The Path of Totality
by Korn
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 4 out of 15
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. PopMatters
    Jan 10, 2012
    70
    Surprisingly good genre-crossover experiment.
  2. Kerrang!
    Jan 4, 2012
    80
    They're still aggressive, heavy and furious, but this new approach also makes them relevant, incisive and swaggering again. [10 Dec 2011, p.50]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Prefix Magazine
    Jan 3, 2012
    30
    How does this sucker sound? Not very good.
  5. No Ripcord
    Jan 3, 2012
    10
    It is samey, ugly and spectacularly stupid at the same time.
  6. Q Magazine
    Dec 22, 2011
    80
    Their boldest and best album for years. [Jan 2012, p.124]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 20, 2011
    60
    Much as there's no getting away from the fact that this is basically one long remix, it's much better than the car crash we all predicted it would be.
  8. The Boston Phoenix
    Dec 14, 2011
    50
    This is the same ol' Korn you've loved or hated (or felt indifferently toward) since you first saw that slo-mo bullet in the "Freak on a Leash" video, except with de-tuned guitars swapped for garish, beefy synths.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Dec 13, 2011
    0
    To Korn's credit, The Path Of Totality is its most radical reinvention to date. It's also the worst slab of sludge it ever shat.
  10. NOW Magazine
    Dec 8, 2011
    60
    The combination of chugging half-time beats, machine gun riffing and techno's sonic extremism is way more pleasing than it should be, the weakest point being Jonathan Davis's earnest adolescent vocals, which we assume actual Korn fans will enjoy.
  11. Consequence
    Dec 6, 2011
    60
    Sonically, The Path of Totality feels culturally authentic and trendy, while at the same time, pounding enough for mosh pits and dance floors alike.
  12. AllMusic
    Dec 6, 2011
    80
    Despite all the electronics, there's no mistaking The Path of Totality as a Korn album...and one of their better ones to boot.
  13. musicOMH.com
    Dec 5, 2011
    70
    The Path Of Totality is overall quite an interesting and largely rewarding proposition. Whether it manages to please dubstep or Korn fans however is another matter.
  14. BBC Music
    Dec 1, 2011
    60
    They get full marks for effort but, unfortunately, not for the end results.
  15. Sputnikmusic
    Nov 30, 2011
    10
    The Path Of Totality is an album that doesn't work because it tries to be something it's not; no, it fails because of not just its terrible premise but its truly dreadful execution.
  16. Spin
    Nov 30, 2011
    70
    Thing is, dubstep's slithering textures actually suit Davis' demented croon, particularly in the cuts produced by Skrillex.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 115
  3. Negative: 24 out of 115
  1. r3views
    Dec 6, 2011
    10
    A successful experiment that results in one of Korn's finest albums. While some of Korn's latest outings have been less then stellar, theA successful experiment that results in one of Korn's finest albums. While some of Korn's latest outings have been less then stellar, the choice to try something new proved right for the group from Bakersfield.… Full Review »
  2. Salem
    Dec 7, 2011
    7
    It is not bad at all. I expected it to be dull, especially after the release of "Narcissistic Cannibal" single, but even my first listen ofIt is not bad at all. I expected it to be dull, especially after the release of "Narcissistic Cannibal" single, but even my first listen of the whole album made me rather benevolent. There is a couple of songs worth listening, even if one's not a fan of either dubstep or Korn ("Bleeding Out", or "Fuels the Comedy" from extended album edition). Mixing those genres seems a good move, once again towards mainstream, as it comes to dubstep, though creating something new, when blending it with metal. Potential was huge, but on the other hand, dubstep and metal parts aren't well-proportioned as Jonathan Davis had promised them to be. Repetitive measures and rhytm can push away those Korn hard-fans who awaited their band to create something more olschool. The album also can't be called "innovative", just because at moments (for example "My Wall") it sounds underproduced and incomplete.… Full Review »
  3. CloudStrifeVII
    Apr 16, 2012
    2
    After listening to this album and the lastest Jonathan work, ''JDevil'', I can say: Korn is dead.
    Korn's decadence bagan when Head left the    After listening to this album and the lastest Jonathan work, ''JDevil'', I can say: Korn is dead.
    Korn's decadence bagan when Head left the band.
    The thing got even worst when David left the band.
    But Korn was really good anyway.
    Yes, their first 4 albums where their best work with difference.
    With Korn III, I thought the band was on the right way: not great, but Korn anyway.
    And then, this was released.
    I said: What the hell am I listening??, Is this really Korn??
    Get Up and Narcissistic Cannibal are the only really good songs of the album.
    Korn is not Korn any more.
    Now is just another bad dubstep band trying to be popular again.
    Korn is dead.
    :(    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »