Amid the backdrop of the Los Angeles skyline, Knotfest closed out their 2021 with the spectacular return of Slipknot to the Southland.
Adding to the significance of the ceremonial culmination, Slipknot celebrated the release of their first new material in more than two years with the live debut of the highly-volatile "The Chapeltown Rag" - a track that proved especially effective given that it was dropped in the middle of set of fan favorites and arena-sized anthems.
Though Slipknot shined as the guest of honor, the evening offered a stacked bill of generational fixtures and emerging prospects. Des Moines upstarts Vended made their live debut outside of their native Iowa in a fiery fashion. Code Orange delivered an afternoon clobbering that rallied the pit.
Jason Aalon Butler and Fever 333 made use of everything from ladders and a skateboard in a set that was nothing short of electric while hard-hitting OGs Killswitch Engage made it mandatory for the floor to get moving.
Ushering in the evening potion of the production, Macabret cirque arts troupe Cherry Bombs presented a sensory feast complete with tense aerials, precision choreography and plenty of fire.
Leading he charge into the night, Bring Me the Horizon pieced together a set that revisited some of the band's biggest anthems and newest hits from their Post Human: Survival Horror EP - including a surprise assist from none other than YUNGBLUD for a rousing rendition of "Obey" that rumbled though Banc of California Stadium.
When the Kabuki curtain finally dropped for Slipknot, the crowd was rabid. The 90-minute victory lap further underscored why the masked nine from Iowa continue to embody the pinnacle of the culture - both in style, spectacle and execution.
It's no superlative in asserting that Knotfest Los Angeles was one for the books. Photographer Steve Thrasher managed to capture some of the sights of the unforgettable night.
All Photos by: Steve Thrasher, @stvthrasher
KNOTFEST LOS ANGELES EXPERIENCE
