Slipknot's masks have become synonymous with the band's blend of brutal heavy metal, and traditionally each member adopts a new face for a new album. Frontman Corey Taylor talked about the masks for the group's latest effort .5: The Gray Chapter with DJ Metallic on Metal Mania Radio recently. He also talked about the band's new bassist and drummer, whose identities have yet to be confirmed by the group.

"With every album, some of us have evolved our masks more dramatically than others, but there's always a difference, they've always changed a little bit, and this album is no exception," he said, Blabbermouth noted. "I mean, I think mine and Clown's and Sid's have changed the most, because it's evolution."

Taylor said that each member is responsible for choosing a new mask, but the group never plans it out ahead of time. For his new mask, the singer chose a dual threat.

"The idea for mine really came from what I wanted to reflect with this: the mask behind the mask that sits on the human, basically," he said. "So, for me, it made sense to make it two pieces, and you can peel one off and there's still a mask there. To me, it represents the layers of the soul and how we deal with things like loss and regret and guilt and anger and sadness — like, the deepest sadness."

The band is still grieving the loss of bassist Paul Gray, who died in 2010 and was not featured on the latest album. Drummer Joey Jordison was dismissed last year, opening two spots up in the band's lineup. Jay Weinberg and bassist Alessandro "Vman" Venturella are rumored to be the new members, but Taylor will not confirm that. The singer said the members are not even part of the band officially because they have to earn their spots.

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