In 2005 guitarist Brian "Head" Welch announced that he had found God and as a result he was leaving Korn, the highly-successful band that he co-founded and that had made him a millionaire. He quit abusing drugs and alcohol, spent time with his family, explored his new-found Christianity and started developing a solo career, which has so far encompassed the making of a Christian album, an E.P. and a string of speaking engagements.
Seeking a bit of separation from this (for fans) somewhat confusing era, Head is now recording under the band name Love and Death and is back in the mainstream with the release of Between Here & Lost.
Those who miss Head's work with Korn will be delighted from the album's get-go as the very Korn-like lead track "The Abandoning" features lots of the woozy guitar grind he helped popularize and a radio-ready vocal hook to boot.
Welch has wisely decided here not to tamper with the formula that gave him a career; Between Here & Lost mostly mimics Korn in the striking of a balance between metal guitar/pounding drum segments and quieter, melodic choruses.
Fellow Christian rocker Mattie Montgomery helps Welch rain hellfire on "I W8 4 U;" the album's heaviest song doesn't bother with mellowing for a chorus.
The album's oddity is a cover of Devo's "Whip It;" those who know the original will barely recognize this heavy metal version but Head's interpretation has the potential to become a head banger's anthem.
