Eighteen year old Ben smith from New Malden was gutted when Jonathan Davis' illness necessitated the cancelling of KoRn's show in London on February 1. Not only are KoRn his favourite band but that night was to be his first ever concert. Instead, tonight is, and he's beside himself with excitement. After all the saviours of new metal don't come around every day.
By 6:30pm the Que. at the academy already stretches right around the block, and bags of crisps are being droped from the upstairs dressing room into the throng. As soon as the doors open we see two young blokes snogging and an extremely cheerful girl bestowing kisses upon absolutely everyone. It seems that anyone who isn't wearing a KoRn T-shirt is wearing Adidas in Jonathan Davis' honour. KoRn are fast becoming the biggest cult band in the world.
Pre-KoRn, Incubus' blend of funky beats and grinding guitars marks them out as KoRn-light, while The Urge's Fishbone style ska punk is enlivened by a hyperactive brass section. Infectious fun.
KoRn's idea of fun is brutally cathartic. Halfway through the first song, moshpits are forming just feet away from the bars at the back. Mark, 15 from Peckham, who saw the band at Donington last year, reckons this is there best show to date (that's cos he didn't go to the Astoria show last year which was much better - Kev). "Mad and chaotic" is his summary. He's right too. The atmosphere at the front is impossibly intense, with stage-divers rolling over the barriers like homesick salmon. Tunes like 'Good God' and 'no place to hide' are superb, immersing everyone in wicked grooves and churning guitars. The appearance of Davis' legendary bagpipes prior to the killer double blow of 'low-rider' and 'shoots and ladders' brings the atmosphere to boiling point. Incredible. There's only one dissenting voice Anita from Essex reckons the band merely "all right", although she admits she's "too pissed to care". But trust us, on this form the most intoxicating band in new metal are unforgettable, untouchable and totally unstoppable.
MOST ROCKING MOMENT:
An absolutely vicious 'Faget'.
LEAST ROCKING MOMENT:
Not really applicable here.
BEST ONSTAGE QUOTE:
"What's up? We're Dio." - KoRn's Head.
VERDICT:
Well worth the wait.
Back to Articles
Back to Main