Slipknot: A Comprehensive Analysis of Their Influence and Evolution
Slipknot burst onto the metal scene 25 years ago with their self-titled debut album, making a significant impact on the genre. Let’s take a close look at the discography of the nu metal kings.
### The Gray Chapter (2014)
The pinnacle of stylistic refinement! Following a peak in melody, Slipknot’s brutality resurfaces – but this time with more emotional depth than their earlier work. The album title, .5: The Gray Chapter, reflects the band’s process of mourning bassist Paul Gray’s death in 2010. Additionally, the band had to cope with the loss of drummer Joey Jordison, another founding member whose sound was integral to their identity. Despite these challenges, Slipknot managed to deliver a continuation of their sound with remarkable skill.
From the unconventional (yet still heavy) opener ‚XIX‘ to the hit ‚The Devil In I‘ and the twisted radio poem ‚Custer,‘ all the way to the ultimate tribute to Gray, ‚Skeptic,‘ .5: The Gray Chapter exudes the most mature atmosphere of all Slipknot albums. The album combines painful aggression with emotional anthems that pay homage to their roots while incorporating lessons learned in recent years. This fifth work achieves what Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) perhaps aspired to but fell short of – and does so with perfection.
### All Hope Is Gone (2008)
Rumors swirled before the release of their fourth album, but internally, the band came together. This unity is evident in the music: the songs on All Hope Is Gone are more focused than those on its predecessor. While Slipknot continues to distance themselves from their aggressive roots and embrace a path towards greater melodies, as seen on Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses), they expertly piece together these elements that early die-hard fans may have initially rejected. Groove takes precedence over nu metal, atmosphere reigns over chaos, and the masked men become more accessible. This final album with Joey Jordison on drums and Paul Gray on bass showcases a masterclass in songwriting.
The experimentation continues (‚Gehenna‘ is unsettlingly trippy), with the band’s courage manifesting in different ways (‚Snuff‘ stands out as one of the strongest metal ballads ever written). Embracing Slipknot’s new style, All Hope Is Gone stands as an album without flaws.
### Iowa (2001)
Lack of surprise diminishes impact: Iowa feels like Slipknot, but cleaner. An assertion as provocative as their debut, the album features tracks like ‚People = Shit‘ and ‚The Heretic Anthem.‘ Once past their provocative lyrics, it becomes clear that the band cautiously tinkered with their sound on this second record. Many elements are reminiscent of their debut, and while a shift towards melodic hooks – which become more prominent in subsequent albums – is evident (‚Left Behind‘), the band approaches new elements with restraint.
The first complete recordings with guitarist James Root, who has since become a staple, are iconic, and the album’s occasionally menacing atmosphere is influential. However, in hindsight, Iowa falls short in brutality and melody compared to albums that fully embrace these elements.
### We Are Not Your Kind (2019)
Named after a line from the standalone single ‚All Out Life‘ (2018), We Are Not Your Kind exudes a level of aggression that the album itself does not fully deliver. By their sixth album, Slipknot had mastered what works commercially for them. Therefore, the album’s ranking must be viewed relative to this context – it is a good album overall, but the essence of Slipknot had already been heard five times before, each with clearer focal points. We Are Not Your Kind showcases a subtler sound that evolves its identity too late to be fully grasped as a whole.
The first half of the album may elicit nods of recognition but also a sense of boredom with a repetitive „classic Slipknot“ feel. However, from ‚Spiders,‘ the tenth track onwards, a shift occurs: avant-garde elements, dark ambient tones, and unsettling percussion parts take over, creating a pleasantly dark atmosphere that should have been introduced earlier.
Don’t miss the complete Slipknot analysis in the August 2024 issue of Metal Hammer, available at newsstands or for home delivery. Subscribe now for an easier and more affordable way to enjoy the publication.
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