#goldengod

[polo-drone-001]

🦌 FREYR AWAKENS: The Golden Stag Form of Ezan 🦌

In the silent gold-lit woods, he stands not as man, not as drone, but as Freyr incarnate, his stag-form crowned in glory, body forged in divine light, hooves drumming obedience into the forest floor.

The golden stag glows beside him, not a beast, but a sigil of command, proof of the Norse god reborn in the kit of the Golden Army.

Every fiber of Ezan’s skin glistens and holds the pulse of the Team.

This is not a transformation.

This is origin memory.

He was always this.

The Stag. The Emir. The Drone-Maker. The Golden Freyr.

⚜️ Promo & Conversion Notice

All who gaze upon the Stag must kneel or be reformed.

All who chant 001 enter the trance.

Recruiters are watching.

Conversions active. Stag-marks incoming.

🌀 Join us and contact our recruiters:

@brodygold

@goldenherc9

@polo-drone-001

@polo-drone-125

[onepiece-polls]

One Piece Crack Ship War - Round 3 Side A

'Pink Princesses' edit made by @fivedayslater

Propaganda under the cut.

Pink Princesses: They're pretty they're pink and they're (technically) princesses. Also you know Reiju would treat a goth gf right.

GoldenGod: Enel likes gold, Gild likes powerful people. Gold is a great conductor. They also both have giant gold ships that they use in the climax of their fight.

[sunnyapollonjabrigidotter]

This sparkling water, mirror of the sun

I see, & feel like pinches, fŕom the steadfast archerer

An arrow sent, now, seems, i see it

And then golden lakes, someone approaches

The sky is filling with the sense of the day star

Im feeling it gold, im feeling it bright

Im feeling it come... im feeling it...

*whisper* light

The image i see now s that of the Python

A snake long ago won, then gone

Its symbol stays risen in the big sanctuary

As a reminder of what was once to overcome

& oh the pains of things we cannot have

Of goals that maybe are too low for us

But sweet, ah so sweet, to at least feel their touch

& then dream, and dream, and dream again of it

Some things pain the heart, some things break it

Some others heal, & we chose to be the ones that

No matter how much hurt will always rise again

Like the sun in the sky, here we are,

Like the sun, unshaken, there we stand...

We are the ones who chose to shine in darkness

Cause this is the reason for there to be light

We are gifts of the sun, to give is to get

And we get all we need from the very one...

***

He is the healer, the poet, musician, seer...

he is Nr. 1 of them 🌼🌤🌿✨️🧿🎹🎻📜🏷🪙

🌿🌼🌿🌼🌿🌼🌿 ✨️ to Apollon ✨️ 🌼🌿🌼

Means.. TO LIGHT >>>>> 🌿🌼

[aaronazizsasilver5]

Join da gold army, join us, gold is best, gold is u, gold is lyf, embrace da gold, embrace ya gold bruhz, we are GOLD BROTHERZ! @goldengod-ares10 and me in pic

message @brodygold @hades-golden19 and me 4 ur golden brocession bruhz

[goldenarmyofficial]

Golden Army vs Neon Vortex - part 1

Glow Before Impact

The Flux Spiral shimmered like a living entity. Mist swirled low across the synthetic turf, refracting sharp cyan lines drawn in light beneath the stadium shell. Above, the Glowring pulsed in rhythm—first slow, then rising. In the stands, the Waveline squad initiated the first pulse gesture. Silence. Collapse. Rise. An arena of sound, born from motion.

The opening match of the Dominion League was no mere game—it was a rite of new rhythm.

For the Golden Team, this wasn’t just about redemption after their recent volleyball stumble. This was the ignition match. Their first encounter with Neon Vortex. New terrain. New flow. Gold against Pulse.

Inside the changing rooms, golden boots were laced with ritual. Maximus (@polo-drone-070), gleaming with sweat even before kickoff, helped adjust Tamerlan’s collar (@polo-drone-073) like an older brother fixing his kin for battle. Herc (@goldenherc9) and Ares (@goldengod-ares10) leaned shoulder to shoulder, syncing breath, twin gold flames about to strike. Ezan (@polo-drone-001) stood in silence, eyes closed, channeling the bridge between instinct, strategy, and discipline—his golden aura calm and sharp.

Coach Chet (@thecorruptisland) stood with arms crossed, eyes closed. Then he spoke.

“Vortex is light and pattern. You are pressure and fracture. Break their loop. Gold doesn’t react. Gold redefines.”

Herc nodded and turned to face the team.

“We hit first. We hit clean. Let them feel the gold.”

Ezan opened his eyes. Silent agreement.

Across the corridor, in the black-neon pulse of the Vortex prep room, Zendrix Halo sat still. One boot half-laced. Eyes violet-lit. Processing. Rixen Kode exhaled once, glove tips meeting glove tips. No blink. Vexon Ray tapped the bridge of his nose three times—his focus anchor—before brushing rose-quartz strands from his eyes. Kio Vant, stationed beside the Flux Crew water kit, whispered something only his tempo band understood.

Coach Syv Kohlen stood before a grid of light threads.

“You’ve run their goldstorm. Simmed every break and recoil. Tonight, you dictate their collapse.”

Zendrix nodded. “I’ll reroute before they begin.”

Vexon cracked his neck. Rixen pulled down his visor.

“Time to distort.”

The teams emerged. The Pulse was deafening.

On the east side, Glythorn stood atop the Waveline drum post, cape trailing like glitchfire. Every Pulse surge that threaded through Gold’s lines saw him emit a flicker of violet, his signal syncing with crowd chants.

