Sanctuary
by Korn

Album: The Path of Totality (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track fromThe Path of Totality, the tenth studio album by American Nu Metal band Korn. The LP was produced by various dubstep and electro house artists as the band wished to fuse their traditional sound with electronic elements. Asked by Kerrang! magazine if he was worried about people's reaction to the album, frontman Jonathan Davis replied: "People are going to be pi--ed about this record. That's made me even more excited about it. I don't give a flying f--k what people think. We can't win with Korn fans. Some are so stuck in 1994."
  • This song was penned by Davis and came from the band's original sessions with dubstep producers Excision and Downlink. Davis explained to Artist Direct that James 'Munky' Shaffer put some guitars on it, and it had two parts, but was still unfinished. He continued: "Downlink came to mix the record, and I was like, 'Let's make that a song.' He said, 'Hell yeah, I love that one!' We worked on it a ton. Downlink rearranged it and created some different stuff, and it just happened."
  • Davis on the song's meaning (via Artist Direct): "'Sanctuary' is about life. You always have that place you run to when you're heart or something's wrong, and it is built on blood and tears. It's all of the hurt, the pain, and the crying you've built up around yourself over the years. You run there when something's bad or wrong or you're scared. That was what I was going for."
  • Davis told Billboard magazine: "That was originally called 'November,' and it was a throwaway track, but I always loved it and I kept telling Downlink, 'We're gonna do it, we're gonna do it.' It came out amazing, I love it. It's really melodic. It's about being introverted."
  • Davis told Noisecreep about working with Canadian DJ/producer Downlink: "He introduced us to a lot of ideas, equipment, items we don't normally work with," he said. "It was really cool. Our sound engineer, Jim Monti learned a lot from recording with Downlink, and Downlink learned a lot from Jim, so it was a great experience."

Comments: 1

  • Wade from SomewhereThat song is freaking bad ash to the bone I love that sound of korn!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

Crystal Waters

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.