KORN

[Thorngrub]

HELL yeah ! \lurv/

;b

I can't WAIT for the UNplugged CD Tues~!

Hearin' em do CREEP is goan be somethin' else . . .

[Thorngrub]

I was thinking recently about all the artists KORN and/or Jonathan Davis have collaborated with over the years:

~Robert Smith & the Cure
~Amy Lee (Evanescense)
~Nas
~Ice Cube
~Tre (Pharcyde)
~Scott Weiland (On Limp Bizkit's 2nd album)
~Snot (in honor of Lynn Strait on the album "Strait Up")
~H.R. Giger (worked w/the swiss surrealist on devising his mic stand "Majesty's Voice")
~Cheech Marin (lent vocals to Korn's cover of his "Earache My Eye")
~Ty Elam (of Cradle Of Thorns and Videodrone)
~Deadsy
~Orgy
~Fred Durst (most notably in the "All In The Family" rap duel) {Hey ya can't have a spotless resume...
(there's more... those were just off the top of my head...)


And I've also been reminescing about all the wack covers Korn have done throughout the years, most notably

~Another Brick In The Wall, by Pink Floyd
~One, by Metallica
~Word Up, by Cameo (and an awesome cover it is, too!)
~Creep, by Radiohead (!)
+Love My Way, by the Psychedelic Furs
+ Head Like A Hole, by Nine Inch Nails
+ Diary Of A Madman, by Ozzy Osbourne


(The ones w/a "+" sign have been recorded, just not yet released. Well . . . the Furs and NIN songs have been recorded for sure; not so sure if they've laid down the Ozzy track yet, but they want to, and knowing them, that means they will)

It isn't very well known to non-KoRn fans (or most fukkers for that matter), but Jonathan's original inspiration for taking up music, when he was a kid, was the soundtrack to JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. (Yet another odd coinky-dink paralleling Jon's nature to mine .. . and no, I was not molested as a child; there's a distinct line seperating us.) The Andrew Lloyd Weber musical inspired him to beg his parents for a drum kit, to which they obliged. He put that to use in his first band, SEX ART, w/Ty Elam (who allegedly taught him how to sing). That band went on to become the underground band Cradle Of Thorns, of which I was once a devoted fan, back then not having the least clue that theirs & Korn's genetic ancestries were intertwined, so to speak.

One of Jonathan's favorite bands in high school was DURAN DURAN, believe it or not. And now, many years and 7 commercially successful albums later, we have David Silveria stepping down (temporarily? who knows) to admit none other than Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons, The Knack, Frank Zappa, Jeff BEck, STeve Vai, etc) on the kit for their upcoming eighth studio release (as yet untitled).

With all this history I've compressed for you here, it should be easier to see where all this is going. I've known since late 1994, going on 13 years now , that KoRn's most obvious influences began with Nine Inch Nails, moved on into Pink Floyd territory, and have since split out into incorperating nuances of rap, Hip Hop, Alternative, Metal, Hard Rock, Goth, Disco, punk, Industrial, & even smatterings of Ambient thrown in for good measure~! This immense and wide-sweeping plethora of diverse musical stylings is just one of the reasons I love this band so much.

And the diversity keeps blossoming with every release ! Perhaps you get an idea as to how I can get so excited about each subsequent KoRn album that explodes onto the scene. The fact is, Korn bust every style there is (and w/a savage gusto that leaves all those styles behind in the dust, to boot)! And that is saying something.

When you add to this band's remarkable history the fact that Jonathan Davis co-wrote the songs for the film version of Anne Rice's QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, and lent his vocals for the originals featured in the movie, only an idiot would fail to see that Jonathan Davis is, in fact, the Vampire Lestat himself. (When it comes to having written and sung those killer songs, envisioning the material Anne Rice wrote about in her book The Vampire Lestat, in which our blood sucking hero fronted a goth band called "Satan's Night Out": Jonathan Davis is the vampire frontman for that band!) {The only good thing about that movie, imo}

So now the overall picture is becoming clearer . . . more focused. Of course I was able to figure all this out as it happened, and the band's evolution kept progressing from Day One. I'll never forget the day Life Is Peachy came out, and my speakers destroyed my preconceptions of what music could be, once and for all, man, when the psycho-babel scatting to TWIST erupted from my stereo, I remember exchanging this shocked look w/my wife, "WTF is this??", lol.