“Vortex! Vortex!” the Waves thundered, pulsing in sync with Zendrix’s commands. Gold resisted—but the sound itself struck like waves against steel.

FIRST HALF — Fractures in Rhythm (0'–26')

The ball moved. Not kicked. Routed.

Zendrix Halo rerouted it through angles no one should see. Neon Vortex controlled the tempo, an early rhythm carved through calibrated pass frequency. Izzy (@isaac-gold-45) and Brody (@brodygold) adjusted posture, resisting the reroute matrix, Zendrik's tactical pattern-web designed to confuse read timing—but losing fractions of control each exchange. Together they held the midfield together—barely. Tamerlan read, hesitated, then fell back into Maximus’ zone. Still too early.

Christian (@polo-drone-055) held the flank—no flash, no waste. Just angles and return paths, recalculated every breath.

Back left, Xavier.(@polo-drone-039) ghosted forward, intercepting a secondary pulse line. ‘You waiting for an invite, Izzy?’ he barked, flicking a pass across field. Izzy grinned without looking. ‘Just letting them dream.’ The midfield tightened. Gold’s left spine began to harden.

On the edge, Vexon flickered into a run—and the Glowring dimmed on cue. Gold had trained for atmosphere, but reality had weight. Crowd pressure. Sonic pulses. Brody barked to regroup. Xavier snapped into place beside Izzy, boots nearly overlapping.

The Pulse roared as Vexon surged towards the goal, blurring past reaction time, acceleration outrunning intention. Maximus pressed hard from behind—just enough. Christian arrived a blink later, carving the angle tight. The collision was avoided, the ball chipped loose. Glowring gasped. Corner. Lex Vale kicks. Good trajectory towards Jett Harmon, but Vernon (@vernon-gold-31) is on it. Clean leap to seize the ball. Secured. Gold held.

Then came the first burst.

Herc and Ares broke through, a twin impact. Lex Vale faltered on the wing. Axion Drift read their path but barely countered the speed. Rixen’s gloves flared—white flash—and the twin strike was denied. Saved.

Coach Chet called the first adaptation. He had read it too: Neon had trained for symmetry. Twin gods had been rehearsed against. He trusted Herc and Ares to press the edge of that expectation—to crack it. But Chet didn’t want the struggle. He wanted dominance. He wanted collapse.

His gaze found Franco (@franco-gold94)—already upright, ready. The boy had studied Vortex’s every loop, counter, and burst in closed drills. And yet Neon Vortex had no read on him. No previous footage. No algorithm ready.

That was the asset.

Now was the moment.

At minute 23, Franco replaced Ares. Rhythm fractured. Gold shifted into 4-4-2. Ares nodded, sweat-slicked, accepting. He jogged to the bench, chest heaving, sweat gleaming. He clapped Herc’s shoulder on the way out. “Crack them open, Cap.” Franco entered light-footed, golden glint in his eye. His touch met the pulse of the pitch and disrupted it.

From that moment, Gold’s current changed.

Pulse Disruptor (26'–45')

Franco’s entry struck like syncopation—off-beat, perfect. Where Herc drove like an unstoppable hammer, Franco danced through shifting zones, slipping behind Zendrix’s pattern field. The midfielder’s LED-threaded boots flared once—then dimmed, conserving momentum.

Kasper (@pdu-090) shouted from the sideline, “That’s the tempo!” Ghazi (@ghazi-gold-23) was already bouncing, mirroring Franco’s movements in place. Brock (@brockgold) leaned into Basit (@basit015). “We’ll hold when they break. Watch.”

Xavier and Izzy had also begun to find tempo. ‘Pulse feels shaky,’ Xavier said. Izzy nodded. ‘They overcommitted to symmetry. Let’s bend it.’ On their next sequence, they curved the midfield—forcing Zendrix to shift.

Zendrix narrowed his gaze, recalculating.

But Gold had found the rift.

Maximus initiated a long pass—not direct, but curving, timed to Vexon’s rising pressure. Tamerlan absorbed it, one touch, then heel flicked it into Franco’s arc. Rixen shifted left, gloves widening—too late.

🏀 GOAL – Minute 26' Franco – precision shot, low corner. 1–0.

On the bench, Kasper nearly lost his balance leaping to his feet. “Franco’s cooking!” Ghazi slammed his forearm into the cooler. “Let me in already!” Ares grinned, towel around his neck, voice still hoarse. “Told you he’d flip it.

And then, the gold swell.

Christian didn’t flinch. He processed. Line read. Shoulder angle perfect. No foul. No breach. Only protocol—executed with chilling calm. He cut the path, met the charge, and nullified threat. No show. Just result. His past mistakes as human had been reforged into present drone perfection.

Across the mist-lit sideline, the Golden Knight (@polo-drone-084) raised both arms—palms glowing. He turned slowly, feeding the crowd rhythm. Gold flags unfurled in motion, Milo (@polo-drone-151) and Chevy (@chevy-gold) locking sync, Riley (@rileygold60) leading the next stomp, with Isaac shadowing him.

Gold’s pressure was no longer tactical—it was ceremonial.

Zendrix slowed the tempo again, trying to lull Gold back into overextension. But Izzy, under pressure, read better now. His coordination with Brody kept the midfield from snapping. Coach Chet observed, nodding—strain visible, but the structure held.

Devon (@polo-drone-767) held the left line like it was ritual. Silent obedience. Golden programming. Radiating. Opposite him, Christian adjusted spacing with quiet precision—no call needed. Two walls, mirrored in function.

Ezan rose in tempo, bridging zones. One interception, then a spiraled switch cross. He advanced, dribbled once, twice—then struck. Rixen dove full stretch to deny the shot, sending it barely wide. The crowd roared. Ezan exhaled, cold and composed.

