But Thomson says Slipknot have taken to writing and recording snippets of new ideas on laptops while touring. That, he says, should prevent the kid of wait fans endured for .5: The Gray Chapter. And the could even start recording the follow-up this year, once their touring commitments come to an end.

Thomson tells MusicRadar: "It enables us to have songs in the can already before we go in a studio to work on a new album. We hope to do our next record sooner after touring.