As with everyone else, i've been listening to this band ever since the first album. so i'll just cut to the chase:
after hearing All Hope is Gone, i couldnt bare to see if i could ever like this band's music again. AHIG was definitely not their best, or worst, but it was definitely the weakest album they produced. it still had songs i liked, not as much as their past 3 albums before it,As with everyone else, i've been listening to this band ever since the first album. so i'll just cut to the chase:
after hearing All Hope is Gone, i couldnt bare to see if i could ever like this band's music again. AHIG was definitely not their best, or worst, but it was definitely the weakest album they produced. it still had songs i liked, not as much as their past 3 albums before it, but it was still enough to replay once in a while. that is, until heard The Gray Chapter. just when i thought that this couldnt be an even more low point for the band musically, they proved me wrong. this is definitely by far, my most hated album they have made, and probably the bottom of the barrel album of 2014 so far.
not just by instrumentation, but mainly by vocals. the instrumentation part of their music sounds reminiscent of the early Slipknot days (since at least the self titled). that, however, is stretching it. however, most of the vocal tracks, have done the same thing that i've felt when i listened to AHIG, and this something that no one will admit, when its clear as day that its presented in it - the Stone Sour feel. this is something that bothers me, in the sense that - if i wanted to hear Stone Sour, i would rather just hear that. but the problem is, is that Corey's vocals have literally overlapped between the two bands, more so effecting Slipknot's signature sound, and this has been problematic for me ever since AHIG.
do i hate every song? no, but for the most part, i can't listen to everyone of them either. The Negative One seems to be the only standing out track, which was released as a single months before the album finally released. in conclusion to this, if you are a die hard Slipknot fan (or just a die had maggot in general), then you'll obviously pick this album up, regardless of how it sounds. but as for me? maybe its time i completely move on and leave this band behind, and just enjoy what they offered in the past. Slipknot was easily one of those bands that i absolutely loved during my high school days (and no, i wasnt some rebel kid. i actually very well mannered - to an extent, but not overly mischievous :P). but this looks to be the first album i actually dont buy from them, therefore, i'm glad the "streaming" option is available these days. and if i end up do buying it, it'll only be for the sake to just have it in my music collection.
maybe i've just really grown tired of the melodrama tone in metal music. its actually rather funny, coming from an adult who's barely passed his mid 20s. i know for a fact, i still have plenty to experience in music (i listen to more than metal, thank you very much) therefore, i'll leave it with 4 out of 10, just for the fact that these guys still tried even after Paul Gray's death (which is probably why its called the "Gray" chapter, in memory of him), and despite the fact that Joey Jordison is no longer a band member as well. Slipknot seems to have been going through some tough times for several years, but that reflection in the music, in this particular album, sadly, didnt pull me over.… Expand
.5: The Gray ChapterYour Score0 out of 10User Score
