Metal titans Slipknot have officially launched their own dedicated label imprint, (sic)est Records. The move marks one of the most significant business and A&R pivots in the group’s nearly three-decade history, giving the Iowa collective direct master-level autonomy over their future recording output.
The imprint made its official debut alongside the surprise drop of their brutal new single, "Arsenal"—the band's first original material in three years and the inaugural studio recording featuring technical powerhouse drummer Eloy Casagrande.
A Major Label Joint Venture for Ultimate Ownership
Following the fulfillment of their long-standing seven-album deal with Roadrunner Records, Slipknot designed (sic)est Records as an artist-first vehicle. Rather than walking away from major distribution entirely, the band established a hybrid operational structure that preserves global major-label muscle:
- Roadrunner & Atlantic Partnership: (sic)est Records will operate as a custom imprint in direct partnership with both Roadrunner Records and Atlantic Records, securing tier-one global physical distribution, digital marketing infrastructure, and radio promotion.
- Creative and Visual Control: Alongside the record label, the group launched (sic)est Films—a dedicated visual production house led by percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan to handle all future music videos, long-form documentaries, and concert films in-house.
- Potential Roster Expansion: While initially designed to serve as the home for Slipknot's primary releases, side projects, and physical reissues, industry sources report the imprint is structured to potentially sign, develop, and distribute external heavy music talent in the future.
Taking Control of the Next Chapter
The creation of an artist-owned imprint reflects a broader trend among legacy arena acts using their catalog weight to renegotiate master ownership, direct-to-fan merch pipelines, and global release schedules on their own terms.
By launching (sic)est Records ahead of their upcoming eighth studio album, Slipknot establishes a sustainable business framework that bridges independent creative freedom with major-label leverage.
"This new chapter gives us total control over the vision, the music, and the visual identity of everything we do," the band shared in a statement regarding the launch. "With (sic)est Records, we're building an environment where we dictate the terms of our legacy while keeping the global machinery fully intact."
With physical 7-inch vinyl pre-orders for "Arsenal" open and studio tracking continuing on their next full-length record, (sic)est Records sets the foundation for Slipknot's next decade of releases.
