Devin Townsend - Infinity Review

Hey everybody, we’re back on solid ground after months of touring. It’s been an adventure doing all of these album reviews, and with some changes I got coming soon, things might not be the same ever again. Before these changes, I wanted to give you all one last review, and it may be the strangest one yet. Continuing on from the Infinity EP review from last week, here's a look at the full release of Infinity. Enjoy!

Background
Taken from Devin Townsend’s website:

“I remember once I had finished Ocean Machine and City, the idea of duality became a big thing for me. I began to find myself fascinated by the concepts of 'this and that' and 'yin and yang' (or whatever metaphors supported that idea). I realized that the things that were motivating me were (in hindsight) a relatively common 'coming-of-age' type of artistic view. I found myself engaging in drugs and relationships that were unhealthy, yet playing into the whole metaphoric nature of that period to the point where my whole world resonated with a very deluded sense of self importance that ultimately had much invested in the music itself. I felt a very arrogantly gratifying sense of martyrdom in 'sleeping on the studio floor', feeling 'persecuted', and ultimately winding myself up to believe that what I was doing was of some sort of great significance. At the time it was very romantic, but in hindsight, it was very obviously engagement in chemicals and drugs that I was unfamiliar with. These experiences threw me into a psychological tailspin that resulted in a chaotic, dense, (at times glorious), but mostly very confused statement. It was done on ADAT in my friend’s basement, and the recording was unfortunately a self-imposed hellish mess. Again, hindsight is 20/20 and currently it’s much easier to recognize what is legitimate drama from artistic gratification. At the time, I believed it was the last record I would ever make. Strangely, I feel that about most records I've done. Ultimately, Infinity is one of the most important records I feel I've been involved with, and it was a rewarding time for my process.”

Songs
Truth (“***”): We begin our descent into this album with a mostly instrumental piece. I say mostly, because there is a tiny bit of vocals used in this. It’s just Devin either yelling, or singing the words “Money” or “Hallelujah” over and over. Apart from that, Truth is a power instrumental piece. Everything that was put into this song seems to have that same sweeping quality as Om did from the Infinity EP. The instrumentation seems to make you float into the sky, and what little vocals there are almost put you in a trace. Such is the wonder that Devin Townsend can make.

Christeen (“***”): “This is only one of two songs on this EP that have any bit of normality to it. Even with that said, Christeen sounds like something you’d listen to while you’re flying a ship through space. There a very futuristic vibe going on here, which is ironic given the instrumentation. As far as I can hear, there doesn’t appear to be any keyboard used in this. The only things used in this are drums & guitar, which are played very well. Devin’s singing comes across as very clean & clear, with only a small portion devoted to his patented yelling. A good start to a quick experience.” *

Bad Devil (“***”): Here’s where the weird factor is turned up to 11, and then blows the speaker away!

For starters, we have some bizarre hybrid between Devin’s brand of heavy metal, and what sounds like blues if it was high on paint fumes. The two music styles come together, and I can only say that it creates an utterly strange, yet surprisingly harmonious whole. You’ve got drums & guitars like in heavy metal, but there’s also piano/keyboard (I’m not sure which in this song), saxophone, and cellos being plucked at one point. There’s even some backup female vocals at certain points, and when they combine with Devin’s way of singing, the end result is like if a rainbow exploded, and you’re just slack-jawed by the spectacle unfolding in front of you.

War (“***”): This might be one of the few songs on this album that has any normality to it (Getting some EP flashbacks now). I’m definitely going to be using “Normality” rather loosely throughout this album. For starters, the choice of lyrics used in War is.......odd. If you don’t believe me, here’s just a piece of the song in question:

“In the morning 'bout three or so
Can't stop thinking about what I know
In the morning 'bout three or so
Can't stop thinking of the universe

I keep rocking, I keep rolling
Trade in the minute for a minute that isn't there
Keep dropping, keep rolling
Put out the fire with the water
Thinking creosote

I the morning with a beat up bud I know
I can't fight a war without losing blood”

Yeah, as you can see, Mr. Townsend might be a bit off his rocker. Luckily, the instrumentation is more grounded. Ditching the blues vibes that Bad Devil had, War relies on a heavy playing of guitars & drums, along with an accompaniment of keyboarding & alien sound effects. In the end, we have an end product that sounds great, but doesn’t know which side of the fence it wants to be on. 

Soul Driven (“***”): Another word that is definitely going to be used a couple times in this review is “Sweeping”. Devin seems to be linked to the divine when he was making certain songs for Infinity, and Soul Driven is a big example of this. Not only does he use religious imagery & names, but the way he sings, along with how the instruments are played, and you’re listening to something that almost sounds like it comes from the beyond. Maybe it’s because of his bipolar brain, or because of the drugs he was taking before/after getting out of the hospital before this album was made, but I suspect Devin had some kind of help when he was doing this song. What kind of help, I’m not so sure.

Ants (“***”): I....um...wha......I don’t know how to describe this song!!!!!

I honestly can’t say much. This is easily the most chaotic song on Infinity. The very beginning is sort of a buildup, but past this point is becomes what sounds like mindless rambling, along with instrumentation that just sounds like noise. At the same time, I can see why this song it’s called Ants: it’s frantic & chaotic pacing sounds like the pacing of ants in a colony, so I can get it. This is the weakest song on the album, but there’s a little bit of entertainment if you know where to listen.

