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Featuring one of the last recorded performances of the original line-up before guitarist Brian "Head" Welch left the band following his religious conversion and their drummer David Silveria retired from the road, this new Korn DVD of their Montreux Jazz Festival show in 2004 is one of the best shows I have seen of the band, filmed or otherwise. That this ferocious rock spectacle comes from as unlikely a place as the Montreux Jazz Festival adds an even more twisted air to the proceedings than the band normally whips up, which is saying something considering the band's groundbreaking mix of heavy metal, funk and hip-hop elements. Not quite what you think about when the name "Montreux Jazz Fest" is brought up!
All that has changed recently, because even though the festival was a pure jazz fest for the better part of its' history, the festival has of late opened itself up to other genres and has become more of a pure music fest than one The live sound is excellent as well and anyone even remotely into the band needs to check out this DVD as I feel safe in saying it is one of the best Korn shows ever, and fans of metal in general and the band in particular should thank god the crew at the Montreux Jazz Fest had the foresight to capture Korn's performance for posterity, which is fitting as the group is one of the most groundbreaking bands to emerge in the past twenty years.
The band first formed in 1993, evolving out of a Bakersfield, California band called LAPD, and paved the way for what is now known as alternative metal or nu metal and has been incredibly influential on the bands following in it's wake. Just about every band considering themselves metal formed after Korn's first album has been indelibly influenced by the band, whether they know it or not. Albums like 1996's "Life Is Peachy" and 1998's "Follow The Leader" cemented the band's status as trailblazers in the world of metal and this live show proves the band hasn't lost one iota of energy in the ensuing years.
At the time this show was filmed the band was finishing up it's "Back To Basics" tour to promote their album "Take A Look In The Mirror," which was a sort of re-imagining of the band's musical focus. As is usual for most bands, the atmosphere sort of gets crazier and crazier as a tour reaches it's conclusion. Judging from the sick amount of pure energy the band was putting out at this show, the wrap of the tour must have been coming soon. The band is pretty much just living manifestations of energy and power, ripping through song after song with breathtaking finesse and dexterity but retaining a sense of urgency throughout the show. This is a very compelling performance and other rock bands of all stripes should check out what Korn manages to put across on this DVD. The band has never sounded better and I suggest they have never sounded as good since, at least from the recording and shows I have seen, nothing comes close.
Bands like The Clash and The Rolling Stones have often been bestowed with the title of The Best Rock and Roll Band Ever but, after viewing this DVD, I believe on the night this show was filmed Korn made a great case for ownership of that title. Simply a great DVD all fans of the band should enjoy watching over and over again.
For the real tech heads the video for the DVD is anamorphic widescreen with a ratio of 1.78:1 and there are two 5.1 mixes and DTS 5.1. The DTS 5.1 is really loud as opposed to the Dolby Digital 5.1 which while not as loud, has a better mix sound to it.
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