10 Rock Bands That Never Sold Out
6. Slipknot
When looking at the prime time of nu metal, Slipknot may have been the moment where everything seemed to jump the shark. First we had the frat bros that were trying to make their way in the rock world, and now we have 9 nutcases out of Iowa prancing around onstage in masks and unleashing anarchy. Once the public got used to the aesthetic though, it was time for Slipknot to get a lot more weird.
Though the band have never been known to be the most prolific band in the world (having only 6 albums over 20 years), they have made every single release they had count. Across every record, the Knot seem to be looking to create a new creative endeavor, whether it be trying to make the heaviest record imaginable on Iowa or using the music as a form of grieving on The Gray Chapter.
Even when they do dip their toes into more accessible material, you can always tell that they're doing things on their own terms. For instance, when critics complained that the band relied too much on profane language, Corey Taylor made Vol. III intentionally have few swear words solely out of spite. In terms of what they're able to create both onstage and in the studio, Slipknot feel like more than just a band that writes metal riffs. This is the sound of pure anger set to music.