There's something exciting about the release of a new Korn album. Despite critics constantly writing them off as past their prime and suggesting they are no longer relevant (which happened a lot in the UK, with the release of this album), the Bakersfield Boys have produced a varied, engaging, challenging piece of work.Anyone interested in Korn will have no doubt caught "Twisted Transistor" already, but for those who missed it, you're in for a treat. Quite possibly Korn's best single, with a solid song-structure, catchy-as-clamydia chorus, deliciously irreverent lyrics, a more industrial sound and excellent musicianship throughout.
"Politics" and "Hypocrite" show that the band still have some steam to vent, and that being rich and famous rockstars hasn't completely softened them since the anger and exasperation of their bruising debut.
It's a little difficult to compare this with their other works, as they've made quite a departure from their usual sound. Some have called SYOTOS "Untouchables Pt.2", which although not a bad likening, is perhaps a little off-putting. Untouchables confused a lot of people, with Korn swirling their way across the whole musical spectrum (to superb effect, though it was let down by commercial sales), showing us what Korn was really capable of. SYOTOS further pushes our understanding of what these guys can achieve, as well as reiterating the scope of their skills. "Throw Me Away" could easily have come from the Untouchables sessions; mournful chorus, dark atmospherics, and quite melodic in a depressed-kind-of-way. "Open Up" is another quality track, playing on Jonathon's distinctive vocals and heavy atmospherics - never letting the tune get away from them, but never underplaying the chorus.
Now, it's not all great. "Twisted Transistor" is preceded with a minute long silence (as part of the track), which is completely irritating. Sadly, things do get a little wobbly in the middle, with some songs (the average "Love Song") not displaying the usual calibre we've come to expect. Perhaps this is down to them being different, or the higher level of experimentation. The Darth Vader-and-bagpipes ending of "10 Or A 2-Way" is also a little annoying.
If you weren't clever enough to buy the special edition, then you've really missed out on "It's Me Again", which to me is one of the best songs on here! With a great catchy chorus, in Korn's typical style, churning, bottom-heavy grooves and Jonathon's vocals really on top form, it's really a wonder this wasn't included on the main disc. "Eaten Up Inside" doesn't quite have the same class, with a slightly more industrial-meets 80's pop sound going on. "Last Legal Drug" is yet another departure, led by a funereal guitar riff (proving Munky can go it alone, without departed Head's input), and Jonathon's mournful vocals.
Overall, this album won't return Korn to the heady days of Follow The Leader, but it should convince the earlier doubters that the band are far from has-beens, and still have a lot to give to the world of rock and metal. Sometimes it pays to do things noone was expecting - including the band's decision to use primarily pop-producers.
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