Top 10 SLIPKNOT songs (2014-2022) Era.

Hello and welcome back!

Today, I want to do something different and that is to list MY top 10 fave Slipknot songs of the Post Gray Era. This is the 2014 Gray Chapter to The End, So Far era of albums.

I have done a Top Ten Slipknot list in the past, and you can click on the red text to see that list!

You know me and you should know Slipknot by now, so this is not going to be much of an introduction but hi and welcome! For the Top 10 Slipknot Songs from 1999-2008 CLICK HERE!

Here are my fave top 10 songs from Gray Chapter through to The End, So Far.

10: The Dying Song (Time To Sing)

"The Dying Song (Time to Sing)" starts off in a very un-Slipknot manner as Corey Taylor sings a couple of lines a cappella. Then he repeatedly screams "DIE!" as the band bursts in behind him, so we can relax in the knowledge it's another brutal Knot track. Kick's ass! The Dying Song is a pessimistic song about the end of the world, as we are watching it happening right now. Slipknot blame the influential people who run the world. But it’s also our fault because we didn’t pay enough attention to what was happening under our noses. The lyrics hint that now it’s too late: we can only sing this last song and then die helplessly.

9: Yen

Sinister sounding Corey seduces our ears with is soft tones, and then he seems to burst out with the band to stab away at us. Just to inform us that he'd die for us because we are that good, but seriously this track is excellent and stands out above many others for me and since the new album released I have grown to love this one a lot more and more with each listen. This could be about some sort of toxic abusive relationship. The lyrics inside Yen hide a relevant meaning. In a decadent world, we stop fighting while the end is approaching. And we do the only thing that makes sense: entrust our death to someone worthy. There is no reference to whom this entity might be, but we know that it implies pain and blood. After all, in Slipknot’s eyes, we left nothing good in this world.

8: Adderall

This was a huge pleasant surprise to hear, it set a different tone completely, and I really like it. Such a different sound for the band but also blew me away with the chill of it and then the extraordinary synth and of course Corey's sweet vocals. That chorus is just mmf. I love this one. So Adderall is a drug used to treat ADD. So is this about an overdose from too much Adderall by the lines of "Ohh you know I'm gone." Or is it about someone being given the drug as a way of control maybe because there is talk of control and about the bible scaring the narrator.

7: Killpop

Soft songs and slipknot go well together and this is a great balance of soft and heavy, love it. This song can be interpreted in 2 ways: literally and metaphorically. If interpreted literally it's about the narrator/singer being infatuated by something a thing of beauty, in this case a woman, yet he is unable to coexist with this person as he can't bare seeing this person destroy herself. Corey said in an interview that metaphorically the song is about the music industry as a whole. The environment has become toxic, and although he loves creating music he can't stand to see the industry destroy itself as it's all about the money and not about the artist or creativity any more.

6: Nero Forte

One of the standout songs from WANYK is this one for me. I loved it upon first play through of the album. I think this song is a response to all the haters out there who judge others for being who they want to be. They try to shove it in your face how they believe all others should behave & refuse to allow anyone to just be themselves.

5: All Out Life

An absolute banger, I am still annoyed to this day that this did not end up on the UK version of the We Are Not Your Kind album. The song was chosen as the theme song for WWE's weekly show NXT on April 4, 2019.  The lyrics of “All Out Life” see the Slipknot blasting the current state of the music industry. In blasting the industry in question, the band expresses their frustration and anger at the industry players for embracing modern music and turning their back against “old music”. According to Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor, "All Out Life" was written as "a rallying cry for everyone ... about all of us getting together and saying, 'You know what. Let's not talk about old. Let's not talk about new. Let's talk about what is. Let's talk about what's good, what's real, and get behind that and start embracing things that matter because there's history there and not just because it's the next best thing."Taylor also provided the following additional background to the composition of the song: "All Out Life" is a song that is trying to do two things: bring everyone together, but also remind everyone that the past is not something to be discarded with disdain. People are so eager to find the next big thing sometimes that they shit all over the bands and artists that have come before, thus making the past feel disposable, like a dirty thing. Fuck that: Why should we pay attention to your mediocre future when you can't be bothered to celebrate an amazing past? I'd rather listen to a guaranteed hit than a forced miss. "All Out Life" is the anthem that reminds people that it's not the date on the music – it's the staying power." It is the final recording to feature long-time percussionist and backing vocalist Chris Fehn before his dismissal from the band due to a lawsuit in March the following year. 

