Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2008-03-01 Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat.

Request details
I would like a resolution over the conflict of wether this is a demo album or studio album.

Who are the involved parties?
Lykantrop, Rezter, Blackngold29, ThunderMaster

What's going on?
There is dispute over the type of album that MFKR is. One side argue that the band released it primarily as a promotional demo for record labels, radio stations and the like. In support of this they argue that the band have claimed it to be a "demo" and even called their third release after being signed to a record deal "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)". However in contrast editors argue that the band's word isn't gospel and Wikipedia policy overrules the band's opinion.

What would you like to change about that?
I would like this dispute resolved so that all articles regarding the album may follow this resolution.

Mediator notes
I think that in order to solve this dispute, some research will need to occur. Even though the band has stated MFKR to be a demo, an internet document or other tangible source will be needed in order to prove its legitimacy. I suggest searching for answers on the band's webpage. If there is a section about albums that specifically calls MFKR a "demo", then cite it in the Reference section on the page. Also, since you have stated that the has band called it a "demo" before, look for documented online interviews in which the band addresses it as such. Though it is tempting to believe that the band's classification is true, more proof is needed than just hear-say. Tangible, tractable evidence is the only path to solving this conflict.Erinrebeccalong (talk) 01:19, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

To me, the very fact that Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat. is a very rare, highly sought-after piece of Slipknot merchandise, along with notes from the band that MFKR is not an album, says to me that MFKR is a demo. There is substantial evidence that supports the idea that MFKR is a demo, which I have outlined here:


 * Slipknot-Metal, a very prominent Slipknot fansite, states that Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat. was not only self-released by the band, it was limited to only 1000 copies. This seems to suggest that it's a demo, not an album.
 * A direct interview with Slipknot bassist Paul Gray was also found at Slipknot-Metal. Gray is quoted, answering to Metal Edge's second question:

Metal Edge: Do you consider IOWA your second or third record?

PG: This is the second record. '''Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. was just a demo that we had done ourselves.''' I don't even consider that a "record." Yet another ultra-rare copy of SLIPKNOT's self-released demo album from 1996, entitled "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat", is currently being auctioned on eBay. Visit the auction page at this location. The auction ends on April 2 at 8:00 p.m. PST.
 * The official Slipknot site has a list of the band's albums, which may be found by clicking on "0002.ALBUMS" on the main page. Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat. does not appear anywhere on this list.
 * A news article on Blabbermouth.net gives the following information about an auction of Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat. that occurred on Ebay, ended on April 2, 2007. The news article, directly quoted here, is the ninth article down from the top of the page.

As most SLIPKNOT fans are aware, "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat" is the rarest and most sought-after SLIPKNOT item of all time and is every collector's dream to have. Only 1,000 copies of the CD were pressed and released in 1996 before the band landed a record deal.

An original copy of "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat" was sold on eBay in March 2006 for the price of $627.37. Another copy was sold earlier this month for $760.00.

All of these reliable websites, along with the Slipknot main page, either directly state or imply that Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat. is a demo, rather than a full album. --Kagetsu Tohya (talk) 19:10, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Discussion
There is a huge discussion on the Slipknot talk page

Re: Erinrebeccalong
OK here are some statements from the book "Rapcore - The Nu-metal Rap Fusion".


 * "The newly re-christened sextet saw out 1995 by heading into Des Moines' SR Audio studio to work on a demo."
 * "The remaining copies were picked up by Midwestern distribution company Ismist. No further pressings of MFKR were made and the album, which the band regard strictly as a demo, has become a sought-after rarity."

 REZTER  TALK   &oslash;  11:07, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

These are from a Q&A with somebody who works close to the band:

A: "As you point out...VOL.3...IS their 3rd album as they see it....they pointed this out themselves..hence the title. If the band wanted MFKR available to people, or if they wanted it to be included in their catalogue, then they would have called Sub.Verse vol4 instead...AND would have re-released MFKR by now. The fact that they HAVEN'T says it all really." A: "No..because first off, that wasnt an album, it was a demo. secondly,No, because they dont want to."
 * Q: "Just wondering, Why don't Slipknot regard their first album (Mate, Feed, Kill, Repeat) as an actual album? For example, they called Subliminal Verses - Volume 3. And on this website it has the albums Slipknot/IOWA/Subliminal Verses/9.0 Live only. I think they should at least publicize it because then people can know their roots in music. Besides I think MFKR is a good album as well."
 * Q: "will they re-release MFKR album?"

 REZTER  TALK   &oslash;  11:14, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

Continuing discussion
There is still a lot of debate mainly between I and Blackngold29 (stating it is a "demo album") and Lykantrop (stating it is a "studio album"). See Talk:Slipknot (band).  REZTER  TALK   &oslash;  12:14, 10 March 2008 (UTC)