Parole Officer In Charge of Cataloging Hardcore Guys’ Tattoos Can’t Believe What She’s Writing

NEW YORK — Local Parole Officer Janet Williams admitted she was in a state of disbelief while cataloging the “dumbest fucking tattoos” of hardcore music scene members, thick-necked sources report.

“I’ve seen a lot of tattoos in my 30 years as a PO, but dealing with these guys has been eye-opening. Each one is covered, with most of their oldest tattoos on their necks. Who gets their first tattoo on their neck? And these gang names—they’re all just initials. It’s so confusing,” said a flustered Williams. “Today alone, I noted six crossed baseball bats, a pit bull head, a black stallion, a whiffle ball, a ski mask riddled with bullet holes, 17 brass knuckles, a black-and-white figure on a cross, a Raggedy Ann Doll and nine shamrocks. And that’s all on one guy. One of his tattoos said, ‘Fuck Adam P.’ I asked him who Adam P. was, and he had no idea what I was talking about.”

While Williams may find this phenomenon surprising, local scene elder Robby ‘Curb’ Kowalski notes the importance of tattoos in the hardcore scene.

“Heyo, listen up. When I was coming up, if you wanted to be in the scene, you had to get a tattoo that implied you’d hurt someone. None of this meaningful trash about ‘representing your mom’s battle with cancer’ you see on the tattoo shows—just a tattoo that says you’ll beat a head in. Or that you’re an antiracist into unity. Either is cool,” said Kowalski while practicing his roundhouse kicks by the high school. “Of course, that was before the scene went to shit seven years ago. I got my first tattoo, a bloody switchblade when I was seven from a guy in a Lower East Side squat. Kids today are probably too busy listening to Turnstile on Spotify to get 40-year-old band logos tattooed on their faces. Sad state of affairs.”

Dr. Marjorie Abernathy, a Sociology Professor at Williamsburg Community College, thinks this is a non-issue.

“I know that hardcore guys look scary, but their tattoos are more like a peacock’s fanciful tail—if peacocks gathered in large groups, acted tough all the time, and lived in their mom’s basements,” said Dr. Abernathy. “Identifying markers like tattoos have been part of all tribes since the beginning of time. Throughout history, people without these markers are considered posers, and you can’t let that shit in the scene.”

Officer Williams was unavailable for further comment as she was being reminded of the struggle and the streets.

Help! I Was an Audience Member on “Real Time with Bill Maher” and Now My Sense of What to Clap for is All Fucked Up

A few days into visiting a friend in California, we got free tickets to a taping of “Real Time with Bill Maher.” I guess my friend’s roommate is a page on the show. Anyway, we went as a joke but ever since, I keep clapping at weird times and I have no idea why.

The show was what you’d expect. The guests were Ben Shapiro, Newt Gingrich, and Gene Simmons and it was hours of lazy, softball jokes about trans people and “DEI” Kamala Harris. Initially, I was just rolling my eyes, but there was a chemical peppermint smell in the air and I started to feel… different. Like, I thought Islamophobia was bad, but during a new rule about how Palestinians needed to use deodorant, I was clapping next to everyone til my knuckles ached. And it seemed as the show went on, Bill seemed younger. Supple. His hairline looked fuller.

Days later I was on a plane heading home. When we landed I started to clap for the pilot, which I never do, but I was lagged. My girlfriend and I went out to dinner after, and when the waiter dropped a tray of glasses, I clapped, locking eyes with him and whistling. I was horrified but I couldn’t stop myself. I then clapped after I left a 7 percent tip. I clapped when my Uber driver almost hit someone in a wheelchair in the crosswalk. When we got home and I started having sex with my girlfriend, I lasted 30 seconds before clapping myself to sleep.

I never can predict what’s going to trigger it. I know I can’t hear the name “Joe Rogan” without going off. Another time I saw a viral video of a police officer playing a pickup basketball game with some teens and I clapped for an hour. Last night I woke up in my backyard clapping over a dead raccoon.

