Spooky season is upon us, and that means that it's time for us to pay respect to the bands and artists that genuinely terrify us.
The world of music is such a diverse and creatively open environment, which is both a gift and a curse. It's a gift in that self-expression, no matter how horrid, is (usually) welcomed with open arms, and it's a curse because self-expression, no matter how horrid, is (usually) welcomed with open arms. Let's take a look at the worlds spookiest musical acts and pay homage to those that have scarred us forever!
Slipknot
You can't talk about scary musicians without discussing the antics of Corey Taylor's 17-piece metal ensemble: Slipknot. Those spooky masks aside, the guys have all come clean about the absolutely bats*it things they've done as a band. From getting pissed on by two girls to huffing the scent of a jarred bird's corpse to get high on stage, these guys have a gauntlet of horror stories seemingly with no end. Also, let's not forget that they got into a fight using their own feces. Rock on guys, I guess.
▲Ozzy Osbourne
Do I need to really remind you all of this? The man ripped the head off of a dove on live TV with his f*cking teeth. He also ripped the head off a bat on stage with his f*cking teeth, the latter of which gave him rabies. The man's crazy. Next question.
▲Cannibal Corpse
One of the most controversial bands of all time, Cannibal Corpse is f*ckin wild. 14 albums deep, and they still somehow find ways to shock and awe with their disturbing lyrics involving incest, rape, mutilation, and Satanism. Their biggest hits include "Hammer Smashed Face" and "I C*m Blood." They're banned in three countries. Also, please note their tendency for violent pornographic album covers.
▲GWAR
No one really knows if GWAR is in on their narrative or not. The Virginia-based quartet is known for their insane costumes and irregular stage presence. There are also many non-musical members of the group, who the quartet refers to as their "slaves." Their shows usually involve disturbing narratives surrounding George Bush or Lady Gaga and end with the audience covered in fake blood, or sometimes worse.
▲Stalaggh
Not much is known about the Netherlands-based collective except that they crafted what's been deemed the scariest album of all time. Projekt Misanthropia is described as the "sounds of hell itself." It's an ambient, relentless concoction of screams and howls all (supposedly) belonging to criminally insane mental patients. The legend goes that one particular "guest" vocalist was locked away for brutally stabbing his mother over 30 times at the age of 16. Another featured screamer also had uncontrollable homicidal urges and apparently tried to kill a member of Stalaggh while recording the album. The assault was allegedly caught on tape. Also, Stalaggh is the name of a concentration camp.
▲Gogoroth
The Norwegian death metal band allegedly got their fame after making a deal with the devil, and by the sound of their music, it's not hard to believe. They openly identify as a Satanic band and are known to perform mock crucifixions, and they usually wear or are surrounded by decapitated sheep heads.
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