Before joining Slipknot, guitarist Jim Root and vocalist Corey Taylor fronted Stone Sour, an alt-metal act with melodic sensibilities. The success of Slipknot inspired Root and Taylor to reform their original outfit, and the band's self-titled debut proved a success. Stone Sour's sound is reminiscent of Slipknot's, yet is distinctive enough to stand on its own merits. COME WHAT(EVER) MAY, the group's sophomore effort, pushes Stone Sour's sound a bit further than its predecessor. While the album's sonic attack is still unremittingly heavy, with thunderous drums and distortion-saturated riffs, there's also a keen sense of accessibility that foregrounds melody and eschews thrash in favor of flat-out hard rock. These elements, combined with Taylor's throaty voice, place Stone Sour a cut above your average post-grunge metal outfit, and COME WHAT(EVER) MAY hints that the group may be poised for a mainstream breakthrough.

• Genre: Pop
• RSD Date: n/a
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 12/16/2016