To be honest I was not expecting a great show. Every album after Issues (1999) was a bit redundant and disappointing, and the icing on the cake was the latest The Path of Totality, a mix of nu-metal/dubstep/electronic that did not please the most hardcore fans. But Korn has been one of my favorite bands from the 90s and I had already missed too many chances to see them.
As soon as the massive drum kit and the legendary mic were unveiled, and Jonathan Davis walked on stage, I immediately understood the game was on. Great shape, great voice and great energy right from the start with Predictable, Lies, No Place to Hide and one of their trademark songs Good God. Once the show kicked off everybody got the feeling that Korn was in its element and it was back to a old school heavy sound for which they are very well remembered, admired and respected since their first album in 1995.
Despite an overwhelming loud sound from the bass and the drums that during the first part overshadowed the two guitars and occasionally J.Davis, the show did not make the packed crowd stop headbanging for a second.
The band then kicked off the first of six songs for the night from their new The Path of Totality, and while at the beginning I was concerned that the new style would contaminate and ruin the old material, I was very much pleased to see that the old heavy sound gave the new songs a 90s flavor that is completely absent on the cd and made them more likeable than the versions arranged with unnecessary new sounds and experiments.
The last part of the show was all about the first four albums again – with a quick venture in Untouchables – with all of the members tearing their hearts out to play the most out of each track. Together with Jonathan Davis voice – always powerful and amazingly demonic in a way he only can – the heart of Korn sound was Fieldy’s killer bass lines and new drummer Ray Luzier’s eclectic and dinamic performances. Munky did a good job at not making anyone regret Head’s departure, delivering a rotund and heavy distorted sound without lacking in his classics sharp squeaks.
The Pink Floyd cover of Another Brick in the Wall was a surprisingly intense moment, whereas the finale with Blind was the perfect ending to a show where three different generations of people were gathered to witness the actual state of Korn.
After being responsible for the last revolution in music after grunge, Korn is still alive and kicking, proving that despite a bunch of forgettable albums and the rise of younger bands, they did not forget how to rock and entertain.
ROCK ON.
