Stone Sour Builds Its New "House" on a Solid Foundation of Complacency Shattering Rock

Corey Taylor isn't one of those guys I'd want to have to face off with in an alley. He's intimidating to say the least. As front man of Stone Sour his commanding presence puts him in rarefied air as a leading post-millennial spokesman for whom "life" has been replaced by "existence". "House of Gold and Bones", Part 1" is one enviably inspired undertaking. "Tired" scores on several levels. James Root's guitar carries with it the weight of the titular adjective. This backdrop of being pushed past reasonable limits extends its spirit of oppression as the seconds pass. Corey's voice conveys how fed up he is at a life with no exit to sanity. The highest praise I can muster up for "Last of the Real" is that it pounces on you with a fury Metallica employs to revelatory effect. No quarter given or taken. The diabolical fret theatrics spell out a headbanger's nirvana. In the case of "Taciturn" thought out ambition doesn't add up to lukewarm rock. This track's just as awe-inspiring as metal singles featuring guitars which leap off the front porch like a dog who's unsure where his next meal's coming from. Corey can no longer insist he parted ways with his sensitive side eons ago. The guitar riffs caress instead of pulverize. The resulting song is a stunner that makes me respect Corey's emotional range even more. Such indelible poetry from the tough as nails face of Slipknot? Wow is a gigantic understatement. You'll lap up "RU486" if fist-soaring anthems make you break out in celebratory prickly heats. By comparison "A Rumor of Skin" stands out to due to Roy Mayorga's machine gun style drumming and razor blade gruff guitar. What "Absolute Zero" says about Corey Taylor, regardless of whether the man himself is truly spiritual is that the God he prays to finds it quite kosher to get pissed off, to react when pushed. It's defiant in the superior tradition of metal. There's plenty to savor with part one. I'm counting the months until part two sees the light of day. Corey and friends have reasons to be impressed with themselves. Stone Sour is back, back with a vengeance, and back to kick the butts of all who question their carved corner of rock supremacy.