Band:	Slipknot
Album:	All Hope Is Gone
Style:	Alternative metal
Release date:	August 2008

01. .execute.
02. Gematria (The Killing Name)
03. Sulfur
04. Psychosocial
05. Dead Memories
06. Vendetta
07. Butcher's Hook
08. Gehenna
09. This Cold Black
10. Wherein Lies Continue
11. Snuff
12. All Hope Is Gone
13. Child Of Burning Time [bonus]
14. Vermillion Pt. 2 [Bloodstone Mix] [bonus]
15. 'Til We Die [bonus]

After Slipknot's first two albums blew us away with their high level of sheer violence, their third album "The Subliminal Verses" had evolved to a much more melodic and mature sound, but still keeping much of that brutality that Slipknot is (was) praised for. It's safe to say that their fourth release "All Hope Is Gone" continues that path. It's still Slipknot, yet it's very,very different to the work that first made them famous.

Indeed, many elements stay the same: guitars still sound blunt and strange, just like Slipknot we all know and love. Drumming is still the one of the best I've ever heard, thanks to mister Joey that is maybe the best drummer that I know off. Corey is back too, with his usual mixture of brutal shouting vocals and an amazing singing voice that is something simply brilliant. Everyone else is here as well, all nine of them. The DJ Sid who spins his disks to make the needed special effects, Chris and Shawn for an extra drumming edge, the good old crew.

It's hard to conclude what is so different about this album from the text so far. While many things stay the same, Slipknot's music is no longer something that makes you want to go out and beat someone senseless (with the exception of a couple tracks). Indeed, now it's much more mature and somewhat more mainstream.

There are a few tracks I really have to mention separately, like "Psychosocial" that has an incredible mix of brutal riffs and Corey's beautiful singing. "Dead Memories" is the slowest non-ballad song on the album, it's pretty catchy, Corey's singing is simply great and it even has power chords (???). And, lastly, who can forget "Germantia (The Killing Name)" and "All Hope Is Gone" that sound just like that Slipknot's early works?

I know that this description was somewhat vague, but believe me that it's really not easy to explain what kind of music this is. "All Hope Is Gone" is a strange mixture of a little bit of everything that someone will love completely, yet others will hate with the same intensity. If you never liked Slipknot, there is a good chance that this one will make you like them, and if you are a fan of their early work, well, you have as much chance liking it as hating it.