Audio Secrecy

Audio Secrecy is the third album, on which Stone Sour stepped toward a more mature sound. Nick Raskulinecz produced again, and it was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville. Keeping hard rock's weight, it boldly takes in intricate, layered arrangement and atmospheric development. The album is dedicated to Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, who died suddenly that year. "Say You'll Haunt Me" became a signature song with its emotional melody, and "Digital (Did You Tell)" is a song that sharply examines isolation in the digital age. On ballads like "Hesitate" and "Miracles," Taylor's delicate singing stands out. Restraining aggression and emphasizing depth of melody and construction, it vividly showed the widening of the band's expressive power. It is also the last album to feature original bassist Shawn Economaki. Reaching number six on the US Billboard 200, it is a record of maturity.