Corey Taylor has spoken to NME about ending the recording his “darker, heavier” solo album ‘CMF2’. Check out unique images from the classes under, alongside our interview with Taylor.
The follow-up to 2020’s ‘CMFT’ was first teased earlier this yr, with Taylor telling followers they weren’t prepared for the “bigger, better” album. Speaking to NME, Taylor has now promised that ‘CMF2’ is “going to be the best rock album of this year, and the next.”
“I can’t wait for people to hear this album,” he stated. “It chews up that first record and spits it out. It’s more dialled-in with everything people expect from me, so it’s got hints of ‘CMFT’ but there are also hints of Slipknot, Stone Sour and all the stuff I’ve done in my acoustic shows. It’s got everything for everybody. People are going to fucking lose it.”
The “darker, heavier” assortment of songs will function tracks written throughout Taylor’s profession. “Some fans will recognise a few from other projects that I’ve done while others were written just before we went into the studio,” he stated.
“I was really inspired by my band, but also the reaction that the first solo run had, where people leaned into everything,” he continued. “They liked the acoustic stuff, they liked the heavy stuff, they liked the fun stuff. We wanted to make a hybrid thing, but not have it feel chaotic.”
Speaking in regards to the success of his debut solo album, Taylor stated that “it definitely emboldened me to run even further. It felt really good to know that there’s trust there from the fans.”
Influenced by completely different a long time of music, Taylor defined how there are songs that pull from the identical ‘80s rock that inspired his debut. “There’s additionally ‘90s grunge, ‘70s punk and the hard-hitting shit that I helped create in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, he said. “It’s a little bit of every thing, but it surely was necessary for us to make it really feel contemporary.
“There’s a dark, solemn acoustic song called ‘Sorry Me’ that’s got a very old school vibe to it, ‘Talk-Sick’ still has an ‘80s feel to it, but it’s more of a Guns N’ Roses vibe which was always the stuff that made you want to run through walls and the first single ‘Beyond’ is going to blow people the fuck away,” added Taylor. “This album is definitely more of a punch in the face.”
He continued: “The stuff that largely inspires me comes from the stuff I grew up listening to; street hip-hop, punk, metal and all the shit that feels like it came from someplace that I can relate to and identify with.”
However, there are some newer bands the place “you can feel them leaning into the passion.”
“Turnstile are fucking amazing,” he stated. “Sleep Token are really starting to do something for me, and Bad Omens are great. There’s a whole new generation of bands that are starting to come up that are carrying the flag for heavy music.”
Speaking about Sleep Token, might Corey Taylor be their mysterious, masked chief Vessel?
“No,” he replied. “Listen, I’ve got more than enough going on. I don’t need a fourth band.”
Taylor was additionally impressed by the current mainstream resurgence of guitar music, and needed ‘CMF2’ launched to point out folks how rock ought to be accomplished.
“There are some good bands out there but for the most part, everything is so soft,” he defined. “It’s the exact opposite of what we had before, where people didn’t want to call themselves ‘rock’. Now, people call themselves rock when it’s actually way more alternative. When are these artists going to take the gloves off? Stop holding back and just fucking go for it. Everything sounds the same.”
He continued: “There’s no reason to make music if you can’t fucking feel it. There has to be a heartbeat to it or it’s just another commercial that you’re trying to get through to get to the next show. With this album, I’m walking in like Hiroshima and I don’t give a fuck what anybody says.”
‘CMFT’ was stated to be a “party record” that additionally touched on topics like politics (‘Culture Head’) and habit (‘Silverfish’). Taylor stated that the follow-up explores the same vary of matters. “I was trying to make it more aggressive and more urgent thought,” he revealed. “‘We Are The Rest’ is very aggressively about the fact the upper 10 per cent of society kinda sucks and the rest of us are underneath them saying, ‘Fuck you, we’re not going to let you hold us back from succeeding’. It’s very anthemic in a weird way.”
There’s additionally a monitor referred to as ‘Punch Line’ which “leans into the sarcasm of narcissism,” whereas ‘Post Traumatic Blues’ offers with “PTSD and the depression and aloneness that comes with it.”
“It’s an aggressive song though,” stated Taylor. “It really runs right out of the gate. It’s trying to get you off your ass and move around, not necessarily to change things but just to make you feel better. As an abuse victim, I’ve struggled with that my whole life. It’s also a nod to the people I’ve met through the Taylor Foundation that deal with it on a constant basis. It’s a rallying cry.”
