Lucky Toronto KORN fans were treated to one of the band’s nine (9) small-venue shows this past Monday night at Sound Academy. The short tour is in preparation for the release of the band’s new album “The Paradigm Shift,” due out on October 8th. Not only was the band back on the road with a new album, but original guitarist Brian “Head” Welch and his dreads are back with a vengeance after an eight (8) year hiatus from the band. The sold out show might have been in a small venue, but the band brought all of the thunder and energy that their shows have been known for since the band took the world by storm in the early 1990s. Much of the band’s extensive catalog was touched on at the show, with “Blind” from their debut album getting the ball rolling and the mosh pit churning. The band was in fine form and held nothing back while throwing themselves around the stage, reminiscent of their early days.
“Falling Away From Me” from 1999’s “Issues” had the “surfers” riding the wave over the security barrier at a breakneck rate, and they continued that pace for most of the night. Hats off to the security staff that worked their tails off at this show. The stage setup was minimal. But the band added a new VIP experience for their uber fans. A narrow cage was set up and extended from one side of the stage to the other behind the band. Those lucky fans spent the show rocking out inside the cage only feet from the band.
The first new song of the night was “Love & Meth” and sounded amazing, with vibes from their earliest material. Jonathan Davis was a madman on the mic as usual, holding court from behind his signature HR Giger styled chrome mic stand. “Dead Bodies Everywhere,” “Coming Undone” and “Did My Time” had the whole place in a frenzy. Slowing the mayhem down for just a minute, Davis left the stage and returned with his trusty bagpipes and roared into “Shoots And Ladders.” The band tacked a shortened version of “Somebody Somewhere” onto the end. The success of the dual guitar dynamic of “Head” and James “Munky” Shaffer, is undeniable. They are a large part of the screaming raw power that gives KORN their sound. And the return of “Head” seems to be bringing the band back to a very positive place. “Never Never” was the second song from the new album. It’s easily one of KORN’s more mellow songs, but there is still an edge to it, and it will probably be well played when released. “Prey For Me” rounded out the new material for this show. Drummer, Ray Luzier pounded his monstrous kit as Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu picked, popped and drew the kind of body shaking sounds out of his bass that most players can only imagine.
The band looked like they were having the time of their lives up there. These guys don’t know the meaning of doing a half ass show like many seem to do lately. Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall” ended the main set. After a short break, the band returned with “Get Up!” and their experimental foray into melding dubstep with their own sound. In a live show, this short-lived style sounds much better than on the studio recordings. The set ended with mega hits “Got The Life” and “Freak On A Leash” from 1998’s “Follow The Leader.” Shows like this from bands like this don’t happen everyday and it’s nice that bands can get back to the smaller rooms now and again for an up close and energetic experience.
Setlist:
Blind
Twist
Falling Away from Me
Love & Meth
Narcissistic Cannibal
Dead Bodies Everywhere
Coming Undone
Did My Time
Shoots and Ladders / Somebody Someone
Never Never
Here to Stay
Y’All Want a Single
Prey For Me
Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd cover)
Encore:
Get Up!
Got the Life Freak on a Leash
We would like to thank Livenation Canada for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show.
