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All Hope Is Gone (by Slipknot, Rock)

common sense media says

Hardcore, sometimes violent metal with a message.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a band that's increasingly popular with teens. With deep foreboding vocals, aggressive guitar riffs, and angry lyrics, the album creates a dark, menacing atmosphere filled with violence and agony. Although many of the band's lyrics are well thought out and critique culture, economic disparities, and American foreign policy, the aggressive nature of the music keeps the album from being appropriate for most teens.

Positive messages: One of the major themes of the album is questioning social establishments, particularly religious institutions. An example: "My life is undone and I'm a sinner to most but a sage to some/And my gods are untrue/I'm probably wrong/but I'm better than you."
Violence: There are many intense lyrics and frightening themes on the album. Although most of these references are based in a social commentary context, others are simply gratuitous. One example is the murderous track "Gehenna" with lyrics such as "I cannot deny that you were designed for my punishments/the blood and the body/control the cut so it's seamless/show me your heart/show me the way to complete this." Another example: "Kill your fathers/destroy another life/question everything we clung to for years/live forever/design a better death/confuse a liar with a savior from fear."
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Strong language is used on many of the tracks, primarily with the words "s--t" and "f--k," such as in this line "F--k you all/I'm the only point of view."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Scattered references such as "Throw away your disposable past and fall apart like a cigarette ash."

More on All Hope Is Gone

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why someone would choose to listen to an album that's so musically harsh. Do you think aggressive music can make a person more aggressive or influence his mood? Why do you think teen boys identify so heavily with a band like this? Does intense and angry metal music reinforce masculine stereotypes? Is violent and intimidating music a socially appropriate way for teen boys to vent their emotions?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The masked men behind Slipknot are back with a much anticipated fourth album. With a nine-member band and everyone contributing to the songwriting on the album, Slipknot presents a musically unified front and one densely packed album. The main themes for this CD appear to be railings against the Iraq War, conservative values, and deceptive leaders.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Metal fans should see this album as one of the most significant contributions to the genre in a while. Smart, controlled, and even sentimental at times (particularly the track "Dead Memories"), the album is a tour de force of thrashing riffs and vocal indictments of Americana. The four initial tracks throw listeners onto a metal music roller coaster that takes no prisoners. No one is immune from the band's beatings, not the presidential administration, not the military, and certainly not religious institutions. At times the lyrics and themes become repetitive, but the band's clever phrase turning helps keep things interesting. And, Slipknot's Shawn Crahan's trademark lightening fast drum skills are alive and well. Although the album is certainly not for everyone, it should keep metal fans banging their heads for a long time to come.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: August 26, 2008
Label: Roadrunner Records
Genre: Rock
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

 
this cd is awesome. We should all stop blindly following religious instituitions.

Rachael_Sadlier
teen, 17 years old
 
What Evs, kids are gonna listen to Slipknot anyway cuz they're music unlike that punk Justin Bieber actually has meaning.

dicapriofreak94
teen, 15 years old
 
Wow. Slipknot is amazing. That's right! Slipknot is the BEST band in the world! Even though I am a girl, I love Slipknot (most guys like it I guess). Yes, they swear. Yes, the lyrics are kind of violent sometimes...BUT, honestly you aren't really listening to the lyrics, you're just listening to the singing, the guitar, drums .etc. If you like rock/metal music I can guarantee that you'll love this! Wow, Slipknot. Awesome job! You never fail to amaze me. Highly recommended! Enjoy :D

nman649
teen, 14 years old
 
All Music is fine for All Ages
Ok now come on... It's MUSIC. I think all music is fine for all ages.

degrassigirl97
teen, 14 years old
 
I love Slipknot, and the only concern is cussing which kids hear all the time. All hope is Gone is a good album. :)

The Lizards ...
teen, 17 years old
 
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Ok firstly, not all the people who listen to Slipknot are dudes. I bet at least as many girls like them as guys. Secondly, there are only a few songs on this album that are actually "explicit" and most of the violence in it is only used as a metephor. Overall, there's just a little cursing and some stuff about religeous and political views that are a bit off the beaten path. So this really isn't that bad; it definatley doesn't deserve to be labled "no kids".