There’s more. I say “Kafkaesque” all the time. I pierced my ears because I thought it would impress the barista at Starbucks. I’m finding myself driving on the centerline of the road because I can’t commit to a side. I want to see a doctor, but I have this feeling I know more than they do. Whatever this is, it’s just the beginning. And I’m really scared. Even if I sound really smug while I’m saying it.

Punk Foodie Can Tell Which Factory Gas Station Burrito Came From

CLINTON, Mass. — Self-professed food connoisseur Noah Frawley boasts the unusual ability to determine the provenance of microwaved gas station burritos, according to mildly impressed sources.

“After years of eating nothing but cheap burritos, I’ve developed quite a sophisticated palate. For instance, I can tell this particular Tina’s bean and cheese came from the plant in Vernon, California,” said Frawley while rubbing refried beans on his gums. “That factory has a bit of a roach problem, and you can detect a faint hint of a pyrethroid pesticide, which adds a mild floral note. The one I had for breakfast originated at El Moneterey’s Frisco, Texas facility, where they use a certain red lithium industrial grease on their machines that imbues their products with an oaky bouquet. I’ll usually pair that one with a Four Loko Sour Grape.”

Those close to Frawley are concerned with the health effects of his limited diet, including the clerk at his local convenience store.

“I don’t know how that kid’s still standing,” said Cumberland Farms cashier Armand Stietz. “He comes in several times a day and all he gets are burritos and butts. Once I offered him a free orange to help stave off scurvy, but later I saw it in the trash outside. The other day I found him around back, groaning and clutching his stomach. I asked if I should call an ambulance, but he said he’s fine and asked if I could spot him some cash for a burrito. Of course, I’m used to seeing people ruin their lives with our products, but usually it’s with cigarettes, booze, and lottery tickets.”

Gastroenterologist Dr. Simone Chase has stern warnings for anyone whose diet consists solely of heavily processed junk food.

“If Mr. Frawley keeps eating like this he won’t last more than another few years,” said Dr. Chase. “His daily sodium intake alone is enough to bring down an elephant. It reminds me of the case where a young woman found dozens of Lean Cuisine Creamy Pasta Primavera dinners while dumpster-diving, which she subsisted on for weeks. What did that do to her body? Let me just say she’s just now re-learning how to walk. So, Mr. Frawley, if you’re listening: Quit the burritos, stat. Keep smoking if you need to but please, eat some goddamn vegetables.”

At press time, Frawley had been offered a consulting job with José Olé Burritos but refused on grounds of not wanting to “sell out.”

Yes, Lord Vader: Ranking ‘Star Wars’ Characters By How Kinky They Would Be

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, kinks were very much alive and well. The struggle against the Empire is so all-consuming that a little release is only necessary! Below we’ve ranked the kinks (all consensual, of course) related to 50 ‘Star Wars’ characters. This is all canon, by the way, just as George Lucas intended and pulled from early 1970s screenplay draft marginalia. These are the kinks you’re looking for.

50. Aunt Beru – Smoking Cigarettes in Bed

Nothing brought Aunt Beru more satisfaction than sucking down a nicotine tube with one hand while pleasuring Uncle Owen with her other. Her search history is all smoking-related porn and cigarette erotica. Of course this led to tragic consequences (often blamed on Imperial stormtroopers), but real ones know what was going on with Aunt Beru. If you look closely at the charred ruins, there’s clearly a carton of Parliaments.

49. Boss Nass – Ass Play and Fingering

That’s no moon. That’s Boss Nass’s butthole. The word “ass” is in his name, after all. Nothing too unique or out of the ordinary here, it’s just that Boss Nass has the most leg-shattering orgasms with a bit of assplay. You know how floppy and loose his jowls are when speaking? As above, so below. He puts on a big show as the leader of the Gungans, but firm anal punishment will have Boss Nass wriggling with pleasure in no time. For most employees that want to resign, fingerbanging Boss Nass’s sloppy bootyhole bussy until he squeezes your knuckle off is the only way out of that underwater kingdom.

