See you all next time. Until then, stay Otaku!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Bragging Rites (4)
Hi there! It's been a couple weeks since my last post showing off some Borderlands 2 loot. In the time since last, I've acquired a couple legendary weapons and shields, some seraph items, and just recently some legendary grenade mods. Today item, however, is one of the brand new pearlescent weapons from the 3rd difficulty. Enjoy:
See you all next time. Until then, stay Otaku!
See you all next time. Until then, stay Otaku!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project Review
Hi guys. Well, I promised up a proper review today, so I figured some more Duke Nukem would be just the thing. So, as I promised, here’s a review for the underrated side-scroller, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project.
Story
Taken from the game booklet:
“Duke has a new nemesis, and this time it’s not scumbag aliens! It may be even worse...”
“Mech Morphix has perfected GLOPP (Gluon Liquid Omega Phased Plasma), a slimy, radioactive substance that mutates living things on contact. After using his own henchman as guinea pigs, turning them into grotesque beasts, he unleashed the ooze on the city of New York. With an elaborate pipeline to manufacture and ship the powerful plasma to a secret lab, Morphix plans to use it to take over the world. (Of Course.)”
“Rats, roaches, and alligators can’t get enough of the stuff, and wherever there’s a puddle of GLOPP, you can bet you’ll see some sort of creature sucking it down and mutating into a nightmarish beast in the service of Morphix.”
“But as powerful as GLOPP is, it’s also versatile. Duke will find special weapons along the way that can harness the slime’s power, and wreck havoc on the mutant freaks affected by it. With these weapons Duke can vaporize enemies of de-mutate them back into their original form where they can be easily crushed under his mighty boot.”
“Morphix thinks GLOPP will help him rule the planet, but Duke’s GLOPP powered weapons just might turn the tables on Morphix’s plan!”
Yet another goofy, silly, and basic Duke story that I can get behind. I should mention that the original villain of this game was supposed to be Dr. Proton, the original bad guy of the duke universe. However, Duke Nukem Forever was still in development at the time, and fearing that the game would use that villain, the main baddie of Manhattan Project was switched to Morphix to avoid any possible trouble. Smart move!
Setting
New York has been interpreted many times throughout video games, and DN: MP is no different. Whereas previous games attempted have more gritty depictions (Most notably Max Payne from 2001), this game attempts to go for a more light hearted look. You start out in the highlights of New York, traverse through Chinatown, proceed through the subway system (Both new & old systems), mow down enemies in a factory, fight through the docks & a tanker, jump around on a oil rig, and finally have an out-of-this-world experience in space. Each of these areas are a experience onto themselves, as they have their own unique feel to them.
If there was one episode that I didn’t like, it would have been the 5th one (Titled “Fearsome Factory”). The first four episodes are respectable in terms of navigation, but this one takes it to almost maze-like proportions. It can be relatively easy to get lost, and there are enough traps to make you paranoid. The 8th episode is like this also, but not quite as frustrating.
Characters
Just like DN3d, the main character is Duke, voiced once again by Jon St. John. He’s still just as macho & crude as he was in DN3d, but I don’t know if it’s just me, but he seems to be a little more.....tame. He still comes across as rude, but his swearing is almost non-existant, and his lines seem far more goofy than in previous games (Go figure!).
About the only other individuals that could be considered “characters” are Morphix and the babes attached to the GLOPP bombs. Morphix feels like a lame sci-fi/action villain from the 80s or early 90s (You only encounter him 3 times: he’s the 1st boss & 8th boss, and you momentarily see him after the first battle with him), and the babes attached to the GLOPP bombs, while varied in terms of ethnicity, all have the same voice actor & lines, making them all the same. Other than them, that’s all the characters you’ll see in this game.
Gameplay
In a throwback to Duke Nukem 1 & 2, Manhattan Project uses classic side-scroller mechanics to create a nostalgic experience. Taking place over the course of 8 episodes (Made of 3 levels each), Our hero Duke stomps, explodes, and de-evolves a horde of mutants & robots using an array of weapons. Unlike Duke Nukem 3d, Manhattan Project attempts to have more of a mix with your implements of destruction, and the following list details what you use:
Mighty Boot (Classic!)
