Watch: Slipknot unleash macabre 'Solway Firth' video
The second single from 'We Are Not Your Kind'
Last updated 22nd Jul 2019
Slipknot have shared their phenomenal new song ‘Solway Firth’ and its accompanying M. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan directed video.
The closing track on Slipknot’s upcoming sixth studio album ‘We Are Not Your Kind’, which is unleashed on Friday 9th August via Roadrunner Records, ‘Solway Firth’ curiously shares its title with the Scottish coastal waters of the same name.
Helmed by the aforementioned M. Shawn Crahan, and created with UPROXX and Amazon Prime Video, the ‘Solway Firth’ video features exclusive gloriously macabre footage from the new Amazon superhero television series ‘The Boys’, which premieres on Friday 26th July.
Alongside clips from The Boys is live performance footage filmed during Slipknot’s recent triumphant European tour, including their blistering headline slot at Download Festival.
Feast your eyes and ears on the ‘Solway Firth’ video here:
Slipknot began teasing ‘Solway Firth’ on Friday (19th July) when they shared a 17-second video clip featuring the opening lines “Today, up on this hill, I’m counting all the killers...” alongside blood-spattered imagery.
Last week Slipknot confirmed they will return to the UK in 2020 to play eight headline shows in Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham and London. The exact venues and dates will be revealed at a later time.
Slipknot's UK shows are part of a sprawling European trek that also includes Dublin and dates in The Netherlands, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
Slipknot and more rock stars unmasked:
Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan unmasked
Slipknot percussionist #6 Shawn Crahan unveiled his new silver clown mask to the world when the Iowan masked metallers premiered fearsome single 'Unsainted' in May 2019. Outside of the day job banging things with Slipknot, the unmasked Shawn Crahan is an acclaimed film director and photographer.
Slipknot’s Mick Thomson unmasked
Slipknot guitarist #7 Mick Thomson's metallic hockey mask is so perfectly formidable it has remained relatively unchanged for years. On the right is an Mick Thomson without his mask traversing the streets of New York in 2019 ahead of Slipknot's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Buckethead unmasked
The highly enigmatic guitarist, who wears a KFC bucket on his head, revealed his real identity on self-released 2013 album 'Pike 13'. It poignantly depicts a younger Buckethead – real name Brian Carroll – without his mask on and hugging his late dad.
Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg unmasked
Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg and his proper horrorshow burlap mask. On the right is the devilishly handsome Jay Weinberg without his mask. Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 replacing the departing Joey Jordison, who sadly passed away in 2021.
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson unmasked
Slipknot turntablist #0 Sid Wilson's mask dramatically changed in 2019 from his more traditional skull and gas masks to an almost Palpatine -esque deformed human mask with black robes. On the right is Sid Wilson without his mask at the premiere of Slipknot: Day Of The Gusano in Beverly Hills.
Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland unmasked and without makeup
Chameleon-like Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland is constantly coming up with brilliant new looks for the band's live shows. Fusing a mask with crudely painted make-up, this brilliantly disturbing guise is like a cross between Salvador Dali, The Joker and a demented aristocrat. Here is Wes Borland without his mask and makeup at a photoshoot in 2017.
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor unmasked
Slipknot singer #8 Corey Taylor's guise evolved into a sinister translucent mask in 2019. As the frontman of Stone Sour - and arguably the most famous member of Slipknot to boot - unless you've been living under a rock for the past two decades, you'll be well aware of what Corey Taylor looks like without his mask.
Ghost’s Tobias Forge (aka Papa Emeritus) unmasked
Flanked by his band of Nameless Ghouls, Tobias Forge has adopted a number of papal guises over the years; from the various incarnations of Papa Emeritus through to Cardinal Copia and Papa Emeritus IV. On the right is Tobias Forge without his mask at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
GWAR’s Blothar unmasked
Following the untimely death of singer Oderus Urungus (aka Dave Brockie) in 2014, GWAR recruited Blothar - aka Michael Bishop – as their new frontman who comes complete with a pigface goblin guise. On the right is Blothar without his mask and outlandish costume speaking at a TED Talk in 2015.
