Slipknot Celebrates 25 Years of 'Torment' on Concert Tour
In the world of heavy metal, few bands can match the intensity and sonic complexity of Slipknot. As they embarked on a 14-date U.S. arena tour in 2025, the band chose the Cohesion PA system, provided by Eighth Day Sound, to deliver their thunderous sound to audiences across the country.
The tour, which included a sold-out evening at New York's Madison Square Garden and two nights at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, marked one of the first implementations of the Cohesion PA system, with the CF28 and CF14 speakers taking centre stage.
The main hang for each arena consisted of 18 Cohesion CO12 speakers on each side, with additional low end provided by 12 CO12 speakers on side hangs, 6 Cohesion CP218 II+ speakers flown behind each main hang, and 18 CP218 II+ speakers in six ground stacks of three, all in cardioid configuration. A half-dozen CF28 speakers were placed atop the ground-stacked subwoofers, while two CF14 speakers provided lip fill on either stage corner.
Bob Strakele, Slipknot's FOH Engineer, praised the system, particularly the low end, which he found to be "extremely tight and controllable." Strakele agreed to get most of the low end from the air-mounted speakers, a decision that proved to be a game-changer for the front barricade area, traditionally known for sounding thin and weird. Strakele found the new front fills (CDF28s) to be "monsters."
Production Manager Rob Highcroft, who recommended the Cohesion PA after experiencing it on a Pentatonix tour in 2023, was equally impressed. He found the system to be super-fast and slick, with an efficient rigging process. It was, he said, a cool team effort.
System engineer Brian Sankus was equally impressed with the Cohesion PA's performance in various environments. The system's ability to deliver a "wall of sound" that is both crushing in intensity and crystal clear made it an ideal choice for Slipknot's music, which combines aggressive, dense mix elements such as pounding drums, distorted guitars, and complex samples.
The Cohesion PA system's advanced system design and tuning capabilities allowed for deep system design, tuning, and mixing, enabling front-of-house engineers to craft precise and powerful sound experiences tailored specifically to the venue and the band's intense sonic requirements.
Slipknot’s 25-year career in music began with the release of "Here Comes the Pain" in 1999. Since then, they have sold 30 million records, cementing their place as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time. With the Cohesion PA system, they have found a partner that can match their energy and intensity, delivering a live audio experience that is as chaotic and controlled as their performances.
The Cohesion PA system's advanced capabilities allowed for precise and powerful sound experiences, tailored to Slipknot's aggressive, dense mix elements like pounding drums, distorted guitars, and complex samples. The CF28 and CF14 speakers, taking center stage during the 2025 U.S. arena tour, dominated the audio landscape with a wall of sound that was both crushing in intensity and crystal clear, enhancing the sonic complexity of Slipknot's music and amplifying the entertainment experience for listeners.
