Four Slipknot members spent eighteen years hiding an experimental, melodic rock side project
In short: While recording their 2008 heavy metal album, four members of Slipknot retreated into separate studio sessions to explore a softer, artistic sound. This secret project, featuring unconventional techniques like recording frogs and singing from inside a well, remained unreleased for nearly two decades before finally surfacing in 2026.
The album Look Outside Your Window emerged from the creative orbit of Corey Taylor, Jim Root, Shawn Crahan, and Sid Wilson. During the 2008 production of the Slipknot record All Hope Is Gone, these four musicians simultaneously pursued a distinct, experimental path. Unlike the aggressive metal typically associated with their main band, this material leaned into melodic rock and artistic textures, with Taylor comparing its vibe to the work of Radiohead.
The recording process was marked by unusual methods. Root described incorporating field recordings, such as the croak of a frog, into the song structures. To achieve specific acoustic effects, Taylor recorded vocals from the bottom of a well to simulate the resonance of a cavern. Despite the group's efforts, the project faced significant internal friction. Taylor once hoped to integrate these tracks into the main Slipknot album, but he failed to secure support from his bandmates, leaving the project in limbo for years.
Ownership of the master recordings remained with the four creators rather than their label, Roadrunner Records, which granted them total control over the release. However, this autonomy led to a protracted saga of delays. Plans were repeatedly shelved to avoid interfering with the momentum of other band projects, such as the 2019 album We Are Not Your Kind. By 2023, the members' perspectives had diverged; while Crahan championed the work, Taylor expressed hesitation, fearing that the long-standing anticipation had created impossible expectations for listeners.
After years of speculation and missed windows, the album was finally prepared for public consumption. Following the conclusion of their contract with Roadrunner Records in 2023, the path cleared for a formal launch. The project was officially released in 2026, arriving as a unique artistic statement that had been carefully curated by its creators for nearly two decades.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Look Outside Your Window
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