#Judas Priest The Music Enthusiast

[stevesjockstrap]

Part 2/2 🖤 part one or Read on ao3 • rated E — all the smut in this one (full tags on ao3)

tattoo artist Eddie, swimmer Steve Harrington, oblivious Eddie, pierced Eddie, appearance by Steve���s jockstrap 🫠 dom!Eddie, brat Steve ofc

@steddieonmywaywardson @steddiesummerexchange

Thanks again to @fuctacles and @lawrencebshoggoth 😘

Walking into the bar a few days later to see Steve in a tight crop top and very short jean shorts with the Calvin Klein band of his underwear showing a few inches above them had Eddie almost dropping to his knees.

He hadn’t been that excited about the 80’s theme night at their regular dive bar but now being faced with the happy trail and bare arms of his … what would he even call their relationship? They weren’t exactly friends. He was a little more than a client, honestly, but Eddie was hoping for much more than that. He just didn’t think it was going to happen. Gorgeous athletic assuredly straight guys like Steve Harrington do not end up with fuck ups like Eddie Munson. He knew what he looked like, the long hair and piercings and almost all of his body covered in weird tattoos. Cute frat boy types didn’t go for the likes of him.

“Eddie!”

He spun around to see Chrissy in a bright neon pink leotard with a headband. His own leather jacket and Judas Priest T-shirt seemed lame now, looking around at everyone who had gone above and beyond for the theme.

“Hey Chrissy. Love the outfit. Are you leading us in Jazzercise tonight?”

She laughed hard and genuine, throwing her head back and making her high pony tail swing around.

Steve came up next to them with an easy grin. “Hey Ed! How are you?”

“Hi Steve. Pretty good, pretty good. You guys really went all out, huh?”

Steve huffed a small laugh and shrugged, completely nonplussed that he was the hottest person in the place. Maybe the state. What Eddie would give-

“Can I buy you a drink?” Someone came up beside them, looking Chrissy up and down.

“Sure!” The guy in a cowboy hat and jeans (maybe had forgotten which theme night he was attending, or maybe he thought it was the 1880s, who knew) offered her his elbow and lead them to the bar. Steve threw a thumbs up at her when she turned to look back at him and Eddie wanted to run away immediately.

Thankfully he was saved by the Corroded Coffin boys showing up, but then Eddie had to awkwardly introduce them officially after they ragged on him for their enthusiastic session.

But Steve was amazing, unquestioningly shaking their hands and engaging in the typical polite small talk. The boys complimented his outfit without making it feel weird, and Steve excitedly pointed out Drew’s Metallica shirt and started an in-depth conversation about the album (making Eddie silently swoon beside him).

Chrissy rejoined them after cutting her suitor loose, and they all found themselves hanging at a corner of the bar, shooting the shit with the bartender and judging everyone else’s attire and the music.

As more and more alcohol was consumed, Eddie was quickly losing his mind. Steve was so comfortable in himself, talking with anyone who approached the bar or started talking with them. It shouldn’t have been that attractive, but Eddie who had grown up with all the same people surrounding him now, he found it hard to make friends. Chrissy and Argyle had found their way into his life by accident, but their extroverted selves had just adopted the sad boys in the tattoo shop and frequently drug them out of their comfort zones.

Eddie almost swallowed his tongue when a tall good looking man approached Steve and asked him to dance, waiting to see the hate crime in action that he was expecting. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, something to finally burst the Steve Harrington shaped bubble forming in his heart.

Instead, Steve gave him a demure smile and went with him, actually taking his hand and allowing the man to escort him to the dance floor where they quickly got into the groove and Eddie was dumbfounded.

He blinked at Chrissy and she sent him a look, but he was too drunk to decipher it. He couldn’t figure out why this was somehow worse than when he’d assumed Steve was straight and unattainable. Now that there may be a possibility — he shook his head at himself, quickly draining his cup and waving off the questions from the boys as he threw cash onto the table and stood. He had to go home before he embarrassed himself. Or made a fool of himself in front of Steve.

Gareth sent him a small sad smile and patted his shoulder as he went past.

The next few days went by quickly, Eddie trying to settle the slight nausea whenever he thought of how he’d acted with Steve at his tattoo appointment (and the consult meeting beforehand), forcing himself to be even more professional at his appointments now to try to overcompensate.

“Are you into Steve?”

Eddie scoffed and watched as the cue ball went wide, missing its target completely. “What the fuck, Chrissy?”

She smirked at him from the other side of the table, quickly pocketing two of her striped balls.

“Well?” She asked again. Chrissy had drug him back to the bar, apparently to interrogate him.

“Is this just a dirty trick to win at pool? Or a real question?” Eddie peered at her while she scoped out the table.

“A question can be more than one thing,” Chrissy said with a wide grin. “People, too.”

Eddie frowned, game now forgotten. “What does that mean?”

Chrissy shrugged and took a drink from her beer. Eddie took a few steps closer to her. “Is Steve asking about me?”

She had let it slip earlier that she’d gotten together with him and Eddie tried not to let it bother him. They’d only exchanged a few messages since he had been in his tattoo chair. Eddie had tried to keep it cool, letting Steve know scars were finicky and not to worry about any areas that healed strangely. He’d be able to touch them up. Eddie had winced to himself at the double entendre and then the conversation hadn’t really progressed like before.

Chrissy shrugged again and Eddie wanted to shake her.

“Chris, you’re killing me.” He gulped down his own beer and sighed. “Look. I tried to be so professional with Steve. If I made him uncomfortable I can apologize or whatever. But yeah, he’s fucking gorgeous and sweet and funny and completely out of my league. You probably know all of this, and you’re fucking with me. To win a dumb game of pool. But, for your own sick twisted amusement, yes. I know I have zero chance, but I know I’ve never been that hard while tattooing someone. Does that answer all the things of your question?”

She just nodded, but had a small sly grin on her face.

Eddie lost three games of pool before he called it a night. Then went home and scrolled through his messages with Steve to torture himself.

“Are you inviting your boy to the party?”

Eddie actually looked behind him to see who Gareth was talking to, and not seeing anyone in the vicinity, he frowned. “Huh?”

“The big end of summer thing at Argyle’s? Are you going to invite Steve?”

Eddie dropped his phone, and Gareth snickered at him. “He’s not- Wha- Do- uh.” He looked around the packed shop, lowering his voice. “Should I?”

Gareth rolled his eyes. “How long are you going to keep circling each other? You obviously both like each other, he gets along well with all of us somehow, you act like a lovestruck teenager when he’s around. What’s stopping you?”

Eddie thunked his head on the table and Gareth chuckled at his dramatics.

He’d always kept a decent eye on his schedule and appointments, Argyle complimenting him because trying to figure out the other guy’s schedules and trying to work with their convoluted systems was more than he could take some days.

It wasn’t until he walked into his office and found Steve there instead of the promised Mike Hawk that he second guessed giving him access to his calendar.

“Oh. Um. Hi, Steve. Why are you- I mean, its good to see you, but well, uh…”

Eddie trailed off, awkwardly standing in his own doorway.

“It may have been Chrissy’s idea,” Steve supplied. “And Argyle… could put someone in your calendar. I couldn’t get a hold of you, and I didn’t really want to bother you by just showing up and taking away from your work, I just, I dunno.” He was so genuine and seemed shy now somehow, even more endearing to Eddie.

“Uh, sure. That doesn’t seem stalkery at all,” Eddie huffed.

“Think of it more as, I dunno, just a surprise appointment instead of being tricked by all of your friends.” Steve grabbed the back of his neck, smirking.

“Oh? Is that what we are? Friends?”

That didn’t seem to deter Steve at all, in fact his smile widened and maybe blushing.

“I was hoping, to be that, or…” Steve stood, and Eddie realized he was wearing the black sweatpants he had sent him home in. “Since I sort of have an appointment, could you look at this tattoo for me? The last guy, he did his best, but you know, tattoos over scars can be finicky, I hear.”

Eddie laughed, his heart unclenching. “Yeah, you know not all tattoo artists are as professional as me.”

Steve walked closer to him, reaching behind him to pull his door shut. Eddie swallowed.

Wiggling out of the sweatpants and turning, Eddie let out a gasp. Steve stood before him in a jockstrap, tattoo still healing but areas on and around his scars lighter and fuzzier. However, his brain mostly clued into the fact that Steve’s entire ass was bare to him, and all of his long legs.

“Uhh huh, well it does seem like your scars haven’t taken the ink as well. C-can, um, can you stay here for a minute? Just give me one minute?”

Steve turned again, giving him a small nod and stepping back into his (Eddie’s) sweats.

In the middle of the tattoo shop, Eddie stopped and looked around. Only about half of the guys were in today. Weekdays they didn’t all need to be here. Argyle smirked at him from the front desk. Eddie glared and approached him quickly.

“What is this all about? You putting fake names in my schedule for people to ambush me now?”

“Hey, you’re welcome, brochacho. Go back there and get your shit together.”

Eddie laughed, all his annoyance gone instantly. He met Argyle’s outstretched fist with his own, shaking his head. “Thanks, man.”

Realizing he had actually left a hot half naked guy alone in his office, he quickly grabbed stuff from his work station and hustled back, locking the door behind him.

Steve was lounging on his couch with his arms crossed, making his arms and shoulders look ridiculous.

“So, um, this last dude who tattooed you, was he- you know, did you like him?” Eddie grinned, tucking his tongue behind his teeth.

“Ah, he was alright. I think I’m going to like you a lot better though.”

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head as he dumped his stuff on his desk.

“I think we’re going to set up shop back here, if that’s cool with you. I kind of got drug over the coals for, uh, an interesting session a few weeks ago. The boys won’t let me live down another performance like that. And since we’re just doing a touch up…”

Steve reached behind his head to grab the collar of his shirt and pulled it off with a flourish. “Fine by me. Although, between us, that guy probably enjoyed the attention.”

Eddie stopped to groan, rubbing over his face. “Fuck. Well, maybe next time then, Stevie.”

His gaze slid from his cocky grin down his hairy chest, down to his tantalizing happy trail that was still burned in his memory from the bar that night.

“God, you’re pretty,” he breathed, unaware he had said it out loud until the belly he was eyeing shuddered with a laugh.

“Where do you want me, Eds?”

“Uhh, there’s an old bench shoved here somewhere. Gotta be more comfortable than on my desk.” As he said it, he winced but he watched as Steve’s eyes darkened.

“Yeah, you can bend me over your desk another time.”

“Jesus Christ,” Eddie chuckled.

Eddie popped up the dusty table, quickly but efficiently wiping it down with disinfectant before beckoning him over. Steve stood again, sliding the sweats from his legs as Eddie watched, enraptured. He didn’t take his eyes off of him as he laid down, arching his back as he positioned himself and had to hang his arms off the sides to fit.

Other tattoos he hadn’t gotten to see before drew his attention away from the magnificent ass, some script across his ribs and a baseball bat with nails through it on his bicep.

The one he’d done on his thigh was the biggest, and was the most detailed. If he’d known (or had thought to ask any questions) he would’ve prepared Steve better for the pain he’d had to endure. Hindsight being what it was, he just shrugged at himself and carried on. Nothing to do for it now. Steve had come back, after all.

Sucking in a deep breath, Eddie traced a finger down his spine and over the leg strap that crossed over the tattoo. “Gunna slide this up a little, baby.”

The word felt like too much, hanging between them, but Steve made a little affirmative noise in his throat and arched into the touch.

Eddie put his gloves on, got his tray set up and let himself believe this was actually happening.

“You gunna sit so good for me again, sweetheart?”

Steve whined and nodded, Eddie watched his fingers flex into fists.

“Your pretty little mermaid for everyone to see, been showing it off to everyone?”

“No, haven’t, not really. Did everything you said. Even kept it out of the sun.”

Eddie coughed to cover the little whimper that came out of him, when he realized there were no tan lines to be found on all of the skin under his hands. Steve must sunbathe in the nude, but hadn’t been with his new tattoo.

“You like following my directions, Stevie?” He smirked even though he knew Steve couldn’t see.

“Yes sir.”

Eddie almost dropped the tattoo gun. “Fuck, sweetheart. Just relax. Just be a good boy for now, okay? I’ll take care of you.”

“Mhm,” Steve whined as Eddie continued. Thankfully his previous self had plotted the scars mostly in the mermaids dark hair or background, easily able to blend into shadows and such so he didn’t need to redo stencils or think very much, since most of his focus was again on the little noises Steve was making and his ass under his hands.

Steve had definitely been holding back the first time, because now the noises were even more constant and pornographic. Eddie knew he was dripping in his boxers, trying his best to quickly deposit the ink in Steve’s perfect skin.

“Doing so well, pretty boy.”

“Feels good, Eds. Could sit here forever,” Steve whimpered.

“Mhm,” Eddie hummed, not acknowledging the lie as he watched Steve’s jaw flex and the muscles bunch under his hands. “Relax, Steve. Or I’ll stop.”

Cooing at his devastated noise, Eddie wiped ink from his body again and pressed a kiss to his side, making Steve cry out and his hips jolt.