So there you have it. KoRn is poised on yet another twist in the notch of their constant evolution, this time -- who knows -?-- I can probably add "prog" to the ever growing list of styles they incorperate into their signature sound, and when they finally make it to "lounge", I'd say they will have earned the top spot as "Kings Of Rock Multitasking".

Long Live KORN~!

[Ryosuke]

Jonathan Davis has bad breath.

[KooL]

I'm gonna try a 3-in-1 attack.

KoRn is just a bad Rage rip-off, which isn't saying much considering how much they suck too. But no one sucks as hard as Pink Floyd does.

_{***bolts for cover***}

[KooL]

Oh, I wanna get this in too.

Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet kicks any given KoRn album's ass. ;D

[KooL]

Damnit, he's offline now. What a shame. Ah well,,,.. To be honest though, I don't mind some of KoRn's stuff, they're definitely better than Rage and Pink Floyd.

[Ryosuke]

Jonathan Davis has ugly nipples.

[Thorngrub]

lololol . . .

1. Jonathan Davis has bad breath. I do too

2. KoRn is just a bad Rage rip-off, which isn't saying much considering how much they suck too. But no one sucks as hard as Pink Floyd does.

***bolts for cover*** *Whips head back & forth* Where'd Kool go ? ?

Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet kicks any given KoRn album's ass. Really? *eyebrows perk up* I need to get that album then !


Damnit, he's offline now. What a shame. Ah well,,,.. To be honest though, I don't mind some of KoRn's stuff, they're definitely better than Rage and Pink Floyd. That's better . . . ;D



Jonathan Davis has ugly nipples. And how would you know, I wonder ~ ?


man I can't wait for this Unplugged shit. I'm goin nutz w/antici - antici - (say it!) - anticipation!

[Ryosuke]

Damn, I hadn't considered the possibility of thorn addressing everything all together in just one post.

Not that it really matters now, since I've lost the bet anyhow

[Thorngrub]

Let me state for the record that I did not expect Korn to do all that great w/an unplugged session.
Let me state for the record that this unplugged session is the very best MTV ever put out.
My jaw stayed mostly dropped throughout the entire performance. I can't believe how amazing the music
on this recording sounds, how tight Fieldy & Munky play their respective stringed instruments, and how passionate and spot -on Jonathan sounds singing all these songs. It is far beyond anything I thought possible for them.

1.Blind
The intro here is mind boggling. First, Jon whispers "Are you ready?" and it's perfect for the acoustic rendition to follow: an immaculate sonic conception implementing flamenco guitar, a latin beat, transforming their infamous rallying cry Aggro-anthem into something truly unique. Halfway through they start jamming like mad, I was very much impressed, these guys have been practicin’.

2.Hollow Life
The ‘glass’ or ‘water’ harmonica (whatever it is) at the beginning transforms an already haunting intro into something even more alluring, truly a beautiful sound and the way all the instruments mesh to create an almost classical piece is striking indeed. Jon’s favorite song so he does not disappoint on the vocals.

3.Freak On A Leash featuring Amy Lee
Ok this is the one that bugged me when I tried watching it on YouTube. Not having to watch Amy Lee’s constipated facial expressions whilst channeling her own inner angstiness saves this song, because actually, the music itself is not bad, and of course Jon sounds perfectly natural on it. It’s just Amy Lee’s vocals are a bit too strident – and when she kicks into this Middle-Eastern speaking in tongues vocal bit, it’s kind of embarrassing. One of the 2 flawed tracks on the album, but not as bad as I at first thought.

4.Falling Away From Me
Here we are back in the saddle, with another eerie, lovely sound coming from the glass harmonica emulating the familiar childlike chimes for the intro. This is one of my favorite Korn songs period, and to hear the sweeping orchestration along w/Jon’s impassioned vocals, it’s just awesome.

5.Creep
Do you ever stop to wonder, that other people may just not feel certain things as strongly? I do. Jon introduces this song as something that got him through high school, and he dedicates it to all those who have been picked on and made to feel inadequate. A touching introduction to a totally killer rendition of the classic Radiohead song. If I tell you I wasn’t moved to tears I’d be lying - - but the reason for that, of course, is other people just don’t feel things as strongly as I do! ;b I’m j/k -- it’s a fucking killer song to begin with, & it has always had a special place in my heart, so I ain’t afraid of admitting Korn’s unplugged version of it brought tears to my eyes.