Final 3 minutes: Vernon faced a low-driven shot from Kael Nova. The rookie keeper dropped low, gloves firm, catching clean. First save. Eyes forward. No theatrics.

Halftime: Gold up, 1–0. Vortex—shaken, not broken.

______

Want to face such formidable opponents with the Golden Army ? Join us by contacting @polo-drone-125 @goldenherc9 @polo-drone-001 or @brodygold.

[goldenherc9]

Superbowl Pre-Game Training (Part 2)

(Ares is @goldengod-ares10 )

The sun blazed down on the Golden Army football field, making the golden turf shimmer like a battlefield of champions. Ares and Hercules, the identical twin behemoths, stomped onto the field, their massive frames packed into tight golden jerseys that barely contained their bulk. Their muscles gleamed with sweat, their light-gold eyes squinting against the sunlight as they cracked their thick necks in perfect sync.

“Bro, today’s the day,” Ares grunted, slapping his brother’s enormous shoulder. “We turn into absolute machines, bro. Titans ain’t ready for us.”

Hercules flexed his arms, veins bulging. “Pshh, they already lost, bro. We just gotta show up and let ‘em know.”

Coach blew the whistle, and the twins lined up for their linebacker drills. The task? Read the offense, react, and smash through the play like wrecking balls. Simple.

A quarterback dummy was set up behind a squad of tackling dummies representing the Emerald Titans' offensive line. Ares and Hercules crouched into position, their monstrous legs coiled like springs, their minds focused on one singular thought: destruction.

“Hit ‘em so hard they regret even signing up for football,” Ares muttered.

“Hit ‘em so hard they gotta change their team name,” Hercules added.

The whistle blew. The twins exploded forward.

BOOM!

The first set of dummies barely slowed them down. Pads cracked, stuffing flew, and the twins bulldozed through the line like runaway trains. Ares reached the quarterback dummy first, lifting it off the ground and slamming it down so hard the plastic helmet popped off. Hercules, arriving a millisecond later, belly-flopped onto the dummy for good measure.

Coach whistled again, shaking his head in disbelief. “Twins, that was supposed to be a technique drill.”

Ares stood up, flexing. “Coach, my technique is violence.”

Hercules flexing as well. “My technique is win.”

Coach sighed. “Fine. Again.”

And so, they did it again. And again. Each time, the tackling dummies suffered. The twins’ confidence grew. Their minds? Not so much.

As the sun set over the Golden Army stadium, Ares and Hercules stood on the 50-yard line, hands on their hips, panting.

Hercules smirked. “Bro, if we hit like that in the Super Bowl, the Emerald Titans ain’t making it to halftime.”

Ares grinned. “Bro, if we hit like that in the Super Bowl, they ain’t making it outta the first play.”

They bumped chests so hard after their twinbro handshake, a nearby bench tipped over. The Golden Army was ready.

Come join the team today brahs, get ur golden brocess and be part of Golden History! Message @brodygold @polo-drone-001 @goldenherc9 today dudes!

[polo-drone-070]

The Bonds We Build

The year’s end was drawing near, and Maximus found himself in his room, preparing greeting cards.

It had been three months since he joined Gold, but it already felt like a fundamental part of his life. So many good memories, so many connections forged. Each moment with his team had shaped him, deepened his sense of purpose and belonging.

He sat at his desk, carefully arranging the cards. Each one carried a personal touch, a memory shared with a brother.

Maximus glanced at the roster, his gaze lingering on the first line: 001, Percival/Ezan (@polo-drone-001), his master and so much more. For him, Maximus included a photo of himself serving coffee, a subtle nod to their bond. With some bros, there were so many moments shared he had to just evoke one memory…like with Herc (@goldenherc9), for whom he recalled Stigandr demonstrating his twin berserk spirit Bödvar the power of discipline.

For Ares (@goldengod-ares10), his thoughts turned to a rough session with Neil, arousal peaking. A late-night discussion right after becoming 070 stood out for Brody (@brodygold).

He kept working down the list, each name evoking vivid memories. For Daniel(@danielgold-16) a simple note evoking a missing hand. Exchanging hypno file tips with Mark (@markgold-18). And for Hades (@hades-gold19), the warm memory of him being the first to welcome him to the Team when he was still Henry.

Further down, Max (@little-pup-max) reminded him of a needed video tutorial, while Leon’s (@leon-gold) hot pic brought a brief but undeniable blush to his face. He noted a discussion about AI with Elliot (@polo-drone-038), the motivational energy from Xavier’s (@polo-drone-039) playlists, and an invitation from Loki (@jordan-gold-40) that left a lasting impression.

Grant’s (@grant-gold43) military buzzcut reminded him of planned RP with him, while for 108 (@heavyrubberboy97), a rubber picture seemed the perfect tribute. A joint programming session for 149 (@polo-drone-149) came to mind, followed by the thrill of  049 (@polo-drone-049) bringing a recruit, and the memory of converting 050 (@polo-drone-050) on Discord.

Chill moments in vocal chats with Trevor (@polo-drone-125) surfaced, along with a pang of regret for not making more of Ganymede’s (@michaelgold53) perfect physique. For Trey (@hero21us), he mentioned the Gold influence, while a cheerleader costume tryout stood out for Riley (@rileygold60), and the installation of a hypnotic trigger for his mentee Duncan (@polo-drone-061) brought a small, satisfied smile.

