Korn guitarist James ‘Munky’ Shaffer recently explained the real reason behind the delay of the band’s new album. He discussed the extensive creative process in an interview with Rolling Stone Brasil.
Shaffer addressed the band’s meticulous approach to creating their follow-up to 2022’s ‘Requiem’ album. He revealed the challenges they’ve faced during the writing and recording sessions.
“It’s taking a f*cking long time. We’ve gone through… I swear to God, we’ve written probably almost 40 songs, and gone through ’em, and rewrote ’em, and got rid of ’em, and tore ’em apart, and rebuilt ’em,” Shaffer said. “And it’s been quite a long process because we’re very critical about what we do now.”
The guitarist emphasized the band’s commitment to maintaining their signature sound. He highlighted their work with their current lineup.
“We’re very particular, because we wanna keep our original sound. You can’t really get away from that — when we start playing, it sounds like Korn, especially with all five of us,” he continued. “And Ra [current Korn bassist Roberto Díaz] has actually been such a great addition to bringing a lot of energy in the rhythm section. And Ray [Luzier, Korn drummer] and him play really well together.”
Shaffer also reflected on how their extensive touring schedule following the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their recording timeline.
“Well, we had quite an extensive touring schedule, especially after COVID. We were excited to get back out on the road,” he explained. “And I can’t remember exactly when, but I think when we released [2019’s] ‘The Nothing’ is when we had some tours planned. And we were really excited because I love that record, and it really didn’t have its day.”
The musician described how the pandemic period led to the creation of their previous album. He also explained their current perfectionist approach.
“And when we were in COVID, I was going insane being trapped at home. And I kind of assembled everybody to, like, ‘Can we get together? Can we all safely get together in a studio?’ And that was the result of ‘Requiem’,” Shaffer said. “I think it’s just been a lot of touring and us taking our time to release something that… We didn’t wanna release something mediocre. That’s why I think we keep on writing and rewriting.”
He concluded by drawing inspiration from other veteran metal acts in their approach to balancing touring and creating new material.
“I think we took a page out of the book of Metallica on that. We can always play some new music and write something and record,” he noted. “And it’s fun. We love the process of writing and recording, just as much as we do touring.”
Shaffer’s comments provide insight into the band’s current creative process. This process appears to be more deliberate and quality-focused than their previous album cycles.
Metal Injection reported that the extensive songwriting sessions have resulted in nearly 40 tracks being developed for potential inclusion on the upcoming record. This substantial collection of material demonstrates the band’s commitment to exploring different musical directions before settling on the final album content.
Fans eagerly await news of a release date. The band has maintained their focus on quality over speed. Louder Sound noted that Korn recently released “Reward The Scars,” a new single created in collaboration with the video game Diablo IV. This marks their first new studio recording since ‘Requiem’ in 2022. This release has given fans a taste of the band’s current musical direction while they continue working on the full album.
The band’s methodical approach reflects a broader trend among veteran metal acts who prioritize artistic integrity over commercial deadlines. Earlier this year, guitarist Brian “Head” Welch indicated in interviews that the band was not rushing into another record. He stated they preferred to take their time before entering full album production mode.
The extended timeline continues, but the band’s dedication to their craft suggests something significant. When the new album does arrive, it will represent a carefully curated collection of their strongest material. The combination of their classic sound with the energy brought by current bassist Roberto Díaz and drummer Ray Luzier positions the upcoming release as potentially one of their most cohesive efforts in recent years.
