Slipknot

USA, 1995–now

Nine-member band from Des Moines, formed in 1995, performing in masks and uniforms. Their sound adds multiple percussionists and sampling to metal, on albums including Iowa.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Slipknot and 1 artist Slipknot influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Slipknot?

• Slayer — Slipknot's members have consistently named Slayer the benchmark of extremity they measured Iowa against.
• Kiss — Shawn Crahan has cited KISS's masked theatricality as the seed of Slipknot's own image-as-ritual.
• Nine Inch Nails — Iowa-era Slipknot cited NIN's industrial textures — Reznor's layering audibly shapes their studio sound.

Which artists did Slipknot influence?

• Bring Me the Horizon — Oli Sykes has said Bring Me the Horizon 'wouldn't be here if Slipknot didn't exist' — the band that pulled him into heavy music.