Golden Eagle Pistol*
Shotgun*
Assault Rifle*
Pipebomb
GLOPP Ray (Turns mutants into their original form)
Pneumatic Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher (PRPG. Shares pipebomb ammo)
Pulse Cannon (Shares ammo with the GLOPP Ray)
X-3000 (Secret weapon. Has unlimited ammo, and kills everything on screen. While it’s held, you can hear thunder in the distance)
* These guns all use bullets
As you can see, this list of weapons isn’t a complete rehash of DN3d’s arsenal. There’s enough older weapons that things feel familiar, but new enough to ease people into the game.
You also have temporary powerups that can be found throughout the game (You have no inventory, save for keycards). There’s a double damage pickup (Duke says “It´s clobberin' time!” every time you pick it up. It gets annoying rather quickly), an invulnerability pickup, and the jetpack (The only thing to return from Duke Nukem 3d). They always show up at a time when you need them, like finding a jetpact to traverse a wide space, or double damage to mow through a horde of enemies.
Unfortunately, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project’s biggest weakness is the gameplay. Despite what I said above, the game comes down to the following:
1) Kill Enemies
2) Find Weapons/Ammo
3) Find Key
4) Find GLOPP Bomb & disable it (There’s 1 bomb in each level with a babe attached to it.)
5) Fight mini-boss/boss
Doing this in the first 2 episodes isn’t so bad, but by the time you get towards the end, it gets incredibly repetitive and boring. I didn’t have a problem with this as much as other people did, but I can definitely see where they’re coming from.
Unlike DN3d, Manhattan Project uses a checkpoint system when saving. Unlike a lot of other games that do this, the checkpoints are plentiful, and really help when you’re tackling a difficult level.
One final aspect of the gameplay is the nukes. Scattered through each of the levels in a set of ten, collecting all of a level’s nukes slightly increases your health (Called EGO) and ammo capacity. Collecting all of the nukes gains you a permanent bonus, depending on the difficulty you selected at the start of the game. The bonuses are:
- Double the strength of the Mighty Boot (Easy difficulty)
- Damage the player receives is halved, and turns Duke's shirt blue (except for in the end-of-level cutscenes) (Normal Difficulty)
- Player gains the X-3000 (Hard difficulty)
All you have to do to activate these bonuses is simply restart a game, and they’re automatically there.
Graphics & Sound
When Manhattan Project came out back in 2002, it was alright looking (It’s wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t anything magnificent). Time has not been kind to this game: models look rather blocky & jagged (For Duke, the Babes, and Enemies), textures and backgrounds seemed matted, and overall is just plain ugly. Luckily, the game does know how to use color, and there’s various environment, so that balances things out...for the most part.
Luckily, the sound quality has managed to withstand the passage of time better than the graphics. Jon St. John’s reprisal of Duke still sounds great, and doesn’t feel like he’s clenching his teeth when he speaking his lines. You have the standard grunts, squeeks, and screams of the mutants & robots.....and then there’s the music. Unlike DN3d, where there was a different song, there were only a small handful of level tunes, adding more to the repetition of the game as a whole.
Overall & Rating
It’s easy to see why Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project got swept under the rug. With highly repetitive gameplay, it gets boring rather quickly. Having said that, I had a lot of fun playing this game. It’s cheesy Duke goodness, and despite the repetitive side-scroller game mechanics, they were surprisingly refreshing back in 2002, and somehow seem more refreshing today. It also helps that Jon St. John voiced Duke (As he’s always done in the past & present), and that this game somehow seems goofier than Duke Nukem 3d.
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project gets a 7.5 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
*
Oh, one last thing. When the game first came out, it was packaged with a metal keychain in the shape of a coin (On one side there was the Duke symbol & Statue of Liberty, and on the other side was a NYC subway token imprint). Unfortunately, later releases of the game didn’t contain the keychain. This caused two editions of the game to come out: one with a sticker that said “All New Duke: Special Edition Keychain Inside!”, and another that simply said “All New Duke”. A later release of the game had no sticker on it at all.
Story
Taken from the game booklet:
“Duke has a new nemesis, and this time it’s not scumbag aliens! It may be even worse...”
“Mech Morphix has perfected GLOPP (Gluon Liquid Omega Phased Plasma), a slimy, radioactive substance that mutates living things on contact. After using his own henchman as guinea pigs, turning them into grotesque beasts, he unleashed the ooze on the city of New York. With an elaborate pipeline to manufacture and ship the powerful plasma to a secret lab, Morphix plans to use it to take over the world. (Of Course.)”
