Slipknot – .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)
Well then. I have been ignoring the “later” Slipknot records for what seems like forever. I didn’t expect to be rating this better than both the two previous albums, especially Vol. 3, which despite its lack of favour with me, is regarded as one of their better albums by the wider consensus of fans.
I think the main that saves 5 from being just another Slipknot record is that they finally sorted out the production. 3 was heavy on the treble and All Hope Is Gone was just pure mud to be honest, and clumsy as fuck. I’m not sure if the injection of new blood here was that much of a factor, it is impossible to quantify, but even though most of the songs don’t stand out for me on 5 like they did on the earlier records, it is easily the better record, objectively.