tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70686000664136386952024-03-13T09:02:54.332-07:00because i said soThe Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-56472648403073823222011-12-31T09:09:00.000-08:002011-12-31T09:41:41.250-08:00Emphatically not an end of year post.2011=<a href="http://www.voivod.com/">Voivod</a><a href="http://shroudeater.bandcamp.com/">Shroud Eater</a><a href="http://www.roadburn.com/">Roadburn</a><a href="http://exemption.bandcamp.com/">Exemption</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/leathernunamerica">Leather Nun America</a><a href="http://locrian.bandcamp.com/">Locrian</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/animalsasleaders">Animals As Leaders</a><a href="http://www.hammersofmisfortune.com/index.html">Hammers of Misfortune</a><a href="http://haxancloak.tumblr.com/">The Haxan Cloak</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/vektor">Vektor</a><a href="http://chelseawolfe.net/">Chelsea Wolfe</a><a href="http://www.autopsydeathmetal.com/">Autopsy</a><a href="http://www.premonition13.com/">Premonition 13</a><a href="http://matersuspiriavision.tumblr.com/">Mater Suspiria Vision</a><a href="http://ocrilim.blogspot.com/">MICK FUCKING BARR</a><a href="http://bloodypanda.com/">Bloody Panda</a><a href="http://www.valborg.de/">Valborg</a><a href="http://petergabriel.com/">Peter Gabriel</a><a href="http://hotgraves.bandcamp.com/">Hot Graves</a><a href="http://www.amebix.net/">Amebix</a><a href="http://uzala.bandcamp.com/album/uzala">Uzala</a><a href="http://highonfire.net/">High On Fire</a><a href="http://www.thebookofknots.com/">The Book Of Knots</a><a href="http://brian-eno.net/drums-between-the-bells/">Brian Eno</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/fuckfalsemetal">Loincloth</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/yobdoom">Yob</a><a href="http://davidlynch.com/">David Lynch</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/alaricalaric">Alaric</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/circleofouroborusfinland">Circle Of Ouroborus</a><a href="http://www.emika.co.uk/">Emika</a><a href="http://www.opeth.com/home/">Opeth</a><a href="http://virusnorway.bandcamp.com/">Virus</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/grouperrepuorg">Grouper</a><a href="http://www.zolajesus.com/splash/splash.html">Zola Jesus</a><a href="http://badasme.com/">Tom Waits</a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/blottedscience">Blotted Science</a><a href="http://www.elviscostello.com/">Elvis Costello</a><a href="http://www.melvins.com/">Melvins</a><a href="http://horseback.bandcamp.com/">Horseback</a><a href="http://www.exposeventy.com/">Expo '70</a><a href="http://vileimbeciles.bandcamp.com/album/d-is-for-w">Vile Imbeciles</a><a href="http://fielded.bandcamp.com/">Fielded</a><a href="http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/adventuretime/index.html">Adventure Time</a><br /><br />2012=<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwa3xTeotlw/Tv9IsKuFqGI/AAAAAAAAAi8/iAnWZxvuH7o/s1600/new%2Bfrontier.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwa3xTeotlw/Tv9IsKuFqGI/AAAAAAAAAi8/iAnWZxvuH7o/s320/new%2Bfrontier.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692348377648703586" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />x<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNBHdniqm44/Tv9I08OcPzI/AAAAAAAAAjI/vEJeZE2vFio/s1600/infinity.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNBHdniqm44/Tv9I08OcPzI/AAAAAAAAAjI/vEJeZE2vFio/s320/infinity.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692348528376692530" /></a>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-86813278329973745382011-10-17T07:15:00.000-07:002011-10-18T05:45:31.536-07:00Slack Motherf***er<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MaWDMw8Nn7w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Sssssssoooooo...yeah...where was I? <br /><br />I know. I've let things slide. It's been six months since I bothered posting here and I left the Roadburn story hanging, halfway through. Sorry.<br /><br />Life just gets in the way sometimes and sidetracks us for a while. Usually with unimportant nonsense that takes longer to deal with than it warrants. Myself, well, I've been sidetracked by life, other commitments that take up my time and the general fact that my own mind conspires against me to waylay and prevent me from actually getting things done.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RaKJLJh46tU/Tpw9mB9N7yI/AAAAAAAAAeU/9KwiMezp0c0/s1600/the%2Blaziest%2Bman%2Bin%2Ball%2Bof%2BLA.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RaKJLJh46tU/Tpw9mB9N7yI/AAAAAAAAAeU/9KwiMezp0c0/s320/the%2Blaziest%2Bman%2Bin%2Ball%2Bof%2BLA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664470154894765858" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm not, fundamentally, a lazy person and I'm quite comfortable with multi-tasking. Hell, I can juggle several books, watch TV and hold a conversation all at the same time without missing a beat - something I inherited from my mother - but I find my motivation is lacking these days...not so much spiritually, but physically. My body is tired a lot of the time. It really does feel very much like a sack of meat that is anchoring me down now, while my spirit struggles to get free and do the work that it wants to do. Crappy analogy, but, well, it'll do. <br /><br />This time of year is not great for me, physically or mentally - although, paradoxically, Autumn is one of my favourite times of year, along with Spring - for several reasons. Firstly, my body slows down to the point that I often feel that I ought to be put into the airing cupboard in a cardboard box full of shredded newspaper, like the fucking Blue Peter tortoise, and I begin to need more sleep. Secondly, my appetite goes up in response to the cold, which is very bloody unhelpful to me as I am, lets face it, disgustingly fat right now. Thirdly, and finally, I've been unable to really enjoy the end of Autumn like I used to, ever since my mother died on October 31st 1997.<br /><br />Now, herein lies another problem I'm struggling with - detachment.<br /><br />I've never been particularly close to my family, so when my mother died - closely followed by my paternal grandmother - I pretty much severed ties with those immediate family members left and let the rest drift away. My father in particular is someone I have no warm feelings for, and my sister is a thoroughly mediocre human being. My uncle - related only through marriage - is a nice man, but we don't have anything of value to say to one another, so I didn't see the point in remaining in contact. The only real feelings my family invoke in me are dread, misery and feelings of grudging obligation, so I figured <em>"Why put myself through it when I really don't want to or have to?"</em>, I mean, it's only biology and social convention that keeps us together with family, really, as people I have nothing else in common with them and I just don't see why I should interact with people to whom I have nothing to say and in whom I have zero interest.<br /><br />I don't expect people to understand, merely to respect my decision. <br /><br />I'm increasingly finding, though, that my feelings of alienation from others and my total lack of interest in them and their tawdry, pointless, boring lives is spreading out into people whom I would have previously called my 'friends'. <br />Now, to add some context, I recently was involved in a situation in which an incorrect assumption was made about something I said and another incorrect assumption was made about something I was alleged to have done, and during the course of this it became obvious to me that there are a few people I know who have not been honest with me with regards to their feelings about me and their opinion of me on a personal level. This information was released inadvertantly, but served to strengthen something that I have long harboured a suspicion over.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-um4X7gdOh9k/TpxLs-zdqtI/AAAAAAAAAeg/pMTQUIZv0KU/s1600/backstabbing.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-um4X7gdOh9k/TpxLs-zdqtI/AAAAAAAAAeg/pMTQUIZv0KU/s320/backstabbing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664485667470420690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It seems that many of my so-called 'friends' and acquaintances do not take me seriously, and regard me as a joke and a failure, despite their own shortcomings and lack of achievements. Personally, and in the opinion of a psychologist whom I saw recently, I'm pretty amazed to have come THIS far in life and to achieved what I have, considering what I've been through and what I continue to go through on a daily basis.<br />Unlike SOME people I know, I have no problems with denial of addiction, no problems with fidelity - I am very happy indeed in my relationship - and I don't write cheques that I can't cash with regard to achievements and future plans. I am painfully aware of my shortcomings but also aware of my strengths - two things that more people should take the time to familiarise themselves with.<br /><br />In short, I consider myself a better man than they.<br /><br />Also unlike some, I'm in this for the long haul. I don't believe in quick fixes and easy routes, I believe in focus, hard work and experimentation. Sure it's tough - focus especially is difficult with my condition and medication - but ultimately, I feel the payoff is better...and I don't mean financially. I believe that someone should stand their ground and stick to their guns, no matter what, and that one should always ALWAYS cling to individuality above all else. <br /><br />From a musical perspective, someone who becomes influenced by every single new trend that comes along is pretty much a waste of skin, but someone who can take new ideas on board and filter them through their own unique perspective is someone to be applauded. I don't believe in stagnation, but I also don't believe that change should be forced. I believe that evolution, on a personal level, should be constant and ongoing. I want to learn every day and never stop. I hunger for knowledge.<br /><br />I ask you, does that sound like a failure? Or does it sound like someone who hasn't even started yet?<br /><br />Sure I'm hurt and indignant, but ultimately I benefit from this because it means I can weed out undesirables and not waste another second on them. However, it leaves me in a tricky spot - all of this drama and nonsense helps to further push me away from others, since I've begun to feel that I simply can't trust the vast morass. Add that to my feelings of boredom and wish to avoid unwanted contact with people and you get my initial concern - exactly how damaging can detachment be? <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2_bSlljtuo/TpxadxGzmnI/AAAAAAAAAes/7Mv2_xnjF9g/s1600/slacker.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2_bSlljtuo/TpxadxGzmnI/AAAAAAAAAes/7Mv2_xnjF9g/s320/slacker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664501898769832562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We're repeatedly told that living our lives online is emotionally unhealthy, but I'm finding more and more that the people I'm friendly with online are the people that I can most relate to. For example, I went out recently to a gig and there were many 'acquaintances' and 'friends' there, people that I've known for a number of years on the whole, yet I felt very little urge to interact with them because, well, most of them were boring me. Yet, conversely, I can chat online to friends who live in places inaccessible to me for several hours and not notice the passage of time. Now, what that leaves me asking is this - am I so comfortable with these people precisely BECAUSE they are physically inaccessible, or do I just happen to enjoy their conversation more than that of those around me?<br /><br />I tend toward the latter, but cannot help wondering if the former is a factor. I'm fully aware that I keep people at arms length, as I do it on purpose. I don't want to be walked all over ever again, and I don't ever want to be beholden to others unless it's unavoidable. It's not that I'm not a 'people person', it's just that life has taught me that most people really aren't worth your time and effort. The world outside of my head and my books comes nowhere near the worlds inside for me, in as far as sustaining my interest goes...and, of course, this raises ANOTHER fucking question - is it ME, or is it my condition? If I was 'normal' would I still feel this way?<br /><br />These are the things that run through my head when I'm forced to come into contact with other people. Alcohol helps, but, well, I'm pretty tired of that now. I'd rather just not bother in the first place, cut out the situation in the first place and thus negate the need for a social lubricant.<br /><br />I'm perpetually torn between what I feel is right for me and what is considered convention, and I'm pretty damn sick of it now. I feel that the benefits I get from actual physical interaction with most people are so little that it really doesn't seem worth the effort - and it IS an effort for me. Left to my own devices, I would choose not to leave the comfort of my own home.<br />I've never been much of a one for socialising for the sake of it, and I actively discourage visitors, preferring for me to be the visitor so that I can better control when it's time to leave.<br />I like my own space. I cherish time available for me to read uninterrupted. I know I'm antisocial but I find that the older I get, the less I care.<br /><br />The life lessons that I've learned teach me only that hermitry and seclusion are viable, enjoyable, options, but I'm constantly reminded that they are not the norm. Should I care? What do I lose from severing ties? What do I gain?<br /><br />Ultimately the choice is MINE to make and the burden is MINE to bear.<br /><br />As I stated earlier, I'm very happy indeed in my current relationship, but I must point out that this has no bearing on my feelings toward others or my increased lack of need for the company of others. I would feel the same if I were alone, I'm sure. Perhaps I would have cut myself off earlier if alone? Who knows.<br /><br />The buddhists say that life is suffering and Sartre says that hell is other people and, well, I tend not to disagree with either statement, particularly when considering that one can be the cause of the other. <br /><br />In Steve Aylett's book 'Lint', his titular fictional writer writes a story entitled 'Feelgood' in which every single other person on earth besides the narrator vanishes, leaving him alone. He is overjoyed and ecstatic, experiencing an involuntary orgasm as he walks along a deserted street, so overcome with happiness is he at finally being left alone.<br /><br />I can empathise, strongly.<br /><br />When I look at people en masse, all I see are obstacles and hindrances.<br /><br />Clearly, I need to figure this all through, which is my reason for writing this. I'm externalising my thought process in hopes that when I see it all laid out here, it will help me to do what needs to be done, for better or for worse.<br />Understand, this is not a dialogue, and I'm not inviting interaction. This is me, talking out loud, attempting to figure a way through the fog.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-90399602730322265402011-04-27T14:52:00.001-07:002011-04-27T16:43:34.226-07:00What I seen and done at Roadburn 2011 by Paul, age 37-ish (Part three)Apologies for cutting the last part short mid-way through the day but, well, it was late and I was TIRED. Sorry.<br /><br />Now, where was I? Oh yeeeeeeeeeaaah...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AHiI_hsTJ6k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I reckon THAT should give you a clue as to who I saw next. <br /><br />Yup. I took the controversial decision to go see Today Is The Day, as opposed to Pentagram, Cough or Earth. "But why?", I hear you ask, well, I'll tells ya. First off, I don't like Pentagram. There. I SAID it. Sure, their early stuff is cool and all, "Living In A Ram's Head" and whathaveyou, but their more 'meat 'n' potatoes' doom stuff just doesn't sit right with me. I mean, the lyrics are just EXCRUCIATING...<br /><br />"Now I don my electric axe I'm gonna lay you on your back. All psyched up and ready to go, Take you to hell and won't say hello...". <br /><br />Just......no. So damn HOKEY. Also, I just don't buy into the cult of Bobby Liebling. The guy is a freaky trainwreck and I just don't give a fuck about him.<br />So, are we clear on that one?