Slipknot Are Back With 'Arsenal', Their First New Song in Years

Slipknot released “Arsenal” on September 9, 2026, ending a three-plus-year wait for new music from the masked metal band. The surprise single arrived with a full music video and checked off several firsts at once: the band’s first release on its own label, its first song to feature drummer Eloy Casagrande, and its first new material since two other longtime members left the group.

What is “Arsenal” and when did it come out?

“Arsenal” is Slipknot’s first new song since 2022’s “The End, So Far,” and it arrived without warning on September 9, 2026. The track is also the first release on (sic)est Records, the band’s own independent label, following the close of its roughly 25-year run with Roadrunner Records. Frontman Corey Taylor told Loudwire the song has “these great moments of hyperactivity” before “this sublime drop,” and the track opens with spoken dialogue ahead of Slipknot’s usual heavy, percussive attack.

Who made the “Arsenal” music video?

The “Arsenal” video was directed by percussionist M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan and stars actor Jackson White. It was produced through (sic)est Films, working alongside (sic)est Records, and follows White through a surreal, nightmarish sequence rather than showing the band performing on camera throughout. It’s the latest video Crahan has directed for the band, continuing his long-running role as Slipknot’s in-house filmmaker.

Why does “Arsenal” matter for Slipknot’s lineup?

“Arsenal” is the first Slipknot song to feature drummer Eloy Casagrande, who joined after Jay Weinberg’s exit, and the first released since two other members left the band. That makes it the clearest signal yet of what the group’s next chapter sounds like with a reshaped lineup, a new label, and, according to guitarist Jim Root, dozens of song ideas already in the works for a follow-up album.

Who else has left Slipknot recently?

Two longtime members exited Slipknot in the years before “Arsenal” arrived: sampler and keyboardist Craig Jones, and DJ/turntablist Sid Wilson. Jones parted ways with the band on June 7, 2023, after 27 years; no reason was given publicly. Wilson’s exit came more recently — his departure was first reported in late July 2026, and Slipknot confirmed it on August 14, 2026, in a statement posted to social media (and later deleted) saying it would “no longer be associated with” him after nearly three decades in the group. Neither Slipknot nor either former member has publicly explained why they left, and this piece is not speculating about a reason.

Has Slipknot named replacements for Jones or Wilson?

As of Monday, September 28, 2026, Slipknot has not officially named a permanent replacement for either Craig Jones or Sid Wilson. An unidentified performer has handled Jones’ sampler and keyboard role on stage since 2023 — fans have taken to calling the masked figure “Samples” — but the band has never confirmed who is behind it. No replacement, on stage or off, has been announced for Wilson’s turntablist role since his departure.

Is Slipknot working on a new album?

Yes — guitarist Jim Root has confirmed the band is recording its eighth studio album with producer Matt Wallace, though no title or release date has been set. Root has said the band has assembled roughly 50 arrangements, while cautioning that not all of them are finished songs yet. No further album details had been announced as of this writing.

Has Slipknot announced anything else since “Arsenal”?

Yes — on September 28, 2026, Slipknot revealed a 2027 stadium tour, its biggest follow-up news since “Arsenal.” The band teased the announcement with cryptic posts tied to a show at Wembley Stadium and a line from its 2001 song “The Heretic Anthem,” before confirming a run of stadium dates across North America and Europe, including stops at Citi Field, Soldier Field, Fenway Park, and Golden Gate Park. Ticket presales began that same week, with general on-sale set for October 2, 2026. The tour announcement did not include any new information about the eighth album.

What’s next for Slipknot?

For now, “Arsenal” stands as the first real preview of Slipknot’s next chapter: a new label, a new drummer, a reshaped lineup, and a stadium tour already on the books for 2027. What’s still missing is any official word on the eighth album’s title or release date, or on permanent replacements for Jones and Wilson — none of which had been settled as of September 28, 2026. We’ll keep watching for whichever comes first.