Geez, the Metal genre really is a young man’s game these days. Seeing Judas Priest a couple of months back – I was amazed at the lackluster energy on offer as mainman Rob Halford strolled around the stage like a tired old man. He looked like I do when I get out of bed each morning and stumble to the fridge in a ‘Tony Soprano’ like shuffle to get some breakfast. Tonight was the absolute opposite of that as the nine members of Slipknot took charge of the Rod Laver Arena stage like men possessed – or with a ton of gnashing red ants in their collective pants! Barely pausing for breath, their was just so much hyperactivity on deck that it was hard just focussing on the one band member.
Of course, the crowd lapped it all up. Australia has always been a major market for Slipknot and testament to the band’s popularity in Australia, Corey Taylor briefly paused the gig to show off a couple of Gold & Platinum awards for ‘All Hope Is Gone’ – (which debuted at Number 1 on the Australian charts) as well as for the previous ‘Vol 3′ opus. In this era of illegal downloads and such, and for such an extreme band that would get absolutely zero airplay on the quagmire that is Australian Radio – this is quite an achievement.
Unfortunately, with the trappings of the masks and all the theatrics, Slipknot appear to be a very underrated band. I always looked at them with fondness and marveled at their originality and catchy-as-hell musical brutality. I mean, what other Metal act features 9 members – two of them percussionists (and boy does that add to the sound in the live arena or what?) and a DJ?
Four amazing albums into their career, the band has an absolute treasure trove of material to choose from and that is exactly what they did at tonight’s show. Quite honestly, there was never a dull moment be it musical or visual and seeing 9 maniacal band members totally and utterly dominate the stage with ferocity, theatricality and outright presence was a joy to watch. Levitating drums, pyro, bombs, insane clowns beating on metal kegs, violence, ferocity a DJ strutting the stage with a friggn walking stick as he’s still recovering from breaking his ankles at the band’s first show of the tour(!!!) This was truly a classic gig and I’m glad to say I have finally gotten to see Slipknot live!
And kudos to openers Machine Head who delivered one of the loudest sets I’ve ever heard since the glory days of Lemmy and Motorhead. Rob Flynn would have to be one of the most charismatic and dynamic frontmen in Metal today. The sheer energy and outright gusto he delivered was something to behold. Machine Head were simply magnificent with pure adrenalin and energy dripping from the Arena ceiling.
Continue reading ‘Slipknot – Melbourne, Australia: Rod Laver Arena’
