A Look Back at the Bizarre Scandal Behind The End, So Far’s Physical Release
When Slipknot dropped their seventh studio album in 2022, fans were ready for chaos – but not this kind of chaos.
The End, So Far, an album already shrouded in speculation as the final release under their longtime label Roadrunner Records, arrived with more than just brutal riffs and eerie lyrics… it came with a full-blown printing disaster. Let’s break down the scandal that left collectors, fans, and even the band scratching their masked heads. 🎭
📀 THE MISTAKE: “THE END FOR NOW”
When physical copies hit the shelves, sharp-eyed Maggots noticed something strange:
On vinyl pressings, the album was titled “The End For Now.”
Yes, you read that right.
Not just a minor slip-up on a sticker or promo sheet – the cover, spine, and even the record labels themselves were all stamped with the wrong title.
Compare that to the CD version, which had the correct name: The End, So Far.
This wasn’t a minor typo. It was a full production misprint.
🧯 FANS SOUND THE ALARM
Slipknot’s obsessive fanbase (as fierce and eagle-eyed as they come) were the first to flag it.
Social media exploded with photos of the incorrect copies, and the meme machine kicked into overdrive. 🤘
Some took it as a sign of internal label confusion. Others joked that Slipknot were trolling everyone as part of a mysterious marketing stunt. But the reality? It was just… a very expensive whoopsie.
🩹 DAMAGE CONTROL: STICKERS & COVER-UPS
In the wake of the mix-up, some stores began receiving stickered versions of the vinyl – literally plastering over “The End For Now” with the correct title. Others kept selling the misprints, turning them into accidental collector’s items.
No recall was ever officially announced. Some fans ended up with the wrong version, some with the corrected one – and a few savvy collectors started snapping up both. 🎯
As for Slipknot? The band themselves acknowledged the issue but didn’t exactly provide answers – because they didn’t know how it happened either.
🧨 THEORIES, CONFUSION, AND ROADRUNNER’S LAST STAND
Was it a case of an early working title accidentally making its way to press?
The phrase “The End For Now” certainly sounds like a placeholder or internal draft. Some theorised that it was the original title before the band changed it last-minute – but someone deep in the vinyl production process never got the memo.
Either way, this blunder couldn’t have come at a worse time. The album marked the end of an era: the final Slipknot record on Roadrunner Records, the label they helped define since 1999.
For Roadrunner, this was a parting gift… wrapped in embarrassment. 😬
🧛♂️ COLLECTOR’S GOLD OR MISPRINTED NIGHTMARE?
For fans who snagged one of the faulty vinyls, the silver lining is real: these are now highly sought after.
Uncorrected versions have already appeared on resale sites for over £100, and the value may continue to rise as the misprint gains notoriety in Slipknot lore.
If you’ve got one: don’t peel that sticker off. You might be holding onto a bit of metal history.
🎤 FINAL THOUGHTS: SLIPKNOT SURVIVES THE CHAOS
In true Slipknot fashion, the band weathered the scandal with minimal fuss – possibly too busy crafting chaos elsewhere to worry about a mislabeled spine.
Still, this kind of thing reminds us that even the biggest bands in the world are vulnerable to mundane human error. Whether it’s a label screw-up, a printing press hiccup, or just a communication breakdown, it’s all part of the rock ‘n’ roll circus.
As for The End, So Far? Despite the drama, the album was a hit. And if anything, the title mix-up only added to its mystique.
🩸 Got one of these “The End For Now” misprints?
💬 Tell us in the comments or tag @theriffreportuk with a pic of your copy!
Let’s see how many of these elusive vinyls are still floating around… or hiding in plain sight on your shelf.
🩻 The End… or just the beginning of your Slipknot collection’s weirdest chapter?
Iechyd da, you masked maniacs. 🤘💀