Colonial Boy (“***”): We’re getting close to the end of Infinity, but the weirdness hasn’t stopped yet!

There’s sort of a bizarre ballroom vibe coming off of this song. The instruments are played in a way that almost come across as fancy, maybe even sweeping (Although not quite as much as some of the other songs on here). You can actually do some ballroom dancing if you get into the beat! Devin’s singing come across in much the same way: if you find the right groove, you can move along with it. Simply put, Colonial Boy will make you scratch your head, all the while smiling at the same time.

Dynamics (“***”): When I first listened to Dynamics, I thought that I was listening to Ocean Machine again.

I’m not kidding! The instrumentation, the vocals, and even the overall vibe sounds like some from Ocean Machine! I’m not saying this in a bad way mind you. Oh no. Ocean Machine was a great album, and anything that can tap into even a hint of that album’s power means it’s gonna sound epic. Well, Dynamics is certainly epic: the instrumentation & vocals again have a very sweeping style to them, and the song seems to want to lift you up into the heavens for an elevated state of mind. This is certainly one of the stronger songs on Infinity, and one that you shouldn’t miss.

Unity (“***”): Right before Infinity ends, we have Unity. Much like the opening track Truth, this song is an instrumental piece. Unlike the previously mentioned song, there doesn’t appear to be vocals in this, apart from a tiny portion towards the beginning/middle of the tune (It’s kinda hard to tell). The way the instruments are played is in sort of a bubbly & happy manner, which is ironic given the last song’s name. As you’re listening to this, you just want to find a field of flowers, and just start dancing around. Preferably with a lot of people. A good song if you want peace to flood your mind.

Noisy Pink Bubbles (“***”): This is what I was talking about a moment ago when I said “Irony”. For a song called Noisy Pink Bubbles, there’s a rather cynical nature to this song. True, there are moments where the instrumentation is played like that from Unity, but they are done mainly at the beginning. Instead, this song is a mix of Devin’s way of playing instruments, the bubbly nature of Infinity, and sprinklings of 60s/70s music styling. It’s a really strange mix, and one that I think doesn’t necessarily work out well. This isn’t by any means a horrible song: the instrumentation & singing are done well, and the strange atmosphere that Devin was trying to create comes through as well as it does. I just think too many things were put into this song, and it doesn’t know what it wants to be.

Overall Impression & Rating
Infinity is a strange creature. On the one hand, the music quality in this is top notch! Devin Townsend has always been a musician known for putting out quality material, and it really shows in this album. On the other hand, it’s strangeness can make the music on here a little inaccessible. Townsend;s theme of duality can make for music that doesn’t know what side it wants to take, and at times become a little uncomfortable. If you can get past this hurdle, then you’ll be listening to one of the most mindblowing albums of the late 90s.

Infinity gets a 8 out of 10.

Well, this marks the end of my music review tour. I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I did. See you all next week, when I have something big to say. Until then, stay Otaku!



*
This was from the EP review from last week. I didn’t want to repeat myself for the most part, so I just took that description & put it here.

**
Sorry about putting this one up late. I was only able to get half of it done yesterday, but by the time I was done, I was too tired to finish. On top of that, but my family & I were doing Memorial day stuff. Hope you don’t mind the delay!

Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection Review

Hey everybody!

Earlier this week, I’ve posted up the next-to-last review of my musical review tour. I’ve really enjoyed doing this for the past couple months, but sometimes things must come to an end (In more ways than one). As I’m getting ready for my last review, I thought I’d put up another wrestling related post. Since the tragic death of the Ultimate Warrior last month, the WWE hasn’t quite been the same. There’s a dark cloud hanging over the company, and it might not go away anytime soon.

However, we can’t all be so down all the time, since today’s review is perhaps one of the best that I’ve ever seen from the company. It’s very energetic, intense, and all around just an absolute blast to watch! So put on your facepaint, tie up the boots, and charge into a seat to read this review for Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection!

Pros
There is a lot to like about this collection, but I’m going to focus on three points. These points are what really makes the collection into a great piece. The first is the warrior himself.

James Brian Hellwig hadn’t been on television for quite some time. After his retirement he had a short run as a conservative speaker, and did a bunch of other things to pass the while. So for the longest time, nobody had see him on television. It wasn’t until the past one to two years that sightings of him were popping up. WWE had got back in contact with him after the Ultimate Warrior was place in the then new WWE game (I think it was WWE 2013, but I’m not sure). After that, he and the company began talking back and forth, enough to the point where he actually started working with him. This DVD collection was one of the first things he worked on: unlike The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior from 2005, Mr. Hellwig was in complete control of what happen. He alone was the only person that talked about his life story, career, etc. So the focus this time around was on him, not the people around him.

Secondly, there’s a really good consistency in this collection. It starts out in the early days, then goes to the middle, and ends up at....the end (Redundant, I know). Sure, a lot of these DVD collections follow this path, but there seems to be more cohesiveness here than in some of the others. I’m sorta pulling this part out of my ass, since I’ve only watch this collection, and Tombstone: History of the Undertaker from 2005, but at the same time I wouldn’t be surprised if some of this was true.

