Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
General Infomation
Artist	Slipknot
Release Date	May 25th, 2004 (standard) April 12th, 2005 (special)
Recorded	2003 – Mid 2004
Studio	The Mansion (Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California) Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research & Sound City (Los Angeles)
Genre	Nu Metal Alternative Metal
Length	60:10 (standard; disc 1) 41:15 (special; disc 2) 101:24 (total)
Label	Roadrunner Records
Producer	Rick Rubin
Mixer	Greg Fidelman
Singles
1. "Duality" May 4th, 2004 2. "Vermilion" October 5th, 2004 3. "Before I Forget" March 8th, 2005 4. "The Nameless" November 1st, 2005
Promotional Singles
1. "Pulse of the Maggots" March 30th, 2004 2. "Vermilion Pt. 2" October 5th, 2004 3. "The Blister Exists" January 24th, 2006
Slipknot Chronology
← Previous	Disasterpieces
Next →	9.0: Live
Studio Album Chronology
← Previous	Iowa
Next →	All Hope Is Gone

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. The album was released on May 25th, 2004, through Roadrunner Records, and a special edition, containing a bonus disc, was released on April 12th, 2005. It is the band's only album produced by Rick Rubin.

Background

Following the band's tour to promote its second album in 2001, speculation regarding the future began. Some band members had already been involved in side projects including Murderdolls, To My Surprise, and the reformation of Stone Sour. However, in 2003, Slipknot moved into The Mansion to work on the album. Initially, the band was unproductive; lead vocalist Corey Taylor was drinking heavily. Nevertheless, they wrote more than enough material for a new album—the band's first to incorporate more traditional, melodic song structures and acoustic guitars.

The album generally received positive reviews. Slipknot was praised by Allmusic for its "dedication to making it a Slipknot album", while Q added that the album was "a triumph". The album peaked within the top ten in album sales across eleven countries and went Platinum in the United States. The band also received the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the single "Before I Forget".

Production

Slipknot recorded Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) with producer Rick Rubin at The Mansion in Los Angeles, California in 2003. Earlier there had been speculation regarding the possibility of a third album and the band's future, as some members worked on other musical projects. After the album was completed, the band said that these side projects "saved the band" and "helped [them] break out of the box [they] were in". However, coming back together and working out their differences hindered the writing process initially. During an interview in 2007, drummer Joey Jordison said: "we didn't talk to each other for three months, we just sat there wasting money in the fucking Houdini mansion." Speaking retrospectively percussionist Shawn Crahan states; "eventually we got sick of waiting for shit to happen. We got together, had a few beers and wrote a really artsy, fucked up song called 'Happy Ending'." In a 2002 interview, Jordison explained that despite the initial problems more than enough material was written for the album and added that "it's better to have the stuff to pick from than to settle for shit", in contrast to how Slipknot settled too soon with fewer songs on previous albums. Band members were divided over their experience of working with producer Rubin, some of which doubted his commitment to Slipknot as he split his time between many artists at once. Lead vocalist Corey Taylor admitted in an interview that he drank heavily throughout their time in the mansion, saying "I would drink from the moment I got up until the moment I passed out." He explained that; "everything I did while I was drinking sounded like shit," while expressing how unhappy he was with the choice of vocal takes which ended up on the album. During this time, percussionist Crahan worked on Voliminal: Inside the Nine, a video documenting the creation process of the album and the touring which would follow.

The cover of the album features the "maggot mask" designed by Shawn Crahan. The title is a reference to the name given to fans by the band. The mask was made of stitched leather, with a zipper around the mouth area, and copies can be obtained as part of the band's merchandise. It is featured in the music video for the album's second single "Vermilion", in which the band appears whenever the protagonist wears the mask.

Promotion

Prior the release of the album, the band released "Pulse of the Maggots" in its entirety as a free downloadable track on the now defunct SK Radio website, it was available for one day only on March 30th, 2004. This also marked the beginning of Slipknot's touring cycle, The Subliminal Verses World Tour, starting with their appearance on the Jägermeister Music Tour, On May 4th, 2004, "Duality" was released as their first official single. Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) was finally released on May 25th, 2004, to coincide with the release of the album "Duality" was released on a special edition 7-inch red vinyl. Alongside the standard edition of the album, Roadrunner Records also released a limited edition that could connect to the Slipknot website to obtain new songs and other promotional material. Other singles from the album included "Vermilion", "Before I Forget" and "The Blister Exists". On April 12th, 2005, a special edition version of the album, containing a bonus disc, was released.

