So, three years after the somewhat experimental Untitled album Korn return with much more than a new album. Once again working with Ross Robinson producing the album, who worked with them on their self-titled début and Life Is Peachy, and with Ray Luzier now their full-time drummer you could say that this was going to be an interesting album. A year or two prior to its release James, Fieldy and Jon had all embarked on their solo projects — long overdue — with James (or Munky) with Fear of the Nervous System‘s debut album, Fieldy with Stillwell‘s Dirtbag album, and finally Jon’s own solo album and Alone I Play tour (a play of words on “Alone I Break” from Untouchables).
This album returns to their roots (in terms of sound) much seen on their self-titled and Life Is Peachy. It’s a brave move for a who have already established themselves a band, but after the Untitled album I feel that Korn needed to take this bold step. Also this was recorded at the time without a record label and later they would sign to Roadrunner Records, so it perhaps a sign they were focusing on the music this time around. Ever since See You on the Other Side [2005] Korn have become this experimental band, but don’t get me wrong I loved See You on the Other Side – it was a bold, brave album that still kept true in different aspects to Korn’s original sound. However Untitled was a jump into the deep end that saw Korn being stranded waiting for the rescue party to come and get them out, and with both now Brian Welch and David Silveria having left the band, Korn were now stripped down to their original three members. It left them searching for answers as how do they continue as a band. (As of 2013 Korn now have Brian back in the band and a new album tentatively scheduled for October release).
Untitled, by no means, was a total failure as they simply enlisted a few well-known drummers to help them out in that department, so it gave a lot of variation to that album. Korn III returns to their older roots and how they used to record things — no pro-tools, just tape this time around. Locking themselves away for a weeks – just James, Fieldy and Ray – with Ross overlooking, they produced the album’s material in that time, and when Jon came to record vocals then it became the melting pot for success. I remember reading some of the techniques (or actions) that Ross used to do to Jon to help him focus: singing his lyrics aloud, having his wife sing to them to him, screaming at him in the recording booth; I vaguely remember Jon’s “thank you” linear notes to Ross: “thanks for the torture”.
If it was by all means “torture” then I think Korn III best represents Korn in 2010: a band hungry for success again. Not that they don’t have success, but I think in making this album they created possibly one of the better albums with just the three original members left. When you have an album – for me – that makes your hairs stand-up on end, makes you literally freak out because of the emotion pouring through the speakers, then I think that’s the sign of a great album. It begins simply with “Uber Time” which is a short introductory track into the album, followed up by “Oildale” which was the first single from this album, as well as a music video which can be viewed below.
This album resonates with me more because of how they approached it, how they went about it. If you cast your mind to Take A Look in the Mirror [2003], Korn said that they would “return to their roots” on that album. Again, don’t get me wrong, but that album tried way too hard and it sounded like crap – hence, I think, the dissolving and fizzling out of their momentum. I’ve loved that they’ve always known that side of them was there, this darker and gnarlier beast, much akin to their older days.
I actually really like this album, it’s a nod back to their past whilst trying to keep current and relevant, but at the same time it also feels like they are trying to simplify things when they have experimented with the last few albums — if, at all, it makes the album ten times better. If it’s any consolation then I think this is one of the more standout albums they have released in the past few years, and miles better than Untitled. I feel that this album also establishes Ray’s credentials as a drummer, for which he plays fantastically on this album all the way through.
Overall, Korn III is certainly a good album but it feels that they are stuck in the past instead of trying to move on and experiment more. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that Korn broke out of their own boundaires and experimented, but this record is somewhat borderline – it’s both good and bad at the same time. However, I still come back to this even three years after its release so perhaps that shows how much this album has stayed with me.
RATING: 3 / 5
