Slipknot are throwing it back 25 years with a massive reissue of the debut album that turned them from masked misfits in Iowa to one of the biggest names in metal.
Due out September 5th via Roadrunner Records, the release charts the band’s creative evolution during a pivotal moment in heavy music, when their nine-member chaos machine redefined what metal could look and sound like.
The anniversary edition includes multiple formats: a 6LP box set on blood-splattered vinyl (limited to 1,899 copies), 2LP, 2CD, and digital. The original Ross Robinson–produced album is here in full, alongside a stack of unreleased demos, alternate versions, and early “test” mixes from studios like Indigo Ranch and SR Audio. For the most diehard fans, Slipknot secretly dropped 100 blood-filled vinyl editions yesterday via their cryptic site 742617000027.net, which sold out instantly and temporarily crashed the site.
“We loved what we did with the first record but we didn’t even know if there was gonna be anything after that,” said guitarist Jim Root. “We just wanted people to hear it. Selling out of records and shows, having successful tours — that’s a goal for any band. But the dream scenario, in some ways, came true for us.”
Also included in the deluxe reissue are live recordings pulled from the band’s first world tour: a feral 1999 set at Hartford’s Webster Theatre, and barnstorming UK and Iowa performances in 2000 that captured their meteoric rise. Carefully remixed and mastered from original soundboard tapes, the shows chart Slipknot’s leap from intimate chaos to festival-dominating force.
As a preview, the band have dropped their raw, unreleased demo of “Prosthetics”, recorded before they entered Indigo Ranch. That early version offers a gritty look at how the track evolved into the haunting, industrial churn heard on their debut.
Slipknot’s debut, released June 29th, 1999, wasn’t just loud — it was a revolution. With its molten riffs, unrelenting percussion, and a feral sense of catharsis, the album ripped through genre boundaries and expectations. It went on to earn double platinum status, helped by relentless touring and a cult fanbase that grew fast and furious.
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In the years since, Slipknot have notched up billions of streams, 64 award nominations (including a Grammy win), and global tours that made them fixtures at festivals like Download, Rock in Rio and Hellfest. They also launched Knotfest, their own touring festival, in 2012: now a multi-platform media empire under Knotfest.com.
But for all the accolades, the band is choosing to mark their 25th year by reconnecting with fans on a visceral level.
“Every time I’ve walked on stage, it’s never been about how many people have been there because my culture, the maggots, always show up,” said founding percussionist Shawn “clown” Crahan.
Following a sold-out ‘Here Comes The Pain’ world tour earlier this year, including a triumphant return to Knotfest Iowa, this anniversary edition is a gift for the fans who’ve been screaming since day one.
Pre-orders/pre-saves of Slipknot (25th Anniversary Edition) are available now.
