Iowa (album)

Iowa
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 28, 2001 (2001-08-28)
RecordedJanuary 22, 2001 – March 16, 2001
StudioSound City and Sound Image (Van Nuys, California)
Genre
Length66:17
LabelRoadrunner
Producer
Slipknot chronology
Slipknot
(1999)
Iowa
(2001)
Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
(2004)
Singles from Iowa
  1. "Left Behind"
    Released: October 29, 2001
  2. "My Plague"
    Released: July 8, 2002
Alternative cover one
Cover for some versions of Iowa.
Alternative cover two
Cover for the 10th anniversary re-release of Iowa.
Alternative cover three
Cover for some limited editions in Europe, Australia and Japan of Iowa.

Iowa is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Slipknot. Produced by the members and Ross Robinson, it was released on August 28, 2001, by Roadrunner Records. The title refers the band's state origin, Iowa, which members have stated is one of their greatest sources of inspiration. With much anticipation for the album following the success of their 1999 debut album Slipknot, pressures on the band were high. Their relationships with each other suffered and this was later described as the darkest time of their career. It was also the first full album to feature guitarist Jim Root after only appearing on one song from their previous album. Despite troubles within the band and with Iowa's development, Slipknot promoted it for almost a year.

The album was a major success, premiering in the top tens of nine countries. Generally positively received, it includes some of their notable songs, such as "Disasterpiece", "The Heretic Anthem", "People = Shit" and the Grammy-nominated "Left Behind" and "My Plague". More technical than their debut, Iowa is considered the band's heaviest and darkest album. It has been certified platinum in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

A special edition of Iowa was reissued on November 1, 2011, to celebrate its tenth anniversary. It was accompanied by full live audio of the hit DVD Disasterpieces and a film entitled Goat directed by Shawn Crahan, with the four music videos, never-seen-before interviews and footage from the Iowa period.