Having scraped the barrel of Nu Metal treasures from my youth, this recent surge of revivalist bands like Tetrarch, Ocean Grove and Narrow Head has brought about nostalgia tinged fun. Nothing will ever capture the tone and texture of that millennial moment quite like the original artists. Thus its a blessing to find such an authentic and fresh take of those times. Hailing from the other side of the globe, Korea, this platinum selling record remained a complete unknown if not for one peculiarity. Tank and a couple other tacks gave me the tremors, a sudden transformation to my teenage self. A dormant part of my mind activated again, I wondered where had I heard this before?
When Napster first emerged there was a trend to rename obscure artists with similarities as "rare tracks" or "b sides". Over the years, I'd eventually learn who the original bands were. Tank, probably renamed as Korn, was one of those. Although it feels uncanny now, this is a reflection of our ever connected, ever available world of culture, shrinking rapidly, as algorithms figure us out, resurfacing these lost gems.
Reveling in the Nu Metal spirit, producer and songwriter Seo Taiji captures the essence of a predominantly American scene with little suggestion to cultural or geographic distance. Only his Korean words create a distinction. Even on that front, his throaty screams and bursts of Rap and rhyme snuggly fit the manic texture and angered cadence of the scene. With an arsenal of bouncy riffs and well written songs, he delivers an all killer, no filler record clocking in at a "to the point" thirty minutes.
Where this record excels is with its textures. So often do these songs revel in the atypical aesthetics of Nu Metal. Estranged sampling, sporadic vinyl scratches, effects laden guitars and quirky vocal effects. With a touch of Alternative Metal it all shapes up to an exciting yet fresh familiarity. Even its shameless plundering of early Korn-alike riffs play with charm. Seotaiji VI is a work of love and inspiration for the times.
Rating: 7/10