Editing Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.
| type       = demo
| artist     = [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]]
| cover      = Mfkralbum.jpg
| alt        = A mysterious figure looks into a camera, while standing behind a machine.
| released   = {{Start date|1996|10|31}}
| recorded   = {{Start date|1995|12}} – {{End date|1996|03}}
| venue      =
| studio     = SR Audio, Des Moines, Iowa
| genre      = {{flatlist|
*[[Nu metal]]<ref name=CoS2019 />
*[[death metal]]<ref name=CoS2019>{{Cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/08/ranking-every-slipknot-album/|title=Ranking Every Slipknot Album|date=August 27, 2019|publisher=Consequence of Sound}}</ref>
}}
| length     = 51:03
| label      = [[-ismist Recordings|-ismist]]
| producer   =
* Slipknot
* Sean McMahon
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Slipknot (album)|Slipknot]]
| next_year  = 1999
}}

'''''Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.''''' is the first album recorded by American [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]], and their only release with original lead vocalist [[Anders Colsefni]]. The album was limited to 1,000 copies, with distribution beginning on October 31, 1996. The band sold the last 386 units through [[-ismist Recordings|{{nbh}}ismist Recordings]] in 1997. The album has become sought after by fans since Slipknot's rise to fame, and original copies have sold for up to $1,000.

Despite originally being deemed Slipknot's debut album, ''Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.'' was later considered a [[demo (music)|demo]] by the band, who have included the majority of its songs on subsequent releases, albeit usually in radically altered forms. The record was recorded in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], [[Iowa]] over a period of four months and features many musical influences including [[funk]], [[jazz]], and [[disco]] which are not apparent in later material. Many of the lyrics and the album's title are inspired by the role-playing game ''[[Werewolf: The Apocalypse]]''. According to [[Allmusic]], the songs contain a stronger "emphasis on non-traditional songwriting" and melodic themes than the band's later material.<ref name="Birchmeier">{{cite web |url= http://allmusic.com/album/mate-feed-kill-repeat-r524656|title= Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat|access-date=June 30, 2008 |author= Birchmeier, Jason |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

==Recording and production==
In late 1995, Slipknot and producer Sean McMahon entered SR Audio, a studio in the band's hometown of [[Des Moines, Iowa]] to work on what they intended to be their debut album.<ref name="Arnopp1">{{Harvnb|Arnopp|2001|pp=45–47}}</ref> Retrospectively, McMahon said that the band was "driven" because they spent the majority of their time in the studio for the four months it took to produce the album.<ref name="Arnopp1" /> Slipknot self-financed the production, which came to an estimated $40,000.<ref name="Arnopp1" /> The band expressed how much of a learning process this time was, being the first time they had recorded their music, specifically the challenge of capturing additional percussion elements.<ref name="Arnopp2">{{Harvnb|Arnopp|2001|pp=48–49}}</ref>

The band aimed for a [[tribal house|tribal]] sound, but encountered problems including minuscule timing errors. However, during this period, Slipknot refined their percussive sound by experimenting with erecting walls to isolate the drums and rearranging parts.<ref name="Arnopp2" /> In February 1996, during the mixing process, guitarist [[Donnie Steele]] decided to leave the band for religious reasons and as a result, [[Craig Jones (musician)|Craig Jones]] joined the band to fill the spot.<ref>{{Harvnb|Arnopp|2001|pp=50–51}}</ref> However, the band realized that they were incorporating too many media samples on their recordings and could not replicate these sounds live. To solve this problem, Jones abandoned his position on guitar and moved to the position of sampler, and [[Mick Thomson]] stepped in to join as guitarist.<ref>{{Harvnb|Arnopp|2001|p=57}}</ref> Originally, the band had planned to include twelve tracks on the CD,<ref>{{cite news|first=Erin|last=Kinsella|title=As common as a padlock through a pig's snout|work=[[The Des Moines Register]] Datebook|date=April 25, 1996}}</ref> two of which – "Fur" (also known as "Fur Covered In Blood") and "Part of Me" – already appeared on their first demo in 1995. In the end, ''Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.'' was released with only eight tracks. The band threw a release party at The Safari, a club in Des Moines where the band played many of their earliest gigs.<ref>{{Harvnb|Arnopp|2001|p=62}}</ref>

