Korn is at a special point in their career. The nu metal band, formed in 1992, released their fourteenth album, Requiem , in February of this year. In an interview with Wikimetal , drummer Ray Luzier spoke about the importance of the new album and being surrounded by people who believe in the group's purpose, from the crew to the fans.
The new album is an intense project, representative of this phase of maturity and a certain fulfillment in the face of chaos, both personal and global. During this time away from live performances, without the pressure of touring deadlines, the band got together as soon as possible to create music and "reunite as brothers, doing what we love."
The band wrote “17 or 18” tracks for Requiem , but only nine were chosen for the final tracklist . Some of the discarded tracks were very dear to Korn's drummer. The band's choice was to create a concise and cohesive album, but it was still difficult for Ray to leave certain songs behind in the process, which is why a deluxe edition of the album may still be released, especially if it depends on him.
“I’m always biased, I like the B-side of everything. Of course I like the hits, but I love the ones that don’t make it onto the album,” he explained. “I always find beauty in everything, [even when] it’s not so commercially appealing, you know?”
Even aware of the affection all the musicians have for the new releases (“Everyone says the new one is their favorite,” he acknowledges), Luzier reaffirms the importance of Requiem for Korn. “Each new album is like giving birth to your child, to your soul,” he describes.
Ironically, the album's live debut was more focused on death. The band performed a concert in the form of a funeral mass at the Hollywood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, with fans wearing funeral attire.
The choice of location shocked some people, even with the conversion of some of the band's musicians to Christianity, but the result was great – and the pastor was a Korn fan, after all. The only limitation was regarding profanity, under penalty of a $1,500 fine for each vulgar word uttered, so Jonathan Davis had to slightly modify the lyrics.
Raised in a strict Protestant church where faith was "shoved down your throat" with no room for questioning, Luzier has his beliefs, but it's in metal that he seems to place most of his religiosity. When the pandemic prevented touring, the drummer was inconsolable, recognizing how concerts are a transcendental experience for everyone involved. "It's not simply 'Oh, let's see my favorite rock band.' It's therapy for people," he said.
The drummer has played with David Lee Roth and Army of Anyone , but nothing compares to the fans' relationship with Korn's music. Although every artist hears stories about the importance of their work in the lives of those who love their music, with this band it goes even further. "People come up to Jonathan and say, 'You saved my life. Because of Korn, I'm here today.' It's very heavy and powerful, many times he doesn't even know how to react," he said.
With such a powerful effect on their followers, the group finds fulfillment in the face of the world's chaos with the release of Requiem. The chaos within Korn is also healed by music, whether it's Fieldy 's departure or the band's battles after several members contracted COVID-19 on the road, in a passionate stubbornness to keep going.
Therefore, we shouldn't worry about internal conflicts that could end this project of moving fervent legions, just like any other religion. “We're not 23 years old, we're approaching 50. We appreciate that we can still do this for a living and that the fans still show up [to see us]. It's 100% for them. Korn is bigger than all of us. It's not just a band, it's a movement.”
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