This Day In Music History: August 18, 1998 – Korn releases influential “Follow The Leader”

Dropping almost 270,000 units in its first week of release, the release of Korn’s alternative metal landmark Follow The Leader in 1998 was a watershed moment for both nu-metal and Korn as a whole. While previous records Korn and Life Is Peachy helped to put them on the national map, it’s Follow The Leader that was arguably the high point of nu-metal – also spawning Korn’s Family Values series of tours.

While a bit long to sit through (the album clocks in at over an hour), Follow The Leader was buoyed by several guest spots, including Ice Cube on “Children Of The Korn”, which adds classic hip-hop/rap to Korn’s already hip-hop influenced metal assault. A more focused effort overall, most of the non-singles are pretty good in general, especially opener “It’s On”, and the harrowing “Dead Bodies Everywhere”.

Of course, the 5 times platinum record is also helped by its two standout hit singles “Freak On A Leash” and “Got The Life”, either of which could be considered the definitive Korn song. It’s important to note just how massive this album (and Korn in general) was in 1998 – all over TRL and MTV, and beating out the likes of boy bands and pop stars for #1 on the charts.

While their self-titled record is supremely influential in helping to create nu-metal, Follow The Leader may just be the best Korn album. A more refined and sleek product overall, it was both the band’s commercial peak, as well as one of Fieldy and Jonathan Davis’ best performances overall. Influential, really.