6.Love Song
This is my favorite song off their latest studio album - simply a harrowing, emotive song which translates pretty well to the unplugged session, just not quite as up to par as the older tunes. Maybe cuz the older tunes have more of a radical overhaul, for some reason. Still a good track saved by a solid melody & lyrics. Only problem is this annoying backup vocalist whose voice isn't right for it, I just wish they could've found someone w/a better voice for that part. Other than that a solid performance.

7.Got The Life
With the exception of this one - out of all the songs on the unplugged session, Got The Life retains its original, thumping korn-style sound despite being unplugged. I’m kinda glad about that, actually, because it was nice to hear some actual “korn”-sound during the proceedings. Not the best track, but acceptable to the die-hard fan.

8.Twisted Transistor
Here is the other flawed track on the unplugged session (along w/Freak on a Leash). I don’t know, maybe its cuz they “cleaned” up the language, but that doesn’t bother me as much as, well this song is all about the original studio tweakery featured on SYOTOS, so its kinda like performing a techno song on acoustic guitar - it doesn’t entirely work right.

9.Coming Undone
Better than Twisted Transistor, as this one fleshes out into an interesting acoustic version, I’d probably place it 3rd from last, just after Twisted Transistor and Freak On a Leash.

10.Make Me Bad / In Between Days featuring The Cure
Another immaculate sonic conception. You can hear the amazement and respect in Jon’s voice as he introduces the Cure onto the stage for a “mashup” between their song In Between Days, and Korn’s hit single “Make Me Bad” from iSsuEs. That song used to drive me crazy from too much radio play, although its actually not a bad song at all. Now it has found its perfect home coupled w/the Cure’s song, and they really knock this one out of the park, as both songs merge seamlessly into an entirely new original.

11.Throw Me Away
The perfect closer for this unplugged session. The Taiko drums on this are fucking killer, Jon’s vocals nail it, and the musicianship hits its peak of perfection.

All in all, I can’t believe my freakin ears! Korn managed the impossible w/this, they announced they intended to produce the most killer Unplugged session MTV ever did,
And by god did they ever! These songs are so radically transformed, yet at the same time retaining their obvious original melodies, that the results are a perfect paradox: At once classically trained, seamlessly organic and easy on the ears to the point of almost painstaking beauty – you’d never guess it was Korn actually playing along w/the guest musicians – and at the same time goes into plenty of overdrive for some truly inspired jamming. I’ve never been prouder of the boyz from Bakersfield as I am at this moment.
I truly believe this Unplugged session is exactly the thing they need to put some wind back in their sails, and by that I mean a sense of relevance in the music community. These guys have made the transition from depending on their former guitarist Brian Welch, to sailing on to newer territories in their ever evolving musical dynamic.
Long may Korn continue to sail~!

[Thorngrub]

Well, Terry Bozzio did put in his percussive know-how on several tracks from the new KORN album, due out later this summer. But that's where his brief stint w/Korn ends, as he bowed out of touring with them, due to other priorities.

So KORN was facing the prospect of having to replace him for their tour .. . and I just got a myspace message from Munky's Emotional Siphon Recordings, stating that

[shadow=maroon,left,333][glow=purple,2,555]Joey Jordison[/glow] of SLIPKNOT is drumming with them on Tour![/shadow]

This is tremendous news that will surely send shockwaves not only throughout the entire Korn Kamp, but thru all of Maggotdom as well ! This is gunna be a HOT show, kids, get your tix as soon as they go on sale, I sure as hell am!

[Thorngrub]

Not to mention the new KORN song,

"I'M THE ONE"

available on their myspace page:

www.myspace.com/korn

It's a completely new sound for them .. . . well, not *completely* new, but I'd say it's the logical progression from such songs as

~ Dead
&
~ 4U

from their 4th studio effort iSsuEs,
as well as

~ Alone I Break

from their 5th album UNTOUCHABLES

but even more so, because it is far mellower and more ambient than any of those,
it extends the legacy hinted at in their final studio track so far,

~Tearjerker

from their 7th studio release See You On The Other Side.

I.e, the new song has entirely let go of their "aggro"-sound
in favor of wholly embracing a darkwave goth feel !

Just like I knew they would do.

This next album is going to be tremendous . . . It will be like the darkest cypress tree in the swamp, with its roots down so far into the murks and surrounding undertow, that all other popular bands in the same vein will have no where to hide other than beneath its shade.

This I promise you to be true.

[Thorngrub]

Obviously, "I'm The One" is a bone they've tossed us, merely an intimation of what's to come. The darkest explosion of sinister romance that is the legacy of this band.

