Slipknot's Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses)This should be the start of the "media" reviews I want to do throughout this site's life. Most of them will be related to music. I don't watch TV and I barely watch new movies. But, music has been a huge part of my life. I'm always seeking out new music to listen to and relistening to favorite albums.
I'm not a pretentious dick about music. I enjoy listening to it and I want to talk about some of the albums I like (or don't). I'm not here to be a hardass turbo-nerd about hyper specific genres and music theory. If I ever say something "incorrect" then I really don't give a shit.
For my first review, I decided on an album important to me:
Slipknot's Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
When? 2004
Genre? Nu metal
Do I own any physical copies? Yes, CD
Favorite track(s)? The Blister Exists, Three Nil, Before I Forget...
I fucking love this album but I can't say it's my top favorite. I think Iowa has that spot. This album in particular has a long history with me because it's been in my life so long. I used to listen to "Before I Forget" all the time. I guess this was one of those "formative" albums I heard and it changed me even if I wasn't aware of it at the time.
My taste for nu metal, as memed as the genre's been, started with this album when I was a kid. For that it was in the back of my mind for a while. I think in late 2022 I revisited Slipknot and nu metal as a whole? I came away from that enjoying nu metal and it's still one of my favorite genres.
The whole album is hype. I like almost all of the songs off The Subliminal Verses so it makes picking favorites hard even if I have them. "Before I Forget" is the second most mainstream song off the album, but I love that track to shit. The mixing in the music video scratches my brain. I wish it was the version we got on the album instead.
"Three Nil" is energetic with a chorus that feels steady, grounding you for a bit. Just a solid track overall that I've never seen anyone talk about.
"The Blister Exists" is a song that was made for me and has some of my favorite lyrics off the whole album:
I am all, but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control, but I comply
Pick me apart then pick up the pieces, I'm uneven
The Subliminal Verses "era" is my favorite aesthetically speaking. The black and silver suits were a nice change from the Iowa and self-titled jumpsuits, even if I like those too.
Corey's zombie mask is my favorite mask of his ever. And the pink-blue-purple hair.
Low points in this album are "Vermilion, Pt. 2" and "The Virus of Life." I'm not a fan of the slow version of "Vermilion" (side note: the alternate mix is WAY better than the original). I don't care for "Danger - Keep Away" either. Some "whatever" songs on a mostly good album.
To wrap this part up, I give the album an 8.5/10. I recommend it.
The Subliminal Verses is considered by many to be Slipknot's "last" good album. Or it's terrible because it's "too soft," fresh off the power trip of Iowa. It released when nu metal was starting to bloat and people were getting sick of it. This was also the last album released with Joey Jordison on drums, and, to a lot of people, that meant Slipknot wasn't going to be the same ever again.
Maybe they're right. At the same time, I find good in most of the albums that came after. I don't hate Jay Weinberg; I never hated him just because he wasn't Joey, like a lot of people did. I thought he was an amazing drummer and he carried on Joey's "legacy" just fine. Slipknot management just has a fucking problem.
I don't actually listen to Slipknot as much as I used to. Jay getting fired just like Joey and what happened with Craig turned me off. I kinda want them to get it over with and retire already, let it go. Better hurry up before they're a bunch of old ass men clinging to fame and sucking off the bygone revival of a genre people used to shit on endlessly.