Three decades ago, Korn effectively redefined the metal landscape with the release of their self-titled debut album, forging the path for nu-metal as a subgenre, and bringing it to the forefront of mainstream music. No one could have predicted that 30 years later, both the band and this seminal album would remain as influential as ever, continuing to pack amphitheaters and arenas across the globe.
This past Saturday night, Korn brought their signature, exhilarating live show to West Palm Beach's iTHINK Financial Amphitheater, performing to a sold-out crowd of 20,000 passionate fans, who defied the typical South Florida summer heat and gathered to celebrate their storied musical career.
Before Korn took the stage, the Florida audience was treated to a set from French metal heavyweights Gojira, a band that has skyrocketed to international fame following their performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony — truly a landmark moment for metal as a genre.
It feels noteworthy to remember that long before that monumental event, Gojira had already garnered an immense number of accolades, based on the steady quality of their albums, which have brought them from anonymity to become the de-facto metal force in their country and one of the leading bands in the metal scene worldwide.
To say Gojira exceeded any set expectations would be an understatement. Their live show was nothing short of relentless, few bands today can match the sheer seismic power they bring to the stage. From the moment they opened with "L'Enfant Sauvage," accompanied by their signature pyro effects, their performance was as precise as it was bone-shakingly heavy. Joe Duplantier's primal growls and Mario Duplantier's masterful drumming were awe-inspiring, with standout moments on tracks like "Toxic Garbage Island," "Backbone" and "The Cell."
"Flying Whales" was a monumental moment in their set, the beloved cut essentially sending the crowd into a whirl, while the expected, and not-so-subtle nod to French history, came with the inclusion of "Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira!)", the aforementioned song that has catapulted them to mainstream attention. Gojira closed their set with "Amazonia," the folk-infused song they wrote as a vehicle for environmental activism and raising awareness for the Amazon's rainforest deforestation, certainly a thought-provoking moment that sort of counteracted the merciless heaviness that preceded, yet served as an apropos and epic closer for one of the most crushing and remarkable performances this venue has ever seen.
With Korn's extensive catalog, crafting a fresh setlist for each tour must be a daunting task, but the band hit the mark perfectly this time. As the curtain dropped and they opened with "Here to Stay," a tidal wave of nostalgia and adrenaline surged through the crowd – the sights of bodies wearing Korn's tees extended as far as the eye could see.
Jonathan Davis, clad in his signature jumpsuit—this time a striking red—dominated the stage, strolling left and right, his snarls cutting through the thunderous sound of the band. Drummer Ray Luzier was a force of nature, relentlessly pounding his drumkit with unmatched intensity, often stealing the spotlight with his high-energy, face-contorting movements. The night's main course consisted of a mix of fan-favorite anthems and deep cuts, from the ferocious "Dead Bodies Everywhere" to the haunting "Hey Daddy," a rare gem dusted off for this tour, having not been played live since 1999, with most of the setlist drawing from their first four, and most celebrated, albums.
Highlights included a powerful rendition of "Shoots and Ladders," which featured a snippet of Metallica's "One" and Davis breaking out his iconic bagpipes, alongside explosive performances of "Got the Life" and "A.D.I.D.A.S." Guitarists James "Munky" Shaffer and Brian "Head" Welch were in top form, shredding and headbanging in their signature body-bent-forward poses, while bassist Ra Diaz anchored the crushing low end, locking in with Luzier's ferocious drumming to keep the crowd moving all night.
As soon as the opening riff of "Blind" hit — the track that first launched them into the metal spotlight back in 1994 — the entire amphitheater erupted in synchronized headbanging. Davis' raw energy was palpable, and the crowd roared back the song's iconic opening line, "Are you ready?" The sweltering night reached its peak as Korn tore into their encore, delivering fan-favorite singles "Falling Away From Me," "Oildale (Leave Me Alone)," and a frenetic, moshpit-inducing performance of "Freak on a Leash" to close out a set that left the audience buzzing long after the final note.