48. Darth Vader – Leather Daddy

Want that whip? Want to be gagged? Need the full zipper leather gimp suit? Darth Vader has you covered with his closet of delights. What a sassy queen, vamping it up for his own staff. Get ready for tight, fine leather, used only once per “session,” as Lord Vader calls it. Beneath that chest plate are nipple rings, plus Death Star-themed clamps to excite the Lord while you toggle the whip handle base, inserted into him like that famous Robert Mapplethorpe photograph.

47. Chewbacca – Furries

This one should be fairly obvious. Chewbacca even has his own fur suit, which makes him incredibly sweaty when he dons his ultraviolet fox costume. Let this Wookie run his hirsute fingers down the nape of your neck, circle various orifices, bring you to absolute wonder. Plus you can watch furry content together while cuddling in his matted, gruff chest.

46. R2-D2 – Cuckolding

R2 loves watching, in the corner, quietly beeping away. Plus, he has amazing filming capabilities. Sexy surveillance. You can sleep with R2’s wife, and he will send you the footage to be projected in miniature, anytime you want. For an android, R2-D2 is particularly non-possessive. He encourages his partner to explore their sexual freedom, only if he can delight in the stories later and store them into his personal perverted memory bank.

45. Lando – Betrayal Kink

Lando will text you about meeting up with a waterfall of flirty emojis, only to cancel at the last minute and try to reschedule. Meanwhile he’s stroking himself, knowing how upset you are by his erotic disloyalty. He’s snitched on friends, reported folks for parking illegally, and has “situationships” all across the universe (several in Cloud City itself), all for a deeply held betrayal kink. Just ask him about Han, or don’t – Lando will instantly get off just thinking about it.

44. Kuiil – Exhibitionism

Before wandering around spouting out “I have spoken,” Kuiil was known for flashing and exhibitionism. He’s banned from most public pools. A preference for nude beaches or colonies is fine, but walking about open-air markets of Tatooine without pants (Kuiil’s former favorite pastime) might not work for everyone else. This is often why he’s alone, suntanning his asshole in blissful solitude and letting it all hang out on the warm desert rocks.

43. Exogorth aka Space Slug – Constant Oral

Let’s just say it: this Space Slug will glug. He’s a giver, not a taker. He’s want you as a starfish, affixed to the mattress. While an oral fixation may be welcome, occupational hazards arise when considering size disparities. It’s a risk when the entire mouth risks possible swallowing a partner whole, but the “X” in Exogorth is there for a reason – this worm gives infamously 100% solid sloppy toppy mouth action. He might be busy defending his moon craters, but he’s never too busy for third base. In fact, he lives there.

42. Luke Skywalker – Daddy Fetish

The trauma of learning that your father was trying to kill you may fuse the brain circuitry in certain impressionable minds. Now, he seeks out ‘zaddy’ figures to dominate and pound his vulnerable, supple body. Sure, Luke has seen a double sunset, but he’ll be experiencing double penetration after finally jumping on Scruff. The only thing Luke has a “bad feeling about” is the prospect of not meeting hot horny single silver foxes in his area.

41. Nien Nunb – Sadism and Masochism

This arms dealer and smuggler, constantly muttering while expertly piloting, is secretly one of the most sexual deviants among the Rebel forces. He loves pain: on himself, on others, implied in the world, any amount of unpleasantness leaves Nien Nunb’s nutsack empty. Behind that vest? A ball-gag for all occasions, handcuffs ready to go. Get ready for punishment from Nien Nunb, and being late only makes it worse. Nien Nunb is your master now.

40. Sebulba – Group Sex

You nasty, Sebulba. How far those arms reach? Enough for two reacharounds in separate bedrooms, plus keeping those feet busy pleasuring folks on the couch. Everyone’s favorite sex party guest. When not podracing, Sebulba be fucking. Entire families, at once. It’s a common fact that in most Gen-Z friend groups, Sebulba has had sex with at least two people.

39. Nute Gunray – Hosiery

Nute Gunray is a stunner in leggings. Get him in some fine lacy lingerie, and you have one hot Neimoidian on your hands. Once you get him out of that giant hat and into something more “comfortable,” Nute’s personality shines. He’s a tender lover, with a preference for gentle caressing under, over and in-between the lace. Something has to take his mind off the Trade Federation!

