Slipknot’s Clown Explains Why the Band Aren’t in the ‘Arsenal’ Video

Slipknot’s new era might have started with ‘Arsenal’, but the band deliberately stopped short of revealing exactly what that era will look like.

M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan has explained why Slipknot themselves are largely absent from the single’s unsettling music video, admitting the timing of its release created a problem: the band aren’t ready to unveil their next visual identity (per Loudwire).

In a newly released behind the scenes feature on the making of ‘Arsenal’, Crahan, who directed the video revealed that new masks and outfits have yet to be locked in.

“This one was difficult because we definitely wanted to do the band. It feels so right to do the band, [but] it’s too early to make masks and outfits and be sure of that stuff. I definitely don’t want to regurgitate old stuff because that – Slipknot doesn’t do that. It’s my job to make sure we don’t repeat ourselves.”

Instead, Crahan allowed ‘Arsenal’ to exist separately from whatever Slipknot eventually reveal around their forthcoming album.

“So, this is all supposed to be a little confusing and a little bewildering because there’s so much more that’s gonna be focused in the future,” he explained.

That makes the ambiguity surrounding the video intentional rather than an early reveal of the band’s next full aesthetic.

The clip also goes behind the scenes with actor Jackson White, who stars in the video alongside Ran Wei, and explores the extensive prosthetic work used throughout the production.

Slipknot ‘Behind the Scenes of Arsenal’

Crahan singled out White’s existing connection with Slipknot as part of what made the casting work.

“Instead of just casting to get, it’s almost like you have people that need to be in [it] because they understand [it]. That’s when you get the best [result].”

The explanation adds another piece to the increasingly unusual position ‘Arsenal’ occupies in Slipknot’s catalogue.

Released earlier this month as the first single through the band’s new (sic)est Records imprint, it is also their first new music featuring drummer Eloy Casagrande.

Slipknot ‘Arsenal’ video

But as reported following its release, guitarist Jim Root has already confirmed ‘Arsenal’ won’t appear on Slipknot’s forthcoming album, saying the track is “not really representative of the other tunes”.

So, for now, ‘Arsenal’ introduces Slipknot’s next chapter without actually showing us what that chapter will become.