According to Billboard, SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor has signed a “global recordings agreement” with BMG to release his second solo album, “CMF2”, will arrive later in 2023. The follow-up to 2020’s “CMFT” will arrive later this year via Taylor‘s label imprint Decibel Cooper.

“I wanted to work with BMG because they came in super hot wanting to work with me, and they’ve been keeping the fires burning for rock, punk and metal over the last few years,” Taylor told Billboard.

“We are thrilled to welcome Corey Taylor to the BMG family,” executive VP of New York/senior VP of international marketing Jason Hradil said in a statement. “His new album is an extension of the incredible body of work he’s assembled over his career, and we can’t wait for fans around the world to hear it later this year.”

Thomas Scherer, BMG president of repertoire and marketing, Los Angeles and New York, added, “We were completely blown away after hearing Corey‘s new album. His music is absolutely brilliant with the marketing skills to match. It is an honor to be the partner for such an inspiring artist and entrepreneur like Corey Taylor and amplify his vision globally.”

Taylor told Billboard that he will also use his label to release music from other artists, explaining: “Decibel Cooper will not only allow me to release my own music and art worldwide, but it also gives me a solid way to help bolster any rad new acts I want to put on the roster. BMG is going to help me put my money where my mouth is — giving a boost to the next generation.”

Taylor began tracking “CMF2” in January at an undisclosed studio with longtime producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with STEEL PANTHER and ANTHRAX, among others. Corey stated about the musical direction of his new material: “I mean, everything’s just bigger this time, man. Everything sounds better; everything’s running better; everything’s running hot. Instead of where I came from, this is where I’m going. Musically, it’s harder, it’s faster, but there’s still tons of stuff from the first album. So, there’s elements of SLIPKNOT, there’s elements of STONE SOUR, there’s elements of ‘CMFT’; there’s elements of the stuff that I’ve been doing for years — just, like, cover-wise or whatever, just all the stuff that I’ve always wanted to do, we’re doing that. We’re just cranking it up and it all sounds so fucking good that I can’t even describe to you how stoked I am.”

Last August, Corey discussed his plans for his second solo album during an appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”. At the time, he said: “We’re gonna go in and bang it out and get it ready. And then once I’m done touring with SLIPKNOT, I’m gonna throw together a really rad, ‘rock is back’ kind of tour for the solo stuff and start bringing out some of the younger — maybe not even some of the younger rock bands, but just some of the bands that don’t get the chance or just don’t get the looks that are afforded to either pop bands and hip-hop bands or people like me who are kind of grandfathered in. So I’m gonna try and really kind of fly the rock flag and give some opportunities to some of the younger bands and maybe even just the mid-level bands that just haven’t had a shot. ‘Cause there’s so many great bands out there.”

Taylor went on to say that he had written about 15 songs for his follow-up to “CMFT”. “It’s one of those cool things where some of it’s older stuff that I’ve written over the years,” he revealed. “There’s actually a couple of songs that some of the fans know because I debuted them live when I was doing the JBKB (COREY TAYOR & THE JUNK BEER KIDNAP BAND) thing. So there’s a song like ‘Beyond’ and a song like ‘Breath Of Fresh Smoke’ — both of those songs are getting recorded and released finally after… God, how many goddamn years would it be? Probably about 14 years, 16 years. But then a bunch of newer stuff. And there’s definitely a darker edge to it. It’s still very melodic, but I’m definitely starting to kind of bring together the things that I’m known for. And it’s less an homage of the stuff that I grew up on and more of what people are used to hearing from me — but still a solo album. So there’s still great rock and roll on it. There’s some heavier stuff, but there’s some really great slower stuff. It’s gonna be really rad.”

In February 2022, Corey released a solo album of covers and acoustic recordings, titled “CMFB…Sides”, via Roadrunner Records. The collection comprised nine previously unreleased B-sides, covers of tunes that inspired Taylor, acoustic renditions, and live versions.

“CMFT” made impressive debuts on charts around the world, entering at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Current Hard Rock Albums chart, while claiming No. 2 on Current Rock Albums, No. 6 on Vinyl Albums, and No. 9 on the Top Albums charts. Furthermore, “CMFT” landed Top 10 on the official album charts in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with Top 20 debuts in the United Kingdom, Finland and Japan (international chart).

“CMFT” was recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with Ruston and Christian Martucci (guitar),Zach Throne (guitar),Jason Christopher (bass),and Dustin Schoenhofer (drums).

“CMFT” had been a long time coming for Taylor, with newly written tracks alongside some dating back to his teens. The album was highlighted by the singles “Culture Head”, “HWY 666”, “CMFT Must Be Stopped” (featuring Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie),and the Active Rock radio hit “Black Eyes Blue”. Taylor also hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hard Rock Songwriters chart following the unprecedented debut of “Black Eyes Blue” and “CMFT Must Be Stopped”.

In 2021, Taylor made history as he reached No. 1 at Active Rock Radio with his powerful single “Black Eyes Blue”. The achievement put Taylor in a class all his own, making him the first artist in the history of the format to reach No. 1 with three separate projects, following chart-topping efforts from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR.

Featured in Rolling Stone‘s “Fall Album Preview 2020,” “CMFT” garnered widespread critical applause, with Forbes affirming, “Corey Taylor‘s singing is undeniably the best it’s ever been. From SLIPKNOT‘s last album to his new solo material, Taylor is easily among the best-sounding rock singers alive.” Kerrang! raved, “Corey Taylor certainly couldn’t have predicted how important a sense of uninhibited joy would be on his debut solo effort, it’s just what 2020 needs — and, even more importantly, exactly what he delivers.” The Daily Beast attested, “‘CMFT’ finds the singer broadening his horizons and showing off his considerable versatility,” while Stereogum noted, “Corey Taylor‘s lived several lives in the span that it takes most of us to push through just one, and it’s clear that he cherishes every experience he’s had so far.” New York magazine added that “CMFT” “bridges his vast tastes and influences, dabbling in punk rock, metal, reflective acoustic tunes, plaintive piano ballads, and hip-hop, with Taylor‘s power-house vocals and introspective lyrics acting as a guide.”