| The 50 Best Ways to Piss off a Metalhead |
[Oct. 14th, 2007|07:36 pm] |
1. Tell them every metal band worships the devil.
2. Ask if all black metal bands are trying to copy KISS or just most of them.
3. Hide their joint under their library card.
4. Ask if they know of any other cool bands like Slipknot.
5. If they’re listening to metal, tell them it sounds like some mainstream band. Doesn’t matter who.
6. Say it’s all a ripoff of Iron Butterfly anyway.
7. Ask if they’ve given their souls to Jesus yet.
8. Vaguely imply that you’re gay and would like their company for the evening.
9. Record over their Cannibal Corpse albums with other Cannibal Corpse albums and see if they ever notice the difference.
10. Refuse to accept their fake I.D.
11. Ask how much Dio got paid for his role as Stuart Little.
12. Use the phrase “cookie monster vocals” and act like it’s the funniest, most original thing you’ve ever come up with.
13. If they’re listening to metal, tell them “These guys don’t have talent. Now, those guys have talent!”
14. Say “What is vinyl?”
15. Point out how stupid Manowar is. If they agree, which they shouldn’t, tell them the only thing more stupid is Black Sabbath with Dio.
16. Tell them it all sounds the same.
17. Admit that Cliff Burton was a dirty hippy who had already peaked musically.
18. If they say they love 80s metal, ask them whatever happened to Poison.
19. Tell them you like underground music too, like Godsmack.
20. Point out that Tarja from Nightwish can’t sing.
21. Insist that Emperor videos would be better if they used a dance troupe.
22. Ask if Mayhem is Marilyn Manson’s band.
23. Divert their CD shipments to the local Jewish community center.
24. Write “God Loves You” on their Venom backpatch.
25. Point out that just about every genre of music has an underground with bands who have integrity, so metal really isn’t that unique.
26. Post under their nickname on a power metal board and say Ray Alder shits all over John Arch.
27. Take out the Iron Maiden disc and put in 50 Cent.
28. Give them a spiky pop-punk haircut while they sleep.
29. Pronounce “Celtic Frost” correctly.
30. If they’re over 25, say that people can still rock even if they have an unplanned child or two and drive a grocery getter. Then point and laugh.
31. Tell them you’re not hiring and to try the other Cinnabon down the street.
32. Sit quietly and applaud politely at a metal show.
33. Make them be sober for five whole seconds.
34. Ask if Randy Rhoads was on the same flight as John Denver.
35. Tell them Korn brought metal back to life in the 90s.
36. Turn the bass way up on their stereo.
37. Laugh at Slayer for stealing their name from the Buffy show.
38. Call Doro fat.
39. Call them on their horrible grammar and/or spelling.
40. Remind them that metal is partially derived from the blues. Then accuse them of being widgets.
41. Use the phrase “balls in a vice” at least three times when talking about classic metal and/or power metal vocalists.
42. If it’s a guy with long hair, address him as if he were female. Don’t correct yourself about it.
43. Be impressed with how much RoadRunner Records has improved over the past ten years.
44. Say you love Metallica’s debut, The Black Album.
45. Notice that Lemmy hasn’t moved his left hand in 30 years of playing bass. Haha.
46. Refer to metal as “that kill-your-father rape-your-mother stuff.”
47. Ask them if their favorite band is so good, how come nobody has ever heard of them?
48. Pine for the good old days when” Pour Some Sugar On Me” was a big hit.
49. Tell them you used to be a metalhead, but grew out of it when you started listening to more intellectual stuff like…
50. Post a list of “Ways To Annoy Metal Fans” knowing full well that so many of them internalize everything and can’t take a joke.
Hehe. I didn't write this by the way. Credit goes to http://www.metalsucks.net (despite the name, it is a pro-metal website.) |
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| My Top 20 Favorite Albums |
[Aug. 28th, 2007|04:51 pm] |
Hi there Mr. Journal. I haven't updated you in a long, long time. I've been bored lately so I felt like putting in an entry for a fun little thing I wrote up. And for posterity, this entry is very lengthy. Very, very lengthy. So read it at your own risk. I typed it with the intention of being drawn out.
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 21st, 2007|01:31 am] |
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I'm exhausted. I'm just...emotionally drained. Where do I go? |
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| Threads of Life |
[Apr. 11th, 2007|12:46 pm] |
The new Shadows Fall album has completely grown on me. Its one of "those" albums, where at the beginning it seems completely underwhelming but you constantly find yourself listening to it, for weeks on end.
It has no machine gunned riffs like "The War Within" or melodic death grunts and growls like "The Art of Balance." The Threads of Life is much more of a power-chord-laden-rock driven journey (while remaining very heavy) reminiscent of '80s Testament...and, believe it or not, but modern Foo Fighters, a stark defiance to SF's previous efforts, which appealed to the death and metalcore scene. Its humorous how the producer of "Threads of Life" also produced works by the Foo Fighters, because I can see a lot of instant similarities in the style and sound.
