Slipknot and Metallica Release Surprise Joint Album, Shattering the Metal World
No one saw it coming. At exactly midnight on a quiet Friday, the official social media accounts of both Slipknot and Metallica went dark—then reignited with a single image: a cracked black-and-white mask fused to a weathered iron cross, accompanied by four words that detonated across the metal world.
“THIS ONE IS REAL.”
Within minutes, streaming platforms updated. A new album appeared without warning, credited simply to Slipknot x Metallica. No leaks. No press cycle. No cryptic countdowns. Just twelve tracks of raw, collaborative fury under the title Ashes of the Unforgiven.
Fans initially assumed it was a prank, a marketing stunt, or an elaborate AI hoax. But when the opening track, “Fractured Crown,” thundered to life—James Hetfield’s unmistakable growl colliding with Corey Taylor’s venomous scream—the disbelief evaporated.
The story of how the album came to be only deepened its legend.
According to sources close to both bands, the collaboration began almost accidentally. During downtime at a European festival the previous summer, members of Slipknot and Metallica found themselves sharing a backstage rehearsal space after a storm delayed load-outs. Lars Ulrich, never one to let an opportunity pass, began jamming on a spare kit. Joey Jordison’s absence was still deeply felt within Slipknot, and Jay Weinberg stepped in instinctively, matching Lars beat for beat. What started as an informal jam spiraled into something heavier, darker, and strangely cohesive.
James Hetfield reportedly stopped mid-riff, stared across the room, and said, “This doesn’t sound like either of us. That’s the problem—and the point.”
From there, secrecy became sacred.
Recording sessions were scattered across continents: late-night takes in Los Angeles, guttural vocal sessions in Des Moines, experimental percussion captured in Reykjavík warehouses. Phones were banned. Studio names were scrubbed from booking records. Even longtime collaborators were kept in the dark. The project was treated less like an album and more like a classified operation.
Musically, Ashes of the Unforgiven is neither Slipknot featuring Metallica nor Metallica borrowing Slip
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