Slipknot’s fifth studio album and first in six years, “.5 The Gray Chapter,” is a fitting tribute to late bassist and creative genius Paul Gray. The grief felt by the band is palpable throughout as the record serves as both a way of saying goodbye and a means of moving forward.
Opening the album are the eerie and elegiac strains of “XIX.” After that, all bets are off as the listener is violated by riff after punishing riff. The music is heavy on the bass and drums with the hardcore attack of “Sarcastrophe” and pounding groove of “AOV.” Even the singles are fierce with the vicious melody of “The Devil In I” and “The Negative One.” The violent aggression of “Custer” is felt in the lyrics “Cut, cut, cut me up, Fuck, fuck, fuck me up.” The barbarity of the music is balanced by the intensity and depth of emotions as felt through Corey Taylor’s vocals. This is heavy music for deep, emotional pain, a catharsis and release.
With the loss of Paul Gray and the departure of drummer Joey Jordison, the future of the band was at risk as it was unclear whether or not there would ever be another Slipknot record. Instead of giving up, the Knot has come back stronger than ever giving us an absolute beast of a record that Gray himself would have been proud to be a part of.
