Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- Aug 26
- 5 min read
On August 20, 2008, Slipknot's fourth album, "All Hope Is Gone," was released.
The album is incredibly diverse and was produced under challenging and tense conditions, prompting us to offer an equally diverse review. So, listen to the album using the link below and begin reading...
In 2008, the band members reunited in their hometown after not seeing each other for three years to record an album. This album would become the band's most successful but also marked the end of the core group that formed Slipknot. Unlike their previous albums, this creation involved all nine members collaborating together for the first time. However, this collaboration was fraught with aggression, disputes, tension, and chaos.
In this album, "Slipknot" seems to blend elements from their earlier works with new aspects. The opening tracks "Gematria (The Killing Name)" and "All Hope Is Gone" are harsher than the band's previous work but somewhat reminiscent of their debut album. "Gehenna" recalls the second album, while "Dead Memories" and "Snuff" offer tragic and poignant moments. As you listen, you might often question your place within the album, wondering if you're still on the same record or if the player has skipped to another. There's a lack of flow or connection between the songs, which can feel jarring and even painful at times. This might explain why only a few tracks from the album are well-remembered or known, while many others seem to have faded into obscurity.
All the band members said it was their least favorite album, except for one person: Joey Jordison!
Joey stated it was precisely the album he wanted to create with "Slipknot," just the way he envisioned it sounding, and it ended up being his favorite. He might have been right because it was the band's first album to reach number one, until two years ago when "We Are Not Your Kind" also claimed the top spot. It's no surprise he felt this was exactly what he wanted, as after everyone interfered with each other's playing, singing, producing, and processing... During the drum recordings, Joey locked himself in a room and recorded all the drum tracks alone! Clown mentioned it was very frustrating and offensive that everyone was on one side of the studio while Joey was locked in another room with no one allowed to enter. He said he wanted to blow the door open with his shotgun but feared it might harm someone.
The lack of musical consistency on this album... could this be why Joey was dismissed?
It's challenging to get nine people into the studio to record an album. Jim Root expressed his disappointment with the album's producer, Dave Fortman, because he couldn't get everyone to work together. From the start, some members came in with emotional baggage because they hadn't had the chance to influence the previous albums. It's well-known that Clown, Corey Taylor, and Joey are at the forefront of the band's creative process. So, with all the emotional baggage, the lack of direction for the album, the frictions, and the internal politics... things only got worse during the album's creation. Add to that Clown losing his dad, Corey going through a divorce, and Joey locking himself in the room...
It's like a kindergarten party... that's what it was!
They all claim that this is essentially what made the album what it is; you can feel the cracks opening up, the tension, the frustration, and the emotional charge. The hostile conditions are what gave this album its aggression, cruelty, and eclectic nature. From the opening song "Gematria" through the anthems "Psychosocial" and "This Cold Black" to the twisted song "Wherein Lies Continue", all are moments that define this record. You experience a range from melodies and moving lyrics to relentless bursts of energy accompanied by lyrics that can depress you.
But in hindsight, this is essentially the essence of the band.
We must mention the most captivating song on the album, which gained a haunting acoustic rendition during Corey's solo performances—"Snuff." This track stands out on the record as an unusual ballad, unlike anything "Slipknot" has done before, offering a deeply emotional journey from beginning to end. It starts with intense bitterness, transitions to heartbreak, and concludes with a romantic release, crafting an epic narrative.
As we noted initially, this album also signified the breakup of the band's core. "Slipknot" was established by Clown, Joey, and Paul Gray around 1995. Approximately two years after this album's release, Paul passed away from a morphine overdose, profoundly impacting the band members, particularly Clown and Corey. They were uncertain about the band's future and felt it was impossible to continue without him (somewhat reminiscent of Cliff Burton's story). The day after his passing, the remaining band members held a press conference with Paul's widow without their masks, a unique event that never occurred again.
Roughly five years following the album's release, the band members officially announced Joey's departure. There are numerous rumors regarding the separation process and reasons for his dismissal, but it is known that Joey was suffering from a severe muscle disease that prevented him from keeping up with the music. Additionally, it's known that after this album, there were significant disagreements about the musical direction between Joey and the other band members.
Beyond topping the sales charts and receiving Grammy nominations, this album propelled "Slipknot" to the height of live performances at the time. In 2009, the band launched a world tour to promote the album, which Joey described as Mayhem. From the very first show in Seattle, the band members realized this would be one of the greatest tours they had ever experienced. During this show, Sid broke both of his legs after jumping from a height of 4 meters. For the first time in a long while, they felt both excited and stressed about the performance. Clown mentioned that they filled themselves with hatred and aggression to harness the power and convey the energy "Slipknot" wanted to share with the audience. Indeed, in June 2009, the tour reached its peak when "Slipknot" headlined the "Download" festival for the first time in their career. Corey cried inside his mask at the end of the show, looking at his bandmates and knowing they had done an amazing job; he felt they appreciated each other more, even if just for a moment.
Since then, "Slipknot" has headlined the festival three more times (2013, 2015, and 2019).
Incidentally, the band was supposed to visit Israel during this tour, but the show was canceled. Hopefully, they will come someday...
We'll conclude with a quote from Clown featured on the album:
“I don’t have bad memories, I don’t have any regrets, I’m not mad at anyone, it’s just what a family does. A family fights. A family throws punches. A family bleeds, a family doesn’t talk, a family locks doors. That’s what we are, and that was my family’s last album”.
Listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music
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