Why I Love Slipknot’s ‘Iowa’ – The Most Depraved Album Ever
Before we get onto sniffing dead crows in jars and mutilating goat carcasses, let’s set the stage for why Slipknot’s Iowa is still considered a brutal, raw, and unapologetically depraved masterpiece. Slipknot’s sophomore album, released in 2001, came at a pivotal moment in the metal scene and pushed boundaries that many didn’t think existed. Yet, despite its grotesque imagery and chaotic sound, Iowa stands as a true expression of the human experience’s darkest corners. The album’s aggression, madness, and unsettling energy resonated deeply with those who dared to dive into its depths.
I’m by no means NME’s metal kid, never have been, never will be. In fact, there have only been a handful of metal albums that ever grabbed my attention long enough to stay in heavy rotation. Classics like Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, and Raging Speedhorn (yes, really) have been go-tos in my playlist, but the rest? Brutality, heaviness, and sheer ridiculousness were lacking from most offerings.
But Iowa? Slipknot’s Iowa is something else entirely. This is a record that isn’t just heavy – it’s an experience that drags you kicking and screaming into a nightmarish soundscape. If you want tunes, every track delivers. If you need something to buy into, Slipknot’s brand of chaos offers it on a silver platter. And if you’re craving something believably, certifiably unhinged, look no further.
The Debauched Sessions Behind Iowa
The creation of Iowa has already become the stuff of metal legend, and for good reason. It’s not just about the music but the band’s mental and emotional state at the time. Coming off the success of their self-titled debut album, Slipknot was under enormous pressure to deliver something bigger, better, and more unrelenting. And what they produced wasn’t just a sequel to their first album – it was a complete descent into madness.
Producer Ross Robinson was a major part of this transformation. Known for pushing artists to their limits, Robinson made Slipknot confront their inner demons to produce something primal. The studio sessions for Iowa were brutal. Corey Taylor, the band’s frontman, recorded his vocals in increasingly unhinged states, to the point where he was cutting himself with broken glass while screaming naked into the microphone. The band, fueled by anger, depression, and large quantities of drugs, fed off each other’s dark energy. In one infamous story, the band sniffed dead crows in jars to heighten the sense of depravity during the recording.
The result of all this madness is an album that feels genuinely dangerous. From the moment you hit play, Iowa hits you like a sledgehammer – unrelenting and violent. It’s not just shock value for the sake of it, though. This is an album where the atmosphere, the musicianship, and the visceral emotion collide to create something unforgettable.
The Unsettling Energy of Iowa
Listening to Iowa isn’t a passive experience. Slipknot’s mix of nu-metal and extreme metal sensibilities pulls you into a dark, aggressive world. The opener, “(515),” is an intro track unlike any other. It’s 58 seconds of suffocating noise, where Taylor’s blood-curdling scream sets the tone. What follows is “People = Shit,” a blistering statement of nihilism that sums up the band’s worldview at the time. This track hits you with blast beats, shredding guitars, and Taylor’s guttural growl, and it’s hard not to feel the raw, overwhelming anger that pours through the speakers.
The album doesn’t let up from there. Tracks like “Disasterpiece,” “The Heretic Anthem,” and “My Plague” are all unrelentingly heavy, pushing the boundaries of what metal could be. The guitars are tuned down to a bone-rattling low, and the drumming, courtesy of the late Joey Jordison, is a whirlwind of speed and precision. Slipknot’s nine-member lineup creates a wall of sound that’s impossible to escape. Percussion, samples, turntables, and layers of guitars build a sonic landscape that’s dense, overwhelming, and, at times, terrifying.
But while Iowa is full of unrelenting aggression, it’s not just noise for the sake of noise. There’s a method to the madness, and it comes in the form of emotionally raw tracks like “Left Behind” and “Gently.” These songs pull back the curtain on the band’s internal struggles, offering moments of vulnerability amid the chaos. “Left Behind,” with its tortured melodies and lyrics, is an anthem for anyone who’s felt abandoned by the world, while “Gently” builds from an eerie calm into a crushing crescendo.
The Perfect Storm of Music and Madness
What makes Iowa so captivating, even 20 years later, is how it manages to balance pure chaos with moments of clarity. The album walks a fine line between musical brilliance and sheer insanity. At its core, it’s an exploration of the band’s darkest impulses. Themes of self-hatred, rage, nihilism, and despair dominate the album’s lyrics, and Corey Taylor delivers them with a conviction that’s hard to fake. Every scream, every growl, and every whispered line feels like it comes from a place of deep personal pain.
It’s worth noting that Iowa was released in a post-9/11 world. The album dropped on August 28, 2001, just weeks before the attacks on the World Trade Center. While the world was grappling with shock and fear, Iowa offered a cathartic release for those who needed an outlet for their own anger and confusion. It’s no wonder that the album found a lasting connection with fans who felt alienated by the mainstream.
The Legacy of Iowa
More than two decades later, Iowa remains one of the most important albums in metal history. It didn’t just solidify Slipknot as one of the most intense and innovative bands in the genre; it also paved the way for a new generation of metalheads who were hungry for something more than the radio-friendly offerings of the time. In a world where bands were chasing mainstream success, Slipknot dug deeper into their darkest impulses and created an album that still stands as a benchmark for how heavy, disturbing, and honest music can be.
In the end, that’s what makes Iowa so special. It’s not just about the shock value or the chaos – it’s about the raw emotion that drives every track. The album may be depraved, grotesque, and unrelenting, but it’s also a deeply human expression of pain, anger, and desperation. For those who can handle the darkness, Iowa is an album that offers a sense of catharsis like no other.
And let’s be honest – sniffing dead crows in jars might be extreme, but it’s that same extremity that makes Iowa unforgettable.
