Korn. Prague 2022.
The first half of the 1990s gave rise to a new wave of metal (nu-metal), of which the band KoЯn. The line-up of five Americans from California has released thirteen studio albums to date and has become a phenomenon, selling out venues and often headlining festivals around the world. Their contribution to hard and uncompromising music lies, among other things, in their innovation. Therefore, it is not easy to create a definition of their music and to settle on the classification of Korn in a precise genre. In addition to the aforementioned nu-metal, alternative metal or progressive metal with various adjectives such as hip hop or electro are also available. But the drawer to which Korn properly belongs mattered little to the many thousands of visitors to the Prague concert (27 May 2022, Tipsport Arena). They came for the experience. The sold-out auditorium first welcomed the Californian trio Fever 333. The musicians' very dynamic entrance, spiced by the flashing of sharp battery lights into the audience, after a while turned into political proclamations and challenges. The songs, built on rhythmic samples and thumping bass lines, were a blend of punk, rap and metal, and a distinctive element was the obvious physical prowess of all the band members. Fever 333 had the arena cheering and dancing and set the crowd up for the headliners of the night.
At 9.18pm, the opening notes of James Schaffer's guitar were played and everyone recognized one of the most successful Korn songs of all timeFalling Away From Me (Issues, 1999). The themes of suicide and domestic violence are given a more urgent shape by the thick bass riffs played on a five-string instrument, the exalted delivery of singer Jonathan Davis and the unsettling light show. The second track Got The Life (Follow The Leader, 1998) is already having the audience sing along with the band. The moderate static rear projection is not distracting and the very good, clear sound is a pleasant surprise. SixShoots and LaddersKhorn, 1994) has a bagpipe intro, after which one nursery rhyme after another chanted by Davis barrels down on the listener. The point of this unusual connection is to draw attention to the noirish content of a number of common nursery rhymes. In Lost In Grandeur (), 2022), Davis shows off his vocal skills as he transitions from standard metal vocals to a gruff chest voice typical of death metal. Then, from the stage comes the question to the audience, "Why the hell are you so quiet?" However, the roars, screams and whistles prove that the audience is watching the concert intently. Many of the choruses have a clear echo in the form of a chant from the area under the stage. The penultimate track of the basic set list is Coming Undone (See You On The Other Side, 2005). The looser tempo, purple-lit scene and the insertion of Queen's We Will Rock You is the perfect prelude to the final FreakOn A Leash (Follow The Leader, 1998) with dissonant guitar and scat. The encore is heralded by pulsating lighting effects and slow-moving musicians. The introduction is provided by It's On/Trash/Did My Time (, 1998/Issues, 1999/The A Look In The Mirror, 2003). The drum insert is one of the lesser moments. The very last track is the summery Blind(SP, 1994), during which paper garlands blast, Davis spews lyrics into a microphone mounted in a stand shaped like a stylized female figure, the audience is in an absolute frenzy, and no one wants to go home. The band members are still throwing picks and drumsticks in all directions. The band's convincing performance has stunned Prague. Not for the first time and probably not for the last time.
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