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Korn continues to disappoint with ‘The Nothing’

by Brandon Carson There is no denying that Korn changed metal music back in 1994 with their self-titled debut album. Their completely raw approach to sound and inventive, groovy riffs were groundbreaking for the genre. The tracks were full of hard-hitting riffs mixed with atmospheric guitars and instrumentals. Jonathan Davis’ demented voice and twisted lyrics shook the metal world. One could say that it was Korn that introduced the world to “nu-metal,” a late 90s and early 2000s fusion of groove metal and hip-hop. By the time their third record Follow the Leader came out, Korn was on top of the world. However, once the band started to pander to a more radio-friendly audience, their sound gave way to a clean, straight-edge production that made the band lose their edge. Now, 13 albums in, Korn has cemented itself as an essential metal band of the 90s and 2000s. Their early records have aged well and still sound great. But after their fifth record, Untouchables, in 2002, each album has been average, boring, and has added nothing new to their discography. Of course, there are some great ideas and songs on each of these records, but as whole albums, the pieces just don’t fit. The Nothing sees Korn back in a dark place, as Davis has gone through many traumatic experiences in his life, especially as of late. The record explores this trauma while still making average songs with no edge, forgettable riffs and hooks, and production that sounds like every other metal song on the radio.

Half-Full

The Nothing The Nothing Issues.

Half-Empty

The Nothing The Nothing

Super clean production falls flat

The Nothing The Nothing Top Tracks: Recommended if you like:
Korn

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