(Roadrunner)

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The release of Slipknot's third album, Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses marks a significant departure for the band -- and no I don't mean cause they have new masks. The integration of legendary super producer Rick Rubin, has proven to be the key element. Rubin, who has worked with such distinctive acts as The Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down, Tom Petty, and two of the biggest legends in music -- Slayer and the late great Johnny Cash -- has seemingly brought out in Slipknot what many of their fans, aka The Maggots, have known for years.

Lead singer Corey Taylor proves he's more than a screamer and in fact shows his melodic voice all over the album. Case in point by the opening track "Prelude 3.0," which can only be described as an ethereal, doom-laden space odyssey acid trip that pays tribute to the likes of Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Black Sabbath.

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Songs like "The Blister Exists" (check out the marching snare drums by Joey Jordison that echoes a shotgun) and "Three Nil" shows their heavier influences. The commercial hit "Duality" shows off some catchy lyrics ("I push my finger into my eyes, it's the only thing that slowly stops the ache but it's made of all the things I have to take.")

A kinder, gentler Slipknot? Sort of with songs such as "Circle," "Vermillion" and "Vermillion, Pt. 2.” While these songs are slow, dark and moody and is on a borderline of mainstream, fear not cause they're nothing like the monster ballad "Bother" by Corey Taylor's other band, Stone Sour. "Vermillion" IMHO is one of the best songs by Slipknot. ("She is everything and more the solemn hypnotic, my dahlia bathed in possession, she is home to me.")

The remaining songs as well "Opium of the People," "Welcome",,"Before I Forget," "The Nameless," "The Virus of Life," "Danger-Keep Away" hold true to the Slipknot sound but with the catchy lyrics, angry lyrics, melodic vocals, sonic drumming, and the shredding and solos take Slipknot in a brand new direction of heaviness.

Slipknot of course pays tribute to their fans with the song "Pulse of the Maggots" ("If I have to give my life, you can have it. We are the pulse of the maggots.")

Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses extraordinary accomplishment for Slipknot. This is their finest effort to date and a lot of credit goes to Rick Rubin as well. The old saying of "put up or shut up" fits. Slipknot has put up -- can the critics and the neysayers do the same? Rumors are running rampant that this could be the final Slipknot album. The rest of the year looks bright for the band. With headlining the second stage at this year’s Ozzfest and a fall tour with Slayer in the works, Slipknot may very well indeed go out with a bang while still on top of their game.

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