“Oh fuck, you’re going to be the death of me. How can you be this hot?”

Eddie stopped. “Huh? Me?”

“Of course, Eds. You think all of this was for show? I just get naked in front of people I don’t think are hot?”

That stumped him. “I mean- uh, but-“

“I thought I was pretty blatant the first time, but Chrissy-“

“Chrissy,” Eddie groaned. Of course she was in on this. This stunt had her name written all over it. “Holy shit.”

Steve rolled over on his other hip to look up at him. “Eds, it was her idea but only because I had been whining to her about not knowing how to get your attention. She said you were not going to catch any subtle teasing or jealousy tactics, that I’d have to go big and obvious. This was as, uh, big and obvious as we could agree upon.”

Eddie frowned. “Agree upon?”

“Chrissy had much more elaborate plans, but I didn’t want to like publicly embarrass either of us. I just wanted it to be us, and you know, maybe the shop guys, that was really hot last time. But-“

Eddie stopped him with a kiss, Steve grinning into it and finally wrapping his arms around him. He ripped the black rubber gloves from his hands and someone pushed the tray of supplies out of the way, then suddenly he had a lapful of mostly naked Steve.

When they finally broke apart gasping, he traced Steve’s wet bottom lip with his thumb and Steve pulled it into his mouth. “Goddamn you’re amazing. So fucking gorgeous. Could look at you forever.”

Steve gave him a blinding smile from around his thumb, licking across the pad before letting it go. “Promise?”

“Yes, baby.”

Their lips crashed together again and Eddie’s hands went to his hair to hold him where he wanted him and around his waist to pull him closer, their hard lengths meeting between their layers. Eddie knew this was not good for his brand new tattoo but he couldn’t break their desperate kiss.

Steve kissed down his jaw to his neck, nosing his hair out of his way.

“Stevie baby, gotta-“

He laughed at the petulant whine he received. “Settle down, just don't want to fuck up all the work I did, even though I know redoing it again would be enjoyable for both of us. Turn over for me and I’ll take care of you.”

Working together, they arranged Steve to stand bending over the table and Eddie slid close behind him, licking across his hole and sliding a hand into the front of his jock.

“Please, please Eds- oh my god,” Steve wailed as he fucked himself back and forth, not sure if he wanted to rut himself into his mouth or his hand.

“I got you, sweetheart. Come for me and I’ll clean you all up and take you home.”

Steve arched back into him again. “That’s the hottest thing anyone’s ever said. Ever.”

Eddie swiped his tongue over his spasming hole again, making him shudder. “I think you’re a bit biased right now, but I’ll remember that.”

Ignoring his own throbbing cock, he slurped and stroked until Steve made the hottest noise he’d ever heard (he was definitely biased), coming hard into his sexy little jockstrap.

“That’s my good boy,” Eddie growled, nosing between his legs against his clothed spent balls and making Steve whimper.

“Stay still and let me wrap your fucking tattoo and then I’m dragging you home.”

“Y’ssir,” Steve slurred, slumping down onto his hands on the table, poking his ass up further into the air.

“Can’t believe you rode your motorcycle to get a tattoo on your ass, you absolute menace,” Eddie huffed.

“I was hopeful I would be getting a ride after.”

Eddie cackled along with Steve as they took the short drive to his place.

“As if there would be any other possible outcome with you throwing your gorgeous self at me.”

Steve shrugged, undoing his seatbelt. “Could’ve been. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.”

Eddie looked at him like he was insane. “You mean, like, blind people? Lesbians?”

Giggling, Steve stuck his tongue out playfully. Eddie pretended to reach for it. “I’m a hit with lesbians, for the record.”

“Of course you are, handsome. Now get inside before I embarrass both of us in this parking lot.”

Wanting to get out of the shop quickly and without many eyes on them, Eddie had persuaded Steve just to put the sweatpants back on and snuck out the back staff door. Steve had confirmed that the rest of his appointments for the evening had also been fake (Benedict Phalange and Jack M. Ihoff, he needed to get more creative friends honestly) so they could run off without guilt.

Eddie left Steve waiting impatiently on his doorstep as he rushed around his apartment throwing dirty clothes into his closet, gathered all the trash from his coffee table and as a last resort sprayed air freshener everywhere.

Pulling the door back open with a flourish, he ducked his head down and bowed, putting on a voice. “My liege, welcome to my very humble abode. Me casa es the landlords casa, unfortunately. But it’s supposedly earthquake proof.”

Steve snickered at him, pulling him from his low bow and pushing him against the door. “Well let’s test that out, shall we?”

“Fuck, I’m keeping you,” Eddie groaned before meeting his hungry kiss. “Let’s go test out the shower first.”

After pushing and pulling each other to the bathroom and losing clothes along the way, after they’d wriggled Eddie’s pants off, Steve looked him over with wide eyes.

Eddie felt unnerved for a long moment before Steve made a low appreciative noise and ran a finger from the ink on his throat to the metal through his nipple and gasped as his eyes trailed lower.

“It’s yours?”

Eddie frowned, almost gasping himself as Steve dropped to his knees in front of him, then realized what had grabbed Steve’s attention. “Oh. You didn’t know?”

Steve traced along the harpy tattoo above his knee. “I didn’t know it was on you, Mr. Humble. Letting me rave over it and you didn’t feel the need to tell me you tattooed it onto yourself? That’s beyond badass, Eds.”

Maybe finally cluing into the fact that he was kneeling in front of him, Steve looked up from under his lashes at him, pressing a quick wet kiss to the tattoo before hooking his fingers in the elastic of Eddie’s boxer briefs to pull them down.

“Is- are- oh my god.”

“Not sure I can answer that one, honey,” Eddie laughed.

Steve continued staring until he finally thumbed at the metal through the head of his cock. “How do you keep getting hotter?” He pulled back, shedding his (Eddie’s) sweatpants and jockstrap in one motion. “C’mon, I need that in my mouth right the fuck now.”

Eddie would be embarrassed for the noise that came out of him as Steve sunk to his knees the moment they stepped in the shower, but then his brain was being sucked out of his dick. He threw one hand out to hold himself up and slid the other into Steve’s thick hair as his hot mouth slid down his length.

He realized his eyes had slid closed and forced them back open to see the gorgeous man below him. “Fuck, baby. Look so good like this,” he gasped.

Steve pushed himself up another inch with a high whine before pulling off. “Can’t take your huge cock.”

Eddie thought his legs were going to drop out from under him as Steve dived back down to swallow around the head of his dick. “Jesus Christ, where did you come from?”

All he could do was try to stay standing, almost sure his brain was going down the shower drain watching Steve as he lapped against the piercing or his cute little furrowed brow as he tried his best to take him down to the hilt.

“Don’t hurt yourself, sweetheart. Doing so good.”

He huffed, sending air across the head of his cock and he jolted a bit, making his piercing slide across Steve’s lips. “Just want all of it,” he pouted.

Unable to help himself, he grabbed a better handful of the hair on the back of Steve’s head and pulled his mouth back onto him. “Tap me if you need to,” he rasped.

Steve made a pretty keening noise and blinked up at him.

Pushing forward only a little further than Steve had been able to take before, he waited for Steve to take a long breath before fucking into his mouth.

“Such a good boy,” he couldn’t help but groan as his throat opened up for him. Carefully inching forward again, he rocked back and forth, leaving only a couple inches untouched.

Steve pushed against his thigh and he quickly backed off, but Steve gasped out, “So fucking hot, Eds. Do it harder. And I want all of it. Make me take it.”

Eddie’s knees almost gave out. “The fucking mouth on you, pretty boy.”

The only response he received was a low hum around the head of his cock before Steve pushed himself down onto this length and looked up expectantly at him.

He watched his face intently as he used the grip on his wet hair to pull him steadily forward. Sliding past his perfect lips, he moaned as they met the curly hair at the base and Steve swallowed around him.

“That’s it baby,” he huffed, yanking him off and letting him suck in a shallow breath before rocking all the way back in. Tears joined the water dripping down his cheeks but he wouldn’t let Eddie stop, whining and shoving himself back down even as his gag reflex fought him. “God, I lo-“ he shook his head. It was too soon. “Gunna come, Stevie.”

Steve bobbed his head and kept humming and swallowing around him until Eddie saw stars and reached above him for the shower rod to hang on to as he came down his throat.

“Oh fuck,” he hissed as the soft tongue cleaned him up. Then he almost hit the floor again when Steve looked up at him with his big round eyes, wrapping both hands around his own hard dick, getting himself off while looking him up and down. “Come for me, beautiful. Then I’m chaining you to my bed. Never letting you go.”

“Ah! Eds!” Steve made eye contact with him as he shuddered through his release, finally leaning his forehead against Eddie’s hip to catch his breath.

Once they were cleaned up and dry, cuddled up in bed, Steve looked around searchingly and Eddie raised an eyebrow at him. “Where’re your chains?”

Days later after not getting to see each other due to their schedules and Eddie trying not to come on too strongly (honestly he’d ask Steve to move in with him if he didn’t think he would run away screaming), Steve picked him up for Argyle’s party.

“I don’t know that I consented to a motorcycle ride,” Eddie smirked. God, don’t get hard. Don’t get hard.

“Parking over there is atrocious, this way we won’t have to walk a mile.”

Eddie kissed his cheek as he took the helmet held out for him. “Good thinking, sweetheart.”

He tried not to get too excited. But the vibration of the bike under him and holding on to Steve as he zipped through the city was exhilarating. Steve wiggled his hips back into him teasingly. He growled into his ear, “Be good.”

Steve shook his head and wiggled again. Eddie grabbed his hips and rutted his hard cock against his back. When that only made the wiggling continue, he looked around quickly before sliding his hand down between Steve’s legs.

Chuckling darkly against his shoulder as he gasped and revved the engine. “Don’t kill us, pretty, haven’t gotten to do everything I want to you yet.”

The hardness in his hand twitched and Steve slowed down the bike, turning a corner and taking them down a more deserted street.

“And don’t come,” he hissed as he squeezed a bit tighter.

They made it to Argyle’s in one piece miraculously, Steve whining at him as he hopped off the bike and pulled both of their helmets off to meet his lips.

“C’mon Stevie, before we get arrested in his front yard for indecent exposure.”

No one was surprised to see them walk in together, Eddie had been unable to stop talking about their developing relationship to anyone and everyone who would listen. Drew would jokingly make gagging noises at him and Gareth would loudly fake moan from next to him in the studio or bar.

“Ah our favorite pet project has arrived!” Argyle called out when he saw them, nudging Chrissy who was draped over his shoulder, apparently this meddling had brought them back together.

“Hey guys,” Chrissy beamed at them.

It was unbearably hot, but under the umbrellas and awning in the back of the house it was a bit more tolerable, and people were jumping in and out of the pool.

Eddie almost swallowed his tongue when Steve came out of the bathroom wearing a tiny sporty looking speedo and nothing else. He grabbed his elbow and pulled him back into the bathroom. “Are you trying to kill me? What is that?”

Steve just grinned. “It’s a pool party, babe. This is a bathing suit,” speaking slowly and deliberately like he was explaining something very complicated. “You wear it in the pool.”

“Uh huh, smart ass. What about keeping your new tattoo out of the sun? You’re pushing it, you’re already lucky I’m letting you swim at all.”

“Mmm, let me, Eds? What else do I have your permission to do?” Steve pulled him close by the waistband of his own plain black trunks.

“Fuck, you are trying to kill me,” he breathed, closing the distance between their lips. But after a quick kiss he pulled back. Looking into his eyes, he promised lowly, “Keep being a brat and you’ll end up bent over Argyle’s weird furniture. You have one free cheek.”

Someone knocked hard on the door and they jumped apart. One of Argyle’s friends snickered at them as they hurried out past him.

Steve continued teasing him incessantly throughout the party, dragging him into the pool and wrapping his arms and legs around him so Eddie could carry him around, after they’d gotten out and dried off he got back in then plopped his cold wet self right onto Eddie’s lap and got comfortable. Taking any opportunity to touch him, pulling him in for kisses mid-sentence with their friends if he felt like it, licking invisible crumbs from his fingers as he ate.

“This must be the famous Eddie, then,” a voice came from above them and Steve squawked as he jumped up to throw his arms around the person.

Eddie recognized her immediately from Steve’s instagram.

“Robin! I thought you couldn’t make it!” He was almost jumping up and down, Eddie found himself grinning just from how excited he was.

“Well I texted you a bunch, but it seems like you don’t have your phone.” She looked pointedly down to his tiny bathing suit.

Steve smirked at her and they shared a long look, seeming to have a conversation without talking.

“So Eddie, what are your intentions with my platonic soulmate?” Robin asked seriously as she dropped into the chair next to him. “How do you feel about him wanting six kids?”

Eddie looked quickly between them, throat going dry suddenly, “Uhhh, I mean, um-“

“Aww leave him alone, Bob. I’ve already been messing with him all day,” Steve laughed, plopping himself back into Eddie’s lap.

As the day went on, drinks were consumed and games played, Steve still finding any excuse to use Eddie as a chair and pressing his lips anywhere he could reach.