38. Darth Maul – Foot Fetish

Who’s that secretly snapping photos from afar? Using his binoculars to spy on tanned Tattooine tootsies? Why it’s Darth Maul, of course, climbing every height to get a better view of lady feet. His OnlyFans subscription list is all foot content, which he scrolls in between defending the empire. If you like the patterns on his face, wait until you see how beautiful his feet are – it’s like an erotic rorschach test.

37. Grand Moff Tarkin – Gagging

Before blowing up in the Death Star, Grand Moff Tarkin observed Lord Vader choke plenty of colleagues from afar, watching while rock hard. As such, he loves watching the act of gagging. He especially loves fingers shoved down his throat, feeling the acidic bile creep up before planting a wet kiss on his lover’s body. The sound of gagging alone will force Moff into a need to find a nearby unoccupied bathroom stall for release.

36. Lobot – Ear Play

Ears are often cited as one of the most erogenous zones. Before you nibble or gently breathe your warm galactic breath in Lobot’s ears, you must remove his headset, no easy feat. It’s like removing a chastity belt. Caress the indents left in Lobot’s skull and go to town on his often-protected, rarely-seen ears; he will finish in his pants from ear play alone.

35. Wedge Antilles – Submissive Humiliation

Often an afterthought in the ‘Star Wars’ series, Wedge knows his place and likes it. In fact, he loves it. In all seriousness, he gets off on it. Call him a worthless piece of shit. He may be one of the most talented pilots, miraculously surviving cheek by jowl beside protagonists and legacy characters, but he prefers to remain in the shadows and experience merciless mockery. Don’t feel bad, he can only get it up with such afterthought consideration. Somewhere a well-paid dominatrix is slapping him right now, telling him that he’s trash. He’s over the moon with joy.

34. Ephant Mon – Facesitting

Ephant Mon wants you to straddle that husk of a mug, from his gaping maw to his beady eyes. Ride and grind that nose while giggling away, someone has to keep the mercenary company. Once it’s his turn to sit on your face, make sure you have a Morse code-style password to bang on the floor so he doesn’t suffocate you. And yes, he will want to be cuddled after, but as the “little spoon” so good luck figuring that one out.

33. Palpatine – Electrostimulation

Let your flesh sizzle and your nipples zing as Palpatine charges bolts of delicious electricity through your mammal husk. “We’re made of electricity, after all. Stardust and electricity,” Palpatine spouts and waxes poetic at bars (the same line he uses on everyone) only to bring home tipsy strangers and throw lightning bolts at them. Between the seatless electric chair and cattle prods, Palpatine has an entire closet for an evening sure to leave you with Lichtenberg scars.

32. Tessek – Olfactophilia

Scents, sniffs, smells, pungent aromas, sweats – it all gets Tessek stirring. Tessek whinnies in delight anytime he enters an olfactory-tingling atmosphere, turned on by the stank of alien movement. Lift your armpits and let his appendages (each with the ability to sniff) crawl around your body. Because of this turn-on, Tessek also doesn’t shower, staying constantly aroused but often solitary due to the off-putting stench.

31. Wicket – Age Play

Wicket is notoriously down for age play. He loves to prostrate himself upon a log like a naughty Ewok schoolboy, waiting for the big bad Ewok cougar teacher to give him a lesson. It goes deep, too. Wicket proudly wears a diaper around the Ewok colony, cradling his milk bottle and claiming to be “everyone’s favorite sexy baby of the woods.” The only reason Wicket was enthusiastic about C-3PO was because he was looking for a new zaddy. Wicket’s dating apps reveal that he is looking to be “punished” by an Ewok DILF or MILF. Wicket doesn’t discriminate.

30. Salacious Crumb – Virginity Fetish

For such a gross-looking rat creature, Salacious Crumb is a total prude. He will exclusively sleep with virgins, yielding his bedroom antics to limited nights – very few are taking his offer up to “show how lovemakin’ works.” Any roleplay with him involves virginity, too. Beggars can’t be choosers, ya nerf-herder. Also you’re in Jabba’s Palace, you think anyone there is a virgin?

