The death of a bandmate takes its toll on an act in myriad ways, upending the lives of those left behind personally and professionally. For Slipknot, the passing of founding bassist Paul Gray from a drug overdose in 2010 forced the members of the theatrically inclined metal ensemble to acknowledge their humanity and mourn publicly, appearing without their signature costumes at an emotional press conference the next day.
Four years later, the septet’s grieving hasn’t ceased. From the muttered declaration that opens “XIX,” their friend’s absence is addressed early and often on their fifth project, .5: The Gray Chapter, Slipknot’s first since 2008’s All Hope Is Gone, which has sold 1.1 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. There’s no masking their pain, and any reluctance in continuing as a creative unit has been outweighed by the desire to honor Gray.
For Slipknot, moving on means sticking to what it knows: There’s not a ton of sonic distance separating this record from its predecessors. Instead, reuniting with Greg Fidelman, the producer behind 2004’s masterful Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses), suggests a symbolic closing of ranks, and from the groove metal of “Lech” to the twisty tumult of single “The Devil in I,” the band reclaims the mojo so many fans have clamored for.
However, for such an emotionally loaded comeback, .5: The Gray Chapter is Slipknot’s least gripping LP. Vocalist Corey Taylor has exhausted his cache of anthemic choruses, and though undeniably sincere, some of the tributes come off as less than poetic. “Skeptic” is lyrically awkward, but the band recovers well on processional closer “If Rain Is What You Want.” Emblematic of both Slipknot’s strengths and its weaknesses, perhaps this album is the sort of warts-and-all eulogy Gray would have wanted.
-Gary Suarez