Stone Sour – House of Gold & Bones Part II

The extent to which Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor's “other band” Stone Sour have evolved and matured over the years is undoubtedly impressive; there are undercurrents of melancholic folk and country subtly flowing throughout House of Gold and Bones Part II, the second part of an imaginative, sprawling concept album.

The story behind the lyrics isn't particularly vital, especially when said lyrics contain a multitude of throwaway clichés like “I'm such a shitty mess” or “this is all the pain a man can take.” The project's real strength lies in Taylor's knack for working melody into heavy songs; a tender acoustic passage often turns into a solo-plastered freakout without warning, and the transition feels natural. 

With tracks like '82 and Sadist, the band's pop sensibilities are pushed to the forefront – a fitting counterbalance to the album's more aggressive moments. The kind of artistry on display here makes this their strongest outing by some margin. [Ross Watson]