The heavy metal salute

[Kent Wang]

Illustrated example:

Here I am in the upper right deploying the salute: Do you give the heavy metal salute only when rocking out to heavy metal? How about other rock, or even hip hop or electronic? Do you sometimes salute backwards with the palm facing in? In Asia the peace sign is usually given as a casual, cool, mostly meaningless, all-purpose hand gesture. In the US, some people will "throw up the deuce" in a similar manner. I propose that we add the heavy metal salute to this repertoire.

 

[Nick M]

The throwing up of the horns is now vastly overused. I see it all the time in situations that aren't even remotely rocking.

The horns, or "corna", should only be employed when some event is genuinely rocking, either in a Sabbath kind of way, or in an awesome eighties hair-metal kind of way.

Technically, what you're displaying in the photo is actually American Sign Language for "I love you".

 

[ken]

That's rookie stuff.

Although, even the above is pretty aged. Just the hand in the air is making a comeback, I see. I will agree that zombies should be counted as 3/5 of a human for census counts. No more, however. And Kent, I haven't forgotten about those denim patches. They're at my old man's place and I haven't had a chance to get over there yet. Soon, though.

 

[Kent Wang]

Ken, actually I did forget about the patches, but definitely send them along. I still need them.

Originally Posted by Nick M

The throwing up of the horns is now vastly overused. I see it all the time in situations that aren't even remotely rocking.
A profound matter you have raised, Nick. The question is whether the horns should remain restricted to rocking or if it should be used more often in more situations. On the one hand, using it more often dilutes the rocking value of the horns but on the other hand by doing so we are introducing the idea of rocking the **** out to the masses. This is very similar to the phenomenon of your favorite local band becoming more popular. On the one hand, you want them to be your private secret but on the other hand it would be good to introduce them to more people.

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

Originally Posted by Nick M

Technically, what you're displaying in the photo is actually American Sign Language for "I love you".
yeah. that's unforgivable... i am a fan of the two-handed corna (that is, two hands to make a single, ultra-powerful devil's head) and here's a wiki for you, KW you need to brush up on your satanic handsigns

 

[designprofessor]

I wear a mullet instead!

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by denimdestroyedmylife

and here's a wiki for you, KW
Quite a comprehensive article. I prefer to extend the thumb so as to avoid confusion with the University of Texas "hook 'em" gesture, which I'm proud to say I have never intentionally displayed.

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

the white girl in the front holding the "brains/the other white meat" sign can get it

i quite like the bloody handprint on her left breast

 

[VMan]

"Metal Council Convenes To Discuss 'Metal Hand Sign' Abuse"

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/42365

 

[trogdor]

The devil horns are popular amongst junglists too -- I first saw the "slayer" emoticon when hanging about on Drum & Bass messageboards. As for what hand signs to throw when really rocking, I prefer the "black metal claw" as a genuine sign of existential angst, and the fact that existence is punishment, and that satan is cool:

 

[Renault78law]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Do you sometimes salute backwards with the palm facing in?
Hang loose?

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by Renault78law

Hang loose?
That's only the thumb and pinkie.

 

[Nick M]

Originally Posted by VMan

"Metal Council Convenes To Discuss 'Metal Hand Sign' Abuse"

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/42365
Now that's what I'm talking about.

 

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

Originally Posted by trogdor

The devil horns are popular amongst junglists too -- I first saw the "slayer" emoticon when hanging about on Drum & Bass messageboards.

As for what hand signs to throw when really rocking, I prefer the "black metal claw" as a genuine sign of existential angst, and the fact that existence is punishment, and that satan is cool:

"Existence is Punishment" is a Crowbar song. Clearly doom metal, not black metal.

The hand sign being thrown in the initial photo is indeed ASL and brings to mind "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka.

Hail Satan.

 

[trogdor]

Originally Posted by Bergdorf Goodwill

"Existence is Punishment" is a Crowbar song. Clearly doom metal, not black metal.

Hail Satan.

TouchÃ

, sir! I should have said "expressing the fact that they are in touch with the cursed realms of the winterdemons," seeing as the picture is of Immortal.

I'd call Crowbar "sludge" rather than doom, though