The final straw was when Steve plucked an ice cube from Eddie’s drink and as he watched, licked some of the dripping drink from it but instead of popping the entire thing in his mouth (which would’ve been hot enough on its own), he tucked it down the front of Eddie’s swim trunks.

Robin laughed at them as Eddie squeaked before grabbing Steve’s hand and pulling him into the house.

Steve’s wide grin told him everything he needed to know.

“Thought you liked being my good boy, why are you acting up?” He crowded close to him, cupping his face and making him meet his eyes.

“Want you, Eds, please,” Steve pouted and gave him big puppy dog eyes.

“You’ve been sitting on my dick all day, honey. What else do you need? Huh?”

Steve pulled away and Eddie almost pouted himself, but then he just looked around before asking, “Are there bedrooms here?”

Barking a quick relieved laugh, he took his hand again and they ran up the stairs. Locking the door and pushing Steve against it, he met his desperate kiss and lined up their hips with a groan.

“Take this tiny thing off, babe.” He pulled at the hip of his speedo and Steve giggled.

Together they got their suits off and Eddie shoved him until he landed on the bed. He pulled open the nightstand and his eyebrows shot up. “Good for you, Argyle.”

He threw a condom and a small bottle of lube onto the bed and left the rest alone.

“Yessss, want your huge cock in me,” Steve hissed as he squirmed around on the bed.

“Settle down, Stevie, I think I promised you something else if you were going to keep being a brat,” he taunted.

“Want that, too.” He maneuvered himself onto his knees with his back to Eddie.

Momentarily distracted by his own art on the expanse of skin before him, his eyes then traveled up and he let out a deep groan. “Holy fuck, Stevie. How haven’t I seen this one?”

Eddie traced over the delicate lettering right under his perfect dimples in the small of his back, his jaw actually dropping. “You are just a pretty little babygirl, aren’t you?”

Steve arched his back with a high whine as he dragged his finger down between his cheeks. Without warning he slapped across his bare cheek and chuckled at his little squeak.

“More, c’mon,” he taunted, rising up on his hands on the bed.

Eddie hummed thoughtfully and swatted harder against him a handful of times in quick succession before grabbing a handful of cheek in a harsh grip, enjoying the rough inhale of breath and little whimper he received.

He continued spanking down his thigh and swatting over his perfect tramp stamp until everything was a warm pink and Steve was writhing and widening his legs so he’d get a peak of his pretty hole.

“Please,” Steve whined prettily. “Need your cock, please. Oh fuck!” Eddie smacked once more hard across his ass.

Quickly grabbing the lube, he chuckled as Steve flopped down onto his face on the bed, arching his back and immediately showing off his ass. Eddie swiped his wet fingers across it, trying to prepare him quickly as his own dick screamed at him to just shove inside.

Finally after Steve was a quivering whimpering mess on the bed, he removed his fingers and rolled the condom on.

“Oh, c-could, um,” Steve stammered.

“Why’re you gettin’ shy on me now, pretty? What do you want?”

He huffed, half hiding his face into the sheet under him, and Eddie tried as best he could to patiently wait for him to say something.

“Can, you know, can we do it the other way? Wanna see you. Hold onto you.” Steve couldn’t look at him while he said it, and Eddie wanted to go throttle whoever had told this gorgeous man that he didn’t deserve to be taken care of.

“C’mere, Stevie,” he cooed, and his eyes shot to his, widening when he realized Eddie was serious. He turned over, sitting up on the edge of the bed and Eddie knelt in front of him, pulling him in close. “Gunna treat you so well, babygirl. You already have me wrapped right around your little finger. Of course we can do romantic and soft,” he laughed.

Steve’s eyebrows turned down and he gave him a little pout. “Didn’t say anything about soft,” he grumbled.

They laughed together, and Eddie pressed a kiss to the side of his mouth, then his forehead. “Gunna have me eating out of your hand, aren’t you babygirl? Gunna have me completely whipped. I can already tell.”

Steve simply shrugged and pulled him in for a deeper kiss, wrapping his arms and legs around him. Finally he pulled away, gasping, “Please fuck me already. I can’t wait anymore. And Robin is very needy, she’ll come look for us soon.”

Eddie snorted. “Oh, she’s needy, huh? Must’ve learned that from you.”

He watched as he got his gorgeous self spread out across the bed, fluffing pillows behind his head and threw one playfully at Eddie who helped him shove it under his hips.

He teased him for a long moment, dragging the pierced head of his cock around his hole and over his balls until he was whining and grasping handfuls of sheet. The first push inside made his eyes cross, holding on tight to his thick thighs under his hands. “Like you were made for me, baby.”

Leaning over him, he kissed down his neck and over his nipples, giving them extra attention when it made him clench around him and cry out. “Oh yeah, baby? Sensitive little things, huh? Maybe we’ll see if Argyle can pierce them for you. Or better yet, I’ll get him to show me how, and I’ll be the one to make you even prettier.”

“Oh fuck, yes, oh my god,” Steve wailed as he met the harried thrusts. “I don’t know how you’re real. God I love- love your fucking cock.”

Eddie hummed into his neck. Not the cleanest coverup he’d heard, but he hid his smirk by dragging his teeth across his collarbone. “Going to give me a complex, sweet thing. All this big talk.”

Steve shook his head petulantly, reaching down to feel where he was being split open, squeezing around the base where it wasn’t even all the way in. “It’s so big, Eds. Like even if you weren’t so sweet and the hottest thing on two legs, I’d give it up just for this.”

“Oh, that’s very romantic, honey,” he huffed. Deciding he could talk too well while getting fucked, he pushed at his leg and pulled it over his shoulder, opening him wider and laughing as Steve cried out.

Able to push all the way in now, he got lost in the back and forth, gazing between Steve’s blissed out face and watching himself disappear into him.

“Can- oh! Can feel you in my throat. So deep, Eds. Gunna come.”

Eddie echoed Steve’s groan as his big hands came up to play with his own nipples, Eddie encircling his leaking cock and matching his thrusts.

Steve came hard between them, his gorgeous noises and the clenching around his dick sending Eddie over the edge right behind. Slumping down onto him as they tried to catch their breath, Eddie smirked into his skin when his legs wrapped around his hips.

“I’m not going anywhere, babygirl.”

Surprisingly none of their friends came to look for them, and eventually they had to face the music.

Robin rolled her eyes at them as they opened the sliding glass door to the backyard, and cried out when Steve rushed around to pool towards her.

“No running by the pool, dingus! You’d think you’d be more careful after your crazy embarrassing accident at state.”

Eddie frowned, his attention switching back to Steve as he groaned and went to cover Robin’s mouth. But the secret had already been spilled.

“But I guess Eddie could just cover up more scars,” she giggled, narrowly avoiding Steve’s flailing arms to smirk over at Eddie.

Finally clicking all the pieces together, he found his voice. “You told me it was a motorcycle accident!”

[osiiiris]

Papa’s playlists - music headcanons

Sometimes when I listen to music I mentally associate what I’m listening to the Papas, so I thought it would have been fun to imagine a 10 songs playlist for/of each Papa. I have chosen the songs by their personalities, the kind of music they have done and the general vibes I get when I listen to the songs.

Primo:

I see him sitting on his couch by the fire, immersed in his voluminous, rich vestments. He can listen to the heaviest doom metal tune without moving an inch of his body, fully immersed in understanding the lyrics, but 70s rock always brings back his old memories of when he used to throw small parties in his chamber whenever the Beatles or his favorite bands released a new LP.

The Beatles - Come together 

Black Sabbath - Iron Man

Mayhem - Freezing moon

The Rolling Stones - Start me up

Candlemass - Bewitched

Bathory - A fine day to die 

Mercyful fate - Evil

The animals - House of the rising sun

Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss

Diamond Head - Am I Evil?

Secondo:

He has two sides: the old-school metalhead and the devoted enthusiast of good old symphonic music. He prepares himself a cigar and settles at his desk, embracing the darkness like the nocturnal creature he is, to work on papers or perhaps write some lyrics inspired by his favorite arias. In his playlist, you can always find something classy followed by something extremely heavy.

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

Slayer - South of Heaven

Venom - Don’t burn the witch

Giuseppe Verdi - Dies Irae/Tuba Mirum

Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers

King Diamond - The family ghost

The Doors - Riders on the storm

Guns and Roses - Coma

Bobby Vinton - Blue velvet 

Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons

Terzo:

Ah, Terzo. Whether he's completing his nighttime skincare routine, getting dressed for a mass, preparing for a date, or simply relaxing in his chambers with a good wine, he always has a record playing in the background. He's not a headbanger, but he likes to keep the tempo with his hands. He taps his fingers on his thigh to match the drum tempo of most rhythmic songs or moves his hands softly to the sound of the mellower ones, like when he listens to "Barcelona," adjusting his hand movements based on the virtuosity of the voices.

Candlemass - Well of Souls

The struts - Kiss this

Metallica - Until it sleeps

Metallica - For whom the bell tolls

Kreator - People of the lie

Freddie Mercury feat Montserrat Caballe - Barcelona

David Bowie - Starman

Pentagram - Sign of the wolf

Sepoltura - Dead embryonic cells

Mercyful fate - Witches dance 

Copia:

I can totally picture Copia putting on something groovy like "Stuck In The Middle With You" while attempting to cook something, swaying his hips to the rhythm and inevitably either burning whatever is in the pan or creating a mess on the counter by dropping bottles and food.

Alice Cooper - Poison

Iron Maiden - Run to the hills

Steppenwolf - Born to be wild

Dead or Alive - You spin me round 

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Judas Priest - Painkiller

The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the devil

Stealers wheel - Stuck in the middle with you 

The Darkness - Love is only a feeling

Bon Jovi - You give love a bad name

Nihil:

An old-school rocker. He would pick you up in his car with Led Zeppelin playing at full volume, take you to a bar where he puts on your favorite song in the jukebox, and by the time you come back from the toilet, he's kissing some random girl right at the bar counter. He would later apologize, claiming he was just drunk and thought that was you… a red flag you'll ignore.

The Doors - Touch me

Led Zeppelin - Whole lotta love

Elton John - Tiny dancer

Ozzy Osburne - Crazy train

Deep Purple - Child in time 

Deep Purple - Hush

Jefferson airplane - White rabbit

Elvis Presley - Suspicious minds

The Rolling Stones -  Paint it black

The Beatles - Helter Skelter

[acewritesfics]

Take On Me | Eddie Munson

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Request: No

Warnings: Drug use. Slight mentions of possible pining for one another.

Word Count: 787

Stranger Things Masterlist | Main Masterlist

“What song is your favorite right now?” Eddie asked curiously about Y/N’s musical tastes as they sat on the lone picnic table in the middle of the woods, passing an almost-finished joint between them. Y/N was lying lengthwise on the tabletop as he sat on one of the seats closer to her, so they didn’t have to reach far when passing the joint back and forth. The two new friends had just recently met and were still getting to know one another.  

“This will sound cheesy, but it’s A-Take ha’s On Me.” She responds after a short moment of contemplation. Even though she has numerous favorites, Take on Me was the first song that came to mind. She readies herself for the playful criticism from Eddie.  

Rock music, according to the lovable metalhead, should be the only kind of music. She agreed to some extent, declaring rock music as her favorite genre, but her musical tastes expanded beyond that. Metallica, Dio, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Slayer, and many others are among her favorites, but she also enjoys The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Righteous Brothers, and Janis Joplin, to name a few. Her parents were responsible for her eclectic musical tastes. Her parents were huge musical enthusiasts, with Woodstock being one of their best memories.  

He looks at her, momentarily stunned by her choice of song, his eyes travelling to the Slayer t-shirt she’s wearing. “I didn’t think you would be a pop music lover."   

She puffs on the joint and hands it back to Eddie, who finishes it. "There’s a lot about me you don’t know, Munson."   

"I like how unexpected you are, Y/L/N,” he admits.   

“Yeah?” She wonders.  

“It keeps things interesting,” he says, nodding.  

“Glad to be of service, Eddie the Musically inclined,” she beams as she turns her head to face him, her gaze locked with his stunning, deep brown eyes.   

She wasn’t sure if it was because they were high or because his eyes were simply so beautiful, but she found herself becoming lost in his vast pools of chocolate eyes.   

As his voice fills the silent surroundings, she is soon jolted out of her trance.   

“Take on me, take on me. Take me on, take on me; I’ll be gone in a day,” Eddie sings loudly and completely off tune, which leads the young woman to burst out laughing, her head thrown back. “It’s a cool song."   

"But they’re not Metallica or Black Sabbath, are they?” She smiles as she turns her head to look at him again.  

She laughs once again when he says, “Obviously,” as if she has gone insane.  

He smirks at her, at ease, and not simply due to the joint they just shared. They both felt a sense of peace with each other. He was easy to get along with for Y/N. He knows how to keep the conversation interesting and flowing. He wasn’t a creep and always made her feel comfortable with him. He didn’t press her to discuss anything she wasn’t ready to talk about with him, and he was a genuinely good guy with a kind heart who was making the best of what life had thrown at him.  