Finally, what makes this DVD collection so good is it’s content. I vaguely remember his matches in the early 90s, and those were very special to me. Now, I can relive those matches in higher details. Not only that, but I can also watch matches that came before hand, and the matches that came after Dad & I stopped watching. The Ultimate Collection is a fantastic mix of matches, background stories, promos, and other things wrestling fans might not know. Alongside the Warrior’s commentary, this treasure trove of videos is an essential for a wrestling fan’s collection.

Cons
It was actually really difficult to find something wrong with this collection. Even thought I’ve watched through it only twice, I honestly couldn’t find any flaws. If there was anything that I could assume to be a problem, if would be that nobody he worked with came on to offer up something. True, in the 2005 Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior release some of the higher-ups practically took a dump on his career (I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the other wrestlers shat on him also, since I’ve never watched the 2005 release), but it wouldn’t hurt to have even a tiny splash of some of the wrestlers that worked with the warrior. Apart from that, I see nothing wrong with this collection.

Pricing
The Ultimate Collection is a very recent release, having just come on the first of last month. I got my copy of the collection on Amazon, where I got it for a fair price. The DVD edition of the collection goes for a little over 16 dollars new (And just near 16 dollars used), while the Blu-Ray* edition goes for almost 20 and a half dollars new, and almost 20 dollars used. This is a really affordable collection for anybody who’s a fan of the Ultimate Warrior, and one that you shouldn’t miss.

Overall Impression & Rating
If you are a wrestling fan, you must buy this album. If you’re a fan of the Ultimate Warrior, you need to buy this album. If you enjoy a documentary that isn’t corrupted by a personal vendetta from a company, then this collection is perfect!

The Ultimate Collection gets a 9.5 out of 10.

See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!



*
The Blu-Ray edition of The Ultimate Collection comes with extras, including bonus matches & extra commentary.

**
The last words we’ll ever hear from The Ultimate Warrior. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR08M6EUd0g

Devin Townsend - Infinity: Christeen EP Review

Hey everybody!

Well, we’re just about finished with this music review tour. The crew is getting tired, and the band is ready for a break. Before we stop, we’ve got two final reviews, and they’re both dedicated to the Canadian lord of Progressive Metal, Devin Townsend. His brilliance has transcended time & space (How else did you think he encountered Zilltoid?), and there are few beings in the universe that haven’t heard of him. Today’s review is a side release from1998. So with that said, here a look at the Infinity EP.

Background
Taken from Devin Townsend’s website:

“Nowadays, when I record too much music for a single disk, it comes out in double disks or bonus editions etc, but at the time, (without a label or management to guide), I would put out the bonus songs as things like this, or the 'Ass-Sordid' stuff. Japan wanted to make a video for Christeen with a famous photographer that ultimately got edited by someone other than him and was a disaster. The inclusion of the video, however, seemed an appropriate excuse for me to put the additional songs into one place that existed in tandem with the Infinity sessions. Some interesting stuff here, with the final song 'Love Load' causing quite a ruckus among friends and band mates as being a horrible statement. A statement that distanced myself from the things that actually defined Infinity in the beginning. (Selfishness over community)”

Songs
Christeen (“***”): This is only one of two songs on this EP that have any bit of normality to it. Even with that said, Christeen sounds like something you’d listen to while you’re flying a ship through space. There a very futuristic vibe going on here, which is ironic given the instrumentation. As far as I can hear, there doesn’t appear to be any keyboard used in this. The only things used in this are drums & guitar, which are played very well. Devin’s singing comes across as very clean & clear, with only a small portion devoted to his patented yelling. A good start to a quick experience.

Om (Demo)(“***”): If listening to Christeen was a futuristic space adventure, then listening to Om is a religious experience. Everything in this song is very sweeping. From the lyrics, to the vocals, and to the instrumentation, it all seems like it was done so it could sweep you off your feet. This song also seems to have something of a bipolar issue going on: the first half of Om is very chaotic & disorganized, while the second half is very well paced, but still chaotic. A strange song, but a pleasant kind of strange.

Sit In The Mountain (Demo)(“***”): This is the other song I was talking about that had normality in it. In fact, this may be the most normal song that Devin Townsend made during the recording of Infinity. This also happens to be my favorite song in this EP, but that’s neither here nor there. Like Om, Sit In The Mountain has a sweeping vibe to it, but unlike the previously mentioned song, this song is not chaotic in the slightest. Everything within this tune is very planned out, very sturdy, and definitely not chaotic. Just the way I like my music sometimes.

Processional (Demo)(“***”): If Om was bipolar, then Processional has a severe case of Multiple Personality Disorder!

As with the previous two songs, there’s that sweeping vibe I’ve been talking about. Not only that, but Processional is the longest tune on here. Running at 11 minutes & 37 seconds, this sweeping feeling creates an epic atmosphere. However, this is where any commonality with the previous music ends. While the previous song were all organized (More or less), Processional is made up of 4 individual parts. While the transition between the parts is quick & clean, it’s the portions themselves that are different. Each one honestly sounds like their own song, and perhaps that’s what should have happened. With that said, Processional isn’t a bad song. The instrumentation in each piece is just wonderful, and Devin’s vocals are just as varied & unique as they were before. A nice listen to, if you ask me.

