Nu-metal has made a comeback. The genre “Nu-metal” is a subgenre to metal which is mixed with elements of hip-hop, rap, and sometimes grunge funk. On October 10, American punk rock/nu-metal band Korn performed at the Tacoma Dome here in Tacoma, Washington. I took the opportunity to attend with my boyfriend as one of many people who traveled all across the Pacific Northwest to experience the show.
The opening performers were heavy metal bands: Canadian band Spiritbox and the French band Gojira. Spiritbox’s outstanding set emitted Courtney LePlant’s captivating voice. In their most notable song “Circle With Me,” you could distinctly hear LePlant interchange from deep growls to a honeyed melody while the guitarists played beside her.
Their performance was further enhanced by their background visuals, which depicted Spiritbox’s logo engulfed in neon green flames. The band filled the stage with a dark witchy vibe and made me excited to see them again in the future. The second opener, Gojira, raised my expectations for live performances.
The first stroke of that electric guitar sent a shiver down my spine and it filled the dome with immense electricity. The flames from the pyrotechnics matched distinctly to the metallic shrills that echoed throughout the dome. The live visuals for Gojira’s set really invoked the importance of caring for our planet and nature. It was nice to see a band that big care for these issues and show concern for the natural world. The visuals of whales swimming in the ocean during their tribute song for environmental consciousness and the perspective of the projected images felt like they would grab you out of your seat and throw you into the ocean for a swim. The set interchanged throughout the show and matched the lyrics of all their songs.
When Korn came on the crowd roared. The immense energy that the punk band projected into the crowd was intense. They performed fan favorites including ‘Blind’, ‘Falling Away From Me’, ‘Y’all Want a Single’, and ‘Freak on a Leash’. The crowd had already warmed up thanks to the openers and were engaged and thrilled the whole set. From my section, I could see the moshpit rage in excitement.
The lead vocalist, Jonathan Davis, gave a shout-out to old and new fans for their unconditional support to the band, which has been around for 30 years.
Korn has set nu-metal on a pedestal and created immense respect for pioneering in the genre. I feel beyond grateful to have experienced these live performances while they are still touring. If you feel the need to rage or shout, I suggest listening to Spiritbox, Gojira, and Korn.