She hadn’t genuinely smiled or laughed in a while. He couldn’t blame her. According to what she had told him, she had always been close to her father, therefore his untimely death was devastating and unexpected. He wasn’t close to his own father, who was incarcerated and serving time for numerous criminal charges including murder, so he didn’t pretend to understand how she was feeling.   

Although he is aware that she is high right now, he still found it amusing to see and hear her laugh and see her smile. In his eyes, it made her look even more beautiful.  

“Do you think that cloud looks like a butterfly?” She gestures to the sky, which is visible through the gap in the trees, and asks the metal head. She was high right now.   

“Let me see,” he says, beckoning for her to move over. He rises from his seat and climbs onto the tabletop with her.   

To give him room to lie next to her, she slowly slides aside, making sure not to fall off the table. The two are shoulder to shoulder, as they looked up at the sky. Eddie squints his eyes a little, trying to see the shape of a butterfly.   

“Looks more like a cat,” he adds, causing her to laugh out loud once again.  

They spent the rest of their afternoon skipping class and discerning what clouds looked like which shape while cracking jokes and getting to know each other a little better. 

[herrlindemann]

Metal Hammer - March 1999

Rammstein has recently been the subject of ever-higher jets of flame. Shoes off and put the position of the band.

The last few months have left a lot of room for wild thoughts (irrational) journeys about an allegedly right-wing image of the band. In the conversation, Richard Kruspe and manager Emu were open to discussion and also self-critical. Manager Emu didn't have a controlling function in this case, but reflects the band, and thus he became part of this interview. Since there are certainly fans among you who are interested in topics other than the discussion about the clip for 'Stripped', the following pages also deal with the experiences of the recently completed Family Values tour with Korn, Orga, Ice Cube , Limp Bizkit and a preview of the new record.

Richard: The two months in the US felt like half a year. In order to be able to eat properly during the tour, we took a cook with us this time. As a result, all the bands sat in our catering area.

Were you able to expand your newcomer bonus and become the surprise act of the festival?

Richard: In the beginning there was a problem with the order, because we were supposed to appear second after Orgy. In America, concerts start relatively early, but people come relatively late, and we didn't want to play in front of 300 people.

Emu: There were alternatives up for debate: We could have expected 3,000 people on our own headlining tour.

Richard: Ultimately, the request came because they wanted an exciting festival, not because they like us particularly well. Anyway, they offered us the post-Korn position as co-headliners. As a result, the other bands were pissed off and distant too. We ended up playing by Korn and within a week the response from the musicians was that it was okay and we deserved the spot. Except for the couple of Korn fans chained in the front row, we had the feeling that we had convinced the audience at every concert.

How important is the Grammy nomination for ‘Du hast’ to you?

Richard: I was emotionally touched like in a few moments. It's a real recognition because producers, musicians and radio stations are interviewed for this. We're also pleased that bands like Rage Against The Machine, Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford or Dave Groll generally admit to being Rammstein fans.

Do you see yourself in a league with the nominated bands, including Metallica?

Richard: Yes. But I only know Metallica, Judas Priest and Rage Against The Machine.

Now there were tears that our most successful piece of music is hanging around in America.

Richard: I understand a certain jealousy, but if you want to please everyone, you need copies. It's like when you have five wives, the one you date first is the most jealous. But we're staying in Germany, and I was happy to be back here after two months.

Do you personally like the 'Stripped' video with Leni Riefenstahl's recordings?

Richard: Yes. When we spoke to our director back then, the basic idea was 'sport'. At the second meeting he brought a demo with these same recordings to show us what he has in mind. We spontaneously decided to do it.

Wasn't there an internal discussion?

Emu: We were expecting the record company to say it wasn't possible. Our only turning point was one day when we looked at Russian footage from the same period to see if it would work. It hasn't. There are a few plays by other directors in there, but otherwise we left it with Leni Riefenstahl.

Richard: Maybe we reacted so spontaneously because it's a piece of memory from our childhood.

Can you understand that people react sensitively?

Richard: Yes, but what I don't understand is that on the one hand they are enthusiastic about it, but on the other hand they are influenced by the opinion that is made in the media. That means the first reaction is "Oh, nice ", and when they hear that it's Leni Reifenstahl, they make a face. We used images from a sports film, not Triumph of the Will.

Emu: People asked me where we got the thousand gymnasts from. When they found out about Riefenstahl and were told who she was, they said " You can't do that ".

But you knew her before.

Richard: As an artist yes, but she wasn't in my life like she is today. I'm reading her biography right now.

Emu: In Denmark, art students look at her works as a lesson. Then we don't have to stand there and explain what attraction that has.

Witt says that someone with talent had to come to terms with the Third Reich.

Richard: It's not about good or bad, it's about their art. But of course I can't condone the fact that she let Hitler blind her.

Emu: After the Wall came down, friends with whom you made music told you that they were Stasi agents.

Richard: One also forgives…

Emu: Many from the West mobilized against former SED people. There's a willingness in me to defend when people arrive who haven't seen it. I've heard a lot of speculation about Leni Riefenstahl, especially the question of whether she slept with Hitler, far more often than the statement "that's the seduction of power ". There's only one artist I've heard more speculation about, and that's Rammstein. For example that the 'Stripped' clip was produced for the American market. It wasn't even released in the US.

If I were you, I would be less bothered by the articles by Spiegel or Rolling Stone, but more by the meanwhile negative reactions of the fans.

Richard: That's not true.

But we get corresponding letters from the editor. People want to sell their Rammstein collection.

Richard: Really? Rammstein is a phenomenon, discussions about it have already broken friendships, but that can only mean that you know a little more afterwards.

Emu: A friend of ours has a small independent cinema. When he came to a joint meeting of the cinema operators with the Rammstein hat, they wanted to exclude him. So it can also go to the existential. The 'Stripped' video is being used as evidence to prove what has been floating around in the media for a long time.

You are blamed for providing the image of German that America wants to see.

Richard: What picture do we deliver? We often had to answer the question of whether we were gay there; but none came about “German” and “Nazi”. ‘Du hast’, the video that ran in the US, is a gangster story. They like the music. But I can now understand the attitude of people who say you should be more sensitive, although I still think the video is beautiful and aesthetic. Art has something to do with spontaneity, emotion and naivety. If you always weigh everything, only boring things come out.

Do you make sure in the future that you don't give this image any additional nourishment?

Richard: We want to continue to choose quality.

And when art and sensitivity face each other again?

Richard: That's when you start circumcising yourself. But of course there is a moral limit that runs right there that I would have rejected making 'Triumph des Willens', no question. But 'Olympia' has to do with sports aesthetics.

If you can understand it, does that also weigh on your conscience?

Richard: Yes, yes. Till, our singer, also has problems with it and is really depressed. When you keep hearing accusations that aren't true, it hurts too. I used to have blonde rastas and made funky music, now I'm thinking about situations that are completely unfamiliar to me: What if I want to go to a club and the bouncer says to me: "You can't come in here, you right pig! ».

Where do you want to start?

Richard: By showing people that you can also make art with other means. We want to let people know that Rammstein will always innovate...

If you don't want to be deterred, you have to make yourself independent of the opinions of others, right?

Richard: It really takes self-confidence and a thick skin.

At least you seem to have the former.

Richard: It seems that way, doesn't it?

Absolutely. So are you the speaker?

Richard: That's not true. It's actually very well divided apart from Till. We didn't want to follow the record company line that singers have to do interviews. The musicians know a lot more about sound, while the singer is limited to writing lyrics and can't talk about some musical things at all.

Are you a bit afraid of the next record yourself?

Richard: It's like Christmas when you have a gift and you don't know if you like it. On the one hand I notice that I'm repeating myself and I'm enthusiastic about it because I realize that this is Rammstein. On the other hand, of course, something new has to be added. I approach it conservatively, a riff, a rhythm, a melody, and when it then harmonizes with the text, freshness should be brought in, like the modern electronics in Sehnsucht. Since I wrote the second record more or less by myself, I would also like the others to contribute more musically. It's never good trying to please someone. I recently spoke to a producer who said you have to keep your instincts and follow them. Then all you have to do is concentrate. I write two to three hours every day and confidence is related to how successful I am, whether I had a good idea and wrote something good. If nothing happens for two or three days, I'm also very, very small.

Is Till now thinking twice about his texts, or is there even a reappraisal of things?

Richard: I find his lyrics so apolitical that he doesn't have to think about it. It's poetry. I hope he tries to stay away from it. If Till would work that out, people wouldn't understand it at all. Kraftwerk were partly condemned too, but if this band had made an anti-fascist song, it wouldn't have fitted. Just as little as with Rammstein.

Emu: We cannot justify what never happened. In order to keep the influence within limits, we have now canceled the clipping service so that all the articles are no longer lying around in the office and you read everything all the time. That's enough.

Richard: We're not closing ourselves off to information. According to the saying "Resist the beginnings " we think about it. In America I even made a wrong decision because I'm so insecure and sensitized. I had a fan kicked out who was always throwing his right arm forward. He didn't do anything, just went along with the music.

Hasn't something broken for you lately from the magic, the dream of being successful?

Richard: The better known you are, the lonelier you get. But I can't do something completely different right now. As long as I can take it, I'll keep going. You can tell that you can compensate for all these stories and your personal sacrifices with music. Maybe our situation can be compared to when you play a song in the rehearsal room. You like it, go out, play it in front of people fifty times until you realize there's no response. But you have to get to that point first. The reactions to 'Stripped' are similar. You have to admit that you may have made a mistake. You haven't managed to get it understood. A communication difficulty between bathroom and fan. Maybe it's a piece of history that we live out, others don't see it that way. It was also a cover version, I'm not sure if we would have put it on our own song.

Is there anything new for your fans?

Richard: We are working on a new stage show. It's hard to separate from fire. Water would be great, but that is very difficult to achieve.

Emu: We're thinking of a combination with neon.

In the beginning every hard German band had to be measured against you musically, now everyone justifies that they are not Nazis...

Richard: Yes, soon they won't be able to hear the name Rammstein anymore.

[schnuron]

Darkwave

10/19/2023 My interest of darkwave took me longer to get into it that not many people have told me in the past.

For those who don't know what darkwave is, it's dark synthpop that doesn't progress to be popular in mainstream media. From the information I've read, it began with Clan of Xymox in the 80s and kudos to it that I've listened to their full discography and loved them.

The songs have no hooks from pop/rock/hip-hop musicians. It's listening to a score to get the vibe of something you want to or "my soundtrack playlist" that nowadays people are listening to like Taylor Swift or A$AP Rocky. (https://www.complex.com/music/a/bdandrid/no-hook-viral-rap-songs-structure-changes) Basically, it's the vibe music.

Before darkwave, I heard Sisters of Mercy's Floodland in 2016 and I loved it, but I've never been a nerd of it. Synthwave took me over in that year, thanks to Perturbator's Dangerous Days (heard of it in 2015), GUNSHIP, John Carpenter and Hotline Miami OSTs. I still listen to Synthwave, but I've been least active of that genre since it's kinda ubiquitous at this point.

I heard of a few darkwave albums in the past like Drab Majesty or Boy Harsher's Country Girl EP in 2018, yet that genre didn't grasp me fully. I love Perturbator's Lustful Sacraments. That is until I heard of Mareux's The Perfect Girl (The Cure cover) in February of this year, thanks to Zoolander's meme I saw. I loved that song. How come no one suggested me this song before? ehh…

Darkwave hooked me with Mareux's music in April this year and I've been enamored of searching for more bands like Mareux and so far, I've found plenty of bands I love and some didn't click me. Hopefully they'll keep making one darkwave album per year or tops. No pressure.

The unanswered question is how long do I keep listening to it. I don't know. The genres I heard like punk (The Stooges or Husker Du), hard rock (Led Zeppelin's third album or AC/DC), pop punk (Yellowcard or Fall Out Boy) heavy metal (Judas Priest or Iron Maiden), Alternative Rock (Story of the Year or Filter), Industrial (Nine Inch Nails or Contagion) metalcore (Bullet For My Valentine/Killswitch Engage), ambient (Plastikman's Consumed), thrash metal (Megadeth's Rust in Peace or Sepultura), grindcore (Terrorizer or Anal Cunt), death metal (Carcass or Death) and black metal (Burzum's Hvis Lyset Tat Oss) are stored in my brain. I'm not enthusiastic of discovering new bands (Spiritbox or Sleep Token) of an existing genre. People will find a niche to a particular band or a number of bands in one way or another.

I still like Queens of the Stone Age from time to time. xP

Will another genre get me addictive in the future? K-pop or noise music? Maybe. Or I'm just apathetic to hook me in a derivative music world.

Whatever. I'm listening to Hante. - Morning Tsunami.

