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21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century... So Far

#21: SLIPKNOT – VOL 3: THE SUBLIMINAL VERSES

 Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 5:00pm by

21best1

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We recently polled a wide array of musicians, managers, publicists, label reps, and writers from within the world of metal to find out what they thought the 21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far have been. Eligible albums were released between January 1, 2000 and  April 1, 2009. Each panelist turned in a ballot, with their #1 album worth 21 points, their #2 album worth 20 points, and so on and so forth. The ballots are now in and we’ll be counting down one album a day until we reach #1. We begin today with the #21 album, coming in with a total of 104 points…

Slipknot, Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses (Roadrunner, 2004)
Corey Taylor – Vocals
Mick Thomson – Guitars
Jim Root – Guitars
Paul Gray – Bass
Joey Jordison – Drums
Shawn Crahan – Percussions
Chris Fehn – Percussions
Sid Wilson – Turntables
Craig Jones – Samples, Media
Produced by Rick Rubin

It’s always good when you stir shit up right out of the gates, y’know?

I’m just another blank page
Push the button
Pull the rage

What the fuck is Corey Taylor talking about when he screams these words during “The Blister Exists,” the second track off of The Subliminal Verses? Is it pinball? It sounds kind of like he’s describing pinball, doesn’t it?

This is just one of many silly observations about this album that I have made while giving it many listens in the five years since its release. And the reason I’ve listened to this album so much can be summed up thusly: it rocks.

I seem to recall at least one member of Slipknot giving the old “We want this to be our Reign in Blood” song and dance during the promotion of The Subliminal Verses, and no doubt that very intent was at least one of the reasons producer Rick Rubin was hired, but let’s be real: it’s been a long time since Rick Rubin produced Reign in Blood, and this is more like Slipknot’s Black Album. It has singing and radio anthems and a pseudo-NIN track and multiple acoustic guitar ballads. It’s clearly not the same nine psychopaths who made Iowa, and it certainly ain’t the nu-metal knuckleheads who made Slipknot.

This fact has angered many of the bands fans (I guess this album is divisive amongst the divided?), but, uh, fuck that jazz. Slipknot’s evolution from barely controlled chaos to arena metal is a good thing (And it’s worth noting that they’ve been a lot more creative about it than many of their peers; I ain’t never heard a militaristic marching band drum solo in a Disturbed song.). The band’s theatricality lends itself to a bigger stage. Joey Jordison – still the band’s undeniable MVP on this album, where he plays exactly what’s needed but rarely what’s expected – NEEDS to be in a band where he can strap into a hydraulic drum platform and do a solo while spinning above the crowd for no good reason other than it’s what Tommy Lee did when Tommy Lee was still awesome. Put more simply: This generation needs its KISS, god-fucking-damn-it.

This is an album chock full of catchy fucking tunes that make me wanna headbang and, yes, hold up my cigarette lighter (and not a fucking cellphone, you no good filthy fucks). And if Slipknot act as a gateway drug for a few thousand future death metallers, well, all the better. Slipknot might be the biggest band in metal that no metalhead should actually feel ashamed for enjoying.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go play some pinball.

-AR

Tomorrow: Massholes!!!

THE PANEL OF VOTERS

Chris Adler, Lamb of God
Dan And, Bison B.C.
Ben Apatoff, Apatoff for Destruction/Metal Injection
Jason Bittner, Shadows Fall
Tim Brennan, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Freddy Cai, Painkiller Magazine
Ian Christe, Bazillion Points
Reverend David J. Ciancio, Yeah! Management
Betsey Cichoracki, Relapse Records
Paul Conroy, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
J. Costa, Thy Will Be Done
Dallas Coyle, ex-God Forbid/Coyle Media
Doc Coyle, God Forbid
CT, Rwake
Anso DF, MetalSucks/Hipsters Out of Metal!
Vince Edwards, Metal Blade Records
Charles Elliott, Abysmal Dawn/Nuclear Blast Records
Brian Fair, Shadows Fall
Leo  Ferrante, Warner Music Group
D.X. Ferris, author 33 1/3: Reign in Blood/Freelance Journalist
Mike Gitter, Roadrunner Records
Nick Green, Decibel
Matt Grenier, August Burns Red
Anthony Guzzardo, Earache Records
Kevin Hufnagel, Dysrhythmia
Mark Hunter, Chimaira
Steve Joh, Century Media
EJ Johantgen, Prosthetic Records
Kim Kelly, Metal Injection
Josh “The J” Key, Psychostick
Jason Lekberg, Epic Records
Eyal Levi, Daath
Bob Lugowe, Relapse Records
Matt McChesney, The Autumn Offering
Jake McReynolds, Psychostick
Marc Meltzer, The Syndicate
Josh Middleton, Sylosis
Matt Moore, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
Vince Neilstein, MetalSucks
Sammy O’Hagar, MetalSucks
Anton OyVey, MetalSucks/Bacon Jew
Rob Pasbani, Metal Injection
Alex Preiss, Psychostick
Carlos Ramirez, NoiseCreep/Ultimate-Guitar/Bullz-Eye
Brian Rocha, Fresno Media USA
Jeremy Rosen, Roadrunner Records
Axl Rosenberg, MetalSucks
Satan Rosenbloom, MetalSucks/Cerebral Metalhead
David Bee Roth, MetalSucks
Jason Rudolph, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Amy Sciarretto, Roadrunner Records/NoiseCreep
Carl Severson, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Gary Suarez, MetalSucks/No Yoko No/Brainwashed
Geoff Summers, The End Records/Crustcake
Bram Teitelman, The Syndicate/Metal Insider
Alisha Turull, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Christopher R. Weingarten, 1000TimesYes/Freelance Journalist

Tags: , ,
  • dicknballs

    really?

