SlipKnot - are these guys the real deal?

[Carlos]

Until recently i didnt have much time for this band. The masks and all that mallarcy was a bit of a put off and they just seemed to be another in the long chain of "NuMetal" wannabe's who had spent way too much time mastering their Sepultura and Fear Factory tribute band.

Anyway, was in a cash converters last week and saw their selt-titled major label debut for $8 so i grabbed it. Must admit i was suprised by what i heard and realised perhaps i was being a bit ignorant with my first impression of them (even if Ross Robinson's production - particularly the drum sound - is below par). This lead me to buy their follow-up "Iowa" and i must admit i am now a fan. Brutally heavy in some parts with very accomplished musicianship, particularly Joey Jordinson who is an amazing drummer with incredibly quick hands and feet and Corey Taylor's powerful and versatile vocals.

Havent really pulled out the lyric sheet yet so i really couldnt tell you what they are on about, but it all sounds like the mandatory "f*ck you, f*ck the world, you dont understand me blah blah..." kind of anger by the numbers - kinda like Max minus the accent - but i'm curious to see what other people's views on this band is.

[The Hitman]

Own the self-titled debut. For a better explanation on all things 'Knot, ask Macca.

I call it my 'anger album'. I don't listen to it often, except when I'm really angry. Drumming is incredible, and like you said, Croey has a very versatile voice - Wait and Bleed is as great example of that. By the way, Surfacing is the song where he goes the "f*ck the world, f*ck this sh*t, f*ck everything that you stand for...". Suppose it's pretty Sepultura-like in the way of it trying to be against society.

The Hitman

[CowboyFromHell]

I really don't know about Slipknot myself actually. I own both albums and think they are top notch, but the only thing that dters me from them is the fact they have 9 people in the band. I don't know why, it just doesn't sit well with me.

I really think Corey Taylor is one talented ront man though. Can scream like the devil and then sing melodies with absolute ease. That in my book takes quite a bit of talent. Jordison is sensational, while Root and Thompson are not too bad on guitar. That's where it ends for me. They have a bass player, but then go onto percussion, turntables and **** like that. While it can sound god sometimes, it really takes a bit away from the metal aspect.

Some people call them nu-metal, others call them New metal, while the Knot think they are meta metal, and want to be up there with Slayer and Pantera (according to them). With 9 members, I don't think so boys, but you have my respect as talented musicians.

[Macca19]

Originally posted by Carlos
Until recently i didnt have much time for this band. The masks and all that mallarcy was a bit of a put off and they just seemed to be another in the long chain of "NuMetal" wannabe's who had spent way too much time mastering their Sepultura and Fear Factory tribute band.

I dont think they sound like either to be honest. Theres definatly no connection music wise to Fear Factory...maybe a littl ebit to Sepultura, but not much.

Anyway, was in a cash converters last week and saw their selt-titled major label debut for $8 so i grabbed it. Must admit i was suprised by what i heard and realised perhaps i was being a bit ignorant with my first impression of them (even if Ross Robinson's production - particularly the drum sound - is below par). This lead me to buy their follow-up "Iowa" and i must admit i am now a fan. Brutally heavy in some parts with very accomplished musicianship, particularly Joey Jordinson who is an amazing drummer with incredibly quick hands and feet and Corey Taylor's powerful and versatile vocals.

Joey Jordinson is one of the best Drummers in teh world. Coreys voice is amazing...he has an awesome voice when he sings (like on Wait and Bleed) yet has one of the most powerful screams going around as well.

Havent really pulled out the lyric sheet yet so i really couldnt tell you what they are on about, but it all sounds like the mandatory "f*ck you, f*ck the world, you dont understand me blah blah... kind of anger - kinda like Max minus the accent - but i'm curious to see what other people's views on this band is.

Pretty much....they say their lyrics are a tribute to Iowa (where they all grew up). Most of them are pretty f**ked up. Corey OD'd on Heroin twice before he was 15.

