Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Their most extreme CD to date. [4 June 2004, p.80]
  2. At least two thirds of it is still comprised of head-spinning speed metal, but there are signs of genuine progression -- not to mention progressive rock -- from the off.
  3. They’ve now released their best album and the best pop inflected metal album since System of a Down's Toxicity.
  4. While this album is hardly a sellout or a mellowing down, its shifting in direction, its differing textures make it far better than 'Iowa'.
  5. It's a satisfying, carefully crafted representation of their career to date.
  6. 75
    The monster-chomp guitars and semiauto percussion are still in effect, but somebody spilled a little Pantene in the Pantera. [Jul 2004, p.108]
  7. A triumph. [Jul 2004, p.124]
  8. 70
    A significant broadening of the tonal spectrum notwithstanding, the outfit manages to keep their ferocity intact, although the malevolence is structured with a shrewd infusion of melodic vocals, flourishing experimental dynamics and a motherlode of striking riffs.
  9. OK, so it’s not Norah Jones dinner party territory and there’s enough torturous mayhem to gratify their faithful ‘maggots’ but there’s equally a contrived nature underlying the habitual havoc.
  10. 60
    The basic Slipknot sound has improved. [#27, p.147]
  11. [Slipknot] has married a little beauty to its beast, with schizophrenic results that are best summed up by the line "The only thing I ever really loved was hate."
  12. Plays out like a tepid, second-rate version of Iowa, which pretty much makes it a third-rate anything else. [Jul 2004, p.142]
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 101 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 73
  2. Negative: 8 out of 73
  1. JayP
    10
    Without a doubt a staple in Metal and Music history, the best of the bands current Trilogy this album sets a new bar for the band. Merging both a Dark heaviness with a even darker sense of melody this albums covers both the areas of heavy metal and of passionate expression. This album should not go unheard and for any serious fan of metal or hard rock should not go un-owned. Full Review »
  2. Where to begin? This album is great, but there are a few songs that I felt had no place in a Slipknot album. However, that's only three songs. The rest are all hardcore songs, and anyone who says that its wrong to use Acoustic guitar is ignorant, as they are not just a bunch of clowns hopping on stage for us; they are artists, and this was an experiment , a successful one to say the least. The best song on this album imo has to be The Blister Exists, it makes you get up and headbang because its so hardcore! And yes, I am a real metal head, I listen to all the good thrash bands so don't say I'm a poser fools. Pulse of the Maggots and Three Nil have some awesome percussion and guitar, Vermillion is a two part song that is really awesome, having weird sound effects and Corey's insane vocals. The songs Duality and Before I Forget are the two songs most commonly heard on the radio, but they are still pretty awesome, if not a little formulaic. (More so Before I Forget then Duality, I like Duality quite a bit.) So what are the songs I didn't like? Well I don't care that they went into Acoustic Guitar, but the songs The Virus of Life, Circle, and Danger-Keep Away are all very slow non Slipknot sounding songs and they just don't click with me, I couldn't listen to Danger Keep Away very long, because of the inane whispering as well haha. The song Welcome is pretty good as well I forgot to mention, and Opium of the People is awesome but needs to be longer, too short with those awesome guitar riffs. Full Review »
  3. How this album is rated so low by critics is something I will never know. This album is simply one of the best metal albums out there. Slipknot has established themselves as the leaders of Nu-Metal and Vol. 3 is nothing short of a master piece. Full Review »