“Rats, roaches, and alligators can’t get enough of the stuff, and wherever there’s a puddle of GLOPP, you can bet you’ll see some sort of creature sucking it down and mutating into a nightmarish beast in the service of Morphix.”
“But as powerful as GLOPP is, it’s also versatile. Duke will find special weapons along the way that can harness the slime’s power, and wreck havoc on the mutant freaks affected by it. With these weapons Duke can vaporize enemies of de-mutate them back into their original form where they can be easily crushed under his mighty boot.”
“Morphix thinks GLOPP will help him rule the planet, but Duke’s GLOPP powered weapons just might turn the tables on Morphix’s plan!”
Yet another goofy, silly, and basic Duke story that I can get behind. I should mention that the original villain of this game was supposed to be Dr. Proton, the original bad guy of the duke universe. However, Duke Nukem Forever was still in development at the time, and fearing that the game would use that villain, the main baddie of Manhattan Project was switched to Morphix to avoid any possible trouble. Smart move!
Setting
New York has been interpreted many times throughout video games, and DN: MP is no different. Whereas previous games attempted have more gritty depictions (Most notably Max Payne from 2001), this game attempts to go for a more light hearted look. You start out in the highlights of New York, traverse through Chinatown, proceed through the subway system (Both new & old systems), mow down enemies in a factory, fight through the docks & a tanker, jump around on a oil rig, and finally have an out-of-this-world experience in space. Each of these areas are a experience onto themselves, as they have their own unique feel to them.
If there was one episode that I didn’t like, it would have been the 5th one (Titled “Fearsome Factory”). The first four episodes are respectable in terms of navigation, but this one takes it to almost maze-like proportions. It can be relatively easy to get lost, and there are enough traps to make you paranoid. The 8th episode is like this also, but not quite as frustrating.
Characters
Just like DN3d, the main character is Duke, voiced once again by Jon St. John. He’s still just as macho & crude as he was in DN3d, but I don’t know if it’s just me, but he seems to be a little more.....tame. He still comes across as rude, but his swearing is almost non-existant, and his lines seem far more goofy than in previous games (Go figure!).
About the only other individuals that could be considered “characters” are Morphix and the babes attached to the GLOPP bombs. Morphix feels like a lame sci-fi/action villain from the 80s or early 90s (You only encounter him 3 times: he’s the 1st boss & 8th boss, and you momentarily see him after the first battle with him), and the babes attached to the GLOPP bombs, while varied in terms of ethnicity, all have the same voice actor & lines, making them all the same. Other than them, that’s all the characters you’ll see in this game.
Gameplay
In a throwback to Duke Nukem 1 & 2, Manhattan Project uses classic side-scroller mechanics to create a nostalgic experience. Taking place over the course of 8 episodes (Made of 3 levels each), Our hero Duke stomps, explodes, and de-evolves a horde of mutants & robots using an array of weapons. Unlike Duke Nukem 3d, Manhattan Project attempts to have more of a mix with your implements of destruction, and the following list details what you use:
Mighty Boot (Classic!)
Golden Eagle Pistol*
Shotgun*
Assault Rifle*
Pipebomb
GLOPP Ray (Turns mutants into their original form)
Pneumatic Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher (PRPG. Shares pipebomb ammo)
Pulse Cannon (Shares ammo with the GLOPP Ray)
X-3000 (Secret weapon. Has unlimited ammo, and kills everything on screen. While it’s held, you can hear thunder in the distance)
* These guns all use bullets
As you can see, this list of weapons isn’t a complete rehash of DN3d’s arsenal. There’s enough older weapons that things feel familiar, but new enough to ease people into the game.
You also have temporary powerups that can be found throughout the game (You have no inventory, save for keycards). There’s a double damage pickup (Duke says “It´s clobberin' time!” every time you pick it up. It gets annoying rather quickly), an invulnerability pickup, and the jetpack (The only thing to return from Duke Nukem 3d). They always show up at a time when you need them, like finding a jetpact to traverse a wide space, or double damage to mow through a horde of enemies.
Unfortunately, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project’s biggest weakness is the gameplay. Despite what I said above, the game comes down to the following:
1) Kill Enemies
2) Find Weapons/Ammo
3) Find Key
4) Find GLOPP Bomb & disable it (There’s 1 bomb in each level with a babe attached to it.)
