Here Comes the Pain! Slipknot celebrate 25th Anniversary at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

August 10th, 2024 – A storm was about to break, in duality the tri-state just experienced one of the heaviest rainfalls of the season this past week. Finally with a friendly forecast Freedom Mortgage Pavilion become a welcome place for chaos. The crowd was a patchwork of black shirts, liquid latex, pierced faces, and tattooed limbs, a living testament to two and a half decades of allegiance to the nine-headed beast known as Slipknot. The night marked the 25th anniversary of Slipknot’s self-titled debut album, the one that detonated in 1999 and hasn’t stopped reverberating since. We were all here to celebrate that glorious madness.

After a brief stroll through the parking lots I entered the amphitheater, the energy was electric. Conversations buzzed with memories of when people first heard “Wait and Bleed” or saw that unnerving “Spit It Out” music video. It was a communion of misfits, ready to dive headfirst into the sonic abyss that Slipknot has been crafting for a quarter of a century.

Photos by Keith Baker ( @avgjoe_photo ) + Article by @a.j.kinney

The stage was a monolith, draped in shadow, waiting for the carnage to begin. The house lights dimmed, and a roar erupted from the sea of bodies—a sound that could have come straight from Hell itself. The giant Slipknot “S” logo was brought out of storage, hanging center-stage, and then suddenly there they were: Corey, Clown, Sid, Mick and the rest, the masked marauders who have been both nightmare fuel and catharsis for millions.

Slipknot kicked off their set with “(sic),” and the pit was instantly transformed into a battlefield. Arms flailed, bodies collided, and it felt like the Pavilion might collapse under the sheer weight of the sound. There was no time to catch your breath—one hit after another: “Eyeless,” “Wait and Bleed,” “Get This.” The band was relentless, tighter than ever, yet still as raw and visceral as they were when they first screamed onto the scene.

Corey Taylor was a whirlwind, his voice a mixture of rage and anguish. He commanded the crowd like a general, urging them to go harder, scream louder, lose themselves completely. And they did. This was a mass exorcism, a purging of 25 years of built-up rage, sorrow, and unrelenting love for the chaos Slipknot represents.

Clown and the percussionists were the heartbeat of this metallic beast, pounding away on their custom rigs with the kind of fury that would make the devil himself take a step back. Sid Wilson, ever the wild card, was a blur of movement behind his turntables, adding layers of sinister soundscapes that felt like they were creeping under your skin.

Midway through the set, the band paused to address the significance of the night. Corey, dripping with sweat, stared out at the crowd, his voice tinged with emotion. He spoke about how this album was the genesis of everything, how it was born out of anger, pain, and a need to create something real in a world that felt suffocating. The crowd responded with chants of “SLIPKNOT! SLIPKNOT!” and for a moment, it felt like we were all part of something bigger.

The highlight, of course, was “Spit It Out.” Corey divided the crowd for the infamous “jump the fuck up” moment, and when the time came, the Pavilion exploded. Bodies flew through the air, and for a brief moment, gravity ceased to exist. It was pure, unfiltered release—the kind that only Slipknot can provide.

As the night drew to a close, they saved “Spit It Out”, “Surfacing”, and “Scissors” for the encore, a fitting end to a night that was equal parts nostalgia and a brutal reminder that Slipknot is still one of the most vital forces in metal. The final notes rang out, and the band stood there, taking in the thunderous applause. They had given everything, and we returned it tenfold.

Walking out of the Pavilion, drenched in sweat and adrenaline, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. Slipknot has always been more than just a band; they’re a movement, a symbol of survival for those who don’t fit into the mold. And tonight, they reminded us all why we keep coming back, why we wear the masks, why we scream along to every word.

25 years later, and Slipknot is still a force of nature—unstoppable, uncompromising, and utterly fucking chaotic. Here’s to 25 more.

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