Thread: Gore Whore [Kassyghost and Darkest Nightmare]

Pulsing, deep bass sounded first, a sinister riff that caused a cheer of recognition to erupt in the audience. The bass line built in intensity, getting louder every measure. Then, with no warning, deafening, distorted guitar chords lashed out and drums exploded into a pounding, machine gun attack. Stage lights flashed on to illuminate the crowd, which surged in expectant rhythm as the band launched into the chorus of their final and most popular song. The lead singer screamed his words, fighting to be heard over the instruments, but the audience drowned him out as they sang the lyrics back in unison. Take my flesh, take my soul Take my heart, take it all Sacrifice my life for you! The lead singer, Kjell Hammarstrm , stepped back from his mic and let the frothing crowd repeat the chorus without him, strumming his guitar and nodding approvingly. Sweat from the exertion of the long set was running down his face, ruining the caked on white corpse makeup and matting into his long, black hair. Shirtless, the tall man had a tattooed torso that was dominated by a central inverted cross, his fuck you sign to Christians and normals. An ammo belt wrapped his hips, a hunting knife attached, and black leather pants matched studded leather wrist cuffs to round out his ghoulish look. Kjell's black metal band, Sworn to Erebus , had come a long way in the last year, mused the charismatic frontman as he listened to the fans sing his song back to him. Not long ago, they were opening for poser metal bands to crowds of fifty that mocked them for their makeup. Tonight, a crowd of almost a thousand packed this hall, with hundreds more turned away at the door. Almost all of them wore gruesome corpse makeup like Kjell and his two bandmates, with the most faithful calling themselves the Sworn . Hades is hungry, Hel needs souls, Erebus consumes them all... Their meteoric rise in the very underground black metal scene had been a total surprise they literally were unknown last summer. The reputation had grown quickly that these guys were core, self-professed prophets of forgotten, dark gods, spreading their black sermon, and treating each concert like a religious ritual. This was the traditional last song of the night, Sacrifice , and built to a frenzy that had given their shows a reputation of promoting violence and danger. Judas was my hero... only death will end this lie Behind him, as Kjell sang the ending verse, a red light illuminated a black altar on which a slaughtered, bloody pig lay. Venues unfortunately were rather strict in prohibiting killing live animals during concerts thanks Ozzie!, so a butchered and unbled pig was the best they could do. The band played a final chorus, the crowd joining in again with even more intensity, and the song segued into the ending, crazed guitar solo. Kjell's fingers flashed on the guitar neck as he picked frantically, head nodding. His solo climbed in pitch and speed, long hair now thrashing as he banged his head faster and faster. At the screaming apex, with no where else to go, he simply tossed his instrument to the ground like a spent weapon. Turning as the crowd screamed in hungry anticipation, Kjell pulled out his knife and started hacking at the pig with savage ferocity. His two bandmates joined him, using their own knives and spraying blood into the air with every brutal blow. Fans in the front row were close enough to get droplets splashed on them, which they seemed to relish and even reach to touch. Finally, the pig in ruins and the only noise being the bloodthirsty cheers of the crowd, the three bandmates turned and held up their knives while standing side by side. Their bloody, sweaty and makeup coated faces were somber, eyes blazing. The lights cut out. ------ Kjell ignored the proffered towel and congratulations from a roadie as he went backstage, he'd clean up later. After the intensity of the show, he was still full of adrenaline and in stage character. Being as messy, scary and ghoulish as he must look now felt right. Make sure the girl gets in... the one I showed you and her friend, Kjell barked at the security head as he walked by and turned to the green room with his two bandmates traliing behind. Inside would be plenty of booze, drugs, and women, exactly what they needed to unwind and celebrate their most successful concert to date. And, assuming the security detail didn't fuck up, one of Kjells old groupies would be there soon as well. A smile widened on his bloody and and makeup smeared face as he thought of her. What a find she was. Young, fun and slutty, hed been a bit disappointed when she had moved out of town. He had no shortage of groupies these days, but every rock star wanted a reliable fuck toy. And now he was back in the area and tonight she had said she was bringing a friend...