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Children of the Korn

Under the backdrop of a three-story stage set and carrying the world's loudest sound system, heavy-metal artists Korn put on a performance that proved their place in the music world.

And without question, it was nothing less than spectacular.

From the opening song to the final encore, lead singer Johnathan Davis had the sold-out audience at his whim - leading it into a frenzy of moshing fans.

When the curtains fell from the arena rafters, the band immediately started into one of their radio-friendly songs "Falling Away From Me." Davis melted the stage with his frantic head-banging as the crowd followed suit in a writhing, tangled mess of bodies.

Affixed to the arena ceiling were three projection screens, each about 75 feet high and 90 feet long. Directly above the band, the screens played live, on-stage footage and integrated prerecorded videos designed for the concert.

Throughout the concert, the vibrant lights reflected a crowd immersed - if not controlled - by the music. The sound from the stage barely drowned out their shouting and singing.

Draped in a form-fitting solid black robe, Davis looked like a dark-preacher riling up his minions for action.

While Davis drew most of the audience's attention, bass player Fieldy incited a large crowd response with his violent moves and hammering bass lines. Propping his bass up vertically, he slammed his hands down on the strings like a drummer.

The sound system stayed true, throughout the show. Every note, chord and beat could be felt through the floor as Davis' voiced pierced through the audience.

The band played fan favorites from all three of their albums, with "A.D.I.D.A.S.," "Freak on a Leash," and "Faget," claiming the much of the audience response.

The band left the stage midway through the show - but continued to talk to the audience via the projection screens.

Fieldy, taunting the audience as he drank a beer backstage, continued to incite audience participation through the video cameras - and his commentary.

"It is not necessary for the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and Britney Spears to be number one, two and three," he said. "Fuck those guys."

The entire band, led by Fieldy, held a continuous dialogue with the crowd, with the exception of Davis, who was preparing for an amazing re-entrance to the stage.

From backstage, Fieldy told the audience to prepare for the bands return - and were rewarded with Davis, dressed in a black kilt, emerging from a center stage trap door playing his signature bagpipes.

With the bagpipes ringing throughout the arena, the crowd went wild as they prepared for "Shoots and Ladders," one of the band's first singles.

After nearly 90 minutes, the band once again retreated backstage as the curtain closed - and the audience seemed to expect something more.

Not to be outdone by their previous set, Korn gave the audience another amazing visual and musical experience when the curtain re-opened to the three story balloon figure situated directly on the stage.

The figure, from the cover of their latest album Issues, was so large that stage hands had to hold it from falling on the audience.

Still the crowd would not have cared - they were too locked into trance-like anticipation as the bass line slowly kicked into Korn's most popular song, "Blind."

They beckoned Davis's voice, and when it was their time, they pulsed into a wave of emotion and excitement.

After the song, the band left the stage in usual Korn fashion - thanking the fans graciously.