Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Iowa that formed in 1995. The band had nine members that remained the same for over a decade. They rose to fame following the release of their debut album in 1999. Slipknot is well known for its horror-influenced image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows. The original members of the band all met while they were in different musical groups in Iowa's heavy metal scene. The band is most known for the masks they all wear during performances. Over the years the members of Slipknot have developed their images, updating their uniforms and each member's mask upon the release of each album. Though the appearance and style of the masks do not usually differ significantly between albums, they typically maintain the established theme of their mask while adding new elements. Slipknot's masks were originally homemade, but since 2000 they have been custom-made by their friend who is a special effects artist. The band still records and plays music today, their latest album being released in 2022.