After two years of preparation, the second edition of Knotfest Brazil finally opened its doors for two days of memorable shows – after being postponed. The first day of the event brought to Allianz Parque , in São Paulo, that already familiar crowd that shaped its musical taste based on the 90s and 2000s, wearing classic Adidas sweatshirts, t-shirts with bands from that era, and of course, fans dressed in the look of the band that conceived the festival: Slipknot . The rain didn't scare away the audience, who attended from the beginning and continued to grow throughout the day.
New generations and veterans on the first day of Knotfest.
The day was marked by unforgettable shows. And although Slipknot was the most anticipated show, there were performances for all tastes, balancing veterans like Mudvayne, Dragonforce , and POD with new generations like Poppy, Bad Omens, and Babymetal . In addition, there were Brazilian bands representing almost half of the lineup. Opening Saturday's performances on the Maggot Stage , the Brazilian band Eskrota Knotfest debut , bringing their politically charged crossover to Allianz Parque . The band, composed mostly of women and seeking to win over this audience, is increasingly highlighting women in rock and is the most anticipated Knotfest Wikimetal readers . The performance was enthusiastic, starting early, bringing together many people who rocked out and long-time fans who sang along to all the songs.
Opening the main stage, KnotStage , the Swedish band Orbit Culture showed why they have been so praised worldwide. Making their Brazilian debut after 10 years together, they earned accolades from names like Trivium and Machine Head . The band delivered a powerful performance, energizing the crowd. Vocalist Niklas Karlsson were so ferocious and technically astute that they surprised the audience. They certainly left the stage with a new legion of fans. The festival's concept was to alternate between national and international bands on the stages, and following this idea, the next band to perform was Kryour. This Brazilian melodic death metal band has been gaining prominence and carving out its place among the names in the national metal scene. The young members showcased their skill and technique in a fast-paced but very enthusiastic show.
Dragonforce's speed made its mark at Knotfest Brazil 2024.
Representing the veterans, Dragonforce showed the younger audience that they truly live up to their title as power metal legends. The band possesses a skill that I dare say is the fastest band in metal, surprising everyone who had the pleasure of watching this performance. The show featured epic, high-speed guitar duels and a setlist of memorable songs. Of course, the most famous song on the setlist couldn't be missing, "Through the Fire and Flames," which many there knew from the Guitar Hero – and which I bet most didn't know who it was – and to our surprise, unusual covers of the classic "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion and "Wildest Dreams" by Taylor Swift . The pop celebrity appeared on the screen in a photo wearing the band's t-shirt. Dragonforce delivered a party, a celebration.
Representing Brazilian metal well this Saturday, let's talk about bands that almost everyone has surely seen at least once: Eminence, Project 46, Krisiun, and Ratos de Porão . Bands that are prominent in Brazil, starting with the (but not so new) Eminence. Carrying the blood of traditional Minas Gerais metal, they delivered a show worthy of major international festivals. At this point, it started to drizzle, but that didn't stop the show from being as impactful as the previous ones. Project 46 took the Knotfest Brasil for the second time, with a revamped band but maintaining the power that made them stand out. Krisiun and Ratos de Porão, the biggest names in death metal and punk/hardcore in Brazil, need no introduction. They did what they do best, generating plenty of moshing and circle pits.
Meshuggah's 40-year career
Returning to the international bands, which was really the reason most of the audience attended, Meshuggah took to the stage carrying almost 40 years of experience. The Swedish band performed eight years after their last visit to Brazil. And they delivered a powerful show that revisited singles from almost all of their albums, in addition to singles from their latest album, Immutable (2022). Meshuggah's show challenged the average audience with complex and heavy musical structures, breaking away from the basic conventions of progressive metal. This show ensured that the band increased its fanbase.
Another veteran and highly acclaimed band was also one of the festival's highlights, despite being a bit outside the styles of the lineup. Amon Amarth brought their iconic theme to Knotfest Brasil , with a Viking-style stage that served as a joke for some and thrill for others. The event that spawned memes couldn't be missed: fans (and enthusiasts) rowing an Drakkar during the song "Put Your Back Into the Oar".
The highly anticipated Mudvayne show at Knotfest Brazil.