Have a nice spooky month, folks. ^^

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

Firestarter 1998 Black Metal

I guess ever since I learned about the history of black metal, particularly its Norwegian second wave, I've just been in a sort of shock over how popular it still managed to become. Like, clearly some of its tenets—pure evil and Satanic worship—were played up for sensationalistic shock value, and many ended up biting hard on that aspect of it, just like how lots of concerned American parents got whipped up into a frenzy over their kids listening to Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden in the 80s, convincing themselves that if their impressionable kid played the records backwards, that they could then become possessed by demons because of the imagined Satanic messaging that was hidden in the music. Just pure, laughable silliness, especially considering just how tame a lot of that music sounds today.

But early 90s Norwegian black metal was a far more serious beast, with some of the most extreme fears that were borne by that Satanic panic actually sort of coming to fruition. I mean, whether or not anyone within that Norwegian scene actually believed in their own bullshit, some of its members still managed to gain notoriety by doing some truly heinous and horrifying stuff, like murder. One of the scene's founders, Euronymous, from a band called Mayhem, and who also owned the Oslo record store where Norwegian black metal had originally started, once repeatedly stabbed a gay man to death.

And another thing that this scene manifested was a whole spate of church burnings as well; like fifty of them. Again, whether or not these musicians actually believed in any form of Satanism or held extreme anti-Christian beliefs totally becomes beside the point when they actually end up causing real world harm. But those actions that they took in order to gain credibility, by practicing what they preached in their music, caused the whole scene to become its own spectacle anyway, which is what it seems like some of its most vocal members had wanted all along; a self-fulfilling prophecy, as it were.

Now, while I viscerally tend to despise the sound of black metal itself, mostly because of its shrieking, demonic vocals, I'm not here to say that because a bunch of Norwegians took their shit way too far, that black metal, as a whole, should be canceled. I, personally, find its presentation and obsession with all things morose and evil to be really, really corny, but if you dig it, then more power to you.

But what I really struggle to wrap my head around—and perhaps I really shouldn't be as surprised as I am here—is that despite all of this violence and hatred that some musicians in the Norwegian scene themselves actually carried out in real life, that labels would still be willing to play footsie with those bands. Like, this comp, from Century Black Records, isn't from an obscure label of any kind; Century Black was a sublabel of Century Media Records, which is a very popular and diverse metal label that's now owned by fucking Sony! Like, you can easily find Mayhem's music on Spotify, the band of the guy who did that murder!

And understandably, there is a concerted effort by metal enthusiasts, and the industry as a whole, to deride and not platform black metal's Nazi subgenre, but if a dude who wasn't a confirmed Nazi committed a grisly, unprovoked killing that was also quite possibly a hate crime, and he and a bunch of others burned some churches too, well, Sony's capitalizing on their music right now. Fucking wild, right?

So, my objection here isn't to the sound or the absurdly cringy themes that black metal itself is steeped in, but it's that a label would still include a band like Mayhem on their comp. Like, isn't that some shit you'd wanna sweep under a rug, like with the Nazi stuff?! But no; I mean, do you see this album cover and title? Firestarter? What do you think they're referring to there, especially with this CD that's largely a showcase of foundational Norwegian black metal bands? Gee, I wonder 🤔.

And guess what? I didn't actually hate this album as much as I thought I would. I mean, I'm still all the way out on all of these songs once the typical black metal vocals kick in, but some of these riffs and melodies, combined with breakneck-paced drumbeats, are very impressive and satisfying to a tiny slice of me that enjoys some very heavy music from time to time. And some of these songs lean a little proggy too, which I can also get down with.

But can we please not do such a transparent allusion to one of the most truly abhorrent phenomena that Norwegian black metal begat? I mean, I understand the issues that people have with Christianity and organized religion more broadly, and I, myself, am a hardened atheist too, but can we please tone it the fuck down here by not flippantly making reference, in both the title and album art, to something reprehensible that actually repeatedly happened? Like, can we not glorify any of that extracurricular shit or present this album in such a way?! I mean, if you were making an album of Phil Spector's greatest hits, your album art wouldn't include anything that referenced the murder he committed, right?

No highlights.

[paleangels13]

Your enthusiastic Lord Of The Lost gif spamming roused my curiosity and I watched some their music videos 😄 I liked Morgana and Blood & Glitter most! What are your song recommendations to get to know this band better?

I love them so much and I get so excited whenever someone shows interest in them! :D like yes please, let me show you the way down into the rabbit hole which I've first landed in 6 years (this year 7 years oh god) ago 😌 :D

Okay, so, idk what you've watched aside from these two soo idk what else to recommend to you mv-wise 🤔 if you have spotify there is a playlist with my recommendations flying around somewhere in the tag :'D or I could send it to you ^^

But I'll simply list some of my favorites here:

(with mv)

Die Tomorrow

Loreley

Voodoo Doll

Credo

On this rock I will build my church

The gospel of Judas

Viva Vendetta

Lost in a Heartbreat (from one of their ensemble records)

La bomba

The broken Ones

Prison

... (I'll stop here because...well :'D)

And without mv:

One last song

One day everything will be okay

Blood for blood

The heartbeat of the devil

Not my enemy

Go to hell

Forevermore (especially the naked version (acoustic))

The most radical thing to do

I could list 20 more buuuut I don't wanna throw so much at you and I feel like it already is way too much :') ;-;

Anyway here you go 🥰🖤

But also...if you wanna get to know the band better...they sound really different on every record which is why I tried to put some variety in the records from which I chose songs 🤔

If for every record one song so you can get a better idea of the sounds I'd say:

dry the rain, prison, beyond beautiful (or October 29, I couldn't decide in this case), die tomorrow, afterlife, lost in a heartbeat, full metal whore, drag me to hell, my better me, haythor, priest, no respect for disrespect

[mekanikaltrifle]

24 and 29?

24:A song by a band you wish were still together

oh now this is an interesting one. I really had to think about it but tbh... I may have to go with The Shamen. Not my usual stuff if you look at my general vibe, and a lot of bands I listen to are still kicking (and some came back! Skunk Anansie!! Suede! Del Amitri! It's a great time to be me with my weirdo music taste :D) However, the Shamen were just so... idk, earnest? Bright and so early 90s hopeful-dance-chaos, and they didn't last iirc because one of the band members died in an accident, and it sorta didn't keep going after that. However. Enjoy the 90s Scottish electro dance cheese :D

29:A song that you remember from your childhood

Oh boy! That's a tricky one, because both my parents were musicians and music enthusiasts, both with their own tastes and many many tapes. And CDs. And vinyls. Mum used to play The Cure and Placebo and Black Sabbath a lot, while dad played a lot of Motorhead and Metallica. Judas Priest, sometimes as well. But in all that, there's a track that always sticks in my head as a tune from my childhood that was just... the moment I became aware of Chart Hits and the Never Fucking Ending Replays (and feel free to judge my age for this one)

I think the 2004/2005 post-britpop-wave of British rock music was also foundational to my sense of style somehow despite most of it being UTTER HORSESHIT. But this song slaps. :D The laddish 'cheeky chappie and cheap beers' thing wore down fast but I kinda can't hate it all even if it was so so so inane. But then, I like Britpop unironically so... go figure. :D

[denimsnake]

music asks judas priest obv !!

yayyyyyyy ty :)

Do I know them already?: yes 

Favourite Song: this changes constantly but rn maybe fever.. in stereo it sounds like it's spinning around ur head :) very good. also thinking about dissident aggressor Least Favourite Song: literally can't choose one...man.....there's some songs i'm not as enthusiastic abt but i don't think i dislike any of them n definitely couldn't rank them Favourite Album: legitimately sooo hard to choose.. killing machine & british steel & screaming for vengeance all come 2 mind immediately. painkiller also Least Favourite Album: not counting albums without halford… maybe rocka rolla. i do like it & i especially like a little winter/deep freeze/winter retreat/cheater medley. BUT other albums have more songs that i enjoy. feels unfair to do this to their debut album Song that got me into them: probably breaking the law or living after midnight or you've got another thing comin?? all radio staples n i can't be sure which one i heard first Seen Live?: yes !!!!!!!!!!! Rate: 11 :)

[freshflownation7548]

The Timeless Power of Rock Music: A Journey Through Its Evolution

Rock music, a genre that transcends generations, has carved a permanent place in the musical landscape since its emergence in the mid-20th century. Defined by its electrifying guitars, powerful vocals, and rebellious spirit, rock music has undergone a remarkable evolution, leaving an indelible mark on culture and society. In this article, we'll explore the roots of rock, its various sub-genres, and the enduring impact it continues to have on music enthusiasts worldwide.

The Birth of Rock: The birth of rock music can be traced back to the fusion of various musical genres, including blues, country, and rhythm and blues. The 1950s saw the rise of legendary figures like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley, who infused their music with a raw, energetic sound that would become the foundation of rock. The genre quickly gained popularity, captivating the youth with its rebellious lyrics and electrifying performances. Know more about fresh flow nation.

The Golden Era: The 1960s and 1970s are often considered the golden era of rock music. Bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Who dominated the scene, each contributing a unique flavor to the genre. The British Invasion brought a fresh wave of innovation, while psychedelic rock pushed the boundaries of musical experimentation. The era also witnessed the rise of iconic festivals like Woodstock, where rock music became synonymous with counterculture and social movements.

Diverse Sub-genres: As rock music evolved, it diversified into a multitude of sub-genres, each with its own distinct sound and identity. Heavy metal emerged with bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, while punk rock rebelled against the mainstream with acts like The Ramones and Sex Pistols. Progressive rock, characterized by complex compositions and virtuoso musicianship, found its champions in bands like Pink Floyd and Yes. The 1980s brought forth glam metal, while the alternative rock movement of the 1990s saw bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam challenging conventions.

The Influence of Rock: Beyond its musical innovations, rock music has played a significant role in shaping cultural and societal norms. The rebellious spirit of rock has often been a voice for social and political commentary, addressing issues ranging from civil rights to anti-war sentiments. Rock's influence extends to fashion, art, and lifestyle choices, making it a holistic cultural phenomenon.

The Endurance of Rock: In the age of digital music and ever-changing trends, rock music continues to stand the test of time. While the mainstream may shift focus, rock's enduring appeal lies in its authenticity, raw emotion, and the sheer power of live performances. Bands like Foo Fighters, Muse, and Arctic Monkeys carry the torch, ensuring that rock remains a dynamic force in the contemporary music landscape.

Conclusion: Rock music's journey from its humble beginnings to a global phenomenon is a testament to its enduring power. From the rebellious sounds of the 1950s to the diverse sub-genres of today, rock has continually reinvented itself while retaining its core essence. As we celebrate the timeless allure of rock music, it's clear that its influence will echo through the ages, inspiring new generations of musicians and fans alike. The spirit of rock lives on, reminding us that sometimes, all you need is a guitar, a powerful voice, and the courage to break the mold.

[themusicenthusiast]

Judas Priest Announce Return to North America in Spring 2018, Joined by Saxon and and Black Star Riders; Firepower 2018 Tour Coming to The Bomb Factory in Dallas on April 28th

After some well-deserved time off following their extensive tour in support of their most recent record, the pioneers and kings of heavy metal, Judas Priest, are gearing up for another massive tour. Of course, it will be in promotion of a new release, their 18th studio album, Firepower, scheduled to drop in the early part of 2018. The acclaimed band may have taken a break from the road, though that was spent working on this forthcoming effort, one that will hopefully (and almost certainly) continue the trend of Redeemer of Souls, which found Ian Hill, Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford, Scott Travis, and Richie Faulkner getting in touch with the bands roots, producing a record that felt in line with their most revered works. The Firepower 2018 Tour will begin on March 13th at  Mohegan Sun Arena PA in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and run for the next month and a half, the band going from coast to coast with plenty of stops in between, and will also make their way up to Canada for a handful of shows. The tour will conclude in San Antonio, TX on May 1st at Freeman Coliseum. Tickets for all shows will go on sale beginning October 27th at 10 AM. Don’t miss your opportunity to see what is still one of the best live bands out there, the quintet setting the bar in regards to what a dynamic performance should be. Firepower 2018 Tour Dates:

March 13--Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza--Wilkes Barre, PA 15--Covelli Centre--Youngstown, OH 17--NYCB Live, Home of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum--Uniondale, NY 18--The Anthem--Washington, DC 20--Prudential Center--Newark, NJ 22--Mohegan Sun Arena--Uncasville, CT 25--The Arena at TD Place--Ottawa, Canada 27--Budweiser Gardens--London, Canada 28--Tribute Communities Centre--Oshawa, Canada 30--Casino Rama Resort--Rama, Canada 31--Masonic Temple--Detroit, MI April 3--The Riverside Theater--Milwaukee, WI 5--Resch Center--Green Bay, WI 8--Grossinger Motors Arena--Bloomington, IL 10--Casper Events Center--Casper, WY 11--Budweiser Events Center--Loveland, CO 15--ShoWare Center--Kent, WA 17--Veterans Memorial Coliseum--Portland, OR 19--The Warfield--San Francisco, CA 22--Microsoft Theater--Los Angeles, CA 24--Comerica Theatre--Phoenix, AZ 26--BOK Center--Tulsa, OK 28--The Bomb Factory--Dallas, TX 29--Smart Financial Centre--Sugar Land, TX May 1--Freeman Coliseum--San Antonio, TX

[sunflowergirl522]

Nothing New

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Summary: Yours and Eddie’s friendship was fine. And you were fine with just being that. But then the new girl came along. (Angst with a happy ending)

Word Count: 4051

Eddie Masterlist

You’ve been best friends with Eddie Munson ever since your freshman year and you joined Hellfire with Jeff. It had been an almost instant connection with the at the time junior. He likes to joke that he’s failed senior year so many times just so he can graduate with you. And with how well he’s doing in his classes this time around it’s getting harder to tell that it’s a joke. Him and the guys were really the only friends you had, though you’re partially convinced that that’s just because you were in their club and as soon as you all graduated you’d only ever see them when you see Corroded Coffin play or Eddie drags you to a practice.