<br /><br />As for Cough, I had hoped to catch 'em on their own tour here, but it just didn't happen, and Earth I had just recently seen here, so I didn't much feel like seeing 'em again so soon...in fact, read my review of their Salford show <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/gig/Earth_2011-04-02.php">here</a>.<br /><br />So, Today Is The Day it was. Having not seen 'em since the TITD/Voivod/Neurosis (!!) tour back in 1999, I figured it'd be good to see 'em again. As you can see from the video up above, it WAS good!<br /><br />They SMASHED through the three opening tracks of 'In The Eyes Of God', like POW, SMASH, POW and were just generally on FIYAH. <br />I'd particularly like to draw your attention to bassist Ryan Jones, also of the AWESOME <a href="http://www.myspace.com/wetnursenyc">Wetnurse</a>, wielder of one of the berserkest (is that a word? it is NOW!) looking instruments that I've clapped eyes on in many a year, and I've seen some REAL berserkos!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--s7o2kZfybI/TbiW2v0XzoI/AAAAAAAAAYg/gQGNe3VOxt4/s1600/TITD.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--s7o2kZfybI/TbiW2v0XzoI/AAAAAAAAAYg/gQGNe3VOxt4/s320/TITD.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600392003928444546" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ch-ch-ch-check it OUT! Hot pink tigerstripe snakeskin BC Rich Warlock with LUMINOUS YELLOW STRINGS. <br />WHAT. <br />THE. <br />FUCK?!?! <br />Boy's gotta have some serious cojones to pull something like THAT off....and he DOES. He RAGES. He looks so buttoned-down, but don't let his preppy demeanour fool you, no SIR, he's a BASS-MONSTER. Hell, he HAS to be in Major-General Austin's army. <br /><br />Now, with me in the packed-in crowd was one of my favourite people, Mr Jamie Grimes of Ireland's ASS-KICKING masters of killing technology, <a href="http://drainland.tumblr.com/">Drainland</a>, and his glamourous assistant/carer Una. <br />You know those people that you don't really know very well, and you've only ever met 'em, like, once before, but something about 'em just CLICKS with you and you instantly love 'em? Well, he's one of THOSE. In fact, he's probably the ONLY one I know. I have a hard time making friends, and I don't have many, but when I LIKE someone, I LOVE 'em, y'know? Anyhow, he's a fine, upstanding gentleman and you should read HIS blog, <a href="http://destroyedhuman.blogspot.com/">Destroyed Human</a> too.<br /><br />SO. Jamie tells me that Una is as big a fan of Today Is The Day as HE is of Swans and I am of Voivod, which is QUITE BIG FANDOM. He ALSO tells me that their rather disturbing li'l ditty 'Pinnacle' is THEIR song. So, for Jamie and Una, here it is. We're over on the right somewhere near the back...sort of...offscreen...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/em9b3s3JbqY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Next up was the much-anticipated...but not by me...Godflesh set, in which they would be playing 'Streetcleaner' in it's entirety and in track order, including the 'Tiny Tears' EP tracks which were CD bonus tracks. <br /><br />Now, I've seen Godflesh a good few times over the years - one of the first gigs I EVER saw was Napalm Death, Godflesh and Paradise Lost in Liverpool, back in 1988/89 or so - and they've been very much the definition of a hit and miss live band. Their reliance on technology that is unreliable seems to have also spilled-over into Justin Broadrick's Jesu, a band who are notorious for having massive onstage equipment failures and cancellations. Mind you, having seen 'em with the mighty Mickey Harris on drums around the time of 'Slavestate' (or was it 'Pure'? Hmmmm...) was a total disaster, so MAYBE they're just CURSED, no matter WHAT form their percussion takes.<br /><br />The BEST live show I EVER saw by Godflesh was actually on the 'Streetcleaner' tour, playing with Loop and World Domination Enterprises at Liverpool University in 1990. They were TERRIFYING. Bathed only in blue light, Justin had a vocal harmonizer on his voice ALL the way through and it sounded INHUMAN, this spindly, pale stick-insect of a man twitching and writhing so hard you could see the VEINS pop out of his arms and neck, and this horrible slurred voice coming out of his mouth.....no wonder I saw a girl having the worst acid trip of her life during their set. She came crawling from the front of the stage, dribbling vomit and shaking her head.<br /><br />So, that story served to tell you that I've seen Godflesh perform the tracks from 'Streetcleaner' the way they were SUPPOSED to be played, as opposed to the HALF-ASSED, SHODDY WAY THEY PLAYED AT ROADBURN.<br /><br />Before they even played I hated it - they had this cod-classical intro tape that just didn't sit right with me. When they actually fell into playing 'Like Rats', Benny Green fucked up, there was no vocal effect running and the guitar sounded....wrong. <br />Now, I KNOW Broadrick uses a Floor POD FX unit for Jesu, so it's likely he also was using it here. They're all fine 'n' dandy for playing around at home, or if you're in some 'local' pub band or somesuch, but soundwise they have that horrible processed, digitally compressed, sound that all such units have. I could see that the beats and what few samples there were - samples were missing from 'Devastator' and 'Locust Furnace' - were coming out of his laptop, so it is quite possible that his guitar was simply running through the laptop too, depsite the Marshall stack behind him. The fact that his guitar had that HORRIBLE vaguely Nu-metal scooped mid thing going on could probably be put down to that. It wasn't loud enough, mainly because there were NO mids, and the highs were being clipped...ALSO meaning that any 'feedback' being made didn't have any of the visceral body needed for Godflesh's purposes. Considering that his set-up used to be a Fender Strat into a Marshall, with occasional extra distortion pedals and a delay pedal, it seemed to me that he'd overcomplicated his sound and was suffering for it. <br /><br />Of course, most people seemed to think it was the best thing since sliced bread, but I'm betting most of 'em don't really know what it's SUPPOSED to sound and feel like.<br /><br />Here is one of the BETTER tracks...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4yq30tUKZ3o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />See what I mean about the sound of the guitar and the beats? Urgh.<br /><br />Now, here's the same track from 1990...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bL5q2qFmJEY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Hell, I know which I prefer.<br /><br />Aside from technical issues, Broadrick repeatedly got the opening lines of songs wrong and some of his doubled vocals, coming out of the laptop, natch, were out of synch and far too loud, most noticeably on 'Locust Furnace'.<br /><br />I even leaned into the soundman - who apparently was Dirk Serries of Fear Falls Burning - to complain, but he looked at me like I was insane. <br /><br />It seems to me that if Justin Broadrick was at all happy with that set, then he no longer has any real connection to Godflesh as was and should just leave that whole period WELL alone. <br /><br />Of course, it could just be ME....<br /><br />I left the room after 'Locust Furnace' as I couldn't face four more songs - the 'Tiny Tears' tracks. <br />So, THAT was my own real major let-down of the festival...although, realistically, I should have seen it coming.<br /><br />I wish i'd had the common sense to go to the Midi and watch Wardruna instead, the ritualistic, mystical explorers of old Norse spirituality formed by the ex-drummer and vocalist of Gorgoroth...BUT, I'd been put off by the fact that it was a couple of geezers from Gorgoroth, of whom I am avowedly NOT a fan.<br /><br />More fool me....more fool me...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hgtMdT9zmzM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I'm pretty damn sure I'd have enjoyed THAT a damn sight more than seeing Godflesh go through the motions and milk the cow of nostalgia. Ahhhh, hindsight is a wonderful thing...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71dZ7i9PueE/TbimHGiswAI/AAAAAAAAAYo/7cu7N34D7Q8/s1600/me%2B%2540%2Broadburn%2B1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71dZ7i9PueE/TbimHGiswAI/AAAAAAAAAYo/7cu7N34D7Q8/s320/me%2B%2540%2Broadburn%2B1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600408777580658690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was all over bar the shouting, for me, as the room for Count Raven - my first choice for final band of the day - was too full, and I had no idea who Carlton Melton were....they gave me strange mental images....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-08iKgPfHo60/Tbim0TC88WI/AAAAAAAAAYw/NyWpsb4jiwo/s1600/fresh-prince-carlton-banks-400a111306.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-08iKgPfHo60/Tbim0TC88WI/AAAAAAAAAYw/NyWpsb4jiwo/s320/fresh-prince-carlton-banks-400a111306.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600409554031276386" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EipaV2065Kw/TbinFS_CViI/AAAAAAAAAY4/sT_gqfbyc90/s1600/melting.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EipaV2065Kw/TbinFS_CViI/AAAAAAAAAY4/sT_gqfbyc90/s320/melting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600409846072628770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...so I begrudgingly decided to go see Soilent Green on the main stage, a band who outlived their usefulness immediately after recording 'Sewn-Mouth Secrets', if you ask me, with their finest hour consisting of the original recording of 'Build Fear' - from the 'Cry Now, Cry Later Vol.3' comp double 7" on Pessimiser - their tracks on the split 10" with Grief - also on Pessimiser - and maybe their first LP, 'Pussysoul', ALL of which date from 1995. Since then, they've become increasingly redundant by basically staying exactly the same. Totally one-dimensional.<br /><br />Anyway, they were rubbish, so I headed home to dream of day two and......VOIVOD!!!The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-22261759912671953152011-04-24T11:15:00.000-07:002011-04-26T04:42:39.459-07:00What I seen and done at Roadburn 2011 by Paul, age 37-ish (Part two)<span style="font-weight:bold;">ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WELL ALRIGHT!!</span><br /><br />BUT...before we commence rocking, I just want to share with you the sight that awaited me when I woke up on the Thursday morning - the first day of Roadburn...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gaDLygsnj7k/TbRpOYXKHLI/AAAAAAAAAVw/5_qhsDYYuik/s1600/100_0040.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gaDLygsnj7k/TbRpOYXKHLI/AAAAAAAAAVw/5_qhsDYYuik/s320/100_0040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599215932507036850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy29ZybxCfY/TbRpkE2wL6I/AAAAAAAAAV4/fMB-jD4j7ik/s1600/100_0041.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy29ZybxCfY/TbRpkE2wL6I/AAAAAAAAAV4/fMB-jD4j7ik/s320/100_0041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216305227968418" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Aaaaahhhh, I tells ya, I wish i could wake up to that EVERY morning! <br /><br />Oh, and who's this?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXduSeklPFg/TbRqJlfm8WI/AAAAAAAAAWA/og0orGoofNw/s1600/100_0043.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXduSeklPFg/TbRqJlfm8WI/AAAAAAAAAWA/og0orGoofNw/s320/100_0043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216949644423522" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Why, it's my friends Mr and Mrs Duck! We had a plethora of Ducks and Geese in the surrounding environs, which made ME happy, but not necessarily the others, as they could get a bit......quacky. Also, there was a Swan, but I refused to take his picture as I didn't want to give him the oxygen of publicity. You know what Swans are like. Uppity beaky twerps.<br /><br />SO. A somewhat convoluted two-bus system took us from where we were staying and into Tilburg, dropping us right outside the 013, a venue that looked, to me, like Rob Halford's arse - <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFOm-DdLOlw/TbW8fEtNOEI/AAAAAAAAAWY/pC1wZl6L6mQ/s1600/013.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFOm-DdLOlw/TbW8fEtNOEI/AAAAAAAAAWY/pC1wZl6L6mQ/s320/013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599588953730398274" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />See? Looks like studded black leather right? Rob Halford's arse.<br /><br />Oh, I later noticed that they're not studs, they're actually CD's, rivetted to the outside. Pretty classy huh?<br /><br />The posse had to go and queue up with the rest of the plebs for wristbands, but I was SPECIAL....for I had a GUEST PASS. I strode over to the Guest/Press pass window and thoroughly lorded it over the little people in their queue, received my sparkling special wristband and then it was time to go rock the FUCK out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUD9HWLNznU/TbSaQnv9xEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/_QCXOaIb30A/s1600/Grimm%2B%2527n%2527%2Bfrrrosty.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUD9HWLNznU/TbSaQnv9xEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/_QCXOaIb30A/s320/Grimm%2B%2527n%2527%2Bfrrrosty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599269847067116610" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I decided to go around the corner to the Midi theatre, first, and watch The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, a band I had recently reviewed over at <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/TheKilimanjaroDarkJazzEnsemble.php">The Sleeping Shaman</a>. Don't ask me why, I KNOW I should have gone to see Quest For Fire but I was feeling pretty mellow and a bit tired, so TKDE it was. <br /><br />The Midi theatre is a superb venue, and I knew I would love it as soon as I walked into the foyer. The acoustics are FANTASTIC, and it's the kind of venue where it doesn't really matter where you stand, you can still see the stage. Bang on, as Doomlord would say.<br />The lighting was pretty damn subdued - read 'almost pitch black' - in there, which added to the atmos somewhat since it was warm and sunny outside and that just wouldn't do for the mean and moody vibe that TKDE were angling for. <br /><br />I guess the best I can do to describe TKDE's sound is to point you toward Ulver's 'urban noir soundtrack-to-an-interior-movie' 'Perdition City', as that's basically a blueprint for TKDE's sound - unconsciously or not they are definitely singing from the same hymnsheet as Ulver were back then.<br /><br />Great big slabs of bass so thick you could sink your teeth into 'em, skittering jazzy rhythms, disembodied bluesy female vocals and a sobbing trumpet sound that totally brings Chet Baker to mind, all wrapped up in downbeat electronics and minmalistic beats. I admit to breaking into a cold sweat when I espied a DJ onstage, but thankfully there was no wicky-wicky-wicky nonsense. <br /><br />Trouble is, it was all a bit too downbeat for me (I know! Who'da thunk it?), seeing as it was a lovely day out, and I decided to nip over to the 013 halfway through and try to catch some of Quest For Fire, as I reckoned a bit of fuzzed-out psychedelia would hit the spot.<br />Unfortunately, I guess everyone else had the same idea and the room they were in - the teeny-tiny Bat Cave waaaaay up at the top of the 013 - was absolutely RAMMED. So I just killed a bit of time, had a few drinks, and sauntered back over to the Midi in order to see Ghost, whom I was looking forward to IMMENSELY.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RV59WIX9NcM/TbW785boU0I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/Qr8T_cVzar0/s1600/100E0049.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RV59WIX9NcM/TbW785boU0I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/Qr8T_cVzar0/s320/100E0049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599588366588334914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It seems that people either 'get' Ghost at the moment, or they just DON'T. Accusations of hype and gimmickry are constantly levelled at them, owing to their refusal to publicly unmask or reveal their identities. I guess I would be a little cynical about them too if the music they make wasn't so damn good, being as it is a hybrid of Blue Öyster Cult and Mercyful Fate, with a pop-metal edge and a somewhat campy sinister occult aspect to their lyrics and presentation. <br />At the end of the day, what they are is FUN. No heavy message or dogma to wrestle with, just good solid entertainment, and we ALL like to be entertained, right?