5) Fight mini-boss/boss
Doing this in the first 2 episodes isn’t so bad, but by the time you get towards the end, it gets incredibly repetitive and boring. I didn’t have a problem with this as much as other people did, but I can definitely see where they’re coming from.
Unlike DN3d, Manhattan Project uses a checkpoint system when saving. Unlike a lot of other games that do this, the checkpoints are plentiful, and really help when you’re tackling a difficult level.
One final aspect of the gameplay is the nukes. Scattered through each of the levels in a set of ten, collecting all of a level’s nukes slightly increases your health (Called EGO) and ammo capacity. Collecting all of the nukes gains you a permanent bonus, depending on the difficulty you selected at the start of the game. The bonuses are:
- Double the strength of the Mighty Boot (Easy difficulty)
- Damage the player receives is halved, and turns Duke's shirt blue (except for in the end-of-level cutscenes) (Normal Difficulty)
- Player gains the X-3000 (Hard difficulty)
All you have to do to activate these bonuses is simply restart a game, and they’re automatically there.
Graphics & Sound
When Manhattan Project came out back in 2002, it was alright looking (It’s wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t anything magnificent). Time has not been kind to this game: models look rather blocky & jagged (For Duke, the Babes, and Enemies), textures and backgrounds seemed matted, and overall is just plain ugly. Luckily, the game does know how to use color, and there’s various environment, so that balances things out...for the most part.
Luckily, the sound quality has managed to withstand the passage of time better than the graphics. Jon St. John’s reprisal of Duke still sounds great, and doesn’t feel like he’s clenching his teeth when he speaking his lines. You have the standard grunts, squeeks, and screams of the mutants & robots.....and then there’s the music. Unlike DN3d, where there was a different song, there were only a small handful of level tunes, adding more to the repetition of the game as a whole.
Overall & Rating
It’s easy to see why Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project got swept under the rug. With highly repetitive gameplay, it gets boring rather quickly. Having said that, I had a lot of fun playing this game. It’s cheesy Duke goodness, and despite the repetitive side-scroller game mechanics, they were surprisingly refreshing back in 2002, and somehow seem more refreshing today. It also helps that Jon St. John voiced Duke (As he’s always done in the past & present), and that this game somehow seems goofier than Duke Nukem 3d.
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project gets a 7.5 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
*
Oh, one last thing. When the game first came out, it was packaged with a metal keychain in the shape of a coin (On one side there was the Duke symbol & Statue of Liberty, and on the other side was a NYC subway token imprint). Unfortunately, later releases of the game didn’t contain the keychain. This caused two editions of the game to come out: one with a sticker that said “All New Duke: Special Edition Keychain Inside!”, and another that simply said “All New Duke”. A later release of the game had no sticker on it at all.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Late Post & Apology
Hi everyone. I'm terribly sorry about not getting a review up for Wednesday. I was busy over at a friend's house, and helping another friend move. I don't really have much right now, but I figured these Chuck Norris jokes might be a good substitute (Emphasis on the might). Enjoy:
When Chuck Norris does push-ups, he doesn’t push himself up...he pushes the earth down.
There are no steroids in baseball. Only players Chuck Norris has breathed on.
Rather than being birthed like a normal child, Chuck Norris decided to punch his way out of his mother’s womb.
Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger by yelling “Bang!”
Chuck Norris doesn’t churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.
When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes a picture of himself...crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes. EVER!
In fine print on the last page of The Guinness Book of World Records, it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten.
When the boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming “Law & Order” are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. EVER!
Chuck Norris counted to infinity...twice.
Jesus Christ only rose from the dead after God asked Chuck Norris for permission.
Chuck Norris' hand is the only one that can beat a royal flush.
Chuck? Norris doesn’t wear a condom, because there is no protection from Chuck Norris.
We all know Jesus could walk on water, but did you know the Chuck Norris can swim through land?
Chuck Norris doesnt watch porn, porn is watching Chuck Norris.
Jesus can walk on water, but Chuck Norris walks on Jesus.
Chuck Norris doesn't mow his lawn. He stares at it and dares the grass to grow.
Chuck Norris finished the song that never ends.