  • Matt

    oh fuck noooooooooooo

  • Dr J

    At least we know it won’t make 21…

  • damienk

    C’mon… you all KNEW this would be coming right?

  • anonymous

    are you fucking kidding me?

  • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

    I actually agree. That was a fantastic album.

    • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

      Also, from the review: “And if Slipknot act as a gateway drug for a few thousand future death metallers, well, all the better. Slipknot might be the biggest band in metal that no metalhead should actually feel ashamed for enjoying.”

      EXACTLY what I was thinking saying about them for a long time

  • Agmkreptile

    not iowa?

  • Simon

    I like the self-titled and All Hope is Gone, but this? This is crap!

    • Mike Malice

      I’m a die hard Slipknot fan, but I think All Hope Is Gone was garbage in comparison to this

    • Uglymicrowave

      self titled and iowa were hands down THE BEST….vol.3 was OK…

      but All Hope is gone?! are u kidding me? thats not even a slipknot album….that’s a stone sour album

  • wat

    I figured slipknot would be on this list. I’m glad it’s this low on it. I really hope Iowa or any other Slipknot shit isn’t on here though.

  • Lord Bling

    It’s Slipknot’s best album, I think. However, I wouldn’t put it on the top 200 of this decade, much less top 21.

  • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

    I hope Dillinger Escape Plan’s Miss Machine is on this list. Pleasepleaseplease.

    • Damotello

      Totally, fucking fantastic album. DEP can do no wrong.

      • http://www.twitter.com/waynegraham Wayne

        I’d imagine this album’ll be on the list. Either that one or “Ire Works”.

        • http://www.formulafiction.com Dr Tizzle

          Well it might be, but I think calculating infinity will be on it, it was ground breaking , the pop version of DEP was’nt.

          • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_defragmenter I’m Not Doing This Anymore

            Calculating Infinity was released in 1999. Kickass album, though.

    • MackYourFace

      That was the gayest album they released. Everything after Calculating. Ire Works is half generic commercialism and half filler, so don’t even attempt to come with that as a comeback.

      • Uncle No Good

        Calculating was definetely amazing…your the gay one dude

  • Andrew

    This doesn’t stir shit up as much as it makes me want to ignore the rest of the list. All cred is lost.

    • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

      Yeah. Credibility is gone despite the fact that the people deep in the metal industry.

      You make no sense at all.

      • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

        *deep in the metal industry voted.

        • iolanach

          Yeah, well, people “deep” in the movie industry voted for Titanic, Dreamgirls and fucking Shakespeare in Love, just to mention a few pieces of shit, for best movie. Credibility my fucking ass.

          This list is going to suck dick.

          • Will Simmons

            This.

  • hackman

    gotta disagree with the haters cuz this is a perfect choice for No. 21. it’s no. 21 so chill out. better than self-title and iowa, this makes a lotta sense to me.

  • Lord Bling

    I won’t hate too much, as it’s a decent album, and I get the ‘KISS’ desire. I just hope the list redeems itself later on. We all know Opeth is coming, and I can only hope that Cynic’s ‘Traced in Air’ gets some love too. Guess we’ll see.

  • http://www.myspace.com/northwestroyale Blake

    Looks like Shadows Fall is next. Let me guess… “The War Within”?

    No more hints please… the unpredictability of this list is what makes it so fun! ;)

    • wat

      I agree, no hints please.

    • Ryd1ZZ

      Agree, no more hints…

      • hintz

        i agree

        • http://www.myspace.com/437666934 Noel

          No, I am spartacus!!! oh wait…i mean i agree..

          • The Mighty Fucking Quinn

            That was the only thing I came here to comment on.It has to be The War Within.Unless a lot of people really really really liked The Art of Balance, and if that is the case, The War Within is a sure thing for somewhere further down the list.

            And if you are going to drop hints, make em retardedly subtle and not sure fire giveaways.

    • ashley

      Haha. Shadows Fall. Good call. Just watch it happen now

    • 20 eyes

      I dont pay much attention, and what i would like to know is how you knew this?

      • ashley

        they’re both terrible. that’s how.

  • BTatVT

    Look at it this way guys, it can only get better from here.

  • fightingmike

    I do dig this album for the most part and it is the only Slipknot record i own, but it still has quite a few of those lame “Jump Da Fuck Up” nu-metal bullshit riffs mixed in with the blast beats and sweep picking coolness. I dont know if i would put it top 20 of the past 9 years, but to each his own.

  • jonowev

    Closest thing that’s ever been made to a ‘pop-extreme metal’ album. It’s average…

  • groverXIII

    Well, this was definitely an improvement over Iowa, which I thought was fucking terrible… but to have this album at #21 means that something much more deserving got left off.

