Amid lots of pessimism and despair lie nuggets of profound cultural insight. Lead singer Corey Taylor condemns greed, aimlessness and the selfish pursuit of pleasure (“.execute”). He shows concern for the hungry and decries injustice (“All Hope Is Gone”). Taylor also expresses love for a woman by telling her to avoid him on “Snuff” (“My heart is just too dark to care/… I don’t deserve you”). A line on “Sulfer” says, “You don’t always know where you stand ’til you know that you won’t run away.”
Themes of pain, anguish, hatred and hopelessness repeat like wallpaper patterns. “Gematria (The Killing Name)” accuses America of being a killing machine, then seems to advocate anarchy (“We will burn your cities down/… Give me a bullet, and I’ll change your life”). Frustration leads to angry threats on “Butcher’s Hook” which, along with the grim “Sulfer” and “Wherein Lies Continue,” rejects any authority outside of oneself. The singer plots violence against someone who lays sleeping (“Gehenna”). “This Cold Black” confesses, “I pray for death by the hour” and uses a metaphor for mutilation. References to God, eternal life, prayer and salvation all display a smoldering contempt for religious faith. Among the disc’s profanities are numerous f- and s-words, as well as an abuse of Jesus’ name.
While aware of society’s problems, Slipknot is too cynical and darkly self-absorbed to recognize the solutions. This band is resigned to suffer—taking mad swipes at personal and cultural demons with every breath.
After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.