Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader is a monumental work on which Korn greatly widened its own heaviness through low, undulating bass, bouncing rhythm and wound-baring vocals. It is counted among the band’s commercial peaks, pushing nu-metal into the mainstream overnight. The guitar deliberately does not seek traditional metal solos, creating its tension purely with the sure weight of the sound and a distinctive space. From the development from the opening skit to the all-too-famous signature “Got the Life” to the band’s greatest classic “Freak on a Leash,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Dead Bodies Everywhere,” “All in the Family,” featuring Fred Durst and others, and “Children of the Korn” convey the work’s fullness. In particular, “Freak on a Leash,” which drew attention for its music video too, pushed the band to a worldwide presence. A record on which anger, deep pain and strange humor coexist extremely naturally, and each song has an intense, sure character. It powerfully symbolizes the very air of late-1990s heavy rock. A central masterpiece of the nu-metal movement and an enduring, powerful, engaging classic — an essential record for fans.