Now that's what Klondike Days needed - something really dangerous next to something really safe.

The first clue that a strange and scary phenomenon was occurring near our beloved Northlands Exposition was at about 6 last night. As fairgoers mingled with Korn fans, there was a sociological vinegar and baking soda kind of reaction outside the concert in Skyreach Centre. Families on their way to the midway were probably wondering why all these kids with wacky hair were chanting "Korn!" Were the corn dogs particularly good this year?

Such contrasts. On one side of the LRT station, mirth and merriment. On the other, metal and mayhem. On one side, the Emeralds in the AgriCom. On the other, Korn's kathedral of kaos. Chilliwack singing "gone, gone, gone, she been gone so long." Korn's Jonathan Davis shouting at the top of his lungs, "You (expletive)s make some (expletive) noise!" Sweetness and light/Eternal damnation. You get the idea. What fun.

Korn is just about the heaviest band I've ever seen, a thought probably shared by most of the 8,000 fans who turned up last night. The band put on a dazzling show - a blistering, hard-rocking assault on the senses, bolstered by what had to be millions of dollars in production.

Metal has been very, very good to Korn and it's nice to see them pumping some of that cash back into the show. That's right, kids, showmanship is cool again. Eat your heart out, Kiss - and I think some of these fans could mean that literally.

After warm-up sets by Papa Roach and Powerman 5000, the crowd was kept entertained by some Sick & Twisted Animation - and yes it was - before Korn kameramen passed the time looking for young lasses willing to bare their breasts for the big screen. As Eminem blared from the speakers, a few girls obliged. There was much rejoicing.

Finally, Korn took the stage (banishing all preconceptions from the breast-flashing act that it was a Motley Crue concert). The curtains parted to reveal what appeared to be a giant, glowing, beating heart, which collapsed in a flash as the band tore into their opener, whatever it was. All I could make out within the sonic equivalent of a mugging that followed were the words "Down into the ground! Arrrrrgggh!" They were off.

The crowd went nuts from the first deafening note, especially the lucky thousands on the floor, who put up with one of the stupidest and most inefficient admission ordeals ever seen for the privilege of risking their necks in the mosh pit. Even luckier were the contest winners in the "asylum" standing right next to the stage. (This is a band that gets involved with their fans. Before the show, Fieldy was outside signing autographs.)

There was plenty of eye candy for everyone, including an eruption of flaming braziers that gave the stage a distinctly Satanic look, and the unveiling of three massive video screens framed in a 3-D window kind of deal. With dozens of vari-lights (expensive puppies) strobing a rainbow of blinding light over crowd and the stage alike, the effect was impressive. One might call it "neo-gothic." Kudos to the production designer.

Dressed like a monk from the Loyal Order of Headbangers, Davis strode about the stage barking his tortured lyrics while the band pumped out a deep, booming groove. Fieldy's bass was tuned down so low you could hear the strings rattling, while Head the guitarist provided a squealing and yet hauntingly melodic accompaniment. There were moments of komplete kacophony - both visually and musically - but I guess that's the idea.

Overall, Korn's plan seems to be succeeding - to deliver the heaviest heavy metal show ever seen in this town or any other. With all due respect to Metallica, it came pretty close.