4: Solway Firth

Awesome track and this also introduced me to the iconic tv superhero show known as The Boys. Corey explained that the song is about being the person everyone else wants you to be rather than being yourself. They don't need anyone to understand why they are the way they are or show them how to be someone they're not. They simply want to be themselves in a 'take it or leave it' type manner. It's been speculated that the band is referring to the media and others wanting them to be something other than themselves, but, to date, the band has not confirmed nor denied this idea. The closing track of We Are Not Your Kind, "Solway Firth" finds Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor being ostracized. He feels he has been misunderstood and has become a scapegoat. The song's unsettling music video was directed by Clown. It combines footage from Slipknot's early summer 2019 European tour with scenes from Amazon Prime's superhero show The Boys.

3: Custer

How's this one? Dut-dut-dat dut-dut-dat-dat-dat. Fucking awesome tune here, catchy as fuck and blew me away first time I heard this, and I got quite addicted to it too. This was also a song used in a TikTok trend once too. George Armstrong Custer was a Civil War hero and subsequently a ruthless Indian fighter. He is famous for the Battle of the Little Bighorn, commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, in which a force of 650 men led by Custer, suffered a severe defeat to around 2,500 Indian warriors. The death of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray and the controversial departure of drummer Joey Jordison meant many doubted whether the band could reach the same heights. This song finds Corey Taylor digging in his heels against all the scoffers. He told Kerrang!: "This is focusing that anger towards the outside world – the people who on one hand want to make us martyrs, but at the same time want to make us bastards." "And metaphorically," he added, "it's about charging into our last stand, and it's basically saying, 'You know what? Just when you think you've written our history, we're going to rewrite it again, and basically show you that we can take all the abuse that you put out there, and we're not going to lose a step, we're not going to lose an inch, we're not going to lose any ground – we're going to keep coming.'"

2: Unsainted

Love this one, and it was a killer opener and single to lead the We are not your kind album. It's about organized religion and how Corey thinks it's not for him and why it killed the saint in him. Corey has also said this is about the depression he had battled for years leading to this creation, The singer split from Stephanie Luby in 2017 after eight years of marriage, sending him into a depression. Taylor, a recovering addict, wrote the lyrics for We Are Not Your Kind during this time when he was battling depression and trying to stay sober. Unsainted" was chosen as the theme song for the WWE's NXT TakeOver: Toronto event, held August 10, 2019 in Canada's Scotiabank Arena.

1: The Devil In I

This is the heavy hitter that marked Slipknot's return with this being the first music video of the band to kick off the Gray Chapter and also for this new decade of Slipknot music. I love this to bits as it is catchy and groove with the instrumentals as well as being a chonky meaty boy with metal. Corey Taylor on it "'The Devil In I' is really about the war inside yourself," he said. "Trying not to give into defeatism, trying not to give into negativity, trying not to give up basically. It's a struggle. It's one of the hardest thing you can do, is to give in to that side of yourself." The song's music video was directed by Slipknot drummer Shawn Crahan and features the destruction of band members in various ways. Chris Fehn, for instance, is pecked to death by ravens, a fate he requested for himself as the percussionist suffers from a fear of birds. Sid Wilson, meanwhile, eats his arm and fingers in the clip, destroying the things most important for the guitarist's role in the band. "Basically, this video is about finding past devils, past things - becoming one with it and then doing away with it," Crahan explained

Ok this has been my list, what do you think of it? Let me know.

As always If you have list suggestions or any blog post ideas HIT ME UP on the socials anytime at all. 

Thanks for reading, stay (sic)

Top 10 SLIPKNOT songs (1999-2008) Era

Alright as promised here is another Slipknot top ten but this time, I'm going from the self-titled start 1999 to 2008's All Hope Is Gone era and what a fuckin' era this was for Slipknot!

This is a monumental task I have on my hands with picking 10 songs as my top 10 from this era BUT I'm going to do my best.

Without further ado, let's open up this fucking pit and headbang motherfuckers!

