After the departure of Brian “Head” Welch, I thought Korn was finished. Their debut for Virgin Records firmly put that thought to rest. After a lackluster self-titled album and a wildly disappointing “return to their roots” on their Roadrunner Records debut, III, I was sure Korn were finished. The Path of Totality rises up and firmly puts me in my place, for the second time. Working alongside various electronic and dubstep artists, the band transcend what most considered an incredibly stupid move and deliver a career-defining album that is easily their most interesting collection of songs since their debut.
First things first, Korn sound HUGE on this record. While some may see that as a detriment or argue that it isn’t “edgy” enough or that it leans too far into the mainstream, which is not at all the case here. Korn deliver a set of arena sized songs, which is exactly what they need to pump up the arenas they pack on every tour around the world. The band delivers their album highlights alongside Skrillex (they really should consider making him a member). “Get Up!” is a bouncy warm up for deeper things while “Narcissistic Cannibal” (on which they are also joined by Kill The Noise) is a biting, yet somehow introspective sounding, Korn tune through and through. This could easily have been on any of the band’s original trilogy of hit albums, yet it has a maturity that a listener that has grown up with them can latch onto. The same goes for the album opener “Chaos Lives in Everything.” “Kill Mercy Within” (with Noisia) is another epic moment filled with clicks, bops, beats, and blips, yet recognizably Korn. The album’s closer “Bleeding Out” (featuring Feed Me) is a highlight as well, featuring all sorts of electronic bits as well as buzzsaw, choppy guitars, and trippy vocals that remind me a bit of the sophomore Virgin Records album, only much livelier.
I can’t say enough about how completely reinvigorated Korn sound on this album. The dubstep and electronics bits certainly enhance the songs, adding a hefty dynamic that I find really interesting, but its Korn writing really solid songs here that push it into the stratosphere. This is the album that should have been sub-titled “Remember Who You Are.” Anyone who was a fan of Johnathan Davis’ work a number of years ago on the Queen of the Damned soundtrack will go gaga over The Path of Totality but any Korn fan out there with any faith at all left in this band will be wildly heartened by these collection of tunes. Korn sound excited and challenged on this record and it’s certainly brought out the best in them.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