    The thing I’m wondering about is, do they have to limit this to one album per band? Because you could pretty much fill this list up with Opeth, Tool, Clutch, and a few others…

    • http://www.myspace.com/437666934 Noel

      dont forget mastodon

      • bradican

        Leviathan is one album

  • hrm

    i dont hate this album but i dont think it deserves 21st best metal album of the 21st century, also this may have been brought up before but i find some of choices of voters questionable, i might be missing something but didnt this site dub psycostick a ‘shitstain on the ass of the universe’ yet 3 of them are judges?

    • wat

      I’m pretty sure they would consider that a compliment.

  • The Roan

    proof that this list is total garbage

    • Watty

      Amen.

      If Watershed doesn’t end up being on this list because of garbage like this, I might just stop visiting this site altogether…

      • groverXIII

        Watershed… Ghost Reveries… Deliverance… Damnation… Blackwater Park…

        That should be a quarter of the list right there.

        • Aaron

          When you faggots are done sucking each other’s cocks over that band, boring death-flavoured-emo-accoustic band would you like to talk about some actual metal records?

          Seriously Opeth is so fucking popular for a whiny little band who sings about nothing but tragedy and heartbreak, it’s like all of you dorks secretly want to listen to some tragic emo but you don’t want to admit it.

          Opeth is fucking overrated boring horseshit.

  • 20 eyes

    slipknot rules… the only people who dont like it are up-themselves, noitall, “must stray from any trend”, elitest’s who actually think that masks are a gimmick rather than just something cool they do.
    i also just wanna say i think opeth(in general) and only cynics new album are way overrated.

    • groverXIII

      Your weak attempt at trolling greatly detracts from the coolness factor of having a classic Misfits song title as your screen name.

    • Watty

      Whoooooooaaaaaaah……Opeth and Cynic are overrated?!?!?!?!

      How many slipknot fan boys have you seen walking around the malls? How many pre-teen guitar players cover slipknot songs while wearing masks? How many prime-time radio air time has Slipknot gotten?

      Opeth’s whole discography is one of the most impressive bodies of work that has EVER been done. Akerfeldt is a masterful musician who, despite knowing almost no theory, still manages to give me chills with ANY song of his that I listen to…

      Cynic is amazing as well. Masvidal’s guitar playing is tasteful and the way they fuse metal and jazz is nothing short of brilliant. Their latest album wasn’t the best thing ever, but certainly better than all of Slipknot’s stuff combined…

      Anyone who would choose to praise Slipknot over Opeth and Cynic really doesn’t deserve an opinion here anyway…

      And, just sos you know, wearing masks while playing is most definitely NOT cool. Music is about music, not about image, hence why pop, rap, and country are so overrated musically – everything there is about image. I agree with staying away from the trend thing, as that’s true in my case (i do happen to like some of their music) – but to say that they have any right to be mentioned in the same sentence as Opeth and Cynic is ignorant and overall arrogant of you.

      Cheers.

      • groverXIII

        Aw, come on, man… don’t feed the trolls!

        • Watty

          HAD to be said…if only for others to see…

      • Mike Malice

        I think Opeth and Cynic are both lame, call me a troll if you want…but they just inspire boredom in me.

        But I guess because Slipknot has more fans they must be less capable musicians and songwriters right?

        • ashley

          At least Opeth and Cynic don’t have shirts on every white trash numb skull this side of the Mississippi. That may hit too close to home for ya, though.

          • Mike Malice

            Because clearly the quality of a band is determined by who wears the t-shirts. Idiot.

            Opeth and Cynic have less fans and I’m sure percentage-wise about the same ratio of dumb fucking white trash assholes like them.

    • politude

      YOU are the reason Hollywood Undead exists… shame on you

      • ashley

        I don’t even know who that is- but I can only imagine!

  • Watty

    Slipknot = Hard Rock…borderline Nu-Metal…shouldn’t have even been considered for this list.

    (The album doesn’t absolutely suck, just doesn’t have any right being on this list.)

    I’ll bet by the end of this, there’ll hundreds of submissions that should’ve made it before the nine-piece of shit…

    • Aaron

      But I’m sure you’re waiting patiently for space-opera wuss rock with the occasional growl like Cynic or tortured artist sadness porn pandering like Opeth to be featured right up top?

      Don’t turn this into a genre argument you fucking dork because Slipknot is as metal as anything, not as good by a long shot but they have every right to be considered a metal band.

  • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

    Damn. I’m glad to see this on the list, but was honestly kinda hoping it would score a little bit higher. I love this album because it was the first heavy music I’d ever heard and liked. It’s what got me into metal in the first place. And, of course, this led to my discovering of Iowa, a favor for which I will forever be indebted.

  • http://www.last.fm/user/BootScraperSean Anger Unmanagement

    I bought this album. I was 12. Probably why then. I think this album did draw in a lot of new metalheads, not nu-metalheads, including myself and im glad to say i have moved on to better things. So yeah why not, i think this is an addition to the list worth having.

    • MackYourFace

      I must have forgotten, this site is chalked full of 17 year olds who claim to listen to metal……

      • Zombie(really)

        What are you talking about? Im like…soooo metal…i mean….with my super skinny jeans, and colorful gore filled ‘the devil wears prada shirt” that I brought at hot topic…I am the definition of METAL!!!!

