Take, then, Breath Of Contemporary Smoke. It’s a music Corey’s had within the drawer since 2006, and one which he calls “one in all my favourites that I’ve ever written”. With what he names as a vaguely Irish undertone, and looking out on the peculiar geography of affection by a considerate lens, it’s not one thing one imagines sitting flush within the ’Knot, and even Stone Bitter. Therefore the look ahead to a correct automobile. Right here, it may well exist as its personal factor, and the person who additionally authored the immortal line, ‘I wanna slit your throat and fuck the wound’ needn’t be unafraid to point out himself in a extra sleek gentle. It’s one thing that comes up typically in CMF2.

“I’ve extra golf equipment within the bag than I’ve allowed myself to actually depend on previously,” he says. “There have been so many alternative challenges for me as a songwriter that to rise to the problem means getting out of that consolation zone. Or [it means] leaning into one thing that I’ve needed to speak about, or a viewpoint that I’ve needed to signify, and perhaps I simply have by no means had the prospect to. With Slipknot, it is nonetheless very a lot that scream remedy, and I feel I’ve at all times wanted that, for no matter motive, however that is a lot extra nuanced. And due to that, I respect it simply as a lot as I do Slipknot.”

As a lyricist, it’s a distinct factor once you’re bringing phrases to the desk than, say, riffs. Is it extra snug once you’re the one who has remaining say, as a result of they’re your songs, moderately than a collective factor like Slipknot?

“I haven’t got to really feel like individuals who I am in a band with are going to evaluate me harshly, or perhaps attempt to speak me out of writing a sure factor right here and there, which I’ve positively had previously,” he replies. “It is exhausting, as a result of, you understand, I’ve by no means tried to restrict anyone creatively, I’ve at all times pushed them to do no matter will work with it. There have been a handful of instances the place numerous individuals who I’ve been in a band with have gone, ‘You understand, perhaps you should not write about that’ as a result of it does not match one thing. And I am like, ‘What the fuck? What are you speaking about?!’

“So for me, having carte blanche positively lends a way of satisfaction, honesty, and the truth that I may be, I do not need to say ‘saccharine’, however positively just a little extra romantically-leant. It does not need to be a tragic break-up music, it may be a fucking rejoicing, superb relationship music. It is one thing that I need to have fun. My spouse and I’ve an awesome relationship, and I am gonna fucking write songs about her. I like the truth that I can lean into that, and I can present that optimistic facet.”