==Musical and lyrical themes==
''Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.'' is a mix of genres centered on [[nu metal]] and [[death metal]];<ref name=CoS2019/><ref name=Birchmeier /> it is the band's most experimental release and differs significantly from the heavier style for which the band became known.<ref name="Mc1">{{Harvnb|McIver|2003|pp=16–17}}</ref> One of the band's initial aims was to mix many genres of music to achieve their own style; an early incarnation of the band was called "Meld" based upon this.<ref name="Mc1" /> However, tracks such as "Slipknot", "Some Feel" and "Only One" feature a [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] influence, specifically in the guitars.<ref name="Mc2">{{Harvnb|McIver|2003|pp=23–25}}</ref> Tracks such as "Tattered & Torn", "Killers Are Quiet" and "Gently" also include the slow, cerebral angst buildup style that the band retained in some of their more recent work.<ref name="Mc2" /> The album implements elements of [[jazz]] and [[funk]], although "Confessions" is the only track on the album led by these styles.<ref name="Mc2" /> "Do Nothing/Bitchslap" could be considered the album's most complex song, combining both of these styles and even elements of [[disco]].<ref name="Mc2" />

The album title and the majority of the lyrics are references to the [[role-playing game]] ''[[Werewolf: The Apocalypse]]''.<ref name="Mc3">{{Harvnb|McIver|2003|pp=15–16}}</ref> Vocalist Anders Colsefni and percussionist [[Shawn Crahan]] shared a mutual interest in the game, which largely influenced the band. Colsefni said: "The attraction was being able to play a different person", declaring that this was the essence of Slipknot.<ref name="Mc3" />

== Artwork ==
The artwork shows a metal cage, made by [[Shawn Crahan]], with drummer [[Joey Jordison]] sitting inside of it. This cage was named "Patiently Awaiting the Jigsaw Flesh", as whenever they carried the cage, someone got cut brutally. It was also known as the "Death Cage" and was a part of the stage show during the release party of the album. Willing "victims"  sat inside of it while the band played.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Legacy==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="Birchmeier" />
}}
The original pressing of the album was limited to 1000 copies. Since the band's rise to fame in 1999, it has been a sought-after rarity for Slipknot fans.{{sfn|Crampton|2001|pp=20–26}} Upon its initial release, the band distributed the album independently, handing them out to fans, radio stations, and record labels.{{sfn|Crampton|2001|pp=20–26}} On June 13, 1997, [[-ismist Recordings|{{nbh}}ismist Recordings]] took over the distribution of the remaining 386 copies of the album.{{sfn|Crampton|2001|pp=20–26}} These original pressings have since grown in value considerably. Due to the large amount of interest in the album and the low numbers of originals, there have been many bootlegged versions of the album sold including [[Compact disc|CD]], [[MP3]] and even [[Phonograph record|vinyl]].<ref>{{cite web |title = MFKR Real or Fake? |url = http://www.matefeedkillrepeat.com/main/realorfake/realorfake.html |publisher= MFKR.com|access-date = June 29, 2008}}</ref>

The barcode of the original [[Compact disc|CD]] is the number "742617000027", which later went on to become the name for the opening track of their first official release, ''[[Slipknot (album)|Slipknot]]''.