Love-Load (Demo)(“***”): Mr. Townsend wasn’t kidding when he said that this song distanced himself from some friends/band mates, not to mention the message of Infinity. There a nihilistic cloud hovering over this tune, almost like what was hovering over the music within Type O Negative’s 1999 release, World Coming Down (Cousins, maybe?). Things in Love-Load sound very pessimistic: from the instrumentation & keyboard, to the singing, and to the choice of lyrics, this all sounds like someone having a horrible state of mind. Listen to this if you don’t get freaked out easily.

Overall Impression & Rating
The Christeen EP is a quick & fun listen to. Christeen is a great song, and the other four aren’t slouches either. If there is anything wrong with the EP, it’s that it’s a little tricky to locate. Maybe if there was a special re-release of the Infinity album, and the EP was placed on as a bonus CD, or maybe included on the main disk itself. Anyways, this is a bite-sized piece of Canadian goodness you’ll enjoyed chewing on.

Christeen EP gets a 8.5 out of 10.

See you all next time, when we’ll be jumping off into the infinity (Subtle, isn’t it). Until then, stay Otaku!

Paradise Lost - Icon Review

Hey guys & gals!

Well, the music review tour is near it’s end. We’ve covered a lot of musicians during this time, from unknown hits, to some of the most popular musicians around. Today’s artist is no different, as I’ve covered them once before in February of last year. They’ve been one of the reigning champions of Gothic Metal, and they continue to blaze their own trail. Let’s setup an umbrella so the rain doesn’t beat us down, put on a little more black no. 1, and listen to Paradise Lost’s 1993 iconic release.....Icon (That was lame...I know!).

Background
Taken from Wikipedia & Kerrang:

“In 2008, speaking to Kerrang! about the album's music, Nick Holmes remembered:

We were pretty much the first band to coin the phrase 'gothic metal' so I don't have a problem with that label. We've actually done gothier albums than Icon, but if people want to say that it sums up something up that's fine with me. At the time there was also black metal, thrash metal and everyone wanted to describe what type of something was so we went 'Okay, we've got The Sisters of Mercy elements in our music, let's call it goth metal'. We were getting better as musicians as well and I was hopefully getting better as a vocalist. When that happens you want to fine-tune what you're doing. It's also about not wanting to get stuck or pigeonholed into one particular musical place. We've kept the whole gothic thing going right throughout our career, but we did want to do something a little different. With the vocals, a lot of it was kind of shouting in key as opposed to just shouting, its okay singing like Beelzebub, but your voice can get into trouble if you have a big tour.”

Songs
Embers Fire (“***”): The cello playing that starts off this song is a sign of things to come, not just in the song, but in the rest of the album. The instrumentation is slow & sludgy, but at the same time is paced very well, and never trips up. The singing is just laden with brooding darkness & loss, and is as well paced as the instrumentation. All in All, Embers Fire is a great piece of music, and a perfect way to start this album.

Remembrance (“***”): Things are definitely picking up now!

I’m being only somewhat sarcastic with that last statement. It’s true, the instrumentation & vocals have indeed picked up some speed. The guitars & drums had some energy injected into them, and the speed dial on the singing got turned up a little also. However, I feel that when they change their speed, it seems a little more abrupt & sudden, and there’s moments where I swear they trip up (But only slightly). With that said, they still keep the gothic tones within Remembrance, although I think they might have scaled it back very, very, very slightly.

Forging Sympathy (“***”): When I first listened to Forging Sympathy, I swore that I was listening to one of Paradise Lost’s first three albums. You see, before they went down the Gothic Metal route, the band was actually a Death/Doom Metal group. Their earliest music was slower, sludgier, and a bit on the brutal side of things. This song is a bridge between the Death/Doom Metal of their first three albums, and the Gothic Metal of most of their later releases. You have the instrumentation, which leans heavily towards their earliest work. It’s slow, loud, and very menacing. The vocals seem to be a mix of both sides: it’s very dark during the slower portions, but swifter when things are faster. Despite stratling between 2/3 genre, Forging Sympathy is a strong song on this album.

Joys of the Emptiness (“***”): Joys of the Emptiness is as bleak as they come. As you listen to it, you can see the skies darken, lightning dart through the clouds, and rain coming down like a swarm of locusts. The instrumentation in this goes back to what Embers Fire established: slow, sinister, and full of menace. The singing also goes back to the first song on this album, except just a little slower. The one cool thing I like about the vocals in this is that there are two portions where they distort the voice, and it sounds like it’s coming from radio speaker. The end result is that it sounds like echoing white noise, and it just adds more to the atmosphere. Another hit!

Dying Freedom (“***”): Just like Forging Sympathy. Next!

Okay, that’s a little unfair. While it’s true that the instrumentation in this sounds somewhat like that from the previously mention song, there are some differences. For one thing, the guitars & drums are played more quickly hear than in Forging Sympathy, almost to the point where some of the gothic tones actually dissipate. Luckily, there are certain beats played, not to mention some cellos playing at the beginning, that plug up any holes before things leak out too much. The singing seems to be leaning more towards this album’s tone than the previous two, but there’s times where the singer goes back over. A decent song, but one that has some identity issues.

Widow (“***”): If you’re a woman that just recently had their husband pass away, then this might not be for you!

Not that I’m saying the song is bad, mind you. It’s got great instrumentation that plays at a fast & steady pace (The drums sound like they’re galloping sometimes), and the singing is pretty top notch to boot (It’s as fast as the instruments, but there’s more of a chaotic element put in). However, this is the bleakest song on the album. Widow is very mired in depressive tones, and mixed with potentially suicidal lyrical choices. It’s really creepy, but if you can get past this, then you have something nice to listen too.