        “fuck that give me some Autopsy!!!”

        …whos that?

      • iceman

        so it only counts if you start listening to metal in your later years? despite the fact many of the bands you praise began with kids when they were seventeen? ignorant fuckface metal has no age limit

        • Zombie(really)

          Bands that we praised at 17 are fucking awesome….but i mean…if ‘the devil wear prada’ is you cup of tea have at it…………………………………..

          Also, I’m pretty sure we know that music has no age limit, but if you’re gonna say you enjoy metal then you should know the history. So many ‘kids’ these days clam to love metal but can only name newer metal bands (mostly ‘core’ bands). Then when you ask, ‘what do you think of Death?’. They have no idea who your talking about.

          • Mike Malice

            Motley Crue awesome? i think not

          • iceman

            i can respect that. i am guilty of not totally knowing everything there is to know about those guys. honestly, im not a huge slayer/sabbath/death/pantera fan. not many of those bands do it for me. However, i do completely and 100% respect the influence they had on the bands i listen to today.

            p.s. i too agree that the devil wears prada and their fellow scenesters suck donkey dick.

      • http://148gb.blogspot.com loganarchy

        That’s stereotypical; I’m 17 yet I don’t listen to deathcore.

        • http://148gb.blogspot.com loganarchy

          I also know who Death is and I don’t listen to The Devil Wears Prada

        • http://www.last.fm/user/BootScraperSean Anger Unmanagement

          I dont either! In all honesty i didnt know there was a scene until i checked out MS

      • ashley

        I’m 25 and have been listening since I was 14. The “judges” on the other hand: probably 17 year olds who claim to listen to metal.

        • Mike Malice

          They listed the judges, and I’m pretty sure the majority of them were older than you.

          Update from last comment, you are still an idiot.

  • Ballhair

    One thing that I noticed right away when I listened to this album was the guitar tones. Compare it to Iowa and tell me which one rocks harder. Iowa simply sounds bigger and meaner.

    Oh, not to mention the effects that were put on Corey’s voice are garbage.

  • Z

    I agree. I also completely agree with the part about this being a gateway album into more extreme forms of metal. Slipknot were one of the first really heavy bands I started listening to.

  • Fizzy G

    No wonder, look at their panel of voters…

  • http://ovidswithering.com AyeJayZink

    That was their worst album. The newest is definitely a step up though. Iowa is my personal favorite.

  • Crunch240sx

    I like this album, its not their best but its pretty good, to me its WAAAY better than All hope is Gone

    • http://ovidswithering.com AyeJayZink

      It was good but it lacked the heavy factor. Less blast beats and techy fills.

  • http://www.crackcesshollywood.com Farhaad

    I want to say I’m surprised, but I’m really not. I’m glad this was the Slipknot album that was chosen, though. It’s the album that got me into the band. Way to go. Can’t wait till tomorrow!

  • http://myspace.com/arsonyva Matt

    It’s dumb to freak out now because this is just the first album on the list, but i really do pray to god that a band like Slipknot will be an exception and not a trend on this list. Like everyone is saying there has to be some Opeth. I’m sure Machine head will be on it, as will Lamb of God, Mastodon, and every other successful metal band which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, i just hope some less known but extremely well reviewed stuff like Ashes against the grain or the mantle by Agalloch are on there.

    • Watty

      Definitely need some Agalloch on this list….

      I have a feeling, based on this, that most of the bands on here will be restricted to the more mainstream track, and that the voters won’t collectively have enough voting ability to get some of the lesser known bands with the hidden gem records onto this list…

      • Anus Apache

        Oh yeah gotta love the Agalloch. Too bad Pale Folklore isn’t eligible for this list being that it came out in the 90′s I think it would be a travesty if Opeth didnt make it

        • Daniel

          Ohh yeah either Ashes Against the Grain or The Mantle IMO. But I don’t think any of those will be featured on the list. Some Enslaved wouldn’t hurt either.

  • Kevin

    Really?

  • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

    I’m making it my mission to fully listen to (perhaps even own…we’ll see) every album that makes the list, so I hope all of them are as good as this.

    • http://www.crackcesshollywood.com Farhaad

      Same here! I’m sure I have at least a third..

    • dr j

      I wanted to do this as well, but I may just skip out on this album. And if they decide that Korn or ICP make the list, I’ll skip out on that as well.

      • politude

        Yep, I’ve heard this album, nuff said. Will NOT re-listen to it due to the list.

  • SewageKing

    I definitely agree that Slipknot is a “gateway drug” band. they were one of the first metal bands I listened to. But, this isn’t as good as Iowa, and there probably won’t be any other Slipkot albums on the list.

  • Selaphiel

    I was honestly surprised when I saw this album on the list.

    But, seriously, it’s Slipknots best and one of the greatest ROCK records ever recorded. Not necessarily metal, but it’s metal-ish…

  • Sin and Death

    Vol. III is the album that showcases Slipknot’s ability as musicians, although not their heaviest offering. Good choice, though.

  • The Wizard

    Meh, average choice. Sure it was ‘experimental’ and all that but I’ve always felt like Iowa was the Slipknot album most metalheads overlooked. Sure it had its ‘radio’ songs’, but god damn it also had Slipknots most heavy shit too!

