Save Me from Myself is the debut studio album by American rock musician Brian "Head" Welch. After failing to meet a July 2007 release,[3] the album was released on September 9, 2008 by Driven Music Group.[4] Tentatively, the album's working title was It's Time to See Religion Die,[5] however, it was confirmed that its final title is Save Me from Myself.
In February 2005, Welch left Korn which he helped form in 1993, saying moral reasons caused his departure.[6] Welch stated he had distanced himself from the band for one or two years, "I just wanted to fade away, it was crazy. I was so gone."[6] Welch wished to rededicate his life to Jesus. Shortly after, Welch asked Korn's bassist, Reginald Arvizu, to produce the album, however, he received no response.[7] While looking for a home in Arizona, Welch entered the recording studio.[8] He immediately began writing; "entire songs would just come out: drums, bass, guitar, strings, choir, lyrics, everything... It was as if God was just downloading these songs inside me."[9] After months of songwriting, "about three albums worth of material" had been created.[10]
On the experience of working with other musicians again since his departure from Korn, Welch attests, "It's been a long time since I've connected with people musically and, now that the wounds have healed from my past addictions, I'm ready to feel the magic again."[11]
Promotion
On June 5, 2008, Welch posted a video announcement on his website.[12] The video announced that Welch had officially signed with Driven Music Group, and would release Save Me from Myself on September 9, 2008.[12]
A three-minute sample of Head's first single, "Flush", was posted on Welch's website on June 16, 2008.[13] The single was released on July 8, 2008 on the iTunes Store,[12] and a music video directed by Frankie Nasso of Nova Entertainment[14] was filmed in Los Angeles,[15] and released on September 5, 2008.[14] On August 26, 2008, Welch revealed the lengths of each song on the album.[16]
Musical and lyrical themes
I always loved that Korn's music helped kids let out aggression. But with my new music, I want kids to know that there's more out there. I want to show them there's a light at the end of the pain tunnel. That there's more out there than just aggression. I want to say to them, 'Hey kids, come over here. Let's bounce back and forth and have fun.'
Welch wrote in his autobiography, Save Me from Myself, that ideas for lyrics and music often came from conversations with friends, including themes for "Re-Bel" and "Washed by Blood".[17] The music has "a Christian, spiritual edge",[18] while being an "extension of the Korn family".[7] "I literally poured everything I had into Save Me from Myself," Welch explained in June 2008, "I know it's gonna inspire a lot of people."[19]
The song "Flush", Welch explains, was written musically first. Welch had accidentally locked himself in his studio, so he decided, "I'm gonna go back inside, grab my keyboard, and whatever my hands do, I'll make a song out of it." He had created the opening riff for "Flush". Lyrically, Welch cites, "the lyrics for 'Flush' are basically about flushing all the crap in life down the toilet and starting out fresh," Welch continued, "All the drama that I experienced with getting drunk and doing drugs all the time seemed interesting and amusing to write about."[20]
Welch wrote "Re-Bel" after a friend told him about a child she knew with problems, due to poor treatment from his parents.[21] The story reminded Welch of how he used to drink and not take care of his daughter when he should have.[21] The lyrics of the song are about kids who run to God due to negative things in their life so that "He could bring healing into their lives".[22]
Welch said that the title track, "Save Me from Myself", is his most personal song.[23] The verses talk about Welch's drug use, suicidal thoughts, depression, and lying.[23] His favorite part "is when I'm screaming to God, thanking him for saving me from myself... and am living for Him now."[23]
Welch said that "Die Religion Die" has multiple meanings to him.[24] The song "encourages people to get out of the whole 'Sunday Christian' mentality" and helps them understand that God "dwells in us", not "in buildings".[24] He wrote in his autobiography, "All of the man-made religion crap in this world has to die. Whether it's Christian man-made religion crap or some other man-made religion crap, it all has to die."[24] Welch continues to explain, "All that prideful, controlling religious crap is what drives young people away from churches, and it has to go."[24]
"Washed by Blood" was written after a conversation with another friend, who asked him "isn't it cool that we're washed by blood?" over breakfast one morning.[25] Welch wrote that he was referring to the Bible calling Jesus' punishment and bleeding on the cross as being "washed by blood".[25] After their meal, "suddenly, this music came into his head".[25]
Referring to the art theme of the cover of the album, Welch explained, "It represents me being trapped in addictions, and getting set free from it from the angel that is standing behind me."[26]
Save Me from Myself has been generally well received by critics. Some praised the album's message, "Even though the music of Save Me from Myself isn't quite on par with the super hit material of Korn from the late '90s, it is nevertheless a very good nü-metal album with an amazing story of redemption." Andrea Goforth of Christianity Today stated, "The content is so much more positive that anything released by Korn, that I can look past the absence of hooks to find a great deal of hope."[26]Hit Parader praised the musical aspect, stating, "though his lyrical messages may now be more positive and uplifting than anything found in the Korn hard rock catalogue, the style of music brought forth here is as heavy as anything Mr. Welch has ever presented before." The magazine went on to praise the album's lack of "preachy" messages, "throughout Save Me From Myself Head manages to present his inspirational messages without necessarily preaching his beliefs to the metal masses."[citation needed]About.com writer Chad Bowar stated that, "although many of the songs are slow in tempo they don't lack in intensity." Chad Bowar went on to mention the variety of musical styles on the album, "There is a lot of musical diversity, and you'll hear everything from melodic mainstream rock to traditional metal to very dissonant and unsettling harmonies."[34] It has been proposed that the album has a distinctive sound, very reminiscent to Korn, but different in the matter that its uplifting.
