Welcome to the Korn Asylum, be careful you don't get lost, it's a big place.

When Korn unleashed their first, self-titled album way back in 1994, not many could have predicted what was to follow. Shipping just 1,100 units for its first run, over the next five years and three additional albums the band not only built up an almost religious fan base spanning the entire globe and sold well in excess of 10 million albums worldwide, they were also the catalyst in one of the biggest crossover movements ever. Fusing a blend of hip-hop and metal, Korn and like-minded acts would become a particular favourite with teens and young adults looking for something new.

The fleeting term of 'Grunge' only stayed for half a decade, if that, before it began to die out as a viable avenue for bands to pursue. In the end, it was really just plain old rock anyway. The genre commonly known as 'Nu-Metal', however, has shown little sign of waning thus far. This is only further emphasised when you measure the popularity of similar acts such as Linkin Park, often sitting comfortably on the charts besides radio monsters like Kylie or whatever freshly moulded teen bump'n grind act is the flavour that week.

It wasn't just the music that got Korn where they are today. They are a package... a lifestyle. It's all about attitude and appearance. Korn walked their talk from the start and never looked back. The fact that this 'package' has remained relatively unchanged during their journey is testament to their dedication towards their fans. It's an admirable trait to possess in the volatile world of chart success, and for that they should be commended.

To put it simply, Deuce is one of the most original and entertaining music DVDs to hit the Region 4 market thus far. It doesn't matter if you're a fan; the love that has been put into this release is undeniable. For dedicated fans, however, it is the final statement of Korn's unwavering affection for their followers. It may well be the greatest gift that the band has ever given them.

What's immediately apparent as one begins the program is that this isn't any ordinary music DVD; it is, by and large, an interactive experience. An animated entry into the Asylum begins the program. A frantic barrage of disturbing imagery is unleashed as we journey through the front doors and into the grim building on a mobile stretcher. Once settled, you can select one of two programs that make up the meat of the DVD. Who Then Now? and Deuce, running for 45 minutes and 72 minutes respectively, are both intimate and candid documents of the band on the road, at home and in the studio. Featuring plenty of interviews, recording footage and just general screwing around, they are both highly enjoyable and at the same time informative. Remarkably, while watching the two videos back to back, you can clearly see the band's path to success blossom before your very eyes. In particular, it will make for a very special viewing experience for fans.

If this were all the DVD had to offer, then it would still have been an excellent title. It's only when you begin to navigate your way around the Asylum, however, that you realise that this is just the beginning. There are many, many surprises to be found within. As you navigate from room to room, a simple browse around any given area will reveal multiple hidden buttons, secret rooms, Easter eggs and interactive puzzles. Conversely, all of these avenues lead to somewhere worthwhile. From additional footage and behind the scenes footage, to gag reels, music videos, bios, TV spots and whatever else, there is so much here to see and do that it almost becomes overwhelming. This sensation of interactivity only intensifies as you get deeper into the Asylum. The entire area that can be explored is huge, and on the first couple of visits, you will get lost - that's a guarantee. The disturbing mood set upon entry is never lost either. While exploring, users will be treated to constant background atmospherics (all in 5.1 no less) and sharp, swiftly paced imagery and morphing techniques.

All music videos can also be selected separately from the program. They are as follows:

Blind
Shoots and Ladders
Faget
Clown
A.D.I.D.A.S.
Got the Life
Freak on a Leash
Falling Away From Me
Make Me Bad
Somebody Someone

You don't have to be into Korn to recognise the fact that this is a superlative use of the DVD medium. It just goes to show that interactivity can go a long way towards separating the men from the boys, so to speak. If only all music DVDs were approached in a manner similar to this.

While the unconventional way in which this DVD has been assembled certainly makes for an original viewing experience, there is a very large gap in between the quality of video for the music clips and the general backstage, on the road and other forms of candid footage.

All that can really be said about the Handycam footage is that it looks about as good as one would expect. For the most part it's not very detailed and rather heavy on noise and other contaminants. Some areas look much better than others, but the overall presentation is about as good as you can get in dealing with this particular kind of source material.

The video clips, however, are an entirely different story. The first four suffer a little bit from low level noise, but the detail is certainly way above average. From A.D.I.D.A.S. onwards though, the quality is quite pristine. The colours are rich and vibrant, with smooth black levels (especially considering how dark most of Korn's clips are) and some excellent detail to boot.

The audio presentation here is generally the same as the video. That is, it suffers in areas where the source footage is limited to Handycam and likewise mediums. Who Then Now? is entirely presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, as are the many extra bits of footage that are located around the Asylum. This also means that the first four videos are only available in 2.0. Deuce, however, is entirely available in Dolby Digital 5.1, although the only portions of the program that really benefit from this are the music videos and the background music interspersed throughout the program.

The videos that are in 5.1, however, sound absolutely huge and compliment Korn's mammoth sound perfectly. Some nice surround effects have been thrown into the mix as well, so anybody familiar with the songs will be in for a few surprises.

As previously mentioned, all menus for the DVD are also presented in 5.1 surround, the effect of which is a greatly heightened sense of atmosphere whilst exploring the Asylum.

As this is essentially an interactive tour, the extras aren't really assembled in a conventional manner. You'll have to work your way around the Asylum to find them, but rest assured there is a massive amount of stuff on offer. Behind the Scenes Footage, Additional Footage, Music Videos, Gag Reels, TV Spots, Bios and a whole host of other things can be found in the many nooks and crannies of the Asylum.

This is the most fun this reviewer’s had watching a music DVD in a long time. The length of interactivity within the title is astonishing and the way in which the entire package has been assembled is exemplary. Korn fans ought to be ecstatic over this release, and anyone who thought that interactivity within DVD was a moot point would do well to check out Deuce as a shining contradiction to their argument.