slipknot album art covers download SLIPKNOT's On 'Gray Chapter' Artwork: 'The Minute I Saw That Image, I Knew That It Was The Cover' SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor says that when he first saw the image that became the cover artwork for the band's long-awaited fifth album, ".5: The Gray Chapter" , he was "so blown away" that he immediately knew SLIPKNOT had found what it was looking for. The ".5: The Gray Chapter" was designed by M. , better known as Clown , who is the percussionist and founding member of SLIPKNOT . Crahan is also the art director for SLIPKNOT and directed their DVDs, "" , "Voliminal: Inside The Nine" , "Of The (sic)" , and "(sic)nesses: Live at Download" . He has been the creative vision behind the band since their inception. "The minute I saw that image, I knew that it was the cover," Taylor told Mistress Carrie of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF , "because the great thing about Clown is that… He does all the artwork for us, he comes up with so much of the concepts, and he's really never gotten the amount of credit that I think he deserves. So when he came in, he had some of this fantastic artwork, I was so blown away. But that one image was so striking, and I think it told so many different stories just in that one image. Because it's black and white, but if you look at it, there's so much gray in it without the color gray even being there. I just knew that was our moment, that was our image, that's what we were gonna put up and hold up to the world and say, 'This is our album.' I just knew that was it." Taylor said in a new interview with that firing SLIPKNOT 's founding drummer in 2013 after 18 years was "one of the hardest decisions" the group ever made, adding that Jordison is "in a place in his life" which is "not where we are." Taylor said he could not get into specifics for legal reasons, but admitted, "It's when a relationship hits that T-section and one person's going one way and you're going the other. And try as you might to either get them to go your way or try and go their way, at some point you've got to go in the direction that works for you. This is me speaking in the broadest terms, with respect to Joey . I guess to sum it up, it was one of the hardest decisions we ever made." Taylor said that the band is "happy right now and we hope that he is… he's just in a place in his life, right now, that's not where we are." The singer would not answer whether drug use played a role in Jordison 's dismissal, and confessed that he had not been in touch with his former bandmate. Taylor said, "I haven't talked to Joey in a while, to be honest. That's how different we are. It's not because I don't love him and I don't miss him. And it is painful; we talk about him all the time, but at the same time, do we miss him or do we miss the old him? That's what it really comes down to." ".5: The Gray Chapter" will be released on October 21 via Roadrunner . It's the band's first without Jordison and late bassist Paul Gray . The identities of the band's new bassist and drummer have not yet been revealed, but both appeared — disguised in the same newly designed mask — in the video for "" , the first single from the new album. Nonetheless, it is widely believed that the new bassist is Alessandro "Vman" Venturella , who sports the exact same tattoo on his hand that was spotted on the hand of the new bassist in the video. SLIPKNOT 's new drummer is thought to be , son of longtime Bruce Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg . SLAYER: 'Repentless' Cover Artwork Unveiled. The cover artwork for SLAYER 's eleventh studio album, "Repentless" , can be seen below. The CD will be released on September 11 via Nuclear Blast . The artwork was created by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco in collaboration with the band's Tom Araya and Kerry King . "We had a number of submitted ideas for the cover artwork," said Araya , "and we felt Marcelo 's was the best. We made some suggestions and the result is an awesome album cover." The "Repentless" title track will be available digitally virtually everywhere around the globe this Friday, June 19. " 'Repentless' is my Jeff [ Hanneman ] tribute," said King . "I call it the 'HannemAnthem.' It's my perspective of Jeff 's perspective, it's what I think. If Jeff wrote a song for himself, 'Repentless' would be it." The full lyrics for the "Repentless" title track can be found below. The Metal Eagle Edition of "Repentless" , is made of aluminum alloy, measuring 15" x 17" x 3" and weighing in at a hefty 7.8 pounds (yes, the final version is heavier than previously announced), the Metal Eagle Edition will house a deluxe digipak of the "Repentless" CD plus bonus material detailed below. The limited (only 3,000 copies worldwide) and numbered Metal Eagle Edition will be a direct-to-consumer item and available exclusively via the Nuclear Blast mailorder