Chuck Norris found a dead deer by the side of the road. He touched it, brought it back to life, roundhouse kicked it, and killed it again. Proving that the good Chuck giveth and the good Chuck taketh away.
Chuck Norris doesn’t swim in the ocean. The ocean moves out of the way for Chuck Norris.
See you all tomorrow, when I'll more than likely have a proper review up for you. Until then, stay Otaku!
When Chuck Norris does push-ups, he doesn’t push himself up...he pushes the earth down.
There are no steroids in baseball. Only players Chuck Norris has breathed on.
Rather than being birthed like a normal child, Chuck Norris decided to punch his way out of his mother’s womb.
Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger by yelling “Bang!”
Chuck Norris doesn’t churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.
When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes a picture of himself...crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes. EVER!
In fine print on the last page of The Guinness Book of World Records, it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten.
When the boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming “Law & Order” are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. EVER!
Chuck Norris counted to infinity...twice.
Jesus Christ only rose from the dead after God asked Chuck Norris for permission.
Chuck Norris' hand is the only one that can beat a royal flush.
Chuck? Norris doesn’t wear a condom, because there is no protection from Chuck Norris.
We all know Jesus could walk on water, but did you know the Chuck Norris can swim through land?
Chuck Norris doesnt watch porn, porn is watching Chuck Norris.
Jesus can walk on water, but Chuck Norris walks on Jesus.
Chuck Norris doesn't mow his lawn. He stares at it and dares the grass to grow.
Chuck Norris finished the song that never ends.
Chuck Norris found a dead deer by the side of the road. He touched it, brought it back to life, roundhouse kicked it, and killed it again. Proving that the good Chuck giveth and the good Chuck taketh away.
Chuck Norris doesn’t swim in the ocean. The ocean moves out of the way for Chuck Norris.
See you all tomorrow, when I'll more than likely have a proper review up for you. Until then, stay Otaku!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Katatonia - Jhva Elohim Meth Review
Hi everybody! Even though it’s springtime, there’s still a bit of a chill in the air. Whether it the remnants of this past winter, or because of the spirits of deceased metal heads, I’m not quite sure. What I do know is that today’s album review carries plenty frost & frigid air within it’s songs. You might remember me mentioning this during my review of Katatonia’s Dance of December Souls back at the beginning of December last year, but let’s not delay any further. Here’s my review for Jhva Elohim Meth/Jhva Elohim Meth...The Revivial.
Background
Very little is known about this first release from Katatonia. Below are the facts that are known about this EP (Extended Play).
Named by using a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche’s book, The Gay Science, Jhva Elohim Meth translated means God is Dead. Released from July 3rd to the 5th of 1992, there were only 500 copies ever made. 300 of them were blue-colored, 100 were transparent, and the last 100 were red-colored. The first 30 that were released came with photos and lyrics of the songs, creating an ever rarer release within an already rare release. Released just two days after the 5th of July was Jhva Elohim Meth...The Revivial, an EP edition that was released with more frequency than the original.
Songs
Prologue: Midwinter Gates: Like Dance of December Souls, Jhva Elohim Meth starts out with a soundscape. Coming in at 45 seconds, this opening is a very simple one: all there is for instrumentation is some soft & beautiful guitar, accompanied by some keyboard effects that give the feeling of a mystical winter. Put these two elements together, and you have something that sounds like the middle of winter (See, sometimes the names of songs mean something!).
Without God: No, you’re not seeing things. In fact, this is where the song came from in the first place, not Dance of December Souls. There really isn’t that much of a difference between the two versions. About the only things that are different from that version is some slight changes to the instrumentation & keyboard sounds, and the tone of the singing was altered just a hare. Other than those two things, the two songs are exactly the same.
Palace of Frost: Of the pinch of songs on this EP, Palace of Frost is my absolute favorite. It actually kinda of tragic that this song wasn’t placed on Dance of December Souls, because it really fits with that album’s overall tone & feeling. The instrumentation comes at you in a brutal & steady manner, the singing sounds like the howling winds of a winter storm, and the whole thing just sounds bleak and oppressive. Again, I love this song!
The Northern Silence: If Palace of Frost was a very oppressive song in terms of tone, then this song is the exact opposite. Going back in forth in terms of speed, The Northern Silence sounds like something you’d hear during the worst of winter’s fury. The guitars go from steady to fast in a matter of seconds, and the singing basically does the same thing. There are some moments when things sound peaceful, but then the song picks up again, and those moments are covered with a heavy blanket of snow & ice.