UnforgettableM ...
teen, 14 years old
 
second-best slipknot album (RIP Paul Gray)
Slipknot aren't as bad as people say they are. I've been listening to them since I was 10 and have had no problem with the lyrics. I don't think its right to rate this as 'no kids' - it's not as if it's making children violent.

ImADuck
teen, 17 years old
 
Seriously? Wow*......
K um first of all, I don't really like Slipknot, (Not because of the type of music, I love music like this.) but because of the fact that Corey's voice annoys me. Second of all, in the 'talk about' thing, why does it say teen BOYS? I know plenty of girls that like Slipknot, that's just ridiculious. And about the lyrics themselvs, they don't bother me. My parents let me listen to metal when i was in kindergarden, and I loved it. Lastly, I pretty much think people who actually agree with this site, their kids are probably picked on ALOT. I mean, there is no school with ALL this stuff in it, and NOBODY is innocent anymore. I'm only on this webstie cuz im boreed and I saw the stupid-looking commercial.

RANDOMDUDE22
teen, 13 years old
 
SLIPKNOT-ALL HOPE IS GONE
Very hardcore band is really isn`t very positive about anything.

Bludwulf
teen, 17 years old
 
Great album.
Slipknot, especially on this CD, lets you know that the way you were raised, and what you were taught, isn't the only way. They promote freedom of speech and the right to express yourself. Corey Taylor is certainly a good role model in the fact that he stands up for himself, and explores his feelings, without actually taking it out on someone. He can SING about being violent, but he'd never condone BEING violent.

MarilynMansonFan
teen, 17 years old
 
Great album in every way
I tried to publish my review but CSM said it couldn't because it contained "language". IT WAS COMPLETLEY CLEAN!! What the hell?!

teamjacobgirl2.0
teen, 17 years old
 
I love Slipknot!
Why do you say just teenage boys? What's wrong with a girl loving Slipknot, because they are one of my favorite bands and I think my username would be weird for a boy. Anyway, I don't think parents should totally control what music their kids (girl or boy) listen to because music, unlike movies and TV, is who we are and if people say "stop listening to Slipknot and here's Justin Bebier". I think NOT FOR KIDS is insane. Clam down is Slipknot.

A Dandelion
teen, 18 years old
 
Slipknot, in its essence, fills the shoes KoRn let for the taking when they hit the mainstream; they are an innovative, perturbing band that deal with the hell of adolescence. The sound is made by misfits, for the misfits. The lyrics are thoughtful and straight-forward, speaking directly to a disaffected generation of teens desperately in need of a release. The language may be filled with expletives and violence, but behind the curses lies a strong message of endurance against all odds, of surmounting personal problems and dealing with them head-on. The idea is that though you might be suffering and all hope seems gone, many share your pain and with some intense rocking-out, things will seem better and you'll manage to get through. Slipknot comes from small town in the Midwest and has dedicated its musical career to express the frustration and anguish of kids who feel pent up in difficult and often intolerable lives. They do so with considerable musical talent; once you get a taste for the deep, intense riffing and machine-gun drumming they use, you'll find a great deal of musical refinement and interesting dynamics; this band has grown. Having said that, stay (sic) maggots!

AmiY
teen, 17 years old
 
ALMOST the Best Slipknot album! Love it!
I'm a teenager and i LOVE Slipknot. i was looking through this site, and i was thinking "are you kidding me?!?" I mean really...I'm a girl too. Slipknot is not just for boys. Have you ever paid attention to the meaning behind the lyrics? That's what you should listen to. They teach everyone to stand up for what they believe in, and they give us hope. EVERYONE should have this and LISTEN to it (Snuff, All Hope is Gone, Psychosocial, Child of Burning Time) just to name a few. You won't regret it \m/ Stay (Sic) maggots!

Family Guy is ...
teen, 15 years old
 
Aweome cd, and im 13
There nothing wrong with it, its not like its talkinga bout decapitating heads, you people have to understand your kids are probably made fun of because they cant do anything and probably go to bed at seven (even if they are teenagers) only reason i know about this site is that somethin was on tv about this and I thought it was dumb and you people were wrong, and u are.

