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Everything we know about Slipknot's sixth album so far

It can't come soon enough

Slipknot 2019
Author: Julian Marszalek

Asking us if we’re excited about the new Slipknot album is like asking if day follows night – the answer is an unequivocal “Yes!”

Yet for all that, what exactly do we know about Iowan metal institution’s forthcoming sixth album? Details have been sketchy with statements made here and there, but we do at least know it will be unleashed in 2019. Luckily for you, we’ve trawled around so you don’t have to. And this is what we know so far…

Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan

The new album deals with big themes

Speaking with Billboard, Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan said that the new album “breaks down to good v evil, or in this sense, evil v good. It's about being a human being and experiencing what you have in correlating it to this world. This world is ugly and it's supposed to be, and it has to be in order for art to lead to grandness and beauty.”

You have been warned.

‘All Out Life’ is a hint of what to expect

The surprise Halloween release of the brutally heavy ‘All Out Life’ has given a glimpse of what might be expected from Slipknot.

“Right now is a very exciting time," says Corey Taylor. "We’ve been working on new music for the last two years, and 'All Out Life', the song and the video, is just one of many concepts in the works. It’s a fitting taste to get you to the next thing. Get ready for what’s to come. We challenge you to All Out Life.”

“’All Out Life’ means get the fuck up, go live your life and live it all-out,” added percussionist Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan. “The band's been gone for three years. You want blood from me? You got it. That's what I've been giving you for 20 years. But I want blood from you, too. We're no longer just a band. We're a culture.”

Corey Taylor Slipknot

That’s pretty heavy, right?

Right.

“It’s going to be one of the darkest chapters in Slipknot’s history,” Taylor said recently. “It’s that good. It’s complicated, it’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s heavy, it’s melodic, it’s fierce, it’s angry and it’s raw as hell. It’s going to be talking about a lot of things that people are going to need in their life.”

He continued: “It kind of had a cross between the first album and ‘Iowa’. I keep telling people that this is what the kids from Iowa would have made if they’d matured. It’s a step from that.”

Photos: Slipknot's masks through the years:

Slipknot in 2000

Slipknot wearing trademark white boiler suits and their horrorshow masks in 2000

Everything we know about Slipknot's sixth album so far
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Slipknot 'Slipknot'

Slipknot on the sleeve of their fearsome, self-titled debut album in June 1999.

Slipknot 'All Out Life'

The lyrics are going to weigh a lot, too

Mulling over the album’s lyrics, Taylor said in October: “It’s been a heavy couple of years for me personally. So I’m working out some things, personally for myself, which has been great. I’ve been able to grab ahold of some of the depression that I’ve been fighting and formulate the way that I want to describe it. It’s probably the most I’ve shared in years.”

Slipknot's Jay Weinberg

They’re heading into the studio in early 2019

Speaking with Resurrection Fest TV, Corey Taylor spelled out Slipknot’s recording plans: “Right now, the plan is for us to be in the studio early next year — like, first couple of months next year,” he said. “So, a couple of months to get that going, a couple of months to get production, new masks, new outfits, new everything. And hopefully be able to come and start touring in the summer when the album comes out.”

Slipknot's Sid Wilson

You can expect the album to be out in time for Download 2019

“We would never go do dates without an album, but, we're not following any rules this time – not that we ever did,” said Crahan. “We're on an outline, and I think everybody's going to be pleasantly surprised."

Slipknot's Mick Thomson

And you’d better get ready for a pulverizing set at Download, too

“If someone chooses to come and see us, they’re going to get us. I don’t care about the day before, and I don’t care about the day after!” Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan told Kerrang!

Revving up, he added: “One thing I know about Slipknot is that it’s impossible to not talk about us, so I really don’t get caught up in competition – I’m here to kick you in the face and make you remember it. End of story. I don’t know what Tool is doing, and I don’t fucking care. I wanna hear their new album, but if I’m out playing, I don’t care what they’re doing, and they don’t care what I’m doing. But I’m gonna kick you in the face.

When is Slipknot's sixth album released?

Slipknot have now confirmed that their sixth studio album will be released on Friday 9th August 2019.

The album follows the departure of percussionist Chris Fehn

On Monday 18th March 2019, Slipknot announced the departure of their percussionist Chris Fehn. Following reports of an alleged money dispute, Slipknot released a statement reading: “Slipknot’s focus is on making album #6, and our upcoming shows around the world, our best ever. Chris knows why he is no longer a part of Slipknot. We are disappointed that he chose to point fingers and manufacture claims, rather than doing what was necessary to continue to be a part of Slipknot. We would have preferred he not take the path that he has, but evolution in all things is a necessary part of this life. Long live the Knot."