The Nothing

The Nothing is a fulfilling work on which Korn confines the uneasy groove and singing tinged with deep loss it has cultivated over a long career into an extremely heavy sound. It is said to be a record strongly reflecting Jonathan Davis’s deep grief in his private life. Low, distorting heavy guitar, bouncing bass and tension-stretching drums powerfully create a distinctive instability, as if the ground is crumbling, beyond merely being heavy. A darker, more introspective record. From the development from the opener “The End Begins” to “Cold” and the drama of “You’ll Never Find Me” to a cut like “The Darkness Is Revealing,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Can You Hear Me” and “Finally Free” convey the work’s fullness. Jonathan Davis’s vocals move between bellowing, whispering and breaking melody, powerfully making his deep pain felt as if you were there, rather than explaining it. A record that, while not one that merely gives easy comfort, shows the sure strength of turning pain and deep loneliness directly into sound. Raw impulse evoking early nuances and modern production weight bind, generating a sure earnestness that is by no means nostalgia. A powerful, engaging record condensing Korn’s deep, dark appeal — a record where the band’s true worth shines.