Band Breakdown!! Slipknot

Starting a new post titled "Band Breakdown" where i'll take some of my favorite bands, and analyze how they've changed over the course of their run.
So Let's jump right in it, shall we?

In light of Mayhem Festival coming around I thought i'd breakdown my favorite band on that tour, Slipknot.


Slipknot is a metal band that was started up in Des Moines, IA. The band formed in 1995 and still going very strong. The band went through some line up changes, but have consisted of 9 members for almost the entire time the band has been together. The band consists of Joey Jordison, Shawn Crahan, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, Jim Root and did include deceased bassist, Paul Grey.










Slipknot's image is very strong and may seem strange to some. The masks they wear change from each album, not drastically, but with styling.

Now Let's get into their albums. BUT first lets start form the beginning with their demo!

Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.
This was Slipknot's demo that released in 1996. There was only 1000 copies produced which makes it a HUGE cd that fans really want their hands on.
The demo has influences of jazz, funk, disco on it which you don't find very apparent in Slipknot's music now. Most the song's on the demo were remade and changed for future releases. Although it sounds different compared to most of Slipknot's music now, you can still hear and feel the Slipknot sound in it. This was the start of a legacy that will never die...

Self-Titled album: Sipknot
Their debut album,"Slipknot", released in  1999 and was the milestone that really brought Slipknot to the eye's of heavy metal fans. The sound of the album was very heavy. With this album they brought on current lead singer Corey Taylor. This was also when they signed with Roadrunner Records. I remember first hearing this album and being blown away with the aggressive sound it presented. I was blown away to say the least, with hits like "(sic)", "Wait and Bleed", and "Spit It Out".

Iowa
"Iowa" was the bands second album. it was released in 2001, and is quite possible the bands best album. (In my honest opinion.) It was a HUGE success hitting the top 10 on sales charts in 9 countries. It featured two Grammy nominated songs, "Left Behind" and the remix of "My Plague". This album is considered and I believe to be the heaviest and darkest album the band has. You can tell that there was a lot of hate and emotion put in this album.

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)

The third album by slipknot....I don't like talking about it because it was their weakest album to date. it was released in 2004 Although, it had a few good songs on it, I didn't like it overall. It was more like an EXPERIMENTAL album, with Joey Jordison saying, "it's almost as if Slayer was tapping on Radiohead". The songs that I did like the most were "Before I Forget", "Duality" and "Pulse of the Maggots". Lyrically, the album had some powerful songs..But the execution wasn't right. Just didn't feel or sound like Slipknot 100%. It was the first album they made that didn't have a parental advisory label on it. Due to less profanity and dark themes.

All hope is Gone

"All Hope is gone" is Slipknot's fourth album, and it was released in 2008. This album goes back to the heavy and aggressive sound that we LOVE most about Slipknot. Although, it had it's experimental sound, it REALLY worked well on this album. It was the first album they put out  since "Vol. 3". The album came out strong and reached high numbers in sales charts. The mood and tone of the album was very reminiscent of their past albums. Bringing them all together into this masterpiece. It's not the heaviest album they have like they wanted but it was still great. With songs like "Psychosocial", "Sulfur", and "Snuff" it definitely took me back to the old times i used to spend listening to them.

With the passing of their fellow band mate, Paul Grey, we were all scared that Slipknot would not continue. But that appears to be the very opposite. With plans of headlining the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival and also working on NEW material for a new album, They are clearly going strong! Check out some of the music videos below!! 

So that's today's "Band Breakdown"! Look forward to more coming soon!!

-Conweezie