Korn are teasing something with mystery billboards and AR filter
What are they up to?!
Nu metal legends Korn have started to tease something with a cryptic billboard campaign.
Mystery billboards have started cropping up at major cities around the world including London featuring the iconic Korn logo in white against a grey background.
Check out a Korn billboard between Camden Town Station and the Electric Ballroom right here:
At the bottom right-hand corner of the billboards is a QR code complete with the words ‘Scan the QR Code here. Start The Healing.’
The QR code takes Korn fans to an AR filter which when used against the band’s logo brings up a tantalising snippet of music and a bizarre 3D image of a baby’s face clutched by a hand.
Korn themselves have posted a link to the filter on the Instagram stories and they’ve been sharing videos fans have been sending in:
Drummer Ray Luzier has also posted a video to his Instagram story:
Whether this points to a new single, album or something else remains to be seen!
Back in April, Korn frontman Jonathan Davis confirmed the band had been working on the follow-up to 2019's ‘The Nothing’ during lockdown.
“We just got done writing a record!” he enthused to Kerrang!. "It’s like an act of God to get us all together to do anything. We have to plan that all out! I’m sure there are a bazillion other bands with new music to release, too. In the meantime, let’s just go out, play live and have some fun!”
Nu metal bands then & now:
Then: Korn
Korn formed in Bakersfield, California in 1993 and are widely cited as being one of the leading torchbearers of the nu-metal genre. Singer Jonathan Davis, guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, basisst Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and guitarist Brian "Head" Welch were all members of Korn since their formation, while drummer David Silveria was a member from 1993 to 2006. Between 1994 and 1998, Korn released four studio albums – 'Korn', 'Life Is Peachy', 'Follow the Leader' and 'Issues' – that were huge critical and commercial successes and paved the way for countless other nu metal bands.
Now: Korn
The early success didn't come without costs: the band's struggles with drugs, particularly meth and alcohol, have been well documented over the years. Head quit the band in 2005, getting sober whilst finding God. After some acrimonious exchanges, he eventually returned to the band after a suprise guest performance with them in 2012. Drummer David Silveria went on hiatus in 2006 and never returned to the band, with Ray Luzier unveiled as his official replacement in 2009. Founding member Fieldy left the band indefinitely in 2021 to get some "bad habits out of my system". Throughout their distinguished career Korn have released 13 studio albums, with next LP 'The Requiem' due out in 2022, and they have sold an estimated 40 million records globally, including 10 million copies of 1998's 'Follow the Leader.' One of the most enduring nu-metal bands, Korn are still an active and hugely influential band to this very day.
Then: Alien Ant Farm
Alien Ant Farm formed in California back in 1996 with vocalist Dryden Mitchell, guitarist Terry Corso, drummer Mike Cosgrove and bass player Tye Zamora. After releasing several demo tapes, the band released their debut album 'Greatest Hits' in 1999, which quickly went on to win the Best Independent Album in the L.A. Music Awards 1999. The album contained an early version of the band's cover of Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal', which has since become of the band's most successful songs and a huge international smash.
Now: Alien Ant Farm
Throughout their career, Alien Ant Farm have released five studio albums, two EPs and seven singles. Founding members Dryden Mitchell, Mike Cosgrove and Terry Corso are all still part of the band, but they have since been joined by Tim Peugh on bass. In May 2020, Alien Ant Farm released a cover of Wham's hit, 'Everything She Wants'. They released their fifth studio album, 'Always and Forever' in 2014.
Then: Crazy Town
Crazy Town, which is sometimes abbreviated to CXT, formed in California in 1995 by members Bret Mazur and Seth Binzer, otherwise known as Epic and Shifty Shellshock. The band were later joined by Rust Epique, James Bradley Jr (a.k.a. JBJ), Doug Miller, Adam Goldstein (a.k.a. DJ AM), and Antonio Lorenzo "Trouble" Valli. In 2000, Crazy Town's biggest single, 'Butterfly' was released and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of the single helped their debut album, 'The Gift of Game' (1999) sell over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
Now: Crazy Town
Crazy Town have released three studio albums during their career including 'Brimstone Sluggers' (2017) and 'Darkhorse' (2002). Epic announced that he would be leaving the band in 2017, after a year long hiatus. Members, Seth "Shifty" Binzer, Elias Tannous aka "ET"), Hasma Angeleno, Roland Banks, Rick "R1ckOne" Dixon and Filippo Dallinferno, however, continue to create music together. They released a single, 'Fly Away ft. Tanner Alexander' in 2020, under their new name Crazy Town X.
