Multi-Platinum, Grammy-winning rock band KORN have a new album out, must be about time for a duff one then? Unfortunately, this isn't it. Well not as far as I'm concerned; the old Korn fans might have a slightly different opinion. The music's changed: it's not as dirty as previous albums, spit and polish has been applied by the likes of Atticus Ross. The Matrix, who are also known for their work with people like Avril Lavigne, co-wrote some of the tunes on the album and it's probably not a jump to say this has rubbed off on the sounds.
Twisted Transistor opens the album and it's a fine pop/metal opener, though I'm not too keen on the following tracks on the first half of the album. I can't place my finger on why—they aren’t bad, they just didn't float my boat the way other tracks on the latter half did like
Throw Me Away,
Love Song and
Open Up. Overall the whole album still has a Korn feel, mixed with Marilyn Manson and a large part of the Korn heaviness removed, lyrically it's still a bit naff but then I guess it's not trying to tell us much anyway.
What we end up with is a much more catchy and accessible-to-the-mainstream album—much like Green Day's
American Idiot—which sees Korn trying to make a bid for the mass market. Whether this is a good thing or not will really depend on your personal likes/dislikes, as I said earlier though this gets the thumbs up from me and has been main feature in the truck over the holiday period.
See You on the Other Side is out now on
Virgin Records.
http://www.korn.com
