California band Korn has released their first new song in four years, titled Reward the Scars. The track debuted on streaming platforms on April 23, and its music video premiered on April 27. The audiovisual piece was created by 72andSunny and Passion Pictures in collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment, coinciding with the launch of the game Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred.
A technical collaboration between music and video games 🎮
The video for Reward the Scars integrates computer-generated animation with live-action footage, a process that required coordinating teams from two different studios under Blizzard's supervision. The production used motion capture techniques to synchronize the movements of the game's characters with the band's energy. The result is a product that seeks to connect the dark narrative of Diablo IV with Korn's signature sound, without resorting to excessive visual effects.
The trick so fans don't notice the four-year hiatus 🤘
If you've been waiting four years for new material from Korn, the trick to not noticing the silence is simple: distract yourself with a demonic apocalypse. While the band was preparing Reward the Scars, Blizzard was releasing Diablo IV expansions to keep you busy killing hellish creatures. So, when the track arrived, you were already so accustomed to the chaos that you didn't even ask why they took so long. Marketing strategy or coincidence, either way, it works.