Ranking Every Slipknot Album From Worst To Best

For the first time in the 9-piece metal circus’ history the foundations of the band were ripped right from under their feet with the heartbreaking death of founding member Paul Gray. His input to the band went far deeper than just a run-of-the-mill bassist, and was seen by many as the lifeblood behind the creative songwriting process. Gray was an instrumental part of the Knot’s meteoric success.

The album title signifies much more than an ode to Gray alone, and along with the mysterious departure of long time drummer Joey Jordison, the band entered a true ‘grey area’ which would have sunk a lesser band.

While the Gray Chapter serves as a heartfelt memory to Paul, it’s important to understand that this is no sombre affair, with the exception of the soulful Goodbye. Skeptic is exactly what Paul would have wanted, a wild and erratic eulogy, to keep his soul alive.

The record pulls influence from each of their previous albums. Sarcastrophe is as complex and unforgiving as the Iowan entries and the melodic Devil In I channels the Subliminal Verses vibe. Realistically The Gray Chapter is what the band were aiming for with All Hope Is Gone but where they had fallen short before, everything seemed to click this time around.

The album acts as a congregation of the band’s signature styles - a framing device for what Slipknot was, and what it had become.

The Gray Chapter is not only a testament to a fallen brother, forever immortalising his influence, but also signifies the end of Slipknot as a band, and the birth of Slipknot as a culture.