Slipknot @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (01/03/2012)
Under some last minute circumstances, I found myself sitting dangerously close to the Rod Laver Arena stage for what was to be a a truly surreal experience in live music: Slipknot.
I consider myself a casual Slipknot fan. They have always been one of those 'mysterious' bands to me. Brought up surrounded by completely different genres of music, I was tempted at a young (and impressionable) time in my life to listen to their albums; introducing me to a side of metal I had not experienced before. It was brash, uncompromising and surprisingly, intelligent. So when it came to a Slipknot live show, I knew I could expect a few things; metal, theatrics and of course, those masks.
We've all seen the photos of Slipknot, dressed in jumpsuits, their faces hidden behind layers of latex. It works incredibly well in their favour. Instantly recognisable, it adds a huge level of alienation to the performance, allowing for the crowd to become fully invested in the music without too much knowledge as to what lies beyond. Though what truly stood out to me was just how frightening these masks are in person. Disturbing and void of any humanity, you don't want to look; yet at the same time you simply can't turn away. Slipknot don't feel like a band, they're much more like a nightmarish experience.
The show tonight was in fine form. The stage was industrial in style; the oil barrels and flamethrowers drawing comparisons to Rammstein, whose live show I had witness a year earlier. As for the set, it drew across all of the bands albums with a focus on their self-titled release and Iowa. As the ringleader of the night Corey Taylor leads his comrades through battle, picking apart the highlights of the set such as opening number (sic) and Pulse of Maggots. Performances of their more recent material included Dead Memories and All Hope Is Gone standout, Psychosocial. But as somebody who considers themselves to be open to many different styles of live music, something was drastically disengaging with tonight's set, almost distracting. And I personally think it all heralds back to the tragedy the band suffered in 2010 when founding bassist Paul Gray passed away.
It's clear that Slipknot are missing Gray, both emotionally and physically. The tragedy rocked the foundations of the band and their future was in doubt. Yet despite a hiatus of mourning, Slipknot's return to the live stage is now a tribute every night to their dearly departed brother. While there is no on-stage replacement, Gray's baselines can be heard throughout the entire show, which only makes for a haunting atmosphere. To pin-point the scene, for a band so deeply removed from any human characteristics and emotions when on stage, Slipknot's live show is a tribute, not an obituary in vain.
For the Slipknot faithful, tonight was as good as it gets. Along with the rarely performed Snuff, the show was constant mix of circle pits, pyrotechnics, a frequently transforming stage and close encounters within the audience, all of which make for an entertaining spectacle. And as far as encores go, this one was a standout, with Joey Jordison being strapped into his drum kit and flipped upside down for the final song of the night, Surfacing.
When it's all over the lights kick in and the crowd picks itself up, knocked away by the spectacle of the masked band of brothers. While I felt something of a disconnection from tonight's performance, I can fully understand (and appreciate) why the long time maggots are reveling from the night of mayhem; it was more like a bizarre family reunion than anything else on show.
Luke Sutton
I consider myself a casual Slipknot fan. They have always been one of those 'mysterious' bands to me. Brought up surrounded by completely different genres of music, I was tempted at a young (and impressionable) time in my life to listen to their albums; introducing me to a side of metal I had not experienced before. It was brash, uncompromising and surprisingly, intelligent. So when it came to a Slipknot live show, I knew I could expect a few things; metal, theatrics and of course, those masks.
We've all seen the photos of Slipknot, dressed in jumpsuits, their faces hidden behind layers of latex. It works incredibly well in their favour. Instantly recognisable, it adds a huge level of alienation to the performance, allowing for the crowd to become fully invested in the music without too much knowledge as to what lies beyond. Though what truly stood out to me was just how frightening these masks are in person. Disturbing and void of any humanity, you don't want to look; yet at the same time you simply can't turn away. Slipknot don't feel like a band, they're much more like a nightmarish experience.
The show tonight was in fine form. The stage was industrial in style; the oil barrels and flamethrowers drawing comparisons to Rammstein, whose live show I had witness a year earlier. As for the set, it drew across all of the bands albums with a focus on their self-titled release and Iowa. As the ringleader of the night Corey Taylor leads his comrades through battle, picking apart the highlights of the set such as opening number (sic) and Pulse of Maggots. Performances of their more recent material included Dead Memories and All Hope Is Gone standout, Psychosocial. But as somebody who considers themselves to be open to many different styles of live music, something was drastically disengaging with tonight's set, almost distracting. And I personally think it all heralds back to the tragedy the band suffered in 2010 when founding bassist Paul Gray passed away.
It's clear that Slipknot are missing Gray, both emotionally and physically. The tragedy rocked the foundations of the band and their future was in doubt. Yet despite a hiatus of mourning, Slipknot's return to the live stage is now a tribute every night to their dearly departed brother. While there is no on-stage replacement, Gray's baselines can be heard throughout the entire show, which only makes for a haunting atmosphere. To pin-point the scene, for a band so deeply removed from any human characteristics and emotions when on stage, Slipknot's live show is a tribute, not an obituary in vain.
For the Slipknot faithful, tonight was as good as it gets. Along with the rarely performed Snuff, the show was constant mix of circle pits, pyrotechnics, a frequently transforming stage and close encounters within the audience, all of which make for an entertaining spectacle. And as far as encores go, this one was a standout, with Joey Jordison being strapped into his drum kit and flipped upside down for the final song of the night, Surfacing.
When it's all over the lights kick in and the crowd picks itself up, knocked away by the spectacle of the masked band of brothers. While I felt something of a disconnection from tonight's performance, I can fully understand (and appreciate) why the long time maggots are reveling from the night of mayhem; it was more like a bizarre family reunion than anything else on show.
Luke Sutton