Untitled Korn album

The untitled eighth studio album by American nu metal band Korn was released on July 31, 2007, by Virgin Records. It is the band's only studio release without an official drummer, released between the departure of David Silveria in 2006 and the arrival of Ray Luzier in late 2007. Vocalist Jonathan Davis hired drummers Terry Bozzio and Brooks Wackerman as session musicians. The album was intentionally released without a title, as Davis reasoned, "Why not just let our fans call it whatever they wanna call it?"[1] The album was certified gold in the United States on October 30, 2007.[2]

Untitled album
Studio album by
Korn
ReleasedJuly 31, 2007 (2007-07-31)
RecordedOctober 2006 – March 2007
Genre
Length48:47
Label
ProducerAtticus Ross
Korn chronology
See You on the Other Side
(2005)		 Untitled album
(2007)		 Korn III: Remember Who You Are
(2010)
Singles from Untitled album
  1. "Evolution"
    Released: May 17, 2007
  2. "Hold On"
    Released: October 8, 2007
  3. "Kiss"
    Released: April 7, 2008
  4. "Haze"
    Released: April 22, 2008

Background information

This album was the first without former drummer David Silveria, instead, Korn enlisted the help of Terry Bozzio, Brooks Wackerman, as well as Jonathan Davis for drumming.[3][4] Also, the band recruited Zac Baird as keyboardist on this album. An MTV article published on May 17, 2007, includes an interview with Munky as he details the process of the new studio album, while also revealing several song titles. On May 28, vocalist Jonathan Davis joined Dutch radio station 3FM immediately after his performance at the Pinkpop Festival. He commented on the band's upcoming album, stating it "will not be titled." He elaborated, "We had the world's greatest drummer Terry Bozzio in and Brooks Wackerman from Bad Religion in and I played drums on some songs too. I'm so proud of it, we just can't wait to show people what we've done." Davis went on to say "We didn't want to label this album. It has no boundaries. It has no limits and why not just let our fans call it whatever they wanna call it?"

Terry Bozzio's contributions

After successfully recording six tracks with Bozzio, Zac Baird announced that Bozzio would not be touring with the band on the Family Values Tour 2007. Jonathan Davis claims "things just got weird [with Bozzio]." Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion was brought in to record some tracks, and even Jonathan Davis himself contributed, something not done since 1999's Issues. Munky stated in an interview that Bozzio had imposed himself on the band. He mentioned that among other things, Bozzio had demanded to be a full member of the band while receiving 25% interest; the band felt that this was "offensive", therefore, Korn decided not to tour with Bozzio.[5] Joey Jordison of Slipknot would tour with Korn on the Family Values Tour, along with the Bitch We Have a Problem Tour.

This album features drummer Terry Bozzio, formerly of Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.

The Matrix's departure

When premiering the single "Evolution" on KROQ on May 16, 2007, guitarist Munky noted that the band re-recorded much of the Matrix's tracks with Atticus Ross because of the band being dissatisfied with how the material had turned out. This was later confirmed in a Reuters/Billboard article:

This time around, amid some changes—founding drummer David Silveria is on hiatus to become a restaurateur, and The Matrix left the project early in the recording process—the band has crafted perhaps its most musically serious work since 2002's Untouchables. On the album's 13 tracks, Korn balances every chorus with murky keyboard atmospheres and toying arrangements, with songs that deeply explore a mood before exploding into a frenzy.

Release

The album was released through EMI/Virgin in various territories, starting on July 27, 2007. The band ventured on the trio's Family Values Tour 2007 several days prior to the release and toured in support of the new record. The deluxe edition contains the bonus track "Sing Sorrow" (which follows the thirteenth track, "I Will Protect You"), a bonus DVD containing behind-the-scenes footage, hundreds of never-before seen photos of the band. The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, the highest since Untouchables. The untitled album sold 123,000 copies in its first week.[6] It also fell off the charts within twelve weeks, accumulating twenty weeks altogether. In the United States, this is the most recent Korn album to receive any sort of certification from the RIAA.

