As we reported late last night, Slipknot have parted ways with longtime drummer Joey Jordison. The news shocked fans worldwide last night (Dec. 13), leaving us all on the edge of our seats. Will Slipknot continue without Jordison? What about the new album Slipknot just started working on? In a new interview, Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor comments on the Joey's departure and the follow-up to 2008's 'All Hope Is Gone.'

The news of Jordison's departure was announced through an official statement on Slipknot's website. Nobody saw this coming, even though Jordison started the new project Scar the Martyr earlier this year.

Corey Taylor gave his first interview since Jordison's exit from the band to Minneapolis, Minn. radio station 93X. "I can't really talk about it right now," Taylor begins. "It's still so fresh and there's a lot of things going on behind the scenes that people don't know about, so legally and respectfully, I can't say a lot about it. I can confirm that we have parted ways with Joey and as soon as we can say something, we will, but we're trying to protect him, trying to protect us, just making sure that we do everything right because that's what we would expect from ourselves and what we would expect from the fans. I know the fans are chomping at the bit, it's just we can't really say anything right now. It sucks for them and it sucks for us because we have always really prided ourselves in being able come out and be honest with everybody, but there's really nothing we can say right now."

Taylor goes on to speak about Slipknot's next album. "We're working on new material right now, getting some stuff together. I've been writing some stuff, Jim [Root, guitar] has got a ton of stuff and the guys are actually together right now jamming and putting stuff together. It's sounding really really good. I know in light of yesterday's news, I know it's weird, but if anything positive can come out of this, it's just that I hope the fans know that we're really working towards putting out an album next year. We're deep in it right now."

According to Corey Taylor, Jordison will not be appearing on the album and had not been taking part in Slipknot's songwriting sessions before his departure.

Listen to the full 93X interview with Corey Taylor in the audio player below.

Corey Taylor Speaks to 93X

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