DES MOINES, IA — For nearly two decades, metal fans have whispered about an album that almost sounded too strange to be true. Now, the myth is officially becoming reality.
Corey Taylor has confirmed that the long-rumored experimental project recorded in 2008 will finally be released on April 18, 2026, ending one of heavy metal’s most enduring mysteries. The sessions, known as Look Outside Your Window, were tracked during the turbulent era that produced All Hope Is Gone — but they could not have sounded more different.
For 18 years, the recordings were locked away.
“We hid it for 18 years,” Taylor admitted in a recent announcement, acknowledging the almost mythical status the project had achieved within the Slipknot community.
A Band Divided in 2008
During the All Hope Is Gone sessions, the nine members of Slipknot were reportedly split across two studios on the same Iowa property. While part of the band focused on crafting the aggressive, high-octane sound fans expected, Taylor, Jim Root, Shawn “Clown” Crahan, and Sid Wilson retreated elsewhere to explore something more atmospheric and experimental.
The result was a collection of melodic, psychedelic-leaning tracks that Taylor once described as having a “Radiohead vibe.”
Rather than blast beats and screamed fury, the material reportedly leans into mood, texture, and introspection — a sharp departure from the masked chaos that defined Slipknot’s mainstream image.
“It’s Not a Slipknot Record”
Perhaps the most surprising twist in the 2026 reveal is branding. The album will not be released under the Slipknot name. Instead, it arrives as a self-titled debut by the collective Look Outside Your Window.
“It was never a Slipknot album,” Taylor clarified. “Not while it was happening, and not now.”
The decision reflects both creative respect and practical reality. Releasing it under the Slipknot banner could blur expectations, especially for fans anticipating the band’s signature ferocity.
Instead, this project stands as a parallel artistic chapter — a snapshot of a band exploring vulnerability during one of its most volatile internal periods.
Record Store Day Frenzy
The release is scheduled for Record Store Day on April 18, 2026, with an ultra-limited vinyl pressing of just 2,300 copies worldwide. The scarcity has already ignited collector hysteria.
Retailers are bracing for long lines and fierce competition, as pre-orders for Record Store Day exclusives are typically prohibited. For devoted “Maggots,” securing a copy represents more than owning rare vinyl — it means closing an 18-year loop of speculation.
Until now, only one track from those sessions, “‘Til We Die,” surfaced publicly as a bonus release. The rest remained sealed in what fans half-jokingly described as a vault of forbidden metal lore.
Closing a Chapter
The unveiling of Look Outside Your Window does more than satisfy curiosity. It reframes a pivotal moment in Slipknot’s evolution. While 2008 marked a period of internal tension and creative friction, it also birthed unexpected experimentation.
Now, that hidden side will finally be heard.
For Corey Taylor and his collaborators, the release is less about nostalgia and more about honesty — acknowledging that even the most aggressive bands have quiet, introspective corners.
After 18 years, the window is finally open.