<br /><br />Hell, judge for yourself...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fNwWjW5d_sI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I ran into a guy just before I got into the show, a friend of a friend, who hadn't heard Ghost but was a little put off by all the negativity directed at them. I dragged him along and guaranteed him that if he dug Mercyful Fate and BÖC, he'd love it. Lo and behold, ten minutes into the set he was headbanging like a maniac.<br /><br />It put a smile on my face and made my neck a little sore, what the fuck else could you ask for? I enjoyed it so much, I didn't even get irked by the bassist's faulty buzzing lead. Well, not THAT irked...<br /><br />Tell you what though, I felt sorry for the drummer. He must have been sweating cobs.<br /><br />Speaking of sweating cobs, I had to run back over to the 013 again in order to catch Woven Hand/Wovenhand, a band that I was pleased but surprised to see in the line-up this year, what with frontman David Eugene Edwards being decidedly of the Godly persuasion, BUT, I read this quote regarding his feelings about being embraced by the - mostly non and anti-christian - underground metal scene...<br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">...couldn’t be happier...For one, I listen to a lot of heavy music myself. When it first came to my attention that people in these scenes - whether it’s heavy metal, black metal or death metal - were starting to pay attention to my music, I was so happy that they would even consider what I do. But that wasn’t a surprise. I think that people in the metal world think about things that a lot of other people don’t, like spiritual things. Whether they believe as I believe is beside the point, but they’re searching, they’re searching for something beyond what is here or what you can see with your eyes, and I think they know that there’s more, you know? And so in that sense I am like them because I also think there is more.</span>"<br /><br />...the quote was printed in the Roadburn 2011 programme/booklet thing, but was taken from an interview with the man over at the oddly-named <a href="http://transylvanianhungerrr.blogspot.com/2010/11/wovenhand.html">Transylvanian Hungerrr blog</a> which is MORE than worth some of your valuable time to read. <br /><br />In fact, go read it now. I'll wait right here 'til you come back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFGqaAe6_OI/TbYcs-qRHPI/AAAAAAAAAYY/7c_vTCRo2eo/s1600/intermission.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFGqaAe6_OI/TbYcs-qRHPI/AAAAAAAAAYY/7c_vTCRo2eo/s320/intermission.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599694745741892850" /></a><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />'kay? Good read isn't it? Nice pictures too. Almost a shame to come back to THIS, really. Interestingly, I see that Edwards has an intense dislike of organised religion, which is something that resonates heavily with me too. NOW I understand how he's able to reconcile anti-christian and pagan bands such as Marduk and Primordial being vocal admirers of his work. <br />I could discuss the issues that this raises for literally DAYS, but hell, this ain't the time. <br /><br />SO. <br /><br />Impressions of Wovenhand...or Woven Hand...whichever it is. Well, they were literally entrancing. I mean, I was completely unaware of time passing during their set. I could NOT take my eyes off the stage, and I didn't WANT to. Edwards is UTTERLY compelling, totally magnetic and charismatic. <br /><br />Sitting down, hunched over a big ol' orange Gretsch and passionately declaiming into one of those big chrome radio-style mics, he looks so intense that you can see the veins and sinews twisting in his arms and neck from halfway back the hall. Talking in Cherokee between songs ,'Hey-a!', doing mocking 'macho' posturing and then intimating he can take the ENTIRE fuckin' venue on, mock-cock-rock posing with his axe, flailing his skinnylegs around on his stool, smacking himself in the face and smacking his mic stand away whilst in some kind of trance...this guy HAS IT. In SPADES. He's mocking the 'rock star', but in doing so he's surpassing it, and, with a flick of the hand and a shake of his feather-bedecked hair, he's dismissing it. A true brave...<br /><br />...and BOY are these guys HEAVY. Not heavy like...fuckin' Crowbar, but HEAVY like 200 years of slavery, or the Jewish religion, y'know? SPIRITUALLY heavy. In THAT respect, and in a couple of others, they remind me of Swans more than anyone else. <br /><br />This eastern raga-flavoured, country-gothic UR-thing they do really got me gripped.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bmBX9FUvC38" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Just.....inspirational. Real SOUL music, played from the depth of his boots and up and out. <br /><br />Fuck.<br /><br />THAT was my first genuine highlight, and there were MORE to come...A LOT more.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-83304766462481515292011-04-19T10:34:00.000-07:002011-04-23T08:11:25.014-07:00What I seen and done at Roadburn 2011 by Paul, age 37-ish (Part one)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6hdPr1L54po/Ta3ICGIP7oI/AAAAAAAAAVg/dkaypAgubrI/s1600/Me%2Bwatching%2BCoffins.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6hdPr1L54po/Ta3ICGIP7oI/AAAAAAAAAVg/dkaypAgubrI/s320/Me%2Bwatching%2BCoffins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597349850221899394" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So, after spending a few years contemplating it I finally made it over to the <a href="http://www.roadburn.com/">Roadburn</a> festival, mecca for all those who like it HEAVY. Thanks, mainly, to the generosity of Walter the genial festival organiser and general all-around mastermind, who gave me his last guestlist space after having used a number of my reviews from <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/">The Sleeping Shaman</a> on the Roadburn site's 'Album of The Day' feature. <br /><br />Now, over at T'Shaman there will be a more....'professional'...review of the whole thing, but for the purposes of this here blog thing I'm gonna be a li'l more rambly and personal about my experiences, 'kay?<br /><br />I arrived in Tilburg, the site of the festival, in the early afternoon of Wednesday 13th April - the day before the whole shindig kicks off - after a wee diversion through Amsterdam, on my way through from the airport. Having never been to Amsterdam before, or even Holland itself, I figured I really ought to have at least a quick look around, since I had flown into Schiphol Airport anyway with my lovely assistant, the divine Ms Anna Calderbank. Bumping into friends - Doom hobbit Lyndon Renney, the ever-lovely Dawn Fildes and Ms. Kelly Duvall - in the queue for train tickets to Tilburg, we weren't exactly hard to win over with an offer to nip off 'round Amsterdam for some food before heading out. <br /><br />My impressions of Amsterdam are only based on a brief visit of, like, an hour or so, but it seemed nice enough to me...although the continual avoidance of and negotiation around cars AND bikes AND trams struck me as something that the average stoner - cuz lets face it, that's the kind of person that generally goes to visit Amsterdam innit? - would have a really hard time dealing with, maaaaaaan. Personally, I had no such issues as I don't smoke pot. This probably explains WHY I've never been there before, along with my reluctance to pay actual cash money for sex - the OTHER thing that seems to draw the tourists in. <br /><br />As it happened, the place we were going to for food was down near the red-light area, where the ladies <span style="font-style:italic;">dans la nuit</span> plied their trade in the windows, so I got to see some of these 'lovely' damsels for myself. I quickly figured out that they must save all the real lookers for the evening crowds as the vast majority, no pun intended, leaning listlessly in the windows were, indeed, vast and oddly short. Hell, even if I was richer and blind-drunk, I'd STILL get the shudders just thinking of sticking any part of my body into the denizens of the windows I beheld that day. Uh-uh. no sir. Thankfully, the enormous apple pancake I tucked into was a vastly more appetising proposition.<br /><br />Companions nicely toasted, grumbling tum sated, we headed back to the train station and got on the train to Tilburg. One quick change later and BOOM, there we were. Job done. Met outside by Sam Bishop, MR. Calderbank, we were whisked away to our place of residence for the next few days.....the JUNGALOW!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1bUBVZc7Dzc/Ta3UkI2MynI/AAAAAAAAAVo/F5RZ9NhfT8A/s1600/100_0042.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1bUBVZc7Dzc/Ta3UkI2MynI/AAAAAAAAAVo/F5RZ9NhfT8A/s320/100_0042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597363629206588018" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This deceptively small hut housed six people for the duration of our Roadburn experience, four of whom had been there since the Monday and would stay until the following Monday. Matt Wassell (who has just moved to Holland), Joe Allard, the legend that IS Evan Lawton and Sam - the afore-mentioned MR Calderbank - myself and Anna stayed here split across three rooms, sleeping in bunk-beds, with a central communal living room/kitchen and a small bathroom. <br /><br />That first night there was no Roadburn-related activity to report, aside from a Keiji Haino/Stephen O'Malley/Oren Ambarchi show in Amsterdam that I would have liked to have seen...<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JajNvY6gV1E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />...and a free show in Tilburg that I attempted to make it to but failed due to my not having ridden a bicycle for around twenty-two years. I collided with an exposed tree root upon remembering that the brakes on Dutch bicycles are operated by pedalling backwards at a juncture that was far too late. After the spillage and realisation that my stumpy legs are unsuitable for a tall bicycle with a crossbar, I gave up and decided to walk to a bus-stop. That was ALSO a total failure as I gave up walking when I reached the motorway and realised that i had no idea where I was. In abject failure I walked back to the jungalow, stopping en route to lie on a bench and look up at the stars through the branches of a large tree. This is something one cannot really do whilst living in a city, as there is far too much ambient light stopping the stars from being clearly visible. As I lay there, lost in my thoughts and the wonderful starscape wheeling above my head, some stupid idiot decided that I was a passed-out tourist and took a photo of me, laughing.<br /><br />I was not best pleased, and called her a number of very unpleasant words.<br /><br />I took this as a sign to go back, have a few more drinks, then turn in and get some rest before the big day.....the first day of Roadburn 2011!!The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-89767333186503478452011-04-12T14:10:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:13:23.583-07:00Hasta mañana monsieurs......Weeeeeell, it's about time for me to be hittin' the ol' dusty trail to <a href="http://www.roadburn.com/">Roadburn 2011</a>. <br /><br />In the meantime, I'll leave you with this li'l ditty to tide you over until I return in triumph....<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ejYT7MyzaR8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-74454230970492762872011-03-19T11:54:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:30:13.958-07:00redrighthand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7slSm5v1uE/TYT3mhffKWI/AAAAAAAAAVY/ZojF8Jjvj1E/s1600/rrh%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7slSm5v1uE/TYT3mhffKWI/AAAAAAAAAVY/ZojF8Jjvj1E/s320/rrh%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585861679043783010" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ssssoooooo, back in the mists of time I played guitar in a band called redrighthand. Starting around 1998, we were a bit of a mish-mash of extreme doom/drone, Melvins riffs and improv electronic hoo-hah. We played around a bit, and then in 2001 we split so I could leave the country for a year or so to study in your fine United States. Nothing was recorded of this line-up, but we made a definite emotional impact on people as audience members would frequently be driven to tears or just stunned 'what-just-happened-there??' type faces.<br /><br />Fast forward to late 2002/early 2003 and the band recovened with a more streamlined line-up - just one guitar, bass, drums and vocals - once I had returned, and set about demolishing small buildings and frightening animals and women with our low-end thudding, droning, assault. <br />THIS time, an album was recorded - in mid 2004 - and we awaited its release eagerly..........and waited.......and waited.....<br /><br />It never came. The band broke up due to lack of direction following the non-emergence of the record, our vocalist moving to Sweden, and my erratic moods and general instability.<br /><br />Over the years, people asked me about the album repeatedly, and I made a LOT of copies of it for folks. Finally I figured 'FUCK IT' and asked my good friend Al at the wonderful 'At War With False Noise' label in Scotland if he wanted to put it out there, which is what has happened now.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wagefxsfJsA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />You can buy 'they sang and chanted for hours, then the locked-in hundreds set themselves ablaze' by redrighthand <a href="http://www.atwarwithfalsenoise.com/">here</a>, and check out any bits and pieces of related crap i can dig up - flyers, photos, live recordings - <a href="http://theysangandchantedforhours.blogspot.com/">here</a> at my OTHER blog. <br /><br />The CD is in an edition of 500, and when it's gone - or near-enough gone - I'll put the thing up online for free download.<br /><br />It's been a fucking relief to get it out there after all the time, blood, sweat and tears that went into it, and I hope that people dig it. Check out a preview of the first track up above and please buy it if you want it.<br /><br />Now, anyone know any drummers?The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-2950514681204963212011-03-12T06:00:00.000-08:002011-10-22T09:04:21.218-07:00Okay, if I apologise to your lousy band, can I have some free stuff?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmSG1M2a3fE/TXt8zC8qOAI/AAAAAAAAAUY/_Ru8IcU4xbA/s1600/pretentious_rabbit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmSG1M2a3fE/TXt8zC8qOAI/AAAAAAAAAUY/_Ru8IcU4xbA/s320/pretentious_rabbit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583193379462330370" /></a><br /><br />Hell's Donkeys, I've really let things slip. It's been a while since I posted here OR over at Illcon, but, well, I've been busy having a thing called a 'life'. Yeah, you may have heard of 'em. <br /><br />Aaaanyhoo, nuthin' special here, just wanted to update the list of reviews that I've done over at <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/">The Sleeping Shaman</a>. I'm sure no-one cares but me, but it helps me keep track of what I've been doing. There are some li'l gems in here - Ultraphallus, locrian, Rat King and Drug Honkey all spring to mind - and a coupla real stinkers. Btw, sorry to report, but I think the new Earth album is one of 'em. Boooooooorrrrrrrring, one-dimensional and stagnant. Yeah, I'm controversial. <br /><br />So, let's get crackin'...in the order in which they were published....