  • Brian

    It’s far from my favorite record, but it’s an important record. I mean, better we teach our retarded 12-year-old mallcore kids about blasts and sweeps and odd time signatures as opposed to leaving them to generic nu-metal.

  • earthsherm

    great, im already not interested anymore, it’s not even iowa, this better be the last of slipknot on this list

  • joshkid

    what’s up with Slipknot being called “Rock”. I never heard a rock album (or hard rock) being that heavy!
    Anyway, Slipknot is a friggin’ awesome band, and Vol. 3 kicks some serious ass!
    Good choice to be on the list! I feel an awesome list coming up!!!!

    • Watty

      No…just….No.

    • iceman

      fail. epic fail

    • Agmkreptile

      i sense no fail here.

  • Rik

    I didn’t put this album in my personal list, but it doesn’t surprise me. And to be honest, I do love this album. Probably not a popular opinion, but it’s actually my fave Slipknot CD.

  • Kye

    Should have been higher.

    I said it.

    • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

      Agreed.

  • Anus Apache

    This is probably the only Slipknot album that I actually like and can listen to all the way through. Iowa had a couple good tracks on it.

    The biggest problem with slipknot are their fans

    • Anus Apache

      *is their fans

  • Anthony

    As soon as I saw this post I knew the comments would be filled with venom, but this album is awesome. Plain and simple. Their best album easily in my mind.

  • mahkiavelli

    I’m not the biggest Slipknot fan or anything, but this? I would have picked Iowa over this one. Grated Vol. 3 is probably their best “produced” album, but Iowa was the album that destroyed the “nu-metal” leanings of their first album. I didn’t even know it was the same band when I first heard it…

  • dude

    haha they did actually get me into death metal. when they took that long break after subliminal i needed something else to listen to and got straight into morbid angel \m/

    • iceman

      system of a down’s toxicity was my gateway drug into metal. I’d take that album over any slipknot album any day. Maybe not as heavy as slipknot, toxicity was still one hell of an album

  • http://www.myspace.com/ihopeyourot Dave

    seriously?

    shit, that shot this list in the foot real fast. It’s like watching the horse you bet on die as soon as the gates open.

    I could see this popping up in a top 50, but not a top ’21′. The album was so meh outside of the second track, contained songs that were basically segues, and it was clear which songs were filler. Duality was basically pop metal, same with Before I Forget.
    I could see Iowa popping up on this, because that album was heavy ahead of it’s time for them (and about as heavy as Slipknot will ever get apparently), but this album, nah. The last two have basically sounded like excuses for the band to get out and tour.

  • esteban

    Is the list really limited to one album per band? I haven’t kept up with Slipknot after self titled despite really enjoying self titled… I think I might have to skim over their work from then on. I agree, this is a metal- starter band and there’s nothing wrong with that.

  • erock

    Iowa was the peak. Weak start.

  • So much for this list

    So I guess you guys aren’t going to take this list very seriously, huh?

  • Keith Brown

    Huh, understandable. It’s the only Slipknot Record I like anyways, so I’m cool with it

  • Mike

    ST-ANGER FOR #1 MOTHERFUCKERS!!! no just kidding, i think Subliminal Verses wasn’t that bad…

  • dick?

    slipknot even made it?

    how much did they pay the voters?

    • Anthony

      Yeah, because Slipknot cares about making it on to a list on some blog….

      • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

        lol

      • Agmkreptile

        win

  • SolaceInNothing

    Oh boy, 77 comments just for the 1st pick out of 21. The shitheads are coming out of the woodwork for this one.

    • Watty

      So, people who disagree with an opinion and have loads of valid reasons for doing so are shitheads?

      • SolaceInNothing

        No people who actually care that much about a dopey list are.

        95 comments now . . . woohoo

        • wat

          Just wait for #1 when everyone comes bitching that some shite album they like didn’t make the list.

    • SolaceInNothing

      I just want to say to Metalsucks that I am absolutely honored at my post being immortalized under you banner, i didnt mean call your list dopey. I love you guys!

  • Astral Zombie

    …and people wonder why the music industry is in trouble??? Anyone who owns this album is a douche torch!

    • Watty

      1

      • Anthony

        -1

        There, we all lose.

  • trav

    That figures.

  • kevin

    I really hope war within is not the next album. The vocals are reealllly weak.

    • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

      Damn. I’ve always thought that The War Within had Brian Fair’s best vocals.

  • Geek Beater

    You guys are all forgetting something. The panel of voters picked this album. Not Axl. Whether you like Slipknot or not it really does not matter. Start your own website and state your shitty opinions. Slipknot is a very very heavy band. Listen to “IOWA” and say its not a metal album. Joey Jordison alone is worth the price of admission on any Slipknot album. You guys all need to get your head of out of Opeths ass. Just because bands play complicated riffs and signatures does not mean it its “a good metal album”. Metal is an art form and there is no right or wrong way to do it. I agree with Slipknot being on this list. They deserve it and put on one of the best live shows EVER.

    • plumber

      Opeth does make good metal albums, though.

