Metal fans first encountered Slipknot through their successful self-titled album released in 1999, but the band cemented their place in the heavy metal world with Iowa , their second studio album released on August 28, 2001.
Named after Slipknot's home state, the album, produced by Ross Robinson and the band themselves, was met with great anticipation from fans. And the wait was not disappointed.
Iowa debuted at number one on the charts in nine countries. Among the 14 tracks , the highlights – which are still considered major hits for the band – are “Disasterpiece”, “The Heretic Anthem”, “People = Shit”, and the tracks “Left Behind” and “My Plague”, which were nominated for a Grammy.
The album's success is undeniable, and today the group reaps its rewards, but, according to the members, the creation of Iowa was "the worst phase of the band." They were trying to create something that would surpass their debut album while the musicians were exhausted from touring their initial album, fighting amongst themselves, and still not receiving enough money to support themselves. Many of them, including vocalist Corey Taylor , turned to drugs as a way to cope with their mental health.
“I only remember a lot of darkness and anger,” Taylor commented about that time. “I would cut myself while we were recording and bleed everywhere. Then I would get sick and vomit. I just wanted to feel something.” The vocalist had just come out of a toxic relationship and was going through one of the most difficult periods of his depression.
The arguments between the members became so intense that Taylor revived the Stone Sour alongside his Slipknot colleague and guitarist Jim Root . The group had broken up in 1997, but according to the vocalist, "they needed to get out" of Slipknot.
“I realized I was giving up a lot of power, a lot of control. So, when we did Stone Sour, I did a lot of the production and arrangements, which was good for my head, but it didn’t solve the problem,” Taylor told Revolver.
Iowa , also famous for its iconic cover featuring a goat , is an angry album about misery and pain. The lyrics explore themes of grief, misanthropy, psychosis, rage, rejection, and hostility. The dark period the musicians were going through resonated with many people who identified with the pain. To this day, the album remains one of the most beloved by fans precisely because of its violence and heaviness.
READ ALSO: Knotfest Brazil starts selling tickets for the 2024 edition; check out the details