[Macca19]

Originally posted by CowboyFromHell
I really don't know about Slipknot myself actually. I own both albums and think they are top notch, but the only thing that dters me from them is the fact they have 9 people in the band. I don't know why, it just doesn't sit well with me.

Why doesnt it sit well?? Its different which is good. Better than your standard 2 guitars bass drums and singer. I mean really when you think about it...there is only 5 of them that play most of the songs. In Iowa they hardly use the percussionists at all. And the sampler and DJ...well they dont play in every song either. No drummer in the world would be able to play Joeys drumming and the two percussionists parts at the same time...its adds another dimension which i reckon is good.

but then go onto percussion, turntables and **** like that. While it can sound god sometimes, it really takes a bit away from the metal aspect.

The DJ and sampler dont play a huge part...especially the sampler and they could probably go with just the one to do both. But they still play their part in a number of songs. I dont think it takes away from the metal aspect at all. Fear Factorys albums are filled with electronic noises and samples...especially youre favourite obsolete, yet i dont think it takes away from the metal aspect at all.

Some people call them nu-metal, others call them New metal, while the Knot think they are meta metal, and want to be up there with Slayer and Pantera (according to them). With 9 members, I don't think so boys, but you have my respect as talented musicians.

They definatly arent nu-metal. I also dont thnk the fact that hey have 9 members should mean they arent up there with the best metal bands at the moment. Its not really fair to compare Slipknot to Pantera and Slayer. Both have been around for more than a decade and have numerous albums out. They got the runs on the board. What people forget is that this Slipknot (compared to when the band had 5 members, different singer etc) has only been around since 1999 and have realeased two f**king good heavy albums. When everyone was trying to sound like Korn, Slipknot came out and released one of the heaviest debut albums in the last 10 years. They hadnt even released their cd when they went on the ozzfest tour and playing on the minor stage blew everyone away and ended up pre-selling Gold record sales.
They are easily the best new band ive heard in the last 4 or 5 years. If they keep releasing albums as bloody good as the first two then they will be comparable with Slayer and Pantera.

[Macca19]

Originally posted by The Hitman
Own the self-titled debut. For a better explanation on all things 'Knot, ask Macca.


Love em...if you havent already noticed. Got both their records, all their singles, got Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat (their self produced debut with 5 members, different singer), have their live set from Thebby Theatre in Adelaide, and about 9 live videos of them too.

In fact i havent listened to them for yonks...putting the cds on now!!!

THE WHOLE THING I THINK IS SIC

[Pieman7]

Very intense, very angry and very cool.

"You're going down, this is a war!"

[danzy_rocks]

Not a huge fan, but I like them.. sometimes to me they seem a bit over the top.. just with having turntables and that... I reckon they'd sound better without it. But having said that, Slipknot wouldn't be Slipknot without the DJ and sampler. You don't need lots of members for a decent band, look at Mudvayne, 4 members, a million times better IMO.
You can't be comparing them to bands such as Pantera just yet. Give them a few more decent albums, then maybe you could start... they have potential to be really big.
I know alot of guys 13 - 15 who are like obsessed with Slipknot, mainly because of the lyrics "f*ck you f*ck the world etc" which they say that they can realte to and beacuse of their apperance.. you should be choosing a band to listen to for their music, not because Nick Carter apparently is hot.
Anyway, just my opinion on them.

[Carlos]

Originally posted by Macca19
I dont think they sound like either to be honest. Theres definatly no connection music wise to Fear Factory...maybe a littl ebit to Sepultura, but not much.
Different perspectives i guess. Dunno if you're a muso Macca (thats not meant to be in the slightest bit condescending there by the way bro) but i can hear a massive similarity between Joey and Raymond's drumming (both VERY quick by feet and hand. Not exactly the most technically gifted, just speed demons) and huge similarities in sounds (mainly guitar) between SK and FF, and Corey and Burton's (more later than earlier) vocals. And the Sepultura comparison is more based on Corey and Max's vocal styles rather than musically, although there are a few similarites there also.

