"My Plague" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Slipknot | ||||
from the album Iowa and Resident Evil | ||||
Released | July 8, 2002 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | Roadrunner | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Slipknot singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"My Plague" on YouTube |
"My Plague" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Produced by Ross Robinson and the band, it was featured on the band's second studio album Iowa (2001) and released as the second single from the album on July 8, 2002. The single version is a remix by Terry Date known as the "New Abuse mix", which was produced for the soundtrack to the film Resident Evil . The song reached number 43 on the UK Singles Chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2003.
"Sid [Wilson, DJ] came up with this great beat, so we tried to come up with riffs around it. The last thing we added was that chorus… We got Grammy nominations for 'My Plague' and 'Left Behind', which was pretty weird. People were telling me it was a big deal. I was like, 'Is it?' If the people that nominated us had ever seen us, they would have run a mile." – Corey Taylor [3]
"My Plague" is one of the more melodic songs on Iowa , while still featuring many heavier elements. For Billboard , Eric Aiese described it as "catchy enough to pick up some spins at rock radio", noting that it features both "intimidating" and "melodic" vocals. [4] British music magazine Kerrang! highlighted it as an "immensely heavy track but ... with an incredibly catchy and melodic chorus amid the sick riffs and thunderous percussion." [5] Metal Hammer writer Luke Morton claimed the track is "one of Iowa's more accessible songs due to the clean vocals"; adding, "it stills carries that threatening edge like the rest of the record". [6] Victoria Segal of the NME called the song "filthy noise", [7] while E! Online's review of Iowa describes it as "surprisingly melodic". [8] Rolling Stone identified "My Plague" as an example of the "opposition" of "emotional negativity" and "perversely hook-heavy writing" on the album. [9]
In January 2002, it was announced that a reworked version of "My Plague" dubbed the "New Abuse mix" would be featured on the Resident Evil soundtrack and released as a single in February. [10] The track was remixed by Terry Date and features "cleaner vocals and some minor arrangement shifts", according to Blabbermouth.net. [11] Speaking about the song's "New Abuse mix", Slipknot bassist Paul Gray explained that "On the album version there were some kind of weird vocal effects on some of the parts, and we took them out and just had Corey [Taylor] sing", adding that a section of the song had to be removed in order to make it suitable for radio airplay. [11] The single release was later delayed to July 8, with live recordings of "The Heretic Anthem" and "(sic)" from a show in Stockholm, Sweden on January 22 featured as B-sides. [12]
The music video for "My Plague" is made up of a combination of clips from Resident Evil and footage from the band's performance at London Arena on February 16, 2002, the entirety of which was later featured on the band's second video album Disasterpieces released in November. [13] The live concert footage was directed by Matthew Amos and the film was directed by Paul Anderson, [14] however Amos and editor Simon Hilton are credited as the video's directors. [15] Hilton claims that he edited the video while wearing a Slipknot mask. [14] The video was featured on the "My Plague" single, [12] as well as on the Disasterpieces album later in the year. [16] The "My Plague" music video was nominated for Best Video at the 2002 Kerrang! Awards alongside "Tainted Love" by Marilyn Manson, "Tribute" by Tenacious D, "In the End" by Linkin Park and "The One" by Foo Fighters. [17] The award was won by "Tainted Love". [18]
As of October 2023, the music video for "My Plague" has over 20 million views on YouTube. [19]
"My Plague" received mixed reviews from critics. Tom Dunne of Hot Press magazine hailed the song as "stupid, staged, ridiculous and laughably over the top", which he claimed made it "essential listening". [20] Playlouder writer William Ruff and Dotmusic writer John Mulvey both praised the song's lyric "You fucking touch me I will rip you apart/I'll reach in and take a bite out of that shit you call a heart", [21] [22] however this line was criticised by Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly as uninventive. [23] Louis Pattison of the NME complained that "you can spot a Slipknot single a mile off: they're the very average ones that feature big, echoing stadium-goth vocals, rather than the sound of a man screaming so loud that his gall bladder evacuates his body through the mouth", describing the track as "Not, let's be fair, primest 'Knot material". [24]
In a retrospective feature published in 2016, Luke Morton of Metal Hammer ranked "My Plague" as the fourth best track on Iowa, praising it as "a masterclass in writing emotional, pissed off metal that can still get on the radio". [6] In January 2003, "My Plague" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, alongside "Here to Stay" by Korn, "Portrait" by P.O.D., "Get Inside" by Corey Taylor's second band Stone Sour and "Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)" by Rob Zombie. [25] The award was won by "Here to Stay". [26]
