Slipknot
9.0 - Live

Introduction: live performances should be a celebration of something special, but above all, they should be played and produced at their best. Now, nothing against Slipknot, but this live album, though excellently produced, has its main flaw in the band itself: honestly, few bands play worse than they do.

Their confusion during live performances is almost disarming, and perhaps the musicians (except for drummer Joey Jordison, who, while not outstanding, performs decently) really seem like amateurs. On the album, this confusion may not be noticeable, but the live performance truly doesn't shine or take off. It could be the guitarists who can barely manage beyond the nu-metal riff, or it could be that the rhythm section sometimes creates more noise than actual music, but I would not recommend this live album to anyone who isn't a fan of the 9 masked men.

And it's a pity because, in the end, the songs are decent, they have the right power needed, a voice that sounds menacing in the studio... so the premises for a good performance are all there. But the shortcomings, and there are many, become apparent right from the opener "The Blister Exists" and fully reveal themselves by the fourth track "Before I forget". Corey Taylor can't keep up with his voice, he shouts during the first song and then gradually loses it. The instrumental deficiencies, in contrast, become highly evident in the combo "Vermillion" and "Pulse of The Maggots", where the guitarists play in the most approximate manner possible... They seem to mimic the historic duo King-Hanneman (apologies for the blasphemy) even though, frankly, they don't hold a candle to those metal pillars at all. After that, we just have the usual repetitive double bass drum barrage and Corey attempting to scream but clearly running out of breath. The drum solo is perhaps the only thing that works well on the record, the rest is all forgettable: the songs from the latest album don't even shine live (what a pathetic "The Nameless"....), the older tracks are somewhat ruined and become almost annoying.

Note the version of "people=shit" that sends chills, in a negative way, too chaotic. When the live performance ended, I let out an almost nervous sigh. Confusion, distraction; that's what you'll find in this double live album. Recommended only for fans and for those, as obsessed fans, who accept every release from their favorite band as solid gold.