Photo by Melinda Oswandel

The one-and-only Corey Taylor brought his sophomore album, CMFT2, at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey, on Tuesday, September 12th. The famed singer from Slipknot and Stone Sour delivered an unforgettable performance from start to finish. 

Rap rockers Oxymorrons, hailing from Queens, New York, set the tone for the night. This four-piece band (Demi “Deee,” Kami “KI,” Matty Maya, Jafe Paulino) is known for pushing boundaries and has shared stages with artists like Outkast, Rihanna, Gym Class Heroes, Grandson, and Fever 333. Unfortunately, I missed capturing their set, which was disappointing since I’m really enjoying their versatile sound. I’m looking forward to catching them next time.

UK electronic rock duo Wargasm took the stage next, demanding full attention with their adrenaline-packed set. I became a fan of these guys after hearing them earlier this year. If you’re into industrial music like KMFDM and the chaos of Mindless Self Indulgence, I highly recommend checking them out.

Wargasm

Photo By Melinda Oswandel

Once Corey Taylor and his band, consisting of Stone Sour’s lead guitarist Christian Martucci, Zach Throne on guitar, Eliot Lorango on bass, and drummer Dustin Schoenhofer of Walls of Jericho, hit the stage, the crowd was pumped and ready to rock. They powered through Corey’s solo catalog, threw in a few hits from Stone Sour, and even included some Slipknot favorites. I’ve seen Slipknot countless times, Stone Sour once, and was fortunate to attend two of Corey’s intimate “An Evening with” shows at Irving Plaza in NYC. But witnessing him perform songs from Slipknot, Stone Sour, and his solo work all in one night was truly exceptional.

Photo By Melinda Oswandel

In the front row, a young kid was rocking out with devil horns, accompanied by what appeared to be his awesome mom. I made sure to snap a few photos of both of them. Corey playfully advised the young audience members, saying, “Don’t repeat the words that Uncle Corey says. It’s very important. They might get you, well, at least arrested.” To close the night, the five-piece band performed John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band’s classic “On The Dark Side.” Corey declared it “one of the best rock songs ever written.” This turned into an impressive mash-up, including John Cougar Mellencamp’s “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” The Romantics’ “What I Like About You,” and Neil Diamond’s “Cherry, Cherry.” They topped it off with a cover of Motorhead’s metal anthem “Ace of Spades.”

Corey’s new CMF2 album was released just last Friday (15th). It’s an eclectic blend of Slipknot and Stone Sour with a touch of country, showcasing his remarkable range and diversity. It’s definitely worth a listen and some love. Corey Taylor’s US tour concludes on October 7th before heading to the UK, Europe, and Australia for the fall and early winter. This was honestly one of my favorite shows and photo shoots of the year. If they haven’t come to your town yet, grab a ticket and enjoy the rock!

Corey Taylor

Photo by Melinda Oswandel

Review and Photos by Metal Insider’s contributing photographer Melinda Oswandel.