Epilogue: Crimson Tears: Just like Dance of December Souls, this release is concluded with a soundscape. Lasting much longer than Midwinter Gates (It plays for 1 minute & 57 seconds), Crimson Tears forgoes the guitar that the first song brought to the table, and instead decides to rely completely on the keyboard to convey it’s message. The noise that is most prevalent within this song is dripping water. It starts out slow, but it increases in intensity overtime. At times you also hear moaning wind, which will more than likely cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand up because it sounds so chilling.
Overall Impression & Rating
Jhva Elohim Meth sounds about the same as Dance of December Souls, but the overall feeling seems to be different. Maybe it’s because there’s only 5 songs, but there possibly seems to be a wider range of emotions, sense, and feelings. It’s really hard to tell, but I have a feeling that between this and Dance of December Souls, Katatonia had a shift in musical capabilities, causing them to change somehow. I don’t know, but maybe it’s me.
Jhva Elohim Meth gets a 7 to 7.5 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
*
For more about the band itself, please click on “***” to read my review of Dance of December Souls
Background
Very little is known about this first release from Katatonia. Below are the facts that are known about this EP (Extended Play).
Named by using a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche’s book, The Gay Science, Jhva Elohim Meth translated means God is Dead. Released from July 3rd to the 5th of 1992, there were only 500 copies ever made. 300 of them were blue-colored, 100 were transparent, and the last 100 were red-colored. The first 30 that were released came with photos and lyrics of the songs, creating an ever rarer release within an already rare release. Released just two days after the 5th of July was Jhva Elohim Meth...The Revivial, an EP edition that was released with more frequency than the original.
Songs
Prologue: Midwinter Gates: Like Dance of December Souls, Jhva Elohim Meth starts out with a soundscape. Coming in at 45 seconds, this opening is a very simple one: all there is for instrumentation is some soft & beautiful guitar, accompanied by some keyboard effects that give the feeling of a mystical winter. Put these two elements together, and you have something that sounds like the middle of winter (See, sometimes the names of songs mean something!).
Without God: No, you’re not seeing things. In fact, this is where the song came from in the first place, not Dance of December Souls. There really isn’t that much of a difference between the two versions. About the only things that are different from that version is some slight changes to the instrumentation & keyboard sounds, and the tone of the singing was altered just a hare. Other than those two things, the two songs are exactly the same.
Palace of Frost: Of the pinch of songs on this EP, Palace of Frost is my absolute favorite. It actually kinda of tragic that this song wasn’t placed on Dance of December Souls, because it really fits with that album’s overall tone & feeling. The instrumentation comes at you in a brutal & steady manner, the singing sounds like the howling winds of a winter storm, and the whole thing just sounds bleak and oppressive. Again, I love this song!
The Northern Silence: If Palace of Frost was a very oppressive song in terms of tone, then this song is the exact opposite. Going back in forth in terms of speed, The Northern Silence sounds like something you’d hear during the worst of winter’s fury. The guitars go from steady to fast in a matter of seconds, and the singing basically does the same thing. There are some moments when things sound peaceful, but then the song picks up again, and those moments are covered with a heavy blanket of snow & ice.
Epilogue: Crimson Tears: Just like Dance of December Souls, this release is concluded with a soundscape. Lasting much longer than Midwinter Gates (It plays for 1 minute & 57 seconds), Crimson Tears forgoes the guitar that the first song brought to the table, and instead decides to rely completely on the keyboard to convey it’s message. The noise that is most prevalent within this song is dripping water. It starts out slow, but it increases in intensity overtime. At times you also hear moaning wind, which will more than likely cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand up because it sounds so chilling.
Overall Impression & Rating
Jhva Elohim Meth sounds about the same as Dance of December Souls, but the overall feeling seems to be different. Maybe it’s because there’s only 5 songs, but there possibly seems to be a wider range of emotions, sense, and feelings. It’s really hard to tell, but I have a feeling that between this and Dance of December Souls, Katatonia had a shift in musical capabilities, causing them to change somehow. I don’t know, but maybe it’s me.