You knew Eddie was actually a friendship that would last. From the moment you told him you liked whatever band shirt he had on all those years ago he latched onto you. He was constantly making the plans for the two of you to hang out one on one and telling you when each of the bands' shows were as soon as they booked one. He went out of his way all the time to weasel his way into your life and you couldn’t be happier about it. He was the first genuine friend you’ve ever had besides Robin who’s basically a sister to you.

“Have you guys met the new girl yet?” Jeff asks as you and Eddie get to the table.

“There’s a new girl?” Eddie pulls out your chair and you shoot him a smile in thanks before sitting down and scooting it close to the table.

“Yeah, she’s cool. We invited her to sit with us today.” Adam shrugs and takes another bite of his food.

“Oh! Maybe we’ll finally get another girl to join!”

“What, you don’t like being surrounded by immature hormonal boys all the time?” Eddie teases, nudging your shoulder with his own.

“Oh definitely not, and their leader is the worst of them all.” You tease him right back laughing and earning a piece of his trail mix getting flicked at your cheek.

“Hey guys!” You look away from Eddie at the sound of the voice coming from the girl who just stopped at the table. She’s dressed in a Judas Priest shirt, ripped jeans, and a plaid flannel with a few chain necklaces and rings adorning her neck and hands. 

Jeff and Garreth move down a seat so she can sit at the corner by Eddie. He doesn’t look her way until she pulls her chair in, he had been too busy studying you but the scraping of the chair brings his attention to her. You watch as his face lights up as he recognizes the band shirt and your heart falls, it breaks a little really. You’ve been living in this fantasy that even though you and Eddie were so different he’d still feel the same way about you that you did him. But this girl seems like she’d just be absolutely perfect for him.

“Hey, I’m Ember.” She gives the two of you a little wave. Of course she would also have a badass name. And when Eddie smiles wide at her you wish you could just disappear into the floor.

“You like Judas Priest?” It was such an Eddie thing to completely ignore introducing himself to talk about music.

“Oh yeah, one of my favorite bands. You like them?”

“They’re great! I’m Eddie.” He holds out his hand and she takes it a little too enthusiastically and with a flirty little smile you'll scoff at later when you’re getting ready to scream into your pillow. You look away from them to find Mike and Dustin walking towards the table. You smile and wave at them, getting excited waves back. You’ve grown attached to the two boys and Lucas since the start of the year. You look at them as younger brothers and you’ve started inviting them over for family dinners since your mom loves to cook for way more than just two people since your dad works nights most times.

“Hey guys!”

“Hey Y/n.” They speak in unison before taking their seats.

“Oh, hey.” Dustin says to Ember as he notices her. “Are you joining Hellfire?”

“I would but I don’t actually know how to play Dungeons and Dragons. Just thought you guys would make some cool friends after meeting Jeff and Adam.”

“I could teach you to play?” Eddie offers and your smile falters for a fraction of a second.

“Really? That would be great!” 

Eddie talks to Ember most of lunch leaving you to sit with your head in your hand while you eat. He barely even notices when you move to sit in between the freshmen so they can tell you all about their science project. You look over at them every so often and immediately hate yourself for it each time. Dustin notices though and tries his hardest to keep a smile on your face and keep your attention on him and Mike. The other boys take a liking to Ember immediately with Garreth and Jeff fighting for her attention but she seems to only want to give it to Eddie. 

“Y/n.” 

“Yeah?” You look up at Eddie laughing at a joke Dustin had just told you when you hear him call out for you.

“You still coming with me to band practice later?”

“You’re in a band? That’s so cool!” Ember speaks before you can respond and you’re ready for him to forget that he even asked you a question so you turn your attention back to Dustin.

“Yeah you should come see us perform sometime. Y/n?”

“If you still want me there absolutely.” You shrug, glancing back over at him.

“Can’t practice without our mascot.” He winks at you with that dumb goofy smile on his face and your hearts slowly starts to melt back together. 

You get a ride home with Steve later instead of going with Eddie claiming you needed to study so he couldn’t come over like he normally would until it was time to head to practice. He hadn’t even realized what you said until you were already getting into Steve’s car with Robin and it was too late to ask you about it. He normally was over even if you had to study, he’d study with you so it didn’t make sense for him to not go to your house. He couldn’t confront you about it though because he had been planning a day to start teaching Ember how to play Dnd when you came up to the van and rushed it out of your mouth.

You didn’t study when you got home, instead you put on your favorite Beatles album and went through your memory box. Thinking of all the good times you’ve had with Eddie helps reassure you that even if he ends up with Ember he’ll still be your best friend. You had been worried that with her around everyone would just grow tired of you and you’d fade into the background until you weren’t even a second thought in their minds. It’s what’s happened with every other friendship you’ve ever had once you lost all novelty when someone else showed up.

When Eddie shows up later you’re singing along to Dolly Parton and organizing your desk. He has to admit you look to be in a better mood than earlier when you all but ran away from him. He almost didn’t want to disturb your peace but he was already running late and standing in your doorway admiring you wasn’t helping.

“You ready to go?” You jump at the sound of his voice, hand flying to your chest.

“You scared me, Eds! Just let me grab a sweater and I’ll be ready.” As you stand up he notices that you’ve changed clothes since school let out. Your long sleeved shirt and pants have been switched out for a tight tank top and some shorts. You grab the oversized white sweater that Eddie had gotten you in the winter because he thought you would look like a puff ball in it and throw it on before sitting back down to shove your feet into your shoes. 

“Sorry Sweetheart, didn’t mean to scare ya.” Eddie enters your room to turn your stereo off before holding out his hands to pull you out of the seat. “Now come on slowpoke, we're already late.”

“Oh and whose fault is that?” You tease as you let him drag you through your house.

“Yours obviously. Bye Mrs. Y/l/n!”

“Bye kids have fun!”

“We will ma! I’ll be home before nine!” You yell out for her as Eddie pulls you out of your door before he stops you and pokes his head back in.

“Maybe just before ten!” His words cause your mom to laugh as he shuts the door. “What are you standing around for, let's go!” You laugh as he shoves you by your shoulders the whole way to his van.

When the two of you pull up and exit the van you spot Ember already standing in the garage talking to Jeff.

“Hey guys, Ember wanted to check us out. Hope that was okay.”

“Yeah that’s cool.” Eddie shrugs before heading over to tune up his guitar. You offer a wave to her and head over to your regular seat in the corner. She smiles at you and waves back before walking over to talk to Eddie which has you rolling your eyes. After a bit you see Eddie gesture your way and she’s heading over to sit in the seat next to you.

“Hi, I’m Y/n. We didn’t really get to meet at lunch earlier.” You turn to look at her after a minute of silence. 

“It’s nice to meet you, the boys have actually told me a little about you.” 

“Really?” She nods before her attention is on the band who started playing. It warms your heart that they talked about you to her. Soon enough your attention is on the long haired dork playing his guitar and singing their newest song just loud enough for it to carry over the music. 

“They’re really good!”

“Aren’t they? I love listening to them perform.”

“Eddie’s really amazing.”

“Yeah, he is.” You smile as you watch him do his little head bags while he plays.

“Are you two like a thing?”

“What?”

“Like are you dating?” She glances over at you as she reasks.

“Oh, no he’s just my best friend.” 

“That’s good to hear.” Your heart falls to the pit of your stomach as she looks back over to admire Eddie. Of course she’d be going after your best friend instead of one of the other guys, he’s the coolest, sweetest guy you know. 

Later on the way home you’re oddly quiet. Normally you’d tell Eddie how well he played or how much you loved the new song they were practicing but you didn’t even sing along when Eddie put on the mixtape he made you full of your favorite songs so you’d have them in his van. This left Eddie to have a confused frown on his face the whole drive and everytime he glanced over at you your head was turned away from him looking out the window. When he parks the van outside of your house you thank him for the ride in a small voice and hop out before he can say anything to you. Eddie purses his lips as he watches you walk around the van before shaking his head.

“Nope, uh-uh.” He gets out and follows you down the walkway until he can grab your wrist to stop you from going any farther. “What’s wrong? You’ve been off almost all day, are you okay?”

“I just haven’t been feeling the best today, Eds. I think I just need some sleep or something. I’ll probably be feeling better tomorrow.”

“Okay.” He pulls you into a hug and rests his chin on the top of your head. “Get lots of rest tonight Sweetheart because I’ll be here bright and early tomorrow to pick you up so we can go over some stuff before Ms. O’Donnell’s test. I miraculously have a C and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Alright, bye Eds.”

He doesn’t show up the next morning, at least not while you’re still home that is. When it started to get a little late and you knew that if he was going to show that you’d be late you just got a ride from Steve since Robin was running late herself. You’re not sure why Eddie didn’t show, but you do know that you didn’t get a phone call or anything from him like you normally would if something came up. And later when you’re talking to Robin outside of the school when Eddie's van pulls into a spot with a screech and then he and Ember climb out of it you can’t help but feel like your greatest fear of losing Eddie’s attention because someone else lit up the room is coming true.

“Hey, don’t worry about it okay? I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for this right? I mean Eddie’s almost always attached to you, there’s no way he would ditch you for some chick who dresses like him.” Robin tries to calm you down as if she knows the thoughts swimming through your head. You quickly look away from your best friend as his head swivels around trying to spot you.

“I’m gonna head to class Robs, go over some more notes. I’ll see you later.” You rush into the school hoping to avoid Eddie and Ember for now.

“Hey, you weren’t home when I swung by to get you.” Eddie says as he sits next to you. You glance up at him from your notes.

“Oh, I got a ride from Steve because Robin was running late and I wasn’t sure if you were still coming. I didn’t want to risk being late for the test.”

“Sorry about that.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I slept in a little later than I wanted to and then as I was on my way out the door Ember called because her car was having trouble starting, I’m pretty sure her battery’s dead.”

“It’s fine Eds, I made it on time didn’t I?” You send a fake smile his way before turning your attention back to your notes.

“Hey speaking of Ember I’m gonna start teaching her how to play Dnd today after school so I might have to move movie night back a bit. You could come with me if you want.”

“Oh, that’s fine Eddie. Robin and I are gonna go to that new music store after school before her shift anyway. I’ll just hang out at Family Video till she’s done.” You shrug nonchalantly even though Eddie basically canceling movie night, which you know will end up happening because he gets so into Dnd, makes you feel completely awful.

“I can pick you up from there on my way over from Embers because I’ll have to pass it anyway?”

“We can just postpone Eds, really it’s fine. I’ll probably just listen to whatever new albums I get or maybe go over Robins.” You shoot him another fake smile before turning towards the front of the room.

“Okay.” Eddie wants to say more, figure out why you’re so adamant on just canceling when he just wanted to come over maybe thirty minutes later but Ms. O’Donnell is starting to hand out the tests and you have your game face on. 

The two of you don’t hang out Saturday or Sunday either. Eddie called to tell you that he wouldn’t be over Saturday because he didn’t actually teach Ember much of anything when he was over so you told him you couldn’t hang out Sunday because you were picking up a shift and then immediately called Robin and asked her if you could come into work then. And then on Monday you don’t even bother sitting next to Eddie for very long at lunch, moving to sit in between Dustin and Mike as soon as they show up. He asked where you were going when you stood up but you had held up your walkman and told him you promised Dustin you’d show him the new AC/DC album. You’re not even that shocked when Eddie doesn’t call you that night like he normally would. He was probably at Embers not teaching her how to play because when you asked him if she’s catching on he gets all shy about how he’s barely gotten her to create a character.

“I don’t think I’m gonna go to Hellfire tomorrow.” You admit to Robin in gym on Tuesday causing her to gasp.

“Y/n are you feeling okay? You never miss it, you love that silly little game too much.”

“I know but I think everyone would just have a better time if Ember took my place this week. And if it works out she can have it the rest of the year, I’m sure I can play with the kids when their friend Will finally finishes moving back.”

“I think you’re being a little dramatic. I mean leaving Hellfire? You can’t be feeling that left out can you?”

“Garreth, Jeff, and Adam don’t talk to me as much anymore and Eddie’s been canceling plans to hang out with her.”

“No, don't do that, you canceled the plans on Sunday before there could even be plans.”

“Because I need to start distancing myself now before he inevitably gets completely tired of me like everyone else I’ve ever tried to be friends with.” You throw your hands in the air as you pace in front of her before stopping and turning your whole body to face her. “Except for you of course.”