Colossal Rains (“***”): Just like Joys of the Emptiness. Next! (Not being sarcastic this time)

Weeping Words (“***”): This is another song that made me think I was listening to Paradise Lost’s earlier work. The instrumentation immediately made me think I was listening to something off of one of their first three albums. A little bit faster, but still very sludgy. The singing mirrors this also, including the slightly faster pace. Other than that, I can’t really think of anything else to say. Definitely the weakest song on the list.

Poison (“***”): Okay, I sort of lied when I said that Weeping Words was the weakest song on Icon.

The first few seconds of the song definitely had some promise. It was very gothic, but it’s faster pace made it a sound on it’s own. With that said, there doesn’t quite seem to be as much effort in the instrumentation (Apart from the guitars, which sound fine), and thus coming across as a little weak sometimes. The singing isn’t much better, but there’s at least a little more effort put in the vocals. Again, nothing else to really say.

True Belief (“***”): At first I was going to say that True Belief was the same as Joys of the Emptiness & Colossal Rains, but I’m reluctantly deciding not to. True, this has the same vibe that the previously mentioned songs have, but what makes this song different is the instrumentation. It’s not in what’s being played, it’s how they are played. While Joys of the Emptiness & Colossal Rains are played slowly, True Belief is a strange mix of slow & fast. As the song plays on, it feels as if it’s being played at both speeds simultaneously, which in turn creates an eerie but fascinating atmosphere. Nice comeback!

Shallow Seasons (“***”): Like Poison, only with stronger instrumentation. Next! (Again, no sarcasm)

Christendom (“***”): If there was a song that you can’t avoid on this album, it would be Christendom. In a change of pace from practically everything else, there are female vocals used in this song. They aren’t used constantly, but when they’re used during the softer portions, there’s kind of a odd, gothic comfort to them. The male vocals aren’t that much different, although they get louder at certain parts when they need to. The instrumentation is pretty great hear as well, as they’re played slow, but not so slow that it feels like a turtle is crawling across the road. A great ending song, but it’s not the ending song.

Deus Misereatur (“***”): We end Icon with......an instrumental piece?

Yep, Deus Misereatur is a instrumental piece. Here, you have ponderous guitars, steady drumming, and piano playing that goes all over the place. I’m not say that this is bad, cause it isn’t. What I am saying is that it’s not the right song to end Icon. While great in it’s own right, it really should have served as a gateway song to Christendom, instead of being a rather swift end to such a ponderous album. Still nice to listen to, though.

Overall Impression & Rating
Although Draconian Times continued their journey & mastery of Gothic Metal, it was Icon that started & established themselves in the music style. Despite it’s age, this album has everything you’d expect to feel & hear in the genre. It’s dark, brooding, moody, and rainstorm inducing. Icon deserves every bit of praise that comes it’s way.

Icon gets a 8.5 to 9 out of 10

See you all next time, when this review tour stares at the edge of infinity. Until then, stay Otaku!



***
Sorry for the later than normal post. Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and I was helping out my Mom with a bunch of stuff. Not only that, but I had a bunch of work I was doing today, and I just got to this a couple hours ago. Again, my apologies.

My Top 10 Wrestlers

Hey everybody!

Even though I’m still on my music review tour, it never hurts to take a small break to clear your mind. Not too long ago, I bought myself the Ultimate Warrior DVD Collection, and mid last week I finished it (With tears included). Seeing an opportunity, I’ve decided to put up two special wrestling posts during the end of this tour & 3-year celebration of my blog. With that said, here are my top 10 favorite wrestlers. Enjoy!

10) John Cena (Sample: “***”)

When I first began watching WWE on-and-off in 2003, I came across John Cena back when he was knee-deep in his Gangsta gimmick (Gag me for even using that word), and I was impressed. He was gimmicky enough that it felt cheesy, but at the same time there was a certain amount of believability to him that it seemed real. Fast forward to 2014, and his bite has been taken away (Apart from the Hustle, Loyalty, Respect line, which I think has some charm), not to mention that he is promoted in just about anything & everything, including children’s cereal. These two factors alone would probably turn someone away, and on a couple times I’ve almost been turned away. Yet, I can’t seem to actually walk away from him, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s his charm, maybe it’s is wrestling skill (He’s a lot better than his detractors say), I’m not sure. All I can say is that John Cena is still cool in my book, even if he’s lost some of his edge.

9) The Hurricane & I.R.S. (Samples: “***” & “***”)

I had to include two uber-gimmicky wrestlers, which is ironic given some of the other people on this list, and in my opinion, these guys are the most gimmicky of the gimmicky. In all honesty, I can’t really say much, because the characters speak for themselves. For starters, you have The Hurricane: a caped superhero fighting for what is right, and flying in the ring like Superman! Then, there’s Irwin R. Schyster, or more well known for his shortened name, I.R.S.: an angry, bitter tax collector that’ll get his money by legal means, or by beating his opponent within an inch of his life. Again, these two are some of the most out-there characters, and I love them for that! 

