Korn finished recording their self-titled album by the end of June 1994. As he walked further from the microphone, this led to the sound naturally fading quieter. However, they were actually recorded with a microphone set up at the back door of the studio while Jonathan Davis walked past outside playing. The bagpipes on "Shoots and Ladders" are often thought to have been recorded on a mountain-top. The banging sound near the ending of "Ball Tongue" was created via a guitar cord striking a music stand. In addition, Indigo Ranch was located on a hill rather than in the city, allowing them to record outside, resulting in the "distinctive" sound and quality of music given off by their instruments. Korn recorded most of the album with all members playing simultaneously, as opposed to recording instruments separately. The band would record the majority of the album there, while additional recording took place at Bakersfield's Fat Tracks. After accepting the offer, Robinson suggested they record at Indigo Ranch, Malibu, California. While Korn was looking for a place to record their debut album, they asked producer Ross Robinson to produce their album. Once we were ready to record, we'd go into the studio where and would come up with a heavy guitar riff while I'd lay down a bass line over it, and before we knew it, a song would start." I think that the synchronicity comes through in the sound. It was truly the only time we were all focused. "Once we started playing, there was a complete sense of concentration among all of us. Although the group had offers from several other labels, Korn went with Immortal/Epic because they did not want to "sign away all of their creative freedom". He approached the band offering to record an album through their company. While performing at Huntington Beach, the band was spotted by Immortal/ Epic A&R Paul Pontius. Korn began playing gigs in the summer of 1993. The band's bass guitarist, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, said that the crowd gathered because the band's style sounded so "different". While they were recording at the studio, they attracted a crowd of people when performing the prelude to " Clown". Soon after moving, they rented Underground Chicken Sounds, a recording studio, from Jeff Creath, who had previously allowed lead singer Jonathan Davis to live in his garage. The album is considered by many to have started the nu metal genre.īefore Korn developed a name, they had moved into a small house together in Huntington Beach, California, south of Los Angeles, where they began working on songs. The debut album has sold at least 2.1 million copies in the United States and 10 million copies worldwide according to Nielsen SoundScan as of January 4, 2013. The first single, " Blind", charted at number 15 on the Canadian Alternative 30, the album peaked at number 10 in New Zealand as well as number 72 on the Billboard 200. Photography was done by Stephen Stickler, and the design was directed by Jay Papke and Dante Ariola. Furthermore, the girl's shadow gives the appearance that her body is being hanged due to the position of the band's logo. The album cover depicts a young girl being approached by a large man who is holding what appears to be horseshoes or possibly blades. The album's themes include child abuse, drug abuse, and bullying. After the recordings, Korn toured with Biohazard and House of Pain. The recording took place from May to June 1994. The band would record at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California with producer Ross Robinson, who also produced their 1993 demo Neidermayer's Mind. The band signed to their label because they did not want to "sign away all of their creative freedom". Before recording the album, the band was approached by Immortal/Epic Records after a performance at Huntington Beach, California. It was released on October 11, 1994, through Immortal/ Epic Records. Korn (printed and stylized as KoЯn) is the self-titled debut studio album by American nu metal band Korn.