Vol 3: Slipknot stab at their usual woes with a potentially blunt knife
Written: Sep 26 '05
Product Rating:
Pros: An inferno of fiery, infuriated, no-holds-barred cuts - if you appreciate that sort of thing
Cons: How inane can this bunch of men with covered faces get?
The Bottom Line: In the end, Slipknot are just another in a long list of enraged metal-clowns. But their popularity ensures resignation to the fact they're aren't going anywhere.
blackstar40's Full Review: Vol.3: the Subliminal Verses by Slipknot
Entering the world of masks for album number four, Des Moines' band Slipknot have certainly acquired themselves a wide fanbase, thus their decision on Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses to stick with the formula and produce fourteen tracks that hold all the typical hostilities and should be expected to cause severe headbanging with today's teens. Slipknot have always been fairly raw, trading in lyrical content for power, but by the time a band is reverting to one-liners ('The Nameless' is an example) for the verse, you know the flow is beginning to slow. What Vol 3 appears as is a tired collection of thrashing nu-metal intended to be threatening, but instead coming across between vaguely and extremely dumb.
That said, 'Prelude 3.0' is probably entitled to a track of it's own name, for it's a saturated guitar epic that was common of Led Zeppelin in their prime. Thankfully lead singer/roarer Corey Taylor doesn't resort to a scream until the last thirty seconds, the mood instead sentimentally ambient, and it's because of this the clumsy delivery (he sounds like a monster trying to sound sympathetic, but with no idea what he's saying) can be ignored.
Wasting no time making up for lost ground, 'The Blister Exists' plays out the familiar edgy guitar drive used for what must be the fiftieth time in Slipknot's career to connect with the ferociously angry modern generation, reaffirming that the band are as always concentrating on appealing to those with an abundance of testosterone rather than achieving meaning. Needless to say, there is little evidence of the latter in this track, right down to the closing marching drums. 'Three Nil' only pushes the thrash further, accenting Taylor's exhausted guttural shout. Single ‘Before I Forget’ is another primary culprit, drawing attention to the incredible unintelligence these guys can invent with a cardboard hook like ‘I will remember before I forget.’
After this, ‘Duality’ must be applauded for communicating a foreboding sense in the opening whisper of ‘I push my fingers into my eyes.’ Lyrically it’s no different to the rest of the bunch, but it conjures up enough energy from the razor-sharp edge of the guitars and Taylor’s rapid ‘chant’ to make it their moment of glory. ‘Opium of the People’ is a feeble attempt to make that consistent – the intro’s screech is momentarily interesting before it descends into a swamp of musical sludge, typical growling guitars and Taylor’s rapping piled on top adding to the disaster.
Fortunately, ‘Circle’ positively shines, revealing perhaps that Slipknot do have musical ability beyond throwing everything haphazardly into song after song. Acoustic strums, strings (enough to make your jaw drop with shock) and a keyboard interlude are well-placed for maximum effect and fit perfectly in with the echoing melody: ‘Follow me / I’ve seen so much I’m blind again.’ If not for the unnerving drum / electronic clash at the finish, it’d be flawless.
Ever uneven, ‘Welcome’ revives the nu-metal of previous numbers, making for a shapeless, mindless experience with no solid basis. ‘Vermilion’ is no better, only generating interest when Part 2 arrives three tracks later. It’s a mournful acoustically-fueled ballad in a moping state of anguish, harmonized and depressed as possible.
‘Pulse of the Maggots’ at least lives up to the pulse; over a siren Taylor stakes furious claims such as ‘This is the year where hope fails you!’ Hope also fails for this track, as a cheering support is the sole provider of anything new. ‘The Virus of Life’ meanders through five minutes of undistinguished doomsday songwriting and to conclude Corey Taylor admits that he ‘does feel alone’ and demands we ‘hear what he has to say,’ seemingly very little when you look The Subliminal Verses over. Murmuring keyboards and guitars hum their agreement in a breath of fresh air, though the track’s title ‘Danger – Keep Away’ is probably a good three words to sum up a vast portion of this dull-witted release.
Track List
1. Prelude 3.0
2. The Blister Exists
3. Three Nil
4. Duality [x]
5. Opium of the People
6. Circle [x]
7. Welcome
8. Vermilion
9. Pulse of the Maggots
10. Before I Forget
11. Vermilion, Part 2 [x]
12. The Nameless
13. The Virus of Life
14. Danger - Keep Away
Similar Artists: Cradle of Filth, Mudvayne, Godsmack
Heavy: Yes
Swearing: Yes
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