Korn aiming for mid-July album release

Korn tentatively plans to release its eighth studio album on July 17th, according to an interview with the band that ran on a Los Angeles radio station yesterday morning (Tuesday, March 6th). The group has been recording the disc with temporary drummer Terry Bozzio and guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer told us that Bozzio has taken Korn's music in a new direction: "It's a little less straightforward, I think, than what we're used to, and it's a lot more technical. I think it's probably more like a progressive Korn that people are gonna be used to. Very heavy though."

Bozzio is considered one of rock's greatest living drummers and is best known for his work with Frank Zappa and Missing Persons. He is filling in for founding Korn drummer David Silveria, who's taking a "hiatus" from the group this year.

Shaffer also said in the radio interview that his wife recently gave birth to a son named Israel. The guitarist, who was married once before, got hitched to his current wife in May.

Korn's MTV Unplugged CD arrived in stores yesterday (Tuesday, March 6th). It documents the band's first-ever full-length acoustic performance, which was taped last December in New York City. The CD includes several songs not featured on the broadcast version, which premiered last week.