The new album is catchy, and while its not extremely technical or incredible, it does what it sets out to do very well. It feels as if it were written traditionally a rock album, only to be somehow mysteriously transcribed into metal. All of the albums chorus's are softly sung ballads overflowing with colorful harmonies and over the top guitar chords. The riffing constantly moves into old school Metallica and Megadeth territory--simple, fast riffs. Tremelo is the name of the game here, which is used extensively and tastefully.
All of the songs clock in under 5 minutes, with the exception of "Final Call," a thrashy callback to later Testament and Megadeth, completely redone in a modern tone, with a modern twist.
You're probably thinking "Oh man, this must be like the new Trivium," but no. This isn't anything like the Crusade, an album, which strived for a much more popular sound, literally a virtuoso smorgasboard of Motley Crue, Styx (I guess? Ugh.), Kiss, and Slayer---an extremely cheesy, technical jerk-off-fest that doesn't really deserve more than a couple of listens, serving nothing particularly great to write home about. I personally enjoyed the Crusade, but it is not particularly memorable nor all that good. This is where "Threads of Life" succeeds---it stays memorable and does not stray off too far into the glory days of metal--Shadows Fall obviously know that metal was never about the blazing fast solos, jackhammer riffage, or the rebellious lyrics, but rather about being memorable and able to stand the true test of time. Metallica, Queen, Iron maiden all share these traits. The music sounds great, and frankly, its just good music. They have no aim or direction, unlike The Crusade, which was to hunt for an appealing, radio sound. Thats not to say the Threads of Life does not have its share of radio moments, but it apparently does not care about being popular at all. It cares to be memorable, and most importantly, it does not forget what made Shadows Fall recently famous. As mentioned earlier, the new album is extremely good at what it specifically does, and that is catchy, memorable riffs, beautiful chorus's, and just plain old-pump-your-fist-in-the-air metal.
Donais and Bachand are commonly praised for their twin harmonies, and that praise is rightfully earned here. The noodling throughout the album while not extensive, is used only when called for, and thankfully prevents the album from ever getting too cheesy. Bass is commonly ignored throughout most metal, and sadly this is the case here yet again. Never sounding too impressive, it gets the job done. David Germain does a wonderful job of keeping the drums technical and complicated throughout the album, which acts like a nice contrast/barrier to the simple, melodic chorus's and licks.
Brian Fair seems to have hired a singing coach. Perhaps one of the harshest criticisms of Shadows Fall's lineup is Brian. Brian has a bad habit of sounding like he is out of breath on every album, or at least, vocalizes in an extremely strained, worn out manner, and it shows. His lungs and vocal chords seems like they would give out at any moment, imploding under the intense pressure of suck. He sounds scattered and not powerful enough, which is a bad thing, a very bad thing, for a metal band. It is a valiant effort which I righteously applaud, yet it is tragic because the rest of the band shares such a top notch sound that fans have suggested he depart.
I can say with full confidence now that he has improved and the vocals are some of the best parts of the album.
Donais subtlety offers backup vocals in several of the songs, including "Burning Lives" and "Redemption." Brian Fair has perfected the "Hetfield-growl." Yes, even better than Matt Heafy. While Matt's voice comes off as more of a rip-off of James, Brian brings a little more to the table, a bit of his own flavor, perhaps? Whatever it is, it works. It is the Hetfield sound but also much different than our lovable James. I know I just mentioned this as a complaint, but it sounds more tired and worn out, full of emotion and sadness, so what's good about the new voice is that it appears that Brian has understood how to harness it and train it to bring out the best emotion of his ability. He isn't the greatest vocalist in the world, more importantly though is that he isn't trying to be. Good stuff.
All in all, this is my favorite Shadows fall album. To most fans or newcomers, this album will seem pretty unimpressive at the beginning, understandably so because it is a slight departure from the technical prowess that we all know Shadows Fall possesses. But after the first, second, and third listen, it reaches out with a sickly hand and latches onto your ears and before you know it, a week has passed and find out that all you've listened to is "Burning Lives" or "Venomous" on loop while working out.
Moving to a major label has not deterred this band one bit. I do not pass out 9.5's very often, and it is with great pride that I offer it to this album. No matter how little it means, they've at least gained one more hardcore (opposed to a casual) fan.
9.5/10 |
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| Heroes |
[Apr. 10th, 2007|12:34 am] |
Wow. Color me surprised, this show is amazing.
For anyone thinking this is some cheesy X-men rip-off banking on the success of the movies, you couldn't be more incorrect. In fact, apart from the superpower aspect of the show, they are completely different.
Its like watching Lost with superpowers, set in America. And most impressive is the shows impeccable ability to hook you in from the first episode. Really, I must give the writers an enthusiastic hand here. Great cliffhangers, great plot arcs, and tons of mystery (just how I like it---which is why I enjoy Lost, and still do).
