Corey Taylor - 'CMFT' Album Review

Tracklist:

1. HWY 666

2. Black Eyes Blue

3. Samantha's Gone

4. Meine Lux

5. Halfway Down

6. Silverfish

7. Kansas

8. Culture Head

9. Everybody Dies On My Birthday

10. The Maria Fire

11. Home

12. CMFT Must Be Stopped (feat. Tech N9ne & Kid Bookie)

13. European Tour Bus Bathroom Song

'CMFT', the long awaited debut solo record from Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor, has finally been released through RoadRunner Records.

Album opener 'HWY 666' is a Rock 'n Roll anthem with a little but of a Country feel, acoustic guitars in the verses and intro with roaring guitar solos and riffs, it blends genres perfectly and shows the range that Taylor has and sets up the genre-bending album perfectly. Taylor's voice is in top form as usual.

Single and ballad 'Black Eyes Blue' follows, instantly showing how different each track on the album is. Taylor's voice soars in the chorus, proving to those who are still somehow skeptical that he is more than just the screaming frontman of Slipknot. The song contains another great guitar solo from Christian Martucci, as well as tight instrumental work from the rest of the band.

Track 'Silverfish', the album's second ballad, begins acoustically before adding some Soundgarden-esque guitar licks and soloing. Dustin Robert on drums and Jason Christopher on bass provide a solid backing for the soaring number that's packed with emotion.

The album takes a heavier, Hard Rock turn on 'Culture Head', which calls out those that use religion as an excuse for hypocrisy. With an extremely memorable and anthem riff and powerful solo, the track is reminiscent of Taylor and Martucci's work with Stone Sour, with an added breakdown for a heavier touch. Christopher's bass gives a great foundation for the song, complimenting Martucci and Zach Thorne's guitars perfectly.

Lead single 'CMFT Must Be Stopped (feat. Tech N9ne & Kid Bookie)' blends Rock with Rap in a raucous track. Many have hailed this as an egotistical power trip, claiming "only Corey Taylor would write himself a WWE-esque theme song", but personally I see it as a somewhat satirical, self aware parody of the ego any detractors of Taylor think that he has. With a flute line reminiscent of Jethro Tull and two phenomenal features from Rap veteran Tech N9ne and relative newcomer Kid Bookie (who have both collaborated with Taylor in the past), as well as the typical riffs and solos, it's a bit of fun while also being a good Rap Rock song.

The album closes on 'European Tour Bus Bathroom Song', a Hardcore Punk track that ends the album on a huge curveball, sounding like something Suicidal Tendencies or Rancid would release, with the typical unique Corey Taylor spin. Like 'CMFT Must Be Stopped', it feels like everyone involved had a great time writing and recording the track, adding a bit of exuberance to the insanity of the world we currently live in.

Some might say that 'CMFT' is a long overdue album, and I'd agree in part, but looking at how busy Corey Taylor has been over the years, its not entirely surprising that he's taken this long to release a solo album, but the care and attention that's been taken in the making of it is apparent. The range of genres covered within the album shows how diverse Taylor can be within his musical capabilities, and the fact that all of them are executed so well makes it even better. Personally I believe Taylor has never made a bad album, be it with Slipknot, Stone Sour, Steel Panther or any other band he's worked with, and 'CMFT' is no exception.