10 Greatest Corey Taylor Vocal Performances

Corey Taylor has been one of the true freaks of nature in the world of hard rock and metal (in the best way possible). From collaborating with some of the biggest names in music to being the head shrieker in Slipknot, there's no limit to what Taylor can do once he's given a microphone.

But what are the real standouts that make Corey such a commanding presence?

Granted, a lot of the sounds of Slipknot come down to the twisted personality of all the members, but Taylor always shows his stuff as the mascot of the band, whose venom hasn't diminished since the band first reared its head on their self-titled album. Even apart from the heavier stuff, Corey has also held his own in a more intimate setting, where he's able to show a lot of internal control of his pipes before just sounding like a serial killer.

Across Stone Sour's catalog and his collaborative efforts, Corey has shown off his singing (and even the occasional guitar) skills to whatever he brings to the table. In an era where the golden age of rock stars seems passe, Corey Taylor is the one singer that is keeping the traditional rock frontman role alive and well. With his first ever solo album on the horizon, let's take a look back at why we fell in love with Corey in the first place.

Ever since their first record in the early '00s, Stone Sour has always served as the mellow alternative to Slipknot. For as much shrieking as Corey is able to do amongst his masked friends, this outfit shows him taking on a straight-up hard rock frontman role with impressive chops. There are plenty of Stone Sour originals that stand out, but there's something to be said about their trips to Burbank.

Released in the early 2010's, the Burbank Chronicles were a little collection of cover EPs that pay tribute to the band's roots. Even though Corey holds his own on songs by Metallica and Alice in Chains, all bets were off when he took on "Love Gun." Though KISS were never known to be a powerhouse band, this song is a showcase for a vocalist, with Taylor reaching into his higher register to pull off the sleazy rock and roll that Paul Stanley did night after night.

Granted, this version doesn't necessarily compare to the original, but the amount of love and care Taylor put into this one shows that he knows the power behind these classic tunes. It's certainly not a feat in songwriting, but there's no doubt that Stanley himself would have been proud to hear such a faithful rendition of his tune.