“Yeah you’re stuck with me forever which means you’re also stuck with Steve forever. We’ll be the three amigos. And you know what, being stuck with Steve means you’re also stuck with all the rugrats because he’s like their mom or something.” You laugh and bring her into a hug.

“You always know how to cheer me up, Robs.”

“Where’s your Hellfire shirt?” Eddie asks when he sees you at lunch on Wednesday. He hadn’t seen you till then since you got a ride with Steve again and you didn’t have any classes together that day but the short sleeved shirt you had on instead was the first thing he noticed.

“Oh, I’m not coming tonight.”

“What?” All conversation at the table goes silent as the guys all stop what they’re doing and look at you. 

“Something came up and I can’t come.”

“Y/n we can’t play without you, you’re one of our strongest players. We’re supposed to go up against the bad guy tonight.” Garreth says slumping in his seat at the thought of you not being there.

“Yeah, we need your lucky nat twenties.”

“You don’t even have a sub.” Eddie points the pretzel stick he was eating at you.

“I do though, Ember could take my place tonight.”

“What?” The girl in question looks shocked. “No, I couldn’t.”

“Of course you could, Eddie’s been teaching you how to play and once you start it’ll all come naturally.” You reassure her before your eyes catch onto Lucas making his way to the basketball table. “I’ll be right back. I need to ask Lucas something.”

“Henderson, Wheeler, what do you know about Y/n not coming to Hellfire tonight?” Eddie leans towards the two boys as they sit down. They share a look as if asking the other if they should tell Eddie before Mike spits a cover story out.

“She’s going to some party with Steve and Robin I think.”

“So she’s ditching us for Harrington?” Dustin can see the hurt in his friend's eyes. 

“I’m pretty sure it’s mainly for Robin, she was the one to invite her. Y/n and Steve aren’t even that good of friends.” He nervously chuckles and hits Mikes leg for the stupid lie he came up with as Eddie leans back in his seat watching you laugh with Lucas.

“I can excuse it for Robin. What do you say Ember, you ready to jump in and play?”

“Oh, uh I guess so.” She blushes knowing she’s not going to be any good at this.

Hellfire doesn’t last very long that night, Ember sucks and it’s like she didn’t listen to anything Eddie had told her about the game previously and all anyone could do was complain that you weren’t there. So Eddie ended the meeting an hour into it, dropping the kids off at their homes before making his way to your house hoping to catch you coming home later. He’s a little shocked to find your bedroom light on indicating you’re home already since it’s so early. After not getting an answer knocking on the front door he climbs up to your window. You jump at hearing it slide open and quickly sit up from where you were lying on your bed.

“Well well well look who isn’t out there partying tonight.” Eddie climbs through your window. 

“Eddie? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at Hellfire?”

“We had to stop early, pretty sure we’re just gonna start where we left off last week again next week because we barely made any progress.”

“Oh.”

“What are you doing here? Avoiding me some more?”

“I’m not avoiding you.” You scooch yourself off of the bed to walk past him and shut the window.

“Yes you are and you haven’t been yourself lately either so what’s been going on?”

“Nothing you need to worry about Eddie. So you don’t even need to pretend okay?”

“What? Y/n I-” 

“I know you’re getting tired of me okay! I know that now that Ember’s around I’m nothing new and you’re all going to move on and leave me behind because that’s what always happens. When there’s not anything exciting about me anymore and a new face shows up people leave me in the dust and I can feel all of you starting to do that.” You wrap your arms around yourself and step away from Eddie.

“Tired of you?” His voice is full of disbelief as he watches you and hesitantly steps forward. “Y/n, Sweetheart, I could never be tired of you. Everyday with you is like an adventure.” He takes another step and gently holds onto your wrists to pull them away from your body. “Everyday it’s like I discover a new facial expression from you, a new smile, I get a new song to listen to, a new movie to watch on repeat because you go through favorites the same way Dustin goes through pudding cups.” He cradles your face in his hands, thumbs brushing away stray tears. “You’re my favorite person Y/n and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world, I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Yeah, I do. Hell I’m shocked you haven’t figured it out already because apparently it was obvious to everyone else. I mean I could barely even teach Ember how to play the damn game because I kept talking about you. She asked me like twelve times if I was sure we weren’t dating.” You laugh at his words, turning your head to kiss the palm of his hands.

“I love you too.” The two of you smile at each other as Eddie rests his forehead on yours.

“Just so you know the guys wouldn’t stop complaining about you not being there tonight. Jeff literally would not stop looking at Ember when she had to make decisions and going ‘Y/n would do this’. You should’ve seen them when she got Adam killed.”

“She didn’t?” You gasp shocked at the thought.

“Oh but she did, she started a fight by accident not even thirty minutes in.”

“That’s it, if she still wants to play after tonight I’ll teach her since you’re apparently incapable.” He rolls his eyes but smiles nonetheless happy to see you back to being your teasing self.

“Whatever now show me this AC/DC album Dustin keeps raving about.”

Eddie Taglist: @starbxcks​ @phluffybunny-blog​ @sadbitchfangirl @notbeforelong​ @kenzi-woycehoski​ @celestialsxturn​ @daisyellsong​ @urmomashleyyy​ @ofherscarlettwitchways​ @munsonswhore86​ @katsukis1wife​ @violet-19999​ @navs-bhat​ @that-chick212​ @dixontardis​ @bubsonnobx​ @ruinedbythehobbit​ @pikapickabitch​ @emotionaldreamer​ @kodakoalabear @chaoticevilbakugo​ @thatsamegirl​ @fromasgardandback​ @lupinpetersclearwaterodairparker​ @fangirl199812 @greenclues​ @isshecrazyorissheclever @rockchickrebel​

[contentconsumer]

howdy!! i saw you have your ships open, so i'd like to request one. please ship me with someone that's over 18, and a guy. :3

(fyi, this is like a req for a stranger things ship)

ANYWAYS!

my name is michelle, i am 4'10", and a capricorn!

i have long, fluffy/wavy brown hair and brown eyes! i have fair-ish skin with a lot of beauty marks and birthmarks scattered throughout my body. i'm curvy-ish? think of an hourglass, but athletic, i lift a lot so i'm very much in shape and toned. i used to do sports but later stopped because of how clumsy i am. i'm latina, so i speak both english and spanish, and with that brings one of my biggest insecurities.. my nose. back in middle school and high school i'd get bullied for having a "hawk" like nose, so.. yeah. i have elf ears (stahl's ear - genetic mutation) and naturally rosey (very rosey pink) lips. i'd like tattoos and piercings one day, maybe within the next 3 years.

due to that, i became very reserved. timid. shy. i found comfort in music and art, i play the electric guitar and very much enjoy ozzy osbourne, childish gambino, metallica, ac/dc, judas priest, & etc. i've been drawing since i can walk, basically, and had it not been for my dear love for science and crime, i would've majored in something with fine arts. i'm majoring in forensics, btw.

as for who i am, like i mentioned - i'm very shy and timid and reserved, but i will stand up for those who i love and will (and been known to have a mean) bite anyone who disrespects my family and friends. i may be short, but i'm very very strong for my size. once you get to know me, though, i'm like a ball of energy. i've been told i'm the funny friend of the group - and bring the "personality and joy" to calls and such. it's very nice. i also have a very generous heart, i'm known to give money to those who need it, and answers to anyone who asks. i vibe with people very easily.

for how i dress, i can go from a grungey look to a pretty princess, sometimes i'm very lazy- and since i'm from texas, i also have a cowgirl outfit, or two. but mostly grungey. you can find me with my airpods on, dancing down the street or lip-syncing in the store. andddd one final thing, i love love love watching documentaries, about like serial killers or history or just lore on video games, cause i fucking love games (and lore).

thank you so very much for your time, i'm sorry if this is all over the place. if you need anything from me, please dm me!! <3

omg are we the same person? hello fellow capricorn/weightlifter/true crime lover/tattoo&piercing enthusiast (are we gonna kiss rn?) anyway i ship you with eddie munson! i feel like eddie would love to have a strong and energetic partner who always keeps him entertained - he also understands the hardships which come with bullying etc.. so he just gets you. i feel like you speaking spanish would just do something to him, and he often asks you to just say anything because he thinks it sounds so beautiful - you share music and can be found in his trailer listening to whatever you deemed is your favourite record for the week. he also finds how clumsy you are so cute and endearing lol.

tysm for the request i cannot believe how similar we are haha - enjoy! <3

[schnuron]

2024's albums I like [November 9th, 2024]

It's hard to keep up listening to music that's up-to-date or looking at the new releases in music websites such as Bandcamp, Bleep, Pitchfork, etc.

I'm picky when it comes to choosing the albums I like to listen to. Metal and rock don't excite me so much in 2013 as I keep growing up as a Millennial. Darkwave, ambient and some electronic music are my current obsession. Even though, I'm passable about the rock music, I'm not very enthusiastic of it.

I haven't mentioned the other albums here, but I don't think the ones from Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Coldplay or Glass Animals were the best albums they did. If you enjoy and like those albums, that's okay.

If I have something new to post a thread about the newest albums in December, I'll do it. You guys are welcome to share yours.

I wanted to post this thread a little a bit early before this year ends. In no particular order, these are the ones I've been listening to in 2024:

- Darkwave: Profit Prison - Gilt <3 Dead Astronauts - Ghosts Feyleux - Midnight Hearts Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She Sixth June - Stay! <3 Sydney Valette - The Healer Filmmaker - Grim Encoders

Electronic music: Erika de Casier - Still Charli XCX - BRAT Bat For Lashes - The Dream of Delphi Skee Mask - Resort Uboa - Impossible Light Kelly Lee Owens - Dreamstate Old Amica - For alltid (ambient) alva noto - HYbr:ID III (ambient) The Green Kingdom - Arcadian (ambient) / Horizons (ambient)

Other: Cigarettes After Sex - X's The Cure - Songs of a Lost World

Honorable mentions / the albums that were okay: Matte Blvck - Vows (Dark Electro / Darkwave?) Black Nail Cabaret - Chrysanthemum (Darkwave) Filmmaker - Land of Hidden Variables (Darkwave-ish with noise) Embedded Figures - 6 Lovers EP (Darkwave) Echoberyl - Through the Chaos (Darkwave) Glaring - Hope (Darkwave) Mark E Moon - Resist (Darkwave) TR/ST - Performance (Darkwave / Synthpop) Thief - Bleed, Memory (Darkwave / Experimental) [Prophecy Productions] Pink Milk - Night on Earth (Darkwave / Shoegaze) Clan Of Xymox - Exodus (Darkwave / Goth Rock) Selofan - Animal Mentality (Post-Punk) Disintegration - Shiver in a Weak Light (Post-punk / Synthpop) Male Tears - Paradisco (New Wave / Synthpop) Witch of the Vale - 100 Ways to Leave, Vol.1 Tomo Akikawabaya - The Castle II (Darkwave and Minimal wave) Sofi Tukker - BREAD Houses of Heaven - Within/Without Owen - The Falls of Sioux Soft Kill - Escape Forever Goat - Goat Ritchot Textiles - i Union of Knives - Start from the Endless Toby Driver - Raven, I Know that You Can Give Me Anything Jamie xx - In Waves Porter Robinson - SMILE! :D Snow Strippers - Night Killaz, Vol. 2 Arooj Aftab - Night Reign Ulver - Locusts Florrie - The Lost Ones Kat Von D - My Side of the Mountain (Synthwave / Synthpop) Donny Benet - Infinite Desires (Italo-Disco / Synthpop) The Fauns - How Lost (Dream Pop / Shoegaze) Golden Apes - Our Ashes at the End of the Day Blue Oyster Cult - Ghost Stories MAX - LOVE IN STEREO Vince Staples - Dark Times Tommy Richman - COYOTE Slash - Orgy of the Damned Vampire Weekend - Only God was Above Us Lo Moon - I Wish You Way More than Luck Keaton Henson - Somnambulant Cycles (Classical) Whores - War The KVB - Tremors Judas Priest - Invincible Shield Photay - Windswept Thou - Umbilical Julian Lage - Speak to Me Julia Holter - Something in the Room She Moves Habitants - Alma Artemas - yustyna Micah Dailey-White - Micah sleepmakeswaves - It's Here, But I have no Names for it Iglooghost - Tidal Memory Exo GENDEMA - sassy things Skee Mask - D John Grant - The Art of the Lie Four Tet - Three Sega Bodega - Dennis Kacy Hill - BUG Lucy Rose - This ain't the Way you Go Out Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism Ravyn Lenae - Bird's Eye Ariana Grande - eternal sunshine Sabrina Carpenter - Short N Sweet FLETCHER - In Search of the Antidote Tusks - Gold Kali Uchis - ORQUIDEAS Mary Lattimore and Walt McClements - Rain on the Road Gruff Rhys - Sadness Sets Me Free Kaelan Mikla / Bardi Johannsson - The Phantom Carriage OST Allie X - Girl with No Face (Synthpop) L'Ame Immortelle - Ungelebte Leben (EBM / Synthpop) Kim Gordon - The Collective Artemas - pretty Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn into You: Everasking Edition Tyla - Tyla Squarepusher - Dostrotime Fred again.. - USB / ten days Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project Nadine Shah - Filthy Underneath Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol. 4 BUNT. - Levi Don't Do Bolis Pupul - Letter to Yu Hudson Mohawke / Tyga - L'Ecstasy SENTRIES - Snow as a Metaphor for Death Elbow - Audio Vertigo Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood Patricia Taxxon - Bicycle VR SEX - Hard Copy Jlin - Akoma FLETCHER - In Search of the Antidote Kelly Moran - Moves in the Field (Piano music) Future Islands - People Who Aren't There Anymore KMFDM - LET GO ULTRA SUNN - US Kali Uchis - Orquideas Bill Ryder-Jones - Iechyd Da Marika Hackman - Big Sigh Kinoteki - Faith and the Vessel Bad Omens - CONCRETE JUNGLE [THE OST] Locrian - End Terrain Bring Me The Horizon - Post Human: NeX GEn Machinedrum - 3FOR82 Astrid S - Joyride Twenty One Pilots - Clancy (G)I-DLE - 2 Xiu Xiu - 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips Shygirl - Club Shy Meat Beat Manifesto / Merzbow - Extinct Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA Maruja - Connla's Well EP Mega Drive - Memory Disc EP Machine Girl - SUPER FREQ EP Greyhaven - Stereo Grief EP Sleeping Rabbits - Breathing Room EP

