After a long and tedious string of teasers, Slipknot have finally revealed details surrounding their forthcoming album. The album will be titled .5: The Gray Chapter, and it now has a release date of Oct. 21 through the band’s longtime label Roadrunner Records. Additionally, the band has released the first official single from the album. Listen to “The Devil In I” after the jump.
Whereas “The Negative One” showcases the more vicious and brutal side of Slipknot, “The Devil In I” highlights the band’s extremely lucrative melodic side, calling to mind songs of Slipknot’s past such as “Dead Memories” or “Before I Forget”. Corey Taylor’s voice sounds fantastic, as always, and there are some decent riffs here, but compared to all of the other stellar metal releases we’ve had this year, it’s nothing terribly special. I honestly prefer “The Negative One” over this song. I sure hope this new album channels more of that Iowa-era brutality, because I really don’t think that Slipknot can ever outdo the melodic mastery they displayed on Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses.
Pre-orders for .5: The Gray Chapter are up at Slipknot’s official store. As if details for the new album and a new single weren’t enough, Slipknot has also announced the Prepare For Hell tour this fall, with special guests Korn and King 810. Apparently, nu metal is making a comeback. Dates for the trek are listed below. Tickets go on sale Sept. 5.
| 10/25/14 | San Bernardino, CA | Knotfest |
| 10/26/14 | San Bernardino, CA | Knotfest |
| 10/29/14 | El Paso, TX | El Paso Community College |
| 10/31/14 | Dallas, TX | Gexa Pavillion |
| 11/1/14 | Corpus Christi, TX | American Bank |
| 11/2/14 | San Antonia, TX | AT&T Arena |
| 11/4/14 | Little Rock, AR | Verizon Arena |
| 11/5/14 | Oklahoma City, OK | Chesapeake Arena |
| 11/6/14 | Omoha, NE | CenturyLink Center |
| 11/8/14 | Madison, WI | Alliant Energy Center |
| 11/9/14 | Sioux Falls, SD | Denny Sanford Centre |
| 11/11/14 | Denver, CO | Denver Coliseum |
| 11/15/14 | Tokyo, Japan | Knotfest |
| 11/16/14 | Tokyo, Japan | Knotfest |
| 11/19/14 | Baltimore, MD | 1st Mariner Arena |
| 11/21/14 | Nashville, TN | Bridgeston Arena |
| 11/22/14 | Lexignton, KY | Rupp Arena |
| 11/23/14 | Ft. Wayne, IN | Memorial Coliseum |
| 11/25/14 | Moline, IL | iWireless Center |
| 11/26/14 | Kansas City, MO | Sprint Center |
| 11/28/14 | Chicago, IL | Rosemont Arena |
| 11/29/14 | Detroit, MI | Palace of Auburn Hills |
| 11/30/14 | Toronto, ON | Air Candada Center |
| 12/2/14 | Reading, PA | Santander Arena |
| 12/3/14 | Camden, NJ | Susquehanna Bank Center |
| 12/5/14 | Uncasville, CT | Mohegan Sun |
| 12/6/14 | East Rutherfort, NJ | Izod Center |
| 12/7/14 | Boston, MA | Tsongas Arena |
– AL