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Band Name: Slipknot
Album Name: All Hope Is Gone
Rating: 4.5 / 5 User Rating: 3.6 / 5
Label: Roadrunner Records
Buy Album: Amazon.com
Rate Album: Rate
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Tracklist
1. execute
2. Gematria (The Killing Name)
3. Sulfur
4. Psychosocial
5. Dead Memories
6. Vendetta
7. Butcher's Hook
8. Gehenna
9. This Cold Black
10. Wherein Lies Continue
11. Snuff
12. All Hope Is Gone
Bonus Tracks:
13. Child of Burning Time
14. Til We Die
15. Vermilion Pt. 2 (Bloodstone mix)
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When tasked with reviewing the new Slipknot album, I have to admit that I was less than enthused. While I was a big fan of the first two Slipknot albums whilst in high school, Corey's melodic explorations with Stone Sour and the subsequent over-assimilation of that style into Slipknot's "Volume 3" lost me completely. When it comes to Slipknot, the straight-up aggression is what I truly enjoy, and this album has brought it back in spades.
The first point that needs to be made, however, is that "All Hope Is Gone" is VERY modern. This is definitely not a cookie cutter Slipknot release. The older hip hop influence is largely extinct. Sampling still remains, but it has mostly been confined to the background, and is no longer a focal point of the band. The album is also much more technical than previous albums, topping even the fairly technical "Volume 3" in that regard. There is plenty of melody scattered throughout, but it doesn't overwhelm. It tends to come at just the right times, and provides a nice relief from the heaviness.
The LP begins with a typically creepy and foreboding intro, before launching into my personal favorite song on the album, "Gematria," which is very reminiscent of the currently popular "deathcore" sound, featuring prominent death metal and hardcore punk influences... and, of course, a killer breakdown.
From there, the album takes the listener on quite a journey from the melodeath-styled riffage of "Sulfur" and "Vendetta" to the classic Slipknot stomping of "Psychosocial" and "All Hope Is Gone" to the Stone Sour-esque melody of "Dead Memories" and "Snuff" (surefire radio hits) to the sure-to-be crowd pleasing chunky mosh breakdowns of "Butcher's Hook" and "Wherein Lies Continue."
Perhaps most notably incorporated throughout are tons of clean, polished, and very original guitar solos. They would have been a no-no during the early days of Slipknot's career, but now find themselves as a focal point.
Overall, this is probably Slipknot's most varied and accomplished release to date, with a little something for everyone and an absurd amount of musicianship. Even if you consider yourself a little too underground for Slipknot, I would recommend at least giving the album a try, as many of the songs are heavy enough to satisfy extremists, while still retaining a tremendous sense of song.
Review by: Quentin Haigh
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