Then: Disturbed
Chicago's Disturbed started all the way back in 1994 when David Draiman answered an advertisement that guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren and bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak had put out to find a singer for their band.
They released their debut album, 'The Sickness' in 2000, which peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard 200 and spent 103 weeks on the chart. 'The Sickness' has since gone five times platinum, making it the band's most successful album to date.
Now: Disturbed
Disturbed have released seven studio albums, two live albums and 30 singles since forming in 1994. The band still has three of its original members, but they have since been joined by bass player John Moyer. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their 'The Sickness', Disturbed were set to go on tour in summer 2021, joined by Staind and Bad Wolves, however this was postponed due to covid.
Then: Deftones
Childhood friends Stephen Carpenter, Abe Cunningham and Chino Moreno, who were from Sacramento in California, formed Deftones in 1998 after having regular jam sessions in Carpenter's garage. 'Adrenaline', the band's debut studio album was released in 1995 and included singles '7 Words', 'Bored' and fan favourite an favorite 'Engine No. 9'. The album has since been certified platinum in the US and gold in the UK.
Now: Deftones
The Grammy Award-winning Deftones have gone on to release 22 singles and nine studio albums, including ' White Pony', 'Gore' and most recently 'Ohms'. Ohms which was release in Sept 2020, went on to reach number on on Billboard's US Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Bassist Chi Cheng died of a cardiac arrest in 2013 five years after he was involved in a serious car crash in Santa Clara, California, which left him in a semi-comatose state.
Then: Evanescence
Singer and pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody formed Evanescence in Arkansas back in 1995, after the pair met at a Christian youth camp. The name Evanescence means "disappearance" or "fading away". The duo were joined by friends John LeCompt, Rocky Gray and Will Boyd in 2003 and released their debut album 'Fallen' was released that same year. The record spent a whopping 43 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and was certified 7× Platinum in the US after selling more than 17 million copies worldwide. The album included hit singles, 'Bring Me to Life', 'My Immortal', 'Going Under' and 'Everybody's Fool'.
Now: Evanescence
Throughout their career, Evanescence have gone on to release five studio albums, two live albums and eighteen singles.
Their latest album 'The Bitter Truth' was released in March 2021 - this was the band's first album since 2017's Synthesis. By the end of 2021, the band were continuing with their tour dates, including a rapturously received joint headline tour with Halestorm, which saw Lzzy and Amy duet on numerous songs.
Then: Limp Bizkit
Florida's Limp Bizkit were formed in 1994, by friends Fred Durst, Sam Rivers and John Otto who were already playing in different bands at the time. Shortly after they were joined by guitarist, Wes Borland, and then by former House of Pain turntablist DJ Lethal. Durst is said to have chosen the name in an attempt to repel listeners. Limp Bizkit released their first album 'Three Dollar Bill, Y'all' in 1997 and included singles "Counterfeit" and "Faith", a cover of the George Michael song. The album has since gone double platinum in the US after selling over 2 million copies.
Now: Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit have released six studio albums, three compilation albums and 20 singles during their career, selling more than 40 million albums over the past 25 years or so. All four original members are still a part of the band, although everyone aside from Fred Durst has at one time or other left, before rejoining. Notoriously, when Wes Borland quit in 2001, the band held open auditions across the US to recruit a new guitarist, before eventually going with Snot guitarist Mike Smith. The band's 2000's single, 'Rollin (Air Raid Vehicle)' continues to the be their highest-charting single in the Billboard Hot 100 and debuted at number one in the UK chart too. After Wes Borland returned to the band in 2009, the original lineup resumed touring, playing festivals around the world, which gave Borland plenty of opportunity to hone his astonishing stage costumes. In 2021, the band released 'Still Sucks', their first studio album in 10 years, and Fred Durst caused a stir with a new 'dad-vibe' look.
