Everything we know about Slipknot's sixth album so far
It can't come soon enough
Slipknot 2019
Author: Julian Marszalek
Asking us if we’re excited about the new Slipknot album is like asking if day follows night – the answer is an unequivocal “Yes!”
Yet for all that, what exactly do we know about Iowan metal institution’s forthcoming sixth album? Details have been sketchy with statements made here and there, but we do at least know it will be unleashed in 2019. Luckily for you, we’ve trawled around so you don’t have to. And this is what we know so far…
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan
The new album deals with big themes
Speaking with Billboard, Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan said that the new album “breaks down to good v evil, or in this sense, evil v good. It's about being a human being and experiencing what you have in correlating it to this world. This world is ugly and it's supposed to be, and it has to be in order for art to lead to grandness and beauty.”
You have been warned.
‘All Out Life’ is a hint of what to expect
The surprise Halloween release of the brutally heavy ‘All Out Life’ has given a glimpse of what might be expected from Slipknot.
“Right now is a very exciting time," says Corey Taylor. "We’ve been working on new music for the last two years, and 'All Out Life', the song and the video, is just one of many concepts in the works. It’s a fitting taste to get you to the next thing. Get ready for what’s to come. We challenge you to All Out Life.”
“’All Out Life’ means get the fuck up, go live your life and live it all-out,” added percussionist Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan. “The band's been gone for three years. You want blood from me? You got it. That's what I've been giving you for 20 years. But I want blood from you, too. We're no longer just a band. We're a culture.”
Corey Taylor Slipknot
That’s pretty heavy, right?
Right.
“It’s going to be one of the darkest chapters in Slipknot’s history,” Taylor said recently. “It’s that good. It’s complicated, it’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s heavy, it’s melodic, it’s fierce, it’s angry and it’s raw as hell. It’s going to be talking about a lot of things that people are going to need in their life.”
He continued: “It kind of had a cross between the first album and ‘Iowa’. I keep telling people that this is what the kids from Iowa would have made if they’d matured. It’s a step from that.”
Photos: Slipknot's masks through the years:
Slipknot in 2000
Slipknot wearing trademark white boiler suits and their horrorshow masks in 2000.
Everything we know about Slipknot's sixth album so far
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Slipknot arrive at the 2024 Grammy Awards
Slipknot arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards, wearing a variety of different masks with their dress suits.
Slipknot in 2000
Slipknot wearing trademark white boiler suits and their horrorshow masks in 2000.
Slipknot 'Slipknot'
Slipknot on the sleeve of their fearsome, self-titled debut album in June 1999.
Slipknot's in 2000
Slipknot standing in a stairway in early 2000, obviously.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan and Joey Jordison's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan and the late Joey Jordison in their fetching masks in 2000.
Sid Wilson's mask
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in his gas mask in 2000.
Corey Taylor's mask
Corey Taylor with his dreadlock mask in 2000 - a very different mask to his look today.
Jim Root's mask
Slipknot's Jim Root in 2000 in his Jester mask.
Craig Jones' mask
Slipknot's former keyboardist, Craig Jones, in his bizarre spiked helmet mask in 2000. This would soon evolve into a spiked gimp mask.
Mick Thomson's mask
Slipknot's formidable and towering Mick Thomson in 2000 in his horror hockey mask.
Paul Gray's mask
The late-great Paul Gray of Slipknot in his Pig Mask in 2000.
Chris Fehn's mask
Slipknot's former percussionist Chris Fehn in 2000. His pointy-nosed Pinocchio-esque mask was a mainstay of his entire career with Slipknot. The mask is dubbed the Liar Mask.
Craig Jones' mask
Former member Craig Jones in 2001. His part Hellraiser/part Gimp mask also remained largely unchanged over the decades, except for the odd tweak.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2001. Although all of his masks have been clown related, the percussionist has tweaked his mask more than any other Slipknot member.
Slipknot
Slipknot's masks in June 2001.
Joey Jordison and Corey Taylor's masks
Slipknot's late Joey Jordison and Corey Taylor in 2001.
Sid Wilson's mask
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in June 2001. Another variant of his gas mask.
Jim Root's mask
Slipknot's Jim Root in 2001.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan up close
A close-up of Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in December 2001.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot and their masks in December 2001.
Chris Fehn's mask
Former member Chris Fehn in his Liar Mask in 2002.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2002. The dreadlocks still remain.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in August 2002. This mask is more 'fairground clown' than his previous guises.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in May 2004. This delightful look is known as The Scab Mask.
Paul Gray's mask
The late Paul Gray in 2004. Not quite a pig mask but still animalistic.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in June 2004. This time he adopted a bloody bandage mask.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot in May 2005. Sid Wilson had dropped the gas mask in favour of a skull mask.