10: The Blister Exists

Alright you maggot motherfuckers are you ready!? 1,2,3!!!!!! Hell of a fucking track, catchy and gets in your head and also gets hella blood pumping. I could be wrong, but I think this song is about people stereotyping you constantly, and the overcoming of those stereotypes he's also saying don't judge me when he says "I'm a number that isn't equal to any of you he's saying I'm better than you.

9: My Plague

The first time I heard this song was thanks to the Resident Evil film and I found it catchy and loved it since. The song is about hypocrites. The quote "kill you, fuck you / I will never be you" is directed to followers - people who are not being themselves, and trying to fit in by acting like someone else. The quote “I know why you plague me” means that he knows why people are messing with him, and he is sick of it and of all the posers in this world; people doing things for popularity and so on. The quote “I'll reach in and take a bite out of that shit you call a heart,” is just warning everyone not to push him any further or else he will snap and kill him. The quote “I know why you plague (yourself)” is informing the person that he knows why he is messing around with him, and that he has had enough, and he cannot be pushed around any longer."

8: Left Behind

Alright this was the first song of Slipknot and I heard this in passing thanks to skipping music channels, and I was intrigued by these men in masks and why they were screaming about being left behind haha. This is a song about Corey when he was homeless. He made so many friends and trusted them with life. He shared space and everything. And now when he had a house and everything the old faces just disappears.

7: Snuff

Love isn't it complex, hard, beautiful and something else and when Slipknot comes together and does these softer slower songs about love and loss and heartbreak, it is always beautiful and cathartic. I love this one. I believe we all can relate to this or a song like Vermillion from its soft nature, hard hitting lyrics and sombre tones. Lead singer Corey Taylor (from Kerrang! July 19, 2008): "This is the slow one. It's another personal one. Again, not naming names, it's about someone who helped me through a lot and I thought she felt the same way that I did, and then she really let me down. At the same time, it was good that she did, because it was that final push to me figuring out myself. The lyrics are pretty self-explanatory." 

6: Psychosocial

Oh man, the first time I heard this was angelic, like the heavens had opened and delivered me this song at the exact right time. Catchy and meaty as fuck in its instrumentals and lyrics, the chorus is just oof. Anti-war and anti-gov themed song you could mostly relate to song to. Lead singer Corey Taylor (from Kerrang! July 19, 2008): "Man, what a love song to the band! It's got that Rammstein/Ministry mechanical edge to it, but my vocals add something very real and very human to it. The Juxtaposition works and I wanted to play in and out of that world. Lyrically it's very much about us, and the fact that we can pull it off when we are focused."

5: Wait And Bleed

Iconic and one of the band's biggest hits and one of my all-time fave Knot songs of course. Also, if you ever get the chance please check out the fan made Disney version of this song hahaha. As for the meaning behind the song well this is about a man who keeps having repetitive black and white dreams about laying in a bathtub full of his own blood with his wrists slit. One day he wakes up and sees that his dream has become a reality, but he doesn't want to believe it and he tries to fall back asleep again.

4: Duality

Is this Slipknot's biggest song? Possibly. Did I once say this was overplayed? Yes. Do I fucking love this song? WITH ALL OF MY BEING YES! This song is about the band dealing with every problem they've had over the past couple of years, and it definitely reflects any struggles they have. The video was shot in Iowa and featured a large group of Slipknot fans. Drummer Chris Fehn explains: "They had an audition I think at some hotel in Des Moines, and the kids lined up. It was funny, because there were people that totally weren't into the band but just wanted to go down there and see if they could get into the video and stuff. And they're like, 'No, dude, get outta here.' But that was cool. I guess some kids flew in from Europe and got in the video."

3: Vermillion, Pt. 2

I love this song so much, that's all I will say. This song is obviously a love song, only Slipknot style. So it dances around the fact that it's a love song and goes into more of an obsession angle. Upon a deeper look, the word Vermillion means a vivid red to reddish orange. "Vermilion Pt. 2" is believed to be about an unrequited love interest from the first part of "Vermilion." Part 2 is much softer, and the video hints that the woman in the first video is now dead.