29. Mace Windu – Temperature Play

All those years wielding a lightsaber has birthed an attraction to hot metal. As such, Mace is obsessed with having piping hot metal pressed against his body while blindfolded. Preference is for fast temperature switches, such as an ice-pack immediately applied. Even looking at a thermostat will tighten that Mace Windu bulge, leading to awkward bending and crossed legs at Jedi High Council meetings.

28. Admiral Ackbar – Praise Kink

Sometimes, even an Admiral needs to hear that they’re a “good boy.” Admiral Akbar prefers “soft BDSM,” with positive reinforcing language. With a highly stressful job and poor familial support network, his sexual release in the bedroom is doubled when he’s told that he’s just doing a good job. Be careful with insincere compliments, though, otherwise you’ll hear, “It’s a trap!”

27. IG-88 – Sploshing

This is the ultimate conundrum: IG-88 loves seeing sexual partners surrounded by water, but is unable to be surrounded by water himself. He’s an android, afterall. What is forbidden becomes desired. This is known as “sploshing,” attraction to immersion in wet substances. Unfortunately any exposure to moisture would make him junk, but that doesn’t stop his quiet perverted beeping by the seashore.

26. Han Solo – Ice Nipple Play

Being frozen in that carbonite changed Han. He loved the feeling of being pressed against cool slabs. Now, Han can remain solo in bed and climax without any other stimulus besides cold cubes rubbed around his chest. Ring a large whiskey glass square of frozen ice around Han Solo’s magnificent hair and tanned nipples. You’ll send Han into hyperdrive.

Ghost Feeling Pressure to Be “On” in Front of Family That Just Moved Into House

BANGOR, Maine — The Ghost of Downing Manor was reportedly feeling pressure to be “on” and haunt the family that just moved into his house despite not really being in the mood to entertain guests, paranormal sources confirmed.

“It’s not that I don’t enjoy scaring the shit out of people, but I just drove the last family out of the house screaming a couple days ago and I was hoping to have a little ‘me time’ before I had any more new guests,” said the specter, watching the family unpack through the eye holes of an oil painting. “Nobody understands that it takes a lot of energy to think of creative ways to haunt people—you have to strike the right balance so you scare them enough that they leave, but not so much that they try to find the source of your eternal trauma and banish your soul to purgatory forever. I just need a couple of days to recharge and then I’ll feel mentally prepared to spray ectoplasm out of the shower and drop a chandelier on the table during dinner.”

New homeowner Stuart Barnes was reportedly unimpressed with the apparition’s efforts after scarcely witnessing so much as a door unnaturally slamming shut over the entire weekend.

“I didn’t sell our old house, pack up my family, and move into the infamous ‘Downing Murder House’ just for some sad sack ghost to half-ass his haunting duties,” said Barnes, unscrewing the single hanging light bulb leading to the creepy attic. “This was supposed to be a traumatizing new chapter in our lives that we’d never fully recover from, but this ghost can’t even be bothered to briefly appear in the mirror and then disappear when I turn around. And would it kill him to smear a little blood on the walls? My five-year old isn’t even having any nightmares, and that kid is scared of the Mucinex booger.”

The signs of a haunting were reportedly so slim that Barnes called in a paranormal investigator to determine if there was even a ghost in the house at all.

“This EKG reading barely shows a hint of paranormal activity, confirming my worst fears—this lazy new generation of poltergeists doesn’t even want to haunt anymore!” said ghost hunter Dale Parsons, sweeping the dusty manor for signs of spectral activity. “These modern ghouls are so big on boundaries and flexible haunting hours that they forget the thrill of tormenting a man night after night until they slowly drive them to the brink of madness. Now, if you’re lucky enough to move into a house with a Victorian-era ghost you’ll see some real work ethic—even the creepy child ghosts will ask you to come play with them at all hours of the night. But these lazy ghosts nowadays won’t even rattle a cabinet after 5pm on a Friday.”

At press time, Barnes was reportedly similarly frustrated after a late-night encounter in the woods with a werewolf wearing a “Not Friendly—Do Not Pet!” vest.

