Slipknot's Unreleased 2008 Record Will Come Out During "This Album Cycle"

While we're all still very much enjoying Slipknot's incredibly successful campaign for their 5K-rated We Are Not Your Kind album, percussionist and artistic mastermind Shawn 'Clown' Crahan has revealed that an old release dating back to over a decade ago should see the light of day within the band's current record cycle.

Speaking to NME about Look Outside Your Window – which was recorded at the same time as 2008's All Hope Is Gone, and features Clown, frontman Corey Taylor, guitarist Jim Root and DJ Sid Wilson – the musician reveals that it's "a very unique art-piece on its own".

“It’s sort of timeless in my opinion, so I try not to worry about it too much," he says. "I’ve waited this long for it to be right and it just never has. We were going to release it way early on this album cycle, but this one takes precedence. It’s not meant to be confused or watered down for marketing purposes. It’s really just another piece of the puzzle and the imagination that’s missing. People might really need it.”

When asked if it will be released in 2020, Clown ponders: “It was scheduled for Christmas but I just quit asking because I don’t want it to interfere with this – and mainly because of what it is. It needs its own space. We’re having a good time enjoying this album and we have no ego with that. It’s just beautiful art that we want to share in the right way. It’s going to come out on this album cycle. It’ll just be this thing that happens and people won’t even know.”

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Last year, Corey also spoke of how tricky it's been to release Look Outside Your Window timing-wise, explaining: “We’ve been trying to find a way to release those songs for God knows how long… The stuff from Look Outside Your Window is really, really — I mean, there’s no real way to describe it. It’s experimental, but it’s super vibey, super melodic. It’s really good. It’s hard to explain.

“There’s something about those songs,” he added. “They’re very solemn, very energetic, very artistic. For people who are used to a certain way of Slipknot sounding, this doesn’t sound anything like that. It’s much more of a rock vibe. Honestly, it’s much more of a Radiohead vibe, to be honest.”

Slipknot in 2008

In an exclusive interview with Kerrang! in 2018, Clown discussed the process of writing these mysterious songs, saying, “The truth is: while we were making that album, Jim and I — who were the only two out of all nine original members who came to the studio — were there every day, from the beginning to the end… And then Corey and Sid became a part of it, and all four of us became a part of it — it wasn’t just any one person’s. It became ours. And because of that, we played it for a lot of people, and we said, ‘What do you think?’ And these people would always say, ‘It’s not Slipknot.’

“They felt it was something different. So because of that, not to confuse Slipknot or All Hope Is Gone, or [late bassist] Paul Gray passing, or us separating with Joey [Jordison, former drummer], why push this down anybody?”

When asked if he thought the release of this album would be cathartic experience, Clown said, “Yes. We’ve been wanting to get this out since the first year [it was made], but finally the stars lined up. Everything has happened for a reason, and it just feels like a celebration. It doesn’t need a label — we own it. It’s not on Roadrunner, it’s not on a label. It’s ours.”

“I don’t need tour dates from this,” he concluded. “I don’t need anything. It feels fantastic to be able to let it out, and I think everyone is gonna really enjoy it. My family loves it, and the people who have heard it love it.”

Watch this space…

Slipknot are currently in Europe for their We Are Not Your Kind tour. Get your tickets here.

Slipknot world tour 2020

January

29 Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle
30 Paris, France – AccorHotels Arena

February

1 Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal
2 Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier
4 Budapest, Hungary – Sportarena
6 Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
8 Stuttgart, Germany – Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle
9 Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
11 Milan, Italy – Mediolanum Forum
12 Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
14 Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle
16 Hamburg, Germany – Barclaycard Arena
17 Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena
18 Dortmund, Germany – Westfalenhalle
20 Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
21 Stockholm, Sweden – Ericsson Globe
22 Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena
24 Helsinki, Finland – Hartwall Arena

March

20 Tokyo, Japan – Knotfest Japan
21 Tokyo, Japan – Knotfest Japan
24 Singapore – Singapore Rockfest
27 Jakarta, Indonesia – Hammersonic Festival
29 Manila, Phillipines – Amoranto Stadium

July

31 Cologne, Germany – Stadium

August

1 Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
7 Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
10 Barcelona, Spain – Knotfest at Sea
22 Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – Knotfest UK

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