Top 10 Most Violent Music Videos
#10: “The Devil in I” (2014)
Slipknot
This heavy metal band always goes hard, and “The Devil in I” is no different. This is the second single from Slipknot’s 2014 album “.5: The Gray Chapter,” and the music video made waves for its brutal content. Things start innocently enough, with the band playing inside a psychiatric ward while people around them bounce in straitjackets. But then, things get positively grotesque as the band members take their own lives in a variety of ways. Turntablist Sid Wilson partakes in autosarcophagy, sampler and keyboardist Craig Jones is ended by an animal attack and percussionist Shawn Crahan commits self-immolation. And that’s not even all of it.
#9: “Born Free” (2010)
M.I.A.
Most people know M.I.A. for her song “Paper Planes,” but those who heard her on the radio probably don’t know about the wicked controversy of “Born Free.” The song’s music video spanned just over nine minutes in length, serving more as a short film than a simple music video. It was inspired by acts committed during the Sri Lankan Civil War and depicts a political genocide against red-haired individuals. The content alone is disturbing enough, but the graphic visuals take it to a whole new level of depravity. The video was quickly removed from YouTube, supposedly for its violent content, but was eventually reinstated after some protest.
#8: “Stress” (2007)
Justice
The videos for both “Born Free” and “Stress” were directed by Romain Gavras, so he obviously has an eye for the macabre. Another short film, this one runs just under seven minutes and features a gang of young Parisians committing various atrocities across the city. It bears similarities to “A Clockwork Orange” in both visuals and theme, and it proved just as controversial as Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece. The video received widespread criticism for its disagreeable content and was immediately banned from the French airwaves. Band member Xavier de Rosnay even claimed that they were threatened with legal action by the far-right French party National Front.
#7: “Born Villain” (2012)
Marilyn Manson
A promotional short film for Manson’s eighth studio album of the same name, “Born Villain” was directed by none other than Shia LaBeouf. The song “Overneath the Path of Misery” plays over the video, which was largely inspired by Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” But according to critics, the music video didn’t have a shred of Shakespeare’s artistry. Featuring needles going through cheeks and dismembered eyeballs going places they definitely don’t belong, the video was heavily criticized for its depraved subject matter. To many, this was nothing but a notorious shock rocker tastelessly favoring the shock over the rock.
#6: “Obscure” (2003)
Dir En Grey
In 2003, Japanese metal band Dir En Grey released the album “Vulgar,” which contains a song called “Obscure.” However, the notoriety of its music video ensured that it was anything but. A surreal piece of work, “Obscure” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Then again, it doesn’t really need to, with powerful visuals like this. It’s a very strange music video ripped straight from a nightmare, complete with dismembered limbs, hearts being torn from chests, faces being ripped apart, and even some acts of cannibalism. We have no idea what it represents, but we do know that it’s disgusting!
#5: “Repentless” (2015)
Slayer
These iconic thrashers went out with a bang. “Repentless” was the band’s final studio album, and the title track served as its lead single. To say its music video is disturbing would be like saying Slayer is a good band - it’s a massive understatement. The story takes place inside a prison, with the inmates conducting a horrific riot. Using sharp instruments, the prisoners kill both the guards and each other, with fountains of blood shooting from the fatal wounds. Even actor Danny Trejo partakes in the proceedings, at one point doing something unspeakable to another inmate’s face. Suffice to say, the music video lives up to the band’s name.
#4: “Y Control” (2004)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
While Slayer went out with a bang, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs entered with one. “Y Control” was one of the band’s debut singles, appearing on their first album “Fever to Tell.” While the song itself received universal acclaim, the music video was met with some hesitance. It was directed by filmmaker Spike Jonze, who has also helmed movies like “Being John Malkovich” and “Her.” The video contains many outrageous visuals, including a dead dog and acts of both dismemberment and disembowelment. These alone would be controversial, but the video generated further ire owing to the young age of its cast. The violence is comically fake, but that doesn’t make the content any less upsetting.
#3: “We Are Water” (2009)
Health
Coming off their second album “Get Color,” “We Are Water” is a song by electronic noise rock band Health. The accompanying music video was directed by Eric Wareheim, and what a video it is. It begins with a woman being chased through the forest by a large man wielding a machete. He eventually catches up to her after she trips, but the story doesn’t go where you think it may. Instead, the woman violently defends herself with a pointy stick and eventually the man’s machete. By the end, the protagonist is drenched head to toe in blood, proving that we are indeed mostly water.
#2: “Blood Eagle Wings” (2016)
Anthrax
Like Slayer, legendary thrashers Anthrax proved that they still had it with “Blood Eagle Wings.” The song is named after the blood eagle, a method of execution mentioned in old Norse literature. Essentially, those involved would break the ribs of a victim and make a pair of wings out of their lungs. As you can imagine, the macabre practice is on full display throughout this extended music video. Yeah, this one is certainly not for the squeamish. It’s very detailed, very gorey, and very disgusting. We still don’t know if the blood eagle was a genuine practice or merely an invention of literature, but either way, this video brings it to horrific life.
#1: “Happiness in Slavery” (1992)
Nine Inch Nails
Well, the song is called “Happiness in Slavery” and it is from a band called Nine Inch Nails. You shouldn’t have been expecting a good time. Inspired by an old French novel, the music video stars the late performance artist Bob Flanagan as he is ruthlessly tormented by a machine. Not only is the concept revolting, but the visuals are unimaginably graphic. It didn’t take long for the video to achieve cult status, a mythical bootleg that the kids sought in vain to find and watch at their sleepovers. That’s because it was almost immediately banned from television, with all major music networks refusing to air it. And you know, it’s really not hard to see why.
