Grammy-winning metal legends – not to mention former Music Week cover stars – Slipknot released a surprise new single yesterday, and lurking in the small print of its credits was confirmation that the group have set up their own label imprint.
New track Arsenal – the group’s first new song in over three years – has been confirmed as the official first release on their own label (Sic)est Records, alongside their Warner label partners at Roadrunner/Atlantic.
Not that this move should come as a surprise. Since causing shockwaves with their 1999 self-titled album, and with long-standing guidance from 5B Artist Management, the group have amassed a formidable business empire which takes in their own festival (Knotfest), whiskey brand and more.
The band have five platinum records in the UK and have scored three UK No.1 albums to date, including their last studio outing 2022's The End, So Far.
In our 2019 cover feature celebrating Slipknot and their manager's longterm relationship and success, 5B's Cory Brennan told Music Week that, despite their phenomenal global impact, they all still look at everything with an underdog state of mind.
“Everyone wants to say no to Slipknot,” he explains. “Every TV booker, every gatekeeper wants to say no because they’re scared, they don’t get the masks and uniforms and some of the mythology scares them. Every day that I come into the office I know it’s going to be a fight with somebody because my view of what Slipknot is and the world’s view of what Slipknot is isn’t always in line. I have to push, every day is kicking doors through and getting people to believe.”
Arsenal was also released alongside a music video directed by M Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan.
You can revisit our 2019 cover story on Slipknot and manager Cory Brennan here.
FOLLOW 
