NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Hard-rockers Korn signed copies of their new LP, Issues, for more than 2,000 devotees Sunday at the Tower Records in the hometown of the fan who won a contest to design the album cover.

Though Korn made several in-store appearances as part of their "Korn Kampaign '98" for last year's Follow the Leader, Sunday's signing session was the only one scheduled in the United States for Issues.

"It's been awesome — really, really exciting," Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis said during a pizza break after two hours of signing CDs. "It's fun. It's good to hear everybody likes the album. We're stoked." Clad in a black T-shirt and dark, baggy pants, Davis spent some of the break strolling the aisles and checking out CDs in a blocked-off section of the store.

Cover artist Alfredo Carlos, whose acrylic painting of a tattered stuffed doll was picked from 6,000 entries, sat with Korn and signed copies of Issues with the bandmembers — Davis, bassist Reg "Fieldy" Arvizu, guitarists Munky and Head, and drummer David Silveria. The 23-year-old Carlos, who submitted his design in a pizza box, received $10,000 and was host to the signing session in this San Fernando Valley town about 20 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Carlos' design was displayed on a banner hanging behind him and the band, along with the designs of three other finalists. Those designs front a limited number of Issues.

The LP, which features the single "Falling Away From Me" (RealAudio excerpt), arrived in stores last week, only 15 months after the release of Follow the Leader — a relatively brief time compared to some other acts, Davis said.

"It seems like a lot of bands are making albums every five years, instead of every year," Davis said. "We want to keep getting the music out to our fans."

While most fans played it cool as Korn signed their CDs, a few were unable to contain their excitement.

"I was jumping up and down, and my friend almost peed her pants," Shane Wyeen, 12, of Northridge said. "I think they're all really hot." Sporting a Korn T-shirt and dyed ruby-red hair, Wyeen said she was so excited as she stood face-to-face with Korn that all she managed to say was, "I love your tattoos."

San Gabriel Valley resident Ashley Russell, 14, was so choked up she wasn't able to say anything. "David [Silveria] asked me if I was OK, and I just nodded," she said.

Russell said meeting Korn was "the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for them."

A 12-year-old fan named Trevor, who declined to give his last name for fear his father might not approve, said, "It was awesome, just awesome. They rule."

Korn are planning a world tour for next year.