What does The Nothing sound like?

A raw exploration of despair and vulnerability wrapped in heavy riffs and haunting melodies. Rooted in alternative metal and nu metal. Start with "Cold".

Is The Nothing a good place to start with Korn?

Yes, The Nothing is recommended as a starting point for new Korn listeners. A raw exploration of despair and vulnerability wrapped in heavy riffs and haunting melodies. Released on September 13, 2019, The Nothing is Korn's thirteenth studio album, following the band's return to form with The Serenity of Suffering in 2016. At this point, Korn was solidifying their legacy as pioneers of nu metal while continuing to evolve their sound amidst personal struggles faced by lead vocalist Jonathan Davis.

Who is The Nothing for?

The Nothing works well if you're into steady pacing for focused listening, raw emotional exploration throughout and haunting melodies for introspection.

How many songs are on The Nothing?

The Nothing has 13 tracks, running approximately 44 minutes.

The Nothing

Korn · 2019

44 min · 13 tracks · alternative metal

A raw exploration of despair and vulnerability wrapped in heavy riffs and haunting melodies.

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Top tracks — play these first

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You'll Never Find Me — This track opens with an intense energy that encapsulates the album's themes of isolation and internal struggle, driven by powerful guitar riffs and emotive vocals.
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Cold Start here — With its atmospheric introduction and haunting lyrics, Cold highlights the album's exploration of vulnerability and despair, showcasing Davis's vocal range against a backdrop of crushing instrumentals.
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Surrender to Failure — This track serves as a poignant conclusion to the album, reflecting on acceptance and resignation through its melancholic tone and introspective lyrics, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album balances heavy instrumentation with emotional themes, maintaining interest through varied dynamics and pacing.

What we noticed

The album opens with a heavy, distorted guitar riff that sets a dark tone, which is maintained throughout the first half.
Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Cold' transitioning from a slow build to an aggressive chorus.
The last three tracks exhibit a gradual decrease in intensity, ending with a reflective tone that contrasts with the earlier aggression.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing for focused listening
raw emotional exploration throughout
haunting melodies for introspection
consistent journey with resolution

Maybe skip if you

prefer upbeat or cheerful sounds
seek instant gratification in tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and emotional depth in Korn's later discography.
Themes: grief and loss· inner demons· emotional isolation
Career context: Released on September 13, 2019, The Nothing is Korn's thirteenth studio album, following the band's return to form with The Serenity of Suffering in 2016. At this point, Korn was solidifying their legacy as pioneers of nu metal while continuing to evolve their sound amidst personal struggles faced by lead vocalist Jonathan Davis.
Stylistic neighbors: Slipknot· Deftones· Limp Bizkit