Korn reps heavy metal but sticks to expected old favorites: Lollapalooza review

In recent years, as Lollapalaooza tries to diversify its lineup, organizers will throw in that wild card, odd sock band that has some scratching their heads and others totally jazzed at the surprise.

In 2025, that distinction wholly went to Korn. Since forming in Bakersfield, California in 1993, the nu metal founding fathers have kept a steady following (12 million on Facebook alone) but have largely been a festival fringe act, mostly relegated to prominent metal gatherings and European and UK events like Download and Hellfest, or even their own infamous Family Values Tour.

In those environments, Korn draws tens of thousands to see their pulsating mix of screeching guitars, loaded basslines, detonating drums and frontman Jonathan Davis’ aggressive barking that have become a consistent draw.

But at Lollapalooza, not so much. The last time Korn played the festival, it was 1997 when the event was still touring the country. To put that into perspective, Olivia Rodrigo wasn’t even born yet, and that detail became a proverbial line in the sand that divided the audience on Friday night for their headliner choices.

While most of the Gen Z-heavy crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder to see Rodrigo (and got their own ’90s dose with surprise guest Weezer), the smaller faction that did stay for Korn were absolutely prepared when Davis screamed “Are you ready?” at the top of “Blind” to kick off the performance.

The field erupted at the onslaught and kept up the energetic response as Korn worked their way through a mixed bag of aggressive barn raisers like “Y’All Want A Single,” “Falling Away from Me” and “Clown” as well as more hybrid groove material like “Twisted Transistor” and the mood setter “4 U.”

There were thoughts that Korn’s addition to the lineup might have the phenomenon of Deftones in 2024 that unexpectedly drew a massive swarm of people as a new generation has been gleaning to the act that got its start in the same leagues as Korn. While there were some obvious Perry’s Stage carryovers (maybe remembering Korn’s collab with Skrillex?), the crowd was a pretty typical representation of the old guard.

Unlike Deftones whose moody opuses have been finding a foothold on TikTok, Korn hasn’t found their modern re-breakthrough in the same way. They haven’t had their Metallica “Stranger Things” moment yet and, instead, still carry the cross of being a nostalgia act.

Even as nu metal and alt metal has seen an uptick in recent years with legacy acts like Slipknot and more modern iterations Sleep Token. In fact, viral act Silly Goose – a new nu metal act out of Atlanta – helped kick off Lolla ’25 on Thursday to a big reaction (Q101 posted they were their new favorite band).

But Korn brought nothing fresh to the table; the band hasn’t even had a new album in more than three years. There were rumors they might debut new material during their headlining set Friday, but that was moot as they stuck to old bits like the bagpipes ceremonial of nursery rhyme tongue lasher “Shoots and Ladders.”

What they did do, though, is help fill the void of heavy acts that are mere tokens on Lolla’s lineup every year and could be fleshed out more if the festival truly wants to commit to diversifying.

Korn’s Lollapalooza 2025 set list

Blind
Twist
Here to Stay
Got the Life
Clown
Did My Time
Shoots and Ladders
Cold
Coming Undone
Twisted Transistor
A.D.I.D.A.S.
Dirty
Somebody Someone
Y’All Want a Single

Encore:
4 U
Falling Away From Me
Divine
Freak on a Leash