Korn – “The Paradigm Shift (World Tour Edition)”
Originally released in October 2013, The Paradigm Shift is Korn’s eleventh studio album and the first in ten years to feature original guitarist Brian Welch.
On the eve of yet another jaunt around the globe, the nu-metal veterans have re-issued the record with a bonus disc comprising of several Paradigm Shift off cuts and a slew of live tunes from various parts of the world.
It is easy to be cynical of bonus tracks. Quite often “bonus” is code for “not good enough to make the original release”. On occasion additional material offers up a song that is so different to the bands regular sound it seems more appropriate tucked away as an unexpected anomaly.
That isn’t the case here. Korn have delivered three songs that will still be enough to appease long term fans without straying away from the formula that has got them this far. Single ‘Hater‘ features Jonathon Davis’ edgy vocals over quietened verses before the inevitable bass and drum explosion in the chorus.
Of the trio of new songs ‘Die Another Day‘ sticks in the head the most with Brian Welch’s distinct guitar noodling gelling nicely with the fuzzed out bass of Reginald Arvizo.
The live portion of the disc consists of six tracks unleashed upon the adoring masses of London, Moscow and Denver. Paradigm Shift favourites such as ‘Love And Meth‘ and ‘Never Never‘ get an airing and are fused in with some revered old school classics like ‘Got The Life‘. The only real suprise is an epic nine minute Kornish take on Pink Floyd‘s ‘Another Brick In The Wall‘, which rounds out the CD.
Korn‘s formula is well entrenched these days and Floyd cover aside, there are no real shocks to the system here. This bonus material probably won’t win over any new fans but will no doubt appease hardcore addicts, getting them in the zone again for the band’s impending visit to our shores.
He can also be found clinging to his youth on a skateboard or wandering aimlessly through the bush.
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