20 Most Underrated Hard Rock Songs Of All Time
10. Circle - Slipknot
By the mid 2000's, Slipknot practically had their brand of nu metal down to a science. With the foundation of Corey Taylor's scream and a massive guitar attack, the band were comfortable to go in a bold new direction on Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses. While this record saw the band tackling more accessible material, there was nothing more tortured than their first step into ballad territory.
Sandwiched between the heavier cuts, "Circle" is one of the only Slipknot songs to feature an acoustic guitar as the main sonic force. Ironically enough, the actual development of the song was done during the Iowa sessions, but there was no way anyone could fit a slower song on a record that heavy. Given the more experimental side of this project, this song has an inner melancholy that seems almost reminiscent of something that Radiohead would pull off.
From a lyrical perspective, this song is also a much more personal affair for Taylor, as he talks about his experience meeting the dad that he never knew once he became an adult. It might be a bit more plaintive than the band's previous work, but even when writing slower tunes, Slipknot always knew how to tap into true pain.