The Saddest Men in Metal

There are few metal acts that are both beloved by fans who take everything the band does 100% seriously, AND are enjoyed by listeners who rejoice in a metal band's straight-faced silliness. Norwegian Black Metallers "Immortal" have somehow maintained both sets of fans effortlessly. Other bands like Manowar can only be enjoyed as parody (although their musicianship is second to none) and Death Metal vocalists like Glenn Benton and Chris Barnes will never get the joke. Immortal are sincere enough in their "Blackened Warriors from the Forests of Hell" shtick that the fantasy in always maintained, but they have enough fun with their image that they never come off as boring or out of touch with their audience. Below are clips and images from the band's career.

But first, here are a few things that have never changed throughout Immortal's 20 years of Brvtality:
1. The black and white war paint never comes off. NEVER.
2. Guitars are not instruments, they are weapons and should always be carried as such.
And
3. They never smile, FUCKING NEVER. If you catch even a smirk they will be cast back into the frowny abyss from whence they came.