Originally posted by Macca19
Joey Jordinson is one of the best Drummers in teh world.
Each to their own mate. I like his playing and tip my hat at anyone who can play single strokes that quick. But he doesnt have alot else to his bag of tricks apart from pace and aggression. A better production would perhaps do him more favours though.
Originally posted by Macca19
Coreys voice is amazing...he has an awesome voice when he sings (like on Wait and Bleed) yet has one of the most powerful screams going around as well.
I'll definately agree there. At times he has a really melodious voice and then it can be simply brutal, hence the fear Factory comparison.

FWIW, i realy dig the fact they have 9 members. Their live show is amazing from the video's i've seen and while it isnt really prevalent on their recordings, the whole tribalesque percussive thing works amazingly well in the context of their songs live. And the DJ thing i think is used tastefully and to great effect, unlike alot of the "Nu-Metal" (which i dont think SlipKnot are by the way) pretenders out there. Yeah this band is growing on me.

[Carlos]

Originally posted by Macca19
Love em...if you havent already noticed. Got both their records, all their singles, got Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat (their self produced debut with 5 members, different singer), have their live set from Thebby Theatre in Adelaide, and about 9 live videos of them too.

What is the Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat album like? I've heard about it as basically being a death metal record but would be very curious to hear what the progression has been. I like the fact that the SlipKnot that i have been listening to can mix the best aspects of death metal with groove orientations and just balls out good hard rock. And where could i pick this up Macca?

And is it correct that on their first tour they basically just played their album straight through from track 1 to 14? How did you get a copy of that gig dude and 9 live videos dude? I'm impressed!

[CowboyFromHell]

Macca - I like Slipknot, I really do. I just don't think 9 members is really necessary. Sure, it's great to have something different, but for some reason I don't like 9. Don't ask me why, I just don't.

With the turntables etc, comparing those sorts to Obsolete is not 100 percent correct. Yes, FF used synthesisers etc, but they are totally different to what Slipknot use. Those guys who make those sounds are a part of the band, while FF's aren't. I agree in the sense both use things sometimes considered "not" metal, but they are both quite different in how they use them.

With the Pantera/Slayer comparison, I didn't make that up. Slipknot themselves said that's who they want to be compared to, yet I don't think they can be. They seem to have started a genre of music all by themselves, and it is nothing like Slayer or Pantera, so I don't think they could ever be compared to them in that way.

[Macca19]

Originally posted by Carlos

What is the Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat album like? I've heard about it as basically being a death metal record but would be very curious to hear what the progression has been.

Its nothing like the major label slipknot. Its more traditional style metal. New Slipknot is definatly a lot better. Old slipknot is bloody wierd. For instance...the song Gently on Iowa was originally on MFKR. I prefer the MFKR version. The first track on MFKR is a song called Slipknot which is basically (sic) played at basically half speed with different lyrics and a few different parts. But the start is exactly the same and the "you cant kill me cos im already inside you...siiiiicccccc...siiiiiicccccc" part is exactly the same (but different lyrics again) but played a lot slower. 5 memebres to the band...a different singer.

And where could i pick this up Macca?

Youd probably have to download the songs of it as they stopped making copies of them about 5 years ago.

And is it correct that on their first tour they basically just played their album straight through from track 1 to 14?

I can tell you exactly what the order was for much of the tour.
The setlist they played in Adelaide (one AWESOME concert) was:

Intro - a sample from a movie of these kids talking and yelling/swearing at each other
74264700027 (a 6 minute long version with Joey standing behind the drums in almost a dolls pose with strobe lights flickering at a bajillion miles an hour...absolutely awesome affect)
(sic)
Eyeless
Wait & Bleed
Liberate
Surfacing
Purity
Me Inside
Spit It Out
Get This
a 15 minute long Scissors which ended in the band trashing the stage and setting fire to the drumkit.

