Psychosocial (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Psychosocial

| cover = Slipknot Psychosocial.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Slipknot

| album = All Hope Is Gone

| B-side = All Hope Is Gone

| released = {{start date|2008|07|07}}

| recorded = 2008

| studio = Sound Farm (Jamaica, Iowa)

| genre = {{flatlist|

Nu metal{{cite web|last=Dionne|first=Zach|url=https://www.fuse.tv/2015/02/best-nu-metal-hits#15|title=The 19 best Nu-Metal hits of All Time|website=Fuse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212064215/https://www.fuse.tv/2015/02/best-nu-metal-hits#15|date=February 11, 2015|archive-date=February 12, 2015|access-date=June 25, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/10-best-nu-metal-party-songs-all-time|title=10 BEST NU-METAL PARTY SONGS OF ALL TIME|work=Revolver|last=Sikes Howe|first=Brian|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=March 18, 2023}}
alternative metal{{cite web|url=http://rock.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/BestAltMetalSongs.htm|title=Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs|last=Grierson|first=Tim|website=About.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231323/http://rock.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/BestAltMetalSongs.htm|archive-date=March 3, 2016|access-date=December 26, 2018}}

}}

| length =

{{Duration|m=4|s=44}} (album version)
{{Duration|m=3|s=57}} (radio edit)

| label = Roadrunner

| writer =

| producer = Dave Fortman

| prev_title = All Hope Is Gone

| prev_year = 2008

| next_title = Dead Memories

| next_year = 2008

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = single

| cover = Slipknot Psychosocial vinyl.png

| border =

| alt =

| caption = 7" vinyl cover

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|5abamRO41fE|"Psychosocial"}}

}}

"Psychosocial" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, All Hope Is Gone (2008). The song entered airplay on June 26, 2008. It was originally planned for release as a digital single on July 1 but was delayed and released on July 7.{{cite web |title=Psychosocial single |publisher=Roadrunner Records |date=2008-07-01 |url=http://store.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/store/page4Digital.asp?suptype=1&t=57&sub_type=84&prod_id=1352&col=48 |access-date = 2008-07-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080705235851/http://store.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/store/page4Digital.asp?suptype=1&t=57&sub_type=84&prod_id=1352&col=48 |archive-date = 2008-07-05}}{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=99274 |title=SLIPKNOT To Release Free Single On Friday|access-date=2008-06-18 |work=Blabbermouth.net|date=2008-06-18}} Slipknot performed "Psychosocial" live for the first time on July 9, 2008, at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington.{{cite web |title=Slipknot Performs 'Psychosocial' Live |publisher=Ultimate Guitar Archive |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/online_downloads/slipknot_performs_psychosocial_live.html |access-date=2008-07-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713064035/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/online_downloads/slipknot_performs_psychosocial_live.html |archive-date=2008-07-13 }}

Background

{{Quote|"That song has got a lot of, I would say, social anxiety. It's got a real good tempo. It's really fun and it's different… Most of the stuff that we have is different." – Shawn Crahan, The Pulse of Radio{{cite news |title=Slipknot Percussionist Talks About New Single 'Psychosocial' |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=2008-06-19 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=99384 |access-date=2008-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703021545/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=99384 |archive-date=2008-07-03 }}}}

{{Quote|"This is another me-and-Paul [Gray, bassist] creation. It was similar to 'Duality', in that I had mixed feelings about whether it was a good song… Then we got together and started working on it as a team and it just came together. A lot of bands, who I won't name, have ripped this song off. I guess you know you've done something good if everyone rips you off." – Joey Jordison{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Bryant|title=Hell unleashed|magazine=Kerrang #1423|date=14 July 2012|page=25}}}}

{{Quote|"I was writing lyrics when Paul and Joey played this to me. I looked at the sheet I'd been working on and at the bottom was the chorus for 'Psychosocial' already… This song was meant to be." – Corey Taylor}}

{{Quote|"I had to ask Corey what 'Psychosocial' meant. He wouldn't tell me." – Shawn Crahan}}

