SLIPKNOT Drummer JOEY JORDISON Is 'Super Proud' Of SCAR THE MARTYR Debut

SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison spoke to the Classic 21 radio station about his new project, SCAR THE MARTYR, at this year's Graspop Metal Meeting, which was held June 28-30 in Dessel, Belgium. You can now watch the chat below.

Recorded at Sound Farm Studios in Des Moines, Iowa, SCAR THE MARTYR's as-yet-untitled debut album was helmed by Rhys Fulber, whose production and mixing credits include FEAR FACTORY, ROB ZOMBIE, MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY and more. The CD is slated to arrive later this fall via Roadrunner Records.

Recognized globally as one of the best drummers in rock, Jordison is both a primary songwriter and the drummer for the Grammy Award-winning SLIPKNOT. The SCAR THE MARTYR recording sessions saw him behind the drum kit, while also playing bass on all songs, and rhythm guitar on all but two songs. The album was written by Joey and lead vocalist Henry Derek Bonner (BLOOD PROMISE),and joining them in the studio were keyboardist Chris Vrenna (NINE INCH NAILS),as well as guitarists Jed Simon (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Kris Norris (DARKEST HOUR) who collectively handled all lead guitars on the album.

On how SCAR THE MARTYR came together:

Joey: "I started writing material about two years ago. And I went into the studio initially to capture all the ideas. And I kept writing and writing, and we had a meeting and realized that we wouldn't be making another SLIPKNOT record for awhile, but that we were gonna keep actively doing shows. So I just kind of kept… Just like in the studio, I was really hitting a creative spur. So I demoed all these songs, and then I wanted to get in touch with a vocalist, to try to seek out a vocalist, to try to see who I could find to layer over the top of the music. And a friend of mine, King Ov Hell from GORGOROTH, got me in touch with Henry Derek, and I sent Henry a bunch of songs and had him demo some material. I sent him five songs and he sent all back. And I was really blown away by what he came up with, and I was really surprised. So I booked two months studio time and flew him in and we started working on the record."

On Henry Derek Bonner's vocal style:

Joey: "It's hard to describe it, when I'm talking about someone else's craft. But he's very diverse; he has a lot of different styles to him. There's a lot of different characters to Henry. And that's really something that helps the music, because the music is not just straight across the board — there's a bunch of hills and valleys, a bunch of different colors — and he melds right with that. And he was a pleasure to work with. I knew he was a great singer, but at the end of the day, after all the tracks were done, I didn't know how good he actually was; it was very surprising. He really delivered on this record, and I'm really proud of him; he did a really amazing job."

On SCAR THE MARTYR's sound:

Joey: "A lot of people have been asking me to try to describe the sound of it. I like to take the easy way out and say, 'Well, you kind of gotta just listen to it and make your own conclusion.' A lot of the style comes from a lot of post-punk and a lot of earlier incarnations of industrial bands. But if you take those types of influences and you smother them with gargantuan-type riffs — like a lot of metal — over the top of that. And then Henry's vocals are really, really unique, so that's kind of the icing on the cake. Also, Chris Vrenna, he really helped bring a lot of colors and shape to the actual arrangements and songs as well. Also, Kris Norris and Jed Simon, their leads and their teamwork between each other is phenomenal on the record. Everyone really brought their individuality to the record, and it really shines through. So the collective of everyone that worked on the record is really what makes the SCAR OF THE MARTYR record truly unique."

On why he feels the need to constantly pursue projects outside SLIPKNOT:

Joey: "Because SLIPKNOT, in between breaks, there's STONE SOUR, there's always bands that I'm playing with, in the past KORN, ROB ZOMBIE… I'm never satisfied, I always have to create, I always like coming up with new structures and sounds. So this was perfect timing, actually, for me to go into the studio and really push the limits and explore new worlds. I wanted to create a record that I wanted to hear that I had not created before. And I really took my time on the songwriting and it was really in-depth in the studio with tones and sounds. It was a real fun record to make, and it was also a challenging record to make. And all the guys, of course — Jed Simon, Kris Norris, Henry Derek and Chris Vrenna — I mean, it's an amazing lineup. And the collective, those guys and what they brought to the table really made the record. I couldn't be more happy with it. I think SLIPKNOT fans and hopefully other fans of heavy music, they'll dig it. I'm super proud of it."

SCAR THE MARTYR sees Jordison treading in new sonic territory and expanding upon his already remarkable abilities as songwriter and performer. A searing rock record that draws elements from post-punk and industrial music to create an immersive and modern attack, SCAR THE MARTYR creates a menacing and enveloping palette of surging synthesizers layered under heavy guitars and Jordison's trademark precision drumming.

"With this project, I focused my efforts on writing for the better of the song," says Jordison. "I wasn't worried about flash or persona... It's all about writing a good solid song. I'm writing music that people can grasp and hold on to...something that resonates. If you don't have that, then you have nothing."

"I'd been working on new SLIPKNOT material since the end of the 'All Hope Is Gone' tour cycle, but I ended up with so much stuff I had to take a step back and stop working on it," he explained to Metal Hammer magazine. "The time wasn't right. But I came up with a bunch of material that was really killer and heavy and started taking some of it in a different direction. I started focusing on a lot of the post-punk and industrial stuff that I've always loved and started putting super heavy and brutal guitars over the top of it. That's how it started. It's taken me a couple of years to get to this point, but I can honestly say this is the most satisfied I've ever been in the studio. I can't wait for everyone to hear this shit."

The career of Joey Jordison is one that, by any measure, stands among the most creative, and impressive in the history of modern American rock and metal. It is a career that really has been many careers — musician, songwriter, and producer — from small town beginnings to global stardom. Jordison's journey has included an extraordinary string of hits, 11 platinum and 40 gold records, and a Grammy Award with SLIPKNOT as well as numerous industry accolades for his top tier musicianship and, above all, an immeasurable influence on countless fellow artists and passionate fans around the world.