Slipknot at the Grammy Awards
Slipknot on the 2006 Grammy Awards red carpet. Sid Wilson on the far right opted for a death mask, while Shawn Crahan wore a grey mask and eye-catching pink boiler suit.
Slipknot 'All Hope Is Gone'
Slipknot return with new masks for All Hope Is Gone in 2008, including, most notably, the late Joey Jordison's crucified Jesus mask. Corey Taylor wore a new Blank Face Mask.
Mick Thomson and Jim Root's masks
Slipknot's Mick Thomson and Jim Root in their masks in 2008.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot's Corey Taylor, Jim Root and the late Paul Gray at the Kerrang! Awards in 2008.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot suited and booted in December 2008 at the MTV Video Awards.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in May 2009. His long hair perfectly complements his 'female mask'.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor pulling tongues in his Blank Face Mask in July 2009.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot's Sid Wilson and Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in July 2011.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in his Devil Clown Mask in July 2012.
Mick Thomson's mask
Slipknot's Mick Thomson in August 2012.
Jim Root's mask
Slipknot's Jim Root in his Jester Mask in 2013.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor at Download Festival 2013.
Chris Fehn's mask
Former percussionist, Chris Fehn, in 2013 in his trademark Liar Mask.
Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in January 2014.
Slipknot’s Mick Thomson
Slipknot's Mick Thomson in November 2014.
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in 2015 in his new Gas Mask.
Slipknot's Alessandro Venturella
Slipknot's Alessandro Venturella in 2015.
Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2015.
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2015.
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in October 2015.
Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
Slipknot's former drummer, Jay Weinberg, in 2016.
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2016.
Slipknot’s Chris Fehn
Slipknot's former member, Chris Fehn, in July 2016
Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
Former drummer, Jay Weinberg in 2016.
Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2016.
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan
Another mask worn by Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2016.
Slipknot's new masks for 2019
Slipknot's new masks for 2019
Slipknot unveiled their fearsome new masks for 6th album 'We Are Not Your Kind' on 16th May 2019.
Slipknot's Corey Taylor
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2022.
Jim Root in 2023
Slipknot's Jim Root performs on the Pandaemonium stage during Festival Copenhell, in Denmark in 2023.
Slipknot arrive at the 2024 Grammy Awards
Slipknot arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards, wearing a variety of different masks with their dress suits.
Slipknot in 2000
Slipknot wearing trademark white boiler suits and their horrorshow masks in 2000.
Slipknot 'Slipknot'
Slipknot on the sleeve of their fearsome, self-titled debut album in June 1999.
Slipknot's in 2000
Slipknot standing in a stairway in early 2000, obviously.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan and Joey Jordison's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan and the late Joey Jordison in their fetching masks in 2000.
Sid Wilson's mask
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in his gas mask in 2000.
Corey Taylor's mask
Corey Taylor with his dreadlock mask in 2000 - a very different mask to his look today.
Jim Root's mask
Slipknot's Jim Root in 2000 in his Jester mask.
Craig Jones' mask
Slipknot's former keyboardist, Craig Jones, in his bizarre spiked helmet mask in 2000. This would soon evolve into a spiked gimp mask.
Mick Thomson's mask
Slipknot's formidable and towering Mick Thomson in 2000 in his horror hockey mask.
Paul Gray's mask
The late-great Paul Gray of Slipknot in his Pig Mask in 2000.
Chris Fehn's mask
Slipknot's former percussionist Chris Fehn in 2000. His pointy-nosed Pinocchio-esque mask was a mainstay of his entire career with Slipknot. The mask is dubbed the Liar Mask.
Craig Jones' mask
Former member Craig Jones in 2001. His part Hellraiser/part Gimp mask also remained largely unchanged over the decades, except for the odd tweak.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2001. Although all of his masks have been clown related, the percussionist has tweaked his mask more than any other Slipknot member.
Slipknot
Slipknot's masks in June 2001.
Joey Jordison and Corey Taylor's masks
Slipknot's late Joey Jordison and Corey Taylor in 2001.
Sid Wilson's mask
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in June 2001. Another variant of his gas mask.
Jim Root's mask
Slipknot's Jim Root in 2001.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan up close
A close-up of Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in December 2001.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot and their masks in December 2001.
Chris Fehn's mask
Former member Chris Fehn in his Liar Mask in 2002.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2002. The dreadlocks still remain.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in August 2002. This mask is more 'fairground clown' than his previous guises.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in May 2004. This delightful look is known as The Scab Mask.
Paul Gray's mask
The late Paul Gray in 2004. Not quite a pig mask but still animalistic.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in June 2004. This time he adopted a bloody bandage mask.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot in May 2005. Sid Wilson had dropped the gas mask in favour of a skull mask.
