Slipknot pushes metal’s envelope

Back in 1999, nu metal was the new metal. But it was a rather short-lived trend and many of the bands of that subgenre have since been washed away into rock obscurity or ridicule.

Not Slipknot.

The nine masked men in this metal powerhouse have done more than survive the deathtrap that was nu metal, they’ve completely transcended it, earning stacks of gold and platinum plaques and selling more than 10 million records worldwide.

Slipknot found its biggest success with its 1999 double-platinum self-titled major-label debut.

A decade and three albums later, the Grammy-award winning group is revisiting that with a 10th anniversary re-release – a 25-track CD featuring rare demos, remixes and B-sides – coupled with a documentary, “Of the (Sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams.”

The hour-long DVD contains previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage shot during 1999, live and backstage video from concerts around the world, and a never-before-seen live concert from the Dynamo Open Air Festival in the Netherlands in 2000.

There also are music videos for “Wait And Bleed” (both the original and animated versions) and “Spit It Out.”

A deluxe collector’s edition, “Slipknot – Ten Years of Life Death Love Hate Pain Scars Victory War Blood And Destruction,” also includes a T-shirt, collector’s cards, a patch and a key chain in addition to the CD and DVD package.

Slipknot followed the success of its debut by expanding on nu metal aesthetics with elements of thrash and death and black metal, all the while maintaining the band’s mystique of keeping the members’ identities hidden behind grotesque clown masks, ID numbers and warped costuming.

The music, too, became progressively extreme, splicing eerie samples and turntablism with thrashy guitars, claustrophobic percussion and lyrics that bury metaphors of paranoia and malcontent in expletives and disturbing personal anecdotes.

Pushing songwriting boundaries in both directions, Slipknot also has countered its harsh, abrasive sound with acoustic guitars and borderline ballads – most notably on last year’s “All Hope Is Gone,” which was Slipknot’s first album to peak at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200.

In recent interviews band members have stated plans for releasing a new album next year.