I think my favorite part of the show is the music. Its not some over the top rock-fest, nor some heroic symphonic gust of wind, but rather its a really creepy undertone---which partly seems as if it were inspired by Silent Hill, Lost, Spider-man, and Batman Begins. Very deep, melodic bass filled tones, crescendos, discords, and earthy hues. The sort of tones that get right under your skull and project a visual aura into your brain. Its almost like a poetic dissonance--its really beautiful stuff, especially for a syndicated show. I going to say that this show has my favorite orchestrated soundtrack for a television show.
I'm on episode 4, and I'm totally a fan. Its inspiring to see how the show grabbed me instantly from the first episode, and proceeded to punch me in my stomach and kick me in the balls---I'm totally hooked. I certainly cannot say the same for Battlestar Galactica, House MD, Arrested Development or Lost. Lost and House needed a few episodes to get their characters down. Even though House is a pretty easy character to understand (Look up: asshole), to get his exact...style from the first episode takes a talent a lot of writers don't really have, or even ever learn. Its something the best screenplay scribes can resonate with. Especially since Lost is furiously character driven, while Battlestar Glacatica took a minute to pick up steam. Firefly was better at this than the other shows, because Joss seems to have the characters already played out in his head, but still---I digress. This show has my complete attention. Its almost as if they had an idea for a movie, but stretched it out into a enormous show, which is impressive, because aesthetically speaking, both mediums are different by design.
I'm not ambigious by the least anymore. Its encouraging to know that somewhat unoriginal ideas (superheroes save the world) can be taken to a whole new level of interesting and even more expanded on. This isn't your typical superhero show. For one, it is way more mature than the ASTONISHING X-men. This show has rape, sex, blood, guts and more. Its very graphic for what could be written off as a superhero TV show. There are several spine tingling moments, and plenty talks of prophecies and doomsday's. There is no heroism---but there is so much humanism, and its truly only appropriate that the show expands upon what made Spider-man and the X-men so popular, being just that----human. In fact, Heroes plays the humanistic card so damn well, its no surprise that X-men 3 turned out the way it did. There just isn't enough time in 2 hours to present your superhero side, your human side, and your bad ass side of over 25+ characters. When spread out over several seasons on television, one would assume that you're given more than enough time to fully understand the characters. I for one think thats Hero's main secret, and partly why Lost's esoteric and plain uncanny format works very well. And according to Hero's boisterous and rousing success, I assume that this has been working well for the creators.
Hiro is totally awesome. He's this funny geeky goofball in the beginning, but he becomes insanely cool later. And I love how Peter resembles Peter Parker from Spider-man--this is no mistake and I'm most certainly am not reading too much into this, the writers definitely put that in there for comic fans. His character is so like Peter Parker its almost unfunny. Sickly thin nerdy pushover? Check. Lives in New York? Check. Can fly/glide? Check. Peter Parker/Peter Petrelli? Check. Alter ego helps people for a living? Check (ones a nurse the other is a teacher). I'm noticing all the other cool comic book references. Its pretty mind-blowing and incredibly fun to play along with.
Lovin' it. |
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| Gym |
[Apr. 2nd, 2007|10:59 pm] |
My dad just equipped our house with some nice stuff. Here are some pics of our new gym.
We are putting an exercise bike soon.
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| Soilwork: A Lyrical Analysis |
[Mar. 7th, 2007|10:45 am] |
I found out something pretty cool.
I've never looked at Natural Born Chaos' lyrics as a collective whole, until today, when I realized what the album is about. Its about God. Its so obvious. I actually assumed it would be about the Chaos theory and nature and the cosmic forces of our galaxy (Butterfly Effect, etc) but no, its actually about religion, faith and belief in God. One could go as far as to say its nearly a concept album. Almost every song on the album has to do with the central theme of being pious and the concept of theology. Case in point:
Follow the Hollow
"I fought the forces that will bring me down
they crawl without a sound..."
"Forces that will bring me down," is pretty much a metaphor for Christianity. What Bjorn is suggesting is religion veils (covers) truth and justice.
"I think we're closer now, I'm getting nearer
I can see it touching ground, it's getting clearer
can't you see I'm way behind, I'm so sincere
I believe you'll never find."
He is beginning to believe theres more to life than a bunch of old books that have as much credibility as Harry Potter does. Theres not much more to say about this...its pretty obvious he's referring to religion, specifically Christianity.
"take a look, take a ride, stay by my side
don't dare to think-let's FOLLOW THE HOLLOW
it kills your pride to be alive
please step a side, cause I FOLLOW THE HOLLOW!"
