Unsainted

"Unsainted" by Slipknot is a multi-layered anthem of defiance, introspection, and rebirth. Lyrically, the song delves into lead singer Corey Taylor's personal struggles, including his battle with depression, a toxic relationship, and his disillusionment with organized religion. The central theme is the rejection of external, often hypocritical, standards of salvation and morality in favor of finding strength within oneself. The line, "I'll never kill myself to save my soul," is a powerful metaphor for refusing to destroy one's true identity to conform to religious or societal expectations that he feels are hollow.

The term "unsainted" itself signifies a transformation: the destruction of a perceived purity or goodness by an external force, leaving the individual to embrace their flawed, more authentic self. This is articulated in the lyrics, "You've killed the saint in me / How dare you martyr me?". The song explores the painful process of letting go of a toxic past, be it a relationship or a belief system, which is captured in the phrase, "I'm finally holding on to letting go." It's a song about navigating personal hell, facing one's inner 'villain,' and ultimately choosing to live on one's own terms, even if it means being seen as unsaintly by others.

The narrative opens with a powerful and defiant proclamation against self-destruction for the sake of spiritual salvation. The speaker acknowledges a period of being lost or absent, unaware of their own state, but asserts they have endured too much to succumb to a low point now. This leads to the pivotal realization of 'finally holding on to letting go,' suggesting a difficult but necessary release from a toxic situation or mindset. The lyrics then delve into a state of personal struggle, describing the speaker as a 'villain with an itch to scratch,' embracing a darker persona born from hardship. The feeling of being trapped in a hole, where denial is a potent force, is vividly portrayed, questioning why a state of hell should feel so emotionally cold.

A critique of organized religion and societal pressure becomes a central theme. The lines 'Make a move and you pay for it / Pick a lord and you pray to it' highlight a sense of forced conformity and consequence. The speaker rejects the hollow narratives offered by these institutions, stating 'your stories don't read for me.' There's a moment of introspection when questioning the act of seeking a higher power, posing the rhetorical question of whether one expects to shake their own hand, implying that divinity or salvation must be found within oneself. The imagery of a 'killing field' overgrown and desired to be 'wild' suggests a repressed, chaotic nature yearning for release. The term 'Anti-Antagonist' suggests a complex role, someone who opposes the opposition, re-emerging in style.

The song builds to a climax of betrayal and accusation. The speaker declares they were everything someone desired and more, yet were ultimately rejected. This feeling of being unappreciated despite their worth leads to a liberating act of 'setting you free.' This personal liberation is intertwined with a profound sense of having one's innocence or goodness destroyed, encapsulated in the raw cry, 'You've killed the saint in me.' The accusation is intensified with the line, 'How dare you martyr me?' which rejects the idea of being sacrificed for someone else's cause or narrative. The song concludes by reiterating the initial defiant chorus, reinforcing the theme of self-preservation and the ultimate, painful, and empowering act of letting go, forever changed by the experience that 'unsainted' them.

"Unsainted" was released on May 16, 2019, as the lead single from Slipknot's sixth studio album, We Are Not Your Kind. The writing process for the album began as early as 2017, with guitarist Jim Root and percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan developing initial ideas. The full band began recording in November 2018 at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California, with producer Greg Fidelman, who had also produced their previous album, .5: The Gray Chapter. Corey Taylor has stated that the lyrics for the album are some of the most personal he's ever written, stemming from a very dark period in his life where he was exiting a toxic relationship and battling depression.

A key feature of "Unsainted" is its grand choral introduction, performed by the 160-member Angel City Chorale. This was Clown's idea; he initially envisioned a children's choir, similar to Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)," but they ultimately opted for a professional adult choir. Corey Taylor was initially hesitant about the choir, fearing it might sound pretentious like The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," but was deeply impressed with the final result, stating it gave him chills. The song was reportedly the last one to be finalized for the album, undergoing a couple of re-recordings to capture the right 'urgency' and 'spirit'.

"Unsainted" employs a rhythmic and rhyming structure that amplifies its aggressive and anthemic qualities. The song's tempo is approximately 100 BPM but feels much faster during the verses due to the use of double bass drumming and sixteenth-note guitar riffs. The rhythm is driving and relentless in the verses, creating a feeling of urgency and anger, before opening up into a more spacious, half-time feel for the massive chorus, emphasizing its sing-along nature.

The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, primarily using couplets and simple end rhymes to deliver its message with punch and clarity. For example, in the chorus, "soul" rhymes with "know" and "low" with "go." This AABB-like structure makes the chorus incredibly memorable and hooky. In the verses, the rhyming is more sporadic, often using slant rhymes (e.g., "scratch"/"patch") or internal rhymes to maintain a sense of lyrical flow without sounding overly simplistic. The rhythmic delivery of the vocals is crucial; Corey Taylor's screamed verses often have a percussive, syncopated quality that locks in tightly with the intricate drum patterns, while his melodic delivery in the chorus soars over the top, creating a powerful interplay between lyrical and musical rhythm.