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/ThroneOfTheVoid.php">Throne Of The Void In The Hundred Petal Lotus - Demo 2010</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/MoneyIsGod_MARKZ.php">MONE¥I$GOD 'M.A.R.K.Z' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/DelRey_Immemorial.php">Del Rey 'Immemorial' CD/LP</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/HighWattElectrocutions-TheBermudaTriangle.php">High Watt Electrocutions 'The Bermuda Triangle' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Locrian_TheCrystalWorld.php">Locrian 'The Crystal World' CD/LP</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Earth_ABureaucraticDesire.php">Earth 'A Bureaucratic Desire For Extra-Capsular Extraction' CD </a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Danishmendt_UnPasseAride.php">Danishmendt 'Un Passé Aride' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Hull_VikingFuneral.php">Hull 'Viking Funeral' EP</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/TheConstruct_Titan.php">The Construct 'Titan' CDEP</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/DoubleSpace.php">Double Space - ST 12"</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/RatKing_Larva.php">Rat King 'Larva' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/PoisonDeluxe_TheDeadTreeBlues.php">Poison Deluxe 'The Dead Tree Blues' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/DrugHonkey_DeathDub.php">Drug Honkey 'Death Dub' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Earth_AngelsOfDarkness.php">Earth 'Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1' CD/LP</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/TreeOfSores.php">Tree Of Sores - S/T CDEP</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/o68_Elend.php">o.68 'Elend' CD</a><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Ultraphallus_SowberryHagan.php">Ultraphallus 'Sowberry Hagan' CD</a><br /><br />NOW THEN, I've ALSO done an interview with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/drughonkey">Drug</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgue-Supplier/333439073104#!/pages/Drug-Honkey/326034240558">Honkey</a> (and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/morguesupplier">Morgue</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgue-Supplier/333439073104">Supplier</a>) mainman Paul Gillis, which can be read <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/interviews/DrugHonkey/">here</a>, and a live review for Scott Kelly, Steve Brodsky, Bob Wayne and Juffage at Jospeh's Well in Leeds back in december, which can be read <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/gig/ScottKelly_2010-12-14.php">here</a>.<br /><br />In the interests of self-promotion, I'm also linking to the first live review I ever attempted - for Ulver in London back in october 2009 - <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/gig/ulver_091009.php">here</a>,<br />and finally, you can read some more of my reviews in <a href="http://www.badacidmagazine.com/">Bad Acid Magazine</a> if you buy it, and check out a few online at their podcast/thing <a href="http://badacid.podbean.com/">here</a>. Also on there is my interview with the fantastic Justin Wright of the equally fantastic <a href="http://www.exposeventy.com/">Expo '70</a>, mainman of the truly cosmic (or should that be kosmiche?) <a href="http://www.exposeventy.com/sonicmeditations/">Sonic Meditations</a> label and all around good egg. Read it <a href="http://badacid.podbean.com/2010/11/29/expo-70-interview/">here</a>!<br /><br />So, that's what the hell I'VE been doing of late.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-12140294326301009302010-12-31T11:10:00.000-08:002010-12-31T12:20:02.578-08:00This is not an end of year round-up....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR4uCQeoK1I/AAAAAAAAASo/FR2W2kEeHsY/s1600/Fruitcake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR4uCQeoK1I/AAAAAAAAASo/FR2W2kEeHsY/s320/Fruitcake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556929606539815762" /></a><br /><br /><br />It's been an odd year for me, in a lot of ways. I left one relationship, moved house, began another relationship, and lost two jobs over the course of 2010.<br />Not ideal, in many ways, but then I am, somewhat perversely, happier than I was this time last year.<br />My last relationship just didn't sit right with me, and my living situation left much to be desired - my current partner is just about perfect, and I live somewhere that I actually like spending time in, so you can see how THAT side of things has picked up.<br /><br />I've been through the employment mill this year, and have only actually worked for around two months. The rest of that time has been spent trying to FIND work. Ordinarily that would worry me senseless, BUT I happen to know that there is a new job waiting for me, one that I start on January 10th and hope to be in for a long time to come. <br /><br />Everything impacts upon everything else, and so now that my love-life and housing issues are well in hand, and my job issues are about to be solved, I find myself in a pretty good place.<br />Sure, I'm not very musically or artistically fulfilled at present, but once things settle down elsewhere, I can attend to those needs.<br /><br />I have a good feeling about 2011, which is a fucking relief for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR4xUk8xOkI/AAAAAAAAAS4/vzuyYTVcBio/s1600/optimism-demotivational-poster-1218321489.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR4xUk8xOkI/AAAAAAAAAS4/vzuyYTVcBio/s320/optimism-demotivational-poster-1218321489.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556933219807476290" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now, what has been floating MY boat this past year? <br /><br />Weeeeeeeeeeeell, musically, it's a tough call. Sure I've heard some great records, but I feel like I'm still assessing them, like they haven't really sunk in enough for me to give concrete judgements, if you catch my drift.<br />I've had to listen HARD to a swathe of releases in order to <a href="http://becauseisaidsodammit.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-will-not-apologise-for-saying-your.html">review</a> <a href="http://becauseisaidsodammit.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-still-will-not-apologise-for-saying.html">'em</a>, but I can't say as I managed to APPRECIATE 'em in the way that I would do under 'normal' circumstances.<br /><br />I mean, I've greatly enjoyed records by Swans, The Body, Black Sun, Slough Feg, Rings Of Saturn and a bunch of others, but I just don't feel qualified to say which of them would be my 'Top Ten' or whathaveyou. I'm still listening and trying to catch up. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR4wLR7wKwI/AAAAAAAAASw/l2PxlIlM1M4/s1600/FF570.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR4wLR7wKwI/AAAAAAAAASw/l2PxlIlM1M4/s320/FF570.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556931960572488450" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One thing that HAS been floating my boat this year is Jonathan Hickman's run on, of all things, <span style="font-weight:bold;">FANTASTIC FOUR</span>.<br /><br />Yeah. I KNOW.<br /><br />Suuuuure, I enjoyed John Byrne's run on it, back in the day, and yes I can dig Kirby's art (not so much Stan's writing though) on the early issues, but in the scheme of things comic-related, if you'd asked me a year or so ago what I thought of the Fantastic Four I'd probably have told you that I couldn't give a rats ass about 'em.<br /><br />Boy how things have changed.<br /><br />I jumped onboard during Millar and Hitch's run from #554-569 simply down to being a great admirer of Hitch's art and, at the time, a great admirer of Millar's writing. I stuck it out at the end of their brief but thoroughly enjoyable run as I was also a great admirer of Jonanthan Hickman's writing, and wondered how he would handle such a mainstream, flagship, title.<br /><br />As it transpired he handles it better than I could possibly have imagined. His writing has taken the book from being something that I would never previously have even considered buying on a regular basis, to my single most awaited comic book every month. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR406HhO9gI/AAAAAAAAATA/BRblvtmXiHs/s1600/fantastic%2Bfour%2B%2523585.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR406HhO9gI/AAAAAAAAATA/BRblvtmXiHs/s320/fantastic%2Bfour%2B%2523585.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556937163277268482" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I seriously cannot enthuse about this book and Hickman's writing enough. Sure, Dale Eaglesham and Steve Epting's art is good too, but it's Hickman I stay around for. Clearly in it for the long haul, he's spent the first part of his run setting up plot points that won't even fully bloom for a good few months, maybe even YEARS - something for which he has received criticism - which shows exactly how far ahead his mind is working.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR42P1k6BwI/AAAAAAAAATI/fhSlq0iP6Mw/s1600/GALACTUS-ANSWERS.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR42P1k6BwI/AAAAAAAAATI/fhSlq0iP6Mw/s320/GALACTUS-ANSWERS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556938635929585410" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The culmination of the current storyline will apparently result in the death of one of the team. Now, this is something that I'm sure <span style="font-style:italic;">ALL</span> comic book readers are heartily sick of, the old 'kill-'em-off-for-a-while-then-bring-'em-back-again-to-boost-sales' routine...Superman, Robin, Flash, most recently Batman and Captain America...but with Hickman, well, I think it could be a lot more interestingly done than previously. He has the skills, and DOESN'T possess the motivation - the book is selling well, no further publicity is really needed - so I am more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt....of course....this is where I was 12 months ago with Blackest Night, and look how badly THAT turgid cocktease ended.<br /><br /><br />It seems that Fantastic Four #588 will be the last issue of Fantastic Four as we know it, and the next month will see the launch of a new title called, simply, FF.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR44BDCv-YI/AAAAAAAAATQ/T7PnwqUoR5E/s1600/FF.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TR44BDCv-YI/AAAAAAAAATQ/T7PnwqUoR5E/s320/FF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556940580869634434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Gimmick or NO gimmick, I'll be there.<br /><br /><br /><br />So, it seems that next year holds some exciting things...well, for ME, at least...what with Fantastic Four/FF, and the forthcoming <a href="http://greenlanternmovie.warnerbros.com/">Green Lantern</a> movie, amongst a plethora of other goodies. <br /><br /><br />For once in my life, I DO have a good feeling about the forthcoming year. It's a strange feeling, but I don't want it to go away. I'm looking forward.<br /><br />Face front, true believers...EXCELSIOR!The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-49974148316479985802010-12-24T14:51:00.000-08:002010-12-24T16:20:37.146-08:00If music be the food of love, put that piano in batter #5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TRUkOz83GyI/AAAAAAAAAQo/-Wh2jNX6s24/s1600/suncitygirls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TRUkOz83GyI/AAAAAAAAAQo/-Wh2jNX6s24/s320/suncitygirls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554385552313621282" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The album that I am about to lay on you here is, in my humble opinion, the second finest record that I have ever heard. <br />Now, I can hear you all out there wondering "The second? Well, I wonder what the FIRST is?". <br />Simples. <br />It is 'Nothingface' by Voivod. <br /><br />Undisputably so. <br /><br />However, I am NOT going to post that here for your delectation as, firstly, you MUST already have it, and secondly, it doesn't need the exposure quite so much as the following near-flawless gem.<br /><br />The towering work of twisted genius of which I speak is 'Dante's Disneyland Inferno' by the Sun City Girls, "a giant roller coaster of a double album in 35 sizzling chapters. A searing indictment of domestic servitude in the eighteenth century with some hot Gypsies thrown in", to paraphrase a great man. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TRUlweCzmgI/AAAAAAAAAQw/3_SX8U3HzhM/s1600/DDD.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TRUlweCzmgI/AAAAAAAAAQw/3_SX8U3HzhM/s320/DDD.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554387230060157442" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Being of a famously mercurial bent, SCG very rarely managed to maintain their genius to it's fullest extent over the course of an entire album, invariably becoming bogged-down in either ridiculous shenanigans or aimless musical wandering - granted, with a couple of glaringly obvious exceptions such as 'Torch of The Mystics' and, to a lesser extent, 'Kaliflower' - but with 1996's 'Dante's Disneyland Inferno' they managed to sustain their twisted, impish vision for a double CD set that clocks in at over 2 hours all in, and NEVER lets up once. <br /><br />From the severely creepy Voudun atmos of opener 'Sexy Graveyard', to the borderline-retarded stream-of-consciousness atonal jazzbo piano fuck-up of closer, 'Bird Of Prey', this recording covers every base that one could possibly hope to have covered within the repertoire of the three trickster-gods-in-human-form that are Sun City Girls. <br /><br />You want creepy weirdness? Howsabout 'A Bad Dream' with it's closing question of "...Heh heh heh heh, any o' you new age women ever eat dog?", 'Jack The Ripper', the odd wordplay of 'The Harley Of Horror', the cut-up, dreamlike and occasionally shuddering-inducing 'A Secret Revealed Unwittingly', or the decidedly strange tale of 'Jessup's Diary'.<br /><br />You want soused-sounding nonsense-shanties? Howsabout the bands call-to-arms and general statement of intent 'Soft Fragile Eggshell Minds', the drunken organ of 'A Man is an Insect is a Flame' and 'Six Kids of Mine', the bouyant-sounding 'Ruby on the Ferris Wheel', or the drunken lament of 'The Ballad of Co-Dependency'?<br /><br />You want oddball semi-spoken-word jazzbo rambling? Hell, they got it in SPADES - 'Flesh Balloons of Tibet', 'The Geography of the Swastika', 'Joan Of Arc', 'Holiday for Shakespeare', 'Dan And Ross'.....I could go on. <br /><br />They do it all.....and THEN some.<br /><br />The lions share of this masterpiece is driven by 'Satanic Director At Large', the sadly deceased Charles Gocher Jr, percussionist and.....uhhh.....whatEVER-the-fuck, for the Girls (aside from the obligatory interjection from your old Uncle Jim), and his jazz sensibilities and screwball lyrical jive run rampant herein.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TRUt7ay4JrI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/qr_XRcvhamc/s1600/CharlesGocher_byKerryKugleman.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 305px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TRUt7ay4JrI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/qr_XRcvhamc/s320/CharlesGocher_byKerryKugleman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554396214259623602" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I really could wax lyrical about this damn thing ALL FUCKING NIGHT AND DAY, but I won't. I'll let you discover it for yourself. So, go <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?b4ibydg2qs5vbgv">get</a> it. <br /><br />Is it difficult? HELL yes, it's difficult - the first disc is emblazoned with a swastika that got me some VERY dubious looks when spotted (it's ok, it's not THAT one, it's the 'nice one'), but y'know, that makes it aaaaaaall the better, if you ask me. You gotta WORK at it, to reveal the creamy goodness inside.<br /><br />Sadly for you, 'Dante's Disneyland Inferno' is loooong out of print in any format aside from as an expensive triple-LP boxset, but, y'know, it MAY be expensive, but maaaaaaan is it WORTH it. Hunt it out, you won't be disappointed.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-88868627850787429002010-10-06T05:54:00.001-07:002011-03-12T05:50:54.827-08:00I STILL will not apologise for saying your band is lousy...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TKxzGtTvsHI/AAAAAAAAAMg/Ox-c1B5e0RA/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 269px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TKxzGtTvsHI/AAAAAAAAAMg/Ox-c1B5e0RA/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524917401955577970" /></a><br /><br /><br />Just a quick update of six more reviews from over at <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/index.php">T'Sleeping Shaman</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Nails_UnsilentDeath.php">Nails</a> 'Unsilent Death' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Obiat_EyeTreePi.php">Obiat</a> 'Eye Tree Pi' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Pombagira_BaronCitadel.php">Pombagira</a> 'Baron Citadel' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/RedGiant_DysfunctionalMajesty.php">Red Giant</a> 'Dysfunctional Majesty' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/TheBody_AllTheWaters.php">The Body</a> 'All The Waters Of The Earth Shall Turn To Blood' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/UnearthlyTrance_V.php">Unearthly Trance</a> 'V' 2xLP/CD<br /><br />All grrrrrrrreat records!!!The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-43017585786531615302010-09-19T17:25:00.000-07:002010-09-20T08:28:50.013-07:00If music be the food of love, put that piano in batter #4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJawGm7QyiI/AAAAAAAAAJg/Yw8ORj6w2EA/s1600/DK.