In the ’90s, Heavy Metal and its subgenres underwent a transition in style. Groove, heavy riffs, and low tunings began to take center stage, pushing aside the prominence of guitar solos and individual virtuosity. Like any musical genre, variations and mutations are always welcome. However, for metal purists, the landscape appeared somewhat extreme as the genre started incorporating electronic elements and gestures from Rap.
Korn was one of the pioneering bands in this evolution called Nu Metal, presenting a highly original sound and breaking the stereotypes that characterized Metal as a whole, including in their fashion choices. In 1994, this California-based band released their third album titled “Follow The Leader,” a classic that became a commercial success in the United States and gradually around the world. Let’s now discuss the album.
What can we hear?
A very distinctive style, a band with a lot of groove and power. Innovators and pioneers in setting the new rules for commercial Metal. Jonathan Davis’s voice was something unheard before: gut-wrenching, melodic, and explosive. He adeptly conveys frustration, pain, and madness, truly a vocalist with qualities very different from the rest.
Munky and Brian Welch’s guitars embrace brutality without complications, using low tunings that incite the masses to headbang. They also rely on guitar effects to provide variety and prominence, although they don’t use common effects. We can hear some experimentation in the main guitar riffs, taking inspiration from turntable scratches. They play with the pitch of the instrument and take advantage of the technology developed up to that point.
Speaking of the rhythm section, Fieldy’s bass is always present, something that commercial Metal greatly appreciated. We can constantly hear his slaps, adding to the album’s rhythm and effectively covering both the low and high ends of the spectrum. David Silveria’s drumming is finely crafted, with a very recognizable sound. The way he lands the sound of his snare, his fills, and rhythm changes are notable, as heard in “Got The Life,” a Nu Metal song with a chorus reminiscent of “Dance.
What makes "Follow The Leader" special?
For ‘Follow The Leader,’ what Korn did was carefully reassess which elements to add to bring variety to their style. While their two previous albums (Korn and Life Is Peachy) were excellent, their powerful style remained constant. In this particular work, the band learned to slow down the pace and innovate. The historic collaborations with Ice Cube on ‘Children Of The Korn’ and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit on ‘All In The Family,’ as well as the feature with Slimkid3 on ‘Cameltosis,’ showcase full-blown Rap Metal. These three collaborations reflect the impact of the genre’s wave in the 90s.
The album’s production surpasses their previous three. ‘Follow The Leader’ had meticulously crafted musical production, with notable touches of sampling, scratching, and experimental sounds. The album sounds very serious, brutal, and energetic, reflecting the need of an entire generation to find a modern sound that resonated with them.
Moreover, the selection of singles was spectacular, especially with ‘Freak On A Leash,’ a well-crafted and iconic song for the band. Its composition is highly innovative, being heavy and experimental to a certain extent. Above all, it established Jonathan Davis as a pioneer of a style that, to date, no one has dared to imitate. A prime example is his vocal solo that introduces the listener to a state of pure madness.
More than an album, a revolution
“Follow The Leader” came to refresh Metal, serving as a cradle for bands like Linkin Park, Slipknot, Godsmack, among others. This is one of the most influential albums in the history of modern metal, and thanks to its style, we can currently hear bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Silence, among others. Korn understood both the social and musical context they were in very well. They utilized all the resources at their disposal to modernize an entire genre that urgently needed new blood to continue an important legacy.
A record that you definitely must listen to! What do you think about it? Share your comments with us!
