First Direct Arena, Leeds
Heads bang, moshpits burst into life and riffs eviscerate every corner of the room as the band tear through their debut album 1999 in a visceral sensory haze

Until you’ve tried it, don’t knock the singular joys of watching a grown man in a horned gimp mask whack a steel keg with a baseball bat. Comical stage antics and horror theatricality have always been a part of Slipknot’s nucleus, but their exhilarating concert spectacle is no joke.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the nine-piece US metal mammoths are performing songs from their 1999 self-titled debut album. “Welcome back to 19-fucking-99!” frontman Corey Taylor barks, dedicating this opening night to “the Maggots” – a nickname given to the band’s legions of fans.