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJawGm7QyiI/AAAAAAAAAJg/Yw8ORj6w2EA/s320/DK.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518792020963936802" /></a> <br />Die Kreuzen. I know people make a lot of noise about their 'Cows and Beer' 7", and their first, self-titled, LP, but personally I prefer their later, artier stuff.<br />I think you can chalk that up to my only really getting into them because they were namechecked in a Voivod interview. I think it was either Blacky or Away that mentioned them as being an influence on Voivod's sound circa 'Dimension Hatross'. <br />Anyway, as with several other bands before them - Foetus and The Young Gods spring immediately to mind - I decided that if it was good enough for Voivod, then it was good enough for ME, and immediately went hunting for anything I could find by them.<br /><br />As it transpired, I couldn't find a DAMN thing. But, as luck would have it, I noticed in Raw Magazine - of ALL places - that they had an EP coming out soon, so I waited....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJax3nMqYDI/AAAAAAAAAJo/hPE_xuPHW6Q/s1600/DK+Gone+Away.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJax3nMqYDI/AAAAAAAAAJo/hPE_xuPHW6Q/s320/DK+Gone+Away.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518793962362134578" /></a><br /><br />I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, to be honest. Back in the time before the internet - this was 1989 - if you wanted to hear a band, you either had to buy a record, see 'em live, OR see if anyone you know had anything by them and ask for a tape. Since my friends at this point mostly listened to WASP and Slayer, if ANYTHING, and seeing them play was out of the question (or so i thought), I had to just buy their EP and hope it wasn't lousy.<br /><br /><br />It wasn't.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6pLSkP_bGmc?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6pLSkP_bGmc?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />The title track, 'Gone Away', was a lot.....moodier than I was expecting, and the inclusion of 'Seasons Of Wither', an AEROSMITH cover of all things, surprised me, BUT, I liked it enough to want to flip it and check the B-Side.<br />As you know, the B-side of the 'Gone Away' EP is five live tracks, most of which appear on the 'Century Days' LP. <br />Now, THIS was more like it. Listening to 'Stomp' and 'Man in The Trees', I could TOTALLY hear Voivod in there. The weird chords were THERE. <br />One of the other tracks on the B-Side is a live version of 'Number 3', from 'Century Days', and it just knocked me out. <br /><br />It completely entranced me. <br /><br />I think I listened to it around 10 times that first DAY, and fell hopelessly in love with Brian Egeness's oddly metallic, deeply expressive, guitar sound. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJa1n2AX-WI/AAAAAAAAAJw/Gpzumb9VaM8/s1600/Brian+Egeness.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJa1n2AX-WI/AAAAAAAAAJw/Gpzumb9VaM8/s320/Brian+Egeness.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518798089505732962" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The clouds of delayed guitar that make up the guitar parts of 'Number 3' are just beautiful, to my ears. The combination of chiming chorus, delay and tasteful use of the whammy bar really IS music to my ears. It chokes me up to hear it, sometimes. <br /><br />As you do when you hear something that just GRABS you, you want to share it, so here is a live version of the track.....<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EhlBhFQS7OY?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EhlBhFQS7OY?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />....just LISTEN to that and tell me you don't find it at once heartbreaking AND uplifting. It gets me right *there*, y'know?<br /><br /><br />Aaaaaaaanyway, before I get all Emo, I'll move on. So. I had discovered Die Kreuzen. After a week or two, I managed to score copies of 'Century Days' and 'October File', which I liked very much - particularly 'Century Days'. <br />Of course, Voivod released 'Nothingface' a few months after 'Gone Away' came out, and I DEFINITELY noticed the Die Kreuzen influence THERE, which just about sealed the deal on Die Kreuzen for me. <br /><br />Incidentally, 'Nothingface' is my favourite record FULL STOP, so anything operating in a similar ballpark gets MUCH love from me.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JJ_mzIJ3EWQ?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JJ_mzIJ3EWQ?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I see a lot of folks online badmouthing this whole period of Die Kreuzen, but the music they made from 'Century Days' to their final record, 'Cement', is the Die Kreuzen music that I listen to most often. <br />Yeah, I can dig their earlier more 'hardcore' material, but it doesn't GET me in the same way as the later music does. I put that mostly down to the Voivod thing, and the progression of Brian Egeness' guitar playing. He just played a lot of stuff that really resonated with me - tracks like, 'Number 3', 'Man In The Trees', 'Stomp', 'Gone Away' and MOST of 'Cement' - in particular 'Big, Bad Days' - are my favourite tracks by Die Kreuzen. <br />As I said earlier, his playing is just SO expressive and unique. NO-ONE else quite sounded like Brian Egeness, before OR since. Sure, Piggy and he touched base in a couple of areas, sound-wise, but really, their styles and approaches were completely dissimilar. <br /><br />I was partially inspired to put this post together by a post over at one of my other gigs, <a href="http://illogicalcontraption.blogspot.com/2010/09/die-kreuzen.html">Illogical Contraption</a>, by IC buddy <a href="http://unflinchingeye.blogspot.com/?zx=d1bb51d0d6b6feb6">Aylmer</a> about the FIRST Die Kreuzen LP. He kinda beat me to the punch, but, then again, I don't know if I'd want to subject the IC crowd to this kind of aimless rambling.<br /><br />Before I love you and leave you, I just want to give you a couple of things - firstly, if none of what I wrote up there made any sense to you and you're wondering who the FUCK Die Kreuzen are, then I guess you'd better listen to <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VGAHUV3Y">THIS</a>. It's a sampler containing material from Die Kreuzen's entire history and some interview snippets. <br /><br />...aaaaand the SECOND thing i want to give you is the super-crappy video for my SECOND-FAVOURITE Die Kreuzen song, 'Big Bad Days'. Sure, the picture quality is lousy, but just LISTEN to the song, 'kay?<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ExND7mB5WIM?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ExND7mB5WIM?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />OH, and, I should ALSO advise you that there is an excellent Die Kreuzen site <a href="http://www.weldermatt.webs.com/">here</a>, which is WELL worth browsing. Now, SCOOT.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-51806679027706205132010-09-16T15:19:00.000-07:002010-09-18T05:21:43.038-07:00I will NOT apologise for saying your band is lousy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJKhllrpsbI/AAAAAAAAAII/Ac6_0EoN9dI/s1600/Sleepy+Shaman.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 173px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TJKhllrpsbI/AAAAAAAAAII/Ac6_0EoN9dI/s320/Sleepy+Shaman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517650160624710066" /></a><br /><br />One of my other gigs is as a reviewer and occasional interviewer over at <a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/">The Sleeping Shaman</a>, 'The Heavier Than Thou Webzine'. It's a wonderful site and a great resource for bands, run by the dynamic and awesome Shaman Lee - who is ALSO a fantastic photographer to boot! In the interests of cross-pollination and self-promotion, I have included links below so you can read my reviews. They're in alphabetical order, as you would expect from a comic nerd, and are up to date as of.....riiiiiiiight.......NOW.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/aquilonian-sollubi.php">Aquilonian & Sollubi</a> Split CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/bots_ichorichor.php">Bastard Of The Skies</a> 'Ichor! Ichor!' CD (LOVE this CD)<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/blackbreath_heavybreathing.php">Black Breath</a> 'Heavy Breathing'CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/BlackSun_TwilightOfTheGods.php">Black Sun</a> 'Twilight Of The Gods' CD (The LATEST!)<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Blackwolfgoat_Dragonwizard.php">Blackwolfgoat</a> 'Dragonwizardsleeve' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/boneparade.php">Bone Parade</a> 'Vollmondlieder' CD EP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/celeste_morteenee.php">Celeste</a> 'Morte(s) Nee(s)' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/drainland_andsoourtroublesbegan.php">Drainland</a> 'And So our Troubles Began' 12"<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/DustedAngel_EarthSickMind.php">Dusted Angel</a> 'Earth Sick Mind' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/fistula_wethebeast.php">Fistula</a> 'We, The Beast' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/greensky.php">Green Sky</a> 'Remote World' EP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/hof_snakesforthedivine.php">High On Fire</a> 'Snakes For The Divine' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/highgate-shrinestothewarhead.php">Highgate</a> 'Shrines to the Warhead' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Hull_SoleLord.php">Hull</a> 'Sole Lord' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/intothestorm_admidst.php">Into The Storm</a> 'Amidst A Sea of Chaos' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/iroha-fragment_bittersweet.php">Iroha & Fragment</a> 'Bittersweet' Split CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/jucifer_showofbedlam.php">Jucifer & Show Of Bedlam</a> Split CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/karmatoburn_appalachianincantation.php">Karma To Burn</a> 'Appalachian Incantation' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/kerretta_vilayer.php">Kerretta</a> 'Vilayer' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/kingsdestroy.php">Kings Destroy</a> 7" EP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/kodiaknadja.php">Kodiak & Nadja</a> Split CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/kuwahara_honeycult.php">Kuwahara</a> 'Honeycult' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/locrian_territories.php">Locrian</a> 'Territories' LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/lordsofbukkake_desordenyrencor.php">Lords Of Bukkake</a> 'Desorden Y Rencor' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/maddermortem_wheredreamanddaycollide.php">Madder Mortem</a> 'Where Dream & Day Collide' CD EP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/obliteration_nekropsalms.php">Obliteration</a> 'Nekropsalms' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/omegamassif_geisterstadt.php">Omega Massif</a> 'Geisterstadt' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/ommadon.php">Ommadon</a> 'Part 1' CDr<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/poisondwarf.php">Poison Dwarf</a> 'Shit On A Stick' Demo CDr<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/shroudeater.php">Shroud Eater</a> Demo EP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/snowblood.php">Snowblood</a> S/T CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/Stonebride_SummonTheWaves.php">Stonebride</a> 'Summon The Waves' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/suma_ashes.php">Suma</a> 'Ashes' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/switchblade.php">Switchblade</a> S/T CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/thedead_ritualexecutions.php">The Dead</a> 'Ritual Executions' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/traktor.php">Traktor</a> 'Lights' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/twilight_monumenttotimeend.php">Twilight</a> 'Monument To Time End' CD/LP<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/USX_RunThickInTheNight.php">US Christmas</a> 'Run Thick in The Night' CD<br /><a href="http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/widows_riseofthemonolith.php">Widows</a> 'Raise The Monolith' CD EP<br /><br />I shall endeavour to post further reviews as and when i can be bothered, quite frankly. So go read. Shoo.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-20179570874842995472010-09-08T06:13:00.000-07:002010-09-08T06:18:00.655-07:00Please sir, can i have some more?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TIeMVXxhNlI/AAAAAAAAAGw/zf0r_H67DvI/s1600/CalhounConquer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TIeMVXxhNlI/AAAAAAAAAGw/zf0r_H67DvI/s320/CalhounConquer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514530567525316178" /></a><br /><br />Following on from the last post, I managed to get a decent quality vinyl rip of Calhoun Conquer's debut EP '...And Now You're Gone'. This EP contains 'Diane', their cover of the Husker Du classic, along with three other WEIRD METAL tunes.<br /><br />Get it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?3gpu2d53bj85n10">here</a>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-50416146807733632312010-09-06T14:25:00.000-07:002010-10-13T08:41:45.847-07:00If music be the food of love, put that piano in batter #3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TIVdQZ14rpI/AAAAAAAAAFY/m2fyDQNXYcY/s1600/Calhoun+Conquer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 160px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TIVdQZ14rpI/AAAAAAAAAFY/m2fyDQNXYcY/s320/Calhoun+Conquer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513915855181229714" /></a><br /><br />Calhoun Conquer. Anyone else remember them? No? Just me then? Ahhh, you kids. You don't know what you're missing. <br />I guess that, in hindsight, these guys pretty much had 'future cult oddity' written all over them. Swiss. Only released one LP, back in 1989, on a record label that only ever put out 28 records, then mysteeeeeeeriously vanished. Featured a member of famously evasive tech-metal gods Mekong Delta. Never played outside of their home country. Covered a Jerry Harrison song AND a Husker Du song on an ostensibly 'metal' record. Got a great review in Metal Forces.<br />Shoulda seen the writing on the wall really, shouldn't we?<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GFkzm4Gf-Ug?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GFkzm4Gf-Ug?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />The mainmen behind the band were the brothers Gerling - vocalist Geri Christian and bassist/drum programmer Stefan, ably assisted by Mekong Delta/Poltergeist drummer Peter Haas and guitarist Chris Muzik. The above video is for their cover of Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison's 'Worlds in Collision', an odd choice of cover from a progressive crossover thrash band, but one that works incredibly well in conjunction with the other less-than-usual tracks on their singular full-length recording, 'Lost In Oneself'. Seriously, there are some odd songs on here, such as the indefinably strange 'Torturer', the deeply psychedelic 'Portals Of Delirium' and the surging drone of 'Outermost Consequences'....and then there are the lyrics. <br /><br />I'll quote from 'Torturer', if I may - <br /><br />'Dead Ashlars, petrified air, forceps are lying in wait. Screaming Ashlars, panting walls, ropes tighten and rip. Agony is sticking at the walls and the earth is discharging pus. The fire is asleep and the hours creep by, then he stands in the doorway. Agony is coming down the walls and lowers on everything. Hell stares out through every crack, the chamber of torture is starting to breathe. <br />The illusion man breaks through his hand. What remains is a screaming animal. The superl of his movements creates infinite fear. The illusion man breaks through his hand. What remains is a screaming animal. His desire is inexhaustible. His desire is inexhaustible'<br /><br />....I'm sorry, what?!?! <br /><br />As the song progresses we learn that the 'Torturer' in question is God, and the man in the song wishes to trade places with him for 2 years. Does this not strike you as very odd subject matter for a thrash metal band?!?!