt

July 20, 2007 4:38 PM

Permalink | Comments (11)

Last night was the listening preview of Korn’s new album, Untitled, to be released on July 31.

I went out of morbid curiosity to see if the band, whose heyday has long since passed, could produce an album that might re-establish them as a respectable rock band.

That and the free food.

I’m pleased to say it didn’t suck nearly as much as I thought it was going to.

There was no reinvention here, no dramatic change in sound. They stick with what they’re good at: heavy primal beats combined with growling vocals. The new album is still the same old Korn, just a little more matured.

And they’ve completely ditched any traces of nu-metal.
And added just a smidge of electronica.

This album hints at a softer side, but it’s only a hint. Aside from the few times frontman Jonathan Davis does higher, almost gentle vocals, several bits throughout the album feature simple, childlike melodies (I think there was some mandolin in there somewhere, but I could be wrong). Then... boom! A thundering blast of grit and distortion practically assaults the listener, especially on the song Hushabye. I guess it would be unnatural to keep it sweet.

For some reason, no one could find a track listing. However, as luck would have it I was seated next to Shaun, the energetic DJ who had them all memorized somehow. As well as the meaning behind every song and every other Korn tidbit imaginable.

According to him, “Starting Over” is about Davis fighting his personal demons, and “I Will Protect You” (which brought back those bagpipes!) is dedicated to his children, cautioning them not to make the same mistakes he did.

See? More matured.

The drums stand out as phenomenal, thanks to help from Terry Bozzio who stepped in during the brief departure of David Silveria.

Although Head has left the band, his presence is not forgotten. Supposedly “Love & Luxury” is about their strained relationship (Before Head’s book was read, of course. Now they’re cool). This track is one of the more upbeat and choppy tracks, which reminded me ever so slightly of old skool NIN.

We also got to preview the video for the first single “Evolution”, which will be airing on TRL this Tuesday.

The video’s theme is about the de-evolution of man back to monkey, thanks to medicinal advancements (pills pills pills!) and the fact that we like to kill all our natural predators for sport. It’s pretty flashy, you can bet there was a ton of money poured into it.

There is also some kind of mockumentary going around online about the same issue. Korn will be releasing that as well, so keep an eye out if your interested.

I don’t know if this album will win over any new fans.
Putting out an 8th album of pretty much the same stuff can be as much of a risk as a complete reinvention.

For die-hard fans (of which there are many, including the entire Midwest), Untitled is a dream come true: more of what they love, from the band they love. This will guarantee them mainstream success, but only for so long.

The question is: when are we going to get sick of Korn?

Comments (11)

Faith Nicole Holloway says:
July 30, 2007 18:40

Finally their coming out with a new album.I LOVE KoRn.bye i love you guys.

jeremy says:
July 31, 2007 13:56

im a long time fan of korn and i have to say this album is not the korn i like.theres no good pit songs to me its a album you play in your car on the way to church on a nice sunday after noon.i know try new things are good but you need more munkey theres to much fucking techno.we need more hard hiting shit something we can mash out to.you still kick ass maybe the next album you can let munkey jam out

Jaynie says:
August 23, 2007 05:49

I don't think Love and Luxury is about Head at all!!!
Listen to the lyrics!!!
It sounds like Jono is goin off about all the people that write to him and say they can relate to him when they have no idea.
I dunno...
I think if they were gona write about head, it'd be better than that.

Meriah says:
August 29, 2007 01:08

Actually "Ever Be" is Written about Head! I like this Album, But Im one of those die hard fans that will like any and everything they release...if you listen to every band that has put out more than two cd's...there styles change. No band stays the same!

JINREX says:
September 11, 2007 07:13

ASTIGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!

aasha says:
November 2, 2007 00:33

oooo u guys really rock !! luv u guys a lot!!! MMMMMWWWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

KB says:
November 28, 2007 08:28

I really like this album, but then again I don't really know a bad KoRn album, they have always rocked. Seeing them in concert is always awesome, sorry I was in jail this year, I'm sure I missed a kicken KoRnCeRt. Hopefully they will come back next year. ATL rockz when KoRn iz in the house.

katie says:
December 2, 2007 15:14

"it didnt suck as much as i thought it would"
r u kidding me.
korn is fantastic.
korn will never suck and they are not an over-the hill- band.
im offended.

gabriel says:
April 12, 2008 20:17

hm
i like way much
all the albums before this
on untitled you cannot consider some songs metal =/
even that i have been a fan for years
i gotta say i didnt liked this album
just the single "evolution"
but...
i went to korn's concert yesterday and it rocked!!!
even those new songs..
they are not that bad live =P

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September 4, 2008 12:40

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