Every day we see pub lists on the internet and in newspapers. Dreamt up mostly because there was nothing else to put on page 17 of the local newspaper between the peril over the lack of grit and a closing of a pub nobodies ever heard of.
But if somebody was to create a list of metal’s greatest vocalists, there would be many to choose from. While you may scoff at the idea of “A SINGER??? In METAL???” they are very talented.
But back to the list. You would end up with a top 3 of Max Cavalera of Soulfly at 3, James Hetfield of Metallica at 2, and at 1, Corey Taylor of Slipknot and more recently, Stone Sour.
People say he’s a poser and slipknot is simply 30 year olds in Halloween masks. I agree with that last bit, but they still manage to make good music and Corey Taylor is the epicentre of that. That’s why I was so eager to hear his new album, Audio Secrecy.
Yes that’s what I’m going to do in this one, review it.
The first Stone Sour was a breakthrough. Diversity without selling out, anger without going too far. It was a masterpiece.
The second was good too. It was more of the same, with more diversity and less anger. However it was still incredible and allowed Corey to take up Stone Sour professionally.
Great. Except whatever he was doing on the other albums he damn well isn’t doing now. It all began with the Drums.
I mentioned earlier about Soulfly being a fantastic metal band. Mostly this was down to the vocals and brutal riffs, but the drums were a massive part. They managed to get this massive tribal edge as well as keeping the beat and propelling the song.
In short they were incredible. Roy Maygora coming to Stone Sour then would be a match made in heaven. Except Taylor seems to have programmed a commissionar armed with a pistol to stand over Maygora to punish any signs of creativity. This shows. While on “Come What(ever) May” he was able to come up with great beats to propel the song, he has obviously been unable to on this album.
Except for on “Hate Not Gone”. I don’t know what happened here. Maybe the commissionar buggered off for a fag. Perhaps Maygora had taken a large pound of cocaine. Whatever the cause, the effect is great. The drums are incredible.
Or perhaps the commissionar had to go and whip James root the guitarist. The commissionar has done well out of this album. Not only was he able to keep tabs on the drums, he also lorded over the guitars. They all sound the same.
Don’t get me wrong, there are incredible riffs on this album. But for the most part you have repetitiveness and backing. It’s good, it’s just boring. That’s really all you can say about it. Good but boring.
Now for the big one, judging Corey Taylor.
I want to point out my respect for Taylor is boundless. “The Rich Man” is one of my all time favourites. However, I know he can sometimes screw up. “Tattered and Torn” on “Slipknot” is as bland as any song I can think of with all the excitement of a potato. “Everything Ends” simply exploits every cliché I can possibly think of. I cannot listen to it without thinking about Clint Eastwood squinting.
But I never thought he had the power to muck up a whole album.
Unfortunately he has. He completely forgot to be a metal singer and decided that what he really wanted to do was be in Take That. Which is great if you’re Robbie Williams. Its not so great if you’re a metal icon.
Every song is a ballad. While people might point to Nylon 6/6 and Hate Not Gone, Taylor’s melodies turn it into a sing song suitable even for the slobbiest school play.
I can not even start as to how much he fucked over this album. It’s awful.
I really wanted to love this album. I was utterly captivated by the other two and wanted this one to match them. But ah it’s just rubbish .Skip this one.
3/10
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