Slipknot
Iowa: 10th Anniversary Edition


5.0
classic

Review

by Simon K. STAFF
June 26th, 2018 | 41 replies


Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

Review Summary: May I have your attention, please? Will the real Slipknot please stand up?

Arguably the creative peak for the band. Arguably the heaviest and closest representation of what Slipknot is all about. And, arguably, the band’s finest hour for what will now be Slipknot’s illustrious and lucratively successful 23-year career. Iowa is regarded by many to be the Physical Graffiti or Nevermind of Slipknot records, a career defining marvel of synergistically channelled negative energy that spawned an entire generation of metal hereafter. In fact, enough of the diplomatic bush beating, I’m going to put myself out on a limb and say this is easily the creative peak for the Iowa nonet. Sure, Vol.3: The Subliminal Verses is a cornerstone towards musical maturity and songcraft, implementing a much heavier focus on melody and the balancing act of handling their original selling point of self-destruction with shades of accessible leanings – to which it does these things masterfully – but Iowa is a different kind of beast, and a bolt of lightning in a bottle.

Produced once again by Ross Robinson, there’s two key elements to Iowa that make it the defining display for the band: the first is Jim Root, who plays a much more hands on role with the album’s songwriting, having only put his two cents into a couple of tracks for the self-titled debut, there’s a tighter connection to the band’s resolve with everything sounding more dangerous and unhinged; the second more obvious assumption, and inarguably essential ingredient, is Slipknot’s mental state at the time of writing. This isn’t something you want to wish onto anybody, but art flourishes most through the tribulations of its creators – something the band had in abundance here, coupled with the horrendous miscommunications of its members. You honestly couldn’t get a track like “Skin Ticket” without the unstable mindset and internal sufferings; it’s an unparralled level of aggression that hasn’t been touched upon since – and probably never will again. I have my criticisms with Corey’s complacent and contrived approaches to Slipknot’s music these days, but back in the day – on this album – he sounds like a possessed madman. The 15-minute avant-garde title-track literally sounds like a monologue of anguished ramblings as Taylor writes off the first thoughts that come to his head, made all the more convincing with disturbing cackles and frustrated shouts as a backdrop of ominous ambience, shrieking female screams, droning guitar fuzz and creeping basslines set the tone for this long-winded, therapeutic cleansing session.

I hate to bash the business heavy ideals of the current Slipknot incarnation, but Iowa’s convictions shoot the contemporary iteration in the foot. 17 years ago, this wasn’t a band who played it safe and basked in its own success with self-titled festivals and kooky merchandise, this was at a time when happy endings weren’t given out. Iowa wasn’t an album made for success, it was written in the hope it would rip a hole in the earth and suck them all out into oblivion. The music is furious, a dense explosion and a wall of aggression that, astonishingly, still manages to be somewhat mainstream in its execution. It’s essential listening for any metal fan and retrospectively stands as the most ambitious, heavy and experimental offering in their backlog. The record is also centred around Iowa, the band’s hometown, and uses their experiences living there as the core theme and blueprint; the now iconic, hostile goat image and harsh climate changes of Iowa are used as the bricks and mortar to convey this desolate chaos – and offers as the most cohesive sonic experience to date as a result. Simply put, if you’re looking for an album that hears a group of people spiralling into the mouth of madness, this is it.

ESSENTIAL.

FORMAT//EDITIONS: 2-CD 1-DVD

PACKAGING: 8-PANEL DIGI-PAK CASE with various artwork for each panel; nice, but a pretty standard affair. 3.5/5

SPECIAL EDITION: The 10th Anniversary contains a trove of bonus material to tuck into. Disc one has a new mix of “My Plague” which has alterations to Corey’s vocal performance; disc two is a live CD from 2002’s Iowa tour, recorded in London; while disc 3 contains the cherry on the cake with a documentary and music videos. 5/5

ALBUM STREAM//PURCHASE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iowa-10th-Anniversary-Slipknot/dp/B005804MIS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1530026125&sr=8-2&keywords=slipknot+iowa+10+anniversary



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user ratings (47)
4.3
superb


Comments:Add a Comment 
Conmaniac
June 26th 2018


27704 Comments


indeed it is a contributing day

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
June 26th 2018


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Contribs assemble!

