Slipknot begins .5: The Gray Chapter, their first album after a death and the departure of two original members, with the declaration, "This song is for the dead." It's a fitting dedication, in tandem with the album title, to deceased bassist Paul Gray, whose death and the resultant emotional fallout serve as the muse for many of the album's lyrics.
For all of the weird industrial flourishes in the opening track, Slipknot waste no time kicking it back to 2001's Iowa, the heaviness of which oozes throughout while the band's subsequently learned songwriting skills prevent it from getting too messy. This is both a blessing and a curse, as part of the appeal of the Iowans' quintessential album was its relative (remember, we are talking radio metal here) chaotic nature. Still, it's hard to deny the pummelling of "Sarcastrophe," "Lech" or "AOV," the latter of which features a Trivium-esque chorus. "Skeptic," perhaps the most direct tribute to Gray, is another standout, with its chorus of "I can't let you disappear; I will keep your soul alive if I can't have you here"
Tracks like "Killpop," "If Rain Is What You Want" and "Goodbye" fit in the flow of the album, but the over-produced sheen might make it so the iTunes generation find themselves skipping them over. This is only made worse by the hour-plus runtime, bloated further on the lengthier special and deluxe editions. Though it does eventually get bogged down under its own excess, considering the weight Slipknot had to shoulder to even get this album out, it's a considerable accomplishment and a lovely eulogy to their fallen comrade.
(Roadrunner)For all of the weird industrial flourishes in the opening track, Slipknot waste no time kicking it back to 2001's Iowa, the heaviness of which oozes throughout while the band's subsequently learned songwriting skills prevent it from getting too messy. This is both a blessing and a curse, as part of the appeal of the Iowans' quintessential album was its relative (remember, we are talking radio metal here) chaotic nature. Still, it's hard to deny the pummelling of "Sarcastrophe," "Lech" or "AOV," the latter of which features a Trivium-esque chorus. "Skeptic," perhaps the most direct tribute to Gray, is another standout, with its chorus of "I can't let you disappear; I will keep your soul alive if I can't have you here"
Tracks like "Killpop," "If Rain Is What You Want" and "Goodbye" fit in the flow of the album, but the over-produced sheen might make it so the iTunes generation find themselves skipping them over. This is only made worse by the hour-plus runtime, bloated further on the lengthier special and deluxe editions. Though it does eventually get bogged down under its own excess, considering the weight Slipknot had to shoulder to even get this album out, it's a considerable accomplishment and a lovely eulogy to their fallen comrade.