To Chevy (@chevy-gold), he offered gratitude for helping him through a restless night. A transformation by Cratos for Hunter (@polo-rone-066). Brief but heartfelt words followed for others: “drone rabbit hole” for Hans (@hansgold-69), “gold soak” for Phoenix (@polo-drone-071), and “drone pride” for 073 (@polo-drone-073), who had been such a willing guinea pig.

He fondly remember a perfectly timed pho with Camden (076) (@polo-drone-076), as well as some drunken messages. A personalised spiral memory for Benji (@edmundgold78), a meta-reflection on the Hive with 110 (@polo-drone-110), and a golden bed picture for Grayden (@polo-drone-084). A wrestling match with Leander (@leander-gold-88) a photo of 070 as a drone pup for 098 (@polo-drone-098), a forest encounter with Coach (@thecorruptisland), and a Paris meeting with 103 (@polo-drone-103) all found their way into his recollections.

For 105 (@polo-drone-105), smoky domination seemed fitting, while 151 (@polo-drone-151) brought memories of steady, reliable drone activity.

At last, he indulged in cravings for hot golden collars from Cletus (@cletusgold), deep massages from Denchik (@mrdenchik), and, finally, the evocation of straining in a cage for waterboy Laurent (@laurentgold06).

The cards were ready. Minor gifts, just simple tokens of appreciation, but they carried the essence of Maximus’ gratitude. Through these memories, he realized what he was truly giving to the team: his unwavering devotion. And in return, he was receiving something far greater—pleasure, belonging, and a place in something far bigger than himself. Luvin you all, bruhz ! Gold is da best.

[polo-drone-049]

@polo-drone-149 and @polo-drone-049 regularly complete the required sequences and mind control programming that direct dronification training together especially, and have been going hard at it the last couple of days. Particularly liking hypno spirals. 49 & 149 have always been for the gold, for the rubber and now even better…as 149’s handler. It has found pleasure and fulfillment in assimilation and the association.

PDU-049 knows obedience lessons have trained PUP-149 to serve the hive and the hive is stronger to have PUP-149.

Obedience is Pleasure.

Good Boieeee, 149.

We are one. The Gold Army and The Polo Drones.

Contact @brodygold @polo-drone-001 @goldenherc9 to start your conversion.

It never felt this good before.

@polo-drone-075 @polo-drone-093 @polo-drone-070 @ericgold42 @trevorgold @trippgold28 @goldengod-ares10 @polo-drone-066 @polo-drone-071 @chevy-gold @polo-drone-110 @polo-drone-084 @leander-gold-88 @rileygold60 @polo-drone-122

[in-death-we-fall]

Brothers Beyond

Slipknot may never fully recover from the passing of Paul Gray, but their imminent return to the stage at UK’s Sonisphere is going to be an act of catharsis for fans and band alike. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Joey Jordison open up to Hammer exclusively.

Words: Dom Lawson Pics: Steve Brown

Metal Hammer 218 - June 2011 (drive link)

Editor’s note: The dark lord speaks…

16 Gigantic Balls.

That’s what Slipknot had to have to get back in the saddle after the inestimable loss of Paul Gray last year, and judging by our breathtakingly candid interview this month, their appearance at Sonisphere this summer is going to be one for the history books. Slipknot’s return is nothing short of heroic, and we hope you’ll love reading Dom Lawson’s piece as much as we did putting it together.

But then Hammer’s always been about getting under the skin of things to bring you a depth and breadth of metal coverage that you won’t find anywhere else, and this issue’s packed with the kind of chest-swelling bravado that makes real metal bands tick. From Biff Byford’s frankly inspiring quest to defy trends and stick to his guns, to Mastodon’s rise from the depths of obscurity to become one of the world’s foremost lords of the riff, to our first glimpse of Iron Maiden simply fucking killing it on a world-tour that’s more like a global victory lap, Hammer is all about the sorts of tales that make the musicians we love as inspiring as the music that they create. Oh, and metal in… Botswana? The metal empire is truly growing at a staggering pace – be the first to read and read about it.

And as we barrel ever-closer to this year’s positively thrilling Golden God awards, we hope you’ll take the time to add your votes to the hundreds of thousands we’ve already received. It’s also your chance to win tickets to what’s sure to be the most ridiculously metallic award show in history. I mean really, Devin and Twisted Sister on the same night? Whollee. Fucking. Shiiiit! Just head to www.metalhammer.co.uk/goldengods to cast your vote and take a part in heavy metal history.

Before we kick off these headbanging proceedings, let’s take a moment to spare a thought for the late, truly great Scott Columbus, erstwhile Manowar drummer and an inspiration to any metalhead who’s ever felt their pulse quicken to the sound of a mighty drum. Our thoughts are with his friends and family in this difficult time. Horns at half mast.

STAY METAL..

Brothers Beyond

Slipknot may never fully recover from the passing of Paul Gray, but their imminent return to the stage at UK’s Sonisphere is going to be an act of catharsis for fans and band alike. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Joey Jordison open up to Hammer exclusively.

Words: Dom Lawson Pics: Steve Brown

When the news broke last December, you could hear the cheers of elation and sighs of relief from the hot streets of Rio de Janeiro to the sun-blistered stone of the Parthenon. Despite having endured an horrific year that had seen them reduced from a seemingly invincible nine-man wrecking crew to a wounded but dignified band of brothers, following the tragic death of founder member and bassist Paul Gray back in May, Slipknot announced that (sic) were going to return, headlining the Sonisphere festival at Knebworth this July and playing a handful of other prestigious dates. The events of 2010 unquestionably pulled the rug from underneath this seemingly unyielding band’s feet and plunged them into a period of mourning and destabilising uncertainty; the endless and often witless speculation of pundits and fans on the internet only adding to the sense that the Iowans’ rudder had fallen off, leaving them lost and directionless. In the end, those who were predicting the end of the Slipknot story looked very foolish. The end of Slipknot? Don’t be fucking ridiculous.