Ambient: Pye Corner Audio - The Endless Echo Lustmord - Much Unseen Is Also Here The Body / Dis Fig - Orchards of a Futile Heaven SUSS - Birds & Beasts Nonkeen - All Good? Nils Frahm - Day Jogging House - Rendezvous Alora Crucible - Oak Lace Apparition Scanner - Alchemeia Duncan Ritchie - Lords of Wolves OST Faded Cloak - Wrapped in Fog and Freezing Mist Polypores - There Are Other Worlds Disasterpeace - Standstill Steve Moore - Eye of Horus Field Lines Cartographer - Portable Reality Generator Actress - Statik Mark Van Hoen - Plan for a Miracle Black Brunswicker - A Moment of Clarity EP

[killjoyhistoryarchive]

“Conventional Weapons” and the Rocky Road to “Danger Days”

In 2009, My Chemical Romance was buzzing with activity. The band performed several shows and festivals (including Summer Sonic in Japan), Gerard and Mikey Way attended San Diego Comic Con, and The Umbrella Academy was named one of Amazon’s top comics of 2009. Ray Toro held a Whopper eating contest on the official MCR website (no joke), while a certain comic series written by Gerard Way and Shaun Simon was announced in August. And at a show at the Roxy in Los Angeles, MCR performed three new songs from their upcoming album.

But while their next album seemed easily slated for an early 2010 release, MCR was about to hit a series of hurdles that would leave them with a scrapped album, a lost drummer, and a totally new outlook on where their music was headed.

On July 31st, 2009, MCR performed a set at the Roxy that included three new songs–“Kiss The Ring,” “The Drugs,” and “Death Before Disco.” Gerard was enthusiastic about the new tracks, even telling Rolling Stone that “Death Before Disco” was “the greatest song we’ve ever written.” Videos of the tracks soon appeared online, where fans eagerly devoured what they thought would be the follow-up to 2006’s The Black Parade.

As the days and weeks went on, the media blitz kicked into high-gear. While Ray Toro posted short studio clips on MCR’s website, the band gave several interviews where they gushed about producer Brendan O'Brien, discussed their new stripped-down style, and claimed that this would be their best record yet. In an interview with MTV, Gerard described the still-untitled album as a “true love letter to rock and roll,” adding:

“There’s something about being an American rock-and-roll band that we’ve kind of grown into and we’re very proud of. And I think that’s what we’re celebrating with this record. There’s no agenda, there’s no mission; it’s just about rock and roll.”

Meanwhile, Gerard Way and close friend Shaun Simon had another surprise in store: a comic series called "Killjoys.” Dark Horse Comics announced the release at San Diego Comic Con. Jeremy Atkins, the Dark Horse Director of Public Relations, described “Killjoys” as “a psychedelic rock-and-roll road trip adventure geared toward both fans of The Umbrella Academy and My Chemical Romance.” But not much else was said about the comic, as MCR’s upcoming album had become Gerard’s top priority.

As the album drew closer to completion, MCR gave fans more glimpses of what lay in store. They shared the titles of various tracks, including “Still Alive,” “Trans Am,” “Hail To The King,” “Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back," “L.A. Heavy,” "The Only Hope For Me Is You,” and “Black Dragon Fighting Society.” They cited a variety of influences, including Queen, Judas Priest, Bruce Springsteen, The Killers, and Blade Runner. By all accounts, this was going to be MCR’s defining album.

In December, MCR previewed seven tracks for SPIN magazine. A month later, in January of 2010, the album–which was still untitled–was rumored to be released on March 30th. As they continued to rework the songs, they realized that the stripped-down sound wasn’t working. As NME reported in January:

Things turned around with a song called “Trans Am,” now renamed "Bullet Proof Heart,” the likely first single. And perversely, they did it by returning to fiction. Broadly, it’s about a boy in New Jersey, dressed in a Judas Priest T-shirt, called Johnny. And a girl called Jenny who might be his girlfriend, but who also (honk the pop fact sirens!) might also be the missing girl from “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine” by The Killers.

But in the same interview, Gerard restated that the album would give "the purest, best version of the band you could ever hope for.” And in early February, MCR finally started to wrap up production, telling Big Cheese that the album would probably be released in spring or summer.

“Killjoys” also looked promising–back in January, Scott Allie had reported in a blog post that Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan were ready to get started. Once Gerard wrapped up the album and finished working on the Umbrella Academy movie screenplay, it seemed like he’d be ready to dive in.

But February was also when the band publicly stumbled for the first time.

Before the Big Cheese interview, MCR had abruptly cancelled their appearance at the Soundwave festival in Australia. In a blog post on MCR’s website, Frank claimed that Gerard was having voice problems (he jokingly implied that it was due to coffee and cigarettes) and required treatment to make a full recovery.

Fans were disappointed, but most understood that it couldn’t be helped. But a month later, the fandom received another shock: MCR’s drummer Bob Bryar had departed the band. In another blog post, Frank told fans:

As of 4 weeks ago, My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar parted ways. This was a painful decision for all of us to make and was not taken lightly. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and expect you all to do the same. We also wanted to give you all a quick heads up on how the record is progressing. We have been writing some very powerful new songs so this week the four of us entered the studio once again, and what has been ending up on tape each night is some of the most exciting and honest work we have ever created.

The fandom was stunned. Clearly, MCR had been experiencing some behind-the-scenes turmoil, suggesting that the process wasn’t going as smoothly as fans had thought. While it wasn’t known at the time, they also parted ways with producer Brendan O'Brien, who had been hired specifically to channel their raw, back-to-basics sound. Where would MCR go from here? And when would fans hear the latest album–which was apparently undergoing rewrites once again?

It wasn’t until late 2010 that fans would finally learn what had happened to this unreleased album.

This moment, says frontman Gerard Way, looking back on what went wrong, “was the hardest part”. Guitarist Ray Toro was “home dealing with some family things”, leaving Way, his bassist brother Mikey, and guitarist Frank Iero alone in the mixing studio. “The sinking feeling was really starting to become loud that it wasn’t right - that the record wasn’t finished, I couldn’t even put them in a track order … "Thinking about it now, it’s kind of upsetting, because I just felt so lost,” Gerard says.

This was discussed in an interview with Herald Sun, where they talked about the process of starting again after the departure of their drummer and producer. Speaking to Music Radar, Ray Toro talked about the struggles the band had with original producer Brendan O'Brien, admitting that it hadn’t gone as well as they once thought:

“He was really trying; he did the best he could with us. He knew things weren’t clicking, and he’d try to rally us. I remember he said, ‘Hey, on some songs, I’d love to hear you do what you did on The Black Parade.’ Because there wasn’t any of the harmonized guitar parts or the stacking that I usually do. He was trying to get us to make one record, and we wanted to make something totally different.

Musically, we wanted to go back to our basement. But just because we wanted to do something different didn’t make it easy. In many ways, we felt as though we were holding ourselves back creatively. We were going through the motions. Some of the songs were good, but we weren’t happy with all of them.”

Needing a break, Gerard took a vacation to the desert that surrounded Los Angeles. There, as he told Terminal 5, he realized “I had started the band after 9/11 when I hated art. Black Parade had been about hiding and punishment. I couldn’t tell the truth so I’d talk about cancer instead. I had to put on a mask to show people who I really was. But now it was time to own it. To be who I was before this band started. And I had something in my back pocket: this song, ‘Na Na Na.’”

Reunited with producer Rob Cavallo, who had worked on The Black Parade, the band kicked things off with “Na Na Na.” Gerard and Shaun Simon’s comic “Killjoys,” once a separate side project that had nothing to do with the band, suddenly became the concept that they formed the album around. Fueled by fresh creative energy, the band wrote and re-wrote tracks, came up with concepts and characters like Dr. Death Defying, and shredded the limitations that had confined them. At one point, Gerard turned to his brother Mikey and said “Danger Days, here we come again!”

Not everything from the previous record was scrapped. “Trans Am” became “Bulletproof Heart”; “Death Before Disco” became “Party Poison.” A few new versions of old tracks appeared on the record, as well as the Mad Gear and Missile Kid EP that came later. But MCR’s fourth album had gone from a rock and roll record that deliberately avoided ambitious storylines, to a vividly realized concept album that invited fans into the world of post-apocalyptic California. In many ways, it was the opposite of what they had originally planned. And it seemed to be exactly what they had been looking for.

During this time, Frank snapped in-studio photos that he sold on MCR’s official website, offering one-of-a-kind peeks into the recording process. In March, Mikey Way stated in a blog post that “One day you will wake up, and nothing will ever be the same again, but it’ll feel like an old friend.” He was talking about upcoming changes to the MCR website, but in a way that statement reflected the band’s process at the time–they had completely reinvented themselves, and yet there was still a certain familiarity in the old tracks they had revamped.

The band completed the album with fresh energy, offering sporadic updates in the coming months. Fans waited with some skepticism to see what MCR had in store. And finally, one day in early September, MCR’s website disappeared and was replaced with a mysterious transmitter. The Danger Days era had begun.

But was the scrapped album hidden away, never to be heard again? Not quite.

In 2012, in a blog post on MCR’s website, Frank talked about the feelings of depression that he had faced after The Black Parade. He felt like MCR had done it all, leaving them with nothing left to accomplish. In November 2008, Gerard called him up to talk about the band. As new ideas took shape, they prepared to start recording the album that would eventually be scrapped after months of work.

Frank pointed out that while the band had limited themselves during the recording of this album, the songs weren’t inherently bad–in fact, some of them were among his favorites that the band had produced. As time passed, he developed a greater appreciation for the tracks. And when the band met up and listened to those songs, they decided to release a selection of tracks to the public–two tracks a month for the next five months, for a total of ten.

After all this time, the album finally had a title: Conventional Weapons. Tracks included “Kiss The Ring,” “The World Is Ugly,” “Surrender The Night,” and the fan-favorite “The Light Behind Your Eyes.” Listening to the tracks, it was clear that MCR had aimed for a rock album with a pure American sound–no ambitious concepts or storylines, just a set of killer tracks. Whether they succeeded is up to the listener to decide, but they provided some insight into what came before Danger Days.

Due to its unconventional release, and the fact that the album was a series of random tracks and not a finished product, Conventional Weapons is not considered an “official” MCR album. But while Danger Days was the final album, Conventional Weapons was the final release before MCR broke up in 2013. Since the split, the release of CW has caused many fans to wonder–will My Chemical Romance’s fifth (and unreleased) album ever be shared in a similar fashion? Or will it be locked away forever, like the other CW tracks that were never released?

Only time will tell. But for now, Conventional Weapons serves as an intriguing part of MCR’s history–a time when the band set out to make one type of album, and ended up making the complete opposite.

(Picture credits: 1 2 3. Other in-studio photos by Frank Iero.)

[Originally published 07.09.2017]

[malachi-walker]

Important question for R&B: are any Etherian analogues of earth musicians different species? E.g. was the Etherian Freddie Mercury a magicat, and if not how can I convince you it’s what he would have wanted

-happy noise- Yes, actually! In fact it's a minor plot point (tied into a much bigger one) in the current fic that Judas Priest frontman and studded leather enthusiast Rob Halford is a lizard-kin and Rogelio lowkey wants to be him. I just kind of gloss over the details by necessity because there's rarely a chance to gracefully exposit which races the various real world band members correspond to and I don't wanna bog the fic down. But regardless, given how many races aside from standard humans exist on Etheria it'd be downright bizarre if there weren't tons of them in the music industry. And your Freddie Mercury Magicat headcanon is accepted. ;D Thank you so much for reading and have a great day.