Taylor and the remainder of his band – bassist Eliot Lorango, drummer Dustin Robert, guitarists Christian Martucci and Zach Throne – have been chipping away on the songs for ‘CMF2′ over the past couple of years. It was simply as effectively, as a result of they solely gave themselves 4 days to rehearse the 26 songs they needed to document.
“Our musical rapport is just really strong,” stated Taylor, revealing that the recording wrapped up faster than he anticipated. “They know I trust them implicitly to not only get what I’m trying to convey, but also to make things bigger and better. We did 26 songs in six weeks, from soup to nuts. It was special.”
Not all 26 songs will make it onto ‘CMF2’ although. “I’m not trying to go down the King Crimson route. I’m not there yet,” stated Taylor when requested about the opportunity of a double album. “There are 13 songs on the album that made sense together and really hit, but I’m also holding stuff back because I love the reaction the b-sides album got last time.”
So far, the tentative plan for ‘CMF2’ is to launch the primary single ‘Beyond’ in May after a brief tour alongside Cherry Bombs. “We’re aiming for an eventual September release that’ll fall in the middle of a tour we’re plotting now. Obviously, the best way to make God laugh is to announce your plans though.”
Despite the “darker edge and harder tone” to ‘CMF2’, the album was “built specifically to play live,” stated Taylor.
Teasing ‘CMF2’ earlier this yr, Taylor advised followers “instead of where I came from, this is where I’m going.” Does this imply there are various extra solo albums to come back?
“Absolutely – it’s almost a weird peace I’ve found myself in,” he replied. “For the longest time, I always felt very comfortable in a band situation. A lot of the time, people look to you as the de facto leader but maybe you’re not necessarily the one who’s making the decisions. It can also be a lethargic process trying to get people on the same page.”
He added: “With this, it’s so gratifying. It’s so much fun recording, but it’s also been played by dudes who know what the fuck they’re doing and love the music. It’s a cool vibe. It’s a fun vibe. I think people can see that camaraderie. This project has definitely reignited my love for playing music. It’s kind of showing me what my future is going to be, for better or for worse.”
Talking about his ambitions, Taylor stated: “The reason I make music now is for the same reasons I started doing it 30 plus years ago. It’s because I love doing it.”
That stated, the singer revealed that he’s additionally impressed by the information of Ozzy Osbourne’s impending retirement from touring.
“He’s earned it,” stated Taylor. “For me, I’m keen and capable of tackle that torch, if wants be. To have 1 / 4 of what he’s achieved, that’s the purpose. I simply need to play large reveals, take out youthful bands, make music with associates of mine and have a fucking blast. They’re targets which are very a lot achievable. It’ll be cool to have the ability to take this to the world and see what occurs. I imply, go large or fuck off, proper?“
Taylor’s at the moment gearing up for a busy 2023 as he seems to be to launch ‘CMF2’ and begin wrapping up the tour cycle for Slipknot’s 2022 album ‘The End, So Far’. There’s additionally ongoing work along with his Taylor Foundation, increase the Famous Monsters Of Filmland model and “juggling dad stuff with rock stuff”. But is the discharge of “lost” Slipknot document ‘Look Outside Your Window’ on the playing cards?
The document was recorded by Slipknot members Sid Wilson, Jim Root, Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Taylor concurrently 2008’s ‘All Hope Is Gone’ and late final yr, Clown stated it could possibly be launched as early as April 1, 2023.
“’Look Outside your Window’ is Clown’s baby. Slipknot is Clown’s baby,” stated Taylor. “I punch a clock and then I punch out. It’s so funny, every year or two I get an email about ‘Look Outside Your Window’ and how it’s coming out. I’m just as stoked as everybody else because dude, I don’t even have a copy. I have a version from 10 years ago that I don’t even think is the same mix that they’re dealing with. I don’t even fucking know the songs are going on this album, that’s how out of the loop I am.”
Taylor added: “I was a guest star on that album anyway, so your guess is as good as mine. It’s so fascinating that something that started as a demo has become the Holy Grail. If you only knew how that album came about and the pain it caused… I hope people dig it but I honestly hope it never gets released because there are so many expectations about it now. It’s like that Wu Tang Clan album that only whatisfuck (Martin Shkreli) has a copy of. It’s almost better to just wonder.”
More information on the discharge of Taylor’s new album ‘CMF2’ will observe within the months forward.
Slipknot in the meantime, are gearing up for a busy summer season of touring and festivals – together with a headline slot at Download 2023 alongside Metallica and Bring Me The Horizon in June. Visit right here for tickets and extra data.