Besides Slipknot, the most anticipated show was undoubtedly Mudvayne. The American band made their Brazilian debut, receiving a standing ovation from nu-metal fans who had waited years to finally see one of the genre's icons. After highs and lows, this embodiment of nu-metal raised the bar for the style with their aggressive and fast music. Their striking visual style, with makeup and clothing, quickly resonated with young people of the time. Seeing a band like Mudvayne back, feeling the love of their fans while engaging with new ones is incredible. And those who were present this Saturday were part of that history.
Mudvayne's setlist included all their career hits, proving they remain energetic, even though Chad don't quite reach the notes as well. Original guitarist Greg Tribbett was absent from the shows due to family issues, and was replaced by touring guitarist Marcus Rafferty. He has previously worked as a guitar technician for several metal bands. A memorable debut that we've been waiting for for years, proving Chad right, as his motivation for reuniting the band was the fans, including those who discovered the band during his absence.
Experience Knotfest beyond the shows.
It's inevitable to compare the 2022 edition with the 2024 edition. The main change, without a doubt, was the location. The festival proposes an experience beyond just the music, and a stadium show has its pros and cons. But in our opinion, it was better than at Anhembi. There's more mobility between the MaggotStage and KnotStage , which this time were side-by-side. This arrangement allows fans to watch all the shows without having to walk too far.
The shows at the stadium are great because of the facilities. There are water stations and even a covered area, which is important on rainy days. There's also a tattoo parlor and the famous Slipknot Museum . All of this is in a covered area, providing more peace of mind and allowing for a better experience.
The museum was located on the upper floors of the stadium, without many new features. Due to the lawsuit filed by Joey Jordison against Slipknot, there were no items belonging to the former drummer, who died in 2021.
This time, the musical curation focused on more modern and national bands. The audience really expected more bands from abroad, rather than half of the lineup being Brazilian bands. There were many complaints about the performance times, which were staggered, putting the foreign bands on very early, but giving space for the Brazilian bands to play before the main act.
Knotfest promises to offer the same immersive experience into the band's world, making it a great activity for those unfamiliar with the group. For more nostalgic fans, opinions are divided, with an overall average rating.
Slipknot, once again, proves itself to be a giant of metal.
This was one of those shows where I had almost no expectations about what to expect, even though I've seen the band perform 8 times in different countries. Despite a festival full of wonderful shows and diverse attractions, the maggots – as the fans of the masked men from Iowa are called – couldn't wait to see Slipknot, and constantly cheered Eloy's name.
The band was in Brazil in 2022, in Rio de Janeiro and at the first edition of Knotfest in São Paulo, but even this short interval didn't dampen the fans' excitement. Many there had the chance to see the band for the first time, and luckily, with a setlist quite different from what the band had been delivering.
Expectations were doubled, thanks to the debut of Brazilian Eloy Casagrande , which brought Slipknot much more visibility and engagement. Right from the start, Corey Taylor (vocals), Shawn “Clown” Crahan (percussion), Mick Thomson (guitar), Jim Root (guitar), Sid Wilson (DJ), Alessandro Venturella (bass), Eloy Casagrande (drums), and Michael “Tortilla Man” Pfaff (percussion) brought the house Allianz Parque – although the sound wasn't the best, becoming muffled for the audience further back in the pit.
An unforgettable setlist to close out the first day of Knotfest Brazil.
To our delight, the band skillfully balanced their setlist, featuring the biggest hits from their nearly 30-year career. Songs from their first three albums were the most popular, completely omitting their latest album, The End, So Far – which, between us, was the least applauded of their albums. The band also played a single from the album All Hope Is Gone (2008), “Psychosocial,” and one from We Are Not Your Kind (2019), “Unsainted.” Since the band promised a show featuring their first album in its entirety, we expected a setlist with fewer songs from the self-titled . The iconic song “Spit it Out” was the penultimate track, and without the famous part where the audience crouches down and prepares for the mosh pit.
The Brazilian audience will always be a highlight, which is why bands love playing here. And now, Slipknot has a Brazilian part, which makes everything much better and more magical. For longtime fans, Eloy's arrival was a very important milestone, adding more excitement and pleasure . However, the experience becomes complete on stage.
The maturity acquired by the group over more than two decades on the road is evident. The musicians now exude more confidence than ever before, and their essence rivals that of contemporary bands due to their professionalism, while still creating the same chaos, adrenaline, and emotions of the 2000s.
Tomorrow, on the second day of Knotfest Brazil, the show will be a celebration of their debut album, where Slipknot will play the album in its entirety.
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