  • http://schenkeltown.blogspot.com Daisy May Tinklepants

    oh no…an album that has sold more than three copies made the list….shun

    it’s a solid album. glad it made the list. i’ve always liked slipknot

  • plumber

    I can’t really comment on the album because I never realy listened to this band by choice. I have Iowa which I maybe listened to once or twice(I’m not trying to be too cool or “metal” for Slipknot they just never grabbed my attention musically). I’ve seen them live a few times due to the fact that their live show is kind of a spectacle (and that they’ve been at festivals with other bands I like and whatnot)…9 dudes running around is a cool kind of chaos where anything can happen. I enjoyed seeing them. The music, for me, is pretty meh. Not the worst, certainly not the best. Wouldn’t make my top 21. I think the idea of what Slipknot could be is better than what they are.

    I also have this funny feeling Death Magnetic might make this list…just saying.

    • groverXIII

      I don’t have any objections to Death magnetic making the list… it’s Metallica’s best album since Justice, and certainly one of the best albums I’ve heard this decade.

      • dthrasher

        fuck you

    • Double D

      “(I’m not trying to be too cool or “metal” for Slipknot they just never grabbed my attention musically).”

      I have literally never listened to a Slipknot album for the same reason.

  • bearwizard

    Do we really want Slipknot fans getting in on death metal? I know it’s already gone to shit and so fucking polluted I am reluctant to listen to anything labeled death metal i haven’t already heard of; but regardless of that, the less scene kids, mallcore/nu-metal kids, kids in general, the better….

    • Agmkreptile

      so every Slipknot maggot is a scene kid?

      ugh…you’re ignorance is utterly repulsive.

  • jackattack

    $10 says every fuck on here that’s claiming to they will no longer pay attention to the list or MS still keeps it on their blogroll til the end of time. Any takers?

    • iceman

      agreed

  • Anselmowitz

    Ugh fucking kill me, the list limps out the gates. Yeah righto Ok, only cause Slipknot is mostly responsible for all the hot little girlies at the metal concerts this century. Actually what made this album tolerable was the lack of other “first 4 frets” Metal surrounding it. These guys got riffs & beats but no songwriting ability.

    • Double D

      “Ok, only cause Slipknot is mostly responsible for all the hot little girlies at the metal concerts this century.”

      HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “Hot little girlies”?!?!?! Get the fuck outta here! Those meth-babies? You MUST be joking!

  • Ross

    Well, this list is officially shit since I’m sure it will have God Forbid and Limp Bizkit all over it.

  • http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8345/outside21.jpg Revrant

    Disgusting, hopefully this shitstain won’t taint the rest of the list.

  • o0Stacey0o

    Interesting. I knew they would be on here or figured so at least. And thank god they are last. And wow, what a shit storm of comments. Way to stir it up, boys!

  • ibanezninja

    wow this list comes screaming right out of the gate into a great big pile of shit

  • Dave B

    I agree with roughly 90% of the negative comments. To have anything from Slipknot, besides the self-titled album, make any kind of positive list is a joke.

  • Charlie B

    Well my suspicions have been confirmed this list is BS. What is more surprising is that people are surprised by Slipknot being on the list. Heck I won’t be surprised if they had another album on the list.

  • DJ P

    People dont be worried i am 99.9% sure Opeth will be on this list. if the .01% is true, whoever voted for this list should get shot

  • Mike Malice

    So far it seems clear that unless the top 21 list is filled with a bunch of garbage underground death metal and “old school” shit that the metalsucks readership will complain.

    I love the comments that say Slipknot isn’t metal, and then comments that suggest that Clutch is more metal. Based on a quick comparison I’d say Slipknot is more metal and Clutch is more hard rock.

    I’m interested to see where this list goes, and how many people are angry with every new post.

    There is a reason underground death metal isn’t popular, because it’s mostly fucking boring lame bullshit that isn’t at all appealing. People just need to associate themselves with a slightly less popular trend than the trend they hate for the reason that it’s trendy.

    Ah America, land of the free.

    • SolaceInNothing

      Lol, try home of the pompous and elitist. Me thinks these lists serve no purpose because the world of metal is so vast and subjective that almost no one can be happy about them . . .

      Unless it’s full of completely obscure bands from Norway of coarse : )

      • Sin and Death

        Amen, brudda.

    • http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8345/outside21.jpg Revrant

      I think most will complain because Slipknot is a gimmicky band, though I do agree with metal being as vast and subjective as it is this list has a truly monumental chance of dissatisfying the readership and generally being a terrible list.

  • Gordon Shumway

    Not a huge Slipknot fan, but I see where you’re cooming from with this. And I did enjoy the album actually. Think I’ll give it another spin now. =)

    And yes, the only major problem with Slipknot is thier retarded “maggots”. Emo scenester kids who got angry rather than started to cry.

    • joshkid

      that’s total bulllshit. I’ve been to a Slipknot concert already, and there were like zero “emo scenester kids”
      that were hangin out there. The guys you’re talking about hang out at the Marilyn Manson concerts.
      Btw, the concert was awesome, the knot know how to rock!

  • Spaceman_Jones

    How is a fucking clown banging on trash cans talented? I hope Avenged Sevenfold is not on here.
    Dance Of Death and A Matter of Life and Death need to be on here.

  • Shinaain

    Only #21? Fuck you guys.