Heres the real clincher, "It kills your pride to be alive" could be perceived in many ways, but the most obvious way which signifies the songs meaning is that it refers to living a life with faith versus one without faith. If an individual were to live a life bound by the rules of religion, then they would have certain religious standards to satisfy every single day, such as prayer, redemption, and repenting, for instance. Living without a faith allows the freedom to live life freely, hence the "don't dare to think-let's FOLLOW THE HOLLOW." Hollow is used as an obvious metaphor for emptiness, i.e. a life without faith. It kills ones pride to admit they are just alive, because the reasoning behind faith is that you have a purpose on earth. If you claim that you have no destiny or purpose, then you are killing your own pride in humanity by admitting this. Inversely, "FOLLOW THE HOLLOW" could also mean living a life with religion----he could be criticizing people who are infatuated with religion and devote their lives to forcing it upon themselves and others. What nearly confirms this is the "Don't dare to think," because lets be honest here, most religions don't allow you to think for yourself, they just enforce a bunch of rules on a person. I may sound like some angsty 13 year old, however, religion is, when stripped down, a way to live your life. They are divine rules, axioms--and they are not up for discussion or debate, they are simply put "rules." Just like the laws of physics, except those are real (teehee!)
I'm amazed, I didn't think the lyrical content was this interesting. Every song has little bits and pieces too that confirm this, like:
As We Speak
"I turn away.....fading out alone
Was a lifetime worth it all?
...fading out...fading out alone
As we speak we turn to stone "
A question is asked, "Was a lifetime worth it all?" My initial reaction to this was that perhaps Bjorn is referring to drugs or alcohol or a vice/depression destroying a persons life, but that isn't quite in segue with the entire song, as well as the collective album. I believe that Bjorn is referring to religion governing ones freedoms---in other words, their lifetimes, setting precedent boundaries around a person which forbid them from living more, say, hedonistically or free spirited, or fulfilling their lives and feeling truly complete. One could argue that having a faith makes you "feel" complete, but faith is an abstract thought, as is love. Physically, most individuals have never taken any serious risks, and I think thats what the song want to refer at here.
Bringer
"A bitter message from heaven sent
it says we're asleep at the wheel again
Let's say we're stuck in an illusion
Let's say we're out of control
Possessed by a lethal redeemer
Forcing us to play a neurotic role
Oh, won't you take this thing out of me
It never leaves me alone
Fight the demons and devastate
This mental battlezone"
Oh come on. Now you're just making it easy Bjorn. I don't need to analyze this. Its obvious.
Soilwork's Song of the Damned
"So why are we trusting those cynical souls
Bleeding, aching, bleeding, aching-bleeding
with hearts open wide all so cold
Live for the moment get killed for the thrill"
Yep.
No more Angels
" No more angels, no more painful lies
No more strangers, no more waste of time
So here I am going straight to the plan
Never knowing that I'm damned"
As if the title wasn't obvious already.
Black Star Deceiver
"Black star whenever you're ready
you're much too far away!
By now your soul seems steady now crawl to the cross
[Chorus]
Black star deceiver kills it all"
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"Take me away, I'm in distress
Oh grand deceiver put me to rest
I was never in pain, sick or insane
So hear me now you're the one I blame!"
Heres a secret: Black Star is referring to God. Most of the faithful typically blame God for all problems they have---hence "So Hear me now the one I blame." What makes it ironic is that the person in question was never in pain or suffering, but just needed something to blame the worlds problems for, so he blames Black Star---none other than God. Just turn on the news. God is blamed for Palestine, for 9/11, for AIDS, for homosexuals, for those stupid plastic cases that seal my XBOX360 controllers (I'll be damned if I ever manage to get them open without hurting myself), for cookies----for literally everything. We even do it subconciously! Ever say "GOD-DAMN!"? Why not Ramsey damn? Why not Frodo Damn? Why not Table Damn? Because we want God to do something---we want him to damn something, to do something about our OWN fuckups. You may think I am taking the 1000+ year old phrase a bit seriously, but why not? Why should the English language string these two phrases together, if God does not exist? And believe me, that is not a bold claim. God doesn't, exist, and probably never will. Hate to disappoint.
Its a terrible testament to humanity when it does not seem to take the blame for none other than itself---its a terrible testament to our society, to our lifestyles, to the future of our lives, when all we can do is point fingers at the sky, rather than help each other fix problems. Sad.
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This album has just scored ten million more cool points now. Its like a soundtrack to Atheism. I thought it was a collection of random bits about personal struggles or whatever, but Bjorn is tackling some heavy handed concepts----not uncommon in metal, but you'll rarely hear it in popular music. I want to analyze other bands. Maybe I'll do Meshuggah (Meshuggah has notoriously convoluted and complex lyrics. ) I think I'm just really bored though. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 4th, 2007|01:35 pm] |
Hmm. Alright. So I want to update this but I have no clue what to say. I think the only honest feelings I ever have are just bitches about the place I live in. That's pretty sad when thinking about it, because I'm not sure how much bigger of a dork I can be. I do manage to outdo myself at every chance I get. Its good to know you're competitive.