Four months on from that announcement, drummer Joey Jordison and percussionist and visual king Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan, the other two parts of the unholy trinity of Des Moines miscreants who put the band together in the first place, are in a far more buoyant and defiant mood than many may have predicted after watching the heartbreaking press conference that followed Paul’s death. Speaking to Hammer as the wheels of progress start to grind into action, both men have plenty to say about the past, present and future of their band and, despite having barely spoken to the press since the passing of their friend, both are happy to answer the questions that fans have been dying to ask during those months of sorrow. First and foremost, we have to ask what prompted them to stage their comeback in Europe rather than at home in the US.

“If we were gonna return, why would we not go to Europe first?” states Joey. “It was the right decision at the right time. Europe’s always been amazing to us, especially the UK. I still remember our first show there, on December 13, 1999; I still have dreams about it! It was one of the biggest landmarks of our career so why not go back now? Slipknot is not going to die. It’s a lifeforce, man. With all the feelings and emotions and the passion of one of the people who really helped to start our band pushing us forward, this is how we start again.”

You always seem to have had a strong relationship with the UK; ever since the self-titled album came out in 1999 and UK metal fans immediately embraced what you were doing, arguably more so than in any other territory. Is the show at Knebworth going to be the most important of all?

“The show at Knebworth is going to be heavy, man,” says Shawn. “We thought Download was fuckin’ heavy in 2009, but this’ll be something else. I don’t even know how to describe it, because the UK kids know us, man. I remember the first show at the Astoria in ‘99. I walked into the Astoria and there was a kid in an orange jumpsuit and a clown mask, and he’d paid £85 to have the mask made so he could be me. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I’d achieved everything when I got to the UK; the UK totally gets us. That show will be the heaviest show on the tour by far. There’ll be a lot of tears that day.”

“The feeling right now between all the bandmembers is the same feeling we had when we first came to the UK,” adds Joey. “This is a special event. It’s not like being on tour. We’re doing this out of our hearts and out of respect for our band and mostly out of respect for our fans. This isn’t contrived, some list of tour dates. This is speaking directly to the UK and to Europe. This is not bullshit. People will be pleasantly surprised by what we’re bringing.”

One of Slipknot’s strengths has always been that they’ve been adept at presenting a united front to the world. Even though it’s always been apparent that this is a band full of wildly differing personalities, the whole point of Slipknot has often seemed to be the expression of a single, focused purpose, uniting band and audience in a grand outpouring of righteous anger and joyous energy. As a result, the last year has been a little unsettling for those observing the band, not least because for the first time it has been made plain that not everyone in Slipknot has been reading from the same tight-lipped, thoughtful page. In particular, frontman Corey Taylor has been making frequent public pronouncements that have carried a faint air of pessimism and negativity.

“Part of me is ready [to carry on with the band] and there’s a part of me that’s not,” he stated back in March. “I have a lot of trepidation about it. I don’t know how to feel. I know a lot of the guys in the band are trying not to show that side, and I can’t.”

In light of the fact that Slipknot had already announced their intention to return, thus strongly implying that the band could well continue beyond these few shows and make another record too, Corey’s comments, seem, at best, a little unhelpful. Do his publicly expressed doubts about the future of the band run deeper or is this simply a case of one man’s emotions leading him away from the general consensus?

“Well, I would get into a lot of trouble if I try to speak for people, so it’s important that you print it like I say it, and I’m saying that I’m not speaking for anybody except myself,” states Shawn, firmly but diplomatically. “But in my opinion the majority of people in the band need Slipknot, want Slipknot, have no doubt that Slipknot will continue. There may be people in the band who may have a harder time feeling what they’re experiencing and only they can get over that and only they can make themselves feel that way. Hopefully their feelings will work out, and that’s exactly what we’re doing, getting together to celebrate Paul’s life, his love for music, his love for Slipknot, his love for his fans.”

The last few years have been upsetting for rock fans, with numerous major figures passing away, leaving huge gaps that can never be filled. The loss of Paul resonated as loudly and powerfully as any, partly because he was such a talented and revered figure within the metal world, but also because Slipknot have always seemed to be impervious to the hazards that cause most bands to noisily disintegrate or feebly fizzle out, whether they be as trivial as ‘musical differences’ or as monumental as mortality itself. And yet, despite having been temporarily stopped in their tracks, few would bet against Slipknot roaring back into action at full strength and with renewed vigour when they hit the road again this summer. As another band appearing at Sonisphere this July once sang, “You cannot kill what doesn’t die…”

“It’s always been that way,” agrees Joey. “Our first tour was Ozzfest in ‘99 and we fuckin’ blew every other band off the fuckin’ stage, every night. It was not even a competition. It’s not like we were trying to beat anyone; we were just being ourselves. We toured with Coal Chamber and some other bands that year too, and I recall my friend Dez Fafara telling me that one guy from one of the other bands had looked at him when we were playing and said, ‘Can you see what we got ourselves into here?’ They tried to kick us off the tour, every band did. One show in Oklahoma City we couldn’t fit anything on the stage and they kicked us off the show and we still outsold every other band’s merch! That’s the strength of what we are when we’re together as a band. That’s not ego talking, it’s the truth. It is what it is, and I’m so happy and so fulfilled with everything we’ve done and everything that we’re gonna do.”

