.5: The Gray Chapter

As we have all been anticipating the follow up to 2008's (mixed-reviewed) All Hope Is Gone album for some time now, the dramas that have unfolded in the Slipknot camp almost made it debatable as to whether we should be waiting for a fifth album at all. With the death of founder and bassist Paul Gray and departure of founder and drummer Joey Jordison, for as yet unknown reasons, a follow up to AHIG seemed highly unlikely. Looking back at the history of the band and reminiscing over past interviews with several members pre-2010, anyone who left the band would probably mean Slipknot calling it a day. Or at least that's the impression I found. How wrong I was.Fast forward to 2014, blanked out social media pages, a blacked out website? What was happening? Then comes in the first in a wave of teasers in typical Slipknot vein prior to a release. I won't bother explaining the teasers but I was excited. I was excited for not only the fact that a new album was on the way, but the hype and anticipation as to what kind of music we could expect from Slipknot. Also who would be playing bass and who would sit behind the drums? Big shoes to fill.....Release day. After hearing several songs prior to the album's official release I will not comment on what I thought of them at the time but I will review the tracks as I heard them on the album all together.XIX - 9.5 / 10This is a haunting intro track unlike any other intros they have written on the previous four albums. The sampling and effects are still there, but it sounds more like music heard at a funeral. Corey Taylor lays down some chilling vocals over the top as it all comes to a climax at the end. What a way to start the album.SARCASTROPHE - 10 / 10You would be forgiven for thinking that this song would open up with relentless thrash and all guns blazing just like (Sic), People=S***, The Blister Exists and Gematria (The Killing Name) all did before. Except the build up from XIX doesn't just explode into a frenzy after all. Sarcastrophe starts off nice and easy building up again to what you can consider as typical Slipknot brutality around the 1 minute mark. The track is a fantastic example of how Slipknot are telling the world that they are back, here to stay and this time as a full 18-legged machine. Every member is showing off their talents here and its beautiful to listen to. Listen out for Corey's clean backing vocals (We. Are. Kill. Gods.)AOV - 9 / 10This album's Eyeless / Suflur. Fans of the 'old' Slipknot will enjoy this song. Fast, thrashy, catchy. Corey steps into clean vocals during the chorus before an unexpected breakdown which leads straight back into that classic Slipknot 'thump'. A gem of a track. The last 30 seconds will remind you of the last minute of Sulfur. Brilliant.The Devil In I - 10 / 10The first 'proper' single and video to accompany this album is The Devil In I. The first minute or so could fits right in with the introductions to TV series American Horror Story (if you have seen it you should know what I mean). The song rivals greats such as Duality and Psychosocial and frankly I think its better than both of those. It sounds as a cross between Gently, Purity and Before I Forget. The verses sound chilling with the slow undistorted guitar and clean vocals and is probably my favourite song off the album. This should be a live staple.Killpop - 8 / 10Probably the most 'radio-friendly' track that showcases both the heavy and slower side to Slipknot. It will come as no surprise if they release this as a single with a story-driven video. The structure of Killpop is similar to that of Vermilion with a great build up to a solo and an epic ending to the song. I really like this song for that similarity.Skeptic - 9.5 / 10This song was written as a heavy tribute to the late Paul Gray. It takes me back to the style of the heavier songs on Vol. 3 such as Three Nil and Opium Of The People mixed in with different takes on the first album. I have heard criticism of the vocals in the chorus but I personally think they are fitting to the song. Again, each member of the band is on form here with plenty of percussion, backing vocals, sampling and turntables. I hope they play this live. Very catchy.Lech - 7.5 / 10Similar to Gehenna and Wherein Lies Continue from AHIG, this is very much percussion-based, slow in parts, and just heavy without the need to be too thrashy. Not my favourite from the album but a good track nonetheless.Goodbye - 9 / 10I was almost afraid that this was going to be another Snuff. As good as that song is i'm glad Goodbye is not a copy. In the same league as songs such as Circle, 'Til We Die and possibly Danger - Keep Away, Goodbye is a slow bass and keys driven song dedicated to Paul Gray before guitars and percussion kick in halfway through with the clean vocals getting louder and more emotional. I love the ending where everything us turned upside down after the solo unleashing a short but sweet fury of thrash borrowing the riff from the next track.Nomadic - 9.5 / 10One of my favourites. A very groove metal style song with plenty of riffage, percussion and sampling throughout. The clean vocal chorus and the accompanying riff is definitely a highlight for me. One of my favourite Slipknot songs of the last 10 years.The One That Kills The Least - 8 / 10This song has several different Slipknot musical styles. Ranging from slower more hard rock influenced sound to faster riffs and drumming with plenty of samples and scratching in the background. A decent track, reminiscent of Dead Memories but better.Custer - 10 / 10One magazine calls this Surfacing 2015 and they aren't wrong. No it may not be as 'simple' as Surfacing from the self-titled album in terms of music, but from the moment the song starts it never lets up. From the main riff into near-silent drums and bass with Corey's vocals descending to pretty much talking it then opens up into a chorus every Slipknot fan should know by now. It's loud, it's heavy as f***, Corey screams his head off here. The verses in the song slow things down slightly, similar to how Surfacing does also and then before you know it we are back to screaming those all important lyrics again. A live favourite, I hope they continue to play this for years to come. One of their best tracks ever released.Be Prepared For Hell - 8 / 10Be Prepared For Hell is not much of a track but rather an interlude or a 'breather' from the chaos of Custer and driving straight into the next track. It's more chilling and haunting then XIX, and not the sort of 'background music' you want if you are in bed alone with the lights off after watching a supernatural horror movie. It nicely done and adds some atmosphere to the album.The Negative One - 10 / 10A belter. A Heavy, relentless, take-no-prisoners thrasher similar to (and better than) the song All Hope Is Gone. This for me is the pinnacle of the album. It feels like the entire album has been building up to this and it certainly delivers. This song probably best describes Slipknot's entire back-catalogue in 5 and a half minutes. Every member can be heard here. From Corey's deep, dark, harsh screams to Craig's samples and Sid's turntables to the pounding of the percussion and drum kits. The guitars deliver some of the heaviest riffs in the band's career. The 'feel' to this track takes me back to the Iowa album and if you listen carefully I think there are elements of People=S*** (The riff during which Corey screams "....I hope you live, to see the day..."). The Negative One has earned it's place on the mantelpiece next to the likes of The Heretic Anthem, People=S***, The Blister Exists, (Sic) etc. A brilliant (near) ending to the album.If Rain Is What You Want - 8 / 10The album's official closer. A slow but slightly heavy track with some of the more experimental elements of Slipknot thrown in. To best describe it is to consider it a cross between The Virus Of Life (probably most like this song), The Nameless, Prosthetics, Tattered & Torn, Gently and Iowa. A decent way to end the album.There are also a couple of bonus tracks if you have the special edition of the album. The two songs are Override and The Burden. Personally the latter is the better of the two. Whether you think it's worth paying the extra for them us up to you but I did and I didn't regret it!Overall a stunning return to form. A good cross between 2001's Iowa and 2004's Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses). It's definitely better than All Hope Is Gone and is a gem to listen to. I can safely say that it's 'one of those' albums where it may take a couple of listens to fully appreciate but once you have listened to it once you will want to listen to it over and over and never get sick and tired of the same music rotating.Relentless, unforgiving, thrashy as hell and intelligent. This is Slipknot at their finest. Welcome the 2 new members. Welcome back Slipknot.RIP Paul Gray.

