Slipknot have officially begun making significant progress on a new studio album, marking the band’s first major step toward a full-length release since 2022. Guitarist Jim Root confirmed that producer Matt Wallace is overseeing the current recording sessions and revealed that the group has already developed at least 50 musical arrangements.
According to Root, the band is building the new material through long improvisation sessions, with Clown shaping and arranging the ideas that emerge from the jams. Root explained that he, drummer Eloy Casagrande and Michael Pfaff regularly play together for extended sessions, sometimes producing several song ideas in a single rehearsal before refining them through arrangement. He described the creative process as organic, authentic and even frightening because of how naturally the music is coming together.
The upcoming album will be the first Slipknot studio release to feature drummer Eloy Casagrande, who joined the band after the departure of Jay Weinberg. It will also be the first album with the still-unidentified replacement for longtime keyboard player Craig Jones.
Slipknot have remained active since the release of The End, So Far in 2022. During that period, the band celebrated the anniversary of its landmark 1999 self-titled debut with a dedicated tour, experienced two lineup changes and finally released the long-delayed project Look Outside Your Window.
Root also praised Casagrande’s impact on the songwriting process, describing the drummer as exceptionally talented, technically skilled and constantly dedicated to his instrument. He highlighted Casagrande’s willingness to experiment musically and his wide range of influences, explaining that the drummer can adapt to different styles while also introducing new ideas that inspire the rest of the band. Root added that he continues learning from Casagrande’s musical knowledge and considers his arrival a major source of fresh energy for Slipknot.
Speaking about his own evolution as a musician, Root said that even after nearly three decades with Slipknot he still feels he is improving as a songwriter, suggesting that the band's creative momentum continues to grow.
Slipknot have built a career on constantly reinventing their sound while maintaining the aggression and intensity that established them as one of the defining names of modern metal. Every lineup change has raised questions among fans, yet the band has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to evolve without abandoning its identity.
The early details shared by Jim Root suggest that the next chapter could be driven as much by spontaneous collaboration as by meticulous arrangement. While it is still too early to judge the final result, the enthusiasm surrounding the sessions and the prominent role played by Eloy Casagrande indicate that Slipknot are approaching this record with renewed motivation. If that creative energy carries through to the finished album, fans may be in for one of the band's most dynamic releases in recent years.
