Jim Root: Slipknot won’t repeat past records and new album “gonna hurt some feelings”

# What Root said and where

Jim Root posted photos of his guitar rig and pedalboard on Instagram and commented that Slipknot is about to "get real busy." In follow-up comments he made clear the band's working goal: do not repeat past records. He warned the forthcoming album is "gonna hurt some feelings."

# Recording approach and sound

Root described the sessions as experimental and aimed at recreating the uneasy, immediate vibe of Slipknot's earlier days. He contrasted that vibe with what he sees as overproduced later records that used too many guitar layers.

He and producer Matt Wallace chose one amp out of 16 specifically because it sounded the most "pissed off," not necessarily the cleanest. The band tracked on the floor live with drummer Eloy Casagrande, used analog methods, and limited layered guitar tracks: left and right rhythm guitars, a few third tracks, and occasional solos.

# On not repeating the past

Root warned fans not to expect another Iowa or self-titled record. He framed this as intentional experimentation — exploring different approaches, keeping the vibe honest and uneasy, while recognizing the early records' connection to producer Ross Robinson and a lo-fi aesthetic.

# View of The End, So Far (2022)

Root was heavily critical of the band's previous album, calling The End, So Far "disjointed and a mess." He acknowledged some good material on it but said the Covid period and wider world conditions made that record a hard process.

# The single "Arsenal" and album representation

Root has said the single "Arsenal" was a track the band could quickly release while work continued on the rest of the record. He described it as "not really representative" of the other songs being recorded for the new album.

# Touring and public response

Slipknot announced the '(sic)est Stadium Tour', scheduled to start in 2027. The tour's UK/European stop is set for London's Wembley Stadium on July 3. Tickets go on general sale October 2 at 10am local time, with an artist pre-sale already underway.

# What this means for fans and expectations

Expect a Slipknot record that prioritizes raw performance energy and analog tracking over multi-layered production. Singles released now may not match the album's overall direction. Fans sensitive to lineup and support choices on the tour should anticipate continued debate around ticket purchases.