Song Breakdown #39: "Arsenal" by Slipknot

In this episode I break down the new (very controversial) Slipknot single. Hope y'all enjoy! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro – Slipknot and My History With the Band 02:45 “Arsenal” – Initial Impressions 04:25 Song Intro – Beastie Boys Sample and Eerie Guitar Effects 05:29 Drum Intro – Eloy Casagrande’s Chaotic Groove 08:11 Verse 1 – A Surprisingly Unique Slipknot Sound 11:50 Verse 1 Lyrics – “Confidence That Comes With the Chaos” 16:43 Pre-Chorus – Returning to Old-School Slipknot 19:55 Chorus – Why “Let’s Go” Doesn’t Work 25:56 Post-Chorus – Scratches, Drums and Chaos 27:24 Verse 2 – Distorted Guitars and an Even Crazier Sound 29:38 Verse 2 Lyrics – Corey’s Strange Fixation on Rapping Fast 33:26 “I’m a .45, Not a MAC-10” 36:04 Bridge – Corey Contradicts His Own Lyrics 43:31 Bridge Music – Industrial Guitars and Abrasive Production 45:05 Pre-Chorus / Chorus 2 45:27 Mick Thomson and Jim Root Guitar Solos 49:01 Bridge – The Song Finally Hits Its Stride 52:18 Corey Taylor Stops the Music 53:02 The St. Anger Comparison 55:51 The Danger of Trying to Recapture Your Youth 59:25 Why Corey’s Tantrum Feels Inauthentic 1:06:14 After the Tantrum – Ambient Transition 1:07:16 Breakdown – The Song Loses Its Momentum 1:10:36 Breakdown 2 – “Armageddon Has Begun” 1:11:20 Pharmaceuticals and the Final Lyrics 1:15:00 Why the Lyrics Ultimately Don’t Work 1:15:40 “Let’s Go” Outro 1:18:06 FDR’s D-Day Prayer Sample 1:19:26 Overall Thoughts on “Arsenal” 1:21:10 Purpose / Telos 1:21:38 Genre 1:22:00 Song Structure 1:22:56 Composition 1:24:34 Mix 1:25:16 Lyrical Content 1:26:59 Theme 1:27:54 Final Verdict 1:29:43 Closing Thoughts on Slipknot 1:31:14 Outro and Sign-Off