Slipknot - Iowa

Released on August 28, 2001, Iowa is more than just a second album; it is a document of a band at war with the world and themselves. Following the explosive success of their 1999 debut, the pressure on Slipknot was immense. The resulting recording sessions with producer Ross Robinson became the darkest period of the band's career, fueled by internal tension, exhaustion, and a collective desire to create the most "unpleasant and heavy" record possible. The album takes its name from the band's home state, a place they’ve cited as a primary source of the isolation and "cultural void" that fueled their creative fire.

Sonically, Iowa is a masterpiece of technical brutality and raw emotion. It marked the first time the "classic nine" lineup fully collaborated on an entire record, with guitarist Jim Root contributing his signature style to every track. From the frantic, high-speed assault of "People = Shit" and "The Heretic Anthem" to the sprawling, 15-minute atmospheric dread of the title track, the album remains a high-water mark for the nu-metal era—largely because it pushed so far beyond the boundaries of the genre into death and groove metal territory.

This 2022/2023 vinyl reissue brings the "darkest time of their career" back to the turntable in stunning detail. Pressed on Translucent Red 2-LP vinyl, the set allows the dense, percussion-heavy production to breathe, ensuring every layer of Joey Jordison’s legendary drumming and Corey Taylor’s visceral vocals is felt. Housed in a gatefold jacket with the iconic mirrored "Goat" cover art and a printed lyric insert, this is the definitive physical edition of a record that defined a generation of metal fans.