Birth of the Cruel
"Birth of the Cruel" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Produced by Greg Fidelman, it was released as the third single from the band's sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind on August 5, 2019.[1]
"Birth of the Cruel" | ||||
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Single by Slipknot | ||||
from the album We Are Not Your Kind | ||||
Released | August 5, 2019 | |||
Length | 4:36 | |||
Label | Roadrunner | |||
Songwriter(s) | Slipknot | |||
Producer(s) |
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Slipknot singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Birth of the Cruel" on YouTube |
Background
"Birth of the Cruel" was released on August 5, 2019 as the band's third single off their sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind, following after the release of Solway Firth the previous month.[2] It would be the last single to be released prior to the album's release and was debuted on Zane Lowe's 'World Record' segment on his Beats 1 radio show on Apple Music.[3]
The title is a play on Birth of the Cool, a 1957 compilation album by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis.
Reception
The reception was generally positive for "Birth of the Cruel". Reviewing the song for Metal Hammer, Merlin Alderslade described it as "a stomping, menacing, groove-heavy killer out of the Robb Flynn songbook", which to him sounded "sinister" than previous outing "Unsainted". While calling it "more brooding" than aforementioned "Unsainted" and "Solway Firth". Corey Taylor's vocals were described as "a maniacal conductor whom is at the head of the world's most demented symphony".[4] Jordan Bassett of NME had something similar to say, and did so by breaking down the ominous lyrics to summarise the song. "A drone-like verse gives way to a claustrophobic and taut refrain whose lyrics – "We are the bitter, the maladjusted" – suggests that Slipknot 2019 has much in common with Slipknot 1999".[3]
Charts
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
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UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[5] | 9 |
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[6] | 14 |
References
- "Listen To New SLIPKNOT Song 'Birth Of The Cruel'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 5, 2019.
- Renaud, Alix. "Watch: Slipknot Share Latest Single 'Birth of the Cruel'". Hotpress.
- "Listen to Slipknot's roaring new anthem 'Birth of the Cruel'". August 5, 2019.
- August 2019, Merlin Alderslade05. "The first reaction to Slipknot's new single Birth Of The Cruel". Metal Hammer Magazine.
- "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
- "Slipknot Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2020.