Jhva Elohim Meth gets a 7 to 7.5 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
*
For more about the band itself, please click on “***” to read my review of Dance of December Souls
Saturday, May 4, 2013
My Top 5 Most Viewed Posts
Hi everybody! In my time since my first blog post, I’ve posted up a lot of things. Reviews, musings, updates on things in my life or in pop culture, or just things I’ve found interesting on the internet. Although nobody hasn’t left comments on my posts, just about everyone of them has at least a couple views. So I looked at the stats of my posts, and decided to show you all the top 5 most viewed blog posts. I think you’ll be quite surprised!
5) Desert Punk Review (Currently at 87 views)
I like to think of Desert Punk as copy of Cowboy Bebop, only with more humor and fanservice. Like I said in that review, the one thing that I especially disliked was the ending. If I ever do a revised review of the show, I may go more into that. Having said that, I thought I did alright with that review. At times I felt like I did a good job with the review, but looking at it know, it feels a little rushed. Perhaps that revised review will show up sooner than I thought.
4) Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki Review (Currently at 88 views)
It’s a safe bet to say that the Tenchi Muyo franchise is popular. With the original shows & movies getting re-released late last year, it’s popularity has been brought back, and increased tenfold. Ironically, this series got released by Funimation before the re-releases, long after Geneon/Pioneer stopped with their releases. Much like the original show, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki is a lot of fun to watch, and actually brings more to the table, infusing more character into an already interesting universe.
3) Rammstein: Reise Reise (Japanese Edition) (Revised) Review (Currently at 98 views)
Originally I was going to use my original review for this spot, but due to it being of lesser quality, I felt that it wasn’t right. Like I said in both reviews, the music on it is basically the same as the American & European releases, apart from the two remixes. I guess the reason why there’s as many views on this post is because of it’s background. It’s morbidly fascinating, and actually is something that has everybody should look up, even if it’s just for the sake of curiosity.
2) Uncle Yo! Fluffy Delicious DVD of Unbridled Entertainment Review (Currently at 103 views)
Give how popular Uncle Yo is, it’s no surprise that this post got views. What is surprising is two things: the first is that I managed to get two people to +1 this. They might have been people that Uncle Yo knew (I sent the review to him, and he replied back about it, saying thank you), and if that was the case...nice!
The other thing that has surprised me was that it has nowhere near as many views as I thought it would, given the popularity of Uncle Yo. I’m not complaining about the amount of views the post had (Even if a post had just 1 or 2 views, I’m happy), I’m just surprised that it isn’t as big as my number one spot on this list. Speaking of number one...
1) Type-O Negative: The Origin of the Feces Review (Currently at 505 views)
Off all the posts on my blog, I’m incredibly, no...massively surprised that this one has as many views as it has right now. Compared to the other albums in Type-O Negative’s library, this one is really more of a sleeper hit when compared to the rest. If you haven’t read the review, essentially the second album is nothing more than a modified/revised version of their first album, with revised song names, and the whole of the album was made to sound like it was done at a live concert. Now, making a album sound like it was at a concert when it actually wasn’t is kinda clever, and they manage to pull it off. The remixes of Hey Joe & Paranoid were good as well, and were some of my favorite tracks. The big problem was that it’s basically the first album all over again, minus a song or two from Slow, Deep and Hard. Again, I’m surprised that it got as many views as it did, but at the same time I’m happy.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
5) Desert Punk Review (Currently at 87 views)
I like to think of Desert Punk as copy of Cowboy Bebop, only with more humor and fanservice. Like I said in that review, the one thing that I especially disliked was the ending. If I ever do a revised review of the show, I may go more into that. Having said that, I thought I did alright with that review. At times I felt like I did a good job with the review, but looking at it know, it feels a little rushed. Perhaps that revised review will show up sooner than I thought.
4) Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki Review (Currently at 88 views)
It’s a safe bet to say that the Tenchi Muyo franchise is popular. With the original shows & movies getting re-released late last year, it’s popularity has been brought back, and increased tenfold. Ironically, this series got released by Funimation before the re-releases, long after Geneon/Pioneer stopped with their releases. Much like the original show, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki is a lot of fun to watch, and actually brings more to the table, infusing more character into an already interesting universe.