Another great addition to the Slipknot catalogue, containing all the things we'd expect from a quality Slipknot album, such as amazing vocals, crushing riffs and heavy drums.This is also the first album without Paul Gray and Joey Jordison, and while this is a great album given that, it is definitely missing a little something that makes Slipknot special in my opinion.Favourite songs include Custer, The Negative One and The Devil in I.

Listened to this straight through twice now on my PS3 (after battling with Windows 8 to rip the cd and loosing - shakes angry fist at laptop) and I am very happy with it. It is un mistakenly slipknot but this album is deeply layered. There is a tone to this album that I have not heard from them so far and it almost feels like this will be there last for some reason. Its more like a story, dare I say, all the songs seem to bleed into each other. I would recommend listening to it straight through instead of skipping through songs.There is lots more singing in this album, it is still very heavy but there is equal amounts of both. I don't think there is any song on here that I don't like. It is an album I will have to listen to a few more times to get used to fully. The lyrics are fairly dark as usual and I had a lot of OH? moments lol. I found and the music is fantastic as always switching from super stomper "get the hell out of my face" riffs to a more flow like singing parts, which I loved and found very memorable and catchy. I can see myself singing at the top of my lungs at the gig and that is a very good sign. Actually I am a little bit concerned I might go totally nuts too. The last slipknot gig I went to in Dublin was just so damn good I injured myself several times just going crazy jumping around the place screaming ect you know yourselves. It was the best gig I have ever been to - period. That was a long time ago haha, I may not be up for doing that these days.This is a next level for this band and im not surprised to be honest there has been so much cr*p going on for them. It was a very mournful album and had a very sad note to it. I got the impression that Corey's tone was of being fed up and sick to death of all the stupid sh*t going on. Yes they have go on about that before but this sounded a bit closer to home and not the usual "general public being head wrecking people = sh*t". He seems to be directing these words to a few individuals. I could be wrong but that's just how I take it so far. Plus there is an outstanding contribution song for Paul that is certainly one of my favourites its truly awesome.I will no doubt listen to this over and over before they come to Dublin (1st date of the tour) to open up the this albums "Prepare for Hell" Tour in January (Korn supporting too woohoo carnage) and will be interested in seeing which songs from this album they will choose to use. As I said before all the songs seemed to be stitched together and blend in a nice flow. Putting on random wouldn't be a problem but you can really appreciate the ups and downs of tone and melody from each song to the other. I love it and would recommend this album to all slipknot fans.I am not doing a very good job at explaining this album but it doesn't matter. Just buy the damn thing you wont regret it. It is different but certainly not a bad album. I enjoyed this much more then all hope is gone. I found it is a bit acquired though so give it a few goes so you can really get into it. Great work from the band - BRING ON JANUARY - BRING ON HELL.

Afternoon with the baby was supposed to be fun. I played this for the little guy and he started crying. I got in trouble and I can only play it when he and Mom are out for the day. Pffft! Everybody's a critic.

My favorite album from that band. Now aday it's rare to see albums with more than one good track. I keep it in my car for the no mobile zones

El concepto del álbum es lo mejor, como también el cambio de diseño en las máscaras y las buenas canciones que tiene.Llego hace dos semanas, intacto sin ningún golpe o rasguño. 10/10

Mais um grande álbum do slipknot, banda que pertence ao “maistream” sem perder o peso e suas características.

perfecto!!