Classic nu-metal
This reviewers father has a trademark saying. Whenever someone talks about the passing, MV senior retorts in a particular way.
A conversation might go like this: “Blimey, dad, its 23 years since we went to Scotland on holiday.” “Yeah? I am not surprised,” he’ll say. “After all Star Wars is nearly 40 years old.” As though that explains everything.
Nonsense or not, such thoughts went through the mind when listening to “The Serenity Of Suffering” – the twelfth no less – album from Korn. A quick bit of research showed that the debut album that launched them onto an unsuspecting world, you know, the one full of discordant rhythm, brutal sound and even more brutal lyrics, was 22 years old.
That means the kids who bought it – and bought it into it – are today’s classic rock fans. Or put another way, as the Hold Steady said once. ”The kids at the shows will have kids of their own.”
And conversely that means Korn might feel the need to change with their audience. After all, at their age, even if they still dream about sex all day, they might need a good rest in between.
Or so you’d think.
Because, last year they opened for Slikpknot and were back in arenas again, and as just about anyone who saw them will attest, they absolutely killed it, they were every bit as heavy and dangerous as ever.
Now they return with “….Suffering” and sound reinvigorated here too.
It’s 14 songs do everything that Korn did at their best, and this is their best effort in decades.
The sledgehammer opening to “Insane” tells you they mean business, and once you are sucked into Jonathan Davis’ private hell by its lyrics, then to be honest, you aren’t leaving. “Rotting In Vain” which opens in near-industrial fashion is the equivalent of taking a flamethrower into a Wendy House. “I wouldn’t be angry if you just fucking cried” implores the singer in its first line and things go downhill from there.
There is no joy here – and neither should there be – only nihilism and bleakness, “Black Is The Soul” proves that, “The Hating” reinforces the idea, and if “A Different World” is a little more stark, the presence of Corey Taylor, who essentially plays the part of Corey Taylor, ensures it’s a real highlight.
Oddly, though, this is a record best listened to as a whole than picking out bits on Spotify, “Take Me” has a widescreen chorus, “Everything Falls” is modern sounding and acts as a brooding presence, while Brian Welch manages to play guitar like no one else throughout.
“When You’re Not There” gets itself worked up into a frenzy, while “Please Come For Me” is all you need to play anyone who thinks nu metal is finished now that isn’t, well, new anymore.
In fairness, the same goes for the entire album. “Calling Me Too Soon” is the work of a truly original outfit, who transcend any daft name we want to give genres and there’s something unsettling about “Baby” as well as something mighty about “Out Of You”.
“The Serenity Of Suffering” is Korn at their most focused, and yet at the same time, their heaviest. It is without doubt their best work in a very long time.
And there isn’t a Stormtrooper in sight
Rating 8/10