Rolling Stone praised the song, saying it "slows down the tempo to bludgeon with a steady, pounding groove instead of all-out thrash in a manner reminiscent of the band's more slow-burning but still malicious second album, Iowa." They explained, "That track is capped off with a time-signature shattering guitar/drum breakdown that will leave the best air-instrumentalists stumped".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/20/new-slipknot-album-a-first-listen-to-all-hope-is-gone/|title=New Slipknot Album: A First Listen to "All Hope Is Gone"|access-date=January 26, 2015 |author=Chris Steffen|date=June 8, 2008 |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622222955/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/20/new-slipknot-album-a-first-listen-to-all-hope-is-gone/ |archive-date=June 22, 2008 }}

Reception and awards

In 2020, Kerrang and Louder Sound ranked the song number nine and number four, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Slipknot songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-slipknot-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Slipknot songs – ranked|first=Sam|last=Law|work=Kerrang|date=March 27, 2020|accessdate=April 10, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-50-best-slipknot-songs-ever/5|title=The Top 50 best Slipknot songs ever|first=Alec|last=Chillingworth|work=Louder Sound|date=December 22, 2020|accessdate=April 10, 2022}} The song was also nominated for 'Best Metal Performance' for the 51st Grammy Awards,{{cite web |title=51st Grammy Awards Nominees |publisher=CBS |url=http://www.cbs.com/specials/51grammys/nominees/|access-date=2008-12-04}} but lost to Metallica's "My Apocalypse", and was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/20090208/story.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215063113/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/20090208/story.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2009|title=Grammy 2009 Winners List|date=2009-02-08|publisher=MTV|access-date=2012-02-06}}

Music video

The music video for "Psychosocial" was shot at Sound Farm studios in Jamaica, Iowa on June 30, 2008.{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Chris |title=Slipknot's Clown On 'Psychosocial' Video: 'Our Goal Has Always Been To Infect' |publisher=MTV |date=2008-07-17 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591102/20080717/slipknot.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828091907/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591102/20080717/slipknot.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |access-date=2008-07-18}} The shoot was delayed due to an unrelated head injury sustained by turntablist Sid Wilson before the shoot, who was subsequently hospitalized.{{cite magazine |title=Slipknot DJ injured! |magazine=Kerrang! |date=2008-07-01 |url=http://www2.kerrang.com/2008/07/slipknot_dj_injured.html |access-date=2008-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703202332/http://www2.kerrang.com/2008/07/slipknot_dj_injured.html |archive-date=2008-07-03 }} On July 18, 2008, the video premiered on MTV's FNMTV show,{{cite news |title=And the Slipknot news keeps coming |publisher=Roadrunner Records |date=2008-07-02 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/Slipknot/index.aspx?newsitemID=19332 |access-date=2008-07-02}} hosted by Pete Wentz. The video, which was directed by Paul Brown,{{cite news |title=Slipknot shoot new video for Psychosocial |work=Kerrang! |pages=08 |publisher=Emap |date=2008-07-12}} was shot using high-end cameras which shoot 1,000 frames per second and are contrasted with traditional 35 mm hand crank camera equipment. Percussionist Shawn Crahan explained; "we have the most extreme on both ends, with nothing in the middle. That's what the video is, and nobody does that. There's an art form behind it."

During an interview with Kerrang!, guitarist Jim Root revealed that the video features the burning of the purgatory masks adorned by the band members in the splash teaser photos shown on Slipknot's website, reportedly because the masks represent the band's ego.{{cite video |title=Slipknot video interview! |url=http://www2.kerrang.com/2008/07/exclusive_slipknot_video_inter.html |work=Kerrang! |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703203334/http://www2.kerrang.com/2008/07/exclusive_slipknot_video_inter.html |archive-date=2008-07-03 }} 2008-07-01

There are two versions of the video. One uses the album version of the song, whilst the other uses a much shorter version of the song; excluding the "Limits of the Dead!" lines.