Then: Linkin Park
Linkin Park was founded by three high school friends, Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, and Brad Delson in 1994. After creating demos in their bedrooms, The trio, who were from LA, were later joined by Chester Bennington and Joe Hahn. The name is a play on and homage to Santa Monica's Lincoln Park. The band released their debut album, 'Hybrid Theory' in 2000, which included singles '"One Step Closer", "In the End", "Crawling" and "Papercut". These singles were so popular that they helped launch the band into the mainstream. Linkin Park became one of the biggest selling artists of the 00s, shifting over 100 million albums and selling out stadium tours around the world.
Now: Linkin Park
After the sad loss of vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017, the band went on a hiatus. However, Linkin Park revealed in 2020 that the band is now working on new music and released "She Couldn't", a track that was originally recorded in 1999. The single was included on a 20th anniversary edition of their debut album Hybrid Theory, which was released in Oct 2020.
In Jan 2021, Linkin Park released a remix of "One Step Closer" by American electronic duo 100 gecs. The band revealed it was the first of many new remixes to come.
Then: P.O.D
Payable on Death, which is commonly abbreviated to P.O.D., started in 1992 in San Diego, California by school friends Wuv Bernardo and Marcos Curiel. The band, who were later joined by Mark 'Traa' Daniels and Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval, originally started out playing Metallica and Slayer covers.
P.O.D released their debut album 'Snuff the Punk ' in 1994 and was one of the first to be categorised as 'Nu-Metal'.
Now: P.O.D
P.O.D have released a whopping 10 studio albums and 22 singles in their career including 'Youth of the Nation' and 'Alive'. 'Circles', the band's tenth studio album was released in 2018 which included the single 'Listening for the Silence', which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
Then: Papa Roach
Papa Roach, who originate from California, were formed in 1993, when lead singer Jacoby Shaddix and drummer Dave Buckner met at high school. They were later joined by school friends, guitarist Jerry Horton, trombonist Ben Luther and bassist Will James. The band's name pays homage to Shaddix's step-grandfather, Howard William Roatch.
Limp Bizkit released their debut album, 'Old Friends from Young Years' in 1997 after touring extensively with Incubus, Far and Static-X. The album was released on the band's now defunct indie label, Onion Hardcore and featured songs such as 'Liquid Diet' and '829'.
Now: Papa Roach
During their career, Papa Roach have released ten studio albums and thirty-six singles including 'Last Resort' and 'Scars'. 'Who Do You Trust?', Papa Roach's tenth studio album was released in 2019. Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews, this was the band's first album not to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Chart.
Then: Slipknot
Iowa prodigal sons Slipknot, famous for their penchant for all wearing masks, were formed in 1995. After some initial line-up changes, the nine-piece lineup settled on DJ Sid Wilson, drummer Joey Jordison, bassist Paul Gray, percussionist Chris Fehn, guitarist James Root, sampler Craig Jones, percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan, guitarist Mick Thomson and lead vocalist Corey Taylor. Slipknot released their self-titled debut album in 1999, which featured singles 'Wait and Bleed' and 'Spit It Out'. The album peaked at number 51 on the Billboard 200 and has gone on to become double platinum in the US, making it the band's best-selling album to date.
Now: Slipknot
Throughout their career, Slipknot have gone on to release six studio albums, two live albums and twenty-five singles. Tragically, bassist Paul Gray died in 2010 of an overdose of morphine and fentanyl and the band's 2014 album '.5: The Gray Chapter' was named in his honour. Their latest album, 'We Are Not Your Kind' was released in 2019. This is the first Slipknot album to be recorded as an eight-piece band, as their former percussionist Chris Fehn left the band in March 2019. The album reached number one on the UK Albums chart and Billboard's US Billboard 200 and US Top Rock Albums.