The Gray Chapter is Slipknot's most emotionally charged album. Released on 17 October 2014 via Roadrunner Records, it was the band's first record following the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010 and the departure of drummer Joey Jordison in 2013. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was a powerful statement of survival and resilience.
Background and Recording
The road to The Gray Chapter was long and painful. After Paul Gray's death, the band took an extended hiatus, unsure whether they could or should continue. When they finally returned to the studio, they did so with new members - bassist Alessandro Venturella and drummer Jay Weinberg - and a determination to honour Gray's memory while forging a new chapter.
Produced by Greg Fidelman, the album was recorded at Hive Studios in Iowa. Corey Taylor has described it as the most difficult record he has ever made - and the most important.
Tracklist
- XIX
- Sarcastrophe
- AOV
- The Devil in I
- Killpop
- Skeptic
- Lech
- Goodbye
- Nomadic
- The One That Kills the Least
- Custer
- Be Prepared for Hell
- The Negative One
- If Rain Is What You Want
Key Tracks
The Devil in I was the lead single - a ferocious, hook-driven track that announced Slipknot's return with maximum impact. Skeptic is the album's emotional centrepiece, written as a direct tribute to Paul Gray. Custer became a live favourite for its relentless aggression. XIX opens the album with a haunting atmospheric intro that sets the tone perfectly.
Legacy
The Gray Chapter proved that Slipknot could survive the unsurvivable. It is a record about loss, grief, and the decision to keep going - and it resonated deeply with fans who had followed the band through their darkest years.
Shop Slipknot Merch
Officially licensed Slipknot merchandise - including Gray Chapter designs - is available now at Wonderhaul.