Losing a lead guitar player would leave any band in sonic jeopardy. Korn decided to avoid the conflict altogether by trading in their once heavy sound in favor of a more progressive, electronic style. While it may have made them a bit more radio friendly, the band turned its back on the fans that had been there since the beginning. Two albums later, Korn has decided to drop its crutches and return to its roots.

In 2005, Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch suddenly walked away from the band after over a decade, declaring that he had decided to follow Jesus and that Korn hindered his ability to do so. The sudden departure left the band a member short, and they collectively decided not to replace “Head.” Consequently, their sound had suffered, as their writing style left them unsure of how to fill his void.

Korn would go on to release two new albums, which slowly drifted from their once raw metal sound. However after three years, the band has responded to their fans pleas.

In an interview with The Pulse of Radio, lead singer Jonathon Davis stated that on Korn’s next record, “It’s going to be very raw. It’s going to be old school, like the first Korn records.”

When asked what his muse was with regards for the band’s return to the raw sound, Davis responded saying, “I have a lot of built-up aggression towards certain things that I need to get out for this record.”

While it is yet to be determined if the band can truly return to their roots sans an original member, die-hard fans can take comfort in the fact that the group has acknowledged the need to change their direction. The next step is to see if the band can walk without its crutches.

Matt Murray is a journalism sophomore.