REVIEW: Slipknot, Korn & King 810 @ Manchester Arena

Tuesday 20th January 2015 - Slipknot, Korn & King 810 @ Manchester Arena Words: Michael Glynn

“We’re putting the heart and soul back into heavy metal,” declares Slipknot’s enigmatic frontman Corey Taylor to the 15,000 fans in front of him. It’s a phrase that rings especially true when you consider just how much the Iowa metallers have been through in the six years since they last played here in Manchester. After the death of bassist Paul Gray and departure of drummer Joey Jordison, few would imagine Slipknot would still be here today. But here they are, back at the forefront of the heavy metal genre, and holding this crowd in the palm of their hands.

Since they had to cancel their appearance at last year’s Download Festival due to frontman David Gunn being arrested, tonight’s openers King 810 have quickly made a reputation for themselves as being one of the most dangerous bands in music. A fitting opener for tonight’s headliners, then. Inciting the evening’s first moshpit within seconds of taking to the stage, they work hard to prove that their music deserves to precede their reputation with a stand out ‘Fat Around the Heart’ getting even the most unimpressed head nodding.

It’s difficult to think of a support act much bigger than Korn and as they kick off their set with the one-two hit of ‘Twist’ and ‘Here To Stay’ the crowd react as though they’re at the top of tonight’s bill. Fresh from celebrating his 44th birthday on stage in Glasgow earlier in the week, frontman Jonathan Davies leads the nu metal favourites through a career-spanning set. From 'Here to Stay' to 'Freak on a Leash' it's a relentless, wall-to-wall hit parade. Twenty years have passed since Korn released their set closer ‘Blind’ but tonight they prove that they are more relevant than ever.

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If the crowd aren’t warmed up by the time the curtain drops and Slipknot hit the stage, then the plumes of flames that greet their entrance surely do the job. Since their last UK arena tour, this eighteen-legged juggernaut has firmly established itself as one of metal’s premier festival headliners and tonight they bring their full stage set up to Manchester. With enough fire to melt an ice cap on stage and a giant goat’s head behind them, this Welcome to Hell tour has been aptly named.

With their recent album .5: The Gray Chapter reaching Number Two in the UK album chart, the response that greets new tracks such as set opener ‘Sarcastrophe’ and the recently Grammy nominated ‘The Negative One’ is just as fevered as when they’re playing their classics.

‘Psychosocial’ and the back to back pairing of Vol 3 favourites ‘Before I Forget’ and ‘Duality’ bring the atmosphere to fever pitch before Korn join the band on stage to present turntablist Sid Wilson with a birthday cake - much like Slipknot did to Jonathan Davies earlier in the week - to which the crowd burst into a chorus of Happy Birthday. Bringing the show back on track Slipknot wrap up their set with a typically brutal ‘Spit it Out’ and newbie ‘Custer’.

There are precious few metal bands out there capable of putting on a show anything like Slipknot do and shows like tonight only prove to seal their legendary status in metal’s history. Miss them at Download Festival this summer at your peril.