★★☆
It’s not hard to believe Korn are the same angsty band some of us locked ourselves away with as teens, because really, they still sound the same as they always have – only the novelty has worn off and they’ve lost direction. While it is heavier than their 2013 release The Paradigm Shift, the 12th album from the genre-hopping heavyweights is muddy at best.
Early on in the record with ‘Rotting In Vain’ we get our first taste of Jonathan Davis’ trademark style of metal rapping, and while his skills are still as impressive as ever, the delivery is incredibly scattered. He erratically tests out one style or another with a great measure of incoherence, riddling his melodies with lyrics of the most depressing kind.
Davis does have an ageless and distinct voice, no argument – it’s just the same old tales of bleeding hearts, black souls and merciless enemies that are hard to make peace with. ‘The Hating’ sees JD whining about “the child within me”. Someone get this man some therapy already.
Is the album catchy? Well, sure, but only because it parallels so many of Korn’s past releases.
If you’ve heard one Korn song since 2004, you’ve heard all the songs on their new album.
The Serenity Of Suffering byKornis now available through Roadrunner/Warner.