All tracks are written by Slipknot
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "My Plague" (New Abuse mix) | 3:05 |
2. | "The Heretic Anthem" (live) | 3:45 |
3. | "(sic)" (live) | 3:41 |
Total length: | 10:30 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "My Plague" (New Abuse mix) | 2:51 |
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC) [27] | 41 |
UK Singles (OCC) [28] | 43 |
Nu metal is a subgenre of alternative metal that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu metal rarely features guitar solos or other displays of musical technique, and emphasizes rhythm with instrumentation that is heavily syncopated. Nu metal guitarists typically use seven-string guitars that are down-tuned to produce a heavier sound. Vocal styles are often rhythmic and influenced by hip hop, and include singing, rapping, screaming and sometimes growling. DJs are occasionally featured to provide instrumentation such as sampling, turntable scratching and electronic background music. Nu metal is one of the key genres of the new wave of American heavy metal.
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, former vocalist Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Crahan, Gray, Joey Jordison, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Slipknot is well known for its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows.
Iowa is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Produced by the band and Ross Robinson, it was released on August 28, 2001, by Roadrunner Records. The title derives from the band's home state, Iowa, which members have stated is one of their greatest sources of inspiration. With much anticipation for the album following the success of their 1999 self-titled debut, pressures on the band were high. Their relationships with each other suffered and this was later described as the darkest time of their career. It was also the first full album to feature guitarist Jim Root after only appearing on one song from their previous album. Despite troubles within the band and with Iowa's development, Slipknot promoted it for almost a year.
Corey Todd Taylor is an American musician, songwriter, author and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #8, as well as the lead vocalist, guitarist, lyricist, and sole continuous member of the rock band Stone Sour.
Vol. 3: is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on May 25, 2004, by Roadrunner Records. A special edition, containing a bonus disc, was released on April 12, 2005. It is the band's only album produced by Rick Rubin. Following the band's tour to promote its second album in 2002, speculation regarding the future began. Some band members had already been involved in side projects including Murderdolls, To My Surprise, and the reformation of Stone Sour. In 2003, Slipknot moved into The Mansion to work on the album. Initially, the band was unproductive; lead vocalist Corey Taylor was drinking heavily. Nevertheless, the band managed to write more than enough material for a new album. Vol. 3 is credited as Slipknot's first to incorporate more traditional, melodic song structures, guitar solos and acoustic instruments.
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Robb Flynn, who remains the only original member of the band. Machine Head's aggressive musicianship made it one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal. Its current lineup comprises Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and drummer Matt Alston. Bassist Adam Duce, lead guitarists Logan Mader, Ahrue Luster and Phil Demmel, and drummers Tony Costanza, Chris Kontos and Dave McClain are former members of the band; Mader and Kontos toured with the band in 2019 and 2020 as part of the 25th anniversary tour for its first album, Burn My Eyes (1994).
Stone Sour was an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor, Josh Rand (guitar), Christian Martucci (guitar), Johny Chow (bass) and Roy Mayorga (drums). Longtime members Joel Ekman and Shawn Economaki left the band in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Former lead guitarist Jim Root left in 2014. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2020.
Sidney George Wilson is an American DJ and keyboardist. He is the turntablist for the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #0.
Michael Shawn Crahan, more commonly known by his stage persona "Clown", is an American musician. He is the co-founder and one of the percussionists for heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #6. Crahan helped form Slipknot in 1995 alongside bassist Paul Gray and former vocalist Anders Colsefni. Crahan is the longest-serving and only remaining original member of Slipknot, and also has extensive involvement with Slipknot's media production and music videos. Outside Slipknot, Crahan had two side project bands called To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits. Aside from his musical activity, he also directed the 2016 action thriller film Officer Downe.
