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Korn: The path of totality

20/12/11 || Smalley

While it may seem (with good reason) that Korn’s a band with very little in common with the likes of a say, Morbid Angel, or a Metallica, “The path of totality” does kind of complete a 2011 trilogy begun by those bands, with the unifying factor being iconic bands trying out-of-nowhere career turns; first, we got the cheesy industrial/techno half of “Illud divinum inaneus” in June, then the incomprehensible, Loutallica disasterpiece Lulu in November, and now for December, Korn’s doing a record that is basically half what they were beforehand, and half “dubstep”… whatever the fuck that means.

Now, while I’m not really a Korn lover (or even a liker), I’m also not a hater either; when it comes to nu metal, they really were one of the more tolerable bands to come out of the movement, if that means anything (which it doesn’t). I only cared about them enough to listen sometimes when they were on the radio/MTV, and I did like a few of their more recent, light-hearted singles, and that heavier remix of “Make me bad” (only good remix ever), but besides that, they never inspired much pleasure or pain within me. And, as indicated earlier, I have absolutely zero experience with dubstep, so I guess you could say I have pretty “fresh”, unbiased ears for this one on both fronts, without many preconceived notions; how much that actually helps my final score for “The path of totality” remains to be seen.

First off, “totality” kind of sounds like if Korn had written their standard shit for their usual instruments, but simply put a different sound “filter” on it all, with production/musical contributions from dubstep artists (which, you know, is what happened here). So it shouldn’t be that big a shock to whatever Korn faithful remain, since they have branched out some before. Some of the percussion here does have that plasticy sound/pre-programmed looped feeling that I hate from techno, and a few parts remind me too much of extreme!!! sports drink music/Matrix soundtrack leftovers from 1999, but many of the same basic song “paths”, as well as Jonathan Davis’s idiosyncratically angsty vocals/lyrics, still remind you of the past Korn.

Which, while that isn’t a great thing by any stretch, is still probably better than “truer” dance music would’ve been, considering what the dance-ier stuff here sounds like. Well, there are a few tracks that lean too heavily toward the dance shit, but they’re balanced out by a few heavier, industrial-ish cuts, sort of like a poppier White Zombie. Inbetween those t(w)o(o) extremes, you have plenty of Kornier (haha?) material that I’m pretty indifferent to, but you still have to admire the band here, not only for taking a chance, but for actually making it work (for the most part) within their original sound, unlike the clunky results of their more experienced contemporaries. Though, “Illud” is still the best of this trilogy for its death metal half. But anyway, yeah, this ain’t bad at all. Not really good either, but I’m still okay with it.

Information
Released: 2011
Label: Roadrunner
Website: www.korn.com
Band
Jonathan Davis: lead vocals, electronic bagpipes
James “Munky” Shaffer: guitars
Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu:bass
Ray Luzier: drums, percussion
Various dubstep guys: other stuff

Tracklist
01. Chaos Lives in Everything
02. Kill Mercy Within
03. My Wall
04. Narcissistic Cannibal
05. Illuminati
06. Burn The Obedient
07. Sanctuary
08. Let’s Go
09. Get Up!
10. Way Too Far
11. Bleeding Out

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