I'm saving up to get my first tats, and of course I wanna get something related to metal. Just a few questions...
1. Do you have any metal-related tattoos?
2. If so, what are they?
3. Is there anything specific I should avoid? (Logos, album art, lyrics, etc.)

I saw a guy at a concert some years back with a tattoo of the early Death logo with the old style scythe and everything. It looked cool on him but he was also about forty-something and it had its sags here and there which actually made it more morbid than intended. Tattoos aren't my thing and I wouldn't do them but that guy's tattoo held up pretty nicely, especially in the coloring since it was the muted colors of that oldschool death metal style.

I've also got a couple of friends working on some big ones. One wants elven armor painted, yes the Tolkien elves' armor, drawn across her chest to her cleavage while the other has the Norse story painted across her arm and is working to finish it. The Norse story looks beautiful and while she is an EMT she has it set so that it doesn't show when she's working.

I've got another couple of friends, guys who really just jumped at the chance of ink without much thought into it. One has tattoos of military symbols and roses about the names of fallen family members while another has ink that doesn't mean much at all, things like a cartoonish carnival guy pointing his stick at a globe saying 'the world is yours', in spite of how much better the Scarface 'world is yours' globe could have come off. I'm sure regret will be a common thing with those guys while the ladies thought so much about theirs that they could see their ink as much more worth the while and the pain. Sure, it's one thing to memorialize a family member and I won't disabuse that first guy of that, I think the columnal roses may not make it worth its while in some years.

The main thing is, this ink is going to be forever. Tattoos aren't something I think I could ever commit to, as a just in case I fuck up kind of thing, but they are something that if you're truly ready to have that on your skin for life, well that's your prerogative. Please, make sure there is some meaning to them and don't spend a lot of money on just a goof.

My dad did that in the air force and though his faded tattoo still looks badass, he regrets that ink on his body. Not everybody is Wiz Khalifa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h23WgVYDbQ and for good reason.

If it means a lot to you, go for it, but also think about what other things you can spend that money on to help yourself. Will that tattoo be worth it in forty years, will you have to laser it off before even forty years have gone by?

We're not all Popeye but some are so committed that it's impossible not to respect their commitment.

I think Slayers Divine Intervention makes such a badass tattoo and pretty much anything by Wes Benscoter.

Don't waste your money. Tattoos are a load of shit. Get a poster for your room or something.

Try not to cut yourself on all that edge. If there's any pigment nearby you'll end up with a tattoo yourself.

I have the cover of Solefald's Neonism re-release on my shoulder. Yes, it looks like the recycling symbol.

That's actually really well done, it looks awesome!

I have the Slayer eagle with the Crimson Ghost taking up the center of it. Combining the two most important bands of my early teen years into one.

Now I need to figure out how to represent Gwar, Exhumed, Nile, Metallica, and Cannibal Corpse. My arm's going to look like my 10th grade book covers.

I got this Ed done recently, have a little more to do but I think it came out quite well. The artist is a huge Maiden fan as well which made it all the more fun

Ive got the Celtic Frost Heptagram on my chest and the reaper from Sacrilege's Behind the Realm of Madness on my right arm

I say get whatever makes you happy, but I feel getting lyrics tattooed is a little corny. And do research on the artist first. Pay more for better work.

People who don't have tattoos: They need to mean something

The rest of us, tattoo'd: Does it look cool? Done deal.

Honestly even tattoos that look fucking stupid are going to be a great story and an opportunity to laugh for the rest of your life. I remember when I thought they had to be deeply imbued with personal meaning. I was 17. At 31, and with a giant Baphomet on my arm I have to say it's just no big deal. Bare skin, a tattoo, it's just adornment. The more you get the less they need to "mean", but after just one I think you kinda realize...

My wife (who has 7 tattoos) once said that you never see anyone with 2 tattoos. You either get one because it has a deeply personal meaning and you're not into tattooing otherwise, or you get a second one and quickly realize you like it enough to get multiple. Seeing how as I already have two more ideas in mind, that seems about right.

That's how I look at it.

I personally plan to get the skull from the album cover of Candlemass' debut done on my arm. It's an important album to me musically and it looks baller. So why not?

New Primordial - Redemption at the Puritan's Hand tattoo done yesterday:



I'm planning to get a bunch on the forearms this year. I'M WASTING MY MONEY, GUYS!

At least you could waste your money for better stuff, like hard drugs. Fool!

Seriously, that tat looks great!

Definitely your best work yet 'Toine. Although your little bird knight is a cutie.

Thanks buds, I'm hoping to get another one before the year ends.

Metal tats are pretty cool. Kinda wish I hadn't got N.S.B.M. 4 LIFE tattooed on my face, but at least I have time to duck around the corner while people whip out their phones to look up the acronym.

If I'd something stupid like getting a tattoo, I'd do a really stupid one. Like a big Joey, DeMaio on my back, or the cover of Animal (Fuck Like a Beast) with the close up of Blackie Lawless' sawblade crotch.