Bear

That sounds like a good idea, but I'm not gonna do it simply because I know what I like and not. I'm very picky and selective when it comes to modern gaming, and just by looking at something I'll know if I'll like it or not. Sounds stupid? Maybe, but I know what I know.

I will have to admit that I don't hear that at all. But different ears hear different. Out of nowhere I suddenly got a Desaster kick. The first five albums are magnificent.

I know it's considered a decent game, and that's what bothers me a bit. I just don't get it. My girlfriend's been playing it for hours now and it's just the same again and again and again. She does the same over and over again. And while boring gameplay don't necessary equal a bad game, it'll need something to make up for it. But for me, Dead Island has no positive qualities whatsoever. And it takes itsef way too serious for my taste. With some humor and some more over the top elements it could easily have become a playable game (for me). Far Cry: Blood Dragon is a game I finished "recently" that belongs to the boring gameplay category, but for everything it does wrong it does two things right. The gamelay itself isn't very interesting. Same old, same old and all that shit. But the setting, humor, characters and soundtrack is right up my alley and just hit me straight into the heart, an those things combined made me look right past the gameplay. But yeah, Dead Island does nothing right for me. Absolutely nothing at all.

What? Bradley Fafara? I'll admit I don't hear any Fafara in the vocals at all. The band adapted the folky touch pretty early on, but when the band changed from symphonic/melodic black metal to melodic death metal with Takasago Army they let the folk instruments play a bigger part in their music.

I borrowed Dead Island for my girlfriend to play a long time because I thought it would be something she'd like, and I was right. She started playing it yesterday and now she can't stop. I knew I wouldn't like, because I am good that way. But this is even worse than I had predicted. Everything about it looks so fucking shit. The gameplay looks ultraboring and there's no atmoshere whatsoever. Jesus christ. Happy for her, but how shit like this can get very popular is beyond me.

My knowledge of taiwanese metal is pretty limited, but I've heard a few bands. But there's only two that I listen to every now and then: Chthonic, who have become pretty known over the years. Started out as a symphonic/melodic black metal band in the vein of Cradle of Filth, but have since then turned into a melodic death metal band. Their discography is a bit up and down, but at their best they're fantastic. 9th Empyrean, Takasago Army and Bu-Tik are all great. Relentless Recurrence, Seediq Bale and Mirror of Retribution all feature some very good music as well, but they're so poorly produced. Way too polished. Inferno Requiem only released one album during its 12 years of existence, but that album is really good. Great, gloomy and atmopsheric black metal with some odd drumming and lots of hate. A bit poorly produced, but not in a way that ruins the atmosphere of the album. Very enjoyable if you're into raw black metal.

The Faculty - Decentish (5-6/10) sci-fi-horror directed by Robert Rodriguez with Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett, Jordana Brewster, Famke Janssen, Robert Patrick, Salma Hayek, Usher and more in the roles as ifferent characters. It's a pretty standard film and is basically a mix of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing and Breakfast Club, but some of the characters lacks depth, it's at times awfully acted (especially Clea DuVall and Shawn Hatosy are doing a oor job here) and the special effects are a mixed bag. When it's all about the practical special effects it looks amazing, but as soon as it is switched over to CGI it goes bad at once. But it's OK. Not something I'll rewatch again (did watch it something like 10 years ago though, and liked it muh better back then).

Hooded Menace is fantastic. Brilliant death/doom in the vein of Coffins, Winter and Autopsy. The band is very inspired by The Blind Dead film-series, wich is great. Gloom Immemorial is a great compilation, but I'd recommend taking alook at one of their full-lenghts as well. They're best as a full-lenght band. Dark, heavy and crushing death/doom. The Crown used to be great, but I rarely listen to aything post-Deathrace King. It's not bad, it's not just all that great either IMO. They went in a more modern direction following the likes of The Haunted and Dimension Zero. But the two albums they released as Crown of Thorns and the two first albums of The Crown are brilliant melodic death metal IMO.

Glaciation - Sur les Falaises de Marbre 1994 is fantastic, så I'm really looking forward to this. Black metal with Neige, Winterhalter, Indria Saray, RMS Hreidmarr and a couple of more guys. What an insane line-up this band has, especially now that both Hreidmarr and Indria has joined the team as well. Mmmmmh! I can't wait!

I am gonna check out Hollowgram based on what people say here.