online store. The Metal Eagle will include the following exclusive items: * Deluxe digipak (folds out into "inverted cross") * Bonus Blu-Ray and DVD including "Slayer Live At Wacken 2014" and "Making Of Repentless Documentary" * Bonus live CD "Slayer Live At Wacken 2014" * Fold-out poster * Album sticker * Numbered certificate. The highly anticipated "Repentless" is SLAYER 's eleventh studio album, the first since 2009's critically acclaimed, Grammy -nominated "World Painted Blood" and the first with producer ( PANTERA , SLIPKNOT , SOUNDGARDEN ). The band — Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Paul Bostaph (drums), and Gary Holt (guitar), who recorded lead guitar parts for about a half-dozen of the album's new tracks — started recording "Repentless" in March 2014, and made the track "Implode" available as a free download in April of that year. The band and Date continued to record between September 2014 and mid-January 2015 at Henson Studios in Los Angeles. For the album, "Implode" was completely re-recorded from the ground up, and "When The Stillness Comes" , used as an instrumental track in a Scion commercial, got a revamped intro and all new vocals. "Repentless" also includes "Piano Wire" , an unfinished song from the "World Painted Blood" sessions written by Hanneman. About the track, wrote that it "begins with an eerie guitar line before evolving into a full-on-doom (and classic SLAYER ) riff onslaught." King put it this way: "When I hear it, I think ' Jeff .' It sounds like a Jeff Hanneman song." The 12-track "Repentless" is, according to those who have heard it, a sonic assault of brutal, ominous, lightening-fast and heavy-as-hell music with lyrics that unmask what SLAYER knows best — the terror, the corruption and the societal turmoil that dominates our world. "The new album sounds like SLAYER ," said Araya . "In the past, our fans have always known what to expect, this time they don't. But we really like it, and I don't think the fans are going to be disappointed." As is expected from SLAYER , the band will support the release of "Repentless" with extensive touring across the globe, beginning this summer when the band headlines the Rockstar Energy Drink . That tour kicks off June 26 at Sleep Train Amphitheater in San Diego, California. Iowa (album) Iowa is the second album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released by on August 28, 2001, it was produced by and Slipknot. The title derives from the band's home state, Iowa, which members have stated is one of their biggest sources of inspiration. With much anticipation for the band's second album following on the success of their 1999 self-titled debut, pressures on the band were high. Their relationships with each other suffered and was later described as the darkest time of their career. It was also the first time that guitarist had been significantly involved in a Slipknot album due to his joining very late in recording of their debut album, as Root was only featured on two songs from that release. Despite troubles within the band and with Iowa's development, Slipknot promoted it for almost a year. Iowa was a major success, it premiered in the top ten album sales charts in nine countries. Generally positively received, it includes some of their notable songs, such as "Disasterpiece", "", "People = Shit" and the two Grammy-nominated songs "Left Behind" and the remix of "My Plague." Critic John Mulvey proclaimed the album, as the "absolute triumph of ." While more technical than their debut album, Iowa is considered to be the band's heaviest. It has been certified platinum in the United States and Canada. platinum in the United States and Canada. Contents. Production. Iowa was recorded and produced at Sound City and Sound Image studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Ross Robinson, who had produced their debut album. Drummer Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray began working on new music together in October 2000 and together they wrote material for most of the tracks on the album. During this time other band members wanted a break following the extensive touring which followed their self-titled debut album. However, on January 17, 2001, Slipknot entered the studio to begin recording Iowa. This period in the band's career has became known as one of their worst for several reasons. Jordison stated retrospectively, "that's where we got into a war" citing the lack of a break for himself and Gray. While other factors, including: vocalist Corey Taylor's alcohol addiction, several other members' drug addictions, management issues and more, affected relations in the band. Despite being a member of Slipknot since 1999, it was the first album where guitarist Jim Root had been significantly involved. He had joined them during the later recording stages of Slipknot and subsequently became more involved with this album. During an interview