KORN & GOJIRA Set West Palm Beach Ablaze

Three decades ago, Korn Effectively redefined the metal landscape with the release of their debut album, paving the way 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 landmark album would remain as influential as ever, continuing to fill amphitheaters and arenas around the world.

This past Saturday night, Korn brought their signature, thrilling live show to the iTHINK Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, performing to a sold-out crowd of 20,000 passionate fans who braved the typical South Florida summer heat and gathered to celebrate their historic music career.

In the past Korn took the stage, the Florida audience was treated to a set from French metal heavyweights Gojiraa band that gained international fame after their performance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, a truly pivotal moment for metal as a genre.

It is noteworthy to remember that long before that momentous event, Gojira they had already received a huge amount of accolades based on the consistent quality of their albums, which took them from anonymity to become a de facto metal force in their country and one of the leading bands in the metal scene worldwide.

say Gojira Exceeding any expectations would be an understatement. Their live show was nothing short of relentless, few bands today can match the seismic power they bring to the stage. From the moment they opened with ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’, complete with their signature pyro effects, their performance was as precise as it was bone-shatteringly heavy. Joe Duplantierthe initial roars of and Mario Duplantier“Toxic Garbage Island,” “Backbone” and “The Cell” provided standout moments.

“Flying Dots” was a monumental moment in their set, a favorite part that essentially got the crowd going, while the expected and not-so-subtle move to French history took place with the inclusion of “Mea Culpa” (Ah! Çala). Ira!)’, the aforementioned song that gained them mainstream attention. Gojira closed their set with the folksy song “Amazonia,” which they wrote as a means of environmental activism and raising awareness for the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, a thought-provoking moment for sure that kind of countered the relentless heaviness that preceded it, but served as a fitting and epic closer for this one. for one of the most crushing and remarkable performances the venue has ever seen.

Back Korn‘s extensive catalog, putting together a fresh setlist for each tour must be a difficult task, but the band hit the mark this time. As the curtain came down and they opened with ‘Here to Stay’, a wave of nostalgia and adrenaline surged through the crowd; scenes of clothed bodies. KornPaws extended as far as the eye could see.

Jonathan Davisclad in his signature jumpsuit, this time a bright red, dominated the stage, pacing left and right, his growls cutting through the band’s thunderous sound. Drummer Ray Luzier was a force of nature relentlessly beating his drum with unmatched intensity, often stealing the spotlight with his high-energy, face-smashing moves. The night’s main course consisted of fan-favorite anthems and deep cuts, from the ferocious “Dead Bodies Everywhere” to the haunting “Hey Daddy,” a rare gem that has been cleaned up for this tour, not played live since 1999. Most of the set list is drawn from their first four and most popular albums.

Highlights included a powerful rendition of ‘Cads and Ladders’ which featured a verse; Metallica“One” and Davis breaking out his iconic bagpipes as well as explosive performances from guitarists ‘Got the Life’ and ‘ADIDAS’ James “Monkey” Shaffer and: Brian “The Head” Welch they were on top form, smashing and headbanging in their signature forward-leaning positions, while bassist Ra Diaz anchored the crushing low end, with the lock Luzierdrumming furiously to get the crowd moving all night long.

As soon as the opening riff of “Blind” hit, the track that first brought them into the metal spotlight back in 1994, the entire amphitheater erupted in synchronized headbanging. DavisThe raw energy was palpable and the crowd roared to the song’s iconic opening line; “Are you ready?” The dark night reached its climax Korn tore through their encore, delivering fan-favorite singles “Falling Away From Me,” “Oildale (Leave Me Alone)” and a frenzied, ash-stirring rendition of “Freak on a Leash” to close out the set to the audience. hums long after the final note.