8) The Shield (Sample: “***”)

What’s so funny about The Shield is that I didn’t like these guys when they first showed up. When they first arrived, they were these three guys that messed with people, and were later revealed to be the hired help of Paul Heyman. After they split from him, they continued to attack other wrestlers, and were again revealed to be hired help, this time under the command of Triple H & his wife (Known commonly as the authority). It wasn’t until recent months where they began to chaff under the Authority’s control, and became a team of brutal fighters.

You’ve got Roman Reigns, the tank of the group. There’s Dean Ambrose, who’s like the brains of The Shield, and the glue that keeps them together. Finally, there’s Seth Rollins, who’s kind of the loose cannon. On their own they’re alright, but when they act together, they become one of WWE’s hottest commodity group. If you don’t believe in The Shield, you might want to start. 

7) Rey Mysterio  (Sample: “***”)

It’s a shame that WWE doesn’t promote anymore Latino wrestlers than it already does, because there are some great Latin superstars that know how to perform. Rey Mysterio is one of those superstars.

If you’ve ever been curious about Lucha Libre, then you’ll want to watch Rey Mysterio (Sin Cara is a good second), as he’s the closest audiences outside of Mexico will ever see of the art. He’s like a kid that’s had too much sugar: he hops around, he bounces off of the ropes like Gumby bouncing off the walls, and when he performs the 619, he could lop off heads if he put more force into it. To complement his style of wrestling, he comes out wearing a mask that many Licha Libre artists don when they’re in the ring. A Latino wrestler with a personality is always something to watch. Speaking of personality...

6) Eddie Guerrero (Sample: “***”)

March 2, 2005. It was the first time I had ever gone to a wrestling event. My parents had paid for the tickets as a early Birthday gift (I was going to Disney in Florida over a month later), so it was me, my Father (Mom would rather shoot herself), and my at the time best friend Trevor. We got to the at-the-time Pepsi Arena, and Smackdown came to Albany. We got through halfway of the show, when all of a sudden, we heard this roar from behind where the wrestlers came out of (Our seats were on the bottom floor, on the left side of where they came out. Yeah, we were almost deaf by the time the show was done). All of a sudden this lowrider came out, it’s occupants being Rey Mysterio and the driver in question, Eddie Guerrero. The two of them had been tag-team champions for some time at the show (I forgot how long), and it was one of the greatest spectacles I had ever seen.

Now, I had seen Eddie before this show. In fact, he was one of the first wrestlers I saw when I got back into it (The very first was John Cena, ironically enough). What drew me too him was his character, his energy, etc. He knew how to be as energetic and fun as Rey Mysterio was, but he also knew how to be serious, and had a hell of a sense of humor to boot. Yes indeed, Eddie Guerrero was one of the best. However, he was not the cherry on my Smackdown sundae.

5) The Undertaker (Sample: “***”)

On the same night, John Cena had been the Intercontinental Championship for some time (Like Rey & Eddie, I didn’t know how long he had the title), and at the end of the show he was set to defend it against Orlando Jordan (Who was J.B.L.’s partner/handler when he was still a wrestler). Right around the end of the match, J.B.L. cost Cena the title, and now Orlando Jordan held the title. He & J.B.L. were making their way to the entrance, laughing & bragging along the way. Then, without warning, all the lights went out, and a familiar “Ding” noise echoed throughout the arena. That was when my Dad, Trevor, and I knew who arrived.

While I had known about The Undertaker, I hadn’t seen him before this show, mainly because I was watching Raw when I started back up. My Dad was telling me stories about the guy (I sorta forgot about him when I was younger), like how he was large, yet had the ability to tightrope walk using the top rope of the ring (The other wrestler was used as a counter-weight). While he teamed-up with John Cena to take on Orlando Jordan & J.B.L., and Cena was fun in the match (Funny Thing: as Cena was about to haul off on O.J., he shouted out “I have the power! I’m gonna kick his ass!”), the real star was Undertaker. Everything my Dad told me about him was true, and then some. The guy was large, surprisingly agile, and was one of the most sinister sights I ever saw. Loved it. Just friggen loved it!

I would have put The Undertaker a little lower on this list, but due to his recent loss at Wrestlemania this year, I couldn’t do it. If anything, I thought that breaking his streak was nothing more than a slap to the face of Undertaker and his fans, not to mention practically killing the character’s mystique. However, I honestly could not leave him off this list, due to my first memory of him, not to mention when WWE respected the guy. I still smile when I think of that night.....those were the days!

4) “Macho Man” Randy Savage (Sample: “***”)

The only reason that the Macho Man isn’t any higher is that I find him to be too similar to my number 3. He seems to move, wrestle, and act too much like my 3rd choice. With that said, I can’t hate on Randy Savage (Although WWE still seems to). The man sure knew how to come out with a lot of lights & flash, he knew how to be one of the best wrestlers of yesteryear, and he also knew how to talk on the microphone. Accompanied to the ring by Miss Elizabeth, and later by "Sensational" Sherri, and you have one of the most stylish wrestlers of all time (The most stylish, of course, was Nature Boy Ric Flair, who’s another good superstar).

3) Hulk Hogan (Sample: “***”)

From here on, my numbers 3 to 1 are what I consider to be my “Big 3” of favorite wrestlers, and what better way to start off the Big 3 than with one of the biggest of all time!