Slipknot’s Alessandro Venturella unmasked
Slipknot bassist Alessandro "Alex" Venturella's mask changed from a hessian fabric mask into patterned copper mask in 2019. The genial-looking chap on the right is Alessandro Venturella without his mask.
KISS’s Paul Stanley unmasked and without makeup
Alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley has been a member of KISS since their inception in 1973 and his alter ego The Starchild has remained a constant all this time.
Slipknot’s Jim Root unmasked
Slipknot guitarist #4 Jim Root has worn a Jester mask for the entirety of his career with only minor changes in its design. Why change perfection?! Jim Root is immediately identifiable even without his mask thanks to his luscious, voluminous beard.
Behemoth’s Nergal unmasked and without makeup
One of the standout Main Stage acts at Download Festival 2019, Polish blackened death metallers Behemoth – led by the fearsome lead vocalist Nergal – have always adorned striking make-up on stage creating an enigmatic aura. On the right is Adam Nergal Darski without makeup at an album signing session.
Ex-Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn unmasked
Before he exited Slipknot in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in April 2019, #3 Chris Fehn wore a distinctive Liar Mask – aka the Pinocchio Mask. On the right is the Chris Fehn without his mask at the premiere of Shawn Clown Crahan's movie 'Officer Downe' in 2016.
KISS’s Gene Simmons unmasked and without makeup
On stage and wearing his trademark makeup, Gene Simmons adopts The Demon persona.
KISS’s Eric Singer unmasked and without makeup
Following the death of the late-great Eric Carr in 1991, new drummer Eric Singer didn't adopt his The Fox persona; instead he resurrected original drummer Peter Criss' The Catman guise.
KISS’s Tommy Thayer unmasked and without makeup
Joining KISS permanently in 2002, Tommy Thayer jumped straight into Ace Frehley's platform heels and took on his The Spaceman makeup design.
Ghost Nameless Ghoul unmasked
In March 2017, a Swedish musician called Martin Persner shared a video claiming he was formerly a Nameless Ghoul in Ghost called Omega. He left the band in July 2016 after a seven-year stint.
The lyrics for Slipknot’s ‘Solway Firth’ are as follows:
Today, up on this hill, I’m counting all the killers
They sway as they swarm, a look of gluttons in their eyes
They mutter as the body loses warmth
They pick your bones like locks inside a tomb
And take great care to not take care of YOU
HERE’S AN UNEXPLAINABLE ONE
While I was learning to live, we all were living a lie- I guess you got what you wanted
So I will settle for a slaughterhouse soaked in blood and betrayal
It’s always somebody else… somebody else was me- you want the real smile?
Or the one I used to practice, not to feel like a failure?
I don’t need you to do it for me/I don’t need you to understand
I don’t need you to hide it from me/ I just want to feel like any other man
I won’t show you the whole story/I won’t show you the aftermath
I won’t show you my allegory
Don’t look away… HERE’S AN UNEXPLAINABLE ONE
I’m not ahead of my time- I just drew the first breath- If I’m alive tomorrow
I will alleviate the pressure… by cutting you out of me
I found my bottom line- dead on the front lines- I know I’ll never go home
So set fire to your ships and past regrets and be free
I don’t need you to do it for me/I don’t need you to understand
I don’t need you to hide it from me/ I just want to feel like any other man
I won’t show you the whole story/I won’t show you the aftermath
I won’t show you my allegory
Don’t look away… HERE’S AN UNEXPLAINABLE ONE
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
While I was learning to live, you taught me how to die- I guess I got what I wanted
Another needle in the back through purified scarification
It wasn’t somebody else- you fucking did it to me.
You want a real smile?
I haven’t smiled in years