Album Reviews : Korn – The Path of Totality

A collaboration with another artist isn’t anything new in the music world. If anything, it captures the true essences of solidarity within music or at least tries to after a truck load full of money is dumped out the front of an artist’s house in return for a few moments of their precious time.

Heavy metal has probably been the biggest contributor to this cross over and collaboration phenomenon. Locking heads and instruments with some of the world’s biggest artists – spread across a kaleidoscope of musical genres.

The much loved Anthrax and Public Enemy anthem of ‘Bring the Noise’ circa 1991 to the recent abortion that is Metallica and Lou Reed‘s mash up, ‘Lulu’. A musical collaboration can be both a blessing and a curse in disguise.

KORN‘s latest escapade, ‘The Path of Totality’ is something quite unique as it forms a synergy of musical talents plucked from the tree of successful dubstep, drum and bass and electro musicians including, Skrillex, Excision, Datsik, Noisia, Kill the Noise and 12th Planet. Each branch of this musical tree represents a unique branding of Korn‘s down tuned and gritty brand of nu-metal. The best way to describe it would be if Korn and The Prodigy had sex is a seedy nightclub restroom whilst intoxicated with an assortment of illgeal drugs, ‘The Path of Totality’ would the result some 6 – 8 weeks later.

The fruit from each branch doesn’t always represent an appropriate taste. After forcing myself to swallow down ‘My Wall’ and to a lesser extent ‘Sanctuary’, which honestly put me to sleep with Davis’ monotone vocals and monotonous beats. I was left with a bland aftertaste. However, things do pick when the more ripened of the bunch ‘Get Up’, ‘Narcissistic Cannibal’, and ‘Let’s Go’ left me content as Jonathan Davis and company offers more upbeat chorus’ and variation in beats.  Out of all the pairings,  I believe Excision and Skrillex work best. They offer more than just repetitious beats and lackluster execution.

Jonathan Davis and the rest of his vegetable ensemble have attempted a different approach to their common “wash, rinse and repeat” blend of nu-metal. The final execution is one of a balancing act. Which at times does sway hopelessly, leaving many, myself included a little confused and disorientated.  The end result does offer a solid variety of music from two separate musical universe’s, creating a hybrid album marked with great highs and disappointing lows.

7/10

Band: Korn
Album: The Path of Totality
Year: 2011
Genre: Nu-metal/Dubstep
Label: Roadrunner Records
Origin: America
www.korn.com