Slipknot aren’t shit anymore. Honest.

Now to be fair I hadn’t REALLY listened to much Slipknot before The Subliminal Verses. I had heard just enough to know that they sounded like a million other metal bands I have heard before.

The only standout factor was that they wore masks. Yes they were tight as a unit and the drumming was ridiculously fast but it was all just uninspired and unoriginal.

The press for this album suggested that times were a-changing for the Iowa boys and for once they weren’t spewing forth filthy dirty lies.

There are acoustic guitars and pianos on here and even (gasp!) a mellow song or two!

Most reviews and fan comments have been focusing on these elements but these are the most obvious and least impressive of the changes. The acoustic song Circle is in fact the weakest song on the album. It sounds exactly like the kind of Tosh that VAST has been churning out post Music For People.

It is the subtle differences and nuances to their heavy riff based metal that have converted me into a new Slipknot fan.

There are dynamics on this record. There are guitar riffs that aren’t just downtuned powerchords. There are a few guitar solos, just enough to be impressive and add texture to the songs without getting into realms of cock cheese.

The drumming is more impressive in its diversity than it ever was in the incessant speed thrash of previous Slipknot outings. There are also a few samples and extra percussion to round out the sound. The album covers the whole range of what you can do with metal riffs. There are probably more different types of rhythms and accents on this album than on all their previous albums combined.

However the most impressive improvement has been in the vocals. There are harmonies on this record. Yes, actual harmonies that are harmonic. There are still plenty of in your face, intense vocals but these are nicely balanced with melodic sections that are catchy as hell and as clever in their way as any beatles song. Corey has also mixed up the phrasing and timing of words on this album. The first word of the chorus of Duality for example is actually the last word of the prechorus.

Nice.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying is he is an amazing singer, but he is a hell of a lot better than I imagined he could be and he is trying hard to do new and interesting things.

Slipknot have really pulled one out of the bag with this album- they still clearly have their own sound but they have changed just enough to be doing something new and interesting in the genre of metal without losing their entire fan base. They have grown up into a proper band which adults can admit to liking without feeling ashamed and juvenile.

They can get rid of the masks now, they are no longer required.

Label: Roadrunner
Website: www.roadrun.com/artists/Slipknot/
Release date: 24th May 2004

Tracklist:

1. Prelude 3.0
2. The Blister Exists
3. Three Nil
4. Duality
5. Opium Of The People
6. Circle
7. Welcome
8. Vermilion
9. Pulse Of The Maggots
10. Before I Forget
11. Vermilion, Pt 2
12. The Nameless
13. The Virus Of Life
14. Danger - Keep Away