Yeah. I don't really have anything insightful to say. I promised a friend I'd review Light Grenades, and I would too, except that I haven't listened to it too much to really form appropriate views on it. I do like quite a few songs on there though---Dig, Love Hurts, Anna Molly are all great songs in their own respective rights. After a couple years of reviewing extreme metal though, I don't feel that qualified to review something that isn't at 330 BPM. I'll write one eventually I suppose.
Heres something---I think I'm going to cave in and get a DS. Reading all the reviews on IGN, Gamespot, 1UP, and Game-Rankings is truly a tempting endeavor. I can't wait to get one, in fact, I might get it today. It definitely wouldn't feel like a squander as theres a bit of a drought now in the big three's lineup. Looking at the launch forecasts I can with all honesty say that nothing on that list interests me whatsoever, apart from Bioshock and Mass Effect. So a DS would be shrewd purchase, if not for its lucrative library, but its rabid third party support (which I guess I'm being redundant, but the Gamecube had a good library with lacking third party support.)
Its truly the best time to get a DS. I think its hitting that initial stride right before shooting into the cosmos with popularity. Sure, its popular now, but everyone knows its nowhere near GBA or GB popularity. But as I said, it is a good time to get one, because it feels like its taking that last precaution before taking off into space with popularity. You'll see. This year, everyone has a DS---next year, everyone and their fucking dogs will own a Nintendo DS, just like it was with the GB. I can't wait to see what the next two years hold for it---a new hand held from Nintendo will be long off (probably not until flash drives are more popular). Nintendo know how to play a safe hand.
Year Zero has an incredible concept behind it. Really. From the concept alone, its safe to say that this is one of the most intuitive ideas behind an album in a long while. Me, being a fan of concepts, embraced the idea from day one, despite not being any less than a casual observer of NIN. I have undying respect for Trent and all he's accomplished, but his music leaves me snoring. Respect tends to walk a fine thin line with hate, but I can with all honesty say that he is pretty visionary on Year Zero.
The concept itself creeps me out enough, so I probably won't elaborate. I am following the little viral marketing game they have set up, which is interesting since I never followed I Love Bees or any of those other schemes. This one has kept me hooked since the concept plays out much like shards of a fragmented mirror. There are so many pieces to the puzzle and you never have the whole story. 42 Entertainment have been prude and frugal in trickling out the details.
I've lost a lot of weight in the past 9 months since I came to "here." I used to be around elephant-Hippo, but I've recently been promoted to Rhino, which is animal for stocky but not unnecessarily fat. I think I need a few months before I hit my goal of lion or the ambitious tiger, so we'll see. Its funny---I've never been this thin ever (comparatively not thin to actual thin people), and while it does feel good to lost a lot of weight, I ironically feel like an anorexia patient. I never seem to be happy with my weight loss and I constantly scold myself for not losing enough. The only thing that separates me from the mentally diseased is that I don't feel unhappy enough to stop eating, which true, is a big difference, but I've never been happier with my body so all is well.
I think I'm finally ready to return to school. I no longer have an air of vulnerability around me. I've been quiescent for too long now. I can't wait to get back in fact, really, anything to mix up my horrid routine. Hopefully Lebanon won't be a bitch to get into. I intend to party hard, but also to party right. Right as rain my friend.
I might be seeing God soon. You know, Iron Maiden. But it sort of lies on my friend on whether he can go. I do not want to see Maiden alone. Experiencing theophany is not to be taken lightly.
I think thats a good enough post. I might update later when I get my DS. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 4th, 2007|12:34 pm] |
The next few paragraphs in this post are the direct results of pent up anger. I will post my rebuttal now to any comments later on so to just avoid initial conflicts with anyone on my LJ: Yes, its not that bad, yes thats the way things are, yes "so what dude." Please. Spare me this bullshit. I don't have to live with this nor do I have to enjoy it. I am not looking for a solution, sympathy, or a listener. I am looking to vent. Spare me your delightfully witty and insightful replies telling me to "Get the fuck out of there lol man!". And without further adieu:
I truly fucking despise this countries government (name edited out because I am a pussy.)
I don't know whether I hate the recalcitrant, intolerant, bigoted pricks that live here, the thinly laid veil shadowing all of their grime and hypocrisy, or just the sheer lack of fucking things to do here.
Even my parents urge me to leave this country. They know I coil up extremely tight after a couple months which leaves me quite prone to outbursts of pure rage. I constantly feel like my head is in this slowly grinding vice grip that swivels one more notch everyday. Whats the most tragic issue about this region of the world is that I truly feel old when I am just 21 years of age. I constantly channel this feeling where I age at some degree faster than most of my friends and most people my age and older. Its frankly the biggest testament to this festering shithole excuse for a country.
