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The text refers to news from the last week of February, when Corey Taylor said he might not stay in Slipknot forever .

When I read the news I felt helpless, imagining a world without Slipknot

by Thayná Cardoso

I felt sad, and I'll explain why.

Firstly, it's easy to understand this comment when you consider the reason why it would happen. He wasn't referring to fights or any other reason for discord and enmity. Rather, he said that in a few years he wouldn't have the energy to be in the band anymore and wouldn't want to somehow hold back the rest of the group. Of course! It's no secret that Slipknot demands a lot of physical energy, especially in live performances. He also said he wouldn't completely step away from music, that he could continue with other projects, and that made me breathe a little easier.

When I read the news I felt helpless, imagining a world without Slipknot, because I understand that without Corey Taylor the band would end. I would even prefer it that way, if I could imagine another vocalist in his place. Don't get me wrong, but I believe he is so perfect for this role that no one could replace him.

My sense of helplessness began a few months ago when Lemmy Kilmister died. It was as if I suddenly felt the weight of those pronouncements on my shoulders that Rock n' Roll is dead, and that Heavy Metal, in particular, is also coming to an end. I don't completely believe it, but I felt that things have inevitably changed and will change even more, even if it's a long and drawn-out process.

Speaking of delays, I have to admit it took a very long time (a really long time) before I could truly understand what Slipknot is and everything they represent. I didn't understand the reason for the masks, I couldn't connect with the sound, and consequently, I couldn't wrap my head around why everyone was so crazy about them. Especially because I saw younger people becoming their fans, and in my ignorance, I imagined they didn't know the great old gods of Metal. Several years passed, and I managed to at least accept that even if they weren't to my liking, what people were actually seeing was that Heavy Metal had somehow reinvented itself and had something to say, even if I couldn't understand what. I strongly believe in the idea that when we don't like something, it's because we don't understand it. Perhaps it's not part of our universe, our experiences, or in other words, our lives.

I watched the music video for "The Devil in I." And then, my friends, everything made sense.

One day I took the time to listen to the then-new album “ .5 The Gray Chapter ”. Again, the sound didn't grab me, and I couldn't even distinguish one song from another. Still, I watched the video for the song The Devil in I. And then, my friends, everything made sense.

That song and that video penetrated my mind and soul. It's shocking, disturbing, somber. It seems to portray a harsh reality, even though it's extremely far from it. The music and lyrics alone make your insides contort, and bring to the surface that slow, deranged insanity that we can occasionally experience. It's even pleasurable and comforting to see them killing each other throughout the clip. But all this violence and horror aren't presented gratuitously, aggressively, or unnecessarily. It's like watching a horror movie. The feeling is one of pure fear and agony, but we can't stop watching it and can't wait to watch it again. Every time I watch it (and I do this frequently) I see an interesting detail that went unnoticed last time. In short, it's a masterpiece of Heavy Metal.

Finally, I managed to feel that message touching the evil within me ( The Devil in I ). Anyone who's used to listening to Heavy Metal understands what I'm talking about. It's as if the music speaks to what's inside us, and we headbangers aren't afraid to admit that there is indeed a dark and shadowy side within each of us. And what makes us the wonderful human beings we are is that we deal very well with that side, perhaps even better than people who don't listen to this kind of music. In short, I understood that Slipknot was and is indeed a great band.

But the question is: what's next? Which band will magically surprise me next?

When I finally understood all of this, it was already too late. Slipknot has been around for over 20 years, and in a few years they might not be around anymore. Okay, I have to admit that things change, times are different, and nothing lasts forever. Alright, that's the easy part, since we can say that some very good things were done in the not-so-distant past. But the question is: what's next? Which band will magically surprise me next? Who will be the next Iron Maidens, Metallicas, Panteras, and Slipknots?

My answer is that there won't be one. This view of mine has nothing to do with the death of Rock n' Roll or low record sales. It has to do with a new worldview in general. Nowadays, everyone listens to what they want, when they want, and as much as they want. There's no longer room for the imposition of content and opinions. Therefore, we pursue what makes us happy and what makes the most sense to us. So, perhaps we are at least diminishing this so-called mass culture. If we keep this thought in mind, it becomes practically impossible that in the coming years there will be a band as big as the ones I mentioned. My real doubt and regret is that I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of music, specifically within Metal. I don't see any new scene, any new style, any new philosophy. I want to be very wrong. I want to be called ignorant, and I want someone to show me a million truly new bands that I don't know about today. And if there aren't any, and we still repeat the same formats and formulas as before, I'll be very happy.

Now, all that's left for me is to enjoy the next few years of Slipknot, and continue relentlessly searching for new bands. But at no point will I let all this end or die. Because that will be impossible. The evil within me and all of us will always exist, and the need to talk about it will also exist forever. As Victor Hugo said: "Music expresses what cannot be said in words but cannot remain silent."

*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.