Audio Secrecy
by Stone Sour
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
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  1. rdavies
    Nov 13, 2010
    7
    Less screaming and less heavy but more melodic more versatile and as emotionally sound as ever. I enjoyed. Some cynics might not have liked it but unless you're a fan and can relate to it you're screwed.
  2. TheQuietGamer
    Jul 28, 2016
    8
    Corey Taylor continues to use Stone Sour to show off and experiment with the different musical styles he is capable of. Slipknot comparisons are inevitable. However if you are coming into this album looking for more of that band's aggressive nu metal style, then you will be disappointed. Audio Secrecy moves the band even farther away from that sound.

    That's actually a good thing. It    Corey Taylor continues to use Stone Sour to show off and experiment with the different musical styles he is capable of. Slipknot comparisons are inevitable. However if you are coming into this album looking for more of that band's aggressive nu metal style, then you will be disappointed. Audio Secrecy moves the band even farther away from that sound.

    That's actually a good thing. It allows the band to form more of it's own identity and shows that Corey Taylor can do much more than scream. The work here is more melodic. There are several emotional ballads and straight up rock songs.

    That's not to say that the band doesn't ever get heavy here. Taylor shows he is still in touch with his metal side. Tracks like Mission Statement and The Bitter End are perfect examples of how the album breaks into the hard rock and metal genres. A great thing too, as the heavier material still proves to be the band's more interesting material.

    On the softer side of things there is some lack of impact. Dying is just a generic love song, and tracks like Pieces and Imperfect just fall short. However the band nails it with the singles Hesitate and Say You'll Haunt Me. The latter is just about everything you could want from a modern rock love song. One of the band's best works in my opinion. Hesitate is just a gorgeous emotional ballad. One where the band pours their heart and soul into it and reap the rewards as a result. Miracles takes on a bit of country twang to make it more memorable than most of the other softer tracks, but still ends up falling short.

    Audio Secrecy is a much softer work than anyone has come to expect of Stone Sour and Corey Taylor, especially given their Slipknot ties. Admittedly not all of their more emotional displays here pay off. However the album itself it still great thanks to the heavier tracks which carry the energy and intensity of the band's earlier albums, as well as a few great softer tracks to compliment them. It also does a fantastic job of showing off the range and musical diversity of Corey Taylor while giving Stone Sour more of an identity of it's own, separate from Slipknot.

    It's an overall great album. One that I can recommend despite it's few shortcomings.

    8.6/10    … Expand
  3. TastyJamProject
    Feb 22, 2012
    4
    First of all, I'm a massive Stone Sour, Slipknot and Corey Taylor fan, and have been for years. That being said, I expected so much more from everyone involved. Aside from 2 or 3 great songs, this is a lazy album that doesn't do much to differentiate itself from every other rock band out there. After two amazing and definitive albums, Stone Sour has become bland. Here's hoping Corey TaylorFirst of all, I'm a massive Stone Sour, Slipknot and Corey Taylor fan, and have been for years. That being said, I expected so much more from everyone involved. Aside from 2 or 3 great songs, this is a lazy album that doesn't do much to differentiate itself from every other rock band out there. After two amazing and definitive albums, Stone Sour has become bland. Here's hoping Corey Taylor and Co. can come up with something more exiting next time around. As an edit, I thought I'd give a seasoned take on the album. It's worse than ever, and a shame that Stone Sour released it. There are maybe two singles worth listening to a few times. Not worth buying. Not really worth listening. Great band. Bad album… Expand
  4. slipknotz
    Dec 29, 2011
    9
    to me, this is a great album, especially the special edition as songs like Anna are simply perfect. Corey as a singer shows he can still scream as well as sing:)
  5. forestville
    Apr 24, 2013
    10
    I really love this album, it has everything could i want in a good album:
    melody and hardness, but the melody predominates.
    Overall this is a good album with good production and good ideas, especially the guitars. Corey Taylor plays a proper role for the voice, though much less extreme than in Slipknot.
    You can not miss it.
  6. Jiano74
    May 16, 2017
    7
    This is a brilliant album, it appeals to those who don't like how heavy Slipknot are but really like Corey Taylor's singing. There are some really brilliant songs on this album two I would pick would be Say You'll Haunt Me and Hesitate
  7. thesupremekai
    Sep 11, 2014
    5
    Stone Sour is basically Nickelback with Corey Taylor on vocals. The instrumentals and even Taylor at times, sound a lot like Nickelback. I'm not saying this album is bad, but it ain't good either. If you like heavy, brutal, in your face, chaotic music like Slipknot you will hate this album. If you like Nickelback and Creed then you will love this album.
  8. Danm95VFF
    Apr 18, 2016
    7
    This is perhaps Stone Sour's softest offering to date, but by no means is it bad. There are still plenty of strong guitar riffs and loud hooks, but there are also heartfelt tracks such as "Say You'll Haunt Me", "Miracles" and "Imperfect" which allows Audio Secrecy to capture the band's wide emotional/atmospheric spectrum. It borders dangerously on generic early 2000s post-grunge sometimes,This is perhaps Stone Sour's softest offering to date, but by no means is it bad. There are still plenty of strong guitar riffs and loud hooks, but there are also heartfelt tracks such as "Say You'll Haunt Me", "Miracles" and "Imperfect" which allows Audio Secrecy to capture the band's wide emotional/atmospheric spectrum. It borders dangerously on generic early 2000s post-grunge sometimes, but it also proves that Stone Sour are a fine modern rock band with a lot of potential, which would be utilised in the House of Gold and Bones concept albums that would follow on from this.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Kerrang!
    60
    While its range is, on the one hand, impressive, on the other it means that Audio Secrecy lacks something in focus, even perhaps authority. [4 Sep 2010, p.50]
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    30
    Just when you think Audio Secrecy can get no more infuriating, you find the most overwrought of the ballads lodging their tunes inside the melodic part of your cranium.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    70
    Stone Sour has tapped into its full potential on Audio Secrecy, and it really shows when the album is heard in order, from beginning to end. The flow of the album is gorgeous, made all the better by the aforementioned balance between soft and heavy.
    Read full review
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