Many fans consider “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan to be one of the most iconic superstars of all time, and they’re generally right. Granted, he’s done & said some stupid crap over the years, one can’t deny that Hogan is the pinnacle example of the word spectacle! His matches over the decades are legendary, especially with some of the biggest guys on the roster. Hell, some of his best matches were against many of the superstars on this list, and everytime he went up against somebody, he always gave it his all. From his entrance theme, to his antics in and out of the ring, to even some of his time in TNA (Ugg, shoot me for even talking about those guys), Hulk Hogan is an old-school guy that deserves whatever respect comes his way.

2) Jake “The Snake” Roberts (Samples: “***” & "***")

Here’s a cute little story: back when I was watching in the early 90s with my Dad, one of the first wrestlers I saw was Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who is one of the most sinister guys back in the day. He choices of words sent chills down your spine, his mannerisms in & out of the ring were creepy, and when he laid out the snake on his opponent, you knew that their fate was sealed. Anyways, when I tried to say his name, I always said “Jick the Snick” instead of Jake the Snake. My parents were charmed by this, and to this day they still bring that up when I talk about him. It was only by a few inches that Jake missed my number one spot. With that said, here’s number 1.

1) The Ultimate Warrior (Samples: “***” & "***")

If Hogan was about spectacle, and Roberts was about the dark side, then The Ultimate Warrior was all about energy & intensity. Some of you might say that it’s cheap of me to put The Ultimate Warrior at my number 1 because of his recent death, and to a certain degree it’s true. However, when this man died, he died during a high-note: he & WWE finally cleared up past grudges, other superstars he had a problem with in the past made up, and he even managed to get rehired back by WWE (There was to be a whole bunch of new Ultimate Warrior themed goods produced for the fans & such. A new DVD collection was released as recently as on the first of April).

I wasn’t kidding when I said that The Ultimate Warrior was all about energy & intensity. From his out-there personality (He makes just about everybody else on this list look like kittens), to his roaring charge to the ring, and to his nigh unstoppable force inside the ring, Warrior was a wrestler that few during his time could be compared to, and cannot be compared to in this modern age of wrestling. We all have the warrior spirit within us. Unleash it when you can!!!

So these were my top 10 wrestlers. Hope you enjoyed it, and I’ll see you in a week or two from now with another wrestling post. Until then, stay Otaku!

Vintersorg - Till Fjälls Review

Hey everybody!

We’re into spring now, but that doesn’t mean that the cold is gone. It’s been pretty dreary around where I live, as it’s still a little cold & wet. The rain has been on & off, and the wind still carries with it a bit of a bite. Only in the last day or so has the sun tried to come out, bringing about with it a welcome change. In memory of the recently dethroned chill, today’s review takes us to the loftiest mountains tops, to the ancient forests of old, and to the divine realms above. So, let’s look at Vintersorg’s first full-length album, Till Fjälls, and become one with the ancients.

Background
Taken from the Wikipedia page:

“Till Fjälls ("To the Mountains") is the first full-length album by Swedish folk metal band Vintersorg. Stylistically this continued in the same musical vein as the previous album, Hedniskhjärtad, with black metal-style riffs, harsh vocals and blast beats interspersed with folk-ish melodies, acoustics, and atmospherics.”

That’s really are there is to it. At it’s core, Till Fjälls is an extension of Hedniskhjärtad, but I’ll talk about that later on.

Songs
Rundans (Rune Dance)(“***”): A pretty easy song to start out with. The big focus in Rundans is the drumming: it’s very simplistic, not over the top, and really brings out a lot of that folk vibe that Vintersorg is known for. If there was anything that I thought disrupted the pacing, it would be the guitar. At the beginning & end of this song, there’s some soft guitar work that actually complements the drums quite nicely. About the 30 second mark, the guitars pick up in volume, and the singing begins. Now I don’t mind the vocals so much (They’re loud, but not terribly so), but the louder guitars disrupt the pacing to an extent to where I feel it is very out of place. Apart from that, Rundans is a good song to start this album with.

För Kung och Fosterland (For King and Motherland)(“***”): This song doesn’t pull any punches, that’s for sure!!

Immediately, your ears are bombasted by a loud & furious combination of instrumentation & vocals, both of which fly by at very high speeds. It never lets up with the speed, as the whole song stays consistently fast. What really impressed me is that nobody skips a beat during this song: everybody manages to execute their role in the song without skipping a beat or tripping up somehow. Hell, even during the portion where they play a little of Hall of the Mountain King, they still keep it together. Again, I’m impressed.

Vildmarkens Förtrollande Stämmor (The Enchanting Tunes of the Wastelands)(“***”): For a song called The Enchanting Tunes of the Wastelands, the name doesn’t match the music. If anything, I picture this song being played amongst a group of warriors as they travel a snow-covered forest, on their way to kill a troll that was hiding in the mountains. Sorry, I’m getting off course. How’s the song itself?

It’s pretty good. The pacing of it has been scaled back from For King and Motherland, but it still doesn’t let up. It feels like the band is holding on the reins this time around, as the instrumentation is slower than in the previously mentioned song, and it feels more controlled as well. With that said, I like how the drums & guitar feel perfectly in sync, and I also like how the vocals match up with it also.  

