Corey Taylor and Cherry Bombs Raise Rock ‘n’ Roll Hell at the Hull Bonus Arena [Photos]

It’s not often that a city like Hull features on the touring schedule of an international superstar like Corey Taylor (and I’m sure we all remember the My Chemical Romance “where the hell even is Warrington?” debacle last summer). So, it comes as no surprise to find this gig very sold-out and a queue something close to the length of the Humber Bridge snaking around the arena.

A short run of dates ahead of his appearance at For the Love of Horror in Manchester, the Slipknot frontman was joined by his wife Alicia and her macabre dance troop Cherry Bombs. For seventy-five minutes, Hull Bonus Arena was ignited by the fire-breathing rock ‘n’ roll collective who performed a series of high-flying, eyebrow-singing, energetic routines to an eardrum-shattering soundtrack featuring Metallica, Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails and more with the undisputed highlight being a particularly explosive routine to Rammstein.

“I don’t know why you lot give me the opportunity to do this,” laughs Corey Taylor to a packed arena before adding, “I’m just a dick.” Well, this particular “dick” also happens to front one of the most game-changing metal bands of the past two decades and is something of an icon wherever he sets foot.

Tonight though, the mask is off, and we get to enjoy the real Corey ‘MF’ Taylor, who treats fans to a varied set including covers, his own solo material and, of course, a handful of Slipknot and Stone Sour favourites for good measure. Smashing through “Love Song” and “HWY666,” what you get with Corey Taylor’s show is a full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll onslaught packed with a genuine punk attitude.

Joined by his four bandmates, the Corey “MF” Taylor live experience has it all. It’s big, brash and loud. It’s got fun moments – although we all knew the ridiculous Spongebob cover was coming – and it’s got moments like renditions of iconic tracks like “Wait & Bleed” where you have to pinch yourself that you are actually there, and it is actually happening. It’s also got moments like the one which preceded a spine-tingling “Snuff” as Taylor dedicated the song to a young fan he’d met for the first time earlier that day.

Be warned, though, if you’re a Slipknot fan and you’re heading to a Corey Taylor show to lose your shit to the likes of “Heretic Anthem,” you’ll come away sorely disappointed. If, however, you’re coming to party hard, then that is precisely what you’ll get from the riotous rock ‘n’ roll combination of Corey Taylor and Cherry Bombs, as Hull most appreciatively found out on this cold Wednesday night.

Corey Taylor (w/ Cherry Bombs) @ Bonus Arena (Hull, UK) on October 19, 2022

61 photos