In 2019, Slipknot released their sixth album, which for the first time did not include Chris Fehn (percussion) due to legal reasons. Honestly, ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ was an album that we didn’t fully grasp until three years later, as it presents a series of very interesting variations that are initially hard to digest.
If we were to compare this work, we would do so with ‘Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses’ (2004); however, the current album has a high degree of musical maturity. Additionally, Jay Weinberg (drummer) has been doing an excellent job with the band since 2014, when he replaced Joey Jordison.
What can we hear?
The perfect word is ‘Balance’ We can hear possibly the most balanced album in Slipknot’s discography. Although it could be intense, it doesn’t overuse its intensity. Corey Taylor’s (Vocalist) work gives this album a perfect counterweight when needed, as we hear a 50% mix of clean vocals and a 50% mix of guttural vocals, all executed with excellent technique.
It’s aggressive when it needs to be and passive when it also needs to be, as demonstrated by the song ‘Critical Darling’ which features a heavy riff and later a melodic chorus, or ‘Orphan’ one of the heaviest yet most melodic songs by the band. Such songs used to stand out in the band’s 2008 album ‘All Hope Is Gone’ where they presented the successful single ‘Psychosocial’ These vocal changes were groundbreaking back then, but by 2019, Slipknot mastered these shifts, making them enjoyable for both heavy music enthusiasts and beginners in the genre.
A distinctive feature of this work is the intriguing use of synthesizers and samples, handled by Craig Jones and Sid Wilson, respectively. Various sounds are appreciated in terms of production, sparking interest in how they were achieved. For example, in the bridge of ‘Unsainted’ you can hear an interesting use of turntables with delay, or in the intro of ‘Red Flag’.
A combination of their discography
On a musical level, ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ brings together the best elements that the band has presented throughout its career. We can even hear a kind of ballad in ‘A Liars Funeral’ a formula that has worked for them in previous albums.
This album is the valley in the crest left by their previous work, ‘.5: The Gray Chapter’ which showcased all the courage and aggression due to the loss of their founding bassist, Paul Gray. If we were to represent ‘We Are Not Your Kind,’ it would be in the stage of resignation.
Noteworthy is the drumming of Jay Weinberg, as he breathed new life into Slipknot since his arrival. He is fast, precise, and highly imaginative. His fills bring a freestyle flair where he improvises perfectly, always relying on his snare drum. The percussion from Shawn Crahan and Michael Pfaff (the new member of the band) complements the drum kit perfectly in its slower parts.
The band's most experimental album
The success of ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ lies in experimentation, maintaining the band’s successful formula and refreshing it with new elements, as heard in ‘Spiders’ a slow-paced track with clean vocals that introduces new elements, such as the interesting guitar solo effect and the handling of samplers.
Undoubtedly, it’s a very enjoyable album, but one that requires close attention to fully appreciate. Every sound and texture is meticulously crafted to bring something different to the genre, resulting in a great outcome. It leaves us wondering what more the band has in store for their next project, set to be released in September of this year.
And what do you think of this album? Leave us your comments!
