Korn - Untouchables
Well the time has come for rock music to take a lesson from one of the foremost original metal bands to hit the music scene in the past 10 years. After the collapse of grunge, music listeners were awaiting the next big thing to hit the music scene. Korn was the answer. Dropping their first single Blind in early �94, this band changed the way heavy music was made. With their fifth full length album to be released in mid-June, Korn is hoping to score big sales with the post-Napster era upon us. But let us review this current work, Untouchables, as a whole. First, if you are expecting the traditional Korn that was heard on the their self-titled debut or their follow-up Life is Peachy, you are sadly out of luck. However, lead vocalist Jonathan Davis is doing more singing on this album as opposed to their previous works. His yelling, grawling, and everything in-between that he is known for has been minimized for a more commercial, MTV friendly record. Nevertheless, Davis�s anger, rage, and angst are still as ever present as before. Such songs as �All My Hate� and �Full of Sorrow� clearly display the hatred and ill will towards others that Davis feels. The guitar work on Untouchables is new and inventive. Guitarist Brian �Head� Welch and James �Munky� Shaffer are continuing with the erie, cathartic alternative funk-metal sounds that have signified Korn in the latter part of the �90�s. Drummer David Silveria keeps up his end of the deal by adding his pounding beats of hate to the mix. Untouchables will be the band�s first release in 3 years. Bassist Reginald �Fieldy Snuts� Arvizu told MTV News that �Untouchables is the heaviest record Korn has ever made to date.� However, after a few listens I must disagree. I feel as if Korn and Life is Peachy surpass the heaviness of Untouchables. However, this album is more melodic then past works by this band. Obviously this band has spent the last three years working on new material that more then just the metalheads could relate to. It is evident that Korn has influenced such bands as Orgy, Videodrone, and Adema through their music and attitude. Untouchables, nonetheless, resembles the work or effectiveness of the aforementioned bands. But the difference is that Korn are masters of their craft. They pick up the pieces where their associates have failed at making good, heavy music. Fans of Issues will fall in love with the new release by the Bakersfield five, while diehard Korn fans will still be left empty handed waiting for the continuation of their self-titled album. The album is a good record and I recommend that you drive at really high speeds while listening to it. It has a lot of high-energy songs that will force your foot closer the floor of your car. I suggest you give this record a spin on June 11, 2002. That is unless you are of the few that have found pirated versions floating around.
-AW
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� 2002