DEEP - In Silence Somber Solace (2010) (Demo)

Genre: Depressive Black Metal/Instrumental/Groove Metal
About: You really don't know what to expect from a band you never heard of randomly linked in the CBox. After fixing some id3 tags (ugh - was missing artist, album, track numbers, and had the wrong year!), I commenced the listening.

Track 1 is an ambient piano intro that definitely grabbed my attention, so it serves its purpose.
The rest of the album kind of has a groove metal feeling (in my opinion), but the guitars are very raw like black metal which I like. The melodies are that of depressive black metal styles (but definitely not Funeral Black Metal, as the band self-proclaims). The fact that the genre of this music is hard to pinpoint is always a good thing in my book. Nice melodies and a nice beat/groove that keeps you interested. I have listened to plenty of Depressive Black Metal and this is a very unique beat. My only complaint is the drums sound overly fake. So overall, I have to highly recommend this.

Here is the text file that was included with the album:

"-DEEP is a Malaysian Depressive/Funeral Black Metal Band.
Active since 2006 under a different banner until the change
of moniker in October 2009. Playing Depressive, melancholic
and sorrowful Funeral Black Metal, all instruments and
orchestrations were played and arranged by Deep.

-For more information on DEEP please
visit www.myspace.com/indeeprest

-To purchase DEEP's debut album In Silence Somber Solace
visit www.myspace.com/carnagemusic666

-We need interested distributors/labels to distribute the debut album
please do not hesitate to contact Carnage Music for more
information.

-Please promote this demo on your website or blog
if you like the songs on this demo.

-Any additional details please email DEEP at
benignism@yahoo.com"


By the way, I have a suggestion to the band... "deep" is a very common name. There are at least 7 bands named that, one of which is disbanded but also metal (Death metal from texas, USA). I recommend a name change, and after changing the name, distribute a physical CD demo so you can submit yourself to metal-archives.com, because a metal band basically does not exist if they are not on there. But then again I'm not part of the band so I can't control it, just suggestions.

Mediafire Download

Burzum - Belus (2010)

Genre:
About: This misanthropic Aryan sun-bitch is out of prison after 17 years. While on that note, read the story about why he was in there. It was just self defence from some psychopath. One of them was going to die that day whether they liked it or not. I'm sure we've all been trapped in a horrible situation like that... That is where his music comes from I believe.

So, we have what I beleive a lot of feelings trapped up over the years he was in jail, culminating in this record. It is definitely a spiritual successor to his masterpiece "Filosofem" released in 1996, and is 100% metal because he was not allowed guitars in jail, so I'm sure he missed it. Even the long ambient peice, similar to "Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Säule Der Singularität" from "Filosofem" is completely electric guitar-driven. That song, "Belus' Tilbakekomst (Konklusjon)" actually reminds me a lot of "Coma" by Austere. Just this droning, repeated melody of a few notes but it really makes a solid song.

This whole album is not only solid, but a fantastic trip through the intricacies of this man's mind and emotions. I'd say download it if you are a fan of any type of metal, and definitely a candidate for top album of the year. I'm on play 5 or 6 now and every song still feels fresh and amazes me every time. Surprisingly bright cover for a black metal album... makes me think he wants to start fresh, like the sunrise on a new day... Favorite is either track 3 or 6.

I don't recommend you translate the tags, but here's what the song titles mean:
Translations:
1. Leuke's Scheme (Introduction)
2. Belus' Death
3. The River of Forgetfulness
4. Kaimadalthas' Descent
5. Sword Dance
6. The Kelio Horse
7. Dawn's Red
8. Belus' Return (Conclusion)

Mediafire Download

Now that the album is officially released, this is a rip straight from CD to 320kbps MP3:
Mediafire Download

Ninja Magic - Discography 2007

Genre: True Epic Power Ninja Metal
About: Obviously inspired by the pre-Dragonforce project "Shadow Warriors" (which I have on this blog), this is the only active Ninja Metal band I know about. Well, I'm not sure if they are active, last I heard they were looking for a new vocalist. I would really like a new album though. The first two albums are about typical ninja themes, and the third one is a dramatic shift in themes with the same type of music. Highly recommended. But if you were a ninja you wouldn't be still reading this because you'd have downloaded it and are listening already.

Included:
Ninja Magic - Ninja Nation (2004)
Ninja Magic - Catchy as Ninja, Chatcy as the Night (2005)
Ninja Magic - Back in Business (2007)

Mediafire Download - Zip
Mediafire Download - Rar
(Files acquired legally from when the band had an official website up, and offered the music for free... if my memory serves me.)

It's a hockey miracle!!!!

Suddenly the Canadian powerhouse is just a big old pile of rubble. The rag tag bunch of second tier NHL players from the ol' US of A beat the hometown favorites in a 5-3 game that held more emotion, passion and power than any regular season NHL game (and a lot of playoff games) I've ever seen.

But they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why don't we let the pictures do the talking?

Tee hee. In all seriousness, I almost feel bad for Brodeur. Note I said almost which means a donut joke is not out of the question, but I want to be considered a gracious winner so I will resist.

It's ok Eric. Most of America can't believe it either. :) Although I will go ahead and give you props on your goal and trying to make it easier for America by taking out some of your own teammates. Dude...focus and I don't mean on duck hunting.

No words are necessary. None.

My oh my. That place sure did empty oot quickly eh?

Ok so I couldn't resist the donut joke. I'm sorry. I'm weak...very much like a certain team's...oh never mind, that's almost as easy as scoring on Canada. Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

Congratulations goes out to all the members of Team USA for giving us one heck of an Olympic memory. USA!! USA!! USA!!

