Image: Slipknot - official press photo
Corey Taylor and his masks are legendary. With each new Slipknot era, he introduces a mask that reflects the band’s mood and progression. But before Corey wore the mask that made him world-famous, Slipknot’s very first mask was worn by a different frontman and later adopted by him. Here, you'll learn the stories behind each mask and how they evolved from album to album!
Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (Demo - 1996) – The Beginning with Anders Colsefni
The first mask in Slipknot's history was worn by Anders Colsefni, the band's original singer, and later adopted by Corey Taylor. This mask, with its primitive, experimental aesthetic, was Slipknot’s first step into their masked world. It set the foundation for Slipknot’s iconic look and marked the beginning of the mask culture that still defines the band.
Slipknot (1999) - The debut mask
The mask of Slipknot's first studio album was dark and simple, but it conveyed the raw power that the band became known for. Corey looked like a ghostly creature, and that was the mood of the album: hard, angry, uncompromising. The perfect start.
Iowa (2001) – Darker and More Brutal
With the album Iowa, the band delved even deeper into darkness. Corey Taylor’s mask at this time reflected the album's raw brutality and dark depth – dark and almost demonic, perfectly matching the themes Slipknot explored in their songs.
Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004) – Experimentation and Reinvention
All Hope Is Gone (2008) – Turbulent and Chaotic
mask, as though it had been through a lot, much like the band at the time.
.5: The Gray Chapter (2014) – Grief and New Beginnings
We Are Not Your Kind (2019) – Creativity Without Limits
With this album, Corey wore a mask that looked almost like a piece of art. We Are Not Your Kind was creative, wild, and rebellious, and the mask perfectly embodied that spirit. It had a modern, artistic aesthetic, representing the band’s freedom and strength to continually reinvent themselves.
The End, So Far (2022) – The Latest Act
The mask for The End, So Far is dark and mysterious, perfectly matching the album's atmosphere, which almost feels like a farewell. With its stripped-down, almost ghostly design, it skips exaggerated details and instead focuses on an intense, brooding look, leaving fans to speculate about Slipknot’s future – a striking mask that sums up Slipknot's journey so far.
The Slipknot Anniversary Mask (2024) – A Nostalgic Upgrade
The Anniversary Mask is a tribute to the debut mask from 1999. At first glance, it evokes strong nostalgia, but on closer inspection, it reveals a technical upgrade: with its clear, round plastic lenses and integrated red lights, it creates an eerie and impressive effect on stage – a modern take on a classic.
