Album of the Day

When the first Knotfest began in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on this day in 2012, it marked a new chapter for Slipknot. Dealt a blow by the death of founding member Paul Gray two years earlier, the band's return was a statement of purpose reinforced by 5: THE GRAY CHAPTER; their fifth studio set was a tribute to the late bassist and one of their best. Co-produced by metal vet Greg Fidelman, the 2014 Roadrunner collection balances the abrasive attack of the group's early releases with more accessible elements including such highlights as “The Devil in I,” “The Negative One” and “Custer” (the latter two songs both Grammy nominated, as was the album). Intense and innovative, THE GRAY CHAPTER is a strong addition to the Slipknot story.