WARNING: Arsis’ Video for “Scornstar” May Kill You

For whatever bizarre reason, there are two forms of art that willingly identify themselves as possessors of the ability to do bodily harm to their audience: metal and comedy. When a comedian has a good performance, he or she is said to have “killed ’em” or “slain ’em” or “knocked ’em dead.” Meanwhile, metal bands pride themselves on being “brutal” and “vicious.” Metalocalypse even portrays a world in which fans love a band so much that they willingly attend concerts where they’re likely to suffer a horrible demise. It’s a little weird when you think about it — you’ll never see a Robin Thicke video which suggests that his music could actually hurt you. (Ironically, being made to listen to Robin Thicke would probably be more likely to induce suicide in metal fans than any actual metal song.)

Still, this odd commonality between metal and comedy makes the tone of the new video for Arsis’ “Scornstar” somehow, well, appropriate. It portrays a performance of such ferocity as to cause violent deaths for most members of the audience — and, like Metalocalypse, it does so in a comedically exaggerated fashion. I don’t know if you’d consider it NSFW or not, but there sure is a shit ton of very fake-looking, but highly entertaining, gore.

“Scornstar” appears on Arsis’ Unwelcome, which is out now on Nuclear Blast. The band is currently part of Wintersun’s MetalSucks-sponsored tour, along with Fleshgod Apocalypse and Starkill. Get dates here.

[via Bloody Disgusting]