I'm going to regret this post later, because I actually do like this country to a certain point. I think it has its own various merits, and many advantages to other habitats out there---so its never "that" bad. Anyone could tell me "Just leave if you don't like it dude I mean lol," but its not really about that. Probably the largest irk for me is the amount of roadblocks that are thrown in your path to obscure you from doing something. It makes you feel like no one wants you to live. I believe there is eons and miles and light years for improvement and potential, but no one seems to want to care to improve things. If the issue was about leaving, I would've left (except that I pretty much can't,) but thankfully "here" isn't terrible---however, its wasted potential.
I am probably just calling out after months of crushing pressure. Whenever I make these posts I struggle to be laconic but they ooze out with the viscosity of honey, a string of anger if you will. To what I call out for, I don't know. Maybe I'm lonely, which I can be frank about, I have no shame in admitting that I probably should pursue a love life of some sort. Maybe I just need to go to college, and thats probably the main cause of all my stress. You know somethings wrong when you have personality of a 30 year old nerd trapped in a 21 year olds body.
I constantly want to sequester myself when I live here. Its sad because I'm not "like" that, I am typically gregarious, talkative, humorous, among other things. But its just something about here that makes you isolate yourself, I can't quite put it into words. I'm just glad I don't live a sectarian lifestyle. People surprise me at how devoted they can get. Anyways.
Enough of my incessant bitching. This journal was in need of some sort of update, but maybe not this kind of update. I think I might actually write something meaningful in a bit.
I don't know what to say. I don't know why I'm angry. I've got everything I could possibly imagine at my fingertips. I've put myself in this situation, and this "situation" is not even as bad as it could've been. I hate to sound insincere, but thats probably how it will sound. I am still grateful for the life that this country has given my family and me, but I think there is a a whole new gravel road just waiting to be treaded on---they just haven't discovered it yet. I don't know what they attempt to accomplish by making this place the way it is. Actually, I know why. People are happy this way. There isn't enough complaint to nearly warrant a change. Fine by me I guess.
Maybe if I find love, I'll calm down a bit. I need someone to share my feelings with.
Real update in a few minutes. Maybe. |
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| Holy shit. |
[Jan. 28th, 2007|12:50 am] |
The new Machine Head song is amazing. Its the best one they've ever written. Its 7 minutes long.
Incredibly great. |
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| Faithless. |
[Jan. 17th, 2007|12:18 am] |
I apologize in advance for the incoherency; I sort of just sat down and the words spilled right out of my mouth. This is after a poor experience at the visa counter at Kuwait International Airport.
We are a nation built upon despondency. A culture that is full of trepidity, illiberality and contempt.
I was reassured this at the Visa counter last week in Kuwait.
Not one Arabic country. That's right folks, Kuwait, does not offer a Visa in the airport to any Arabic country. Let that thought sink in for a second. Soak up the symbolic disposition that such a list would reverberate with. How could a nation of Arabs deny Arabs entry? It baffles even the most well versed, but bizarre as it stands, its a poor testament to our growth as a people.
Fucking Latvia. Latvia. Yes. The list has Latvia and not say, a neutral nation, like Bahrain. This isn't to say Latvia isn't a neutral country, however, the dripping irony that a European nation would get a visa in an Arabic airport rather than an Arabic nation in the very same airport is borderline silly. I'd rather not point fingers at countries and parliaments, but instead point in a different direction: forward.
Unless we emerge from the depths of our contempt then Arabs will never grow as a nation. We'll be embellished in the same fucking rut for several years to come, maybe until another tyrant comes around and decides to throw us in the gutter with all the other failed "countries". Wait, I'm being redundant---its already happened.
Some of you may think I'm being a little unfair about the Arabic region, and to that I say that we do have some redeemable aspects. We're really good at getting angry---for lack of a better term. We have a will and which many foreigners mistake for extremism--but we have no physical unity. We remain not a collective but instead we resemble something more akin to say, a broken mirror. A broken mirror cannot mend itself if one does not fix said mirror. We will never strive to be a whole as long as contrast stands between us. As long as we allow it to stand between us.
Only then can the idea of a unified Arabia can we grow to be a greater nation, one not built upon fear and cowards, but one built upon respect and trust.
200 years ago a tribe of indigenous people had an idea, and this idea was built upon the foundations of liberty, freedom and happiness. Instead of becoming an idea, it evolved into blind antithesis, a shadow of its former self. The once great nation became too ambitious for its own good, and replacing the noble men that uprooted this nation were nefarious despots that threw out this philosophy, the mantra of being American. The American dream is long, long gone. Give it up. It's not coming back.
But that dream was at a very different point in time. I'm not telling you to immigrate to America, in fact, I don't advocate America itself. The idea is lost, now standing as a much more sinister beast with sickly protruding tentacles. America is not a myth anymore, its a reality, but the reality is far, far more malevolent and terrifying than people have anticipated. This is not the macabre reality we asked for. America is as much an idea as much as democracy is a reality.
