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11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yet Hope Remains! Newly converted..., 8 Nov 2008
Slipknot are a strange entity. They've created a clever image for themselves that allows them to stand out from the crowd (Who says metal has to be serious all the time?), yet their music hasn't always followed suit.
Their first album was not what you'd call a classic in the grand scheme of all that is Metal. It had a dirty, heavy sound but the quality of the songwriting was sporadic, the riffs were often similar, and prone to a lot of noise for the sake of it.
It also went downhill very quickly after the first half. Not an uncommon phenomenon with metal albums, but it got pretty bad... Anyway...
I've never been a big fan of them ever since, and i'll be the first to admit i'm not an expert on them. They were ok, but not a band I could listen to for any length of time. They always seemed to be more for younger metal fans.
The most I heard after that was catching occasional glimpses of videos from later albums. Credit due - their videos are class. Duality was cool.
So, when their latest single Psychosocial appeared on my TV screen the other day and pounded my brain to mush with the bloody end of my own severed arm, I was pleasantly surprised.
So surprised that I actually found myself buying the new album today to see if any other surprises were
Occasionally (amongst the *&^% that some bands release these days) I find a new metal album that actually makes me smile and remember why I listen to metal in the first place.
This is not the same band that released that first album many years ago. This is a stripped down, refined, nonsense-free, focused, and professional, tight unit of a band who have put some thought into what they do.
Straight away when the intro builds up into opener "Gematria", you can tell this is going to be a different experience altogether.
The powerhouse behind Slipknot has always been Joey's awesome drumming and their use of percussion as a whole.
This can be a problem though if the rest of the band can't keep up. Thankfully this doesn't even enter into the equation anymore.
Gone is the Nu-Metal sludge, the self-indulgent mucking about and the excess fat that plagued their first album.
The riffs on offer are top quality, Corey's vocals are top-notch (he can SING!), the percussion pounds into your brain like it bloody well should(!) and the songs kick off with no pretense, messing about, or nonsense.
The end result is a highly polished (courtesy of Colin Richardson's HUGE sound) and slick, but heavy as *&^%, slab of pure, unadulterated METAL! Solos an'all. It deserves to be played loud.
I no longer consider them a Nu-Metal band, and that's not something I thought i'd ever say about Slipknot.
From "Gematria" (6 minute thrash classic!), through "Sulfur" (nasty beast of a tune with a great chorus), "Psychosocial" (a stomping BEAST of a tune with pounding drums), latest single "Dead Memories" (bit of a surprise this one!) and Vendetta (At the Gates & Arch Enemy would be jealous), and onto the songs that take a few listens like "Butcher's Hook", "Gehenna" (very moody. very good.), "This Cold Black" (ANGRY!) and the blistering title track, it's a rollercoaster ride that you'll not regret.
Grab your sledgehammer, crank the volume and smash something!
Or better yet, get it on in the car, windows down, drown out the neds with their techno-garbage, and scare christmas shoppers on a saturday afternoon in your favourite city. Childish, but fun at any age!
Not perfect, but definitely worthy of 4 stars (maybe 4 1/2 if they'd spelt Sulphur correctly!), and one of the best metal albums i've heard this year.
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
2008: Year of the Knot, 22 Aug 2008
Furious guitars, and politically/emotionally charged lyrics and the best voice in metal propel "All Hope is Gone" to the status of the best metal album of 08 so far.
Things start of menacingly with "execute", an intro reminiscint of IOWA's (515), but the album really gets going when "Gematria(The Killing Name)" kicks in. Intense thrash riffing enshrouds the screams of "WE WILL BURN YOUR CITIES DOWN"; a clear signal of intent. "Sulfur" continues in the same vein but with Taylor singing in the chorus rather than his trademark growl. First single, "Psychosocial" is an absolute powerhouse. It pounds into your head before offering light relief with Taylor again singing the chorus in a very ear-friendly tone.
Then comes controversy: "Dead Memories". The song is of a high quality, like 90's grunge given a Knot makeover, but somehow doesn't sound right after the blistering opening tracks. The complaints will flood in that it is too "Stone Sour". Good thing then that "Vendetta" comes on, before you can question the previous track. "ARE YOU READY FOR THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE?" shout the Knot and you feel obliged to say YES."Butchers Hook" cranks up the anger several notches, an instant Slipknot classic.
"Gehenna" is exeperimental, eerie and brilliant. "This Cold Black" is the heaviest song on the album, whiplash guitars and snapping drum work powers Taylor's talk of "PNEUMATIC DESTROYERS"- ending in an astonishing crescendo of noise. "Wherein Lies Continue" is brutal until the softly sung "I WONT CONTROL, OR RESTRAIN THINGS I DONT UNDERSTAND" gives melody to the monster. "Snuff", however takes melody to the max. It just depends whether you can appreciate Corey's singing voice in Slipknot, rather than Stone Sour. "All Hope is Gone" finsihes the album off in epic, speed metal fashion.
One hell of an album.
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24 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
All Hope is Gone, 20 Aug 2008
1. Execute
Nice little into, mixed music on decks 5/10
2. Gematria (The Killing Name)
Awesome song. Listen with headphones for left/right interaction. Corey sounds really angry in this song 'We will burn your cities down'. Some great riffs around 2 and half minutes in 8/10
3. Sulfur
Another great song. Starts off with Joey bashing the drums fast then goes into a delicate part before the song comes alive. Corey singing in the chorus is awesome 'like breathing in sulfer' 9/10
4. Psychosocial
Single released along with all hope is gone. 'And the rain will kill us all' Psychosocial - Nice! 9/10
5. Dead Memories
One of the slower songs on the album, most radio friendly song here. Nice guitar work and corey singing like Stone Sour the whole song 'We were never alive and we won't be born again, dead memories in my heart' 9/10
6. Vendetta
Starts off with Joey again on the drums, nice tempo song. Corey sings like stone sour again, which is a good thing! 'Are you ready for the time of your life' 8/10
7. Butcher's Hook
This song defines Slipknot 'Go ahead and disagree' 7/10
8. Gehenna
A creepy song 'Free my severed eyes' Awesome guitar riff at 3 mins in. This song is SIC! 7/10
9. This Cold Black
Think most of Slipknot do backing vocals on this song. Fast paced with some great electric keyboard extras and again another guitar riff at 3 mintues in. Great song once it gets going 9/10
10. Wherein Lies Continue
'The endings the same, the world will not change'. Mixture of angry and optimistic Corey. 'We have to save ourselves'. My least favorite song 6/10
11. Snuff
'Bury all your secrets in my skin' A lot like Vermillion pt 2. Nice slow start and Corey's best vocals on the album 9/10
12. All Hope Is Gone
Another single. Pretty decent effort 8/10
13. Child Of Burning Tire
Creepy vocals at the start, average filler 7/10
14. Till We Die
Corey's singing is really good in this song 8/10
15. Vermillion
Bloodstone pt. 2 Remix. This song has been previously released on a soundtrack 7/10
Overall, Is this Slipknot's best album? I would say Yes!
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