If My Nieces and Nephews Didn’t Want To Hear Me Drunkenly Rant About How Cool Garbage Pail Kids Cards Were, They Shouldn’t Have Brought up Whatever the Fuck They Were Talking About

First of all, I am allowed to have a social life. I’m not just gonna sit alone in my apartment like there is no life out there to live. I refuse, flat out refuse, to clear my entire day just because my sister’s twins are turning twelve and the fam is getting together at four for a BBQ. The Pub was playing a replay of the “Miracle on Ice” game at noon, and day drinking on a weekend day isn’t sad, it’s called “Brunch.” What it would have been is unpatriotic; if you skip knocking back six Miller High Lifes and watching that game you are basically spitting on a war memorial.

And, what were the kids even talking about? Pokemon? That is basically a cock fighting ring for snuggly animals that fart lightning. Hey kids, breeding pit bulls to fight each other is A-OK as long as you can encapsulate their sadness in a mystical ball after they lose. What could be better than that? How about a stack of gross-out cards that double as stickers and also stick it to lame-ass cabbage patch dolls!

My nephew Steve looked at me with a blank stare when I rattled off the best Steve cards. Stuffed Steve, he was a kid made of bread and stuffed into a turkey, that’s dope. Heavin Stevens, that was puking, one was like a polar bear boy puking into an ICEE cup, that is super gross! Stumped Steve, was a little wooden totem kid with an ax through his head, genius! And all that little shit could do was look me dead in the eyes and try to steer the conversation back to new “skins” dropping in Fortnite that night. “Fuck that” I yelled.

Then, my sister insisted I talk to the adults, so I cracked a twisted tea and sat down with my finance bro inlaw. Apparently, he doesn’t consider the Garbage Pail Kids movie an investment, even though I have like one of the five known copies on beta-max and a Japanese bootleg on laserdisc. Let’s all just pretend, that when I sell my original 1985 Adam Bomb card, I wont clear 5k on that sale. But okay, sure, I’m the asshole because I won’t take my cigarette out front. Family is the worst.

Self-Conscious Concertgoer Really Needed to Hear Crowd He’s In Was Amazing Tonight

MILWAUKEE — Local sad sack and frequent concert attendee Jorges Henderson recently had his spirits lifted after hearing the singer of the band Stubbourne say the crowd he was in was amazing, uplifted sources reported.

“Look, I’ll be honest. Life’s been tough. I don’t have many friends and I’m stuck at this dead end corporate job where I fuck everything up but not in a cool, ‘Office Space’ way, more so in a sad, pathetic, and overly incompetent way,” said the dejected 32-year-old Henderson. “To help cope, I went to the Stubbourne show last night and they said something that really changed my outlook on life. The vocalist thanked the crowd for being amazing and this was just after I let out a little woo with a fist pump so I think they were talking directly to me. It’s like he was Tony Robbins or something.”

The lead vocalist of the band thinks Henderson might’ve taken the comment a little too personally.

“Oh, ok so this is kind of awkward. It’s cool that one guy is happier, but don’t get it twisted. We say that to every crowd and give them the compliment so they feel incentivized to cheer louder after we play one of our less popular or brand new songs,” said frontwoman Lydia Spears. “Look, they can’t all be amazing. Especially if it’s Milwaukee, there’s no way in hell Wisconsin would be the best show we’d ever play. Those assholes only bought two shirts and one LP but they had no problem snatching up all of our free stickers from the merch table. Honestly, worst crowd we’ve ever had.”

Researchers at Marquette University have studied this phenomenon extensively and found it similar to the placebo effect.

“It’s very interesting indeed. We noticed a majority of depressed concertgoers rebounded tremendously after hearing praise from a drunk singer in a dingy, odorous venue, even after controlling for external variables like expensive ticket prices, physical injury in the pit, and annoying people who won’t shut up during the entire show,” said a puzzled Dr. Brittany Forester. “But, on the other hand, it makes complete sense. Of course, people with low self-esteem would slurp up any positive feedback, even if it’s an empty gesture meant to fill space while guitarists tune their instruments. That being said, these singers are motivating and inspiring the masses. In that sense, they’re shaping up to be the true backbone of American society, much more than cops or politicians at the very least.”

