After years of speculation, delays, and near-mythical status among fans, the long-shelved ‘Look Outside Your Window’ project is finally seeing the light of day.
Though not officially released under the Slipknot name, the album is deeply tied to the band’s legacy. The material was recorded during the sessions for 2008’s ‘All Hope Is Gone’, with Corey Taylor, Jim Root, M. Shawn Crahan, and Sid Wilson branching off into a separate studio space to explore a different creative direction.
The 10-track effort is officially slated for release on April 18th as part of Record Store Day, though vinyl copies have already surfaced online after making their way into fans’ hands early. Reports suggest a wider release could follow in June, but no formal announcement has been made.
Musically, the album diverges sharply from Slipknot’s signature sound, leaning into experimental, melodic, and atmospheric territory rather than the band’s usual aggression.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Crahan opened up about the origins of the project’s name:
“One night, we were sitting in the studio, and we looked out and saw some eyeshine on the tree in front of the window. It was pretty high up in the air, probably most definitely a raccoon looking in at us. But we started imagining cryptic mothmen, and Jim called the second song ‘Moth.’ By the end of it, Jim was walking away, and he said, ‘Always look outside your window.’ It just meant so much, and I just kept saying it over and over again. It just really solidifies who we were, what we were doing, the conversations we were having between writing and having to go down and contemplate [Slipknot], which is huge.”
Discussing the sonic direction of the record, Crahan pointed to a wide range of influences beyond heavy music:
**“Well, Jim and I love particular music that’s not heavy. The alternative movement started when I was 19 or 20 years old, around college. So I was growing up with the greatest albums, like [Soundgarden’s] ‘Louder Than Love‘ or [The Smashing Pumpkins’] ‘Gish‘ or Pearl Jam’s first album, anything from Sub Pop. But then I’m an old punk rocker, too. I like Big Black/Steve Albini stuff. I like real aggressive stuff like Scratch Acid and Killdozer. And with Jim, we both love Radiohead. All this different stuff fed my moods.
So the mood you hear is Jim and I constantly wanting to make this music we love that makes us happy to hear. That music is a lot artier.”**
The emotional weight of the album also stood out to Crahan, who acknowledged its more introspective tone:
“Yeah. The album doesn’t make me cry, but it hurts. There are a lot of things that make me stop and look at myself and my life. Some of our brothers are gone. So that album ended up being a real good timestamp on other emotions … because [in Slipknot] we’re just nine human beings deciding to share our time together.”
Crahan confirmed that additional material from those sessions still exists, though not all of it is fully realized:
“I could probably get another five songs [out of the sessions] but they wouldn’t be so complete as these. And Corey would have to sing all of them. There is one song that didn’t make it, but it was heavier, more like a Neurosis thing. I don’t know why it didn’t mix in; it felt a little out of place and intentional. Eventually, it’ll come out.”
Reflecting on the long road to release, Crahan admitted that timing and Slipknot’s busy schedule repeatedly delayed the project:
**“Yes, it is definitely closing a chapter in that maybe it should have come out a long time ago, but Slipknot always stopped the forward motion of it because we’d be in an album cycle and releasing it would have disrupted both things. So I finally put my foot down, and everybody’s like, ‘It’s about time.’
I love this album so much. I know people are going to love it and I’ve accepted that it’s going to get confused [with Slipknot]. But it’ll also open up the next generation of ‘Look Outside Your Window‘.”**
As for the possibility of performing the material live, Crahan revealed that the idea has been discussed:
“We as a unit of four people, at least some of us, had always said that there would be no reason we couldn’t play this live. Someone would have to play bass if we were playing live; Jim’s not going to play bass and guitar at the same time. So what will be fun for me is getting a real intricate band together to give it to people if they ever actually request it. It could very well be one, two, three special shows. I’m going to wait until someone calls me and goes, ‘Today’s the day, we have a demand.’”
The album also features guest appearances from Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil, adding another layer to its unique place within the extended Slipknot universe.
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It’s a good album, I was shocked.
Drew Hollingshead I assume you got it on vinyl?
Nope someone sent me the digital files.
Where can we listen to it?