The Devil in I

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"The Devil in I"
Single by Slipknot
from the album .5: The Gray Chapter
Released
  • August 26, 2014 (digital)[1]
  • 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

"The Devil in I" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as a single from the band's fifth album, .5: The Gray Chapter (2014). 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.[4]

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.[5] 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, Against Me! and the son of American drummer Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band).

Background[edit]

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.[4]

Critical reception[edit]

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."[6]

Music video[edit]

Plans for a music video for the song were revealed by Corey Taylor during an interview for BBC Radio 1.[4] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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 (losing his beard in the process), 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 September 2023, the video has over 405 million views on YouTube.

Track listing[edit]

All music and lyrics written, arranged and performed by Slipknot.[citation needed]

Digital Download
  1. "The Devil in I" – 5:42
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

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "The Devil in I"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 80,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[20] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[1] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "American single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. ^ Leaver, Elliot (October 20, 2014). "Slipknot - .5: The Gray Chapter". PlanetMosh.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c "Slipknot To Film Video For New Single 'The Devil In I'". Blabbermouth.net. August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "Slipknot's Corey Taylor on '.5: The Gray Chapter' + Knotfest". Loudwire. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  6. ^ Van Horn Jr., Ray. "CD Reviews - .5: The Gray Chapter". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "Slipknot Seek Human Maggots for 'The Devil In I' Video". Loudwire.com. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Slipknot - The Devil In I (TRAILER) - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  9. ^ "Taylor Swift Shake It Off Tops ARIA Singles". Noise11. August 30, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. August 31, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "The Devil In I". Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. August 31, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart". Official Charts Company. August 31, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. September 21, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  17. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  18. ^ "YEAR-END CHARTS: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I". Music Canada. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  20. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  21. ^ "British single certifications – Slipknot – The Devil in I". British Phonographic Industry.
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