On This Day: KORN Release ‘Take A Look In The Mirror’
On this day – November 21st, back in 2003, Korn released their sixth studio album ‘Take a Look in the Mirror’ via Epic Records & Immortal Records. The release would come just over a year after their Grammy award winning album ‘Untouchables’ hit store shelves.
The first single, “Did My Time”, was previously released as a single from the film soundtrack to Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. The second single, which was the first track on the album, was the banger “Right Now” – followed by the singles “Y’all Want a Single” & “Everything I’ve Known”. Another cool feature on the CD version of ‘Take a Look in the Mirror’ is the last track “When Will This End” – the song itself ends around the 3:40 mark, followed by close to seven minutes of silence, and then BOOM – Korn with a live cover version of Metallica’s “One” that was performed on the tv show MTV Icon: Metallica.
This is the last Korn studio album to feature their full original lineup. Brian “Head” Welch left the band in February of 2005 (returning in 2013) and original drummer David Silveria left at the end of 2006, after the release of their next album ‘See You on the Other Side’. It was also the last studio album from Korn released via Epic & Immortal.
We were fortunate enough to get Korn through the Philadelphia area a couple of times during that album cycle in 2003 – including their incredible show at the Electric Factory in December of that year.
Korn – Electric Factory Setlist (December 2nd 2003)
1. Right Now
2. Break Some Off
3. Got the Life
4. Ball Tongue (with snippets of “It Takes Two” from Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock and “La Di Da Di” from Slick Rick)
5. Here to Stay
6. It’s On!
7. Freak on a Leash
8. Did My Time
9. Helmet in the Bush
10. Counting on Me (with a snippet of Metallica’s “One” at the end)
11. Blind
12. Encore: Bagpipe Interlude
13. Let’s Do This Now
14. Falling Away From Me
15. My Gift to You
Earlier that summer Korn was part of Ozzfest which invaded beautiful, tropical, downtown Camden, NJ on a super-hot August day at the, then, Tweeter Center. The Prince of Darkness headlined, followed by Korn, Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Chevelle, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and a slew of others. And, Yup, you better believe I was at both shows!
Korn front man Jonathan Davis said “The album is about us as a band, taking a look in the mirror and remembering where we came from, remembering our roots, going back to basics. We reflect and look back to why we really got into this band to begin with and why we started it.” And, with that, ‘Take a Look in the Mirror’ was Korn’s attempt to return to a more aggressive sound as featured on their earlier albums. According to the RIAA: Recording Industry Association of America, the album has sold close to 2 million copies here in the U.S. and another 2+ million copies worldwide – certifying it multi-platinum.
Brian “Head” Welch and Jonathan Davis both said in interviews years later that ‘Take a Look in the Mirror’ was the worst record Korn has done and, also, their least favorite.
I dug the album when it came out, and still do! Korn’s self-titled debut & their 4th, ‘Issues’ are still at the top of my list of favorite Korn albums! If you’ve never had a chance to see them live… DO IT… I love the intensity of a Korn show – and, of course, when JD rocks those bagpipes! -bp
Korn & Evanescence at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion [GALLERY]
