Slipknot
Vol. 3 - The Subliminal Verses

THE REVIEW

Hello DeBaser people, today I'll tackle a rather challenging topic: Slipknot and their "Vol.3 The Subliminal Verses".

2004: the highly anticipated new platter from Slipknot comes out... We truly didn't know what to expect from this compact disc. Indeed, precisely because the second album (the first being the dreadful "Mate.Kill.Feed.Repeat") I consider a masterpiece of techno-nu-metal, the self-titled "Slipknot", "Iowa" somewhat disappointed everyone precisely because it wasn't the heir to "Slipknot". "Iowa" had many strengths and many flaws. Strengths: Aggressive and Powerful. Flaws: At times repetitive since it was blind violence for its own sake. Many believed the masked nine to be dead after "Iowa", which nonetheless was a great success. But instead, the nine were not dead; they were simply resurrecting.

The CD that falls into my hands is (starting with the cover) mysterious, restless, as if there were a strange mystery surrounding it... indeed it is exactly so... "Vol.3" begins with the classic haunting prelude à la Slipknot, "Prelude 3.0", a slow and calibrated song where Corey's voice has very low parts that work well in the song because it creates dark atmospheres. The following track is "The Blister Exists". Aggressive and powerful, the classic Slipknot riff easy to listen to but stays in mind. "The Blister Exists", like all the other songs on this CD, has one thing that characterizes it: the maturation in the musical field of the nine musicians. Yes, because while the previous "Iowa" was an excellent album but repetitive and sometimes too violent, "Vol.3" instead is still aggressive but the sound is significantly improved and refined. Ladies and gentlemen, the nine have grown. Song number three is "Three Nil". It has the strength and drive to become a potential Slipknot classic just as the song that follows "Duality" these two songs have strength, anger, and brutality but also highlight the role of the percussionists and DJ, things completely overshadowed by "Iowa" or at least overshadowed except for 3 songs. The fifth track is the typical filler which, however, is also pleasant to listen to. Here you hear the real step forward of Slipknot: "Opium of the People", it may be a filler song but for the first time, right at the beginning of the song, you witness a mini solo by the two guitarists.

"Vermilion" is the little revelation of the album, sweetened in the lyrics but still maintains the "Slipknotian" song standards with the addition of a beautiful solo by Mick (Slipknot's lead guitarist) complete with wah-wah. The tracks flow one after the other and you don't even notice, indeed after "Vermilion" it moves straight to "Pulse of the Maggots". This last track can also be considered a potential Slipknot classic, even in this song the DJ makes his presence known, no longer being a secondary member as one might have thought for the previous "Iowa". Also in "Pulse of the Maggots" there are solos reminiscent of Slayer that the guitarists execute excellently. The track that follows is called "Welcome". A beautiful, aggressive and powerful track that confirms Corey Taylor's leading role in this CD, ranging from purely hardcore vocal lines to vocal lines more familiar with heavy or metal in general. In this album, for the first time, there are 3 moments (because they are moments and not songs) all acoustic, such as "Circle", where in addition to the acoustic guitars the synth is brought to the forefront, always kept in the shadows, and Sid, the DJ. The song that follows is the famous "Before I Forget", the video is famous. Here’s another track you would never expect from the masked nine "The Nameless". It's a mature song that alternates brutality and sweetness, but is obsessive and haunting in the lyrics. It's precisely this that characterizes the new Slipknot: sadness, anguish, and pain, this is what made them change and mature so quickly. After "The Nameless" there is the second moment of the album: "Vermilion part.2". An entirely acoustic track where Corey Taylor's voice expresses itself in all its sweetness without being brutal. The thirteenth song is "The Virus of Life". This song is also unlike any song ever written by Slipknot: it's different because it encapsulates, as mentioned before, anguish, terror, and brutality all at the same time. In "The Virus of Life", Sid is the man who carries the song forward and with him Paul the bassist who is always in the foreground in this track.

The album ends with the last moment: "Danger - Keep Away". This song's main instrument is the synth which is always in the foreground.

Slipknot have grown and matured.

P.S. For those who loved "Iowa" this album sucks, whereas for those who like the early sound of "Slipknot", this album is a must.

Greetings from Kissarmy