Review Summary: The result of disarray and slipknot slipping out of place.
It doesn't take rocket science to see that Slipknot has carved a sound. Its nothing that truly ever broke the mold, but it was roaring, angry, heavy, donned the shock everyone needed and the commercialism they wanted. People compare Slipknot to the likes of Mushroomhead, which is extremely debatable but does bring a fact to the table-Slipknot is a similiar sound just more streamlined. So what happens when the commercialism runs its course and the band loses grasp of its originality?
It crumbles and begins to scramble.
I will be blunt and just say All hope is gone is a mess. They mash melody when its completely unnecessary and force a mangled mess of sounds into just a single song, such as Butcher's hook. The guitars often fall flat and recycle slipknots own guitar work to the point where it is all more like a bad Slipknot cover band. The album is awkward for the most part and makes many songs just kind of exit your conscious.
However, I did say most, and All hope really isn't gone for this album.
There are select moments where everything is cohesive. The songs are catchy and balance melody with Slipknots style of slightly psychotic rage, albeit more melody than psychotic rage (such as their debut and Iowa). Songs like Dead Memories there just lightly eerie and just well structured with catchy guitar riffs and impressive melodies. Or probably one of the bigger curveballs Slipknot has thrown with "Snuff", a heartfelt acoustic ballad which ends with thunderous strength. Powerful and heartfelt without being overbearing.
With these select songs in mind a fan of Slipknot probably won't hate this record. It's mostly a disheveled mess, and you have to dig out from underneath wreckage. With much of the guitarwork and unfortunately even the drums falling flat and just drifting from your mind with few memorable hooks, it is really nice to see the album come out of its grave to shine on at least a few tracks to make it semi worth listening.
-Favorite tracks: Sulfur, Dead Memories, Snuff
