Slipknot and Machine Head @Acer Arena, Sydney (26/10/08)

Tue 28th Oct, 2008 in Gig Reviews

CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY OF ALL THE SLIPKNOT CARNAGE HERE.

Now I know a lot of metal fans were disappointed by the new Slipknot album. All Hope Is Gone seemed like a fitting title to many, but I am here to tell you to stay true. These guys still know how to deliver a set powerful enough to melt your balls to the side of your leg – women included.

I hate the Acer Arena, so upon walking in I was already in a mind state that could be best described as – œunfavourable’. Heading straight to the bar I managed to become quite inebriated in a short time, a task usually difficult at this shit of a venue.

Tanked and ready to rock, I walked into Machine Head’s set not knowing what awaited me. It was like being in the Gravatron with a whole bunch of cow carcasses that hadn’t been tied down properly, as I found myself slammed between an endless array of sweaty Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and Cradle Of Filth t-shirts. Machine Head rocked. Even though I cannot tell you what they played, judging by the amount of lactic acid I had in my stomach by the end of their set, it would seem they played at titanic levels of rockdom.

There was that usual anxious lull before Slipknot came on, as I tried my best to extricate myself from the heaving mass of flesh that was the mosh-pit. It was well and truly the calm before the storm though. The minute the band came on stage I was crushed back into the crowd as thousands of eager metal heads pressed closer to catch a glimpse of these masked madmen.

Joey Jordison once again proved he is not human, pulling out all the stops with his insane kit set-up and theatrics. James Root and Mick Thomson’s guitar work was brutal, relentlessly sending soundwaves thumping through my sternum like a defibrillator. I expect there was some sort of incredible pyrotechnics or some shit, but to be honest I spent most of the gig pressed up into a fat man’s back chewing on his dreadlocks to block out the stabbing pain in my lower back.

I did manage to catch a few of the more remarkable tracks in and amongst the grunts and groans. Before I Forget made me weep, Psychosocial had me screaming, I shat myself in Sic, and by the time People = Shit came thundering through the stadium, I was on my knees gnawing at my shoe…so you could say it was an overall pleasant experience.