Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses) has recieved 5K’s in this weeks Kerrang! DOM LAWSON writes: “The masks are back on and the gloves are off… THE LOWDOWN: A year ago it seemed doubtful that there would ever be another Slipknot album. The removal of those sacred masks and the largely conservative nature of those high profile side퉌_projects seemed to have sucked the wind out of the nontet’s bloodstained sails, but, in typical Slipknot fashion, ‘Vol.3: (The Subliminal Verses)’ has arrived, borne aloft on a wave of bug-퉌_eyed expectations, adorned with bold claims that this is the finest album of the band’s turbulent career. Well, they weren’t fucking kidding. Far and away the most musically intense, creatively inspired and downright astonishing thing that the 18퉌_legged chaos machine have produced to date, ‘Vol.3’ is, quite simply, a masterpiece and a massive raised middle digit to all the stumbling nu퉌_metal non퉌_entities that rode in on the band’s coat퉌_tails. It all begins with ‘Prelude 3.0’ four minutes of haunting arpeggios, muttered vocals from Corey Taylor and a characteristically contrary refrain of “Now it’s over…” Restrained and sombre, it sounds unlike anything the band have done before and makes the more familiar percussive detonations of ‘The Blister Exists’ and the blastbeats and yob choruses of ‘Three Nil’ that follow sound even more shocking. From there on in the album comprises a litany of curveballs and hair퉌_raising detours. ‘Opium Of The People’ recalls a tougher, less convivial System Of A Down filtered through the ears of Satan himself. ‘Vermilion’ combines a threat퉌_swollen snail’s pace riff with horror soundtrack effects, a delirious, spiralling guitar solo and a huge, surging chorus, replete with exquisite vocal harmonies. ‘The Nameless’ veers from spastic speed metal riff riots to sumptuous acoustic guitar퉌_led choruses, and is, without doubt, the finest moment of the band’s career. Elsewhere there are super퉌_strength updates of the band’s trademark stomp (‘Duality’, ‘Before I Forget’), an emotive acoustic anthem with a strong whiff of the Middle East (‘Circle’), savage sloganeering and thrash metal braggadocio (‘Pulse Of The Maggots’), a rambling but deftly executed ‘Scissors’퉌_style dirge (‘The Virus Of Life’) and a final farewell (‘Danger * Keep Away’) that sounds like a heavily sedated redneck Radiohead. Much else has changed since ‘Iowa’. With the crisp and precise tones of a Rick Rubin production replacing Ross Robinson’s messier, more cerebral approach, Slipknot at last sound like the brutally direct metal band they have often hinted at. And with that more disciplined sound comes a refreshed compositional sharpness. At almost exactly 60 minutes in length, ‘Vol.3’ is a wonderfully complete album a perfectly paced collection of skilfully constructed songs, all heavily laden with tantalising hooks, infectious riffs and numerous jaw퉌_dropping surprises. Slipknot have always been a great and important band, but only now have they made a truly great and important album. For once you can believe the hype. KKKKK” Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses) is out MONDAY 24TH MAY. You can catch Slipknot at the Virgin Megastore on London’s Oxford Street this Sunday night (23rd) from Midnight where they will be signing copies of the new album. The band will be signing for 4 hours so we would ask that in order to get through as many people as possible, please only bring one item per person to be signed. The following night, the 24th, Slipknot will celebrate the release of Vol 3 with an intimate show at the Astoria. Tickets are on sale NOW via the Download Festival website dog, and direct from the Astoria box office from 9am Saturday morning (22nd May).