Iowa (album)

Iowa is the second studio album by American metal band Slipknot. It was released on August 28, 2001 by Roadrunner Records. It was the last album by the band to be produced by Ross Robinson. The album's title is derived from the band's home state of Iowa.

There was much anticipation for the band's second album following the success of their 1999 self-titled debut, resulting in Iowa premiering in top ten album sales in nine countries. Positively received by both fans and critics alike, the album included many of the band's hits including "Left Behind" and "My Plague", which were both nominated for a Grammy Award in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Critic John Mulvey hailed the album as the "absolute triumph of nu metal."^[1] While more technical than their debut, Iowa is also considered to be the band's heaviest album. The album has been certified platinum in Canada and the United States.

Production and promotion

Iowa was recorded and produced at Sound City and Sound Image studios in Los Angeles, California with Ross Robinson.^[2] On January 17, 2001, Slipknot entered the studio to work on their highly anticipated follow up to their debut album Slipknot.^[3][4] Despite being a member of Slipknot since 1999, it was the first time guitarist Jim Root had been largely involved in a Slipknot album.^[5] He joined the band during the later recording stages of Slipknot and subsequently became more involved with their next album.^[3] During an interview with Guitar magazine in November 2001 he explained that; "it was so exciting as well as scary to be part of this whole huge process", adding that there was a lot of pressure from fellow guitarist Mick Thomson to perform well on the record.^[5] The album's initial release date was scheduled for June 19, 2001, which was to be preceded by a five-date warm-up tour.^[6] However, the mixing of the album took longer than anticipated, causing the album's release to be delayed until August and the cancellation of the tour.^[6][7] The album was officially released on August 28, 2001.^[8]

The album's title is a reference to the band's home state; most of the members still live relatively anonymously in Des Moines, Iowa. Band members have claimed that Iowa is the source of their energy and they consciously made the decision to stay in the area, somewhat due to the fear of losing their creative direction.^[2] The title of the first song, "(515)", is the telephone area code for central Iowa, where Des Moines is located.^[9] In support of the album, Slipknot toured with American rock band System Of A Down on the Pledge of Allegiance tour. However, the earliest dates were delayed due to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.^[4] The band also toured with Ozzfest,^[10] as well as the Reading Festival in England.^[11]

Reception

Following the huge success of their debut album, Slipknot, author Dick Porter wrote that the anticipation for a follow up was intense.^[4] Prior to its release, drummer Joey Jordison proclaimed: "Wait till you hear our fuckin' next record. It smokes our first album. The shit's twice as technical, three times as heavy."^[7] There was much speculation over the title of the album before its announcement and Nine Men, One Mission was the expected title by some sources.^[3] The College Music Journal reviewed it as "brutal, unrelenting, scorching..."^[12] Many reviews noted its heavy themes, the Alternative Press stated, "[it is] like having a plastic bag taped over your head for an hour while Satan uses your scrotum as a speedbag....[It] is over the top...you're going to be left in stitches."^[13] NME said that it is "Exhilarating, brutal and good."^[14] Rolling Stone credited the album for its originality, "nearly everything else in modern doom rock sounds banal."^[15] Producer Robinson was also praised for his work on the album; Uncut noted, "The barely relenting, tumbling noise attack marshalled by nu metal uber-producer Ross Robinson is expert."^[16] Reviewing for Yahoo, John Mulvey said, "They're an evolutionary dead end, the final, absolute triumph of nu metal."^[1]

The album's first single, "Left Behind", was nominated for the Best Metal Performance at the 2002 Grammy Awards.^[17] The second single, "My Plague", was nominated for the same award at the 2003 Grammy Awards.^[18] The single "Left Behind" peaked in the top thirty for single sales the United States^[19] and the UK.^[20] In addition, "My Plague" reached the 43^rd position on the UK charts.^[20] Iowa was ranked the sixth in the "50 Albums of the year" by NME in 2001.^[14] The album peaked at the top position on the UK Albums Chart,^[20] in addition to the second spot on the ARIA Charts in Australia.^[21] The album reached the third spot on the Billboard 200^[22] and Finnish Charts.^[23] On October 10, 2001, the album was certified platinum in the United States.^[24] In Canada, the Canadian Recording Industry Association certified the album as Platinum, on September 5, 2001.^[25] The British Phonographic Industry has certified the album as gold in the UK.^[26]

Track listing

All songs credited to Slipknot.

1. "(515)" – 0:58
2. "People = Shit" – 3:35
3. "Disasterpiece" – 5:08
4. "My Plague" – 3:40
5. "Everything Ends" – 4:14
6. "The Heretic Anthem" – 4:14
7. "Gently" – 4:54
8. "Left Behind" – 4:01
9. "The Shape" – 3:37
10. "I Am Hated" – 2:37
11. "Skin Ticket" – 6:41
12. "New Abortion" – 3:36
13. "Metabolic" – 3:59
14. "Iowa" – 15:04

Bonus tracks

15. "Liberate" (Live; Japanese bonus track) – 4:25

Chart positions

Album

Personnel

Release history

References

External links