Its pretty much the same for most of the tour...a quick concert but damn it was powerful and i couldnt walk after the concert i was that drained of energy...mind you it was a 30 degree feburary night)

How did you get a copy of that gig dude and 9 live videos dude? I'm impressed!

Got a copy of the gig thru my favourite record store. The quality i would rate a 5 out of 10....its a little bit muffled, but good to have anyway. Cost me $60 tho as the guy only made about 5 copies of the gig. The guy has made recordings of most heavy bands that have toured Adelaide.
The guys complete list is: enRAGEd records (http://listen.to/enragedCDR )

As for the videos. Ive got probably over 60 videos of heavy bands live concerts and stuff. Required them through a record store that sells them. Got a pretty big collection...i actually wrote a list here a few months ago...ill find it and post it again in this thread.

Heres my list of Slipknot video sets:
Slipknot:
- Dynamo Festival 2000 (pro shot, 4 songs) **
- Detroit 99 (2 camera) **
- Astbury Park 99 (1 camera) **
- Ozzfest 99 (2 shows 1 camera) *
- Fort Lauderdale 2000 (1 camera) ***
- Channel V interviews and stuff *
- Brixton Academy (1 shot) **
- Melbourne 12-2-2000 (1 camera EXCELLENT) ****
- Welcome to our Neighbourhood (documentary) ****
- Dynamo Festival 2000 (pro shot, full set) ******

The more stars the better the quality. Ive got a video of their gig in Melbourne the day before their gig in Adelaide on their tour here. The dynamo set is probably the best quality live video ive got....simply mindblowing.

[Macca19]

Heres my complete list of videos...ive probly missed a couple:

Mudvayne:
- Dig DVD (converted to VHS) ***
- Big Day Out 01 (three songs) ***
- Live New York 2000 (complete show) ***

System Of A Down:
- Holland August 01 (pro shot complete show) ******
- Denver Jan 2000 (rare pro shot) **
- Grand Rapids 99 (1 camera) **
- Arizona 98 (1 camera) **
- The Palace, Melbourne Jan 2002 ***

Pantera:
- Festival Hall Melbourne 94 (one camera show) ***
- Dallas 96 (one camera show) **
- Monsters Of Rock Donington 94 (pro shot, 3 songs) ***
- Texas 95 (1 camera EXCELLENT) ****
- Vulgar Video (documentary) ****
- 3 Watch It Go (documentary) *****

Rage Against The Machine:
- Germany Feb 2000 (pro shot) *****
- Pink Pop Festival Holland 94 (pro shot) ***
- Woodstock 99 (pro shot) *****
- San Francisco 96 (pro shot) ***
- New Jersey 97 (2 camera) ***
- Sweden 2000 (pro shot) *****
- Live in Mexico DVD ******

Korn:
- Who Then Now (documentary) ****
- Issues CD performed Live from start to finish night before its release 15-11-99 (pro shot plus interviews) ****
- Woodstock 99 (full pro shot) *****
- Lots of Interviews, pro live stuff from 95 and 96, Live in Hamburg and Nottingham 97 ***
- Dyanmo 2000 (pro shot, 3 songs), Germany 97 (pro shot ****), Rock In The Park 2000 (pro shot, 2 songs) ***
- Big Day Out 99 (pro shot, full set) *****

Slipknot:
- Dynamo Festival 2000 (pro shot, 4 songs) **
- Detroit 99 (2 camera) **
- Astbury Park 99 (1 camera) **
- Ozzfest 99 (2 shows 1 camera) *
- Fort Lauderdale 2000 (1 camera) ***
- Channel V interviews and stuff *
- Brixton Academy (1 shot) **
- Melbourne 12-2-2000 (1 camera EXCELLENT) ****
- Welcome to our Neighbourhood (documentary) ****
- Dynamo Festival 2000 (pro shot, full set) ******

Coal Chamber:
- Live at Dynamo (3 songs pro shot) ***
- London Astoria 97 (1 camera) ****
- Minnesota 97 (2 camera) *