Till Fjälls (To the Mountains)(“***”): Long before I had even heard of this band, Till Fjälls caught my attention in the weirdest way possible. I was surfing on youtube one day, when I came across a video named Swedish Chef Heavy Metal 2 (Click “***” to enjoy), and a portion of the song was used to comedic effect. As for the song itself, it’s pretty good. It’s a lot like The Enchanting Tunes of the Wastelands as far as the instrumentation & vocals are concerned, so I can’t say much else (Although when the guitars are played more folk-like, it’s a pleasant change).

Urberget, Äldst av Troner (The Ancient Mountain, Eldest of Thrones)(“***”): Now this sounds like a song to listen to while you’re on the mountains...during a raging storm...with thunder & lightning high in the sky!!!

I should point out that this marks the second song on the album that has piano used in it. The first time you actually hear piano is in Till Fjälls, although in that song it’s more obvious. Apart from the piano, we’ve got another well-paced song here. The instrumentation is never hyper fast, and the singing for the most part is a balance between soft & harsh. I say “most of the time”, because there are times where the singing becomes this harsh growl, and it’s hard to understand what he’s saying (This is more difficult for me because I don’t understand Swedish). Despite this hiccup, this is another great song.

Hednad i Ulvermånens Tecken (Turned Pagan under the Sign of the Wolf Moon)(“***”): If Till Fjälls wasn’t my first favorite song from this band, I’m sure as hell that this one would be said favorite!

This is easily the most simplistic song on this album. For the entirely of the tune, there is nothing but piano, some sound effects (I think it’s wind that they use), and vocals. The piano is absolutely beautiful, and almost got me to shed a tear because it was so lovely. They basically play the same beat over and over (Apart from a couple second about midway), but it’s done so well I can’t complain. The singing is equally beautiful: it’s never loud, but you can feel the emotion, power, and mysticism. A perfect song to play during a Pagan wedding, who when there’s a gorgeous moon high in the sky.

Jökeln (The Glacier)(“***”): Whiplash again!!

Like För Kung och Fosterland, you’re immediately assaulted by growling vocals, and fast instrumentation. I don’t like the combination this time around, but at the same time I don’t necessarily think that this song is bad. While the instrumentation is as good in previous songs (Especially the guitars), I feel like there wasn’t quite as much effort put into them. At several points, the drums just sound like directionless banging, and there wasn’t as much intensity in the guitars as there normally was. With that said, the intensity doesn’t let up during the song. Even during the slower portion, The Glacier could still kick your ass if you aren’t paying attention!

Isjungfrun (The Icemaid)(“***”): A very appropriate song title.

For one thing, we have female vocals appear on here (The same female vocals that were on Stilla from Hedniskhjärtad, to be exact). They’re light & airy, but they have a strength to them that can’t quite be explained. Secondly, the male vocals complement the female vocals, as they’re strong & furious, but can tone things down when the need is necessary. Finally, the instrumentation is a great middle ground between the lyrics, as they’re both heavenly yet brutal. Any aspiring valkyrie might want to put this on their mp3 player.

Asatider (Time of the Gods)(“***”): I have to give Asatider credit in one regard. As much as I appreciate the growling-like vocals that compose a majority of the songs on here, it’s nice to listen to something that isn’t quite so brutal. Not to say that this song isn’t brutal, oh no. Sure the vocals have been scaled back a little, but the instrumentation has remained pretty much untouched. You still have moments where it comes at you fast & furious, but there are still times where it calms down so you can get back into it’s groove. Great song all around.

Fångad utav Nordens Själ (Caught By the Soul of the North)(“***”): We conclude Till Fjälls with this bone-chilling ditty. You’d sweat that this is the kind of song you’d hear during a raging blizzard, and you’d be right. We have the female vocals from Isjungfrun come back in this tune, but they’re considerably scaled back, and only appear in two parts. This is a song that’s much more geared towards the male vocals, as they are incredibly loud & powerful. The instrumentation reflects this sentiment, as they carry with them a great weight & strength, even during the fast parts. A great way to end such a frost-covered journey!!!

Overall Impression & Rating
Till Fjälls is a damn impressive album. While I rated Hedniskhjärtad pretty high, at the same time I found that it’s shortness was it’s greatest detriment. It went by so quickly, it really doesn’t leave a big impact. With this album, it’s increased length, couple with the passion of the music, makes for a better listening experience. If you want metal with a twist, then this is a good place to start.

Till Fjälls get a 9 to 9.5 out of 10

See you all soon. Until then, stay Otaku!

3-Year Anniversary & Announcement

Hello ladies & gentlemen!

As you can tell by the title, today marks the 3-year anniversary of this blog. If you thought I was amazed by the 1 & 2 year anniversaries, nothing compares to 2014. This year will be a little different compared to the previous two: I still have some reviews for the other half of my music review tour, but I might sneak something in from time to time. The album reviews take up a little more time than the anime reviews, since both the album & it's individuals songs need to be looked at and evaluated. Because of that, the reviews will be the focus for the anniversary celebration this year.

I also have an announcement, and it's a pretty big one. In about 1 to 3 months, I will be creating a new blog. It'll be more focused than this was was/is, and it will eventually be the primary place that I post things. I can't reveal what is going to be put up on the new place, but suffice it to say, you might know what those things will be if you looked at what's here. I'm really excited about this new venture, and I'm hoping that it will become more successful than this part of the internet was!

Well, that's all I have for today. I'll see you in a couple days, when I'll have up another viking-fueled review. Until then, stay Otaku!