At press time, therapists across the world are demanding bands to stop spreading positive affirmations, as their clientele has dropped by 90%.

Every Baroness Album Ranked Worst to Best

If you’re remotely interested in multi-genre metal, or you went to the Savannah College of Art and Design, chances are you know of Baroness. Their multiple lineup changes, nearly-fatal bus crash on tour, and intricate album covers, painted by frontman John Dyer Baizley, often precede their actual music, which is a damn shame, because we’ll say it out loud right now: there is not a single truly bad album in their discography. However, there’s also no real consensus on what sucks and what doesn’t amongst fans. Ask for a ranking on Reddit and you’ll get as many permutations as we can imagine without asking a math nerd to get us an exact number.

Here’s where we stand.

6. Gold & Grey

We like weird shit as much as the next guy who used to be into hardcore but has somehow lived past the age of 40. But “Gold & Grey” leans a little too hard into the experimental aspect for our taste, and even the kookiest of arrangements can’t hide the fact that the production is awful. Rarely does a layman like ourselves notice stuff like “compression,” but the audio quality of “Gold & Grey” is so crispy that it completely neuters the sprawling compositions Baroness is trying to utilize. This sounds like it’s blowing out the speakers of a 2005 Honda Accord but you’re listening on $500 Bose headphones. Oh well.

Play it again: “Seasons”
Skip it: All of it if you’re an audio engineer

5. Purple

This is the entry that will get our home address leaked on the Baroness subreddit. “Purple” wins a lot of popularity contests, and while that is by no means undeserved, there are simply other albums that accomplish a similar sonic goal as this album, but better. We don’t deny that “Shock Me” is an all-time banger, though. That’s your go-to soundtrack for running a crane through your ex’s front door.

Play it again: “Shock Me,” “Fugue”
Skip it: “The Iron Bell”

 

 

4. STONE

The band’s most recent release “STONE” is often considered their “return to form” after the mild mess of “Gold & Grey.” That’s an accurate assessment. “STONE” brings back a kinder, heavier Baroness, complete with some truly top-notch fucking shredding from guitarist Gina Gleason, who also provides backing vocals that somehow match Baizley’s intensity. We genuinely don’t know how she’s doing both of those at the same time when they play live.

Play it again: “Last Word,” “Anodyne,” “Beneath the Rose”
Skip it: “Bloom”

3. Red Album

Our ranking of “Red Album” just above the halfway mark will likely anger early fans who think they’ve never outdone this album, but also anger newer fans who prefer their more highly-polished works. However, “Red Album” is everything you both want and expect from a metal debut. It’s raw, angry, occasionally super moody, and, importantly, fucking loud. But the only reason this isn’t higher is that somewhat predictably, the record loses steam in the middle third. That’s a rookie mistake we can overlook in exchange for skullcrushers like “Isak.”

Play it again: “Rays On Pinion,” “Isak,” “O’Appalachia”
Skip it: “Aleph”

2. Yellow & Green

Utterly massive double album “Yellow & Green” represents Baroness at their most introspective and emotional. This is the gold medal winning work for soul-crushing lyricism, though–Baizley made us cry with nautical metaphors for drug addiction on “March to the Sea,” and more directly on that topic on “Take My Bones Way” (their most-streamed track on Spotify). Put many of these songs on your “Sad Bangers” playlist.

Play it again: “Take My Bones Away,” “March to the Sea,” “Green Theme”
Skip it: The last few tracks of “Green,” if you absolutely must.

1. Blue Record

Baroness’ second album is, pun intended, the blueprint for the rest of their career. Everything they’ve done since has been deviations from the core sound of “Blue Record.” Acoustic interludes between utter ragers? Check. Dual harmonizing guitar leads and shitloads of tom drums? Check. Baizley putting his entire ass into the most emotive and powerful vocals you’ll find this side of the Mason-Dixon line? Check. “Blue” is “Red” that upgraded from a studio apartment to a respectable two-bed, before slowly moving to the suburbs by “Purple.” Pay your respects to the classics with tracks like “A Horse Called Golgotha, “Jake Leg,” and “Swollen and Halo” in particular.