The general praise of Save Me from Myself has not been unanimous, however. Reviewing for Metal Edge, Madeline Phillips felt that, "Sadly, in pursuit of greater spiritual understanding . . . Welch seems to have lost all sense of a relatable musical identity and direction," and that despite some noteworthy riffs and decent melodies, the album is "not just alienating - quite frankly, it's boring."[35]
The content of the music video has reportedly caused select retailers to pull Save Me from Myself from their shelves.[39] This prompted Welch to provide his explanation for what transpires in the video:
The video for 'Flush' is about crystal meth addiction and the crazy things anyone addicted to meth will do while they're high or to get their fix. Everything the models were doing in the video is what I was wrapped up in while I was addicted to meth. The video is a very realistic look at the addiction and where it will lead you if you get hooked. I understand the images of the models may be too much for some people, but honestly, I was just trying to be real with what happened in my life and show where I was, as well as where I am at now. I was totally imprisoned by meth ... I would do anything to get my meth ... I believe I would be dead right now if I continued using meth, but instead, I chose to surrender my life to Christ and die to myself so He could share His resurrection with me ... Significantly, the images also go along with what the kids (not actors) at the beginning of the video were honestly saying about their addictions.
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Take a Look in the Mirror is the sixth studio album by American nu metal band Korn. Released on November 21, 2003, through Epic Records and Immortal Records, it is the last Korn studio album to feature their full original lineup, as their original guitarist Brian "Head" Welch left the band in February 2005 until his return in 2013. Original drummer David Silveria also left Korn before the end of 2006 after the release of their next album See You on the Other Side. It was also the last studio album by Korn under the Epic and Immortal labels.
Brian Philip Welch, also known by his stage name Head, is an American musician. He is a guitarist and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death, where he also provides vocals. Along with fellow Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, Welch helped develop Korn's distinctive sound that defined the nu metal aesthetic beginning in the mid-'90s.
Reginald Quincy Arvizu, also known as "Fieldy", is an American musician, best known as the bassist for nu metal band Korn. He is also the guitarist/bassist for rock band StillWell.
David Randall Silveria is an American musician, best known as the original drummer for nu metal band Korn from 1993 until leaving the band in 2006. He then became the drummer for Infinika, which was formed in 2012 and disbanded in 2015. As of 2019, Silveria was the drummer of a band called Breaking in a Sequence (B.I.A.S).
The Ibanez K7 series is a signature series of seven-string guitars created by Korn guitarists James "Munky" Shaffer and Brian "Head" Welch.
Clint Edward Lowery is an American musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a guitarist and backing vocalist in the rock band Sevendust. He has also played in Dark New Day and Still Rain, and served as the touring guitarist for Korn and Seether through most of 2007 and 2017, respectively. In 2008, he decided to work on new music as a solo artist, and the name of the project was titled Hello Demons Meet Skeletons. Lowery wrote and recorded a six-song EP while off the road with Sevendust, just for a week. He played every instrument on the CD, which was produced by his brother Corey Lowery. The EP, Chills, was released in October, followed by a tour at the same month. He would also later release two more EPs with HDMS. Also his fourth and last EP, Choices, was released in 2013.
"A.D.I.D.A.S." is a song written and recorded by American nu metal band Korn for their second studio album, Life Is Peachy. It was released as the album's second single in March 1997.
"Blind" is a song by American nu metal band Korn for their self-titled debut album. It was released as the album's first single in August 1994.
Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story is the autobiography of Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. It chronicles his life from childhood, to his days with Korn, his addiction to drugs, his embrace of a life of living for God, and the beginning of his solo career.
"Flush" is a song by American rock musician Brian "Head" Welch that was released as the first single from his debut album, Save Me from Myself, on July 8, 2008 exclusively on the iTunes Store.
"Faget" is a song by the American nu metal band Korn. It is the sixth track from the band's self-titled debut studio album. The song is about how Korn's lead vocalist, Jonathan Davis, was bullied in high school for being into arts, wearing eyeliner, being into new wave music, and wearing frilly shirts. According to Jonathan Davis, he was constantly called names such as "faggot".
Love and Death is an American Christian metal band formed by Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. The group was officially announced in February 2012 as a re-branding of Welch's solo music project.
"Chemicals" is the debut single from Love and Death. The song is included on both Chemicals and Between Here & Lost, and was ranked No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.
The Paradigm Shift is the eleventh studio album by American nu metal band Korn. Produced by Don Gilmore, it was released by multiple labels in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2013, and in the United States the next day. It is the first Korn album to feature original guitarist Brian "Head" Welch since 2003's Take a Look in the Mirror.
The Serenity of Suffering is the twelfth studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on October 21, 2016. According to guitarist Brian Welch, it is "heavier than anyone's heard us in a long time" and it contains their most intense vocals and music in recent times.
"Rotting in Vain" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. Written by the band and produced by Nick Raskulinecz, it was featured on the band's 2016 twelfth studio album The Serenity of Suffering. The song was also released as the lead single from the album on July 22, 2016, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart and number 26 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. It was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
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"Take Me" is a single by American nu metal band Korn, from their studio album, The Serenity of Suffering. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in April 2017.
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