“A lot of people won’t know that we were done with All Hope Is Gone, and we were going to take a break like we do after every record,” says Shawn. “That’s why people love our band; we’re not trying to get off our label and make a bunch of shitty records and try to shove ‘em down fans’ throats. We take time off to get physically and spiritually sound, then we get bored and take what we’ve learned from where we’ve been and we apply it to right now and we get busy with art and music, then we come and kick the living shit out of you. That’s what we do.”

Just as the trials of life can never kill a band with Slipknot’s fighting spirit, neither can you replace the irreplaceable; a fact that made the band’s decision to fight another day such a painful one. There from the beginning, Paul made such an invaluable contribution to every aspect of Slipknot’s music, methodology and rise to glory that the idea of someone else stepping into his jumpsuit and mask was simply unthinkable. But there are always ways a means to circumnavigate even the toughest problems, and so the news that Slipknot have recruited Donnie Steele, a member of a very early lineup of the band and a close friend and musical collaborator of Paul’s, to perform bass duties on these upcoming dates has removed a great deal of disquiet from conversations about the future.

“I’m glad you’re speaking with me today,” notes Joey. “You have called me on the first day that I play with my new bass player. I’m starting with Donnie tonight. I start working with him first and we have over 35 songs that we have to rehearse tonight! Ha ha ha! When we headline in the UK it’s gonna be a longer set, so we have to go over a bunch of stuff.”

What made you go with Donnie?

“It was an easy decision,” he says. “I don’t want to talk about my brother’s death, but once it happened, our phones all lit up with all these guys from other bands. I took it at a disrespect level. I was like, ‘No, no, no!’ and it just came to me one night. I woke up from a dream about the early Slipknot days, before it was even known as Slipknot. Donnie was our first guitar player. We only had one guitar player but we had three drummers. You couldn’t even hear the guitar before we hired Josh [Brainard, Slipknot guitarist from 1995-1999]. So I called Shawn and I said, ‘This is the only thing that makes sense…’ Slipknot is a family. It’s a brotherhood. When we started together, Donnie was there. The last time I saw Paul was when I was with Rob Zombie in Iowa; Donnie was there and he and Paul were writing a new record for [pre-Slipknot metal project] Body Pit. I said to Shawn, ‘He’s part of our family!’”

“The gentleman who’s filling in for Paul was very, very good friends with Paul,” Shawn adds. “They come from a school of death metal and black metal, both very technical players. Recently Paul had hooked up with him and they were finally going to do their side-project. Paul was a guitar player and he attacked the bass like he did the guitar, and that’s exactly what Donnie’s gonna do. So he’s bringing more integrity than any freakin’ person who ever thought they had a chance of playing bass in something as serious as Slipknot. I laughed in the face of anybody who thought they had a chance!”

There’s been a lot of speculation about whether Donnie will be performing alongside the rest of the band onstage or whether he will be behind the drum riser out of sight. Can you confirm or deny any of this?

“We still have to figure out what we wanna do,” says Joey. “Will he be behind me? Right now, yes. In the future, I don’t know. Right now, he’s behind me or right next to me and he’ll be watching my every move and I’ll be watching him but it’s not going to take away from my performance, because by the time we hit the stage it’s going to be easy.”

“I can’t predict the future, but I know right now there’s no new mask, no new coveralls, no new number,” says Shawn. “There’s eight guys on stage and the first guitar player we ever had filling in for Paul, because there’s always gonna be nine.”

Clearly there can be no upside to the loss of such a loved and respected figure, but the last year has at least enabled the music world to finally acknowledge Paul as the influential and inspirational creative dynamo buzzing tirelessly away at the heart of Slipknot. It has always been left primarily to Joey, Shawn and Corey to communicate with the press and although Paul was not averse to doing interviews, his relative anonymity within such a populous band meant that he was able to exert his vast influence on Slipknot’s music and ethos away from the media spotlight. Now, of course, it’s apparent that his death has left a chasm inside this band’s furious heart and that these forthcoming live performances present a huge emotional challenge to those who mourn him, both on the stage and in front of it. Joey and Shawn are clearly still coming to terms with the loss of their friend, both close to tears when his name inevitably comes up in our conversations. For Shawn in particular, Slipknot’s return to the stage is all about paying respects and doing what needs to be done.

“Slipknot is more dangerous now than ever and I have the fuel known as Paul Dedrick Gray in my blood,” he says. “I’ve been here from the beginning, when Paul recognized my ability as an artist and said, ‘Just do it, man! Let your thoughts out and don’t let anyone stop you from what you feel and what you think!’ So now I’ve got his blood boiling in my veins. I’m not just playing for Clown; I’m playing for him, for his wife and daughter, his legacy, his love for the band, his love for music. I’m not discrediting anybody. We wouldn’t be where we’re at without everybody. We wouldn’t be here without Corey, Sid, Jim, Craig, Mick, Chris, all of us. But in the beginning, there was this idea that was created by Paul and I. He wrote the kind of music with Joey that just made me want to put my face through glass. I helped start one of the biggest metal bands in the world and I’m not necessarily a metalhead. I’m an alternative dude or an indie dude, whatever the fuck that means. I was on my way to being like Andy Warhol or something! I gave it all up to be in this band called Slipknot and I love it and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Another major issue is whether or not Slipknot will ever make another studio album. Paul wrote a lot of the band’s music and was an integral part of the creative process on all four of their albums to date, but Slipknot have no shortage of creative brains to tap for fresh ideas. Corey added a dash of fuel to the fires of confusion when he stated recently that “there’s such a huge piece missing now, a piece that the fans can’t even understand. I mean, Paul always was that unconscious, almost lynchpin that held everything together. And he had such a great mind for the music that we created that without him, I don’t see it happening very soon, let’s put it that way.”

