Korn, the band which began as "LAPD" made quite an impression in the 1990s. Their first few albums established not only their own brand of dark and moody metal that drew on funk and hip hop, but also garnered them a large fan base. Drummer David Silveria landed on the disabled list after the release of 1999's "Issues," and Korn took a break. Six albums would eventually be released in the first decade of the 21st century, though.
Untouchables
During the break after "Issues," some members of Korn had worked on other projects. That stretching of musical directions seemed to carry over onto 2002's "Untouchables." The music on "Untouchables" wandered further than the sounds on any of the previous discs. At points they sounded a bit like Helmet, while at other times Metallica came to mind.
Instrumental music wasn't the only place where "Untouchables" displayed a new range. Jonathan Davis seemed to have expanded his vocal range, too. The only place where the band seemed stagnant was in the lyrical department.
Take a Look in the Mirror
While "Untouchables" had shown definite musical growth for Korn, the band made public statements leading to "Take a Look in the Mirror" (2003) declaring an intent to create a fresh sound with the record. As part of the plan to achieve that goal, they self-produced the disc. It's a short album that seems to build on older Korn sounds while still creating something new. There is more variety in terms of sound on "Take a Look in the Mirror," than seen on their previous releases.
See You on the Other Side
Between 2003's "Take a Look in the Mirror" and 2005's "See You on the Other Side," Korn lost guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. Rather than replace him, Korn went into the album as a quartet. Where the previous disc had shown a new sound for Korn, the party time element of "See You on the Other Side" really moves the group forward musically. If there is a complaint to be made, it's that the disc is a bit too slick at times. For some fans, the extreme emphasis on the hip hop side of the group's sound might also be lamented.
MTV Unplugged
A sign of the times, in 2007 Korn took part in MTV's "Unplugged" series and this disc is the record that documents the show. As one might imagine, stripped of the electronic wall of sound, Korn's musical textures seem a bit empty. However, there are some strong moments. There are also a few surprises. For starters they cover Radiohead's "Creep" and The Cure's "In Between Days." Secondly, Amy Lee of Evanescence guests performing a duet with Davis on "Freak on a Leash." The result is an uneven set that will interest hardcore Korn fans more than the casual listener.
Untitled
The overproduction of "See You on the Other Side" was largely gone on 2007's "Untitled." It was a heavier album that moved closer to the older Korn, but still had some of that electronic element that featured prominently on the 2005 outing.
Drummer David Silveria was absent from the disc. Instead, the drum chair had different occupants at various points. Vocalist Jonathan Davis was one of those drummers. Brooks Wackerman and Terry Bozzio rounded out the list.
Korn III: Remember Who You Are
Both parts of the title to the 2010 release of Korn are significant. The "Korn III" is an acknowledgment that this album essentially heralds the third phase of Korn. "Remember Who You Are" refers to the fact that in writing and recording this release they looked back to the influences that had been important to them in the early days of the band.
The sound presented on the album really seemed to be drawn on the same types of music that had dominated the early releases. This could be looked at as a major step back or a real renaissance for Korn. Whichever view one takes, the album created a major shift in sound from the previous few releases.
While the 1990s had seen the rise of Korn and the establishment of their trademark sound, the first decade of the 20th century found them shifting and twisting sound. By 2010 both guitarist Brian "Head" Welch and drummer David Silveria had departed. Yet, Jonathan Davis and Korn soldiered on into the future.
