Review Summary: The reign killed it all.
So, after stepping out of their nu metal box, Slipknot entered in a long hiatus. In this time, the members invested in their side projects, and the fans were clamoring for a new album. Then, Slipknot announced All Hope Is Gone. They promised that it would mix the melodic sensibilities and the weird experimentation of Vol. 3 with Iowa's brutality. Everybody was anxious to see such a great formula like that, but... It isn't really that great.
All Hope Is Gone really mixes experimentation and melody with brutality, but it's usually not in the same song (save for a few songs, like "Psychosocial"). The album is a "mixed bag", with songs that don't have the same edge of the first albums, and don't have a melody sensibility as good as Vol. 3 had. Instead, almost every song sounds like a different band, with hard rock instrumentation and Corey's screams that don't melt together at all, and some sense of experimentation on its sound that only brings it down. The formula of aggressive verses and clean chorus still is used here, but this time they aren't as memorable as they were in Vol. 3, only working in a few songs.
However, some songs here work with the proposed formula, like "Psychosocial" with its attacking verses and catchy-as-hell chorus work like the rest of the album should, being one of the best Slipknot songs. "Sulfur" works with the same formula too, and its almost thrash verses and anthemic chorus is one of the album's highlights. Some of the heavy songs are satisfying, like "This Cold Black", "Gematria (The Killing Name)" and the title track, but the rest fails to impress.
Songs like "Butcher's Hook" and "Dead Memories" go to the hard rock path, trying to experiment with some new things, but fall short as bland and skippable. The slower songs aren't that impressive too, and lack the band's flavor that made songs like "Vermilion Pt. 2" work, almost sounding like it isn't Slipknot.
The lyrics here regressed from Vol. 3's evolution, coming back to the profanity and macho posture of the early albums. The instrumentation is somewhat good, but its sound is too simplistic for a band with 9 members, none of which who do anything to stand out. Corey's vocals are weaker, only working well on a few songs. His screams sound uninspired, but his clean vocals are one of the album's redeeming qualities.
The album tries too hard to mix all of the band's other albums that it only brings itself down and doesn't sound anything like them. The standout tracks are pretty good, but overall the album is a failed attempt to progress from the Vol. 3's dynamics. I hope their talent isn't gone.
Standout Tracks:
Psychosocial
Sulfur
All Hope Is Gone
This Cold Black
