Slipknot guitarist Jim Root recently expressed his views on criticism from “purist” fans who believe that Slipknot does not live up to metal standards. In an interview with The Captain of Andertons Music, Root admitted that he understood this perspective, even going so far as to call Slipknot a “pop group” in some aspects.
A questioning of genres
According to Jim Root, musical genres today have blurrier boundaries than ever, largely due to easier access to diverse styles. This diversity sometimes has difficulty being accepted by the most traditionalist fans.
“A lot of purists and pure metal fans don’t like the idea of not setting limits,” Root explains. “A lot of people will say we’re not a metal band, and I wouldn’t disagree with them.”
Comparing Slipknot to more extreme genres like Norwegian Death Metal or metal from the 1980s and 1990s, he acknowledges that Slipknot does not reach the same level of “heaviness”: “We’re definitely not as heavy as some of those bands, whatever that means to those people.”
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What does “heavy” mean?
Jim Root raises a crucial question: what defines heaviness in music? Is it speed, technique, or a particular atmosphere?
“What does ‘heavy’ really mean? Does that mean fast and technical, like machine gun picking? Or is it something slow, muddy, and emotionally charged? I don’t know. I haven’t really found the answer yet.”
Slipknot, a pop group?
Root goes even further by admitting that the “pop” label for Slipknot is not entirely unjustified. He explains: “I did a podcast a while ago, and the host said, ‘Actually, you’re a pop band, right?’ And I couldn’t disagree either. For me, pop, classic rock, and certain simple structures have the most impact.”
According to him, these more accessible arrangements also make it possible to better highlight the voices and emotions in a song.
An open perspective on musical creation
For Root, it’s crucial to not get pigeonholed into one genre, especially when it comes to creating art. This open-mindedness has always been part of Slipknot’s identity, allowing the group to combine extreme elements with more melodic and accessible aspects. “It’s really important not to limit yourself creatively,” he concludes.