The video was nominated to Best Rock Video at the VMA's 2008.{{YouTube|Wws7mnMewPw|Slipknot – Psychosocial (Album Edit Video)}} On YouTube the video of the song had gained over 22 million views, before it was removed in December due to a dispute between Roadrunner Records' distributor, Warner Music Group, and YouTube.{{cite web |title=Warner Music, YouTube in contract dispute |website=MarketWatch |date=2008-12-21|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/warner-music-videos-drop-youtube/story.aspx?guid=%7B28C071A4-84A5-482F-A973-6C8F68AE8A23%7D |access-date=2009-02-14}}

As of April 2025, the music video for "Psychosocial" has over 578 million views on YouTube.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5abamRO41fE|title=Slipknot - Psychosocial [OFFICIAL VIDEO] [HD]|publisher=YouTube|author=Slipknot|date=October 29, 2009|access-date=November 22, 2024}}

Track listing

All lyrics and music composed by Slipknot.

;US Promo CD

"Psychosocial" {{small|(edit)}} – 3:57
"Psychosocial" {{small|(album version)}} – 4:42

;7" vinyl / Limited edition CD

"Psychosocial" – 4:43
"All Hope Is Gone" – 4:44

;Digital download

"Psychosocial" – 4:44

;Germany and Japan Promo CD

"Psychosocial" {{small|(edit)}} – 3:57
"All Hope Is Gone" – 4:44
"Psychosocial" {{small|(album version)}} – 4:43

;Digital download (Live)

"Psychosocial" {{small|(live)}} – 4:36

Personnel

=Slipknot=

(#0) Sid Wilson – turntables
(#1) Joey Jordison – drums
(#2) Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals
(#3) Chris Fehn – toms, timpani, snare drum, backing vocals
(#4) Jim Root – guitar {{small|(second solo)}}
(#5) Craig Jones – sampler, MIDI
(#6) Shawn Crahan – gong, beer keg, snare drum, backing vocals
(#7) Mick Thomson – guitar {{small|(first solo)}}
(#8) Corey Taylor – lead vocals

=Production=

Dave Fortman – producer
Colin Richardson – mixing

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan\|page=256}} \| 84
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2008–09) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Austria\|65\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|75\|artist=Slipknot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{singlechart\|Finland\|23\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=November 25, 2022}}
{{single chart\|France\|100\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|31\|songid=483947\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|35\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|28\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|UK\|67\|date=20080831\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
scope="row"\| UK Rock & Metal (OCC){{Cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20090104/111/\|title=Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|date=4 January 2009\|access-date=19 August 2021}} \|17
{{single chart\|Billboardbubbling100\|2\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddigitalsongs\|66\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|7\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|20\|artist=Slipknot\|song=Psychosocial\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 15, 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (2008) !scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard){{Cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/mainstream-rock-songs-artists/\|title=Year-End Charts: Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs (2008)\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=January 17, 2025}} \| 25

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2008)

!scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/mainstream-rock-songs-artists/|title=Year-End Charts: Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs (2008)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 17, 2025}}

| 25

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2008|certyear=2025|artist=Slipknot|title=Psychosocial|access-date=January 6, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|id=14291|relyear=2008|certyear=2024|artist=Slipknot|title=Psychosocial|access-date=August 20, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|artist=Slipknot|title=Psychosocial|relyear=2008|certyear=2022|type=single|source=radioscope|refname="RMNZ"|access-date=December 29, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=Gold|id=file_2023-01-30-17-47-02.pdf|relyear=2008|certyear=2022|artist=Slipknot|title=Psychosocial|access-date=February 7, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2008|certyear=2024|artist=Slipknot|title=Psychosocial|id=14758-678-1|access-date=June 14, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

References

Category:2008 singles

Category:2008 songs

Category:Slipknot (band) songs

Category:Songs written by Corey Taylor

Category:Songs written by Paul Gray (American musician)

Category:Songs written by Joey Jordison

Category:Songs written by Jim Root

Category:Roadrunner Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by P. R. Brown