Oct 173 min read

30 Years of Heart — Korn at BMO Stadium

The nu-metal giants celebrated a legacy that still reigns supreme across genres and time.

korn, korn tour, korn 30th anniversary. — Photograph by Ekaterina Gorbacheva

Text, Photos by Ekaterina Gorbacheva (@ekaterinagorbacheva.art) at

BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on October 5, 2024:

In the contemporary abundance of legacy acts that conform to nostalgia and expected tropes, few continue to push boundaries beyond that of seminal albums that led a generation. Korn are among them, and on October 5th, BMO Stadium in Los Angeles was host to a career-spanning spectacle of sound engraved in the hearts and minds of many, including the very bands that opened the mini-festival of sorts.

Rounded out by Vended, Spiritbox, Scars On Broadway, Evanescence, and Gojira — an eclectic collection of bands —Korn's 30th Anniversary celebration did more than shine a light on decades of greatness, but bridged new blood with established strengths. Each helped build great anticipation for the headlining Korn, whose presence was greatly felt throughout the thousands in attendance. As Gojira's explosive showing came to an end, the thunderous buzz began to escalate at BMO Stadium. Korn was up and with the rumbling Here To Stay kick off the occasion, we went into a frenzy.

Korn Photo Gallery

Vibrant strobes flickered and a momentous Korn made use of every inch of the stadium stage to excel on their respective ends. As alluded to in the introductory sentence, Korn have enough foundational material to carry them through for decades: self-titled (1994), Life Is Peachy (1996), Follow The Leader (1998), and Issues (1999). These four albums were on a pedestal that night with tracks from each full-length taking center stage. Ball Tongue, Dead Bodies Everywhere, Make Me Bad, and A.D.I.D.A.S. among others drew great praise towards a notably joyous Jonathan Davis. However, it didn't stop there.

Selections from Requiem (2022), Korn III (2010), and Take A Look In The Mirror (2003) also got some play, speaking highly of the band's longevity and celebrated trajectory which doesn't stop in its earlier years. Though the classics remain a preference for many, Korn never ceased to settle and delivered big on their contemporary material, like the sprawling The Nothing (2019).

With all in Korn merch, Korn-esque makeup looks, and more resembling the band's visual identity, the night felt communal from beginning to end. The camaraderie was also evident amongst the band's ranks with smiles, passionate showmanship, and on-stage synchronicity reflecting the love Korn have for one another.

Korn Photo Gallery

Career-spanning sets are equal parts a celebration and act of reflection for one has to look back, and perhaps relive, the mindset in which a previous album cycle found them in. October 5th felt cathartic, leaving behind the anguish and tension of those younger years for heartfelt moments shared amongst loved ones, each of whom surrounded Korn that night. Track after track, one could only stand in awe at the hold the band have on a generation (ourselves included). Amy Lee (Evanescence) joined the band for one final Freak On A Leash that gave farewell to a night we'll remember forever.

Few dates remain on the band's celebratory trek, so head below to check them out alongside the LA tracklist and additional shots of the special showing.

Tracklist:

Here to Stay

Dead Bodies Everywhere

Got the Life

A.D.I.D.A.S.

Coming Undone (tour debut; with snippet of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”)

Good God

Start the Healing

Somebody Someone (tour debut)

Michael & Geri

Blind (dedicated to Ross Robinson)

Ball Tongue