  • July 27, 2007 – Germany
  • July 30, 2007 – United Kingdom, Mexico
  • July 31, 2007 – United States, Canada
  • August 8, 2007 – Japan
  • October 14, 2007 – Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore
  • December 18, 2007 – United Arab Emirates

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic51/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Blender[9]
Entertainment Weekly(B+)[10]
IGN8/10[11]
New York Daily News(mixed)[12]
The New York Times7/10[13]
NME5/10[14]
Q[15]
PopMatters4/10[16]
Rolling Stone[17]

Reception was mostly met with a mixed response from critics. Metacritic registered an aggregate score of 51 out of 100.[7] The most positive reviews coming from IGN, The Gauntlet, and Billboard. IGN noted that, "There's an overall cohesion from start to finish, and repeated listens continue to reveal new and intriguing elements at every turn, which bodes well for the future",[11] while The Gauntlet wrote, " 'Untitled' is the most articulate recording the band has delivered to date."[18] Entertainment Weekly also praised the album as being the band's best release "since 1999's 'Issues'".[10]

On the contrary, AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that the band is going through a "middle-age slump" and that the album "doesn't break them out of it."[8] Rolling Stone asserted that Korn sounds "wounded and diminished",[17] while PopMatters agreed, calling it "tired, bland and dated... merely going through the motions rather than creating honest music."[16]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Intro"Korn1:57
2."Starting Over"Korn, Atticus Ross, Zac Baird4:02
3."Bitch We Got a Problem"Korn, The Matrix, A. Ross, Baird3:22
4."Evolution"Korn, The Matrix, Baird3:37
5."Hold On"Korn, The Matrix, Baird3:06
6."Kiss"Korn, A. Ross, Leo Ross, Baird4:10
7."Do What They Say"Korn, The Matrix, A. Ross, L. Ross, Baird4:17
8."Ever Be"Korn, The Matrix, Terry Bozzio, Baird4:48
9."Love and Luxury"Korn, The Matrix, Baird3:00
10."Innocent Bystander"Korn, The Matrix, Baird3:28
11."Killing"Korn, The Matrix, Bozzio, Baird3:36
12."Hushabye"Korn, The Matrix, Baird3:52
13."I Will Protect You"Korn, The Matrix, Bozzio, Baird5:29
Total length:48:47
Deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
14."Sing Sorrow"4:35
15."Overture or Obituary" (iTunes bonus track)3:02
Total length:56:20
Enhanced edition
No.TitleLength
14."Haze"2:48
15."Hold On" (video)3:40
Japanese edition
No.TitleLength
14."Evolution (Dave Garcia + Morgan Page Remix)"6:36
Japanese special edition
No.TitleLength
14."Sing Sorrow"4:33
15."Evolution (Dave Aude Remix)"7:38
Australian tour edition
No.TitleLength
14."Haze"2:48
MP3 download from official Korn fan club
No.TitleLength
1."Once Upon a Time" ("Sing Sorrow" with alternate lyrics)4:35

Deluxe edition bonus DVD

  • Making-of documentary
  • Korn photo slideshow

Personnel

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Korn Cancels Hellfest Appearance". blabbermouth.net. June 22, 2007. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  2. "American album certifications – Korn – Untitled". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. "KORN Frontman On Working With TERRY BOZZIO: 'He Makes Us Think Differently About Our Music'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. February 2, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  4. "KORN Guitarist: 'We Have 15 New Songs Written'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. November 8, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  5. "KORN Guitarist Says Drummer TERRY BOZZIO's Demands Were 'Offensive'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 3, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  6. Hasty, Kathy (August 8, 2007). "Common Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200". Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. "Korn: Untitled (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  8. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Untitled - Korn". AllMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  9. Archived January 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Shirley Halperin (July 27, 2007). "Untitled Review | Music Reviews and News". EW.com. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  11. Spence D. (July 25, 2007). "IGN: Untitled Korn Album Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  12. "Korn dogged by its past". Nydailynews.com. July 31, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  13. Pareles, Jon (July 23, 2007). "CRITICS' CHOICE New CDs". New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  14. "NME Album Reviews – Korn". Nme.Com. August 6, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  15. (Sept. 2007, p.91)
  16. Blackie, Andrew. "Korn: Untitled". PopMatters. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  17. Fricke, Dave (August 1, 2007). "Untitled : Korn : Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  18. "Korn Album Review". The Gauntlet. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
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  20. "Austrian chart positions" (in German). austriancharts.at.
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