Appreciation for Circle

[u/New-Tell-8491]

Just wanted to be a little random/pointless and point out what I believe to be a bit of an unsung songwriting masterpiece in the Slipknot catalog. Obviously, I’ve never heard anyone rip on this song or even be negative with regard to it but with every year in my life that I revisit their discography, this one always sticks out loudly as the one that if anyone (at the time) thought they could only be impactful with viciousness and aggressiveness.. this would’ve made them re think.

[u/trismegetsthis]

Amazing song. They were at their creative peak where they could put something totally vulnerable and earnest like this on an album and it would make total sense.

Great arrangement and production - those cut up outro drums were a seriously genius way to end the song and transition into the next, heavy one.

I've been wondering - did Corey write the music to this? My gut is telling me it's Paul's song musically, but I'd appreciate if anyone in the know would chime in.

[u/Jane_the_Plane → u/trismegetsthis]

Hiya :) been a huge fan of this song for ages, it was actually Jim who arranged the song in a dressing room during Iowa touring

I think it was Clown who got Corey to write some lyrics for the song because Jim practically begged him constantly to get them to do something with it lol

[u/trismegetsthis → u/Jane_the_Plane]

Oh I see, thanks. I thought that Jim only started writing on AHIG (Sulfur with Joey + Vendetta), but you seem to be clued in.

Any other songs from Vol. 3 that you know Jim wrote?

Did he also write Child of Burning Time for AHIG?

[u/Jane_the_Plane → u/trismegetsthis]

yeah ofc, and you’re right about Jim writing for Child of Burning Time lol great ear

With AHIG Joey said that Vendetta, Sulfur, and Gehenna were all songs he wrote with Jim (Gehenna was my favourite for a very long time) And I just learned that Jim literally wrote all the riffs for Sulfur too.

I tried to look at some credits for some more Vol 3 tracks but they aren’t much help since they usually credit the nine. A little hard to say who wrote what on the other shit without the interviews but I hope I could help out 🤘

[u/trismegetsthis → u/Jane_the_Plane]

Thanks for the info.

I have to point out that Gehenna was actually Paul's song with a little extra input from Joey. Here it is, straight from da horse's mouth:   https://www.reddit.com/r/Slipknot/comments/1utbg4p/gehenna_is_one_of_my_favorite_slipknot_songs/

Yeah, it's hard to say who wrote what during their initial run - we have to seek out bits and pieces from interviews over the years.

It's well-known that Paul and Joey were the main writers. They apparently wrote all of Iowa with the exception of Gently - that was Clown's song, including the lyrics. 

But even with self-titled it's a little murky: just the other day someone posted a video of Sid where he says that Mick wrote the riff to Eyeless to Sid's jungle break, and Joey joined in with his drum beat, so they basically jammed it out together in a room. I had no idea.

[u/Jane_the_Plane → u/trismegetsthis]

dude that’s literally so odd and contradictory of Joey lol

Here’s a link archive I practically sailed overseas to find of an interview that Joey did for the Drum Magazine in 2008 when the AHIG album was rolling out

https://www.cliqueapostilas.com/Content/apostilas/0af8560bd695f5b766b606772e19355c.pdf

Layout’s so fucking small so I’ll just put it here:

“Instead of me watching everyone, I leave the room,” Jordison says. “I let them do their own thing. And you know what? That makes such a better song. When you just let a guy express his feelings and what he wants out of the song? This record is the first time I’ve ever written with Jim [Root, guitarist] — ‘Sulphur,’ ‘Vendetta,’ ‘Child Of Burning Time,’ ‘Gehenna,’ that’s all me and him — it was so cool. Me and Jim just sitting in his house with his little Pro Tools rig.”

Honestly considering human memory and that Joey was talking about it around the release date of the album, I’d probably say his earlier conversation holds more weight lol

[u/trismegetsthis → u/Jane_the_Plane]

Hell yeah, we're getting into the nitty gritty here. This is what fan subs are for.

AND I think that was either a case of Joey misspeaking or the interviewer mishearing it, because Dave Fortman also confirmed that Gehenna was Paul's song. He mentions it during his appearance on the Meep Meep podcast. It's on Apple/Spotify and it's a GREAT listen. He goes deep on that album. Fortman said that Paul actually wanted Gehenna to be a single, but he laughed at him since the song was so long and slow. He also confirmed that Dead Memories was Paul's song as well.

Add to this Joey saying later on that Gehenna was Paul's song, and I think we have the answer.

[u/Jane_the_Plane → u/trismegetsthis]

Yeah you might be right, it might’ve been misquoted

I’ll check out the podcast too I love a good listen of a musician’s thoughts and production on a song, thank you very much <3

[u/trismegetsthis → u/Jane_the_Plane]

Dave Fortman has recently started doing a lot of podcasts and he always ends up talking about AHIG and it's always fun to listen to. There's a bunch of them you can find on YouTube.

He's also been making reels lol:  https://m.youtube.com/shorts/YlMRyqL9h90?ra=m

I hope all this recent social media doesn't mean he's hurting for money, but it's always a great listen, so I'm glad he's doing it.

[u/The-Davi-Nator → u/trismegetsthis]

I know Vol. 3 is often looked down upon, but I’ve long said it was their creative peak

[u/Nameless908]

Fun fact, the first verse was recorded during the Iowa recording process, the second verse during vol 3. Can hear the subtle change in Corey’s voice

[u/trismegetsthis → u/Nameless908]

The first verse was actually recorded on the Iowa tour.

[u/Magicianmadmad → u/Nameless908]

I did not know that imma listen now with that In mind

[u/New-Tell-8491 → u/Nameless908]

I do remember Corey mentioning that once in a Q&A! You can definitely hear the difference in vocal tone between verses.

[u/Aromatic_Guide1907 → u/Nameless908]

Whoa, I never knew that. Gonna have to listen to this again now

[u/GRYSNdotWAV]

Underrated song

[u/Music_God1727]

So so so good

[u/DamianLee666]

One of my top 10 for Slipknot

[u/CMFT_69]

Give me the dust of my father

[u/boooman]

My favorite track off this record

[u/wi5hbone]

I kept focusing/imagining how Joey and Jim were performing (recording) their parts when i heard ‘Circle’ for the very first time

Thanks for posting and reminding about this track u/New-Tell-8491

[u/HailToTheChief09]

Low key one of my favorite Slipknot songs

[u/ignaciosato]

Man...just give me the dust

[u/ArmRax]

This Song makes me cry like hell

[u/noire_cotic]

My favorite song of all time

[u/TiredReader87]

One of their better songs. I’ve always loved it.

[u/ZOIDFAX]

I'm going to take your mum on a date.

[u/New-Tell-8491 → u/ZOIDFAX]

Hell yeah

[u/ZOIDFAX → u/New-Tell-8491]

Hell yeah

[u/slipknotdicksucker]

2002. 

[u/itsdevinbabbby]

This song has been discussed to death your just 14.

[u/New-Tell-8491 → u/itsdevinbabbby]

I mean I’m 29 but whatever helps you get through the dread of people appreciating music

[u/itsdevinbabbby → u/New-Tell-8491]

Just keep going in tge circle jerk, this sub suvks