Corey Taylor is probably one of metal’s most under-rated actual singers, as while we all know him as the masked frontman of Slipknot, spitting venom, obscenities and growls, how many actually think of him as a singer? This is why he has other projects, which also led to his solo album ‘CMFT’ in 2020. This album comprises nine unreleased B-sides, covers of tunes that inspired the band, acoustic renditions, and live versions. In many ways some of these treatments remind me of The Wildhearts, which is never a bad thing, and while they sometimes stay true to the original there are plenty of others where they have fun and transform them, such as with Eddie Money’s “Shakin’”.

It is not difficult for me to pick a highlight though, as the guys perform a rock solid version of Kiss’s “Got To Choose” – in many ways this is not a song one would expect to be covered when one thinks of Kiss, but it works, brilliantly which shows yet again that they were always about good music and not just music (I fell in love with Kiss from a TDK D-90 copy of ‘Double Platinum’ with no idea of what they looked like – it was quite a shock when I found out!). The album kicks off with a storming version of Metallica’s “Holier Than Thou”, with Taylor making it his own, imbuing this with a Slipknot style energy while they lock into a punchy punk gallop during “All This And More” from Dead Boys. The end result is an album which is a load of fun, and a blast from beginning to end and sometimes that is what anyone wants from their music. Earlier today I was playing Slipknot’s very first demo with Corey, and the contrast between that and this is remarkable. What a blast.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://www.coreytaylor.com/
https://www.elektra.com/roadrunnerrecords