10 Delayed Hard Rock Albums That Weren't Worth The Wait
9. .5 The Gray Chapter - Slipknot
No one can claim to be ready for the release of a new Slipknot album. Compared to the other bands that take their time in between releases, you would swear that these maniacs from Iowa end up going on sabbatical before giving us a nice piece of mayhem to digest. Then again, being away for a while also means having to start from scratch again, which doesn't always yield the best results.
It's not like Slipknot weren't up against adversity here. After firing Joey Jordison and losing Paul Gray to an overdose, this was bound to be a bit shaky from the outset. And the truth really sets in once the songs start, with most of them feeling more like the band purging their emotion rather than focusing on making a new version of Iowa. There are even some more pop leaning material such as Killpop, which was probably disheartening for people still pining for a sequel to the Heretic Anthem.
When you look back on the development though, that wasn't really the point of this album. Looking to pay tribute to their fallen bandmates, this feels more like a way to get one last connection with one of the most important people in your life. In that respect, .5 the Gray Chapter is a necessary chapter in Slipknot's discography...just not something to be repeated again.