This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“The only thing I ever really loved was hate,” admits Corey (8) Taylor of Slipknot.
Sure, he’s not telling us anything new. But here’s something that is new: These Iowa thrashers have finally lightened up — or at least realized life isn’t as black and white as they thought. Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses is their most mature, thoughtful and yes, subtle disc to date. Instead of the depraved violence and gratuitous expletives of their earlier work, we get self-examination fuelled by romantic regret, disappointment and yearning. Musically, the masked marauders have also evolved. While they haven’t ditched the frenzied grind, blowtorch vocals and jackhammer double-bass pummel of their blistering nu-metal, they’ve tempered it with more attention to songcraft in the form of stronger melodies, slower grooves and bruised ballads. Who know what the Maggots — as Slipknot fans call themselves — will make of this newfound emotional sensitivity. From this perspective, though, it’s nice to get a glimpse of the men behind the masks.