<br /><br />Fucking. WEIRDOES.<br /><br />But, you see, THAT is why I love them. I've always been attracted to the oddball bands, the rampant individualists. I don't like the 'cult (or KVLT) for the sake of being cult' shtick, I like the bands that just came out that way. Voivod, Calhoun Conquer, Anacrusis, Watchtower, Ved Buens Ende. I like HONESTY in my music, and those guys are as honest as it comes because they just can't HELP it. <br /><br />Enough blather, here's more WEIRD METAL.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2pd8jiOVJ0E?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2pd8jiOVJ0E?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I mean, to ME, that sounds like old Suicidal Tendencies on Mars. In a GOOD way.<br /><br />Aaaaanyhoo. Geri and Stefan have an official Calhoun Conquer MySpace page <a href="http://www.myspace.com/calhounconquerofficial">here</a>, and they DID have a 'real' website, but it hasn't been running for a while. According to Geri, there is a whole unreleased second full-length in the can - tracks from which HAVE turned up on their MySpace and bode incredibly well for the quality of said record, but as of yet there has been NO sign of it. <br />They also cover King Crimson's 'Neal And Jack And Me', and do it VERY well indeed. If you are at all interested, there is also an EP called 'And Now You're Gone' that came out before 'Lost In Oneself', on vinyl only, which can be tracked down without too much tearing out of hair (which is more than can be said for 'Lost In Oneself!)'. I have a copy, but, alas, no decent digital version to put up here. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TIVuVKRjWrI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rNleRD-dyfY/s1600/Lost+In+Oneself.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TIVuVKRjWrI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rNleRD-dyfY/s320/Lost+In+Oneself.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513934628599323314" /></a><br />So, without further ado, <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?1o251mi2k5t3zuc">here</a> is 'Lost In Oneself' by Calhoun Conquer for your listening pleasure. Quaff heartily of its strange brew and enjoy.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-72808248755724331022010-09-04T14:51:00.000-07:002010-09-04T14:59:03.258-07:00.....and so MODEST, with it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TILBA2YnzlI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/V43APOp5GnU/s1600/You+Like+me......jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/TILBA2YnzlI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/V43APOp5GnU/s320/You+Like+me......jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513181114197855826" /></a><br />A small update-ette here. I am now a regular contributor and honorary bro over at Illogical Contraption - my favourite blog. This, of course, is a great honour for me, and also for them. It is always refreshing to know that awesomeosity has been duly recognised and rewarded, especially when it is MY awesomeosity. After a couple of introductory posts, my first significant post went up there today, and you can read it <a href="http://illogicalcontraption.blogspot.com/2010/09/dexter-morgan-is-only-second-deadliest.html">here</a>. Whilst I am blowing my own trumpet, I'd just like to say that I have finally cracked the problem of uploading files to mediafire AND putting hyperlinks up here, so i have taken the opportunity of re-upping the 'Closed On Account Of Rabies' Poe tribute, originally posted <a href="http://becauseisaidsodammit.blogspot.com/2009/12/if-music-be-food-of-love-put-that-piano.html">here</a>, so you can now download the whole of each disc in one fell swoop. God I'm good to you.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-56227373489752391492010-08-27T04:38:00.000-07:002010-08-27T04:41:52.570-07:00Denis 'Piggy' D'amour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/THej9xwMMHI/AAAAAAAAAE4/-OV6tLPCiZc/s1600/piggy0827.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 289px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/THej9xwMMHI/AAAAAAAAAE4/-OV6tLPCiZc/s320/piggy0827.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510052950833901682" /></a><br /><br />It was five years yesterday since Piggy died. My heart-felt wishes of support go out to his family, friends and bandmates. He is missed by many, not least by me.<br /><br />RIP Denis, long live Voivod!The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-2777637949859729062010-07-05T10:16:00.000-07:002010-07-05T10:27:27.428-07:00My brain is on fireThe road to hell, they say, is paved with good intentions. My intentions of late had been mostly directed toward this blog - since i am currently not gainfully employed, I had envisaged being able to get some serious writing done here on a variety of subjects that I wished to expound at length. I have two drafts of very differing subject matter half finished but as yet unpublished here, unfinished because I seem to be terminally incapable of actually FOCUSSING myself. When I do, my brain feels as though it is LITERALLY on fire - on fire with myriad possibilities and all of the things that I want to say, and what do I do?<br /><br />NOTHING.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-39948781724872405092010-05-15T08:01:00.000-07:002010-08-23T06:31:17.526-07:00It's All Their Fault No.2.....VOIVOD<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7Ebtym3RI/AAAAAAAAACw/MXyQLFJHTFk/s1600/115_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7Ebtym3RI/AAAAAAAAACw/MXyQLFJHTFk/s320/115_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471526577729101074" border="0" /></a><br />This is the second in an irregular series of blogs dedicated to people who have helped make me what and who I am today AND will, hopefully, continue to shape and influence me in whatever I do into the future.<br /><br />This is a BIG one. One of the biggest musical influences/obssessions throughout my life thus far.....VOIVOD.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-66VtPoqFI/AAAAAAAAACY/UATP9xj87Gw/s1600/Original_Voivod_lineup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-66VtPoqFI/AAAAAAAAACY/UATP9xj87Gw/s320/Original_Voivod_lineup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471515479386925138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I first clapped eyes and ears on Voivod one school dinner-hour sometime in 1988 when I was watching a tape of the ITV 'rock' TV show 'The Power Hour' that I had recorded the previous night. The show was on at some unholy hour of the morning so I used to programme the video to record it while I slept, and then I would watch it - mostly on fast forward - the next day. If I remember correctly, I had come home from school at dinner-time, and was eating and flicking through the previous nights recording when I decided to watch a video that had just been announced by Jacqui, the presenter, as being a track called 'Tribal Convictions' by Voivod.<br />Now, I had seen the name mentioned in passing whilst reading through 'Metal Forces' magazine, so I felt I ought to give them a chance, I mean, their name and song title didn't sound like the usual LA Glam/Sleaze horseshit that was the usual fodder of the show, so I let it play.<br /><br />I was completely mesmerised. I had never heard anything like it.<br /><br />Since discovering Metal via ZZ Top, Dio, Metallica and Slayer a few years earlier, I had progressed into heavier, louder and generally more extreme territory, into Thrash and Death Metal. I was always searching for the next band, the next link in the chain, and was always drawn to musical individualists. Along with my love of metal, I also liked the 'odder' sounds of bands such as the Cardiacs, Butthole Surfers, The Pixies and Talking Heads, as well as electronic music by Jean Michel Jarre and Kraftwerk, so when I heard Voivod, it seemed to bring EVERYTHING I liked together into one raw, weird slab of psychedelic metal.<br />The pounding tribal drumming, the odd noises, the chainsaw guitar, the discordant riffs, the weeeeird throaty vocals, the odd time-signatures and the rough psychedelic look of the video all just totally pulled me in, and I was in LOVE!<br /><br />I went into Liverpool the next weekend and managed to get a cassette version of the latest Voivod LP 'Dimension Hatross' and a vinyl copy of their first LP 'War and Pain' from the legendary Penny Lane Records.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7AHUfqg7I/AAAAAAAAACg/JlxzDQOCw_E/s1600/Hatross.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7AHUfqg7I/AAAAAAAAACg/JlxzDQOCw_E/s320/Hatross.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471521829294867378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7BCaU6nNI/AAAAAAAAACo/y8yfNCnU0ak/s1600/84_war_and_pain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7BCaU6nNI/AAAAAAAAACo/y8yfNCnU0ak/s320/84_war_and_pain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471522844472679634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I must have listened to that cassette of 'Dimension Hatross' at least three times before I even got home that first day, and I knew that I had discovered something that was 'MINE'. THIS was MY band. I was a little taken aback by the raw bombast of 'War and Pain', playing the LP later, but it still sounded like NOTHING else I'd heard. The massive riffs of tracks such as 'Nuclear War' and the title track indelibly etched themselves into my mind, as did near enough every track on 'Dimension Hatross'. The artwork on both releases was so unique and individualistic, right down to the calligraphy used for the inlays and track-listing, and I was surprised to find that the man responsible was Michel 'Away' Langevin the band's DRUMMER, since we tend not to think of drummers as being 'thinkers' or 'artistic' types. It seemed that EVERYTHING about Voivod was unusual and interesting.<br /><br />I read as many articles about the band and interviews with them as I could find, and thanks to Away and bassist Jean-Yves 'Blacky' Theriault, I picked up on a number of other bands and artists that I found I had a great liking for. Voivod really did broaden my musical horizons exponentially.....particularly after hearing their next record.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7Pk5vimJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/SIbeZvWTwdA/s1600/Nothingface.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S-7Pk5vimJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/SIbeZvWTwdA/s320/Nothingface.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471538830184192146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />'Nothingface' was released in October of 1989, and completely and utterly blew my mind wide-open. It was simultaneously like nothing that Voivod had done before, AND like nothing that any other 'metal' band had done either. It was a whole new frame of reference for me. As far as I'm concerned, 'Nothingface' STILL stands alone today, and is categorically my favourite LP, full stop.<br />I could rhapsodise over its tonal nuances and intricate riffs 'til the cows come home - hell, I've listened to it so much that I have even memorized the double bass-drum parts - BUT that isn't the point of this article. The overarching point is to share my LOVE of Voivod.<br /><br />Not long after 'Nothingface' came out I actually started writing to Away, and I still treasure his letters in return. The penmanship is unmistakeable, and I hold them very dear. It was another few years before I actually got a chance to see them live and meet them in the flesh (on the 'Outer Limits' tour, by which time, sadly, Blacky had left), but when I did, Away remembered me well and I felt very honoured to be able to spend some time with him.<br />I got to the venue - The Marquee, fact fans! - very early, in hopes of meeting the band beforehand and managed to do so and get all of my vinyl signed and chat to them. They were kind enough to offer me a guestlist spot and give me a free shirt too, which I was bowled over by. Amusingly, when I first spied them coming out of a pizza place near the venue, I pointed over at them in open-mouthed awe, and they responded by looking behind them to see if someone more famous was there. They were very surprised to see such a big fan in the UK, and just couldn't have been nicer.<br />For the record, Voivod are THE only band I was ever 'starstruck' over, apart from feeling nervous the first time I met Elvis Costello - of whom I am also a great admirer.<br />The show was literally like a dream come true for me, and I was ecstatic for the whole thing. It was even worth not being able to get home from, and being stuck outside Sheffield trying to hitchhike back from. Looooong story.<br /><br />It was sad to see them decline, to some extent, following 'Angel Rat'- which I have always LOVED - and the departure of Blacky followed by the subsequent departure of vocalist Denis 'Snake' Belanger just after the significantly more 'mainstream' ROCK sound of 'The Outer Limits', but I resolutely stuck by them throughout the years with Eric 'E-Force' Forrest on bass and vocals, and saw them several more times. Again, every time I saw them Away was a perfect gentleman and always had time for me, and Eric was a very nice guy too. I remember his being touched at my concern over the near-fatal car accident he was involved in, when last I saw him with the band.<br /><br />I was given the opportunity to study in the US for a year in 2001, and chose to study in Plattsburgh, upper NY state, mostly due to its proximity to Montreal -'hometown' of Voivod. Even though things had been quiet in the Voivod camp for a while and there were stories of legal issues following Eric's injuries, I still harboured hope that they would continue to exist, and I was rewarded when I found out that not only had Snake rejoined, but that they were playing with Motorhead and Morbid Angel in Le Medley in Montreal, on April 28th 2002 - whilst I was still in the country! Naturally, I went without a second thought, braving the snow because, IT WAS VOIVOD, DAMMIT!!<br />Unfortunately, I was unable to pin Away down to talk, but the show was still outstanding and I was so happy to have Voivod back in my life again. Not that they'd ever left my heart, mind you.<br /><br />The next year, following Jason 'Jasonic' Newsted taking over on bass and releasing the solid but not exceptional 'Voivod' LP, I was just glad they were still HERE. Sure, it would have been great to have seen them live again and for them to have made more 'challenging' music, but the fact that they still existed was good enough for me! Sadly, things were about to change......<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S_ARxXZYg9I/AAAAAAAAADA/EY31rEP7sbo/s1600/denisdamour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S_ARxXZYg9I/AAAAAAAAADA/EY31rEP7sbo/s320/denisdamour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471893087046894546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Towards the end of August 2005, it was revealed that Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour was very ill with colon cancer. I was devastated, but still hopeful since he had already beaten cancer of the hypothalamus back in the eighties. My hope was shortlived, and it was announced - maybe 2 days after I first found out about his illness - that he had died on August 25th 2005.<br /><br />I freely admit that I was inconsolable. I was so very upset at the death of this man whom I had met only briefly on a couple of occasions but had touched my life in such a positive and thrilling way, I did not know what to do. I felt that my reaction was a little OTT, but then, when I actually considered it, it WAS a lot like losing a friend. It meant that there would be no more of the music that I loved so much.<br />The knowledge that he had left behind already recorded guitar parts for songs that he had written at home was some small consolation, but following the release of 'Katorz' in 2006 and 'Infini' in 2009, there was nothing left save the recordings - to paraphrase William Burroughs.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S_AVpKJPJuI/AAAAAAAAADI/cApi9Hnn8t8/s1600/Denis_Piggy_DAmour_Voivod_765475.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S_AVpKJPJuI/AAAAAAAAADI/cApi9Hnn8t8/s320/Denis_Piggy_DAmour_Voivod_765475.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471897344097068770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yes, Voivod continue - in tribute to Piggy - playing live, with new guitarist Dan Mongrain but if they DO record again, it will NOT be 'Voivod' - No disrespect to Dan. I'm sure I will enjoy it - Dan is a great guitarist - but the band will have a different spirit without Piggy.