Slipknot ‘just hitting our stride’ says Corey Taylor

Corey Taylor (Image credit: Getty)

Corey Taylor believes Slipknot are on the verge of reaching their peak as a band, even though they’ve been in existence for 17 years.

They’re currently touring in support of latest album .5: The Gray Chapter, and the frontman feels the performances prove they’re at the top of their game.

Taylor tells Ticketmaster: “It’s a great set this time round. It’s a little longer, and I think it represents all the different eras that we’ve gone through.

“We’ve been able to use our history and make it something new – instead of looking in a rearview mirror, we’re looking out the windshield at what’s to come.

“I think that’s why people are gravitating towards this. It doesn’t feel like a greatest hits set. It feels like we’re just hitting our stride. For a band that’s been around for 17 years, that’s a hell of a feeling.”

He recently underwent spinal surgery, forcing the band to postpone the start of their current tour. He’s since admitted that he returned to action too soon, and remains under orders to avoid his more extreme onstage antics.

Taylor says: “There’s all these things that I’m used to doing that I’ve had to fight off – no headbanging, no jumping off crazy shit. I really had to rein it in and also entertain the audience.

“I’m really happy that I quit smoking before any of this stuff happened, because my voice is stronger than it’s been in God knows how long.

“That’s one of the things I’m leaning on most. My vocal development has allowed me to loosen up and entertain the audience in a different way.

“It’s still exciting. It’s still a lot of fun. It’s still powerful. It’s just different. And the guys have all rallied round me and had my back when I needed them. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Slipknot just announced plans to perform 2001 album Iowa in full at their Knotfest event in San Bernardino next month.

Slipknot remaining 2016 tour dates

Sep 25: San Manuel Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, CA
Oct 15-16: Toluca Knotfest, Mexico
Nov 05: Tokyo Knotfest, Japan

Slipknot's Iowa voted greatest album of 21st century

Every song on Slipknot's Iowa ranked from worst to best

Artists

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.