[Thorngrub]

update on Korn's darkwave song I'M THE ONE:

I finally got to hear it on a friend's computer w/a killer soundsystem and the volume cranked:

IT IS AMAZING ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! !


I don't know how this band does it. They are titans.
Fuckin' unstoppable; untouchable.

And now there's a NEW song on the myspace page !

It's called I WILL PROTECT YOU,

listen here: www.myspace.com/korn ,

and fuckin' Terry Bozzio goes bonkers on it ! The thing about it is, it sounds way more organic than previous efforts. I think their Unplugged session really helped them all improve (yet again) as musicians, and you can tell on the new song. It's got this beautiful mideastern guitar-wavelength thing that Munky plays, sounds killer. And around the 2:34 mark, the drums start goin' nuts into this post-tribal groove which is just beautiful. And then there's the melody: I've always thought of Korn as being fundamentally melodic, but now they've really taken it further than ever, crafting a really nice, infectious chorus where Jon really gets to sing proper like. Not that he hasn't before, hell he's built a reputation on post-nursery melodies, I'm just saying that direction is picking up steam and getting more focused than ever before.

Post nursery rhyme songs for the disenfranchised adult, that's what Korn is all about. I'm rather amazed that here we are 14 years after their shattering debut and not only have they not lost an ounce of steam despite losing an integral member (Head), but they're picking up steam defiantly!

What I love about this band is the complete selflessness, the open - armed spirit of collaboration that they all enthusiastically put into the creative process. Of course that's how the original 5-man team always worked (for the first 6 albums), and now they're just pushing that envelope all the harder by bringing in outside influences, like Linda Perry and the Matrix and all those "commercial" producers they get so much shit for using.

But the way I see it is, whatever works, you know? A piece of studio wizardry that is the result of many different collaborators is going to sound fresher and more interesting if you ask me.

I find it almost unbelievable that a band many have been trying to "write off" since the beginning has not only made it this long, with this kind of global impact on their fandom, but that it looks as if they're only "getting started" now that they're just moving on with "Phase Two" of their guaranteed illustrious career.

All I'm gonna say is, I sure picked a doozy of a "favorite" band !

[Thorngrub]

ok, I'm gettin' serious for just one second here,

*that new mix?* of I WILL PROTECT YOU ... ?

HOLY SQUIGGLIN FREAKshow ! swear to god that's the most razorsharp, fast-as-fuck off-tha-chaRts lead guitar playing I ever heard Munky do, and that's a FACT, jack

(Not to mention that Terry Bozzio's drumming is hotdamn fukking SUPERB, and "untouchable". Joey Jordison is going to really face a challenge playin' I WILL PROTECT YOU live, that's for sure. And so is DAvid, for that matter, when he returns to KoRn)


Seriously . . . this is the real deal here, this is far more intense/original/and paradigm-shattering than ANYthing off SYOTOS ! This is straight up rock'n'roll metalmeltdown, people ! Fucking KoRn is rising from the Ashes like No One Done Dreamed.

I heard the new mix at a decent volume last night, and it melted my face right off.

Now, I really, really, really, really, really DO think Year Zero is fantastic.
And I honestly, seriously, no joke, think the new Korn album will D.E.S.T.R.O.Y. Year Zero into millions of shattered, then melted, then simply evaporated & forgotten little pieces, which the wind blows away, *See Ya*, bye-bye *Waves bye-bye to Trent* :-\, *aw*, po' lil Trenty.. :-b


But, let's get real for one moment. Trent Did His Time. He's had his time in the spotlight.
Now it's Jonathan's time to shine .. .

Hey, however the "process" of getting your lyrics just right goes, I'll say this:

The lyrics on I WILL PROTECT YOU are an order of magnitude beyond anything off YZ.
So there is literally no room for doubt in me anymore, Trent is just straight-up jealous,
cuz he knows JOn done taken him OUT of that spotlight (w/the kidz).

That is all.


- - - - - - to hear the latest Mix of Korn's new song -- - - - - -

go to www.myspace.com/thornswrath

I've got it on my myspace page, and it loads quicker & easier since I don't have as much crap on my page as Korn does on theirs. Give it a listen, and pay close attention to TERRY BOZZIO (yes, that Terry Bozzio) and his insane drumming, particularly around the 2:30 mark.

Also listen to Munky's (yes, that Munky) insanely fast & sick lead guitarwork, it's unlike anything Korn has ever done: it is lean, mean, fast & built to last.

We are on the cusp of another revolutionary rise from the ashes & return to form for my favorite aggro band in the world, KORN