Reviewed by Ian Webber

As pioneers in the nu-metal genre, there are few bands with as big a following as the go-for-the-jugular Bakersfield boys. Now with two of their members expressing Christian faith, this is the second release since their reformation. The opening two tracks are examples of classic Korn, full of low end grunge, crushing melodies and lyrics that are spat with passionate venom. Brian 'Head' Welch's guitars are so distinctive they bring to mind albums from years gone by. Production throughout is classy and sumptuous, allowing the many layers in this recording to shine and reveal a progressive edge. Listened to through a good set of headphones allows the choppy riffing, tortured vocals and bass rumble to be experienced to their best along with the understated samples and electronic accents. "A Different World" features an aggressive contribution from Slipknot's Corey Taylor. His growl makes an excellent counterpoint to the much more accessible pop feel of this particular track. The group do not, however, stray too far from a grinding, bleak sound. "Everything Falls Apart" and "Die Yet Another Night" blend elements of dub step with a snarl of discontent that grabs you by the throat. Although not to everyone's taste, the lyrics are rooted in personal turmoil and pain. As Head reflects, "It's not where I'm at in life, but I understand it, I understand people are there. It's real, and I think that's what God likes about Korn." A couple of bonus tracks are thrown in to fill out the offering with more buzz saw rasps, breaking rhythms and plunging bass notes. This is an inventive and classy collection displaying many of Korn's early qualities, but do be aware, the frequent use of the "f" word means that the parental advisory tag is fully deserved. But this is still a return to somewhere near Korn's best form.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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