2: Before I Forget

The song that pushed me full time as a maggot and also thank you Guitar Hero 3 for the introduction. I was bewildered and also just hooked the first time I heard this song. It is no secret that Vol 3 is my fave Slipknot album also haha. The song is about rising above the bullshit and being a person, not a human. It's about saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Zero bullshit. In 2006, this won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. This was Slipknot's first Grammy - they were nominated for the award six years in a row before finally winning. The beeping at the end of the song is Morse code, which spells out the word "Slipknot." Slipknot rarely appear without their masks, but they do in this video, although only tight shots of their faces are seen. Corey Taylor explains the loop at the end of the song in his book A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven: "Another ghost got into the machine in the control room one night as we were making a rough mix of 'Vermilion' - it started looping a section of a verse, so we hit 'record' and began making a remix of that loop. You can actually hear it on the album: it is in between 'Before I Forget' and 'Vermilion pt. 2.'"

1: Spit It Out

An absolute tune mun, prior to being a metal head I was really into rap and so you can imagine how I took the speed of Corey here and with these immense instrumentals. I was blown away, and I mosh like no tomorrow to this. This was written in retaliation to childish mudslinging by a handful of individuals who worked at a local radio station in Des Moines, Iowa, where the band is from. These individuals worked hard to keep Slipknot off the air. The video is based on the film The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick, but using the members of Slipknot in the main roles. Kubrick touched on themes of madness and mental breakdowns in a lot of his films, as do many Slipknot songs. Whenever Slipknot play "Spit It Out" live, they do what's called the "zero bulls--t" at the bridge. Corey tells all the fans in the crowd to get down on their knees and jump up when he says "jump the f--k up," at which point the crowd goes crazy. The line "Jump the f--k up" replaces the line in the recording, "Good enough, had enough." 

Alright maggots, that is my list for today, so thanks for coming with me on this trip back in time to the ferocious era of Knot and for headbanging and opening up the pits hehe. Oh, and thanks for sticking your lighters in the air for the soft songs too, that was totally cool and very much appreciated.

Click here for the next top ten Slipknot era!

Stay (sic, sic, sic)!!!!

Slipknot: The End, So Far - REVIEW

September 29th I received my copy of Slipknot's newest album The End, So Far. This is Slipknot's seventh and final album with label Roadrunner Records whom the band signed a deal with way back in 1998. Slipknot were said to be making this album since 2020.

In just days before this album released on 30th September 2022, It was said that some members of the band were not happy with the production on this album and early reviews have shown a fairly mixed review of the album BUT today I am here and will be listening to this new album and posting my thoughts and what I like and don't like with the album, and it will all be done track by track. So let's push our fingers into our eyes and get (sic).

THE END, SO FAR

1: Adderall

A totally different sound from Slipknot. Clean Corey vocals and synthy mixing from Sid. I really like this one. Sets me up for a totally different sounding Knot album. This is chill and catchy. Love it!

2: The Dying Song (Time to Sing)

This was I believe the second song released prior to the album's release and just shifts us from the new sound that was Adderall to the classic Knot sound with The Dying Song. Catchy chorus and meaty drums and guitars occupy this space.

3: The Chapeltown Rag

Ah ha! The first song released from the album is here! Probably my fave thing about this song is the way it flows. It's a similar sounding song to that of one from the All Hope Is Gone album for me, and it's also similar in its end to We Are Not Your Kind song.

4: Yen

Another one that was released in plenty of time before the album. Strange how the first few tracks were the ones they put out first, decent samples of the album I suppose and quite safe choices. Yen is ok like at first listen I was not into this one, like it did not stand out and upon further hearings of the song, I find myself singing along to the chorus.

5: Hive Mind

Now again this was put out before the album and funny enough I first heard this song through Tiktok just 2 days before the album released as Slipknot used the song to promote the new album of course and encouraged fans on tiktok to mosh to it on the app. It feels like organized chaos in a song BUT I mean that well, I am enjoying hearing clown and ol' Tortilla man banging the kegs. Nice to see them get some light with this one. I kinda like this one I feel it will grow more on me after a few more times.

6: Warranty

Alright back onto stuff I have not heard prior to the album's release now. Whoever is the backing vocals with Corey in the start of this one I give props to, I liked that blend. Nice solo. Hmm I'm not quite fussed on this one. I feel like something is missing from it in a way. An incomplete feeling how odd. Maybe this one will grow in time.

