Heavy metal music often gets a bad rap for its ties to occult or how much it leans into the "shock" factor with its bands. This stunt in Houston certainly will not help metal's reputation.
During a black metal concert at a club in Houston called White Swan Live, a severed pig head was thrown into the crowd, in an attempt the band Martyrdom said was to add "imagery and shock value" to its set.
A 3-second video shows the pig being thrown around a mosh pit, with one person in the video exclaiming "gross." The person who posted the video said in a follow-up message, "It's real and it stinks."
there is a pigs head in the swan pic.twitter.com/sUC6bkb8fT
— 100k crimson beherit ☽ (@SALVIATALKSHOW) January 20, 2024
The band issued an apology, telling the music outlet Lambgoat, "We want to apologize to any vegans, Muslims, or other minority groups we may have offended, and to anyone who was harmed by our act.
"Most importantly we want to apologize to the White Swan, and Harry, the sound guy, specifically. Thank you so much White Swan for giving us the opportunity to play there."
White Swan Live has yet to issue a statement on the matter. It is unclear if Martyrdom brought the pig head into the club.
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