Slipknot is one of the best-known metal bands of all time. Their abrasive, in-your-face, borderline nihilistic sound became a tour de force in their 1996 self-titled record, which made shockwaves the world over. Despite consistent grief within the band, they have excelled and still bring in enormous crowds on their sought-after world tours in between records.
They may be iconically known for their fast-paced brutality, but the band also has slower songs that are either hauntingly beautiful or so slow they become heavier than their other material.
Here are the 10 best slow Slipknot songs for your enjoyment!
1. Snuff
Album: All Hope Is Gone
Released: 2008
If you’re looking for a change of pace from Slipknot’s usual sonic barrage, “Snuff” is the ideal tone-down. Many dismissed it as a sell-out track initially, but that didn’t deter true fans from appreciating it for what it is. It’s brutal in another sense; a heartbroken ballad about a man whose soul is simply too dark to let love back into his life, either through troubled experiences or otherwise.
I think this track acted as a beautiful pallet cleanser on an otherwise heavy and melodic record. If there was ever a song I would show to someone to introduce the softer side of Slipknot, it would be “Snuff”.
2. Circles
Album: Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses
Released: 2004
Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses is arguably Slipknot’s most diverse record. Their most recent record arguably contests that, but Vol 3’s impact is significantly more noticeable. Not only did you have the onslaught of tracks like “Pulse Of The Maggots”, which continued the angst of Iowa, but you also have solemn and heartfelt passages such as “Circles”.
Despite the overall dark feeling that protrudes through this track, there is a message of hope and perseverance buried within. Some of this track was inspired by Corey Taylor’s relationship with his father, who he did not meet until he was 30.
3. Vermillion
Album: Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses
Released: 2004
Continuing the praise of Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses we have the first of two parts to the track “Vermillion”, which takes a more Slipknot-style, dark turn as the tracks progress. The curious electric guitar and synths are merely a distraction from the rather morbid lyrical content within.
The meaning of this track is shrouded in a fair amount of ambiguity, but most fingers point towards it being about a woman who is impossible to leave. To abandon her would cause immense physical and emotional pain, but to stay with her is to give away your soul.
4. Vermillion Pt. 2
Album: Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses
Released: 2004
“Vermillion Pt. 2” throws the entirety of “Vermillion” into question, if they’re connected. The second half of this two-track story presents itself in a much softer light instrumentally, with an acoustic guitar taking charge and Corey Taylor’s harmonizing vocals creating a soothing air.
That’s where the calm and beauty ends, however. This song’s meaning is more clear than “Vermillion”, and seems to be about an unrequited love that turns sour. In the song, the protagonist becomes obsessed with a woman, bordering on stalking her as he is overwhelmed by feeling for her.
5. Prelude 3.0
Album: Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses
Released: 2004
I promise this is not a Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses fanboy article. While it may be my favorite record from Slipknot, it also just happens to have the most experimental and slower songs in their discography. Other albums house experimental ferocity, while Vol 3 saw Slipknot experiment with pace and ambiance, beginning with “Prelude 3.0”.
This song’s smooth electronic sway is describing a man who is reminiscing about a relationship he had years ago. Despite years standing between them, he isn’t over it and keeps playing the relationship over in his head, obsessing over the ‘what if’s’ and wondering how life could have been so different.
6. Danger – Keep Away
Album: Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses
Released: 2004
Of all the slow songs by Slipknot, “Danger – Keep Away” is my favorite and arguably their strongest. “Snuff” might have a crisp production and a story to it, but this offering from Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses possesses a dark reality behind it that makes it all the more alluring.
In this track, a simple electronic whir emanates throughout, with minimalistic instrumental sections aiding Corey Taylor’s tale of drug addiction and the impact it has on all aspects of life. Slipknot may sing of brutal topics, but this track scares me to my core despite its beauty.
7. Gently
Album: Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat
Released: 1996
If you’re looking for a slow yet hellish trip, there is no better track from Slipknot than “Gently”. Despite becoming more widely known on their iconic record Iowa, the track originally featured in their 1996 debut Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat, which predated Corey Taylor joining the band.
The Iowa version of this track is infinitely better. The gradual build-up towards the band’s cacophonous instrumental explosion and Corey Taylor’s shudder-inducing whispers (and his eventual detonation) sum up the rage and angst that founded Slipknot in such a profound manner.
8. Goodbye
Album: .5: The Grey Chapter
Released: 2014
Put simply, “Goodbye” is a tough listen. It was inspired by the death of Slipknot’s late bassist Paul Gray, who died of an overdose of morphine and fentanyl in 2010. Slipknot is notorious for being a tight-knit family, so the death of one of their own had an immense impact on all members past and present.
The simple, solemn instrumental introduction and Corey Taylor’s soft-spoken words are incredibly touching before an unexpected outburst from both Taylor and the band shows their frustration and hurt at the situation.
9. ‘Till We Die
Album: All Hope Is Gone
Released: 2008
Lifting the mood slightly from “‘Till We Die”, which is possibly one of the most positive tracks from Slipknot despite its initial sound.
This track was created to acknowledge the dark times in our lives, and how easy it is for us to slip under the rug and become a slave to our own troubles. However, it’s possible to get through every obstacle that comes our way through the power of our own strength, and through that of our families and friends.
10. Dead Memories
Album: All Hope Is Gone
Released: 2008
Finishing off this list is the song that helped catapult Slipknot’s modern sound into the mainstream music arena. Despite the success of their previous material, “Dead Memories” and “Psychosocial” helped catapult the band to previously unexpected heights and allowed even more people to discover their music.
This song’s trippy music video and half-ballad, half-metal style was a sign of a distinct shift in Slipknot’s sound, that also marked the end of one era and the beginning of another for the band.
Alex is a man of many talents. He’s been playing music since he was young, and has been the main content writer at Tone Start for the past few years. Alex loves to play around with different styles of music and enjoys listening to anything from country to classical.