Korn are dragging their sound straight back to its raw roots. In a world full of digital shortcuts, the Bakersfield legends are ditching the screens and recording their upcoming album the old way. All on tape!
Sweating It Out: Korn Ditch Digital For Tape And Raw Energy
Speaking at Download Festival UK, guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer told BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show that the band are throwing it back to how they used to make records. “We’re all in the room, sweating it out. The tape is rolling. The guy gives us a thumbs up in the window, and we start playing. If we don’t get it right, we rewind the tape and do it again. It takes more commitment… there’s an energy to it we like.”
It’s a move that feels right for a band with 30 years of history and a legacy built on raw emotion and unfiltered aggression. After their 2022 album Requiem topped Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart, Korn could’ve stayed in their comfort zone. Instead, they’re choosing to sweat it out in the studio! Because of course that’s where the magic happens.
This return to tape comes as Korn keep pushing their sound forward, even as they nod to their past. Their self titled debut album turned 30 last year! This was celebrated with a massive LA show that saw them joined by Evanescence, Gojira, Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway, Spiritbox and Vended.
While bassist Fieldy remains absent from the stage, replaced live by Ra Díaz of Suicidal Tendencies, his presence on Requiem reminded fans just how tightly knit Korn’s sonic DNA remains.
With the new album in the works, expect something raw, real and uncompromising. The kind of record that only comes from locking in, rewinding, and playing ‘til it’s right.
Get ready, this could be their most human record in years, you can keep up to date with all things Korn here!
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