Slipknot Albums Ranked From Worst To Best
1. Vol. III The Subliminal Verses
After Slipknot came out of recording Iowa, there was a bit of question as to where they could go next. Given that they had made one of the bluntest music statements in metal history on their previous effort, how the hell do you expect to go heavier than that? Despite having their work cut out for them, the 9 shacked up in the haunted Houdini Mansion and came out with their most classic album.
Almost acting like a healing process from Iowa, Vol. III The Subliminal Verses is one of the most outlandish moves that these guys could have made at this point in their career, leaning into more melodic material and more subdued forms of songwriting. Rather than going too far into easy listening like on All Hope is Gone, each of the calmer moments on this album feel like they add to the experience, from the frail broken mind in Vermilion to Corey Taylor pouring his heart out on Circle.
While the average Maggot has some definite classics to jam to like Duality and Before I Forget, there are also some darker material to be found, like the torturous opening track Prelude or the glitchy energy of the Blister Exists, which makes the whole track feel like the greatest Nine Inch Nails song Trent Reznor didn't write. Other Slipknot joints may be heavier and some might be a bit more cathartic, but if you want to get a taste of a bit of everything that this band can do, Vol. III pretty much has you covered.
Best Tracks: The Blister Exists, Before I Forget, Circle