Slipknot Action At Hammersonic, Complete Music Show Package

Slipknot vocalist, Corey Taylor (Photo: Budi Susanto)

JAKARTA - Mentioning the name Slipknot is no longer talking about a particular musical genre. Watching this nu-metal band from Iowa live is not about likes or dislikes. This is a matter of many things. There is a luxurious production side, eye-popping visuals, to crazy stage acts. In short, Slipknot is a complete musical package.

That's right! The majority of Hammersonic Festival 2023 spectators are dressed in black, have long hair, and their bodies are covered in tattoos. But, make no mistake. There were a handful of k-pop 'fans' who attended the Ancol Carnaval Beach, Jakarta on March 18-19 yesterday. There are also Koplo 'enthusiasts', as well as EDM 'admirers'. They exist for the same purpose.

Those who like non-metal music - or rather the men who don't really 'know' Slipknot - want to see the other side of the brutal action of a metal band. That is the entertainment side.

A few days earlier, former editor-in-chief of HAI magazine, Danie Satrio said in a casual chat. Watching Slipknot is none of our business whether you like metal music or not.

"Slipknot is always interesting (to watch)," said Danie Satrio in the M Bloc Space area, South Jakarta.

"Their stage production is amazing. Moreover, the right and left sides are occupied by two percussionists. This part will advance and stop right above the audience. Then they act in the middle of the concert," Danie Satrio shared his experience watching Slipknot at Ozzfest and Rock In Rio several years ago.

Slipknot appear wild at Hammersonic (Photo: Budi Susanto)

Slipknot is known for its chaotic and energetic live shows which have contributed to its success. Drummer Jay Weinberg once even called Slipknot more like an athletic team than a band because their concerts have the potential to drain the energy of the personnel.

During the concert, most of the band members headbang loudly. Slipknot's early appearances included extreme acts such as stage dives from high balconies and band members setting fire to each other. Percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan was known to get into crowds and tie people up with microphone cables.

In the following years, Slipknot tended to refrain from these extreme acts. The late bassist Paul Gray explained the reason, they did not want to harm other people as well as a "better step" for the band to live long.

Along with their energetic and unpredictable performances, Slipknot often employs elaborate stage setups which use fireworks, raised stage areas, hydraulic drums, and computer screens.

Commenting on Slipknot's stage act, Alistair Lawrence of Kerrang! said, "the chaotic choreography is too multi-faceted to fully explain". And NME described one of Slipknot's concerts as a "scene of chaos".

Jim Root, Corey Taylor, and Mick Thomson (Photo: Budi Susanto)

Slipknot's stage set at the Hammersonic Festival 2023 is not like the narrative above. However, that in no way diminished the audience's level of amazement at the actions of Shawn "Clown" Crahan and Michael Pfaff. The band's two percussionists.

They 'rage' endlessly behind their respective percussion sets. Prancing, occasionally stepping on his instrument, while helping Corey Taylor sing. At first glance, these two people seem to have 'nothing to do' because they only beat percussion and make noise. However, without Clown, who served as a Slipknot songwriter, and his partner, who has replaced Chris Fehn since 2019, this band seems to lack salt.

Not to mention, the brutality of Craig "133" Jones (samples, media, keyboards), Mick Thomson (guitar), Corey Taylor (vocals), Sid Wilson (turntables, keyboards), Jim Root (guitar), Alessandro Venturella (bass), and Jay Weinberg (drums) is also not half-hearted. That is, we can no longer judge Slipknot from any of its personnel. But, overall.

At around 22.45, the Maggots - as Slipknot fans are called - were rocked by the song Disasterpiece, which was taken from the album Iowa (2001). In the midst of the scorching heat, as many as 15 songs rolled full of coals. Boiling the enthusiasm of the audience who have been waiting for Slipknot's action in Indonesia for a very long time.

"Finally, Slipknot is here in Indonesia tonight," said Corey Taylor, who was greeted by the screams of the Maggots.

"It took a very long time. When you thought we would be here, the world was closed (due to the COVID-19 pandemic)," continued the frontman.

Since it was announced in mid-2019, the Hammersonic Festival has been eagerly awaited by rock and metal music fans. Originally, the biggest metal event in Southeast Asia would be held on March 27-28 2020. They have also announced their line up, one of which is Slipknot.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the Hammersonic Festival to March 2022. Once again, the date was postponed to March 2023. But, the wait is now over. And Slipknot know exactly how to satisfy metalheads' curiosity.

After the Disasterpiece, 14 numbers burst out full of flames. Wait and Bleed, All Out Life, Sulfur, Before I Forget, The Dying Song (Time to Sing), Dead Memories, Unsainted, The Heretic Anthem, Psychosocial, Duality Custer, Spit It Out, People = Shit, and Surfacing reverberate almost without reproach

In total, this time Hammersonic performed 53 rock music units. Apart from Slipknot, there is also Amon Amarth, Trivium, Story Of The Year, Born Of Osiris, Watain, Black Flag, Comeback Kid, Sinister, Stillbirth, Tiny Moving Parts, Vio-lence, Rocket Rockers, DeadSquad, Saint Loco, Burgerkill, and many more.

Amon Amarth (Photo: Budi Susanto)

They appeared on five stages provided by Ravel Entertainment as the organizer. There is The Beast Stage, Avalanche Stage, Hammer and Sonic Stage, as well as the main Empire Stage.

Without reducing respect for fans of other international bands, the theatrical acts of Amon Amarth and Trivium's wildness seemed to leave no trace when the monsters wearing Slipknot masks terrorized the Hammersonic Festival 2023 crowd.

Two Trivium frontmen, Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu (Photo: Budi Susanto)