Learn. Learn from the idea, learn from the failed experiment because I have faith in this idea. At one point, America was only a theory, something humans came close to but never really achieved, a testament to the human race, and at some turning stone this theory became a reality----but we've lost our way. We've lost direction, and have head down a very beaten path. We do not even glance at these goals anymore---are we embarassed of them? Instead of teaching ourselves we self destruct and surround ourselves with a shell of anemosity with a grown jungle of malice at the edges of this very shell.
We can only make history by learning from history.
Lets make history. |
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| Rocky 6 Is Really Good. |
[Jan. 15th, 2007|02:20 am] |
This movie has a lot of heart. Normally I dislike films that are a bit too cheesy or slightly lame but Rocky really succeeds at adding some soul and the ending is a huge inspiration to kids out there.
Put into perspective with the older movies, this is the best way Rocky could've gone out---not dead, not dying, not old, but still standing, strong as ever. You could feel the energy come off of Stallone as just this enormous force, this looming warrior, just a really, really big guy with a big heart and a bigger will. You can see Rocky start to become less stoic and more human in his older age, you can see him stand in time while the world around him shifts. Stallones enthusiastic effort in this film make it a real must see for Rocky vets out there. As the character has grown older so has everyone who's seen the film---everyone can relate to Rocky.
Put into perspective with todays films, Rocky still succeeds at a personal level, because Stallone is likable. His character is friendly, gregarious and full of wise, grizzled advice, and never, ever, containing a hint of ambiguity. Just like the Rocky's before this he has a shadow of perseverance covering his will and a resolve that no man can break. The movie alone is worth the final fight which pays off very well in the end and probably the best way Stallone could've ended the franchise.
I'm not ashamed to say that I was very moved at Rockys older portrayal because its a great testament to time. His acting while not particularly spectacular did retain a very human and relatable quality makes the movie feel like one huge labor of love.
The final fight that Rocky endures is a good payoff; not only do we see Rocky finally add some closure to his career, but we get to see Rocky at the top of his game, droves of fans around him cheering him and becoming inspired by him. The tension and pressure build up until this one, constantly advertised fight is monumental and is a perfect way to end the Rocky series. Its something that might've left a bad taste in my mouth, but rather ends up being heartwarming and inspirational. The actual fight is a rollercoaster of emotion and filled with climax. The pacing of the film is just right, the transition between characters keep it trucking along properly and makes the film feel more complete.
In the end, it prevails at a personal level but at also being a great film. If you want to watch something put a huge glassy eyed grin on your face then watch Rocky's latest film, you'll feel ready to take on life headfirst and stand up and fight for something.
Pros: Its Rocky, but its also a great Rocky movie. Final fight pays off well, decent dialogue and great way to end the series once and for all
Cons: maybe a bit too cheesy at points, but its not that big a deal.
5/5 |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 14th, 2007|08:44 pm] |
Hey oz I got Chimairas new album
Its amazing
Thats all |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 10th, 2007|03:55 pm] |
Holy SHIT
The new Mors Principium Est is Gothenburg up the ass
Its SO FUCKING HEAVY.
Contender for album of '07? Too early, but I'm definitely nominating them for a top ten list somewhere |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 9th, 2007|11:15 pm] |
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I really, really, really want an IPhone. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 7th, 2007|09:50 am] |
The new Mors Principum Est tracks are up at their MySpace.
They are amazing. Check them out.
http://www.myspace.com/morsprincipiumestmyspace
(the first two are the new ones)
EDIT: HOLY SHIT these songs are amazing! This band is my new Disarmonia right now.....Oh my GOD!
Sinners Defeat is fucking awesome! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 7th, 2007|09:45 am] |
Lamb of God has been nominated for an American Grammy for "Redneck."
Are we living in Bizzarro world? |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 6th, 2007|04:02 am] |
I'm back in the game in a huge way.
I just updated all the tones on my PODXT. I feel like recording again.
I'm really happy with the way its turning out---I had a huge problem with "chunk" as I like to refer to it. Any guitar I tried would sound fairly robotic and clunky, despite being really good-sounding, and in turn transforming anything I wrote into a much more sterile tone. I basically had a tone that could only manage rhythm (not even that well), but it wasn't what I was looking for---it was very clear that I was however looking for something that could do leads while maintaining hearty and thick rhythm. I managed to fix that today by turning down the compression on the gate of the pedals, and raising bass and presence. This has managed to give me a much more human tone yet maintaining plenty of heaviness and crunch.
Ozy, if you're reading this, I have kick ass new tones. Check them out if you get the opportunity.
Anybody else can feel free to check out these little samples I made. If you're curious, its all Melodic Death Metal style stuff. Drums and vox to come later. I'm just testing the waters (its been a long time since i've last recorded professionally. I usually just fuck around.)
