Slipknot Perform “Gematria (The Killing Name)” for First Time

Slipknot finally performed the song “Gematria (The Killing Name)” on Friday night (February 28th) at the kickoff of their Knotfest Australia mini-tour in Melbourne. The track from 2008’s All Hope Is Gone is one that frontman Corey Taylor previously believed the band would “never play” live.

“Gematria (The Killing Name)” was the third song of the set, following favorites “(sic)” and “People = Shit.” Overall, Slipknot played 14 songs, with “Psychosocial” being the only other tune represented from All Hope Is Gone.

In 2023, during an interview with the All Things Music podcast (as transcribed by Revolver), Taylor explained that if it were up to him, the band would’ve already performed “Gematria (The Killing Name),” but that his bandmates weren’t too keen on playing the song.

“I’ve always wanted to open a concert with ‘Gematria,’” he explained. “There are certain odiums around the way that that song was created and recorded, which is why some of the guys in the band are like, ‘Fuck that, we’ll never play it.’”

He continued, “[The reason] isn’t even sentimental…It’s resentment. But for me, man, it’s such a fucking burner that I just love that song. I can listen to that shit all fucking day. It just comes screaming out of no-fucking-where. But it’ll never happen. Unless the Pope ends up opening up for Slipknot someday, that shit will never happen.”

Slipknot have three more Australia shows and one New Zealand date coming up, followed by a run of European festivals in June (pick up tickets here). As of now, their only North American show of 2025 is slated for July 19th at the Inkcarceration Festival in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch Slipknot give “Gematria (The Killing Name)” its live debut in Melbourne, Australia below.

Enjoy Slipknot’s All Hope Is Gone and more on Amazon Music Unlimited, which is currently offering a four month subscription at 50% off its normal price. More details here.