Cullen's Now A Senator

The Hurricanes announced today yet another Cup holdover is saying "hasta la vista" to Raleigh. Matt Cullen was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Picard and a 2nd round draft pick (perhaps another example of JR's pimp hand holding strong). Unlike Wallin (and Ray Whitney), Cullen didn't have that pesky NTC so there's not telling if he's ok with the move, although quotes like this (courtesy of the N&O) make me think it wasn't his first choice:

"We have a home here and love it, and obviously have some great friends and great memories here," he said. "Certainly this is the place where I really like playing, but we'll just have to see how it plays out."

But, one thing is certain, his fans and teammates will undoubtedly miss Ol' Blue Eyes.

Cullen always went about his business quietly, but he's had significant succes in his 2 stints with the 'Canes, putting up 181 points in 266 games played. He's a defensively sound forward who played in all positions and was trusted by his coaches immensely.

His career with the Hurricanes has given us some great moments. We witnessed his first career hattrick. We watched Scott Walker get in trouble for defending his little fuzzy face not once, but twice. We learned that he likes to hang out in hot tubs with other guys, that Ray Whitney peed himself during the anthem and that Scotty walks around naked too often for his liking (yeah clearly Matty has a bit of a sharing problem). We've even gotten to see his unique playoff facial hair choices. But above all else, we've been lucky enough to watch Matt Cullen battle back from injury to become a significant part of franchise history.

So best of luck to you Matt and may Ottawa be all you want it to be. Know that you will be greatly missed and always welcome in Raleigh!

DJ Smooth Denali - Who's The Greatest MC Vol. 8: Big Pun (2006)

(NSFW pic lol)


Genre: (Old School Rap), (Hip-Hop), (Rap)
About: I feel obligated to post this as today (February 7) is the 10th anniversary of his death. He is IMO the greatest rapper that has ever lived, or will ever live. He not only rapped perfectly, but his music was always enthralling and at times melodic and he always had a humorous edge to him (such as the intro to the album "Yeeeah Baby"). Appropriately, he was a huge football fan, and today was the Super Bowl. He had a song called "New York Giants" and one lyric I always remember is "John madden tackle your corpse and hoist it on the tabernacle".

I don't care if you are a die hard metalhead, download this NOW! And awaken your ears.

Mediafire Download (hmm, apparently mediafire supports files of above 100mb now. Cool beans.)

Pruning Day

I couldn't have asked for better weather: nippy but not too cold, sunny with a bit of cloud cover, and no wind. And, since it's winter even in Florida, very little in the way of bugs, though I did see a bee on the move.

What with January's hard freeze, I waited at least two weeks before giving my new loppers their maiden outing. I was new to the job, too, having never pruned trees before. So I had to look fierce about it.

I trimmed four volunteer trees in total, taking just a bit off two and giving two more a more thorough going-over. Mainly I wanted to clear branches that looked potentially problematic for either our roof or our wires. This before-and-after shot shows the results most clearly.



Pruning is a literal in-your-face job. I checked to make sure the branches I cut weren't going to bean me. Some, caught by other branches, required coaxing down. Sometimes getting the right angle was a challenge, and some branches were just too thick for the lopper.

Ladder and lopper -- even one with extendable handles -- could take me only so far. I'm debating adding a pruning pole to my tools.

By the time I was done I had this to show for my labors:

Elissa Malcohn's Deviations and Other Journeys

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Thanks For The Memories

As you may have read/heard/seen written in the sky, Niclas Wallin was traded to the San Jose Sharks today in a move that, while not entirely shocking, is still sad for those of us who remember some of the Secret Weapon's best moments.

An original draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2000, Wallin has been a staple on the blueline in Raleigh putting up 69 points in 517 games played. But when it comes to Wallin, perhaps the quality of points is more important than the quantity. No one will ever forget Wallin's playoff OT heroics (3 goals is a franchise record!) against Montreal and New Jersey which led to him being dubbed "the Secret Weapon" by Caniac faithful.


But again, there is more to Wallin than meets the eye, especially in terms of what he brings to his team. He is the ultimate team guy who always puts the group above the individual, even if it means taking some good natured ribbing in the process as was the case with his goal against...well against the Hurricanes:

"In fact, former coach Peter Laviolette used Wallin’s gaffe on a highlight reel of bloopers to loosen up the team before the playoffs. 'We did a voice-over saying what a great move by Wallin to make the game close,' Forslund said. 'He took it all in stride -- he’s been a terrific Hurricane.'"

That he has John. That he has.

Wallin is just one of those all-around good guys. He's not flashy, but he has created moments that will live in Hurricanes' lore forever. He does his job, but doesn't need his coaches to babysit him. He's a man of few words, but is always quick with a joke (or an invitation to wrestle) to lighten the mood in a sometimes very tense locker room. He is a leader, but doesn't ask for any recognition. He's a hockey player who knows how to arrange his priorities (winning a game 7 the night before doesn't mean he can't take his son to hockey practice the next morning). He's the kind of guy that will bring a PR intern a pizza in a hotel lobby and then sit and eat with him. He is a man that loves his job and takes nothing for granted.

"I love to come to the rink, and whether you win or lose this is something that not many people get a chance to do and you’ve got to enjoy that. All the history and all the overtime Secret Weapon stuff, I will look back when I’m done playing."

His teammates adore him (especially his "brother from another mother"), his coaches trust him and his fans will always remember him. Thank you Nic for everything you've given to this organization. You will be missed and never be forgotten. Best of luck wherever life takes you.