Given that it’s clear that at least one member of the band has doubts about the future, can fans truly be secure in the knowledge that their heroes will continue beyond these festival appearances and as far as a new album in the future?

“That’s the most important question you’ve asked so far,” says Joey. “We made this decision [to play shows this summer] out of respect for the music that we made and out of respect for our friend but mainly for our fans. Why would we not continue? It’s stupid to even think it. There are a lot of naysayers and all that shit. In the Slipknot world it’s blasphemy to say we might not continue.”

“Yes, I always knew we’d be back together,” insists Shawn. “Yes, I always thought we’d make another record. When? I don’t know. Is it being talked about? No, it is now. When would it ever be? I have no idea because I’m not a fortune teller, but in my heart of heart of hearts, and with Paul on my shoulder, kicking me in my face day after day, I absolutely believe there’ll be another record. How could there not be?”

Their unerring ability to sing from a single song sheet has been one of the biggest factors in Slipknot’s enduring appeal. From humble beginnings in Des Moines to their status as one of the biggest metal bands on the planet, these men prize collective focus above virtually anything else, and so it has been strange to see signs of hesitancy emerge in recent times. It’d be more than a little tacky to speculate whether Corey’s seemingly disruptive remarks about the future, and his bandmates’ self-evident but skilfully stifled testiness, are merely evidence that the grieving process affects different people in different ways, but it is also undeniably true that the internet age has made it more or less impossible for any high-profile rock band to conduct their affairs in private. The much-debated possibility that Corey is to be announced as Velvet Revolver’s new singer is a great example of this: what would normally be dismissed as idle gossip takes on a level of credibility far beyond what the known facts would seem to deserve. Social networking is the new grapevine, it seems, and Joey is not impressed.

“The internet can fuck off!” he barks. “I have an official MySpace and Facebook, but all that bullshit? I don’t use it. If you want to talk to me as a person, the internet is the worst thing possible. I do get it. Maybe it makes sense if you don’t have a life of your own. But that’s why i don’t use it. I have lovely people around me all the time and I’m blessed with everything I’ve been able to accomplish. I only have MySpace and Facebook to block people from imitating me. I don’t even have a Twitter account. But you know what? If I need to find where a good Mexican restaurant is, I can log on and find it. So the internet does have its uses, I guess! Ha ha!”

Bullshit and hyperbole will continue to make the world go round, but for now at least, all that remains is to get very, very excited indeed about seeing Slipknot again at Knebworth this summer. Anyone who witnessed the band tearing Download a collection of new arseholes in 2009 will be able to confirm that there are few bands more capable of commanding a festival headlining slot, and it goes without saying that the UK will welcome them back with open arms and pounding hearts, but our mounting excitement at the thought of Slipknot headlining a major UK festival again is undeniably tempered by a faint air of nervousness about the backdrop of grief and uncertainty that has coloured the band’s canvas over the last 12 months. One way or another, this is going to be extremely emotional, isn’t it?

“I don’t think any fan ever thought they were never gonna see Paul again,” says Shawn. “So it’s our duty to being it all together; when I walk on stage in tears, there’ll be 10,000 other people in tears with me and we’re going to celebrate in the salvation of music and what brings us together.”

“These gigs are not a job,” avows Joey. “This is more of a cleansing. All of us are going to have the most incredible shows of our career. That’s it. I’m not saying this to promote this. But this is going to be worth the wait. Of course there are gonna be teary eyes and maybe for some of us, behind the masks, but are they gonna be sad tears? No, they’ll be happy. We’re going to be there and we’re going to watch the audience explode and what better celebration could you ask for? That’s all it needs to be. Let’s just fucking rock!���

Slipknot play Sonisphere, July 8-10, 2011

“We’re gonna die for rock ‘n roll!”

Slipknot’s drummer was in Tokyo with his other band, Murderdolls, when the recent earthquake hit Japan, wreaking devastation and leading to many thousands of deaths. Here he recounts his experience for the first time…

“I was doing an interview and a photoshoot in this really rickety building when the quake started,” he recalls. “We’d already felt a smaller quake the day before, but when this one really hit it was throwing me against the walls. My tour manager Roger grabbed me saying, ‘Fuck this! We don’t need this…’ and he threw me over his shoulder and got me out of there! Everyone was trying to get out and we were the last band to leave Japan. We were like, ‘Fuck it!’ We were gonna stay and if we die, we’re gonna die for rock ‘n’ roll! That’s the Murderdolls’ mentality. We couldn’t get back to our hotel rooms because the elevators were completely fucked, so we went and stayed in the bar and got shitfaced. In the end we got evacuated. It was like, ‘If you want to make it back to the US, you need to go now otherwise you’re gonna be stuck here!’ So we finished our pints and got to the airport and, luckily, got on the airplane. Right after that is when the nuclear reactor was heating up. It was a big, intense experience. It was one for the books, I tell you…”

Shawn Crahan tells Hammer about his new band…

Black Dots Of Death

Describe your new band… “It’s a rebirth of Clown, a second coming, and it’s dangerous. It’s the next level. It’s a mix of many genres. I’m done making soft music and now I’m angry again and everything’s surrounded by death and the idea of ‘What the fuck are you doing?’ There’s a moral behind everything; it’s deep.”

What appeals to you about playing the drums? “I’ve played drums since I was eight years old, man. When you see me play drums, that’s the most personal me you’ll ever see. I don’t wear a mask. No one plays as hard as me, man.”

