It looks like Slipknot is finally gearing up to release the long-rumored 25th anniversary reissue of their groundbreaking self-titled 1999 debut album. The band has launched a cryptic new website, 742617000027.net, named after the haunting opening track from the record. Plug in the phrase "comeplaydying" and you're greeted with the above photo and countdown clock that ends on July 21.
Adding fuel to the fire, Slipknot also recently posted to Instagram with a caption that reads "Worse forwards than backwards" — a line that appears on the website as well. The caption accompanied a visual that appears to show an early cut of their original 1999 album, further hinting at what's to come. It's worth noting that the phrase "Worse forwards than backwards" is both a part of the website and the caption for Slipknot's recent Instagram post showing off an early cut of their 1999 record.
This would mark the first time Slipknot has reissued the album since September 9, 2009, when they released a 10th anniversary special edition. That commemorative re-release came in two versions — a digipak and a deluxe box set — and was released on September 9, 2009 to reflect the band's nine-member lineup.
That edition included 25 total tracks, featuring the original album (with "Purity" included but without its prelude "Frail Limb Nursery"), along with unreleased demos and rarities. The DVD, directed by percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan, featured archival footage from 1999 and 2000, the live performance from Dynamo Open Air, and all three original music videos.
A "super deluxe" version went even further, including collectible items like a T-shirt, patch, keychain, beanie, cards, and a note from Corey Taylor, all housed in a vault-style safety deposit box package.
It's worth noting that in a 2024 interview with Metal Hammer, Crahan confirmed that Slipknot was indeed plotting a massive reissue of their 1999 debut. So I think it's pretty safe to assume that this is happening.
"I'm fully involved with putting together a reissue package, because I'm the band caretaker," Clown said. "I'm the one that held everything over the years: all the DAT tapes from the [sound]board from all our first shows, all the videotapes from studio sessions at SR Audio and Indigo Ranch, different test mixes that we gave to other people that we said 'No' to at that time and that were never released, but are amazing.
"They would never have been listened to 25 years ago, but now that the golden egg has been laid, and everyone knows it, you're not going to listen to another mix and go, 'This is better', you're just gonna go, 'Wow, this is Slipknot like this, 25 years ago.'"
