10 Albums With Creepy Recording Stories
3. Iowa - Slipknot
From the day it was released in the early 2000's, Slipknot's Iowa has always been one of the heaviest records the heavy metal world has ever known. In addition to stretching themselves creatively, the band also put their beings through a barrage of chaos in order to craft these psychotic metal tunes.
During the album's sessions at the famed Sound City Studios, producer Ross Robinson wanted the band to feel on edge while being in the studio space. It was not uncommon for Robinson to throw things at the band while tracking songs in order to get a more frenetic performance out of them. One such instance involved percussionist Clown getting grazed with hot wax after having a burning candle smash against the wall next to him.
The most wild track was the song "Iowa," where Robinson told singer Corey Taylor to go someplace he had never allowed himself. To get in the right demented headspace, Taylor stripped naked and sang the song in two takes, after which he was covered in blood and vomit. It may be considered a cliche for artists to suffer for their art, but Slipknot's relentless capacity for self destruction reached its disturbing apex on this brutal piece of heavy metal.