Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 12:42 AM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Nu metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Roadrunner Records
Year: 2016
The leader is back… Follow him…
Korn hold a special place in the field of metal. They have many haters and even more fans. Many remember them only for a little, before “The path of totality”, because later some wanted to forget about them (the collaboration with Skrillex made a lot sour, but their course was already in decline after “Take a look in the mirror”). To explain about Korn’s musicianship, blending an extreme genre with one like dupstep was inevitable and experimentation is always welcome especially when new material and new essence come in. I understand though some who may became disappointed from this musical pairing because the result was at least mediocre. Korn got that pretty clear, as well and that’s why the returned to familiar places with “Paradigm shift”. Now, they return even more dynamic with “The serenity of suffering”…
I remember as vividly as the first time I put on “Follow the leader”, when the album starts at the 13th track (yes yes, the album starts at track 13 and finishes at 250) and I first listened to “It’s on!” It was something both new and creepy, but wonderful at the same time. You’ll get the same feeling by listening the first sounds from “Insane”. Yes, our old and beloved Korn are back in time and present us to a nu metal anthem. The sound isn’t as raw as in the favorites “Follow the leader” and “Issues”, but more between “Take a look in the mirror”, “Untouchables” and “The paradigm shift” with a slight turn to their horror side. Brian’s return has given a new sense to Korn. “Rotting in vain” is going to tease you in a beautiful way by being both melodic and twisted. “Black is the soul” is going to take you away with its epic and melancholic intro to its abrupt ending. We go on with “The hating”… Nu metal meets doom and psychedelic, but also progressive death at some points. Musical orgasm… Here we get Korn’s creativity at its best. In “A different world” there’s the collaboration with Corey Taylor. I’d have to say that it’s the only song that’s kind of generic and repeats itself. It’s just a matter of opinion, I guess… It’s time for “Take me”. You’ll have to agree that there can be no Korn record without its dance-groove song. Just admit that you’re still hum “Never Never”… The whole record begins to unravel harmonically from now on. Groove riffs, growls (yes, Jonathan had yet to scream so much from their 90’s works), dark-atmospheric passages, melodic refrains and frenzy-like outbursts on the next to come “Everything falls apart”, “Die yet another night”, When you are not there” and “Next in line”. “Please come for me” and “Baby” easily take the duty and become two more special Korn hits. They make it look easy, but trust me… It’s not! They always made it, avoiding cliché, with their own, unique way. The album closes with Jonathan screaming “I don’t need you” in “Calling me too soon”.
The verdict, after listening more than ten times the album, is that we have the best Korn album in many years! If I keep on listening to it, it will become my favorite after “Follow the leader”. The leader is back… Follow him…
5/6
