A Love Letter To KORN’s Debut Album, 30 Years Later

Expensive Korn‘s Debut Album,

You have been the soundtrack to a pivotal second in my life—1994, a time of contemporary begins and new experiences as a freshman in highschool. Every little thing about that point was transformative, and also you, Korn, got here into my world once I was prepared for one thing fully completely different.

I can nonetheless bear in mind flipping via Steel Maniacs journal and seeing that unforgettable photograph of Head. I did not realize it then, however that picture could be the spark that ignited a deeper connection to music than I would ever felt earlier than. On the time, my mates and I had a punk rock band, and our brand, oddly sufficient, bore a wild resemblance to the Korn brand—like some cosmic coincidence that appeared to be pulling me towards you.

The actual magic occurred when Doug, my maniac pal with the Trans Am (or was it a Firebird?), took me on one in every of our common fast-paced, wind-in-the-hair drives—wind I hated, by the best way, however for Korn, I’d endure it. We drove all the best way to Bowling Inexperienced, Kentucky, on a whim, and that is when destiny led me to a Blockbuster Music. You have been there on the shelf, and I instantly acknowledged your cowl—the title, the vibe, the uncooked power I had sensed from that journal photograph.

I grabbed the CD, requested the man on the counter to let me hearken to it, and from the second I heard that experience cymbal, the sluggish construct, after which Jonathan‘s iconic, “Are you prepared?” I knew I used to be about to be a part of one thing new, one thing large. It wasn’t simply an album—it was a revolution. Your sound was in contrast to something I had heard earlier than, and I could not wait to dive into it. I purchased the album proper then and there, took it house, and devoured each observe, each lyric, each scream.

From there, you grew to become the soundtrack to my highschool years.

Earlier than TRL and the large stardom that may comply with, you have been my secret discovery, the band that was all mine. I noticed you reside in these early days, in small golf equipment earlier than the arenas. I made it my mission to satisfy each band I cherished again then, and Korn was no exception. I staked out your tour buses, hung round venues, simply to get a glimpse of the fellows behind the music that was shaping my teenage life.

Korn, you have been the primary band that I acquired into from the very starting. Not like Metallica or Kiss, the place I joined the celebration after they’d constructed their legacy, you have been my band, from day one. You have been a part of a motion that gave me Korn, Deftones, and Limp Bizkit, an entire new world of sound that felt prefer it was being created only for us. You have been uncooked, visceral, and spoke to one thing deep in my teenage soul.

Your debut album wasn’t simply music—it was a basis for a scene, a sound, and a life-changing shift in what heavy music might be. You may at all times have that particular place because the band that modified all the things for me, and I am going to always remember the journey that began with that single, fateful pay attention in a random music retailer on a reckless drive to Kentucky.

With all my gratitude,

Joshua Toomey