"Unsainted"
Single by Slipknot
from the album We Are Not Your Kind
ReleasedMay 16, 2019 (2019-05-16)
GenreNu metal[1]
Length4:20
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Slipknot singles chronology
"All Out Life"
(2018) 		"Unsainted"
(2019) 		"Solway Firth"
(2019)
Music video
"Unsainted" on YouTube

"Unsainted" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind on May 16, 2019, accompanied by its music video.[2] This is the first Slipknot single released since "All Out Life", which was released on October 31, 2018, as well as their first single without their former percussionist Chris Fehn who was fired from the band due to a lawsuit earlier in 2019.

Critical reception

Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone called the song an "unsparing headbanger", saying it "opens with an expertly crafted build, as choir vocals—performed by the Angel City Chorale—float above rumbling drums, tidal wave guitars and frontman Corey Taylor's vocals" before becoming the "double bass drum hits and jagged guitars that carry the rest of the song".[2] Revolver called it a "much more accessible, radio-friendly cut" than the band's non-album single "All Out Life", although felt that this "doesn't mean that its lyrics pull any punches", judging it to be "explosive".[3]

Track listing

Digital Download / CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Unsainted"
  • Taylor
  • Root
  • Crahan
4:20
Total length:4:20
Black Friday "All Out Life/Unsainted" 7" Vinyl[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All Out Life"
5:56
2."Unsainted"
  • Taylor
  • Root
  • Crahan
4:20
Total length:10:16

Music video

A music video directed by Shawn "Clown" Crahan was released alongside the song on May 16 2019. Blistein characterized the video as full of "creepy, cultish imagery". It ends with Corey Taylor walking out of a church to find he and the other members of the band turned into statues, then proceeding to light his statue on fire.[2] Luke Morton of Kerrang! called the video "a lot to take in", writing that it is "full of kaleidoscopic visuals, religious iconography, [and] fire".[5]

As of November 2023, the music video for "Unsainted" has over 140 million views on YouTube.[6]

In other media

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Unsainted"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[25] Gold 40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[26] Gold 10,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[27] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[29] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Watch this young violinist cover Slipknot's 'Unsainted' beautifully". Classic FM. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Blistein, Jon (May 16, 2019). "Slipknot Preview New Album With Unsparing Headbanger 'Unsainted'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "Read Lyrics to Slipknot's Explosive New Song 'Unsainted'". Revolver. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "All Out Life / Unsainted [VINYL]". Amazon. November 29, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Morton, Luke (May 16, 2019). "We Break Down The New Slipknot Video For Unsainted". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  6. ^ Slipknot (May 16, 2019). "Slipknot - Unsainted [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Neilstein, Vince (1 August 2019). "Slipknot's "Unsainted" is the Theme Song for the Upcoming WWE NXT TakeOver". MetalSucks. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #526". auspOp. May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  9. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Canada Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201921 into search. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Slipknot - Unsainted". PureMédias (in French).
  12. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  13. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201921 into search. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  17. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 21". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 24 May - 29 May 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  19. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 24 May 2019 - 30 May 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  20. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  21. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  22. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  23. ^ "Slipknot Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  24. ^ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2019)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  25. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Slipknot – Unsainted". Music Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  26. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  27. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Slipknot – Unsainted" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  28. ^ "British single certifications – Slipknot – Unsainted". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  29. ^ "American single certifications – Slipknot – Unsainted". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
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