10 Greatest Tribute Albums In Hard Rock

From the start, Slipknot was never a band that concerned themselves with the more sensitive side of rock. I mean, when you have songs like Wait and Bleed and Left Behind in your arsenal, there's no real need to turn the lights down low and get all introspective. That is, until you have to deal with the loss of one of your own.

Just as the 9 were starting to gain some real traction off of their 4th album All Hope is Gone, founding member Paul Gray was found unresponsive in his hotel room during a break from touring, having OD'd on pills. There were questions for months as to whether the Knot would even continue, with no plans being set for a new album or even replacement members coming in. In 2014 though, we got a glimpse into their mindset on .5 the Gray Chapter.

Losing drummer Joey Jordison in the process as well, the Gray Chapter acts as a cathartic experience for everyone involved, as songs like Killpop and Goodbye show the band coming to terms with losing an integral part of their lineup. You pretty much know what you're getting into from the moment you put the record on, with a droning funeral march setting the tone for the dark path we're going to go down. While nothing can bring Paul back, the strength of the Maggots has the potential to last beyond mere mortality.