with Guitar magazine in November 2001 he explained, "it was so exciting as well as scary to be part of this whole huge process", adding that there was a lot of pressure from fellow guitarist to perform well on the record. In an interview with FHM in December 2001, vocalist Corey Taylor revealed that he put himself in specific situations to achieve his performance on the album. While recording vocals for the final song "Iowa" he was completely naked, vomiting all over himself and cutting himself with broken glass. Explaining this, he said, "that's where the best stuff comes from. You've got to break yourself down before you can build something great." While producing the album, Ross Robinson broke his back in a dirt-biking accident, he returned to the studio after a day, reportedly "putting all of his pain into the album", much to the admiration of the band. Promotion. There was speculation over the title before its announcement with Nine Men, One Mission as the expected title in some sources. Iowa was later announced as its title and was named after the band's home state of Iowa. Band members have claimed that Iowa is the source of their energy and they consciously made the decision to stay in the area, partly due to the fear of losing their creative direction. The opening track "(515)" is also a reference to their home state, named after the telephone area code for central Iowa. Initially the album was scheduled for release on June 19, 2001, and was to be preceded by a five-date warm-up tour.[page needed] However, the mixing of the album took longer than anticipated, causing the album's release to be delayed and the cancellation of the tour.[page needed] The album was officially released on August 28, 2001. In support of the album, Slipknot began touring on their . This included: a spot on Ozzfest in 2001, an American co-headlining tour with System of a Down, as well as tours in Japan, Europe and elsewhere. Prior to the album's release, Slipknot gave away "The Heretic Anthem" as a single limited to 666 copies and a free downloadable track on their website. The first official single from the album was "Left Behind". In 2002, the band made a special appearance in the film Rollerball in which they performed "I Am Hated". Following this, a second single from the album was released, "My Plague", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Resident Evil. Musical and Lyrical themes. The musical style of Slipknot is a contested issue due to the variety of genres their music covers. Sources usually group Slipknot within nu metal while also showing influences from other genres, such as heavy metal, rap metal, and . Prior to its release, band members promised a much darker and heavier album than Slipknot, and many sources praised the band for achieving this — effectively fulfilling their promises. During an interview in 2008, percussionist Shawn Crahan retrospectively evaluated their time creating the album, proclaiming that they owe their overtly darker sound to their state of mind during that period: "When we did Iowa, we hated each other. We hated the world; the world hated us." Iowa, unlike its predecessor, saw Robinson capturing the band's technicality as opposed to the raw energy for which Slipknot is known. The band was also praised for its use of an extended line-up consisting of additional percussionists and electronics. NME stated that "every possible space is covered in scrawl and cymbals: guitars, percussion, electronic squall, subhuman screaming." Although Iowa is widely regarded as the band's heaviest album to date, some tracks do include melody, most apparent in "Everything Ends" and "Left Behind"; however these tracks are still considered heavy when compared to the likes of "Vermilion" or "". Melodies have always been a part of the way Slipknot writes music, and shows in this album on songs like "My Plague" and "The Shape". The title track, "Iowa", is the longest Slipknot song, and the third longest track. Only "Killers are Quiet" (from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.) and "Scissors" (from Slipknot) are longer, but both songs feature hidden tracks, with several minutes of silence separating the songs. Iowa follows the lyrical style that vocalist Corey Taylor established on Slipknot; it includes strong use of metaphors to describe overtly dark themes including misanthropy, solipsism, disgust, anger, disaffection, psychosis and rejection.