The 5 Essential Joey Jordison Slipknot Songs of Max Portnoy

During a recent interview with Music Radar, the son of the former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, Max Portnoy, has revealed the five Slipknot songs that made the band’s late drummer Joey Jordison one of his biggest influences.

Max Portnoy is known for being the son of the world-renowned drummer Mike Portnoy. He is a member of the nu metal band Tallah since 2017, and the American hardcore punk band Code Orange since October 14, 2021.

On the other hand, Joey Jordison, who died in his sleep on July 26, 2021, was the original drummer of the Slipknot until he departed from the band in 2013. Being one of the founding members of the band, Jordison had played in 4 studio albums of the band. Those were the band’s first four studio albums.

However, recently, Portnoy named Joey Jordison as one of his greatest influences. Recalling his parents’ showing off different bands and artists from the rock and metal world, the junior Portnoy said that Slipknot was one of his favorite bands that he gravitated towards instantly.

“Growing up, my parents would show me all sorts of different bands and artists, and Slipknot was one that I gravitated towards instantly and was always a favourite of mine for as long as I can remember,” Portnoy said. 

“Joey’s drumming always stuck out to me and pulled me further into the music. He made me want to get behind my drum kit and play along to his songs. There was never a point in time where Joey wasn’t on my mind when someone asked me who my favourite drummer was.”

When the interviewer mentioned the time that Max met his hero during Slipknot’s All Hope Is Gone tour, Portnoy stated that Jordison sent him tons of Slipknot merch. Paying his tribute to the late drummer, Max showed off his respect and said he is grateful.

“He was super welcoming and treated me like family,” Max says. “I was really young at the time and for me to meet someone I looked up to and have him be as cool as he was, was something really special. 

“He gave me a pair of his sticks and had sent a box full of Slipknot merch to my house. I still have everything he sent me, and I won’t ever get rid of it. I’m forever grateful for those experiences, and they’re something I won’t forget for the rest of my life.”

When he was asked to name his favorite Slipknot songs featuring Joey Jordison on drums, Max mentioned the band’s Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses, self-titled Slipknot, and Iowa.

The 5 Essential Joey Jordison Slipknot Songs of Max Portnoy

5. The Blister Exists – Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses

The number five is The Blister Exists, which was taken from Slipknot‘s third studio album Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses, which was released on May 25, 2004. Consisting of 14 tracks in total, the album includes hit songs such as Before I Forget, Duality, The Blister Exists, and Pulse of the Maggots.

Sharing his comments about the song, Max admitted that this was the song that made him idolise Joey and his drumming.

“I’d feel like this wouldn’t be a complete list if I didn’t include this song,” he said. “It’s honestly the song that made me idolise Joey and his drumming the most from a young age. The big thing is obviously the drum cadence in the middle of the song. I hadn’t heard anything like it before and it blew me away.

“If anyone is curious to hear Joey’s drumming for the first time, this might be the one to start with. I think Joey was a big influence for me and tons of other drummers from my generation because of how he approached music.

“He had so much aggression and passion behind his playing, and you could clearly feel it through the recordings. He took playing drums and made it into something more. He used drums express his emotions and thoughts instead of just using it as a tool to play music with.”

4. Slipknot – Disasterpiece (Iowa)

Disasterpiece from the band’s second studio album Iowa was at the number four on the list. Saying that the album has incredibly anger behind it, Portnoy claimed that Disasterpiece was the great example of what makes Iowa one of the greatest albums ever in the metal world.

“It’s hard to just pick one song off this album, but Disasterpiece is a great example of what makes Iowa one of the best metal albums ever,” the drummer says. “The drumming is in your face and hits hard.

“What I love most is what I say about a lot of his parts, but it’s so memorable. I know every single fill, every accent, it all fits perfectly and has so much anger behind it.”

3. Slipknot – Prelude 3.0 (Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses)

There was another song taken from the band’s third studio album Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses. Prelude 3.0 was at number three on the list.

Detailing why he loves the song so much, Portnoy said that there are great emotional feelings behind the drumming.

“This one is a bit different from what you’d expect from Joey and that’s why I love it,” he commented. “The drumming has so much feel behind it. Every accent and fill is exactly what you want to hear and it’s so memorable.

“It suites the song perfectly while being creative with its fills and style choice. It’s songs like Prelude 3.0 that do it for me the most. Everything he does in that song is perfect. It’s exactly what you want to hear.

“The fills and all the accents flow perfectly and are super memorable.”

2. Liberate (Slipknot)

The number two was Liberate taken from the band’s debut self-titled effort, Slipknot. Recalling his first hearing the song, Portnoy revealed how Joey Jordison amazed him with the song.

“This is a song I always go back to and can never figure out what’s going on in the verses,” he says. “When I first listened to it, it sounded like a simple groove but once I tried playing it myself, I realised the syncopation is actually really hard to get down.

“It all stems from the high hat hits on the upbeats. It’s almost like the exact opposite of what you want to play and it amazed me how Joey can do these small complicated things with his beats that the listener won’t pick up on unless they pay close attention. It’s something admire as a drummer and songwriter.”

1. Slipknot – Welcome (Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses)

The number one on the list was the third song that was taken from Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses. The band’s Welcome has a huge impact on the drummer. Saying that it was one of his favorite songs from the band, the young drummer admitted that it was the track that blew him away as a younger kid.

“This is one of my favourite songs when it comes to Joey’s drumming,” Max reveals. “It’s definitely one of the most underrated Slipknot tracks and I could never understand why. 

“The drumming is extremely aggressive and fast paced, and the drum part at the beginning of the song is equally technical and memorable, which is a combination that’s tricky to pull off. 

“Volume 3 will always be my favourite Slipknot record. Even if I might listen to the Iowa or the self titled more sometimes, I believe Vol 3 has the best songwriting and drum parts of any metal album. 

“Welcome was a track that blew me away as a younger kid and was one of the more complicated drum parts I learned growing up.”