Here we have the band’s seventh studio album, and their last with Roadrunner after more than 20 years with the label. As is my custom, I had not read anything about the album before playing it for the first time, and when it kicked off with “Adderall” I was convinced that either I had downloaded the wrong album, or Corey had convinced everyone they should become Stone Sour. Simply put, “Adderall” is not a song I would ever expect from Slipknot as there is nothing about this which makes one think of that band, apart from the vocals of Corey who I have always felt is hugely under-rated for his pure vocal style. It was “Wait and Bleed” on the debut all those years ago which first gained my attention, and even before the band had been featured in Kerrang magazine I said they were going to do great things, even if they were signed to a tiny metal label. They were the most significant signing in Roadrunner’s history and there is no doubt it was Slipknot which has allowed the label to do so many things, but keyboards, samples, reflective bass, loads of space and a sense of pop with not much guitar, what had happened?
What had happened is that the band had decided to screw with us, yet again, as that song is in no way representative of the whole of the album, as there are plenty on here which are some of their heaviest works yet. Corey even described the record as a “heavier version” of their 2004 album ‘Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses’, and while I do think that is pushing it somewhat there is no doubt there are some very heavy numbers while there are others which maintain that stance while also bringing in commerciality in a manner not heard as effectively this since ‘All Hope Is Gone’, with “The Dying Song (Time To Day)” being a prime example. When I noticed the third song was called “The Chapeltown Rag” I was somewhat concerned as to what it may contain (Slipknot plays jazz perhaps?) but again we have a band producing the style of music for which they have become renowned, yet lifting it to a new level. Considering what they have been through over the last 25+ years, with the death of founder bassist and songwriter Paul Gray and the illness, departure and death of founder drummer Joey Jordison (this album is dedicated to him), it is amazing to hear they are refusing to sit on their laurels and just rehash what they have done previously.
There are too many bands in the metal scene who released iconic albums years ago and nothing of note since then (who said Metallica?), yet Slipknot are one of a precious few who continue to move forward breaking new ground and the more I play this the more I believe it is one of the most important they have released so far. Definitely not the end.
Rating: 8/10
Links:
https://slipknot1.com/
https://www.elektra.com/roadrunnerrecords