Stone Sour is the debut studio album by American rock band Stone Sour. It was recorded and produced by the band and Tom Tatman at Catamount Studios in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was released on August 27, 2002, through Roadrunner Records.
Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Matt Heafy, guitarist Corey Beaulieu, bassist Paolo Gregoletto, and drummer Alex Bent.
Mickael Gordon "Mick" Thomson is an American musician. He is one of two guitarists for the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #7. Thomson originally met founding Slipknot members Anders Colsefni, Donnie Steele and Paul Gray through their mutual involvement in death metal band Body Pit, later joined in early 1996. Following the departure of bandmates drummer Joey Jordison in 2013 and sampler Craig Jones in 2023, Thomson is now the second longest-serving member of Slipknot.
Disasterpieces is the second video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Unveiled at an advance screening in New York City on November 1, 2002, and released on November 22 by Roadrunner Records, the two-disc set features a concert at London Dockland Arena, and all the band's music videos to date, including songs from Slipknot and Iowa.
Volbeat are a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Larsen, and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. The band is signed to Dutch label Mascot Records and has released eight studio albums and one DVD. Their second album Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil received platinum status, and their 2010 release Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was subject to widespread international critical acclaim, receiving triple platinum in Denmark and Austria, double platinum in Sweden, platinum in Canada, 5x Gold in Germany, and gold in both Finland and the United States. Volbeat's most recent studio album, Servant of the Mind, was released in 2021.
All Hope Is Gone is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on August 26, 2008 by Roadrunner Records. The album was published in two versions: the standard album in a CD case and a special edition packaged in a six-fold digipak containing three bonus tracks, a 40 page booklet, and a bonus DVD with a documentary of the album's recording. With a runtime of 57 minutes and 57 seconds, it is Slipknot's second-shortest studio album behind 2022's The End, So Far. It is also the band's final studio album to feature the Iowa-era lineup with two longtime members: bassist and founding member Paul Gray, who was found dead in an Iowa hotel on May 24, 2010, almost two years after the album's release, and drummer Joey Jordison, who left the group in December 2013.
"Psychosocial" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, All Hope Is Gone (2008). The song entered airplay on June 26, 2008 and was originally planned for release as a digital single on July 1 but was delayed and released on July 7. Slipknot performed "Psychosocial" live for the first time on July 9, 2008, at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. In 2008, the song was featured on the soundtrack to Marvel's Punisher: War Zone.
.5: The Gray Chapter is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on October 17, 2014, by Roadrunner Records. It was the first studio album by the band in six years and the first not to feature original founding members bassist Paul Gray and drummer Joey Jordison due to the death of Gray in 2010, and Jordison being fired from the band in late 2013, as well as the only Slipknot album to feature original guitarist Donnie Steele on bass, although the tracks he played on are unknown, and the first Slipknot album to have Alessandro Venturella on bass and Jay Weinberg on drums. The album includes six singles and has received commercial success and acclaiming reviews. A standard and deluxe edition of the album was released. It is also the band's final studio album to feature their longtime percussionist Chris Fehn before his dismissal from the band due to a lawsuit in March 2019. Clocking in at 73 minutes and 28 seconds, .5: The Gray Chapter is the band's longest album.
"Left Behind" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the lead single from the band's second album, Iowa (2001) on October 29, 2001. It was produced by Ross Robinson. The single reached number 30 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and number 5 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2002.
We Are Not Your Kind is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California with co-producer Greg Fidelman, it was released on August 9, 2019, by Roadrunner Records. The title is taken from a lyric in the song "All Out Life", which was released as a standalone single in 2018 and features as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album. We Are Not Your Kind is the only Slipknot album to be recorded as an eight-member band, as their former percussionist Chris Fehn was fired from the band in March 2019 after suing the group for alleged unpaid royalties.