Supercoolguy64
June 26th 2018


11850 Comments


people equal shiiiiiiiiiiit

rockandmetaljunkie
June 26th 2018


9658 Comments


Such an awful awful record

butcherboy
June 26th 2018


9464 Comments


contribs for presidents!

cold
June 26th 2018


6735 Comments


I love this album, it's so fucking H E A V YYYYYYYYYYYYY

"You honestly couldn’t get a track like “Skin Ticket” without the unstable mindset and internal sufferings; it’s an unparralled level of aggression that hasn’t been touched upon since – and probably never will again."
This is legit my favorite song from this album, and haven't heard anything like it since.

Digging: Drug Church - Prude

manosg
Emeritus
June 26th 2018


12710 Comments


Sorry to spoil the contrib party.

Never managed to get into these guys even though I bought their debut simply because of all the noise back when they came out.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
June 26th 2018


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I also want to say skin ticket is my fave, it's a beast of a song.



Shame manosg, vol.3 not do anything for you either?

manosg
Emeritus
June 26th 2018


12710 Comments


Never checked dude because of my dislike for the first two. Is it any different?

TheSpirit
Emeritus
June 26th 2018


30304 Comments


vol 3 is their best ... it brings so many more sounds and textures to the table. it has their heaviest stuff and their most mainstream stuff ... it's amazing

TVC15
June 26th 2018


11375 Comments


Album is legitimately brutal, think people like to downplay how fucking heavy this album is just cos of the name attached or the band being associated with nu metal

I’d totally buy this edition of the album if it didn’t cost the amount I pay to gas up my car every week

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
June 26th 2018


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

A lot more melodic. Snappier songwriting. Worth a shot for curiosity for sure bud

TheClansman95
June 26th 2018


2510 Comments




Iowa---> (((A N G E R Y)))

manosg
Emeritus
June 26th 2018


12710 Comments


Ok amigos, will check.

butt.
June 26th 2018


11124 Comments


Very solid review, you summed up my feelings on the album perfectly. It's unlike anything they've done. It's dark, it's visceral, and it's dangerous. The 3.4 avg always blows my mind. Do people hate them just because of the masks? There was nothing else in the world that sounded like this in 2001.

tellah
June 27th 2018


1285 Comments


I can’t think of a more mainstream influenced metal review than this. Ever heard of Death, Demolition Hammer, Agalloch, Or Immortal? Branch out your interests into more lesser known metal sub genres and you’ll find that some of it is FAR better than almost every song on this album. Slipknot isn’t even close to being the best thrash metal band, much less the best metal band.

TVC15
June 27th 2018


11375 Comments


I don’t think anyone itt or review said Slipknot is the best thrash metal band let alone best metal band?

I love every band you listed and even have Epidemic of Violence 5d but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying this band or album at all. Do you know much about how this album was recorded either? Saying tribulation amongst the band members is an understatement and Corey cut himself while recording his vocals. There is obviously better albums than this but then there’s also (far) better albums than those made by bands you listed.

Didn’t mean to spout such fanboyish defense for this album since there are better albums than this, but your comment comes across as rather condescending and there’s nothing wrong enjoying Slipknot

sixdegrees
June 27th 2018


13127 Comments


Yeah but have you heard of Agalloch

butt.
June 27th 2018


11124 Comments


"Death, Demolition Hammer, Agalloch, Or Immortal"
cool, you're aware of the most popular and overrated black metal bands ever. congratulations. why does that mean this guy is not allowed to enjoy a Slipknot record?

Thalassic
June 27th 2018


5740 Comments


Funny how he wants to come across as trve and ends up namedropping a few (nonetheless great) bands that are literally the next step from Slipknot in anyone's journey into heavy metal



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