As part of the Nu Metal Mayhem tour with Waylon Reavis, which took place in Australia and New Zealand in October 2023, Anders Colsefni performed the album in its entirety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/anders-colsefni-plays-slipknot-mate-feed-kill-repeat-video-setlist/|title=Watch Anders Colsefni Play All of Slipknot's 'Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.' At Tour Kickoff|first=Joe|last=DiVita|date=October 12, 2023|website=Loudwire}}</ref>

A re-recorded version of the album by New Zealand band Kaosis with Anders Colsefni was released on March 15, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/original-slipknot-frontman-anders-colsefni-shares-new-version-of-mate-feed-kill-repeat-dedicated-to-eternal-brothers-joey-jordison-and-paul-gray-3601337|title=Original Slipknot frontman Anders Colsefni shares new version of 'Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.' – dedicated to "eternal brothers" Joey Jordison and Paul Gray|work=NME|date=March 14, 2024|accessdate=March 15, 2024}}</ref> However, Colsefni quickly disowned the release, stating that he had not signed off on the final mix, nor any of the release details.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/news/anders-colsefni-says-his-mate-feed-kill-repeat-re-recording-wasnt-finished-was-released-without-his-consent|title=ANDERS COLSEFNI Says His Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. Re-Recording Wasn't Finished & Was Released Without His Consent|work=Metal Injection|date=March 15, 2024|accessdate=March 23, 2024}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics    = [[Anders Colsefni]], [[Shawn Crahan]]
| all_music     = [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]].

| title1          = Slipknot
| length1         = 6:55

| title2          = Gently
| length2         = 5:16

| title3          = Do Nothing/Bitchslap
| length3         = 4:20

| title4          = Only One
| length4         = 2:33

| title5          = Tattered & Torn
| length5         = 2:35

| title6          = Confessions
| length6         = 5:05

| title7          = Some Feel
| length7         = 3:36

| title8          = Killers Are Quiet
| note8           = includes hidden track{{refn|group=note|The song "Killers Are Quiet" ends at 10:25. The hidden track "Dogfish Rising" starts at 15:35 after 5 minutes and 10 seconds of industrial sounds.}}
| length8         = 20:42
|total_length = 51:01
}}

;Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}

== Personnel ==
All credits adapted from the official CD Liner Notes.

'''Slipknot'''

* [[Shawn Crahan|Shawn "Kong" Crahan]] - percussion, vocals, lyricist, samples, cover photo concept, sleeve concepts and graphics, sleeve layout, picture distortion, cover photo cage
* [[Anders Colsefni]] - lead vocals, samples, tribal percussion, lyricist, cover photo concept, sleeve layout, cover photo cage
* [[Joey Jordison]] (credited as Nathan Jordinson) - drums, mixing, Slipknot Logo, lyric calligraphy, cover photo concept, cover photo cage
* [[Paul Gray (American musician)|Paul Gray]] - bass, backing vocals
* Josh "Gnar" Brainard - rhythm guitar, backing vocals, auxiliary percussion, keyboard on "Do Nothing/Bitchslap", bass on "Dogfish Rising"
* [[Donnie Steele]] - lead guitar on "Slipknot" & "Confessions", rhythm guitar on others
* [[Craig Jones (musician)|Craig "133 MZ" Jones]] - sleeve concepts and graphics, guitar on "Do Nothing / Bitchslap"

'''Additional Personnel'''
* Sean McMahon - production, mixing, mastering, recording, engineering (all tracks); vocals on "Dogfish Rising"
* Mike Lawyer - mastering, studio owner
* Frank Plumly - vocals on "Dogfish Rising"; "Killers are Quiet" song title
* Stefan Seskis - cover and CD photography

==References==
{{Reflist}}

'''Works cited'''
*{{cite book |last = Arnopp |first = Jason |title = Slipknot: Inside the Sickness, Behind the Masks |publisher = Ebury |year = 2001 |isbn = 0-09-187933-7 }}
* {{cite book |last = Crampton |first = Mark |author-link = Mark Crampton |title = Barcode Killers: The Slipknot Story in Words and Pictures |publisher = Chrome Dreams |year = 2001 |isbn = 1-84240-126-2 }}
*{{cite book |last = McIver |first = Joel |author-link = Joel McIver |title = Slipknot: Unmasked (again) |publisher = Omnibus |year = 2003 |isbn = 0-7119-9764-0 }}

{{Slipknot}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}

[[Category:1996 albums]]
[[Category:Slipknot (band) albums]]
[[Category:-ismist Recordings albums]]
[[Category:1990s demo albums]]
[[Category:Death metal albums by American artists]]