Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)

Far removed from their rap-metal roots, these masked men of extreme metal show no signs of relenting with VOL. 3: (THE SUBLIMINAL VERSES). For this brutal chapter of the Slipknot story, the jagged sound of fierce heaviness and moody melodicism is executed deftly, as Slipknot ducks crossover cliches and nu-metal formula. Esteemed studio guru Rick Rubin captures the group’s raw intensity with sonic reverence, a feat not easily achieved with bands of this style. VOL. 3 delivers all the elements that Slipknot fans have come to expect and demand. From solid, catchy choruses (“Duality”) to fearsome blasts of noise and percussive gymnastics (“Three Nil,” “Welcome”), and borderline balladry (“Vermilion Pt. 2”), unsettling emotions and images are vividly depicted for the listener by this notorious Iowan ensemble.

What the critics say… Rolling Stone (p.86) – 3 stars out of 5 – “VOL.3 experiments with even new extremes, which in Slipknot’s case means tunefulness and traditional song structures.“ Entertainment Weekly (p.80) – “Slipknot hook up with superproducer Rick Rubin and cement their rep as the scariest and smartest band of the Ozzfest generation.” – Grade: A- Q (p.124) – 3 stars out of 5 – “\[A\] triumph….It’s on the mighty single ‘Duality’ and spookily atmospheric ‘Prelude 3.0’ that Slipknot really blow the competition away.“ CMJ (p.24) – “\[P\]robably the band’s best….Slipknot make serious metal on VOL.3…“ Kerrang (Magazine) (p.48) – “Face-melting rhythms, snarling vocals and riffs aplenty are the order of the day….A modern classic…”