Pongo
teen, 15 years old
 
Okay for anyone high school age or older.
I just want to say that I found it offensive that this album got two :( for message, and the only thing that they sited was questioning authority "particularly religious institutions". Young people should be questioning authority, ESPECIALLY religious organizations, that often (not always, but often) have a bad message themselves. Questioning authority isn't a bad message, rebelling just for the sake of rebelling is. The only bad message I can think of on this album is the violence, but frankly, kids see so much of that anyways through what's on television and in the movies, and even the books we have to read for school this won't be anything new for any teenager in America.

HeavyMetalParent
parent of 6 , 11 , 13 , 16 , and 20 year old
 
The Best SlipKnoT album yet!
Of all the albums released yet, All Hope is Gone is by far the best. What they've done is split thier sound from nu-metal to what basically amounts to 2 half-albums: one is a pummeling thrash set reminicient of Slayer (Gematria [the killing name], Wherin Lies Continue, the title track) and the other an accessible, mellow hard-rock album (Dead Memories, Gehenna, Snuff)Now, let this be clear: The good FAR outweighs the bad on this album, and the bad, well... isn't really too bad. In any case, it's worth buying the whole album. The heavier tracks are in all respects, keeping metal alive for the masses. Gematria in particular is a grueling tour-de-force that molds with the anti-war lyrics like butter on bread.If you only have 1.29$ in your budget, get this one. All hope is Gone is a more Iowa-influenced track that old-school slipknot fans will greatly enjoy. The softer tracks, however, take a different route, gliding the listener on an emotional trek into themselves. Snuff a melodic, almost emo-influenced track that will have mainstream rock fans and metalheads alike humming on long car and plane rides. The only tracks I really have a problem with is "Dead Memories" and "Gehenna", which, unsurprisingly, are the most popular songs off the album. They fuse almost pop elements into what should be a rock band. Skip these is you have a tight buget, but if not, buy the whole album because they're still better than most crap on the radio today (shall i point to Chris Brown and Rihanna anybody?) As far as appropriateness goes, I don't see what commonsensemedia.org has against this album. Well, actually I can because I read the review, but I still think it's biased and misinformed. What exactly does "Agressive...general music style" have to do with age-appropriateness?! This album has some of the best political commentary I've seen in a long time, and same with the music. The swearing is infrequent, and, in reality, only serves to help drive the theme of the album: Which is questioning our values and leaders and finding flaws, something that should be done more in our world today. Bottom line: if you're a mature 13-year-old, you should be able to handle this album no problem. If you're a parent: BUY IT. It is a milestone in modern mainstream metal, if not the history of metal. Not only that, the exeperimentaion in musical style and lyricism is unprecedented. What are you waiting for? Oh yeah, and stay (sic) maggots!\m/ (-_-) \m/

 
Very Good Melodic Metal...
This is one of the most popular hard rock bands, and one of the best as well. This Album is certainly not their most inappropriate, and has the least shocking content of all their albums next to Vol. 3, which does not even carry the parental advisory label. If you listen to Vol 3, and mash it with Iowa, you get something like this, Melodic enough for hard rock fans, yet heavy enough for some metal heads (including myself). If this band is slightly too heavy for you try Disturbed, slightly too soft, try As I Lay Dying, both superb bands as well, with less objectionable content. If you don't mind offensive content others bands you may like are; Korn, Cannibal Corpse, and Devildriver. Bands that may expand your music tastes; Equilibrium, Impending Doom, Nightwish, Nine Inch Nails, Gorillaz, etc.

Olivia331
teen, 16 years old
 
SUPER MEGA ULTRA AWESOME : D
I'm 16 and I'm a girl and I LOVE Slipknot. ^_^ I haven't been a fan for long, but I am completely in love with the music. There's just some swearing, but overall it' a pretty freakin' awesome album. I like how the lyrics aren't just some random stupid stuff that doesn't make sense... the lyrics that Slipknot writes actually have a meaning to them. I think it really depends on how mature someone is in order to be able to listen to certain bands--Slipknot being one of them.

parkly
kid, 11 years old
 
SLPIPKNOT!
SLIPKNOT!!

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