Nine Inch Nails:
- Dallas 26/6/90 (rare pro shot) ***
- Big Day Out 2000 (6-7 songs, plus all their promo vids) ****
- Tokyo 2000 (2 camera show) ***

Soulfly:
- Germany 99 (includes interviews) **
- San Fransisco 98 (1 camera, original lineup) ****
- Big Day Out 99 (full pro shot) *****
- Pheonix (2 camera plus interviews and rehersals) **

Limp Bizkit:
- Woodstock 99 (pro shot) *****
- London Astoria 98 **

Marilyn Manson:
- Dead To The World (documentary, lotsa live stuff) *****
- Toronto 2000 (1 camera) ***
- Demystifying the Devil (documentary) ***
- Big Day Out 99 (pro shot) + all promos *****

Fear Factory:
- Madrid 1997 (pro shot, crappy sound tho) **
- Bizarre Festival 98 (pro shot EXCELLENT) *****
- Digital Connectivity DVD ******

Rammstein:
- Live Aus Berlin (pro shot) *****

Offspring:
- Germany 97 (pro shot, before they went crap) *****
- Woodstock 99 (pro shot, as they were becoming crap) ****

Grinspoon:
- Grinspoons 66.6 Rockumentary ****
- Big Day Out 2000 (pro shot, full set) *****

Sevendust:
- Chicago Metro 99 (pro shot *****), Woodstock 99 (pro, 2 songs) *****

Prodigy:
- Electronic Punks *****

Deftones:
- Bizzare Festival 98 (pro shot, Chino stoned, *****)
- Koln 98 (pro plus interviews)
- Sweden 2000 (pro shot) *****

Incubus:
- Ohio 98 (1 camera) ***
- New Jersey 2000 (1 camera) ****
- The Palace, Melbourne 12-8-2001 ****

Machine Head:
- Dynamo 1995 (pro shot) *****
- Stockholm 1995 (2 cam and interviews) ***

Ozzfest 2000
- includes 40 minute (bad quality pro shot) of Pantera...plus a song each from Kittie, Slaves On Dope, Static X, Kittie, Disturbed, Soulfly, Methods Of Mayhem...a few songs from Godsmack and a lot from Ozzy Osbourne ****

Sepultura:
- RioNation 2001 (pro shot, fullset) ******
- Brazil 98 (pro shot) ****

[Macca19]

Originally posted by CowboyFromHell
With the turntables etc, comparing those sorts to Obsolete is not 100 percent correct. Yes, FF used synthesisers etc, but they are totally different to what Slipknot use. Those guys who make those sounds are a part of the band, while FF's aren't.

But they are. In every tour Fear Factory has had they have had a keyboardist tour with them. When Obsolete went Gold, their touring keyboardist was also given a Gold record with the rest of he band. I dunno if youve got the DVD Digital Connectivity (If you dont, you HAVE to buy it...its bloody brilliant) but its on there. The keyboards were a major part of Fear Factory, especially in their last three records.

With the Pantera/Slayer comparison, I didn't make that up. Slipknot themselves said that's who they want to be compared to, yet I don't think they can be.

I know you didnt make that comparison, but I think i read that article and Slipknot said they want to be tought of at the end of their careers in teh same breathe as the likes of Pantera and Slayer. Which would make more sense and probably will happen.

[GOALden Hawk]

Geez that's a fair collection Macca!

I'm certainly not a metal fan in the slightest, but I own Iowa and think it's a great album.

The drumming is amazing, sounds fantastic with earphones - also reckon the singer has amazing range in his voice.

[Jim Boy]

I haven't actually heard any of their stuff, but they've been getting a bit of mention on RRR's The Pinch. Firstly because they took on a bunch of grannies over their knitting society magazine, called Slipknot. And then for bulk buying of pig's hearts and livers from a Glasgow butcher to throw out at the crowd during one of their gigs, the idea being that it would remind the audience "about where bacon comes from".