They are very sloppy, and probably very out of time, but cut me some slack. I haven't played in a while. I don't take to criticism very well (I know, I'm trying to rectify that), but here I feel that its somewhat warranted I at least defend myself. The slop can be attributed to me not playing enough guitar. I barely pick up the damn thing. I had trouble playing triplets yesterday and alternate picking. I mean, come on! If you're a guitarist you'll understand that THAT is extremely sad after what I consider 6 years of experience. I shouldn't be having problem with stamina or accuracy, but last night I understand that I'm fairly incompetent on guitar these days. So understand that I haven't played (consistently, I still dabble) in a while. I just need more practice.
The slop is also attributed to the lack of compression in the tone, something which I will likely tweak later on because I am still unsatisfied with it overall. These are meant to be raw and unprocessed, and if you hear any bands cut before becoming mastered, this is probably what they would sound like. So essentially, my tracks are not mastered at all. Also, the fact that its out of time is because I don't have drums going on. That should change once I run them.
They aren't really representative of anything, just some riffs I had ideas on. However, enough excuses. The show must go on.
Sample 1
Sample 2
Those links should work, but if they don't happen to work, heres a link to my page, it'll have both up for streaming.
Enjoy! |
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| The end of an era. |
[Dec. 30th, 2006|02:36 pm] |
Wow, what an profusely unjust trial.
I wasn't expecting the U.S. Military to really salt wounds by setting up the date for his execution on the first day of the Islamic holiday, Eid. That has to be probably the most obnoxious execution date in recent history.
I am genuinely sad for Saddam. No, do not assume, for one moment that I possibly advocate his dictatorship. Yes, I know about the rape chambers and the gassing of Kurds. I am familiar with his crimes. I've seen what he has done to the Iraqi people and neighboring countries.
However, I cannot fully advocate his execution. Probably one of the few largest moral crevices of my life has to be inequity. Saddam's trial, simply put, is full of doublespeak. The fact that the U.S. military has censored entire portions of Hussein's court trial to Arabic viewers (which is entirely ambiguous to me, I suppose they wanted to save face?) already shows how reprehensible, how completely destitute the Bush administration is. Actually---I cannot really understand how the Iraqi people could stand for it. Sadly, that is only one portion of the trial. The whole thing reeks of "phony" to me.
The Bush Administration has accomplished its goal, on the first day of Eid and last week of the year, no less. Call me old-fashioned but I do believe sending a mob after someone to hang him is a fairly archaic method of death. On a related side-note, isn't the U.S. one of the most outspoken authorities on public execution? Irony (please don't tell me that the Iraqi people actually chose anything here including his death.)
I'm not here to really out-speak against Bush or his administration. I'm not one of those kids who is so naive to assume that the U.S. has gone downhill in the past 8 years. The U.S. comes from a long line of oligarchic fucks that crush anything in their way. This is fact. I will not lie to you, because I'm not ignorant. I'm not entirely gullible as to suggest they are a bunch of ignorant cowboys. No. The Bush administration is actually quite intelligent. I know a new-world order when I see one. The past 100 years alone have seen four countries trying various resurgences of new world orders, and the 21st will see plenty more. I'm not bothering with this because its given: power is contagious and this is the way it is supposed to be, for lack of a better term. If you're shocked that the way the world is today is perfectly normal then you're in for a rude awakening.
Which brings me to my main problem with the situation. Despite the scores of Iraqis celebrating in the street, despite the Americans that can now rest easy on L-Tryptophan as a direct result of Christmas, despite the tons of happy Arabs, including my own mother, I can't help but wish the U.S. dealt this matter with more candor. Saddam was going to die, either way---whether through a prolonged life sentence or a quick, painless death, but I do believe he has the right to a legitimate trial. Have the U.S. no humility? Is it too much to ask for nowadays?
The execution of one of the most brutal and abhorred dictators of the 20th and some of the 21st century was not at all handled with any humility or decency. It feels dirty, it feels wrong even though you shouldn't be feeling wrong when executing a murderer. I've never felt particularly bad for a rapist or a murderers execution, so why would I feel bad about Saddam? I shouldn't. But the whole thing smells. Instead of a quiet, humble death, the U.S. really comes off as a bloodthirsty tribe leader parading around with a rivals head on his spear. For a country that claims to be a beacon of democracy (which ironically most people misunderstand--the U.S. is an oligarchy), it is barbaric. Am I being redundant? I guess I just never thought they would get into such a territorial pissing match.
Saddam is gone now. He is dead. Why aren't we celebrating? Why aren't we happy? Why can't we smile at the sight of his death? These are all questions that you should ask yourself if you really did not feel comfortable with his death (I know you're out there.)
Its definitely a new way to start 2007. Next year, maybe we should hang another dictator at the end of the year, eh? How about---wait, I won't go there.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all. Enjoy basking in the brisk holiday consumerism sunlight (hey, I am a victim of it too.)
Happy Holidays.
:) |
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