Hold on, Maggots! Is new SLIPKNOT music on the horizon, or are we stuck replaying "The End, So Far" forever? The answer, like the band itself, is layered and complex. While reports might have you thinking the masked metal titans are already hammering away at new material, SLIPKNOT co-founder M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) recently set the record straight in an interview with NME: the band is primarily focused on taking a well-deserved break. But here's where it gets controversial... does that mean nothing is happening?
Clown emphasizes the importance of "real human time" after relentless touring throughout 2024 and 2025. "We're doing the biggest thing we can do right now, which is taking a much-needed break," he stated. "Everybody is writing all the time, but we have not got into a place to work on what's been written." He even mentioned tentative plans to potentially reconvene later this month, but only if the vibe is right for everyone involved. The sentiment, however, remains positive: "It feels very positive and everyone is looking forward to getting back at it."
But wait! Other members of the band have been hinting at a different story. Last October, drummer Eloy Casagrande, SLIPKNOT's newest member, offered a more optimistic outlook to Ollie Winiberg of Drummer's Review. "What I can tell you right now is that we are cooking, we are doing some new music, for sure. Yes, we are," Casagrande revealed. He elaborated that since joining, the band has been actively exchanging ideas, including guitar riffs and drum beats, and engaging in jam sessions. "So we have a lot of material right now. We just have to sit and put everything together, start jamming, and it's happening. It already happened. It's gonna happen in the future. So new material is coming, for sure." So, who are we to believe?
Adding another layer to the mystery, guitarist Jim Root chimed in last May during an interview on the Turning Wrenches podcast. Root expressed the band's need to "write a record," highlighting the creative challenges posed by constant touring. He emphasized the importance of dedicated time for songwriting and arrangement, away from the pressures of upcoming shows. "It's really hard for me personally to be creative when you know you have a tour looming over your shoulder," Root explained. He needs the space to develop ideas, create arrangements, and share them with Corey Taylor and Clown.
And this is the part most people miss... Root openly discussed the financial realities that impact SLIPKNOT's creative process. Balancing the desire to create new music with the need to support all band members, especially the "hired members" with families, is a delicate act. As Root explained, "Stop booking tours, dude. Stop it.'…there's some of the newer guys, that they need the money 'cause they're family guys and they have families. And they're hired members of the band, and we don't wanna have to have them go back to work when we get off tour." He emphasized the need for revenue to sustain the band's creative endeavors and ensure everyone can dedicate their time to the process, explicitly mentioning getting Eloy into the studio. Root even put his foot down to prioritize songwriting, stating, "We need to stop, man. We just need to stop.' 'Cause I wanna write a record, and we owe it to Eloy to write a record."
Root addressed a previous "viral post" where his comments were taken out of context, suggesting a delayed timeline for new music. He clarified that his earlier weariness from touring influenced those statements, but the situation has since changed. He's now sitting on six new arrangements he deems worthy of SLIPKNOT and is working on four more. His goal? To have a stockpile of 20 to 25 songs before diving into pre-production. That's a LOT of potential material!
Here's a potential hot take: Could the differing perspectives between Clown and Jim Root indicate internal creative tensions within the band? Who's pushing for new music, and who's prioritizing rest and reflection? It's definitely something to consider.
Root also expressed his desire to release a single or EP before committing to a full album, offering fans a taste of what's to come. He explained that this approach would allow the band to take their time with the writing and pre-production process for the album itself. He already has six finished arrangements ready to share with Clown and Corey Taylor, and he envisions potentially releasing one, two, or even three tracks in the meantime. This approach caters to fan anticipation, but also gives Root the freedom to keep writing more material. Root emphasized the importance of having more material than necessary, referencing "Devil In I" as an example of a song he initially disliked but ultimately became a hit. "You always wanna have way more material than what you're gonna need because you might be working on something that you think is absolutely amazing, but then once you actually start recording it, it kind of loses the vibe," he stated. "And then there's always that one weird song that you don't think is great, and all of a sudden that turns into the song that's, like, 'Whoa. Where did this come from? This thing's a banger.'"
Remember "Long May You Die"? This "lost" track, recorded during early sessions with Casagrande, proves SLIPKNOT is always experimenting. Also, "The End, So Far" arrived in August 2022, marking the last album before the departure of keyboardist Craig Jones in June 2023 and drummer Jay Weinberg. A lot has changed since then.
So, what does it all mean? While an immediate album release seems unlikely, the pieces are definitely moving. New music is being written, ideas are being exchanged, and the band is actively discussing their next steps. It's a complex situation, balancing creative freedom with financial realities and personal needs. What do you think, Maggots? Are you happy for SLIPKNOT to take their time and focus on quality over quantity, or are you itching for new material ASAP? Do you think releasing singles beforehand is a good strategy? Sound off in the comments below!