<br /><br /><br /><br />VOIVOD will, however, ALWAYS live on in my heart and soul.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.voivod.com/"></a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/voivodband"></a><br /><a href="http://www.voivod.com">http://www.voivod.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/voivodband">http://www.myspace.com/voivodband</a><br /><a href="http://www.voivod.net">http://www.voivod.net</a><br /><a href="http://www.voivodfan.com">http://www.voivodfan.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.voivodfan.com/"></a>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-5407285786643335842010-01-08T13:38:00.000-08:002010-05-17T07:05:51.313-07:00Is thinking about Jesus a sign of mental illness? It IS? UH-OH!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S2OQrfPQAQI/AAAAAAAAACQ/753vAi61PwE/s1600-h/Jebus.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/S2OQrfPQAQI/AAAAAAAAACQ/753vAi61PwE/s320/Jebus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432344652333187330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to ponder over the nature of Jesus when left to my own devices. In fact, I probably think about Jesus a lot more than any non-christian really should. More than most schizophrenics even. <br /><br />However, I feel I really must clarify what I mean when I talk about 'Jesus'. <br />I'm not LITERALLY referring to that guy from the New Testament with the beard, hair and sandals, and I don't believe that 'he' was the LITERAL son of God. Not for ONE minute. I'm not even sure that I believe that 'he' was an actual living figure from history, per se. SO what DO I mean?<br /><br />Well, I think - or more correctly, FEEL - that the life and figure of Jesus Christ as laid out in the Bible are actually a way of discussing the human condition and the nature of OUR relationship with what is known as 'God' (which is in ITSELF a term that refers to something OTHER, a convenient name given in order to codify and simplify something into a form that can be more easily digested by our linear brains) in a veiled and abstracted way. <br /><br />It occurred to me some time ago that the crucifixion can also function as a way of desribing the pain and trauma that comes with descending from a spiritual existence, into a physical, fleshly one. This also ties in with the multiple references to 'The Fall' throughout christianity - theres the 'original' fall of man into sin, and Satan/Lucifer's fall. I think that both of those are attempts to describe the same thing as the crucifixion - the 'imprisonment' of a being of SPIRIT in a body of dull, barely sensitive FLESH. The nailing of Christ to the cross echoes the feeling of being imprisoned in the fleshy suit of armour that IS the human body. To descend from the boundless freedom of life as a spirit, into the restrictive, sluggish leaden existence of 'life' as WE know it MUST feel exactly like having cold iron driven through the body and to be tethered to an immovable bulk until death comes. <br /><br />So, the descent from spirit into flesh of the crucifixion is echoed in the idea of 'the Fall from Gods grace' of humanity, and that of Satan/Lucifer. To 'fall from the grace of god', is to descend from pure spirit into dense, corrupted matter - like a liquid or a gas congealing - downwards from Kether, the 'Godhead', to Malkuth, Earth, on the Qabalistic Tree Of Life. The Tree functions as a perfect glyph to express HOW the 'seed' of 'God' filters down through existence to cohere into matter. THIS process is what is hidden behind the crucifixion and 'The Fall(s) from grace'.<br /><br />Interestingly, the fall of Satan/Lucifer opens up ANOTHER can of worms in relation to the nature of 'soul' and 'spirit', as there was a belief amongst the gnostics that 'humanity IS 'The Devil' - that when Satan/Lucifer fell from heaven, he shattered into pieces, and those pieces entered into the 'souls' of, then-nascent, humanity - forever tainting them. Now, my own personal theory on this is that the taint of 'evil', or hubris maybe, from this event - whatever it may be a cloak for - manifests most strongly when humans gather together for something. A crowd is generally not very smart en masse, and can turn nasty VERY easily, thus showing the taint of 'evil'. I have other thoughts in this area, but I feel its something for another time, as I've gone off on a tangent already from my original subject.<br /><br />Jesus. I've established that the story of the crucifixion could serve as veiled way of referring to the pain of the descent from spirit into matter - or pure energy into form, correctly - but what about all this 'son of God' talk? Well, I believe that when Jesus said HE was THE son of God, he meant that, by extension, WE are ALL 'sons' of God - Don't forget that HE is supposed to have made us in His own image - and that Jesus basically functioned as 'paragon' of humanity, he was what WE should ASPIRE to. He was, to quote Alan Moore, the PINNACLE of humanity....and we trampled him down. We, the dull, prisoners of the flesh with our tainted 'souls, destroyed our own paragon. <br /><br />Clearly there is a deeper meaning there, and an esoteric one too. I choose to read it as a warning that to be 'like' Jesus - spiritual and 'ascended' - is to open yourself up to the hatred and jealousy of those around you (This is ALSO parallelled in the idea that Satan/Lucifer 'fell'/was pushed from heaven due to his pride and jealousy over Gods position AND the respect given to 'man' over 'angel' - ANOTHER digression!), which is something that those who choose to follow the path of magick must beware of - friends and family WILL try to dissuade you from the path. This happened to Jesus also, he was mocked and ridiculed by those i positions of religious authority who felt threatened by his ideas. In many ways, Jesus was a terrorist - something i cannot see going down well with our American friends as a concept - when you think about it; He was in opposition to the ruling powers, he actively spoke out against them, and he was not afraid to physically act for his cause, OR to die for it. <br /><br />Hehehehe. I can see THAT one going down well....'Jesus was a terrorist'........The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-39703647405545127942009-12-31T12:22:00.000-08:002010-05-19T08:43:10.612-07:00The End-times Approacheth!The end is nigh people, and I thought I'd knock out a frivolous 'end-of-year' post for the sake of self-indulgence. I'm not gonna do a 'list' or a 'round-up', I'm just gonna mention a bunch of things that I have loved this year in no particular order aside from the order in which they enter my addled mind. As an arbiter of taste, I DO expect you people, my loyal, loving, public, to pay attention and think things along the lines of "OOOOoooh! Paul says that Bobby BeauSoleil is fantastic, so therefore he MUST be so I'd better go check him out!", just so's ya know. SO, here it is, some things what i have loved this year......<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Angela Peak </strong>- <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0SaxD0OHI/AAAAAAAAABw/ygpBOzqrrZQ/s1600-h/n716912672_2342908_2815699.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0SaxD0OHI/AAAAAAAAABw/ygpBOzqrrZQ/s320/n716912672_2342908_2815699.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421509777479186546" /></a><br />For being fantastic and awesome beyond the call of duty, AND for being my all-time favourite sexy assassin.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Bobby BeauSoleil </strong>- <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0SbCLhwEI/AAAAAAAAAB4/2J3rhmmTrAw/s1600-h/Bob3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 199px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0SbCLhwEI/AAAAAAAAAB4/2J3rhmmTrAw/s320/Bob3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421509782074933314" /></a><br />Now, if you ask ME - which you ostensibly ARE - 2009 has been very much Bobbys year. We've had 2 high-quality vinyl releases of his music this year, BOTH of which are very much worth tracking down - The Complete Lucifer Rising Suite 4xLP box-set (released by The Ajna Offensive) and an archival 2 x LP release by Bobbys mid-60's 'electrified chamber orchestra, The Orkustra (released by Mexican Summer). I've had a thing for Bobbys music ever since I heard the expanded version of his Lucifer Rising soundtrack, but it took me until this year to track down a copy of the 2 x CD version. I won't bore you with proselytising on his behalf about his crime and his life, but suffice to say he has been thoroughly WRONGED by the US Justice system. He DESERVES freedom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>The Blackest Night </strong>-<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0TwwUeBCI/AAAAAAAAACA/vtDFhyBYtnM/s1600-h/bn2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0TwwUeBCI/AAAAAAAAACA/vtDFhyBYtnM/s320/bn2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421511254749348898" /></a><br />For those of you that don't really know me, I am a comic book fan and have been since I was old enough to recognise spandex and capes (apart from the period between 1991 - 1999, which was a period of loooooow quality thanks to Image Comics, Rob Liefeld, multiple bagged versions of new number ones, and a general proliferation of unfeasible tits, stupid guns and fucking BANDOLIERS AND POUCHES). Over the years I've seen a fair few 'crossover events' happen - Secret Wars II, Crisis On Infinite Earths, Invasion, Civil War and, of course, The Secret Skrull Sleepover - and most of them have been basically a weak excuse to sell more comics and make the fans buy titles that they normally wouldn't touch with a ten-foot Boom Tube, BUT, I can honestly say that The Blackest Night is the most enjoyable crossover arc that I have EVER read. Add to that the fact that the prelude to the event, Green Lantern (vol 4) #43 is one of the GRIMMEST comic books that i have EVER read - containing, as it does, patricide, matricide, filicide, necrophilia, suicide and some kind of zombie-ism - and you have one HELL of a good read. I won't summarise the whole thing here, I just expect you to Google it as I am LAZY, but suffice to say that the arc as a whole has been gripping, brutal and thoroughly enjoyable.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Shroud Eater </strong>-<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0ZFFjxrRI/AAAAAAAAACI/fkXnKC5VDrk/s1600-h/Shroud+Eater.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 90px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/Sz0ZFFjxrRI/AAAAAAAAACI/fkXnKC5VDrk/s320/Shroud+Eater.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421517101606219026" /></a><br />I hear a lot of bands in my capacity as a reviewer for The Sleeping Shaman website and Bad Acid zine, and just generally being a consumer of 'eavy music, but I find myself non-plussed a lot of the time - mostly down to the sheer MASS of bands out there. However, when Lee Shaman sent me a 3 track CD by the Miami-based band Shroud Eater I was BLOWN AWAY. Seriously, 3 tracks is NOT enough for me....in fact, hell, read my review below;<br /><br /><em>HEY YOU! Yeah, you with the Melvins t-shirt and the High On Fire LP under your arm...wanna hear somethin' new and totally killer? Wanna hear some dude cavemanning the fuck out of his drums, while depth-charging bass rampages under dirty, nasty FILTHY dark fuzzed out guitar? Wanna hear some of the ballsiest female vocals these ears have heard in many a year? YOU DO? Then you NEED to hear SHROUD EATER!<br /><br />Formed in Miami, Florida, earlier this year, and comprising of Jeannie Saiz on guitar and vocals, Janette Valentine on bass and thundering powerhouse Felipe Torres on drums, Shroud Eater follow in the proud tradition of heavy as lead metal merchants from the area such as Cavity and the mighty Floor, adding a touch of the darker side of grunge and a hint of AmRep style noise-rock into the mix to create a tasty stew of scorching-hot filthy ROCK.<br /><br />Straight out of the gates, Shroud Eater grab you by the balls and rock the shit out of you. Opening track 'We Are Beasts' sure makes it SOUND like we're dealing with ravening wild beasts, such is the ferocity of the attack. These songs have a sound and a feel that just totally GRIPPED me from the first listen, and continued to do so on the 10th listen. Hell, I'm still listening to 'em NOW, and wanting to hear MORE.<br /><br />When I mentioned High On Fire at the beginning of this li'l screed, it was mostly down to the totally RIPPING rhythm section that both HOF and Shroud Eater have – Torres gives us that total rolling, pounding Motorhead-style THUNDER-MACHINE that Des Kensel also gives to HOF. I am in LOVE with the drum sound here – none of that 'clickety-click' triggered double bass horseshit, this is low-down NASTY pummelling, as is the sub-sonic low-end bass groove emanating from Valentine. No-nonsense, no frills BASS. Its one HELL of an engine room for Saiz to riff and rile the fuck out to.....and riff and rile she DOES. FEEELTHY fuzzed-up angular, DARK, stoner-rock riffage and ballsy, throaty yelling are Saiz's forte here, and she delivers in SPADES. Aces, even. Heh.<br /><br />As for the actual songs themselves, MOLTEN opener 'We Are Beasts' manages to combine a groove similar to that of HOFs 'Cometh Down Hessian' with a grungy, discordant, angular edge reminiscent of Voivod (Yeeeeeeah, I KNOW, I always manage to get Voivod into every review somewhere...let it GO guys!) and even a touch of the whirlwind guitars of Sonic Youth circa-'Death Valley '69. Second track 'Vesuvius' gives us more of that dark discord, MORE of the CRUSHING drummage and a lurching feel that just really floats my boat in a BIIIG way.<br /><br />Now....track 3 is where I have one, and only one, minor niggle with the band. Jean, Jan, Felipe – WHY did you have to put an instrumental track on a 3-track demo??? Don't get me wrong, its a good track, a little speedier than the other 2, riff-wise, but I just never feel like I'm getting what I want to hear from a new band when they include an instrumental on their debut release, if you know what I mean? Maybe its just me, but HELL, I wanted more of Jeannie's KILLER vocals. But, FUCK IT, Its still a solid track.<br /><br />When all is said and done, I am LOVING the FUCK out of this band and this EP in general, despite the minor niggle – which is clearly one of personal taste. Oh, and mention must be made of Jeannie's fantastic artwork also. Seriously, this band has EVERYTHING right now, but mostly it has my undivided attention. Lets hope that some of the more tasteful record labels out there are ALSO paying attention, GREG ANDERSON, I'M LOOKING IN YOUR DIRECTION – RELEASE A FULL-LENGTH SHROUD EATER LP.<br /><br />NOW.<br /><br />You heard me.</em>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-75298689467482456522009-12-12T16:11:00.000-08:002012-05-09T02:35:04.054-07:00If music be the food of love, put that piano in batter #2<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/SyQynhOernI/AAAAAAAAABg/dl6D4uGZmUw/s1600-h/Closed+On+Account+Of+Rabies+cover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/SyQynhOernI/AAAAAAAAABg/dl6D4uGZmUw/s320/Closed+On+Account+Of+Rabies+cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414508306521566834" /></a><br /><br />Well well well....its been a while. Sorry, life gets in the way too often. Did you miss me? Thought not. Bastards.<br /><br />So, what I'm doing here THIS time, rather than banging on about some new release thats floating my boat right now, is banging on about a more obscure release that may have slipped under most peoples radar but that I think NEEDS to be heard, AAAAAAND I'll upload 'em and put a link in for you good people too, so you can check 'em out for yourselves* <br />Y'know, what with my being an arbiter of taste and all. Heh. <br /><br />First up, and (tentacles crossed) there will be more up VERY soon, is the CRIMINALLY overlooked Edgar Allan Poe double-CD tribute 'Closed On Account Of Rabies' - so named due to the theory that rather than dying of alcoholism, Poe died of rabies - which was released back in 1997 by Mercury Records to pretty much NO fanfare. It features quite the motley crew and was put together by Hal Willner, who also put together FANTASTIC Disney, Weill and Mingus tribute records. <br /><br />Among the contributors are Christopher Walken (reading 'The Raven' and backed by the guitar feedback of the MC5's Wayne Kramer), Iggy Pop (reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart), Jeff Buckley (reading 'Ulalume'), Diamanda Galas (reading, of course, 'The Black Cat'), Gabriel Byrne (reading 'The Masque Of The Red Death'), Marriane Faithful, Debbie Harry and a slew of other notables. Frankly, its worth it for Walken ALONE. <br /><br />You can download disc 1 <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?5unpzs8v5vzmtru">here</a>, and disc 2 <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?7iy8f1cv2ndnj43">here</a><br /><br /><br />*Incidentally, it goes without saying that I am not actively encouraging folk to download music and not buy it, I only put these links up for download so that people can HEAR the music and then if they like it, go out and BUY it - if they can find it!<a href="http://"></a><a href="http://"></a>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-51736935093865980872009-11-06T07:43:00.000-08:002010-05-19T08:41:19.063-07:00I put out some mouldy bread for the birds, but an alienate it....AT the risk of sounding like a My Chemical Romance fan, I feel very alienated most of the time. I'm in a tricky position. I have a condition that I am advised makes it difficult for me to feel connected to others, BUT I've ALWAYS felt that way ANYWAY, even before I was informed I'm officially a mentalist. <br />Also my interests mark me out as someone not of the mainstream persuasion, and even within the sub-cultures I am ghettoised in, I'm in another sub-culture of a sub-culture in some cases. Boy do i make life harder for myself, hahahahaha........<br /><br />The thing is that I feel little to NO kinship with the vast majority of the other people that I'm supposed to have things in common with. Which saddens me greatly. Don't get me wrong, I make attempts to communicate and join in their li'l reindeer games, but i always get the sense that they can TELL I'm only going through the motions.....people just don't seem to warm to me. I don't know what i project, or if I keep people at arms length without knowing it, or WHAT I'm doing.....but in the end, I STILL feel alone. <br /><br />The major interests in my life are music, magick, comic books, art and literature. A nice broad sweep of everything that encompasses the kind of things that fucking weirdos and nerds really dig (aside from computers and games, which i have always had ZERO interest in, and roleplaying games, which I stopped doing yeeeears ago because they were no fun anymore thanks to CCGs and other people). BUT, I'm a weirdo amidst the weirdos! Oy vey.<br /><br />The music that appeals to me is generally very individual, or visceral. I like it hyper-complex or caveman simple, faster-than-light or slower than a no-legged tortoise. I'm all about extremes, baby.....BUT I can spot a poser or a fad-follower a MILE away - both in art AND in real life. I hear things that others don't, make connections that others don't, and generally pay more attention to things than most. Consequently I get the impression that people view me as some kind of creepy weirdo. Whether they do or not, their reactions to my conversations or my observations make me FEEL that is the opinion directed at me. So I feel alienated MUSICALLY.<br /><br />First door closes.<br /><br />The world of magick is full of people who subscribe to new-age philosophies - liberal humanists, basically - borderline christians, people with a massively overinflated sense of self-worth and their own eruditition (is that a word? well, it is now!) and utterly delusional 'satanists'.....and, again, I do not fit in with any of them. Every time I come across anyone connected with magick, I find that I just flat-out don't like them. The prevalent attitudes I come across are either one of pretension, a 'stance' or 'pose', an attitude that THEY know something, or just MORE, than YOU do, and YOU are wrong and will NEVER attain THEIR level of knowledge and aptitude, OR the previously mentioned 'liberal humanist', hippy, attitude, and I do not connect with any of them. In fact, they flat-out make me want to set fire to them. I want to LEARN, I want to EXPERIENCE and I do NOT want to have my attitude adjusted or have my errors pointed out to me as a feat of mystical one-upmanship. I once mentioned this problem to the denizens of internet community Barbelith, wjho promptly told me that I NEEDED to get over it and learn to love others and work with groups, and some went so far as to suggest that I was mentally unbalanced and needed to get some help due to my lack of interest in other people - especially after I expressed a wish to make contact with a non-human intelligence. Basically I was made to feel like a failed shut-in weirdo basket case. Nice. Way to support someone asking for help and advice. <br /><br />Another door closes.<br /><br />The final 'community' I 'should' feel part of but DON'T is the comic book fan community. <br />I've been a comic book reader since a very early age, starting with typical kids comics, through to early 70's reprints of horror/mystery comics by Steve Ditko et al, through to the Claremont/Byrne X-Men and early runs of The Defenders, then on to 2000AD and then back onto the US comics right through until the early 90's. I took a break for most of the 90's and started again in earnest in 1999 with Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch's The Authority and continue to read and enjoy them to this very day............BUT.........I have never liked the company of my fellow fans very much. In fact the vast majority of them make my flesh crawl. <br /><br />The general view of comic book fans as smelly autistic virgins wanking over copies of 'Tarot, Witch of The Black Rose' in their mothers basement whilst dressed as elves and cultivating a Warcraft addiction is NOT a stereotype, it is VERY much a REALITY....and it is a reality I just cannot stand. These losers obssess all day over the integrity of their collections and debate endlessly over the minutae of the continuity in whatever their book, or company, of choice is on internet forums. They have NO ability to take a step back and understand that opinions are SUBJECTIVE, and that someone disagreeing with them need not descend to the level of a personal attack. <br />Having spent some time working in a comic book shop I have met these people in the stinking flesh and noted more than trace amounts of autism and repressed sexuality, homo or OTHERWISE, in their behaviours, these people either CANNOT make eye contact, or else are OVERLY physically friendly to an inappropriate degree. I have seen grown men reduced to throwing a TANTRUM over the possibility that they may not get a particular issue or giveaway on the day of release, I have seen people argue to the point of TEARS over who is stronger, Superman or The Hulk. THESE are NOT people I want anywhere NEAR me...and don't get me STARTED on Anime and Manga fans. <br />Now, I must stress the point that I'm NOT saying that ALL comics fans are like this, BUT, in my experience (which is the only experience that I can talk from) a vast majority of them ARE. I HAVE met people who are very pleasant, but I've STILL never felt much of a connection with them for some reason or another. Maybe its ME, maybe not......<br /><br />Another door closed.<br /><br />SO, now you see my problem. My interests have driven me out of the mainstream into an underground populated with people I cannot stand and have NOTHING in common with aside from ONE, maybe TWO, shared interests. I have a very wide range of interests and I am constantly seeking new input, new sounds, new sights, new IDEAS, and I LOVE to communicate and throw ideas around with others.....BUT.....I just find that most people fixate on one or two subjects, and then only on one level. <br />I find most conversations I have soon start to bore me and I start looking around for a way to bow out without causing offence. So I tend to keep to myself now and that saddens me greatly, and I am sure that in time it WILL damage me, but i feel that its an act of self-preservation on my own part in order to protect my own self and sense of sanity. <br />I find people in general to be cumulatively TOXIC to me - I cannot stand to be around them for vast amounts of time, and en masse I avoid them as much as I can. I wish it wasn't that way, but I fail to see any evidence that things will improve.....if anything, people are getting DUMBER and MORE emotionally and intellectually disconnected from reality. <br /><br />I'm opting out while I still have my sanity and no blood on my conscience.The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-35177015345743707872009-10-21T09:40:00.000-07:002009-10-23T14:18:24.346-07:00It's all THEIR fault...No.1 - WINO<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88VFG43hI/AAAAAAAAABY/QZGio1-aDY0/s1600-h/wino+5.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 135px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88VFG43hI/AAAAAAAAABY/QZGio1-aDY0/s320/wino+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395097211459132946" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88VNyTthI/AAAAAAAAABQ/O8_IMxvaPv4/s1600-h/Wino+4"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88VNyTthI/AAAAAAAAABQ/O8_IMxvaPv4/s320/Wino+4" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395097213788730898" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88Uw6CvTI/AAAAAAAAABI/tqQqJhCD2w4/s1600-h/wino+3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88Uw6CvTI/AAAAAAAAABI/tqQqJhCD2w4/s320/wino+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395097206036544818" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88Ukr8scI/AAAAAAAAABA/wHeOCJ55NiU/s1600-h/Wino+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 280px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88Ukr8scI/AAAAAAAAABA/wHeOCJ55NiU/s320/Wino+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395097202756202946" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88UbnvF9I/AAAAAAAAAA4/jlqI4SlOp84/s1600-h/wino-by-hubbard.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St88UbnvF9I/AAAAAAAAAA4/jlqI4SlOp84/s320/wino-by-hubbard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395097200322615250" /></a><br />Inspired by my last post AND by a need to impress upon as many people as I can exactly HOW massively underrated yet UTTERLY fantastic they are, I'm starting an irregular series of blogs dedicated to people who have helped make me what and who I am today AND will, hopefully, continue to shape and influence me in whatever I do into the future.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott 'WINO' Weinrich</strong>. One of my favourite guitarists and vocalists...hell....favourite people. Period. Soulful vocalist, ELECTRIFYING guitarist, a great songwriter AND owner of the firmest handshake that I have ever experienced. Whatever the man does is worth taking the time to listen to or look at. He is THE real deal, and a MASSIVE influence on my guitar playing. Not that you can always tell, but trust me, he is. <br /><br />I've been privileged to see him play with several of the bands he's been a member or leader of, and met the man himself on a few occasions. Musically he has NEVER disappointed me, on record OR live, and as a man he has impressed me with his strength of character, sense of purpose and his singleminded pursuit of his vision. I am, however, saddened by the fact that I never got to see him play live with possibly my favourite of his groups, The Hidden Hand. Their records 'Mother, Teacher, Destroyer' and 'The Resurrection Of Whiskey Foote' are WELL worth tracking down. If you aren't familiar with the man or his music, I kindly suggest you rectify this case IMMEDIATELY. Your ears and soul will thank you for it forever.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/winoschopper">www.myspace.com/winoschopper</a><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/theobsesseddoom">www.myspace.com/theobsesseddoom</a><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/stvitus">www.myspace.com/stvitus</a><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/spiritcaravanmusic">www.myspace.com/spiritcaravanmusic</a><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/thehiddenhandsound">www.myspace.com/thehiddenhandsound</a><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/shrinebuildergroup">www.myspace.com/shrinebuildergroup</a>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068600066413638695.post-46062824875820484792009-10-21T08:38:00.001-07:002009-10-23T14:05:46.146-07:00If music be the food of love, put that piano in batter<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St814lJj38I/AAAAAAAAAAw/73MkVE2h3pU/s1600-h/Shrinebuilder.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tQLEnUNma7s/St814lJj38I/AAAAAAAAAAw/73MkVE2h3pU/s320/Shrinebuilder.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395090124774301634" /></a><br />Ok, so folks have been asking when I intend to update this here blog. I've tried a couple of times but I'm finding it hard to focus and reign in my 'all-over-the-shop' thought patterns, until this morning. I had my ass and ears kicked in by a band and it made me want to tell you all about some bands lately that have been rockin' my bizarro world.....<br /><br /><strong>SHRINEBUILDE</strong>R 'S/T'.......Need I say any more?<br /><br />Wino. Dale Crover. Scott Kelly. That guy who was in Sleep but is now in Om. A veritable doom metal supergroup. I've been waiting for this one since I first heard about it baaaaaaaack iiiiin the miiiiiissssts oooof tiiiiiiime, and it finally dropped onto my doormat yesterday. I've been dodging people offering me downloads of the 4 track promo version of this since I wanted to experience the whole thing......and boy am I glad I did.<br />NOW, if there is ONE thing you should know about me, it is THIS -<br /><br />I LOVE SCOTT 'WINO' WEINRICH.<br />I WORSHIP HIM LIKE A GOD.<br /><br />He is to me what Clapton and Gilmour are to boring 'blues' obssessed pothead fucks. So I've been DYING to hear this, what with me ALSO being a long-time MELVINS lover, and it does NOT disappoint - despite what the naysayers are naysaying about it (since even before it was even recorded!). Sure I have one or 2 minor reservations about it, but they're really not enough to spoil my enjoyment of this hefty slab of solid ROCK.<br /><br />I was in a baaad mood this morning when I got up, slapped this baby into my CD walkman as I headed out of the door........and was almost instantly grinning the shit-eating grin of an apple-happy idiot with a particularly crisp and shiny Granny Smith in his sights. 'Solar Benediction', the said opener, comes in on a particularly thumping set of drumb-clubbing from Mr Crover before alighting into a scorching Wino-led riff-fest, with Winos' soulful vocals providing the cherry on the top. WHOA. I was in LOVE baby! When Scott Kelly joins the fray, blends his gruff bark with Wino and the riffage turns COLLOSSAL, its like a fucking MOUNTAIN falling in on me.<br />The music ebbs and flows and then powers back into YUGE RIFFS OF DOOOOOM, with Wino giving us his tastiest licks with a guitar sound like an Assyrian Lion roaring its tits off.<br />'Pyramid Of The Moon', track 2, kicks in with another BELTER of a riff that had me particularly excited as it reminded me rather heavily of 2 riffs of my OWN, written for the late They Are Cowards. It even had a TONE like my own guitar sound, so as you can imagine, I was grinning THAT grin again.....waving at magpies and huge potentially murderous hounds and generally making like a Cheshire Cat.....and yes, I DO have a beard (private joke). In fact, as far as actual tracks go, all 5 present here are total killers............<br /><br />BUT<br /><br />........Al Cisneros. Why? Seriously. I mean, he's not a BAD bassist - far from it - but he IS nothing more than a one-trick pony. I mean, the guy has been coasting on the exact same vocal and bassline since Sleeps' Holy Mountain back in 1992!!<br />There is absolutely ZERO variation in what the guy does. ALL of his runs appear to be in exactly the same key, and his droning vocals just bore me rigid. Thankfully, he only gets to do a couple of solo vocal spots here and there, but I can HEAR his predictable bass runs WAY more than I'd like to. Y'know, I have nothing personal against the man, but if he NEVER made another record again I'd dance a fucking jig......rant over, back to the superlatives.....<br /><br />So, yeah, just go get it. Really. I hope it kicks your ass and makes you smile like it did me. God knows you could DO with it.<br /><br />http://<a href="http://www.myspace.com/shrinebuildergroup">www.myspace.com/shrinebuildergroup</a>The Thing That Should Not Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07222586604167248445noreply@blogger.com0