    Smooches,
    Shinaain

    • allhopeisgone

      Totally agreed. I would have preferred Iowa, but having Slipknot of this list is pretty badass.

    • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism Because It’s Stupid and I’m Bored With My Name Already

      You crack me up, Shinaain.

  • borden

    slipknot are over rated and this just help prove my point! The list can only go downhill from here. fuck this shit

  • Mancubus

    1. Iowa is the only Slipknot album that I still listen too.

    2. I can name at least 50 albums off the top of my head taht are better than this.

    3. Who said that a Shadows Fall is #20? It could be The Oncoming Storm by Unearth, Clients by The Red Chord, or Jane Doe by Converge. No matter what, it’s probably -core.

  • Leo

    I hated this band when I first heard about them and will continue to hate this band until the day I die… try again

    • Sin and Death

      When did you hear about them?

      • Leo

        Probably when the wait and bleed song came out and they started showing them on every metal magazine cover..

  • http://lordsofmetal.nl/index.php?lang=en Cavorka

    I knew it!! I Fucking knew it! No Exodus, no Death Angel, no Hypocrisy, no Orphaned Land just the same predicatable bands over and over again!! I bet this list is going to be a huge(do I dare to say it already?)…./FAIL!!

  • uLy

    Not a fan of SlipKnot but there is no denying their place in history.

  • DecrystallizingReason

    Oh I get it, this list is a big joke. Good one guys.

  • kidzord

    who did u guys have choosing these albums, Psychostick?…oh wait…

    no care ever about this numetal atrocity of a list this is going to be…

  • Tom

    Oh god no! not Slipknot : ( not worth a spot on the list imo, Anaal Nathrakh makes better music with 2 guys than slipknot have ever done with 9.

  • dizzle

    putting slipknot on any top-anything list basically strips this site and those polled of any integrity as journalist, artists and human beings. almost TEN years of material to work with and the weakest album from one of the biggest jokes in metal, music, and civilization makes a top 21 list.
    “metal” definitely does suck

  • JRTME

    Why does Slipknot take away the integrity of this list? Cause they have been sucessful?

    Here is a neat idea make a list of 21 of the best Metal bands yourself and it will be exactly how you want it.

    It’s a compiled list. So they had to have some sort of method to make it. They used number system. So this is the way it came out.

    Is slipknot my favorite band? Not a chance I don’t even think they would make my top 21 metal albums.

    That being said this is a cool choice. I like this band. I’m not a noob either I have been a Metal/Hard Rock fan for the last 25 years.

  • Cincitucky

    Is it possible for anyone to provide a counter argument, in support of Slipknot, that doesn’t hinge on the ambiguous word “successful”? Fucking A.

    If I go to my local bar to shoot pool and they have Slipknot Duality on the music rotation right after Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion, I don’t believe they deserve to be on this list.

  • ferris

    Regarding methodology, fellas, you gotta realize that ANY list will have some bias. As they’ve stated up front, this list is a survey of a certain group of people and what they think. Nobody’s saying it’s the grand undisputable truth of the universe.

    I wouldn’t trust anyone who thinks “my favorite” means exactly the same thing as “the best.”

    Unless Limp Bizkit’s Undeniable Truth Pt. 1 comes out as #1. Because they’re NO denying that, haterz!

    - sweaty freddy nugent-durst

  • hater_guy

    Sayton!

  • John

    Please post the names of people who voted for this album. Really.

  • jj

    How boring would it be if the list was all Opeth, all Mastodon, All Gojira, etc? Diversity is what makes metal so awesome. Just wait for the rest of the list to unfold, then you can start hammering away at the fucking keyboard.

    As for Slipknot, I like this album. Its good place to start for new metalheads. I listen it every now and then.

  • bucketochicken

    I love how some people are actually personally affronted/insulted by something as wildly subjective as other people’s (people they don’t even fucking know personally, mind you) musical tastes & opinions.

    My god, humanity is stupid.

  • Brandon

    If this is how the list starts right out of the gate… well a lot of people will be terribly disappointed with all the hype. Thanks, Axl.

  • anon!

    At least it’s not in the top 20! Lawl!

  • Mike

    Sleep’s Holy Mountain should definately be on this list. It’s one of the best albums to listen to, stoned or sober!

  • Sean

    So I hadn’t heard this particular disc since I generally haven’t liked much I’ve heard from Slipknot. I decided to check it out, it’s not bad. Much better than some of the other stuff I’ve heard from them. But I’m still surprised its top 21 for the decade. Be interesting to see what else makes this list. It’ll be a shame if it mostly focuses on more commercial friendly stuff.

  • Dan-O

    Thankfully I didn’t have to use Slipknot as a gateway drug into death metal. Vol. 3 though, was not too bad of a disc. I am a bit surprised it made the list though, but I won’t argue.

    • Ryan

      I remember my dad bought me Iowa when I was about 14 and listening to rap. Don’t blame me, I went to an inner city school. It turned my world upside down and I’ve been listening to metal ever since. Slipknot had that crossover ability that got me and many of my friends into metal. Whether or not this is one of the top 21 records of this century is debatable. Hoping to see some BTBAM on here.

