10 Greatest Rock Music Videos Of The 1990s
6. Korn - Freak On A Leash
Korn helped to pioneer a new (or nu) sound that took elements of funk and heavy metal but sounded entirely of its time. Nu metal isn’t for everyone, but Korn did it far better than most, knowing the importance of hooks and melody along with noise and aggression.
They were similarly innovative in their video for “Freak On A Leash”. Directed by Todd McFarlane, it feels way ahead of its time, using proto-bullet time effects a year before The Matrix came out.
The bulk of the video follows the path of a bullet, shot in error from a cop’s gun, as it travels in a path of destruction. The video switches between animation and live action, with the bullet ripping through some kind of Roger Rabbit-esque gap between the universes. In satisfying slo-mo, we watch it wreck lava lamps, ornaments, balloons, and anything else that looks really cool when smashed.
We’re also treated to extended cuts of the band rocking out in a bizarre, hole-ridden room, and they’re always fun to watch. Those low slung guitars cause back ache in due course, but such was the style at the time.