Unsainted

"Unsainted" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind on May 16, 2019, accompanied by its music video.[2] This is the first Slipknot single released since "All Out Life", which was released on October 31, 2018, as well as their first single without their former percussionist Chris Fehn who was fired from the band due to a lawsuit earlier in 2019.

"Unsainted"
Single by Slipknot
from the album We Are Not Your Kind
Released	May 16, 2019
Genre	Nu metal[1]
Length	4:20
Label	Roadrunner
Songwriter(s)	Shawn Crahan Jim Root Corey Taylor
Producer(s)	Greg Fidelman Slipknot
Slipknot singles chronology
"All Out Life" (2018) "Unsainted" (2019) "Solway Firth" (2019)
Music video
"Unsainted" on YouTube

Critical reception

Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone called the song an "unsparing headbanger", saying it "opens with an expertly crafted build, as choir vocals—performed by the Angel City Chorale—float above rumbling drums, tidal wave guitars and frontman Corey Taylor's vocals" before becoming the "double bass drum hits and jagged guitars that carry the rest of the song".[2] Revolver called it a "much more accessible, radio-friendly cut" than the band's non-album single "All Out Life", although felt that this "doesn't mean that its lyrics pull any punches", judging it to be "explosive".[3]

Music video

A music video directed by Shawn "Clown" Crahan was released alongside the song on May 16 and has, as of January 2021, over 94 million views on YouTube. Blistein characterized the video as full of "creepy, cultish imagery". It ends with Corey Taylor walking out of a church to find he and the other members of the band turned into statues, then proceeding to light his statue on fire.[2] Luke Morton of Kerrang! called the video "a lot to take in", writing that it is "full of kaleidoscopic visuals, religious iconography, [and] fire".[4]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2019) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 86 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[6] 70 Hungary (Single Top 40)[7] 11 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[8] 38 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[9] 17 Scotland (OCC)[10] 34 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[11] 66 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[13] 68 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[14] 2 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[15] 20 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] 4 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[17] 38

Year-end charts Chart (2019) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[18] 21

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19]	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Watch this young violinist cover Slipknot's 'Unsainted' beautifully". Classic FM. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
2. Blistein, Jon (May 16, 2019). "Slipknot Preview New Album With Unsparing Headbanger 'Unsainted'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
3. "Read Lyrics to Slipknot's Explosive New Song 'Unsainted'". Revolver. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
4. Morton, Luke (May 16, 2019). "We Break Down The New Slipknot Video For Unsainted". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
5. "ARIA Chart Watch #526". auspOp. May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
6. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201921 into search. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
7. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
8. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
9. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
11. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201921 into search. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
12. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 21". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 24 May - 29 May 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
14. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 24 May 2019 - 30 May 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
15. "Slipknot Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
16. "Slipknot Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
17. "Slipknot Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
18. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
19. "American single certifications – Slipknot – Unsainted". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 30, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.