Review: Slipknot @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 04/03/25
The maggots were out in full force as Slipknot returned to Adelaide for a headline performance celebrating their 25th year together. We got down and dirty in the mosh to bring you our thoughts on this epic gig.
Words Harry Nathan // Images Justin White
Slipknot w/Vended @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 04/03/25
Fresh from headlining Knotfest Australia, Slipknot descended on Adelaide for a groove metal masterclass. Performing songs from across their celebrated 25 year career, Slipknot had the AEC rocking, but before they took the stage, emerging metal quintet Vended set the scene with a healthy dose of noise pollution.
Vended didn’t just step up as Slipknot’s opener – they owned it, demanding the attention of every punter the moment they set foot on stage. Griffin Taylor commanded the stage with a raw, relentless aggression reminiscent of his father (Slipknot’s Corey Taylor). Vended weren’t just riding on legacy though. The sheer force of their sound was their own entirely.
The audience was won over instantly, with a circle pit erupting before the first song’s chorus had even hit. If the responsibility of an opening band is to whet the crowd's appetite, Vended didn’t just serve a taste, they force-fed the audience a feast.
As the dust settled from Vended, the crowd’s energy did not. A deafening roar met Slipknot when they finally graced the stage, their iconic white jumpsuits glowing green under the lights.
The track ‘742617000027’ droned through the venue as the band assumed positions in front of the restless crowd. Then, in a flash, they began pummeling the crowd with ‘(sic)’; Corey Taylor ordering the audience to put their “mother fucking hands in the air.” Wasting no time, they unleashed fan favourites ‘People = Shit’ and ‘Gematria (The Killing Name)’, sending the pit into a frenzy.
READ MORE: Review: Korn @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 04/12/24
Corey took a moment to address the crowd, making it clear that skipping Adelaide was never an option. He spoke about how thrilled they were to be there before acknowledging Clown’s absence, explaining that a family crisis was the only thing that could keep him away.
With the crowd hooked on his every word, he offered some insight into the night’s setlist; not quite the 25th anniversary set, but something special crafted just for Australia.
Every few songs, most of the band stepped back, leaving Sid Wilson and the mysterious new member to take over. Their interludes provided brief reprieves from the punishing heaviness, with Sid mixing ‘Tattered & Torn’ into a haunting, techno, industrial-infused fever dream. The crowd ate up every moment, acting as a mirror to the band's chaotic energy, with concertgoers crowd surfing during even the most melodic moments of the set.
Slipknot’s arsenal of percussionists drove each song with thunderous intensity – from the rumbling quadruple kick drums to the perfectly synchronized snares and the piercing clang of the beer keg. When Slipknot left the stage following ‘Duality’ the crowd wasted no time in screaming for more.
They returned for their encore, with Corey requesting they give it up for Vended and Clown. He then told the crowd to not let any motherfucker tell them what to do, including himself, before launching into ‘Spit It Out’.
As ‘Scissors’ unfurled for the first time in 25 years on Australian soil, the moment felt appropriately monumental, a final descent into Slipknot’s rawest, most unhinged chaos. With this final act of mayhem, Slipknot left the stage, leaving the crowd battered, breathless, and desperate to relive the night all over again.
Check out the full gallery of Slipknot images at Adelaide Entertainment Centre here.
