GALLERY: Knotfest (Day One)

Continuing our kickarse coverage of Knotfest, we're bringing you this exclusive gallery showcasing all the action from the first day of California's maggot frenzy.

If you took even a cursory glance at the Knotfest line-up you’ll know that a metric fuck-tonne of the best bands in metal were heading to California to celebrate the return of the masked maggot feeders – Slipknot.

And as well as the nine hate-bearers headlining the first night, rising to the challenge of warming up the thousands of black t-shirted metal fans were the likes of Immolation, Amen, Otep, Fear Factory, Butcher Babies, The Devil Wears Prada, In This Moment, Black Label Society and Anthrax. If that doesn’t get your eardrums salivating (which a doctor assured us definitely can happen) we don’t know what will.

Look, we even saw Corey Taylor hanging out with Burton C. Bell from Fear Factory!

To see what the bands on stage looked like though, check out the gallery below!

And you can check out our gallery from the Friday night VIP & Camping Kickoff Party.

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Read our full review of Slipknot’s comeback set at the first day of Knotfest.

Luke Morton joined Metal Hammer as Online Editor in 2014, having previously worked as News Editor at popular (but now sadly defunct) alternative lifestyle magazine, Front. As well as helming the Metal Hammer website for the four years that followed, Luke also helped relaunch the Metal Hammer podcast in early 2018, producing, scripting and presenting the relaunched show during its early days. He also wrote regular features for the magazine, including a 2018 cover feature for his very favourite band in the world, Slipknot, discussing their turbulent 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.