Founded almost 30 years ago in 1995, Slipknot quickly captured attention and made headlines with their unapologetically shock rock and explosive live performances. Blending heavy and nu-metal with a dash of alternative and even rap, their gritty and inclusive lyrics resonate with fans of all walks. On stage, they elevate their metal manifesto to the extreme, wearing their signature red jumpsuits and twisted Halloween-themed masks, merging the dark arts with a visually and sonically intense live concert experience.
Slipknot recently embarked on their Here Comes the Pain 25th Anniversary Tour, stopping in Los Angeles for back-to-back sold out shows at the city’s newest venue, Intuit Dome. Opening the show was Vended, an on-the-rise band also from Iowa, who feel like a branch of the Slipknot family tree. Knocked Loose, who have been almost a household name at this point, also graced us with their thunderous presence.
Just about everyone already knew that Slipknot wouldn’t be playing anything post-1999, which lead us to an incredible self-titled album setlist pulled from various editions globally. The house lights dropped, plunging the audience into darkness, instilling anticipation amongst everyone. A few moments would suffice as the calm before the storm until that first guttural scream ripped through the air, opening the floodgates to a wave of nostalgia and eruption of joy across the crowd.
Visually, the show was as captivating as I had remembered from years past. Their trademark utility suits and revamped masks were accompanied by a gut-punching show production and branded stage props. The percussion-heavy lineup, including Shawn “Clown” Crahan and newest edition, drummer Eloy Casagrande, shook the place to its core. With each beat feeling like a punch to the chest, the vibrations carried clear across the arena. Sid Wilson’s turntable magic kept the backlines flowing as vocalist Corey Taylor annihilated every track almost in perfect order of their self-titled record. Rhythm was a no-brainer here with legends like Jim Root and Mick Thomson effortlessly throwing those heavy riffs and shreds at us like the morning newspaper — and it’s more than enough to wake anyone up.
The constant interaction with their fans was a genuine reminder of the gratitude held within Slipknot over the years. Many of these fans who grew up with them now have families of their own — and brought them to the show to continue the support for generations to come. (See our Instagram Reel here featuring a few of Slipknot’s newest fans.) This regeneration of energy straight out of 1999 was something you just had to be there for. The stage presence of all nine members oozed appreciation, empowerment, and positivity underneath of their darker personas and eery masks — beneath it all, anyone could see just how happy each and every person there truly was after all of these years of sticking together.
No one stood still, not for a second — I don’t think anyone even closed their eyes other than to blink (maybe?). The dome was roaring with a blend of camaraderie and thrill. People in the front row had flown in from as far away as France (amongst other US states) to start their mini roadtrip to catch a few more shows with their final destination being Knofest Iowa. The dedication surrounding Slipknot is truly something beyond a fandom: it’s a huge slice of the late 90s and early 2000s culture of rock, alt, metal and anything else outside the realm of the then-popular bubblegum pop era. Though these two opposites co-existed quite well, Slipknot successfully managed to continue their momentum and growth for decades to come — something you aren’t seeing revived to this degree in today’s time.
Slipknot has wrapped their iconic 25th Anniversary tour and will head to Knotfest Iowa soon after — as well as a few other Knotfest stops below the equator in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. You can also catch them at Louder Than Life (Sept 26, Louisville, KY) and Aftershock (Oct 11, Sacramento, CA) before that. Do not miss your chance to see Slipknot whether it’ll be your 1st time or 21st time — you won’t regret this unforgettable live show.
GALLERY: SLIPKNOT — SEPT 14, 2024 — INTUIT DOME (LOS ANGELES)
ALL PHOTO CREDITS: NIKKI PHILLIPS
