Slipknot Albums Ranked From Worst To Best

Slipknot has developed a reputation as one of the most hard-edged bands in the world of metal. As opposed to the other nu metal schlock that was tainting the rock charts, these masked freaks tore the entire rock landscape apart with their brutal-as-hell beats and harsh lyrical structure. However, when you break all of their catalog down, there is a certain pecking order to how things work out.

While the 9 have remained consistent throughout their tenure, there always tend to be some records that leave you more underwhelmed than others. Rather than being another slam into the pit, some of these albums just have a few great moments out of the gate before collapsing in on itself. Even though some disappoint, that only highlights how good the records surrounding them are, with riffs that feel like they're being pulled from the underworld to grace your eardrums every time you throw on their tunes.

Considering that these guys really take their time between releases, you can always expect a certain amount of effort being put in by every member, so let's see how the actual experiences hold up. As we travel through the history of these guys, make sure to come in prepared. Wouldn't want you to catch any shrapnel.

The 9 really had their work cut out for them after the 2010's turned a corner. After coming off of a high commercial peak with All Hope is Gone, the enduring break had cost them one of their own with the death of bassist Paul Gray and resulted in the departure of drummer Joey Jordison. Even though there are some quality tunes on .5 The Gray Chapter, it's hard not to hear that loss through the music.

As an album, this is about as blunt a musical statement you can make, with Corey Taylor putting words to the anger, pain, and sorrow that maybe the band didn't quite know how to express to their fallen brother. At the same time, the quality tends to vary from one track to the next, with songs like the glorious opening track being upended by some more tepid cuts that really feel like these guys were playing it a little too safe after coming together again.

On the surface, the concept actually passes with flying colors, but when looked at as a key point in Slipknot's work, this feels more like a stop gap and a bookmark of where they were at in their lives rather than an actually great musical project. While the pain might be cathartic, it might not be the greatest to listen to again.

Best tracks: XIX, Goodbye, The Devil In I