Slipknot at the Grammy Awards
Slipknot on the 2006 Grammy Awards red carpet. Sid Wilson on the far right opted for a death mask, while Shawn Crahan wore a grey mask and eye-catching pink boiler suit.
Slipknot 'All Hope Is Gone'
Slipknot return with new masks for All Hope Is Gone in 2008, including, most notably, the late Joey Jordison's crucified Jesus mask. Corey Taylor wore a new Blank Face Mask.
Mick Thomson and Jim Root's masks
Slipknot's Mick Thomson and Jim Root in their masks in 2008.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot's Corey Taylor, Jim Root and the late Paul Gray at the Kerrang! Awards in 2008.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot suited and booted in December 2008 at the MTV Video Awards.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in May 2009. His long hair perfectly complements his 'female mask'.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor pulling tongues in his Blank Face Mask in July 2009.
Slipknot's evolving masks
Slipknot's Sid Wilson and Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in July 2011.
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in his Devil Clown Mask in July 2012.
Mick Thomson's mask
Slipknot's Mick Thomson in August 2012.
Jim Root's mask
Slipknot's Jim Root in his Jester Mask in 2013.
Corey Taylor's mask
Slipknot's Corey Taylor at Download Festival 2013.
Chris Fehn's mask
Former percussionist, Chris Fehn, in 2013 in his trademark Liar Mask.
Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan's mask
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in January 2014.
Slipknot’s Mick Thomson
Slipknot's Mick Thomson in November 2014.
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in 2015 in his new Gas Mask.
Slipknot's Alessandro Venturella
Slipknot's Alessandro Venturella in 2015.
Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2015.
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2015.
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson
Slipknot's Sid Wilson in October 2015.
Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
Slipknot's former drummer, Jay Weinberg, in 2016.
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2016.
Slipknot’s Chris Fehn
Slipknot's former member, Chris Fehn, in July 2016
Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
Former drummer, Jay Weinberg in 2016.
Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2016.
Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan
Another mask worn by Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan in 2016.
Slipknot's new masks for 2019
Slipknot's new masks for 2019
Slipknot unveiled their fearsome new masks for 6th album 'We Are Not Your Kind' on 16th May 2019.
Slipknot's Corey Taylor
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 2022.
Jim Root in 2023
Slipknot's Jim Root performs on the Pandaemonium stage during Festival Copenhell, in Denmark in 2023.
Slipknot arrive at the 2024 Grammy Awards
Slipknot arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards, wearing a variety of different masks with their dress suits.
Slipknot 'All Out Life'
The lyrics are going to weigh a lot, too
Mulling over the album’s lyrics, Taylor said in October: “It’s been a heavy couple of years for me personally. So I’m working out some things, personally for myself, which has been great. I’ve been able to grab ahold of some of the depression that I’ve been fighting and formulate the way that I want to describe it. It’s probably the most I’ve shared in years.”
Slipknot's Jay Weinberg
They’re heading into the studio in early 2019
Speaking with Resurrection Fest TV, Corey Taylor spelled out Slipknot’s recording plans: “Right now, the plan is for us to be in the studio early next year — like, first couple of months next year,” he said. “So, a couple of months to get that going, a couple of months to get production, new masks, new outfits, new everything. And hopefully be able to come and start touring in the summer when the album comes out.”
Slipknot's Sid Wilson
You can expect the album to be out in time for Download 2019
“We would never go do dates without an album, but, we're not following any rules this time – not that we ever did,” said Crahan. “We're on an outline, and I think everybody's going to be pleasantly surprised."
Slipknot's Mick Thomson
And you’d better get ready for a pulverizing set at Download, too
“If someone chooses to come and see us, they’re going to get us. I don’t care about the day before, and I don’t care about the day after!” Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan told Kerrang!
Revving up, he added: “One thing I know about Slipknot is that it’s impossible to not talk about us, so I really don’t get caught up in competition – I’m here to kick you in the face and make you remember it. End of story. I don’t know what Tool is doing, and I don’t fucking care. I wanna hear their new album, but if I’m out playing, I don’t care what they’re doing, and they don’t care what I’m doing. But I’m gonna kick you in the face.
The album follows the departure of percussionist Chris Fehn
On Monday 18th March 2019, Slipknot announced the departure of their percussionist Chris Fehn. Following reports of an alleged money dispute, Slipknot released a statement reading: “Slipknot’s focus is on making album #6, and our upcoming shows around the world, our best ever. Chris knows why he is no longer a part of Slipknot. We are disappointed that he chose to point fingers and manufacture claims, rather than doing what was necessary to continue to be a part of Slipknot. We would have preferred he not take the path that he has, but evolution in all things is a necessary part of this life. Long live the Knot."
