Image: Slipknot [Official Press Photo]
Slipknot belong to (Nu) Metal like strawberry sauce belongs on spaghetti ice cream. The masked combo from Iowa was founded in 1995 by percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, the band's original singer Anders Colsefni, and bassist Paul Gray (†). The band's breakthrough came in 1999 with their debut album, which already featured current frontman Corey Taylor behind the microphone. And the rest? Is history. Slipknot didn't just define Nu-Metal; they shaped the entire heavy music scene. Today, they are an indispensable part of the musical landscape, and their legacy is undeniably one of the greatest in guitar-driven music. Younger bands don't just cite the troupe as a major musical influence—many acts can also compete when it comes to their career path, stage presence, and storytelling. We’ve picked out 10 that you might like as a Slipknot fan.
Lorna Shore
Slipknot set new standards in extreme music, particularly with their first two albums, Slipknot (1999) and Iowa (2001). What the combo achieved back then with their Nu-Metal sound, Lorna Shore achieves to perfection with their symphonic deathcore. What might sound like a wild string of noises to the untrained metal listener is "beautifully defined chaos" to us. The band has made a massive leap forward since entering their era with frontman Will Ramos, both in terms of popularity and production. Ramos’ vocals are as powerful as they are incomparable in tone—much like those of Corey Taylor. Our dream? A small collaboration between the two bands!
Ghost
With their masks, Slipknot showed early on how important aesthetics can be in metal. Ghost follows a similar approach, albeit a much more theatrical one. The band surrounding mastermind Tobias Forge has built an entire universe of symbolism and storytelling. Musically, Ghost is rockier and thus much more accessible to the general public, but just like Slipknot, they manage to define their identity beyond the music itself. Every new "era" brings changes; new characters are introduced, such as the Cardinal figure portrayed by the frontman, much like new masks define every Slipknot album cycle. It’s a concept that pulls fans deep into the band's world.
Knocked Loose
When it comes to raw energy and pure escalation, few bands today can bypass Knocked Loose. This hardcore combo delivers exactly that feeling of chaos and loss of control that many fans loved about early Slipknot releases. The songs are intense and move straight forward without much frill. Especially live, the band unleashes a force that strongly recalls the unpredictable early days of Slipknot, where it was less about perfection and more about providing an outlet for emotions. If you like energetic live shows and enjoy letting off steam in the pit, then the band fronted by Bryan Garris is definitely for you.
Fit For An Autopsy
Fit For An Autopsy plays the finest extreme metal while bringing a level of lyrical depth that Slipknot fans should find familiar. The deathcore band manages to build an oppressive, almost apocalyptic atmosphere alongside their musical heaviness. And it's not just about aggression—quite the opposite. Social criticism, environmental destruction, and a dash of dystopia run like a red thread through their songs. The combo places great value on the meaning of their lyrics. This mix of rage and a clear ideological stance strongly resembles the more serious, confrontational sides of Slipknot that they still pack into their songs today.
Ice Nine Kills
Slipknot proved early on that metal can be more than just music—it can be an entire concept. Ice Nine Kills takes this idea to the extreme. The band led by singer Spencer Charnas processes horror stories and franchises into a continuous narrative experience on their releases. Particularly with The Silver Scream (2018), they managed to take their own style of storytelling to a whole new level. Much like Slipknot, they rely on strong visual elements and a clear aesthetic that runs through their songs, artwork, music videos, visuals, and live shows.
Motionless In White
Motionless In White combines a dark look with modern metalcore and influences from other genres, such as industrial. The band surrounding frontman Chris “Motionless” Cerulli has built a clear visual and musical identity over the years that strongly recalls what Slipknot established in their early days. The music of this US band shows that heaviness and atmosphere can be combined, creating an almost immersive experience for fans at their concerts. Thematically, they often deal with personal conflicts and social tensions—an approach that has always played a major role for Slipknot and which fans identify with strongly.
Paleface Swiss
Anyone looking for the bone-crushing heaviness of Slipknot will find it with Paleface Swiss. This Swiss band brings a raw, almost uncontrolled aggression that strongly recalls Slipknot’s Iowa era, especially on their more recent albums. Frontman Zelli’s vocals often even bring Corey Taylor's to mind—listen closely! The troupe's songs act like a direct outlet for anger and frustration without losing their structure—bringing us back to "defined chaos." It is precisely this mixture that makes the sound of Paleface Swiss so intense. It’s a feeling Slipknot fans know all too well. If you haven't seen them live yet, you really need to catch up urgently.
Hatebreed
Hatebreed are to hardcore what Slipknot were to Nu-Metal: true pioneers of their genre. And they share another central strength with Slipknot: the ability to translate emotions into powerful, captivating songs. For decades, Jamey Jasta and his colleagues have stood for rage and unity, strongly shaping the sense of community within their fanbase—themes that also recur in Slipknot's work. Their music functions as both a personal outlet and a collective energy source at shows. We can guarantee you won't leave with a dry shirt.
Whitechapel
Whitechapel skillfully bridges the gap between raw brutality and personal lyrics—a path that certainly mirrors Slipknot's career. The band led by frontman Phil Bozeman started with deathcore but evolved their sound over the years, increasingly allowing for more atmosphere and emotional depth. Especially on albums like The Valley or Kin, you can see how heavily they work with personal themes. The singer processes his own experiences and traumas with an intensity that gets under your skin.
Kim Dracula
Kim Dracula is symbolic of modern madness in heavy music, combining metal, industrial, trap, and theatrical elements into a sound that is deliberately over-the-top and unpredictable. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? This mixture of chaos, staging, and breaking musical boundaries is exactly what made Slipknot so special in the early 2000s and gave them their unique selling point. With Kim Dracula, it’s also less about clear genre boundaries and more about maximum expressiveness through music. The album A Gradual Decline In Morale shows exactly what we mean. Give it a listen!
