Slipknot - Unsainted

Key Facts

Country: 🇺🇸

Genre: Nu Metal/Heavy Metal

Release Date: 16th May 2019

Record Label: Roadrunner Records

Album Realease Date: 9th August 2019

Band Members:

(#6) Shawn "Clown" Crahan – custom percussion, backing vocals

(#5) Craig "133" Jones – samples, media, keyboards

(#7) Mick Thomson – lead and rhythm guitars

(#8) Corey Taylor – lead vocals

(#0) Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards

(#3) Chris Fehn – custom percussion, backing vocals

(#4) Jim Root – lead and rhythm guitars

Alessandro Venturella – bass

Jay Weinberg – drums

Slipknot - Unsainted


Review
Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Following the absolute rager of a single that is 2018's All Out Life, Slipknot are back with new masks, details on a their new album and creepy new single Unsainted. This new single has passages and riffs (while not as fast or angsty) that are reminiscent of 1999's Slipknot and 2001's Iowa, which can only be a good thing for the new album! With an equally haunting and typically Slipknot-esque music video, Unsainted definitely contrasts All Out Life musically but it can be argued that Slipknot have properly revisited their roots and put a Vol. 3/.5: The Grey Chapter twist on it. 

The first thing that grabs me about this song is the electronics and the creepy choir that carries the chorus melody. A choir is not something you'd usually expect from Slipknot but it works so well and (I know I go on about layers a lot don't @ me) adds some epic textural layers in between the usual guitars and percussion. One thing that I will praise Slipknot for is their songwriting, as they can consistently churn out tune after tune after tune and this one is no different. Within the first few listens I was already singing the chorus melody. As far as riffs go though, its heavy as much as it is melodic and instantly recognisable as Slipknot, need I say more? Corey's voice is sounding as awesome as ever and lyrically they are insightful yet enigmatic, harsh vocals wise he has definitely slowed down, I guess that comes with age and the needs of the song though.

Overall songwriting wise, it's consistent with previous single All Out Life, which is a good thing as I know sometimes bands put out two singles that contrast completely in their sound out of the album context and it can divide opinions before the album is released, I don't think Unsainted will do that though, definitely another track that will add to the hype for this album. 

From a production standpoint, the overall mix reminds me of a mixture of 2010's All Hope Is Gone and 2014's .5: The Grey Chapter. as it's a cleaner mix to anything off of 2001's Iowa by comparison but there is a grittiness that I can't quite put my finger on and it's really exciting as each time I listen to the song I pick something new up, probably because I keep getting distracted by that awesome choir section. I have noticed over the last two albums and singles that Slipknot's sound in the studio definitely reflects the venues that they are playing in. I mean you don't expect to hear Liberate on the setlist of an arena show, Unsainted definitely feels arena ready. I don't know how Jim Root and Mick Thomson get their guitar tones to sound so chunky yet delicate enough to show of the intricacies in their more melodic sections, definitely awakens the guitar nerd in me looking into that stuff, hopefully they do a rig rundown soon so I can find out. The only thing I don't like is the loudness of the kick click, my personal preference is for a bit more bass but in the context of the song it works.

2019 has already been a phenomenal year for metal releases and with Slipknot now finally giving us info on the album, choosing my top 10 albums at the end of the year is going to be insanely difficult! We Are Not Your Kind is landing on 9th August and I cannot wait!!!