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This, the third release by Huntington Beach
based badness "Korn," finds the band slightly askew
from it's two predecessors, "Korn" and "Life Is
Peachy." There is a bit more rap influence felt in some
of the song structures and use of samples - obviously so with
tracks that feature guest artists such as Ice Cube and Tre Hardson
of the Pharcyde. But the maturity and growth is more reflected
in a toning down of all the aggression and angst, focusing more
on feel and flow.
The first single, "Got The Life,"
is a good example of how "Korn" is using melody and
dynamic to shape the mood, as opposed to the straight-thicked
riffing and quiet/loud breaks of past efforts. Fred Durst of
Limp Bizkit fame lends his vocals to "All in the Family,"
another rap-core influenced song (but minus the core). "Korn"
has never been afraid of the rap tip (they most visibly covered
Ice Cube's "Wicked" on their first album), but this
album shows them wearing it on their sleeve. Fans of the aggro-guitar
attack of the first two albums will find a few tracks to satisfy
("Dead Bodies Everywhere," "B.B.K." and "Pretty"),
but might be left wanting a more juicy attack.
Singer Jonathan Davis is in fine form,
running the gamut from his trademark scraping barks and urgent
whines, to a smooth yell and silky whisper rap-laced delivery.
I have always loved the "Korn" bass sound, and Fieldy
comes through with an impossible low end once again. The bass
is used a lot more on this album with all the rap textures, because
when the vocals pull back into a verse, all that's usually left
is Fieldy's bass bumpin' on top of drummer David's beats (with
the occasional scratchy sample), which typically pummels into
some guitar crunched chorus.
Davis again brings the unlikely sound of
the bagpipes into the mix on the closing track, "My Gift
to You," which stretches out through a long (read couple
minute) pause, and trails into some studio dialogue that segues
into Cheech and Chong's "Earache in My Eye" - a stupid
song that Korn tackles most seriously, and the result is a really
good version of a stupid song.
It's nice to see the band searching for
new direction, but the rap influence runs a bit dry. "Korn"
is best when "Korn" is being "Korn" . . .
loud, low and . . . loud. |
