Iowa (2001–2002)

Iowa, the band's second album with Roadrunner Records, was released in 2001. Critical response to the album was generally mixed: Jason Arnopp of Kerrang! called the album "one beautifully crafted labour of hate", and David Fricke of Rolling Stone called the album "the first great record of the nu-metal era." It was a commercial success also, peaking at number three on the Billboard album charts, and at number one on the UK album chart. However, the album only achieved a "3 Star rating" by All Music Guide. In mid-2001, the band once again toured with Ozzfest. The band was dropped by Roadrunner for sales in Scandanavia in 2002 due lack of success with Iowa in the area. Slipknot were snapped up by Nuclear Blast Records, an equally successful label in the following year. In 2001, the band went on tour with System of a Down in the United States, Mexico and Colombia. After seeing the success of the tour, System and Slipknot went on a Pledge of Allegiance Tour with Rammstein in 2002. A live album entitled Pledge of Allegiance Tour: Live Concert Recording was recorded from this tour. The band also appeared in the concert scene of the 2002 movie Rollerball. The single "Left Behind", a track from Iowa, was nominated for a Grammy in 2002. In 2002, the BBC said that Slipknot stole the show and proved entertaining after the band performed at Reading Festival in England.