Critical Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | |
| Billboard | (favorable) |
| Robert Christgau | (C) |
| Entertainment Weekly | B− |
| The New York Times | (mixed) |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Spin | (7/10) |
| Yahoo! Music | (favorable) |
Follow the Leader received generally positive reviews. Stephan Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, saying that it "is an effective follow-up to their first two alt-metal landmarks." Erlewine also said that the songs were "vehicles for the metal grind". Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B–. Reviewer Jim Farber said that the lyrics "provide a new blend of metal and remnants of alt-rock." Jon Pareles from The New York Times said the album was "choppy", and also said that lead singer Jonathan Davis was "wrestling with self-hatred, violent impulses, parental execration, and a confused sexual identity..." Robert Christgau gave Follow the Leader a C, saying that despite the band's denials they fit the definition of "metal", and criticizing the lyrical themes. Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars, while saying that Korn "have an ideal record for those long, black days when all you can do is say 'What the Fuck! What the Fuck! What the Fuck!' at bloody murder volume". The album is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
The album peaked at number one on four charts, including the Billboard 200. Follow the Leader peaked at number five in the United Kingdom. The album received a 5× Platinum certification in the United States, as well as a triple platinum in Australia and Canada. Follow the Leader also received a gold certification in the Netherlands. The album's first charting single, "Got the Life", released on July 24, 1998, peaked at number fifteen on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, and received a gold certification in Australia. The album's next charting single, "Freak on a Leash", released in February 1999, peaked at number six on the Alternative Songs chart, as well as number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, and like "Got the Life", received a gold certification in Australia. "Freak on a Leash" was nominated for nine MTV Video Music Awards, and won for the Best Rock Video award, as well as Best Editing.
Read more about this topic: Follow The Leader (Korn album)
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