The Devil in I

"The Devil in I" is a single by American heavy metal band Slipknot from their fifth album, .5: The Gray Chapter. It is the second single for the album and the first to be released to radio and music channels, with the previous single "The Negative One" being a digital only single.[3]

"The Devil in I"
Single by Slipknot
from the album .5: The Gray Chapter
Released
  • August 24, 2014 (digital)
  • October 7, 2014 (CD)
Genre
Length
  • 4:11 (radio edit)
  • 5:42 (album version)
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Slipknot singles chronology
"The Negative One"
(2014)		 "The Devil in I"
(2014)		 "Custer"
(2014)
Music video
"The Devil in I" on YouTube

In an interview with Loudwire, singer Corey Taylor revealed that the then new bass player and drummer would both be on stage (as opposed to former bassist Donnie Steele who played backstage out of sight) and both would wear the same mask, as the band felt it would be disrespectful for them to have individual masks at that time. However he did not reveal their identities as the band kept them in a period of anonymity for some time for unexplained reasons.[4] It was later revealed that these two new members were Alessandro Venturella on bass (previously the guitarist of Cry for Silence) and Jay Weinberg on drums (previously from The Reveling and Against Me!, and son of Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band).

Background

Shortly after the reveal of "The Negative One", another countdown was put up on Slipknot's official website telling fans to come back on August 11, 2014 at 10 am PDT for "A special announcement". The announcement was delayed but eventually revealed the cover art for the new single titled "The Devil in I". This was disappointing for some fans as Corey Taylor had already revealed the title of the single in an interview for BBC Radio 1 on August 4.[3]

Critical reception

Blabbermouth.net noted that the single "chugs out of a warbling doom line at the beginning and sets itself onto a morose but tuneful course with moody guitar chimes, dirge-loaded bass and empathetic swills from Corey Taylor," as well as noting that "The choruses are a little too safe, but a massive and quick-stepped breakdown plus a grinding bridge thereafter keeps the song robust and hectic."[5]

Music video

Plans for a music video for the song were revealed by Corey Taylor during an interview for BBC Radio 1.[3] The band put out a casting call asking for "human maggots" for a video that was shot on August 22 and 23, 2014. They requested people between the ages of 20 and 35 with the condition they be okay with filming barefoot.[6]

On September 11, 2014, Slipknot uploaded a trailer for "The Devil in I" music video to be uploaded the succeeding heyday; the trailer highlighted two people in red shrouds with eye-holes cut out.[7] The video was uploaded on September 12 and featured the band members in a mental asylum encompassed by fans dancing in straitjackets while the band performed. It also featured Corey in his All Hope Is Gone mask and Clown in his Iowa mask. Chris Fehn is also seen in his Memorial World Tour mask.

The band commits suicide in various ways, such as Corey Taylor setting a bomb off while he sits at a table, Mick Thomson ripping his face apart, Sid Wilson eating himself, Craig Jones being locked in an elevator with an attack dog, Chris Fehn pecked to death by crows, Jim Root blowing himself up with dynamite, and Shawn Crahan lighting himself on fire and hanging himself. The video also features the two new members of the band. They can be seen roaming throughout the asylum as patients in wheelchairs. They are eventually cornered by the band, who proceed to stab the new members. This stabbing could resemble the two new members being "baptized" into Slipknot. They appear playing with the band at the song's last chorus, both wearing uniforms and disguised in equal revels.

As of January 2021, the song has 288 million views on YouTube.

Track listing

All music and lyrics written, arranged and performed by Slipknot.

Best Buy CD single
  1. "The Devil in I" – 6:00
  2. "The Negative One" – 5:25
EU promotional CD
  1. "The Devil in I" (album version) – 6:00
  2. "The Devil in I" (radio edit) – 4:12
UK promotional CD
  1. "The Devil in I" (edit) – 4:11
  2. "The Devil in I" (album version) – 5:42

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 135
UK Rock & Metal (Official Charts Company)[9] 4
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[10] 23
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[11] 2
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[12] 12

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[13] Gold 40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Leaver, Elliot (October 20, 2014). "Slipknot - .5: The Gray Chapter". PlanetMosh.
  2. Grow, Kory (August 25, 2014). "Hear Slipknot's Pummeling 'The Devil in I' From '.5: The Gray Chapter'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 3, 2014. The group is offering that song and another, "The Devil in I," as "instant gratification" tracks for preorders. That song, a pummeling yet melodic hard rock tune, is also streaming below.
  3. "Slipknot To Film Video For New Single 'The Devil In I'". Blabbermouth.net. August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  4. "Slipknot's Corey Taylor on '.5: The Gray Chapter' + Knotfest". Loudwire. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  5. Van Horn Jr., Ray. "CD Reviews - .5: The Gray Chapter". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  6. "Slipknot Seek Human Maggots for 'The Devil In I' Video". Loudwire.com. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  7. "Slipknot - The Devil In I (TRAILER) - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  8. "The Devil In I". Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  9. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. August 31, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  10. Slipknot Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart History
  11. Slipknot Mainstream Rock Songs Chart History
  12. "The Devil in I-Slipknot". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  13. "Canadian single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I". Music Canada. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  14. "British single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type The Devil in I in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  15. "American single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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