Let me start off by saying I did not have high hopes for this album. But let me tell you; it exceeded my expectations by a mile. I am really surprised that they've been able to keep and even improve their sound after they've lost two integral members of the band. Without Paul, I was afraid they were gonna fall flat. But this album is the best one since their self titled debut. There is not a single bad song on this album. It retains the brutality of their first two albums, and the artsy fartsy melodies from the Subliminal Verses, and they somehow managed to keep it a cohesive sounding album with a good pace. Along with great musicianship, this is definitely their best album lyrically as well. It's a very dark, touching album with it being a dedication (mostly) to Paul Gray. This album is really a huge journey for the band, as it discusses the past few years of their lives. But the ambient songs, the brutal songs, the melodic songs, the lyrics, the musicianship, and just everything about the album screams SLIPKNOT. This album isn't just a collection of songs. It is an experience. Buy it now.