  • http://www.myspace.com/breathofmetalproductions pokesmot

    i enjoy watching you tards argue and threaten to not visit the site
    fucking gold

  • bradican

    wow your gonna reveal each album one at a time? way too make this the most over hyped piece of shit fucking list EVER

  • Carter

    so gay. who cares about mall-core

    • http://live.com 5

      Mallcore!
      that’s a new one

  • B-dizzle

    What a terrible start. Let me guess, Limp Bizkit will be in the top 15?

  • Sammy

    It’s good to see that your list of panelists actually respects Slipknot for what they are – a damn decent band.

  • Brock

    Argh! I knew this was going to happen, though.

  • http://live.com 5

    1 Blackwater Park- Opeth
    2 Colors- Between the Buried and Me
    3 Lateralus- Tool
    4 Ghost Reveries- Opeth
    5 10,000 Days- Tool

    Progy!

    • GraZmus

      It’s METAL albums… tool are rock

    • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism So I’m Just Going to Do This

      BtBaM aren’t prog.

  • http://live.com 5

    If Ashes of the Wake is not in the top 10 I’m going to violate a hobo with a garden gnome

    • joshkid

      totally dude.
      Ashes of the Wake is right up there!

  • Neil

    hahah you got to be fucking kidding me

  • BAY AREA METAL

    YOU’RE SHITTTTING ME.

    PEOPLE = SHIT = SLIPKNOT

  • Vince from Metal Blade

    For the record, this one wasn’t on my list! If Slipknot would’ve made my list, it would’ve been the self-titled album.

    Crossing my fingers that 7angels 7plagues “Jhazmyne’s Lullaby” made the list!

  • http://www.bayareametalscene.com Bay Area Metal Scene

    For the record, the GOO-GOO DOLLS song on my METAL BLADE Anniversary CD wasn’t on my list.

  • http://salsicha.wordpress.com Gabriel

    I don’t like any Slipknot’s album, but at least The Subliminal Verses has a song that I actually like, which is The Nameless. Ok, Wait and Bleed is cool too. But only these two ones.

  • Mike Malice

    They should put out two albums at a time, one is the actual placing album, and one that they just pick randomly, and then have people decide which one they think made it.

    That would be sweet.

  • Matt

    I can name deathcore albums alot better than this…

  • Malacoda

    What the fuck, you guys are posting them one at a time?

  • dustinyo

    I guess you can’t hate on bands that introduce kids to metal. But really, when I was kid the ‘gateway’ bands that got me into metal were Pantera, Sepultura, Megadeth and White Zombie. Looking at that, I really don’t know if slipknot being put into that same category of ‘gateway’ bands is a good thing…

    I don’t even think this was a terrible album. Not their best, but decent. But I’m going to go with the vast majority here and say how the hell is this in the top 21 at all?

  • i think

    all of you idiots that are to “metal” to listen to anything that sold more than 3 copies

    • http://www.last.fm/user/BootScraperSean Anger Unmanagement

      “too metal” not “to metal” XD

  • Robert

    I hate to be a dick, (except that I don’t hate it at all), but the 21st century began on January 1, 2001. There was no Year Zero. Also, Slipknot is sort of a pile of shit.

    • Chanel

      Yup. They suck so much they are my favorite band. and i hope u know i was being sarcastic.

      • Chanel

        bout the suck part that is…

  • http://www.last.fm/user/Demigod1 Tyler

    Fuck it, I love this band and this is a great album. This band got me into metal, and I still enjoy the music to this day, this deserves it’s place on the list.

    • Chanel

      I think it should be higher

  • MetalRod

    I agree with this pick whole heart-ed. Beautifully brutal, definitely Slipknot’s most diverse and expansive album that still remains sick and heavy as hell.

    And to everyone bitching… shut the fuck up! It’s at #21 anyways cunt-rags.

  • Fuck

    While this is the band that got me into metal along with a few other lighter bands, i was extremely disapointed with this album. The only songs I liked were The blister exists and 3 nil, other than that I pass on this album. Joey still cranks out some brutal drums but corey sounds like a pussy. If this album is 21 than every Devildriver and Lamb of God album better be on this hierarchy of albums. The very fact that this list exists is dumb to begin with, everyone and their elitist attitude about metal, it gets old. Slipknot good before 2005, not a huge fan anymore, Im sure that will be debated.

  • AxeGrinder

    It seems funny that most of the voter-panel are americans, thereby immediately removing any trace of Black Metal/Swedish Death Metal etc……..
    Hatebreeds’ Perseverance….gimme a fuckin’ break……..
    Shadows Fall……………please……………they are just a hardcore band trying to be metal……

    Man……i dont hate USA or anything but this strangleholfd of deciding whats cool or which band is the biggest in metal should be for all to decide and not just American lables or the people in general…..

    Peace.

  • Chanel

    YES! I love Slipknot

  • Denis

    Seriously You all Shouldve known it was gonna be on here, It Was a Really Good Album, but i wouldnt rank it 21, i would rank it more like 40, and i agree with most of the other people on here either IOWA or All Hope Is Gone shouldve been in place of this but it still is a really good album, you all just gotta realize that

  • Bullhead

    No, this album shouldn’t be on a greatest list.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Eitle/879585105 David Eitle

    Yeah, it should. This album rules.