7: Medicine for the Dead

Oooof nice growl Mr. Taylor, that's a nice start to this one and this feels thrashy to start and a bit of groove to it, how interesting. Again I feel the same way for this track as I did the last, am I missing something or was this lacking something. Hmm. I also wonder if there are any instrumentals on this album.

8: Acidic

Oh hello there, quite a doom opening, and then we get Corey switching from aggressive to clean and some guitar twang, and It is swapping between the two as the track continues. This feels like a cross between a CFMT song and Slipknot just in terms of it's sound as we have clean Corey, aggressive Corey among some darker metal tones of the instrumentals of which we are so use to from Knot. One to listen in with a few more times to see if it grows or not.

9: Heirloom

Alright with a name like Heirloom I'm waiting on some sort of trophy nostalgic trip haha. Some scratching from Sid is a good start. Hmm groove singing akin to Stone Sour. Again I compare this with the sound of Corey's other band Stone Sour as it sounds more like their song than a Knot song. Feel's like it's missing some catchy chorus from Absolute Zero era Stone Sour. The chorus "The moment never lasts that long" right I will be honest this chorus feels lacklustre and I don't want to say this, but I think this would have benefited Stone Sour more and the rest of the guys in Stone did their own version layering it different would be a bit better suited than this being a Slipknot song. Not bad just I don't buy into it being a Slipknot song.

10: H377

A faster paced song in terms of lyrics and that's nice to see, I like it when Corey talks fast. Catchy chorus which could catch on with time and more plays of the song.

11: De Sade

This feels like Slipknot's version of SOAD's - ATWA & Aerials in a way with some of its form and around the 3:40 mark it kinda feels like Custer. I dig this, good solo Jim.

12: Finale

Wow, no instrumentals on this album. Another song that's quite different and experimental and yet it's closing the album and I find it a shame because this was a good one again. 

The Verdict

7/10

That's the album and this has been my thoughts and scribbles on the album first hand. I had a lot of high hopes as ever for any new music from Slipknot, they are truly one of my fave bands of all time. I can't help but to feel a little bit disappointed right now. However, the potential for some of these songs to grow and get better with age is there.

Alright, what did you think of this album? Did you like it or did it make you De Sad?

Let me know!

Comment, share and let me know if there are any top tens or music or films you want me to check out or rank, and I will get onto it.

Thanks for reading, Stay (Sic) Shiny!

CFMT Album Review!

After some wait and after a shitty start to the year, we are now into Autumn and as covid is spiking up again in the uk and as I am back in lockdown and unable to see loved ones outside of my household, here I am today to bring you my thought's, opinions and most importantly review of Corey Taylor's solo debut album titled CFMT. 

I pre-ordered my copy from Amazon and it was signed by the legendary Cfmt himself so that is so wicked and I received the album a day before it's initial release which is quite something extraordinary to have especially from Amazon these days. As previously written I have already gave my thoughts on CMFT MUST BE STOPPED song, which you can see and learn more of my thoughts and about Corey Taylor in that review, simply click on the bold letters to see that piece.

With 13 song's on this stacked album, let's go through them as I give you my thought's on these songs before giving my final verdict on the album as a whole, do enjoy!

1: HWY 666

This is how you kick off an album, ROCK n ROLL!!!! A country metal track as this track simply informs us to buckle up as we are heading for a hell of a ride!!!!

2: Black Eyes Blue

This is a lovely alternative rock, love song which is also very lovely and catchy and i love. So for the less hardcore you got this to fall back to. 

3: Samantha's Gone

Really catchy chorus with a song which has such a great grove to it. 

4: Meine Lux 

Such a fast paced party tune here I find and oh catchy so catchy.

5: Halfway Down

Quite a flirty song here and very chill, the groove is damn catchy. The guitars are sooo smooth, it's having a cigarette while this is all going on I presume because them licks and solos beeee smokin'.  

6: Silverfish

A soft centred slow song with a catchy chorus to boot and it's almost like blues riff's and psychedelic feel is just chill with a kickin' solo. 

7: Kansas

I absolutely love this one!!! Just gives me such emotional feels and all in a good way, it's sweet, loving and romantic, i just pine over this one haha. 

