Sworn to the dark

Words cannot begin to describe the spectacle that is good black metal.  As promised, I brought a camera to document (with blurry photos) the fact that I indeed saw Watain in all their glory.  Aside from a Gwar show I have never seen so many props on stage.
Initially not many people were there, which worried me.  Sweden couldn't possible disappoint me with a poor turnout on a friday night for a black metal show.  But, thankfully, the place filled up as the opening acts trudged on.  Finally, after Destroyer 666's set was cut short because their drummer broke both(!) bass drum heads they began to set up Watain's circus.  It took 45 minutes.

If you look closely, you can see hogs heads on pikes.

Basically the whole stage was set on fire in various ways.  There were large pitchforks that were somehow attached to a gas source spouting flames the whole time.  Candles burned in every conceivable place (including the eye sockets of rotting hogs heads).  And there was a burning alter with a goat's skull   to pray to.

The guitarist looked like kind diamond

 The set started with a ceremonial baptismal of each band member, and a few brave (or stupid) metal dudes with blood.  It smelled like a butcher shop the whole time.  Watain opened with the only song I am familiar with.  Then it was nothing but the darkest, most unforgiving brutality known to man.

Notice the 6" nails on the bass players gauntlet

About halfway through the band lit two large urns of kerosene.  I checked to make sure where my nearest fire exit was and continued to bang my head.  They ended with a venom cover.  Pretty fitting.  I would recommend never attending an event such as this.  The strobe light gave me seizures, the burning crosses coated my nostrils with soot and 90 minutes of blast beats gave me a heart palpitation.  Pretty neat.  

Down with the sun

A few things.  Swedish metal is best seen in Sweden.  I cut my own hair; it looks alright.  25 Kilograms is much heavier than it seems.  I have no plans for halloween.  I vow to see a hedgehog in the wild.

I am going to see my first black metal show on Friday.  I think I will be "that douche that brings a camera to a show to take a blurry picture of the band".  I want to document the fact that I attended a show where real goat blood was used.  Not just water and food coloring (sorry Gwar).

It has been almost 8 weeks since I have been in Sweden.  It has been almost 8 weeks since I have seen a Juggalo.  This is truly Valhalla.

hoppipolla

It is getting dark.  I have been rained on several times this week.  Sometimes I get cold.  The North Atlantic Oscillation should be positive this winter.  I think it means warmer than average temperatures.   My bike is getting rusted from being left out in the rain and I don't care.  If it makes it a year, I will be excited.  Actually if it ever got stol(d)en, I would be more upset losing the U-lock.  The lock has been to as many continents as I have.  Roland will inherit the bike once I leave.  Not the lock though.  
I spent some time in the library today, which is a really nice building.  It is small by most university standards, but it has some very nice views of västra hamnen.  Aside from the occasional meandering Bangladeshi, it is great to turn off your brain.  I rarely get any studying done there.  Ikea furnished it.

Bree taught me how to fold origami. She lived in Japan for a while.  I'm not sure if that is where she learned.  

 I'm going to see Dark Tranquility on Monday.  Watain is playing Friday.  I have yet to meet a Swede that gives a shit about metal.  There was a big, scary viking looking dude in the grocery store that had a guitar case strapped to his back.  I struck up a conversation with him (not an easy thing to do with a swede) and asked him what style he played.  When he said "jack johnson" I died on the inside.  

New noise

I slow-crashed the new wheels yesterday.  While out for a leisurely saturday ride, some old Swedish lady managed to hook her bike's basket on my backpack while riding next to me and proceed to twist me to the ground.  I'm sure it looked hilarious because no matter what I couldn't seem to stay upright.  I managed to chip the paint on the fork and down-tube while rolling around on the ground.  I will be surprised if this bikes lasts the winter the way I'm going (sorry Roland).
The bike is parked in front of the moat of Malmöhus.  I can't deny my American heritage, I'm a sucker for castles.  Also, check out the new fenders (much like speed holes, they make the bike go faster!)

It is getting cold and I am eating mint/fig ice cream.  I'm not crazy about it.  The temperature or the dessert.  Last night was a cold bike ride home.  Mostly for my face and feet.  I need to find some new kicks that are stylist and ward off initial stages of frost bite.  Soon I will dawn the scarf and attempt to blend in with the natives.  Last night I met a girl from Umeå and she never heard of Refused.
What is the world coming to?

neuralgia

I've had headaches.  For a week straight.  Due to the fact that I still possess motor skills, I have ruled out brain cancer.  

Diagnosis: overly caffeinated, slightly dehydrated, excessive amount of group work.

Cure: limit daily coffee dosage, regulate water intake, avoid excessive contact with Bangladeshi guy-  the dude makes my head hurt.  

chroma

We had a lecture about quantifiable measurements a few days ago and the professor said a psychological study showed that the weather does not have an impact on your mood.  That's bullshit.
We have had fog the past few mornings.  It is great because it is totally a novelty for me, but it is not good for my motivation.  I have been feeling drained

My room mate Niklas Lundström (yes he is Swedish) and I watched the football (soccer) match last night.  Sweden played incredibly bad football against Holland.  Sweden's star striker is Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who plays for Milan and the Swedish national team).  He is from Rosengård, which is a neighborhood in Malmö that has a reputation for political and social upheaval due to the large immigrant population.  Rosengård is the subject multiple sociological case studies about everything form gender studies to housing issues.  It has an infamous reputation.  I have been there a few times.  They have cheap kebabs and apparently decent football players.  At one point Zlatan was the highest paid football player in the world.  I've heard that there is some shrine to Ibrahimovic that says "you can take the boy out of Rosengård, but you can't take Rosengård out of the boy."

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sleeping sickness

I woke up tired.  Good night.