Musical and Lyrical themes

Before the release of Vol. 3, band members had promised a more experimental album; drummer Jordison said that "it's almost as if Slayer was tapping on Radiohead". For the first time in Slipknot's career, songs such as "Circle" and "Vermilion Pt. 2" were led by an acoustic rather than an electric guitar. However, according to Todd Burns of Stylus, songs such as "Pulse of the Maggots" and "Before I Forget" incorporate a "pounding metal" style. Allmusic wrote that tracks, such as "Blister Exists", "Three Nil", and "Opium of the People", combine the two extremes of their recognizable metal edge with melody, and the most apparent shifts being in Taylor's vocal style. Entertainment Weekly wrote that the album "[bounced] between over-powering speed-metal and haunting acoustic rock".

Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) was Slipknot's first album that did not warrant a Parental Advisory label because it lacked profanity. In a 2007 interview, guitarist Mick Thomson explained that vocalist Taylor made a point of avoiding the use of profanity in response to claims that he relied on it. According to Allmusic, the lyrics of Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) include metaphors and touch on themes that include anger, disaffection, and psychosis. Taylor's diversity in his vocal delivery was praised; Burns considered tracks like "Vermilion Pt. 2" to have "stately vocal harmonies". Taylor's performance on the closing track "Danger – Keep Away" was specifically praised; Stylus called it the most "depressing and emotional" track on the album. Burns concluded that overall" the riffs had lost none of their impacts, but it seems like finally the group also wants you to appreciate their vocal and lyrical impact."

Track Listing

All tracks are written by Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Shawn Crahan, Craig Jones, Jim Root, Chris Fehn, Paul Gray, Joey Jordison & Sid Wilson

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) — Standard Edition (Disc 1)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Prelude 3.0"	3:57
2.	"The Blister Exists"	5:19
3.	"Three Nil"	4:48
4.	"Duality"	4:12
5.	"Opium of the People"	3:12
6.	"Circle"	4:22
7.	"Welcome"	3:15
8.	"Vermilion"	5:16
9.	"Pulse of the Maggots"	4:19
10.	"Before I Forget"	4:38
11.	"Vermilion Pt. 2"	3:44
12.	"The Nameless"	4:28
13.	"The Virus of Life"	5:25
14.	"Danger - Keep Away"	3:13
Total length:		1:00:09

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) — Japanese Edition (Disc 1)
No.	Title	Length
15.	"Scream"	4:31
Total length:		1:04:40

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) — Special Edition (Disc 2)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't Get Close"		3:47
2.	"Scream"		4:31
3.	"Vermilion" (Terry Date Mix)		5:25
4.	"Danger - Keep Away" (Full-Length Version)		7:55
5.	"The Blister Exists" (Live)		5:21
6.	"Three Nil" (Live)		4:57
7.	"Disasterpiece" (Live)	Taylor	5:25
8.	"People = Shit" (Live)	Taylor	3:54
Total length:			41:15

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) — Australian Tour Edition (Disc 2)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't Get Close"		3:47
2.	"Scream"		4:31
3.	"Vermilion" (Terry Date Mix)		5:25
4.	"Danger - Keep Away" (Full-Length Version)		7:55
5.	"Disasterpiece" (Live)	Taylor	5:25
6.	"New Abortion" (Live)	Taylor	4:01
7.	"People = Shit" (Live)	Taylor	3:54
Total length:			34:58

Personnel

Slipknot (#8) Corey Taylor – vocals (#7) Mick Thomson – guitars (#6) Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals, art direction, photography (#5) Craig Jones – samplers, keyboards (#4) Jim Root – guitars (#3) Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals (#2) Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals (#1) Joey Jordison – drums, mixing (#0) Sid Wilson – turntables Design Michael Boland – design for The Boland Design CO. Neil Zlozower – band photography

Production Rick Rubin – producer Greg Fidelman – mixing Phillip Broussard – assistant engineer Miles Wilson – assistant engineer Dan Monti – assistant engineer Lindsay Chase – album production coordination Ted Jensen – mastering Management Monte Conner – A&R Cory Brennan and Merck Mercuriadis – management for Sanctuary Artist Management Inc. Michael Arfen – US booking agent for Writers and Artists Agency International John Jackson – international booking agent for K2 Agency

Gallery

• Vinyl

Picture Disc – Side A

Picture Disc – Side B

Picture Disc – Side C

Picture Disc – Side D

Black Vinyl

Transparent Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive)

Translucent Violet Vinyl (Indie Exclusive)

Translucent Orange Crush Vinyl (US Indie Retail Exclusive)

Translucent Grape Vinyl (Webstore Exclusive)

Mock-Ups:

Violet Vinyl (Indie Exclusive)

Orange Crush Vinyl (Indie Retail Exclusive)

Grape Vinyl (Webstore Exclusive)

Tour

• The Subliminal Verses World Tour

Trivia

• There were two or three cut tracks that have never been released to the public.

Release History

Region	Date	Format(s)	Edition	Label(s)