SLIPKNOT Guitarist: 'We Don't Repeat Ourselves As Artists'

SLIPKNOT guitarist Mick Thomson has issued the following update:

"Been away for a bit. I'm sure I was missed. Or something. Or not.

"I'm here to confirm the [Rockstar Energy] Mayhem tour rumor shit and say that we are starting to record in a couple weeks. We have been writing for a while and we are trying to be done recording some time in late March. Regardless, we will be back on the road this summer and for the better part of the next two years. New stage show, set list, visuals, expectations. We don't repeat ourselves as artists and know that fans don't want the same either."

SLIPKNOT is scheduled to enter the studio this month with producer Dave Fortman, who's previously worked with MUDVAYNE and EVANESCENCE. An August release via Roadrunner is expected.

SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED will lead the first-ever Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival, set to kick off July 9 at the White River Amphitheatre in Seattle. Joining SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED on the main stage will be DRAGONFORCE and MASTODON. In addition, the tour will have two second stages: one sponsored by Jägermeister and featuring SEVENDUST, AIRBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, 36 CRAZYFISTS and the Jägermeister Battle of The Bands Winner. An additional second stage will feature MACHINE HEAD, BLACK TIDE, SUICIDE SILENCE, THE RED CHORD, and WALLS OF JERICHO.

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently told Revolver magazine that the masked nine-piece from Iowa is coming from a "different place" as it prepares to record its fourth major label album. When asked what has changed since 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)", Crahan replied, "I can't stress enough that we're going into this from a different place. When we did (2001 album) 'Iowa', we hated each other. We hated the world; the world hated us. The next record ('Vol. 3') was like rehabilitation. We had all this healing that needed to happen. Now, everything feels good because we feel good."

SLIPKNOT went on hiatus at the end of 2005, when it finished touring in support of "Vol. 3". Since then the band members have worked on various other projects, including a second album from singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root's STONE SOUR.

Crahan said, "These breaks that we take, they get our appetites going. They let our brains slow down and then speed up again. We gotta decompress for a little bit just to feel human if we're going to be forced to be here in this reality."

The full interview with Crahan is in the February issue of Revolver, on sale now.

Mick Thomson interview: