RECAP: KORN BRINGS 'KANADA TOUR' TO VANCOUVER

Korn brought their Kanada Tour to a roaring close at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on October 1st, delivering a night that proved the godfathers of nu metal still know how to tear a room apart. This was the band’s first time back in Vancouver since March 29, 2010, and their seventh time performing in the city since debuting here thirty years ago on June 11, 1995.

All photos by Tage Stenner / Backspin HQ

The 2025 run began back east, kicking off in Ottawa on September 17 before rolling through Quebec City, Montreal, and London. The western leg carried through Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton before ending on the coast. Vancouver had the privilege of being the final stop, and the energy in the building made it clear fans were ready to send this tour out with a bang.

Before Korn appeared, a large kabuki curtain covered the stage while silhouettes of the band appeared one by one as they took their places. When it finally dropped, the arena exploded. The band launched into their set with heads banging and hair flying, setting the tone for the chaos that followed. Jonathan Davis led the charge on vocals and bagpipes, joined by James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch on guitars, Ray Luzier on drums, and Ra Díaz of Suicidal Tendencies filling in on bass for Fieldy, who is not part of this tour. This lineup has become the group’s steady live core over recent years, carrying the chemistry that defined their 2024 anniversary shows.

Davis wore a short-sleeve black shirt and wristbands branded with the Korn logo, paired with a black kilt, long black socks, and athletic shoes. His signature look gave the performance a throwback feel, bridging eras from the early days to the modern lineup.

The show opened with the ominous rumble of ‘Blind,’ followed by ‘Twist’ and ‘Here to Stay,’ each one greeted by a wave of screams that shook the arena floor. The band ripped through early staples like ‘Got the Life’ and ‘Clown,’ and the crowd’s energy never dipped. Fans filled the pit with non-stop moshing, while crowd surfers poured over the barricade. Even the seated sections were on their feet, fists raised, screaming every lyric.

‘Did My Time’ and ‘Porno Creep’ brought darker grooves before ‘Shoots and Ladders’ shifted the tone, featuring Davis on bagpipes and a surprise nod to Metallica with a short section of ‘One.’ The pit responded instantly, turning into a sea of movement.

The middle stretch hit hard with ‘Cold,’ ‘Coming Undone,’ and a playful crowd moment where the band blended in a bit of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You.’ From there, they powered through fan favorites including ‘Twisted Transistor,’ ‘A.D.I.D.A.S.,’ and ‘Dirty,’ all laced with the unmistakable low-end crunch that defines the band’s live sound.

By the time they hit ‘Somebody Someone’ and ‘Y’All Want a Single,’ the entire arena felt unified in cathartic chaos. It was one of those nights where you could look in any direction and see people headbanging, shouting, and losing themselves in the moment. Some fans even wore corn-on-the-cob costume hats, a fitting nod to the band’s humor and legacy.

After a short break, Korn returned for an encore that began with a surprise, a touching cover of ‘4 U,’ performed as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who announced his full retirement earlier in the year. It was a heartfelt moment that gave the audience a brief pause before the band dove back into the chaos with ‘Falling Away From Me,’ ‘Divine,’ and the finale, ‘Freak on a Leash.’ When that unmistakable riff hit, the arena erupted one last time, every fan shouting the lyrics as confetti and smoke filled the air.

From start to finish, it was a show that felt like a victory lap. After thirty years of evolution and reinvention, Korn remain one of the most powerful live acts in heavy music. Their sound has matured, but their intensity hasn’t dimmed.

Vancouver fans waited fifteen years for this return, and Korn made every second worth it.

Their Kanada Tour now heads to Sacramento, California, for one final show on October 4th, but it’s hard to imagine a closer that will match the electricity of what went down inside Rogers Arena.

Upcoming Tour Dates

October 4 - Sacramento, CA at Discovery Park

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