Korn shared the stage with Disturbed at Toronto's Air Canada Centre March 31, 2011. (Veronica Henri, QMI Agency)

TORONTO - Perhaps it's time to rename the genre "Not So Nu Metal."

When California hard rock group Korn closed out their roughly hour-long co-headlining slot with Disturbed Thursday night at a far from sold-out Air Canada Centre, lead singer Jonathan Davis and crew decided to deliver hit after hit to an enthusiastic, aggressive crowd.

Sadly, the stream of signature tunes took the form of a paltry and almost comical medley including snippets of Coming Undone, Twisted Transistor, Make Me Bad and Y'All Want A Single performed alongside a pinch of Queen's We Will Rock You over 10 to 12 minutes. And compared to how they fared earlier in the set, it seemed like Nu Medley just wasn't a good idea.

That's not to say Korn - currently on the Music As A Weapon V tour and supporting their new album Korn III: Remember Who You Are - didn't show their anger with menacing, meaty numbers like Blind and Freak On A Leash. The group, who had an additional touring guitarist and keyboardist on stage, also came off quite well during Shoots and Ladders, a rather quirky brooding tune with Davis singing nursery rhymes in a demented manner. The song ended with a portion of Metallica's One for good measure.

With guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer and bassist Reg "Fieldy" Arvizu pacing themselves much more than earlier years, Korn slowed things down for Alone I Break before Oildale (Leave Me Alone) and the highlight Falling Away From Me went off without a hitch.

Meanwhile, Chicago group Disturbed seemed to come off a bit more edgy and that intensity definitely resulted in a rowdier reception. Led by singer David Draiman, Disturbed's set sounded like one long, relentless, angst-riddled nu metal tune supported with a large video screen behind them as they opened with the instrumental Remnants before the punishing Asylum.

Far more talkative than Davis, Draiman had the crowd pumping their fists for Ten Thousand Fists, clapping to The Game and the slightly tamer Prayer as mosh pits formed on the floor. Disturbed also rarely stopped between songs during the almost rap-rock feel of Liberate and the band's newest big hit Another Way To Die.

But even Disturbed's set had its own brand of comedy, albeit from a devoted fan. After performing Indestructible, Draiman asked the fan if he could show his homemade poster to the audience. Sadly the fan spelled the band's name "Diturbed" which cracked Draiman up. "S--- man, Hooked On Phonics for you," he quipped before returning it to him.

Regardless, Disturbed seemed to be letter perfect most of the 13-song set whether on the urgent set closer Down With The Sickness, Stupify or Inside The Fire which deals with the topic of suicide.

Fortunately the band also took the rather novel approach of playing their songs from beginning to end they way fans were familiar with.