Play it again: Tracks 1-12
Skip it: We dare you.

Unprepared Eulogist Opens with Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Death

RICHMOND, Va.— Local man Brent Gould shocked and confused all those in attendance at the funeral of his recently deceased friend when he opened his eulogy by reading the dictionary definition of death, multiple sobbing sources confirmed.

“That was a disaster. When I finished nobody clapped or anything, and everyone has been trying to avoid being seen with me. Even my wife and parents,” said the offending speaker, 28-year-old Brent Gould. “And I realize now that I should not have used the same approach I used for my best man’s speech at my brother’s wedding to give my best friend’s eulogy. It didn’t work with death the way it worked with love.I get that now. To be fair, knowing that death is defined as, ‘the action or fact of dying or being killed’ did give me some closure, personally.””

Opinions of friends and family members regarding the incident ranged from incredulous to indifferent.

“Out of all of Charlie’s friends, Brent would not have been my first choice to give the remarks,” admits Marilyn Fountain, mother of the deceased. “But it was my son’s dying wish. Maybe it was the head trauma from the car accident that caused him to make such a foolish request, or maybe it was just to piss us all off one more time. I’ll never know. The worst part to me wasn’t even the dictionary, it was the fact he stopped at least five times to vape, and then spilled water into the coffin.”

A spokesperson from the funeral home says eulogists are often disappointing and offers an upgraded package for anyone interested.

“We at A Farm Upstate Funeral Co pride ourselves on our comprehensive service packages. Among these are eulogy writing and editing by professional writers who are well versed in the art of the farewell,” said funeral home director Madeline Wabash. “I’ve confirmed with our team that these services were made available, but were not utilized by the client. I think that was abundantly clear given he sounded like a freshman in college trying to cram a final paper.”

At press time, Gould insisted that he would take no further questions, stating, “if you’ll excuse me, I need to go edit my toast for my sister’s cesarean section next week.”

Opinion: How About We “Open up This Fucking Pit” to New Learning Experiences?

Boy, we sure are having a great time at this deathcore concert, aren’t we? These drop A tunings and inhaled death growls are really pumping me up, and I’m seriously considering heeding this ear-gauged singer’s urgings to take part in the mosh pit. I just ask that, while we all work to “open up this fucking pit,” so too will we promise to open our minds to new learning experiences. I’d say it’s about time we explore our options!

We can start right now, while we’re waiting for the breakdown to hit for the wall of death. Why don’t we brainstorm ways that we can use this experience to enrich ourselves going forward? For one, we can consider this the first step in building a lifetime exercise routine that will leave us focused, alert and more receptive to the benefits provided by future mental stimulation opportunities. Just be careful you don’t trip over the empty sixteen-ounce Miller Lite cans littering the ground during this newfound journey to self-actualization. Let’s keep this up!

Now we’re back to a conventional circle pit, but let’s not lose sight of the overarching goal here. Why don’t we make a promise to avail ourselves of educational services offered in our respective communities? Sure, hitting the pit and busting some fucking skulls is a fun way to pass the time now, but the skills we’d gain from taking a class on wild mushroom foraging would last us a lifetime. Or how about basic woodworking? Building even a rudimentary knowledge of the tenets of such a valuable trade can yield immeasurable rewards. Let’s make a mental note to research community college or public library course offerings at the first chance we get!

OK, the vocalist just kindly reminded us to “fucking kill each other” as the trem-picked riff over double bass kicked in, so we can let loose a bit and have a little fun. Afterward, though, I propose looking into organizing a little group to take a day trip to the Museum of Natural History. That guy in the Whitechapel shirt and flat-brimmed hat who’s vomiting into the trash can next to the chemical toilets seems like he would be absolutely fascinated by the various entomologic and mineralogic specimens of the Mesozoic era. We should ask him to join us once he’s sobered up!

As you can see, the prospects for mental growth stemming from these calls to beat the absolute shit out of one another are legion. With a little creativity, we might be able to transform the inevitable CTE from this type of behavior into a marginally less debilitating form of CTE. So what are we waiting for?