Aftershock’s massive second day has lacked nothing in terms of heaviness but every single one of the 40,000 people gathered in front of the Jack Daniels stage at 9:35 pm are here for a whole new dimension of heavy. Continuing the 25th anniversary tour celebrating their majestic self-titled debut album, Slipknot understand tonight’s assignment and they’re ready to kick it off.
As green lights cut through a swirling fog, the stage is draped in an eerie calm. Sid Wilson's turntables scratch out the first ominous notes, and slowly but surely eight more silhouettes emerge, greeted by a deafening wall of applause. The tension ratchets up like a loaded spring, and before you know it, Corey Taylor bellows, “Get your motherfucking hands in the air!” The powder keg explodes and just like that, they rip into (sic). From the first pummelling riff, the energy is manic, primal and unstoppable. This is Slipknot stripped back to their rawest, 1999 incarnation. The pyro is gone, the percussion lifts left behind. Every fist in the crowd is in the air, every head banging in furious unison with the unrelenting barrage of percussive might raining down upon them.
