Album Preview - KoRn - The Path of Totality

Nu metal godfathers, multi-platinum selling KoRn prove themselves again with more ground breaking, genre bending intensity with their newest release, "The Path of Totality", a mash up with various techno, dubstep and electronic dance artists, including Skrillex, Feed Me, Noisia, Excision, Downlink, 12th Planet, Flinch, and Datsik, as well as rapper DJ Jake Stanczak better know as Kill the Noise.

Surprisingly, the tuned down baritone guitars custom made for Munky blend perfectly with the throbbing, pulsating dubstep beats of the various contributors.  This incredible masterpiece evidently defines a new genre, should it be called nu techno, techno metal, or my favorite, dubmetal?  The highly original sound mimics no one but lends into the gothic dance music one hears at infamous clubs such as The Castle in Ybor City. With samplings of bag pipes, John Kennedy, and a various sundry of other sound effects, there exists almost no pause between tracks as one blends perfectly into the other creating a phenomenal overall composition. From the opening "Chaos Lives in Everything" to the finale, "Tension", KoRn and their collaborating dubsteppers weave one unimaginable metallic symphony.

I highly recommend this hard edged, pulsating danceable KoRn.  The Path of Totality makes a wise addition to any music collection.  I've heard a ton of new music this year and would personally like to nominate this work as album of the year as well as album cover art of the year.

Enjoy this clip of KoRn's "Narcissistic Cannibal" featuring Skrillex and Kill the Noise, the first single released to radio stations from the new album.

Brian "Head" Welch - Paralyzed

Brian Welch, better know as "Head" shocked the rock world in February of 2005 when he announced to his band mates, mulit-platinum selling Korn, and the world that he was quitting the band to pursue a closer relationship with God after dedicating his life to Christ in front of 10,000 people at Bible Valley Fellowship in Bakersfield, California.

After pioneering the genre now known as nu metal, Head felt convicted to leave behind rock n' roll's life of addiction and lustful behavior to focus on raising his daughter Jennea.  God's power allowed him to leave behind a nearly lifelong addiction to methamphetamine and liquor, as well as a propensity toward pornography. He has pursued this passion ruthlessly tattooing "JESUS" across his right knuckles when his hand had caused him to sin and then later "Mark 9:42" across his left hand for the same reason.

The verse reads:

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out."

Head recorded a solo album and wrote a book, both titled "Save Me From Myself",  in 2008 and debuted the single "Flush" at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois.  He wrote and played nearly every instrument on the CD so necessity urged him to put a band together for live shows.  Musicians from all over the world auditioned through YouTube videos before the best auditioned for Head personally. The final line-up included keyboardist Brian Ruedy, Scott Von Heldt on guitar and backing vocals, guitarist Ralph Patlan, Michael Valentine on bass, and drummer Dan Johnson.

The newly formed band hit the road on tour immediately following rehearsals, headlining at the main stage during Cornerstone 2009 and the Exit concert in Las Vegas with Flyleaf and Blindside.

I just happened to be at the event on July 2, 2009 at the Cornerstone Festival.  Please enjoy the video below of Head performing "Adonai."

 

Due to the pressures of touring, maintaining a lifestyle pleasing to God, and raising a daughter, Head has faced extreme difficulty finding time to record and master his sophomore solo release.  He has been in and out of the studio since the spring of 2010 and hopes to have the album completed and released by April 2012.

He released the single, "Paralyzed" in October of 2011 as an electronic download on iTunes and other outlets.  When compared to his debut album, one notices a continuing maturity in Head's music and walk with the Lord, as well as the advantages of collaborating with other musicians.  The song has already enjoyed quite a bit of commercial success.  Please enjoy this new hit as posted by Head's official website.



Head, keep rocking and loving Jesus! You're an inspiration to many of us as we face and deal with the struggles of living in the "world".