Take a Look in the Mirror

Take a Look in the Mirror is the sixth studio album by Korn, released in November 2003 on Epic Records and produced by Howard Benson, a return to a rawer, more aggressive sound after the elaborate production of Untouchables, recorded quickly and released in the year following the departure of original guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch's announcement of his born-again Christian conversion. Davis wrote all lyrics; 'Right Now,' 'Y'All Want a Single,' 'Narcissistic Cannibal,' and 'Did My Time' are among the principal tracks. The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 with 135,000 first-week sales, a significant commercial decline from the Issues peak, and has been certified gold in the United States. Take a Look in the Mirror is generally regarded as a transitional album reflecting the band's commercial and personal difficulties of the period rather than a peak creative statement. The album's commercial decline reflected both the broader collapse of nu-metal's mainstream standing in 2003 and the internal turbulence of the band's lineup instability, but its raw, direct quality has been subsequently reassessed as evidence of genuine creative honesty at a difficult moment in the band's history.