8: Culture Head

This is a Hell of a tune! It was most recently played and performed on WWE's Nxt brand for PPV Takeover 31 and from there upon my first listen i was like "woah!" and "i need to listen to this again" which i still am like to this song and i play it on repeat a few times a day since this came out! THIS PUNCHES SO HARD!

9: Everybody Dies On My Birthday

I don't quite know what to make of this song, Corey is clearly sending a message and getting his thoughts out there. It's a decent track, perhaps a grower. 

10: The Maria Fire

Oh damn this be some bluesy jazzy stuff right here and so yeah i really like this song. 

11: Home

A soft touching song here, guaranteed to make you swell up and cry. 

12: CMFT MUST BE STOPPED

CFMT must be stopped is loud, in your face and kicks so much ass!, all the while moving and flowing like a coursing river, the music video features an all star line up of cameo's too! I love this song!

13: European Tour Bus Bathroom Song

This is goofy, fast paced and insane! This will have you scratching your head and headbanging and then questioning "what the fuck did I just listen to?" hahaha. 

Corey has kicked down the door to the industry years ago and now he's ripped the damn door off for all to see and hear. Corey is not a stranger he's been in this game for three decades now fronting metal giants Slipknot and also fronting the hard rocking Stone Sour, but for a solo outing, this is how you do it! This album, well let me just start and say that it is a lot of fun and you can hear how much fun Corey had in creating this album. It's has a varied range of sound in the instrumentals and a diverse vocal range from Corey that we all know and love very well. 

Overall
8/10

Thank you very much for reading my review and checking out my blog, I really appreciate it!
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CFMT MUST BE STOPPED - COREY TAYLOR DEBUT SINGLE REVIEW!

Here it is bay baaaay!!!! 

After weeks of teasers and sneak peaks and after years of work we have the first single and the debut single of Corey Taylor's debut solo album!!!! 

Credit: Kerrang & Ashley Osborn.

This is how you make a debut single and this is how your announcement to the world should be!  Everyone needs to take notes, even if you took no notes you can bet your sweet booty that he's put the industry on notice once again but this time he's going it alone.  

You enter the world screaming covered in someone else's blood and you enter the music industry by shouting, being noisy, catchy, having some groovy riffs and bars whilst spitting flamin relentless bars. Effectively Corey has kicked down the door to the industry years ago and now he's ripped the damn door off for all to see and hear. Corey is not a stranger he's been in this game for three decades now but for a solo outing this is how you do it. Of course if you don't know who the fuck Corey Taylor is you will now! 

Credit: Corey Taylor

Also worth mentioning another released track from this long awaited album has been released and it's called Black Eyes Blue and this is a lovely alternative rock, love song which is also very lovely and catchy and i love. So for the less hardcore you got this to fall back to. 

So far we got groove, blues, funk, soft, aggression as well as the obvious rock and metal vibes and course rap is present too so basically we got all we have known Corey for in his past but in one person and in his most mature state right now in time. CFMT must be stopped is loud, in your face and kicks so much ass!, all the while moving and flowing like a coursing river, the music video features an all star line up of cameo's too! I love this song!

Corey in a recent Kerrang interview stated he want's people to smile and say "Fuck, that was a good time!".  Corey in the same Kerrang interview also stated that this album fills in the blanks of his personality considering he is a goofball when it comes to social media and in interviews: "“People give me shit for being this loquacious goofball – in interviews, and in real life and whatnot,” he says. “But then I’m this very dark artist when it comes to a lot of my music. And yet people are like, ‘Well, how can you be one and the other?’ I feel like this album fills in a blank there; it ties those two sides together. You can’t have darkness without the light; you can’t experience joy unless you know what real sadness feels like; you can’t know that you’ve won unless you’ve lost… a lot. And that’s what this is: this is me coming back up to the surface and realising that I’m in a really good fuckin’ place, I feel like this is kind of the missing piece of a puzzle.”

5 STARS 

I can't wait for more!

Corey Taylor's solo album 'CMFT' drops worldwide on October 2 featuring the singles "CMFT Must Be Stopped" and "Black Eyes Blue". Pre-order now at EMP.co.uk or at https://www.thecoreytaylor.com

Credits to Kerrang & Corey Taylor
Read the Kerrang interview here!