Joey Jordison: Editor’s Top Picks

In music, there’s a handful of musicians who pave the way for the future of the next generation. Whether they are ahead of their time with sound or their persona is larger than life, there’s always a name we all know ⁠— in metal, it’s drummer Joey Jordison. Whether it’s his time in the iconic metal band SLIPKNOT, or his work in MURDERDOLLS, SCAR THE MARTYR, VIMIC and SINSAENUM. There has rarely been a time someone has questioned who he is, and once educated they would never forget. For us here at Distorted Sound, Joey Jordison introduced us to a side of metal we would never turn our backs on. He would play like nobody had seen before whilst hanging upside down, introducing blast beats to the late 90s/early 2000s. He, alongside his trusted drumkit and guitar, are the reason we fell in love with this music even more. In honour of his passing, at the age of 46, Distorted Sound editorial have picked our top songs which made us fall in love with him.

All we can say is thank you Joey for changing our world ⁠⁠— we hope you are raising hell with #2.

Duality – SLIPKNOT

I have always been into metal, I was raised on the likes of IRON MAIDEN since I was a little girl. Nothing got me feeling like I had been punched in the gut like hearing Duality by SLIPKNOT for the first time though. Aged 10, I had just finished primary school and was getting ready to go into secondary school, I saw the Duality music video come out and at first I thought it was cool, and then I heard the drumming of Joey Jordison. I had never heard anything so raw or intense before. From then, I’d walk to school with my headphones blaring on my mp3 that could only hold about 80 songs (the struggle was real), Duality was always my go-to and honestly, on bad days, it always will be. Thank you Joey, you opened my ears to a whole other realm of metal and paved my future in doing so.

Words: Jessica Howkins – Deputy Editor

Psychosocial – SLIPKNOT

Psychosocial is by no means the most impressive song in SLIPKNOT‘s repertoire but for me, that song changed my life. I was starting to get into heavy music in 2007 and when that single dropped ahead of the release of 2008’s All Hope Is Gone, I became obsessed. The way in which Jordison‘s slick beats kept in times with that head-banging grooves in the verses had me utterly hooked and the marching beat in the build-up to the big breakdown blew my mind at the time. In truth, you could reel off an enormous list of world-beating SLIPKNOT songs but for me, Psychosocial will always be the most memorable. If it wasn’t for that song and for SLIPKNOT, it’s fair to say my life would be completely different. Thank you Joey Jordison for changing my life forever.

Words: James Weaver – Editor-in-Chief

Disasterpiece – SLIPKNOT

SLIPKNOT‘s debut alongside KORN’s Follow The Leader were my gateway into the world of metal but there was something about Iowa that just felt so utterly visceral and raw. Hearing Disasterpiece for the first time nearly gave me whiplash with the sheer ferocity the band unleashed. Joey was a phenomenal drummer who inspired so many budding musicians and has left an incredible legacy. His performance on this track is a shining example of the energy and intensity he brought to SLIPKNOT.

Words: Dan McHugh – Introducing Editor

The Blister Exists – SLIPKNOT

The final single from SLIPKNOT’s third game-changing album in a row, The Blister Exists shows Jordison in all his thunderous glory. Of course, there’s the militaristic snare drum trade off with his fellow percussionists, but there’s a lot more to it than that. From its machine gun double kicks to its massive headbanging chorus, #1 barely stops to breathe over the song’s full five-minute runtime, proving once again why he was the driving force behind the early-00s SLIPKNOT freight train. As if that wasn’t enough, watch him play it at what seems like twice its original speed at the band’s iconic 2009 Download set.

Words: Ellis Heasley – Assistant Album Editor

(sic) – SLIPKNOT