The Heretic Anthem

"The Heretic Anthem" (released as "Heretic Song" as a single) is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. The song was released as a promotional single from their second album Iowa.

"The Heretic Anthem" / "Heretic Song"
Cover art for the "Heretic Song" single
Promotional single by Slipknot
from the album Iowa
A-side	"Heretic Song"
Released	May 15, 2001
Recorded	2001 at Sound City and Sound Image in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Nu metal,[1] death metal[2]
Length	4:19
Label	Roadrunner
Songwriter(s)	Paul Gray Joey Jordison Corey Taylor[3]
Producer(s)	Slipknot Ross Robinson

Style

Revolver describes "The Heretic Anthem" as a "flirtation" with death metal.[4]

Song meaning

The song was written about record labels who initially showed no interest in signing a recording contract with the band. The lyrics, "I bleed for this and I bleed for you/ Still you look in my face like I'm somebody new/ TOY – nobody wants anything I've got/ Which is fine, because you're made of/ Everything – I'm – NOT", reflect this attitude.

Track listing

Promo single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Heretic Song" (rough mix)	4:19

Live single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Heretic Anthem" (live)	4:45

Enhanced content

No.	Title	Length
2.	"The Heretic Anthem" (live video)	4:45
3.	"Disasterpieces DVD Trailer" (enhanced video)	2:12

Covers

The American band Periphery covered the song in 2012 and released as a bonus track for the limited edition of Periphery II: This Time It's Personal.[5] The American band Carnifex covered the song in 2018.

Personnel

Slipknot (#0) Sid Wilson – turntables (#1) Joey Jordison – drums (#2) Paul Gray – bass guitar (#3) Chris Fehn – percussion instrument, backing vocals (#4) Jim Root – guitar (#5) Craig Jones – samples (#6) Shawn Crahan – percussion instrument, backing vocals (#7) Mick Thomson – guitar (#8) Corey Taylor – vocals

Production Ross Robinson – producer Mike Fraser – engineering Andy Wallace – mixing Monte Conner – A&R Steve Sisco – assistant engineering George Marino – mastering Steve Richards – executive producer

References

1. "10 Best Nu Metal Albums To Own on Vinyl". VMP.
2. "The Top 50 best Slipknot songs ever". The Louder Sound.
3. Billmann, Pete; Jacobson, Jeff; Story, Jeff (2001). Iowa (Guitar/vocal/tab. ed.). Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. ISBN 0634037374.
4. "SLIPKNOT'S 'IOWA': 6 INSANE STORIES FROM MAKING OF BAND'S MOST BRUTAL ALBUM". Revolver. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
5. Rosenberg, Axl (March 14, 2012). "MEMBERS OF PERIPHERY COVER SLIPKNOT'S "HERETIC ANTHEM"". Metalsucks. Retrieved May 6, 2016.