Slipknot guitarist Jim Root recently responded to fan backlash regarding the band’s new song, “Arsenal,” in the comment section of a now-deleted social media post. The exchange was later shared on Reddit.
A fan asked Root about the negative comments surrounding the release, writing, “Hey Jim! I’m new at Slipknot fandom and ‘Arsenal’ is the first song I listen to on the release! I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about it. Do you get upset by that or feels like ‘we could’ve done it better’?”
“It depends on the commenter, really,” Root replied. “I mean, what’s their band doing? ‘Arsenal’ was a tune we could quickly get out there while we work on the rest of the record. It’s not really representative of the other tunes.”
Another fan asked whether the song would appear on Slipknot’s upcoming album.
“No,” Root responded. “This was just one that we could finish ‘sooner’ to get out there.”
Root’s comments clarify that “Arsenal” was released as a standalone track while Slipknot continues working on its next full-length record. The song also arrives during a period of change for the band.
“Arsenal” is Slipknot’s first new song with drummer Eloy Casagrande. It is also the band’s first new music since the departures of longtime turntablist Sid Wilson and sampler and keyboard player Craig Jones.
The song is Slipknot’s first new release in more than three years. The track follows the band’s 2022 album, The End, So Far. “Arsenal” was released alongside a music video directed by percussionist M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan. The video accompanied the surprise release of the single.
Work on Slipknot’s eighth studio album is also underway. Recent posts from Root, including references to “#newrecord,” indicated that the band had begun tracking the forthcoming record.
With “Arsenal” serving as an early standalone release, fans will have to wait for the rest of the new material to hear how Slipknot’s next album develops.