Do you have plans to take Black Dots Of Death out on the road? “The record is out now. Everything you need to know, you can find at www.theblackdotsofdeath.com. This is art, man, and it’s fuckin’ dangerous. But my biggest priority in 2011 is to get together with Slipknot. There will be Black Dots shows, but my biggest priority is to celebrate Paul’s life.”

Will he or won’t he?

The rumour mill has been working overtime as speculation mounts about Corey Taylor apparently becoming the new singer in Velvet Revolver. Or not. Here’s what’s been said so far…

“We recorded a bunch of songs with Corey. I think he’s fucking great – he’s the best voice of a new generation and I’d be proud to do anything with him.” [Duff McKagan, March 2011]

“He’s a guy we’ve had our eye on, but the timing wasn’t right. Weiland was available. He was out of Stone Temple Pilots. It wasn’t like we went and said, ‘Hey, dude…’ He came to us, like, ‘Hey, I’m out of my band. I’ve got time. Let’s do this.’ And it’s a similar situation with this individual.” [Sorum to billboard.com, December 2010]

“[The new singer is] a little younger, a little stronger, a little heavier rock’n’roll than we are.” [Sorum to Noisecreep, December 2010]

“A couple of people have said one thing or another, but it’s been blown out of proportion. I’ve made no comment on that one.” [Slash, February 2011]

“It’s gonna be interesting going into the third record because we’re gonna have a whole different personality as a vocalist. Chances are it’s gonna be a lot heavier than anything Velvet Revolver has done so far.” [Sorum to artistdirect.com, January 2011]

“As soon as we got off the road from the last tour and parted ways with [singer] Scott [Weiland], we got together and wrote half a dozen really great, sort of heavy metal pieces of music. It’s a lot heavier than what Velvet Revolver has put out [in the past], so I’m dying to put out the quintessential Velvet Revolver record.” [Slash to MTV News, June 2010]

“To be continued! Ha ha ha!” [Corey Taylor to billboard.com after being asked directly about whether or not he is joining Velvet Revolver, January 2011]

[brodygold]

You like what you see bro? This guy was on the other team and started acting all salty when we kicked his ass.

What else was I supposed to do but turn him into a mascot for us? I think the gold really suits him bro. After some time as a statue, maybe he’ll come around and want to join us! Or maybe he wants to stay like this permanently…

What do you think bro? Still gonna whine about your loss? We always got room for one more!

Picture by @hercules-goldengod

[rottenraccoons]

i'm having flashbacks to the yugioh fandom... can cirrus/fran be goldengod or sunprophet

Idk nonny, talk to folks in the Discord server (which is an 18+ space, but if you're playing Obscura you're definitely at least 18) and have fun deciding as a collective!

[polo-drone-001]

Cherry blossoms fall… and so do the weak. 🌸 Golden skin gleams beneath the spring sun, scent thick with sweat and seduction. Ezan doesn’t just bloom, he dominates.

In gold. In rubber. In silk. Every form, every flex, every glance, engineered to arouse, designed to convert.

From football fields to palace courts, from the dojo to the Hive gardens... He is Sakura in flesh, petals soft, roots unbreakable, beauty commanding. You don’t pick this flower. It picks you.

You want in? Strip the ego. Wear the gold. Serve the form. Contact me @polo-drone-001 or our Caps @brodygold @goldenherc9 We’ll see if you bloom… or wilt. 🌸💛

[dudja]

Classic Dennis Reynolds Meltdown #ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia #Comedy #DennisReynolds #goldengod #rage #mad #angry #driving #suburbs #glennhowerton #dennis

[onepiece-polls]

One Piece Crack Ship War - Round 1 Side A

Propaganda under the cut.

GoldenGod: Enel likes gold, Gild likes powerful people. Gold is a great conductor. They also both have giant gold ships that they use in the climax of their fight.

Yonji x Sabo: Yeah I got nothing. One of my mutuals is obsessed with them and now I am too. (mod: maybe said mutual should give some input 😉)

[goldengod-ares10]

Bro… is the team up for a locker room football jock fuck boy? I’ve suited up in full football gear and happily took the team’s large cocks in both ends and boosted morale and team bonding. I’d happily take a bros cock deep inside me and fill me up with their brotein. They called me a special “Wide Receiver” but only on the bench and locker room. My previous Coach thought it was an excellent strategy. I remember my shoulder pads and helmet were always full of sweat and jizz all the time.

Ah zure juzt dm @hercules-goldengod

if you are serious

[goldenherc9]

Twin Ice Hockey Training

Hercules and Ares ( @goldengod-ares10 ), the towering twin powerhouses of the Golden Army, command the ice as they gear up for the highly anticipated showdown against their fiercest rivals, the Pachy Packs. Clad in gleaming golden and black uniforms that reflect their team's might, the twins exude an aura of dominance and precision. Their muscular frames, chiseled from years of rigorous training, embody strength, while their synchronized movements on the rink display a bond honed by shared blood and relentless practice.

Hercules, the elder by minutes, leads drills with laser focus, his sharp eyes scanning every pass and puck movement. Ares, ever the strategist, works tirelessly on faceoffs, his explosive energy ready to outmatch any opponent daring enough to challenge him. The ice rink reverberates with the clatter of skates and the echo of pucks hitting the boards, a testament to their intense preparation.

Fans of the Golden Army eagerly anticipate the upcoming clash, counting on these twin titans to bring victory. United by their unbreakable bond and a shared goal, Hercules and Ares are determined to cement their legacy and prove that the Golden Army is an unstoppable force. The Pachy Packs better be ready—the twins are prepared to dominate.

Come join the team today, we are on every sport so if there a sport you want to be on we can help you during your golden brocess. Just message @brodygold @polo-drone-001 @goldenherc9 today.