Korn is arguably the album most responsible for the rise of nu metal. While Follow the Leader is commercially the band's most successful album, Korn has proven the most influential, influencing later nu metal bands such as Limp Bizkit, and even more established bands, such as Sepultura and Machine Head.
Musically the music mixes both metal and hip hop, with the guitarists providing DJ-style noises in the vein of Tom Morello, before playing detuned, heavy riffs. While these elements have been copied by other bands, the album includes elements that are unique to Korn, including scat type vocals on "Ball Tongue", and the use of bagpipes on "Shoots and Ladders", a song whose lyrics comprise mostly of nursery rhymes.
"Daddy", the song closing the album, is emotionally heavy. Opening with harmonised acapella vocals, singer Jonathan Davis begs forgiveness of his mother before the song proper begins. The lyrics are centered on child abuse, a topic hinted at by the album cover's ominous depiction of an adult shadow intruding on a child at play, based on an experience of Davis'. The song ends with the sound of Davis' sobbing.
This album is widely considered to be Korn's greatest work.
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2 Chart positions 3 Personnel |
Track listing
Chart positions
1995 Korn Heatseekers No. 1
1996 Korn The Billboard 200 No. 72
Personnel