[23][24] The album also includes many expletives; David Fricke of the Rolling Stone magazine said "there is not much shock value left in the words fuck and shit, which Taylor uses in some variation more than forty times in Iowa's sixty-six minutes." Fricke went on to praise Taylor's performance on the track "Iowa", comparing it to a "vivid evocation of a makeshift-cornfield grave at midnight." Reception. Following the huge success of their debut album, Slipknot, author Dick Porter wrote that the anticipation for a follow up was intense. Prior to its release, drummer Jordison proclaimed: "Wait till you hear our fuckin' next record. It smokes our first album. The shit's twice as technical, three times as heavy." The College Music Journal reviewed it as "brutal, unrelenting, scorching. " Many reviews noted its heavy themes, the Alternative Press stated, "[it is] like having a plastic bag taped over your head for an hour while Satan uses your scrotum as a speedbag. [It] is over the top. you're going to be left in stitches." NME said that it is "Exhilarating, brutal and good."Rolling Stone credited the album for its originality, stating that "nearly everything else in modern doom rock sounds banal." Producer Robinson was also praised for his work on the album; Uncut noted, "The barely relenting, tumbling noise attack marshalled by nu metal uber-producer Ross Robinson is expert." Reviewing for Yahoo, John Mulvey said, "They're an evolutionary dead end, the final, absolute triumph of nu metal." The album's first single, "Left Behind", was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 44th Grammy Awards. The second single, "My Plague", was nominated in 2003 for the same award at the 45th Grammy Awards. The single "Left Behind" peaked in the top thirty for single sales the United States and the UK. In addition, "My Plague" reached the 43rd position on the UK charts. Iowa was ranked sixth in the "50 Albums of the year" by NME in 2001. The album peaked at the top position on the UK Albums Chart, in addition to the second spot on the ARIA Charts in . The album reached the third spot on the Billboard 200 and Finnish Charts. On October 10, 2001, the album was certified platinum in the United States. In Canada, the Canadian Recording Industry Association certified the album as Platinum, on September 5, 2001. The British Phonographic Industry has certified the album as gold in the UK. In 2009, Iowa was rated 3rd in UK magazine Kerrang!'s "The 50 Best Albums of the 21st Century" reader poll. Album Cover Design. Album cover design is a visual representation of your music and the first image your listeners will see when they pick up your album. It should artistically represent your style and tone as a musician. What makes a good album cover design? Album cover art is subjective, but some common qualities create a great looking cover. The font, colors, and imagery should all match the music and brand identity. The artwork should be high-quality, versatile designs that are pleasing to the eye and easy to see, even when reduced in size. Why should I hire an album cover designer? An excellent album cover goes hand in hand with the music it represents, which is why you need a professional designer to help deliver your message through art. Album cover designers usually have training in Fine Arts or Graphic Design and will help you take your music to the next level. How do I choose the right designer for my album cover? It's important for your potential album cover designer to be in sync with you as a musician. Check out previous examples from the artist. You want a designer who can create unique and original art for your cover. Choosing an artist with design and illustration experience is also a huge plus. Do I need to prepare something for my album cover design? Send a sample of your music along with any band information and visuals that catch your eye. Give the designer an idea of what type of visual you're aiming for and the message you want to achieve with the cover art. How much does hiring an album cover designer cost? The cost to hire an album cover designer will vary depending on the types of packaging you need. Digital cover? Print cover? Creative or full package design? The more options, the higher the price will be. The cost will also fluctuate with the number of elements, colors, and textures required. Slipknot Album Art, Track Listing, and Tour Announced. With a new Slipknot song just released, “The Devil In I,” the band has released more details on the new album. The album will be titled .5: The Gray Chapter , a seeming nod to founding bassist Paul Gray who passed away May 24th, in 2010. It will come out October 21st, on Roadrunner Records, with 14 songs. A Special Edition will include two extra tracks. The news also comes with the announcement of a tour with and . This album, their fifth, will be the first studio album from Slipknot in six years, since the release of in 2008. Drummer Joey Jordison won’t be on the album either, either. He was let go in December of 2013, and there’s still no word on who replaced him, although we have our suspicions. .5: The Gray Chapter Track Listing. 1. XIX 2. 3. Aov 4. The Devil In I 5. 6. Skeptic 7. Lech 8. Goodbye 9. Nomadic 10. The One That Kills The Least 11. Custer 12. Be Prepared For Hell 13. 14. If Rain Is What You Want 15. Override (Special Edition track) 16. The Burden (Special Edition track)