Slipknot‘s seventh studio album “The End, So Far” marked the conclusion of an era for the masked metal phenomenon. Not only did it find the band pushing even further into new stylistic avenues, it also marked the conclusion of their decades-long relationship with Roadrunner Records.
With the group now having the freedom to release their art as they see fit, it seems the group may move away from the traditional album release cycle. In a new interview with NME, percussionist M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan confirmed that the band will officially be a fully independent venture on March 31st, 2023.
Crahan, who has co-run the band behind the scene alongside frontman Corey Taylor for a number of years now, also has some tentative plans on what to do with that newfound freedom.
Speaking of that and a potential new release strategy for the band’s music, Crahan told the aforementioned publication:
“I always thought, ‘What would it be like if Slipknot was big enough that we weren’t held to albums?’ Let’s say Clown could convince you, ‘Hey, instead of waiting two years for 12 songs, I’m gonna give you one song every month.’ So in reality, I’m shaving a year off for the same thing.
You have to go with me on this journey, but what I promise you is, there’s artwork that goes with it, there’s utility that goes with it, it’s cheaper than what a normal individual song would be… And it’s gone through all the filters – it’s gone through the band, it’s gone through Corey Taylor, it’s gone through a professional mixer and masterer – no avenues have been chopped up, it’s all business as usual. And we want to do this because I think it’s time for you, our fans, to get everything.”
According to Clown, “absolute albums are going to be a thing of the past”, because “physical product is becoming obsolete.” He also thinks that the lack of a traditional label may pave the way to some interesting collaborations and experimentation:
“I’ve always thought it would be interesting for our fans to know more about us. So if the Clown and Corey Taylor and [guitarist] Jim Root were all interested in playing with the number one sitar player on the planet – and we would be because we’re artists – and we brought this person to our location, and this person adorned us with their craft and taught us about the sitar… If we got to sit in and listen, and partake, and touch and smell and feel that vibration… Wouldn’t it be interesting?”
Let’s say that sitar player’s on a label and they have management – well fuck it, I’m going to call them up directly and they’re only going to have to talk to their label, and their label’s going to have to talk to my management. It’s not going to be my label and their label, and my management and their management, and then me and the artists. [When it’s like that], we never get to work together; we never get to make this piece of art. So being free, in that sense, gives us the freedom to explore deeper, more surreal opportunities to hone in with our craft; it’s a win-win for everyone.
The philosophy is for the fans to be sucked into thought, rather than just heavy metal, record labels, video channels, radio… No, it’s the love of music – you love us as artists, you love our band, you know we have our own filter… Look at what we can do when we are free to dip our paintbrushes anywhere.”