"Unsainted" showcases Slipknot's signature blend of literary and musical techniques to create its aggressive and emotionally charged atmosphere.

Literary Techniques:

• Metaphor: The entire song is built around the central metaphor of being "unsainted," representing the destruction of one's perceived goodness.
• Paradox: The line "I'm finally holding on to letting go" is a powerful paradox that captures the difficult, active process of moving on from a toxic past.
• Rhetorical Questions: The song employs questions like "Why does the hell make you feel so cold?" and "did you think you'd shake your own?" to provoke thought and express internal conflict and philosophical stances.
• Defiant Narrative Voice: Corey Taylor's lyrics are delivered from a first-person perspective that is confrontational and raw, creating a tone of unapologetic rebellion and personal testimony.

Musical Techniques:

• Counterpoint and Juxtaposition: The track famously opens with the Angel City Chorale singing the main chorus melody, creating a stark contrast with the brutal metal that follows. This use of counterpoint, where the serene choir melody plays against the heavy instrumentation, is a key hook.
• Dynamic Shifts: The song structure moves from the atmospheric choir intro to aggressive, fast-tempo verses with blast beats and then to a hugely melodic, anthemic chorus, creating a powerful dynamic range that mirrors the emotional turmoil in the lyrics.
• Vocal Variety: Corey Taylor utilizes his full vocal range, shifting between guttural screams and growls in the verses and soaring, clean melodic singing in the chorus. This versatility enhances the emotional depth and accessibility of the song.
• Instrumentation: The song features classic Slipknot elements like downtuned, buzzsaw guitars, tribal-esque percussion from Clown, and electronic samples and scratching from Sid Wilson, creating a dense, chaotic, and rhythmic sonic landscape.

Upon its release, "Unsainted" made a significant cultural impact, marking a powerful return for Slipknot. The song served as the lead single for their album We Are Not Your Kind, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and topped charts worldwide, including in the UK, Australia, and Canada. The music video, which revealed the band's new masks, was a major event for fans, breaking the band's personal record for YouTube views in a 24-hour period with over 4.7 million views and trending at #1.

"Unsainted" was certified Gold in the United States by the RIAA in October 2020, signifying 500,000 certified units sold. The track was widely acclaimed by critics and fans, who praised its blend of classic Slipknot aggression with melodic and experimental elements like the choir. It was voted the 2019 Song of the Year by readers of Kerrang! magazine. The song's popularity extended beyond the metal community, as it was chosen as an official theme song for WWE's NXT TakeOver: Toronto event and has been featured as a playable track in video games like Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival. "Unsainted" solidified Slipknot's status as enduring titans of metal, capable of dominating the charts and cultural conversation two decades into their career.

"Unsainted" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its themes of rebellion and self-acceptance.

• Unsainting and Martyrdom: The core concept of being "unsainted" symbolizes the forcible stripping away of innocence or a feigned sense of purity. It's not a willing fall from grace, but a murder of the 'saint' within by an external party. The subsequent line, "How dare you martyr me?" is a rejection of being cast as a victim or a noble sacrifice for someone else's narrative.
• Holding On to Letting Go: This paradoxical phrase is a potent metaphor for the difficult and active process of releasing something toxic. It's not a passive event, but a conscious, sustained effort to sever ties with a painful past.
• The Killing Field: This image represents a repressed, primal aspect of the self. The desire for it to be "all grown over" and "wild" suggests a longing to let this untamed nature loose, free from the constraints of feigned civility.
• Shaking Your Own Hand: The lyric "Reaching out for the hand of God / But did you think you'd shake your own?" is a powerful metaphor for finding salvation and strength within oneself rather than from an external, divine entity. It points to a humanistic or individualistic philosophy.
• Burning Statue: In the accompanying music video, directed by Shawn Crahan, Corey Taylor sets a statue of himself on fire. This act symbolizes the destruction of an old self, a public persona, or a version of himself he no longer identifies with, embracing the new, 'unsainted' identity.

The most prominent recurring motif in "Unsainted" is its powerful chorus: "Oh, I'll never kill myself to save my soul / I was gone, but how was I to know? / I didn't come this far to sink so low / I'm finally holding on to letting go." This entire section acts as the song's central thesis, repeated multiple times to hammer home the themes of self-preservation, defiance against conformity, and the painful liberation of letting go. Its repetition, bolstered by a hugely melodic hook, makes it the song's most memorable and anthemic element.

Another key recurring phrase is the climactic accusation, "You've killed the saint in me / How dare you martyr me?". This couplet appears in the bridge and is repeated in the outro, functioning as the emotional core of the song's narrative of betrayal. Its repetition builds in intensity, solidifying the feeling of righteous anger and the finality of the speaker's transformation into someone "unsainted." The use of the choir to sing the chorus melody without words at the beginning and then again with the full band later creates a musical motif that ties the entire song together, introducing the central theme before it's even stated lyrically.