On May 25, 2004, Slipknot released Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) , their third studio album. The only album by the band produced by Rick Rubin , the record achieved great commercial success and reached significant sales figures.
This album's era was turbulent due to well-documented interpersonal relationship problems among the nine band members, increasing fame and pressure following the success of its predecessor IOWA (2001), side projects like Stone Sour ( Corey Taylor ), To My Surprise ( Shawn Crahan ) , and Murderdolls ( Joey Joridson ), and drug problems.
However, overcoming themselves and all these obstacles, Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Versus) was a success, marking the band's career with many achievements and solidifying Slipknot's name as the definitive metal band of its era.
Here are some interesting facts about the album, which turns 21 this Sunday:
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
The song “Before I Forget” earned the Grammy Best Metal Performance category in 2006. The band competed against nominees “The Great Satan” by Ministry; “Determined” by Mudvayne; “Mein Teil” by Rammstein; and “What Drives the Weak” by Shadows Fall. This marked the band's first Grammy win after six nominations. It was also the first music video in which the band performed without their masks and jumpsuits.
The energy of metal on live television
In 2004, the second year of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the air, the band appeared on the show to promote the album. Their appearance was brief but included a fun interview with Corey Taylor and Joey Jordison. The presence of fans in the studio was noteworthy, bringing the energy of heavy metal to live television.
Obstacles in recording the album
From the moment the members of Slipknot gathered in Los Angeles to begin working on the album, chaos reigned. Nobody got along and practically nobody cared. Paul Gray had many ideas for songs, but he was so debilitated by heroin addiction that he could barely record them. Vocalist Corey Taylor was an alcoholic and refused to enter the studio for weeks. Joey Jordison lost himself in his own chemical euphoria when he saw that nobody was ready to work. Then, percussionist Shawn Crahan intervened and put the band in order.
A composition between best friends
The album was largely composed by Paul Gray, who died in 2010 , and drummer Joey Jordison, who was kicked out of the band in 2013 and died in 2021. In an interview with Revolver Magazine after Paul Gray's death, Corey commented: "The first time I heard 'Vermillion ,' I got chills. That was the song that got me excited for Vol. 3. And now, hearing it only in demo form, with him and Joey playing on it..." In the same interview, Shawn commented: "When he wrote 'Vermillion,' you felt his pain. You felt the struggle, you felt the hard times."
Slipknot in their most experimental phase
Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses is not only an experimental album, but it also addresses themes including anger, discontent, and psychosis, being the first Slipknot album that does not have the Parental Advisory – a warning on audio recordings containing explicit content. On this album, the lyrics are much less explicit in terms of profanity and dark themes, making it a milestone in the band's career.
READ ALSO: Slipknot: The tragic May 24th, 15 years since Paul Gray's death
