Seething with political venom, "Gematria" kicks things off with a snarling riff and a heaping dose of Corey Taylor's caustic bravado. Mr. Taylor can come off a little angsty at times, but unlike his former nu-metal colleagues, he doesn't sound whiny or disingenuous. "Sulfur" continues the assault to a lesser degree with a hardcore feel, culminating in a melodic chorus that recalls the nu-metal days.
But things pick up with the driving "Psychosocial." With a swaggering, cock-rock groove and an anthemic chorus, this may well be Slipknot's finest hour, and should broaden the band's appeal without sacrificing a lick of intensity. "Dead Memories" takes things down a few notches into radio-friendly, alternative hard-rock territory, and it's at this point the band loses a little momentum by dispensing with the energy it's staked its livelihood on. Ballad "Snuff" suffers a similar fate, but it's not terminal, just not as effective as more varied numbers like "Butcher's Hook" or "Gehenna," each featuring some creative vocal work from Taylor over a seamy menagerie of chaotic riffs and runs.
All Hope Is Gone may not reinvent the wheel, but does effectively build upon the band's collective strengths with lots of bloody good bits for the faithful to gnaw on until the next Slipknot album—which may be several years down the road. But alas, with a strong offering like this, there is hope after all.
Download Worthy:
1. "Gematria"
2. "Psychosocial"
3. Butcher's Hook"
4. 'Gehenna"
5. "This Cold Black"
