It's been a while since the world got excited for new Slipknot, but 2019 will very much be the year of the 'Knot. And, as excited as Slipknot's maggots are, it seems like the band themselves are just as excited.
Speaking to Kerrang!, M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) notes he's never gone into an album cycle as refreshed and ready to go as for this current cycle, and he's not alone in feeling that way:
"Not even the first time," he said. "It's always been a mess. I'm not gonna say it's not gonna be a mess now, but shit's happening. It's on. We're all ready to go. Everybody is so excited. It's even better that Corey Taylor is really excited, because he does a lot of work, goes out with Stone Sour, does solo gigs and solo things — from books, to award shows. Whatever he's doing, he does a lot. And it's always awesome to feel his excitement. Most people in his situation would be like, 'I'm gonna take a year off,' but he's got a certain demeanor right now for Slipknot. And that feels awesome. And that's how it feels now with all the guys. We have a schedule, and it's fucking hardcore, and there's a lot of things going on inside that schedule."
Asked if he's having the best time of his life right now, Clown agreed:
"I really am," he said. "I'm blessed to be here, and I still have a band and art form that I love more than anything. They're my friends. We've lost some, we've gained some, but we're all still here and we've learned a lot. The music is on fire, the art, I feel, means something to people — and it hasn't always felt that way for me. A lot of that is just me slowing down: relaxing, and trying to have a better time, and having a little fun. But I'm still me and I'm still Clown, and I'm getting older. I don't see the worst in a lot of the things I used to fight for. I'm just in a good place, and I want to come out on top for myself."
Slipknot are aiming for a summer release for their new album. They released the first single from the forthcoming album, "All Out Life" in late 2018. Unmasked footage of the band in the studio can be found here.
Clown has previously said the record is about good versus evil and "about being a human being and experiencing what you have in correlating it to this world."
"What I can tell you is I've known all the words all the time, so I've been able to paint the dream world and the nightmare in my mind." Conceptually, he adds, the album "breaks down to…good vs. evil, or in this sense, evil vs. 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."
Crahan also recently revealed that members of Slipknot, namely himself, Taylor, guitarist Jim Root and DJ Sid Wilson, recorded a side project album at that time as well, which has not yet seen the light of day.
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