VULTURE INDUSTRIES + COSTIN CHIOREANU: “THE BABYLON SPIRAL SHOW” For the first time avantgarde metallers Vulture Industries and graphic artist Costin Chioreanu will come together on stage. The Babylon Spiral combines the atmosphere and aesthetics of the Expressionist Cinema of 1920's Germany with the intensity and eeriness of a Vulture Industries concert. Using specially designed stage props, actively manipulated by the artist throughout the show, the concert will draw the audience on a journey through time. The collaboration between Vulture Industries and Costin Chioreanu grew from a mutual admiration between the two sets of artists. The first stop on the journey happened on the third VI album "The Tower", and was followed by the animation video "Lost Among Liars". We are now approaching the summit of our collaboration and you are invited to ascend with us. Oh shit, this is gonna be good.

Oh fucking yes, this sounds good. Very promising for the new album.

New Archgoat leaked. Listen to one of the songs here, and find the rest yourself. That song is fantastic, and the obvious homage to Beherit is beautifully done. I mean, that has to be a homage to Beherit, right? It would've gone straight into the masterpiece that is Drawing Down the Moon. Amazing.

Nightcralwer - Metropolis Oh dear, this album is good. Highly recommended!

Here, here, here and here you can read my Corman/Poe reviews if interested. It's good shit.

I'd recommend all of Roger Corman's Poe adaption, with the exception of The Raven. I think they're all fantastic. Maybe a bit too over the top an dramatic for some, but I'm a huge fan and I love them. Vincent Price and the sets alone are more than enough to make them fantastic (even though he doesn't feature in one). And they all, except for The Raven, look like a million dollars. Roger Corman is so underrated, but these films shows his massive talent, a talent that sadly got pushed away in favour of his talent for business and money. Talking about these films makes me so damn excited.

Cool. I am so looking forward to What We Do in the Shadows. I've got massive expectations. Also, have you seen Roger Corman's "The Haunted Palace"? (search to find my review of this masterpiece) The film was advertised as Edgar Allan Poe's The Haunted Palace, but it is not based on Poe's poem of the same name, it is in fact a loose adaption of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Vincent Price, Lon Chaney Jr., Debra Paget and more. I love this film.

Update: It's cool to get everything on one CD, as well as two new songs, but I'm hoping for a vinyl release of this as well. Will probably buy the CD as well, though.

One Missed Call 2 - My girlfriend wanted to watch this, while I did not because I expected it to be shit, and after half an hour I gave up. The acting was so poor and everything felt to cheap. Had to give up. Awful.

It's early, but I am sure that Raw Howls will be on my top 5 at the end of the year. Fantastic album! Raw, filthy, fuzzy and disgusting doom metal punk at its very best. The perfect soundtrack to a 70's biker film or some filthy exploitation films in general. Brilliant!

Yeh, that would've been nice too. But sadly not. Good boy. Off topic, but you need to check out bands like Sacrilege, Amebix, Hellbastard, Axegrinder and Deviated Instinct too. Uness you've already done it. Neither are japanese, but all are fantastic. Especially Sacrilege (Behind the Realms of Madness) is a must. The whole Amebix Japan - Tribute To Amebix with Acrostix, Effigy, Raw Gauge, Age, Life and Zoe. This is a great tribute album, even though the original songs are better. But these covers have more than enough character to stand on their own legs. The only thing that's disappointing with the tribute is that it only include 2 songs from Amebix' "holy trio" - Who's the Enemy, Winter and No Sanctuary, which I consider way better than their full lenghts. This shit is so good. Dark, apocalyptic crust. It lacks the thrash-influence of later Amebix, though. But it's still their best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wx7S8bMoKs This is one of the best albums you'll find within thrashy crust world. No debate!

It's a typo, that's what it is. D-beat is the correct term, but d-bear sounds cool enough though.

The whole thing can be heard here: http://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/raw-howls Ridiculously good stuff.

Some more to look forward to: Alucarda - Raw Howls Alucarda plays filthy doom/punk heavily influenced by bands such as Satan's Satyrs and Electric Wizard, with lyrics dealing with exploitation and biker films, horror and occult themes. Their debut demo, D.F.F.L, released back in 2013 was fantastic and this is something to look forward to. This is gonna fuck you up! Great song! I consider the debut of Satan's Satyrs to be a masterpiece of filthy and sleazy doom metal punk, and Alucard is just up there with it. The demo is just as good, and the new songs are amazing as well.

Cover art for the upcoming Tarot-release. Not sure if it's an EP or an album, but I am hoping for an album. I've mentioned these guys a couple of times on the forum now, and I'm just getting more and more excited about the band with each listen. Retro, semi-progressive and epic heavy rock with obvious Uriah Heep and Rainbow influences, with a touch of Pagan Altar on the side. I love the cover art and it just fits the epic and mystic music these guys are making. Looking forward to this! Previous EPs can be found here: https://heavychainsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-watchers-dream