Slipknot guitarist Jim Root is featured in a new interview with The Morning Call discussing the band's new album, .5: The Gray Chapter, and the absence of bassist Paul Gray, who passed away in 2010. An excerpt is available below:

Just as Gray's presence was felt on the album, he is also being honored on tour by the fact that his number 2 uniform has been retired. In fact, Root declined to name the musicians who are playing bass and drums on the tour.

"It's a little bit of a confusing part of our lives," Root says of the rhythm section situation. "I'm just going to say we have drummer X and bass player Y helping us out for the time being, and who knows what the future will hold?"
"Paul was taken away from us, and that can never really be replaced. And we're not the type of band that will ever be like, we're not going to throw a mask that looks just like Paul's mask and slap a number 2 on their shoulder and say this is our new bass player. That's not how it works. They've got to try and find their way within our band, and as they do that, as it evolves, then we'll figure out what they should have on their sleeve, if anything. Right now, both of those guys have blank sleeves."

Click here for the complete interview.

Slipknot’s very own Knotfest - the most cutting edge heavy music festival in America – took place October 24th - 26th at San Manuel Amphitheater and Campgrounds in San Bernardino, CA. A wrap-up summary video of the festival is streaming below:

Slipknot are streaming their fifth studio album .5: The Gray Chapter,  at this location. .5: The Gray Chapter was released on October 21st via Roadrunner and is the band's first without founding bassist Paul Gray, who passed away in 2010, and drummer Joey Jordison.

.5: The Gray Chapter tracklisting:

"XIX"
"Sarcastrophe"
"Aov"
"The Devil In I"
"Killpop"
"Skeptic"
"Lech"
"Goodbye"
"Nomadic"
"The One That Kills The Least"
"Custer"
"Be Prepared For Hell"
"The Negative One"
"If Rain Is What You Want"

"Override" (bonus track)

"The Burden" (bonus track)

"The Negative One" video:

A promo video for Slipknot’s Prepare For Hell European Tour is now streaming. For a complete listing of dates visit this location.

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor recently guested on Larry King Now and discussed the band's new album, .5: The Gray Chapter, the passing of bassist Paul Gray, and puts on his new mask at King's request. Check out the clips below, the final one being the complete interview: