Bury Tomorrow frontman Dani Winter-Bates recently shared his admiration for Slipknot’s impact on heavy music. He reflected on the band’s influence in an interview with Louder Sound.
Winter-Bates discussed his memories of Slipknot’s breakthrough album “Iowa.” He expressed his desire to achieve similar commercial success while maintaining heavy sound.
“I also vividly remember Slipknot’s ‘Iowa’ coming out,” Winter-Bates said. “It was the same time as System Of A Down’s ‘Toxicity,’ so it was a great time for HMVs everywhere. Iowa is a perfect album, but My Plague stood out because it was on the Resident Evil soundtrack.”
The frontman elaborated on his aspirations for soundtrack placement and commercial reach.
“I remember thinking I would literally give my left arse cheek to be on a soundtrack for a movie like Resident Evil, because it was so big at the time,” he continued. “It’s also an absolute banger that shows how they can write commercially, but still be brutally heavy.”
Winter-Bates’ admiration for Slipknot’s achievement reflects the lasting impact of “Iowa” on the metal community. The album’s success demonstrated how bands could maintain their heavy sound while reaching mainstream audiences.
Metal Injection reported that Slipknot’s Iowa debuted in the top ten in nine countries. The album earned Grammy nominations for its singles and became recognized as one of the greatest metal albums of the 21st century.
The album’s journey to success wasn’t without obstacles. Loudwire noted that Iowa faced initial commercial challenges due to the post-9/11 climate impacting heavy music sales. The album eventually gained momentum and found its audience.
The production process behind Iowa was notably intense and transformative. Vice documented how producer Ross Robinson brought his own pain and intensity to the Iowa production process. This approach transformed the album into a ferocious and visceral work that remains a benchmark in the genre.
The album’s raw and destructive expression connected deeply with fans navigating turbulent youth. It offered a brutal yet empathetic outlet for their struggles and introduced many new listeners to extreme metal.
