It’s been 6 years since the last Slipknot album, All Hope Is Gone. The band has been through a lot in that time, losing bassist Paul Gray to a drug overdose in 2010 and kicking out drummer Joey Jordison last year for undisclosed reasons. The death of Gray sent them reeling and despite some touring without him, it was unclear if they would stay together and make another album. .5: The Gray Chapter landed on October 21st and is a really powerful piece of work.

Slipknot hit the mainstream music scene with their self titled debut in 1999 with what can only be described as a wall of sound. Nine guys from Iowa going berserk at the same time created a massive fan base to match their massive stage presence. When they strayed from their original speed metal assault for some more slowed down and dare I say melodic songs, it threw off a lot of people. They made it clear with Vol 3. The Subliminal Verses that they had no interest in making the same album over and over again. I appreciate that and it often works out for them. They’re better musicians as they age and each album captures their mindset at the time of recording.

.5 features 14 tracks that really stretch across the musicality of their past four albums. There’s a bit of everything in here and I really, really dig it. I find it to be a much better album as a whole over All Hope Is Gone.

Starting with”XIX”m it’s more of an extended intro than a song. It sets the stage with a funeral dirge like sound and Corey Taylor’s passionate lyrical delivery. It’s slow, confident and moves with purpose. This brings us to “Sarcastrophe” that runs with the slow tempo at the start with some distant drums and some really nice, subtle guitar work. Then it builds up into furious Slipknot fashion with their trademark chunky riffs, fast and syncopated drums, wild sounds and intense screams. A real headbanger of a song.

“AOV” continues the metal trend with turbo drums and a killer guitar riff. They slow it down for pounding choruses and some rather beautiful vocal delivery (Corey Taylor is really on point for the whole album). There’s a fantastic groove to this song.

“The Devil In I” and “The Negative One” (which is track 13) fit the mold for best songs for singles (which is why they were chosen). These are easy to find online so I won’t say much, just that I like them both.

“Killpop” is a really dark track lyrics wise. It starts really slow, a heavy bass line leading the way. It’s more or less a disturbing love ballad that builds as it goes. This one really grew on me. The last section is particularly heavy and even has a bit of a guitar solo. It’s a crushing song by the end. Great showcase of their versatility.

“Skeptic” is a direct tribute to Paul Gray. A coping song for his loss with lyrics like, “The world will never see another crazy mother fucker like you. The world will never know another man as amazing as you.” It’s kind of funny hearing it for the first time, but the more you listen the more you understand. Really cool song, but not one of my favorites.  The breakdown at around 2:15 is wild. Lots of double bass pedal on this one.

“Lech” runs with the tempo that “Skeptic” leaves behind only to deconstruct it, then boost away at break neck speed. “No one is bulletproof!” This track is reminiscent of something off of All Hope Is Gone and sounds like it’s about Paul too.

“Goodbye”. I simply love this track. It just takes you on a journey. It is straight up sad (Paul again). A dark and brooding beginning. Love Corey’s lyrics and the other worldly combination of guitar and bass. Atypical of Slipknot, this one will probably split the fan bass down the middle (this one will get a lot of Stone Sour heat thrown at it), but I think there is a lot to love here. Things pick up around 2:10 and it’s really a song about hope and perseverance. For a band surrounded in so much darkness it’s nice to see/hear some light being thrown out.

“Nomadic” is some classic Slipknot, complete with “bat hitting keg” sounds. Guitars take center stage here, a lot of shredding.

“The One That Kills The Least” is a really good sing-along song..  Swelling verses and choruses shoot into a frantic finale. Get a really good head bob going with this one.

“Custer” will probably be remembered as the best song on the album. This thing is insane, it’s just a monster. Straight from 1999, “Custer” just never gives up. Everything about it awesome, vicious lyrics, a frantic tempo, the pits will go completely nuts when this song is played live. The new “People=Shit”.

“Be Prepared For Hell” is really an interlude for “The Negative One”. Really weird, especially coming after the high that is “Custer”. They could have left this out.

“If Rain Is What You Want” is another weird one. It’s a really big departure for Slipknot and I just can’t get into. I think it’s the worst track on the album.

With no new music for 6 years I think .5 is a triumphant return. They got a lot of winners on their hands and it sounds like the new bassist and drummer fit really well in the brotherhood. It’s great to have another awesome metal album to listen to.