TORONTO -- "Vancouver,thank you very much."

That was Korn singer Jonathan Davis, thanking a sold-out Toronto crowd at the end of his band's SkyDome concert last night.

Knowing Davis' knack for dark humour, he might have been kidding. Then again, judging by Korn's blind onstage ferocity, their utter abandon as performers, he might not have been.

Maybe a rest would be well-earned at this point.

At any rate, after last night, the Oakland, Ca. hard rock extremists can at least rest assured in the knowledge that, if they're ever left without an opening act, their audience can supply one for them.

While Korn are supported on their current Sick & Twisted tour by subordinate bands Staind and Mindless Self Indulgence, a few members of the sold-out crowd also cooked up a warm-up show of their own.

Okay, so "cooked up" may not be the best word for it: Rehashing an old stadium rock gimmick that both Aerosmith and Guns 'N' Roses can be thanked for, cameras prowled the packed house, zeroing in on young nubiles in hopes that they would share their, um, accessories with 16,000 people by way of the three giant screens above the stage.

A dozen or so obliged smilingly - hey, as long as they control the goods, more power to 'em. Besides, it was G-rated fair compared to the Sick &Twisted cartoon that aired previously on the screens. (I saved my huzzahs for the girl who psyched out the throng by hiking up her tank top and reaching for her bra before flipping the camera the bird. Always leave them wanting more.)

What was disheartening, however, wasn't the actual nudity but the fact that this hackneyed routine wasn't even necessary.

Korn were sublime.

It was intense, blisteringly loud, challenging -- everything a mass rock gathering should be, and even more importantly, something you rarely get to see.

Black robed and looking like some hellbound Jesuit drag queen, singer/bagpiper Jonathan Davis emerged with, guitarists James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, bassist Fieldy, and temp drummer Mike Bordin (the former Faith No More member is filling in for regular Korn timekeeper David Silveria, who suffered complete wrist failure at a show in Fargo two weeks ago). The strains of bagpipe ditty Dead gave way into a full-on Falling Away From Me. The energy was instant and high, and sustained througout.

Beyond the shows' good looks and strong delivery, there was a larger force at work: Korn cut straight through and actually radiate rock 'n' roll.

One hopes it goes down as well in Toronto -- er, Vancouver.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5