3) Rammstein: Reise Reise (Japanese Edition) (Revised) Review (Currently at 98 views)
Originally I was going to use my original review for this spot, but due to it being of lesser quality, I felt that it wasn’t right. Like I said in both reviews, the music on it is basically the same as the American & European releases, apart from the two remixes. I guess the reason why there’s as many views on this post is because of it’s background. It’s morbidly fascinating, and actually is something that has everybody should look up, even if it’s just for the sake of curiosity.
2) Uncle Yo! Fluffy Delicious DVD of Unbridled Entertainment Review (Currently at 103 views)
Give how popular Uncle Yo is, it’s no surprise that this post got views. What is surprising is two things: the first is that I managed to get two people to +1 this. They might have been people that Uncle Yo knew (I sent the review to him, and he replied back about it, saying thank you), and if that was the case...nice!
The other thing that has surprised me was that it has nowhere near as many views as I thought it would, given the popularity of Uncle Yo. I’m not complaining about the amount of views the post had (Even if a post had just 1 or 2 views, I’m happy), I’m just surprised that it isn’t as big as my number one spot on this list. Speaking of number one...
1) Type-O Negative: The Origin of the Feces Review (Currently at 505 views)
Off all the posts on my blog, I’m incredibly, no...massively surprised that this one has as many views as it has right now. Compared to the other albums in Type-O Negative’s library, this one is really more of a sleeper hit when compared to the rest. If you haven’t read the review, essentially the second album is nothing more than a modified/revised version of their first album, with revised song names, and the whole of the album was made to sound like it was done at a live concert. Now, making a album sound like it was at a concert when it actually wasn’t is kinda clever, and they manage to pull it off. The remixes of Hey Joe & Paranoid were good as well, and were some of my favorite tracks. The big problem was that it’s basically the first album all over again, minus a song or two from Slow, Deep and Hard. Again, I’m surprised that it got as many views as it did, but at the same time I’m happy.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
My Top 10 Singers & Bands
We’re nearing the end friends. Today, here are my top 10 favorite singers & bands to listen to. I think you’ll find this to be a.....interesting selection.
10) AC/DC (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Guys, I have a confession. For the longest time, I didn’t like this band. Both of my parents would play the hell out of their songs when they showed up on the radio, and when they would put in Back in Black, they would crank up the volume enough to the point where you’d swear to god that your ear drums would shatter. There were a couple songs that I enjoyed regardless, but it wasn’t until 2008 when my parents bought the anticipated Black Ice album back in 2008, and my attitude towards the band began to soften a bit.
I’m still not a big fan of AC/DC, but I can say that when they show up on the radio, I’m less likely to pitch a fit. As for their newest album, I can safely say that I like a good chunk of the songs in questions. There’s an energy within them that I can’t describe, and it sounds like they have lots of fun when they play. It also doesn’t help the fact that there’s a school boy in the band, and he plays the guitar quite well.
9) Faith No More (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
If I could describe Faith No More, I would describe them as a modern-day Led Zeppelin.
All throughout the band’s career (Past & present), they always experimented with various genres and instruments, and have created some memorable songs. True, many of their songs sound similar when put next to each other, but there’s enough of a difference between them for some uniqueness to appear. From the bombastic guitarwork of Epic, to the rhythmic blues-like vibes of Midlife Crisis, to the solemn, almost gothic like tone of Ashes to Ashes, Faith No More created some memorable songs that are just perfect for about any kind of situation.
8) Weird Al Yankovic (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Are you guys surprised by this choice?
I’m 26 years old, but somehow, Weird Al still makes me laugh and smile. From his antics during his live concerts, to the oddball choices for covers & music videos, or just his general mood & attitude during interviews, Weird Al is a musician that has something for just about anyone. His classic songs like Eat It & I’m Fat still have some oomph to them, while newer tunes like Perform this Way bring in new fans who might be interested in his work, and old fans who want to come back into the fold.
So, pop culture, you may want to tread lightly. Otherwise, a curly-haired man with an accordion might just take the chance, and jump on you!
7) Paradise Lost (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Gothic Metal is a genre that requires a band to walk a thin rope. If you’re too heavy, or you’re too dark, you’ll fail off the rope. It’s because of this of these tight restrictions that make the genre a unique, yet difficult one to use when making music. Most bands who claim to do Gothic Metal are either unpopular, or don’t get the credit they deserve. Paradise Lost somehow manages to be neither, despite a short period in the mid/late 90s.
If you remember my review of Draconian Times (Click “***” to read), I said that Paradise Lost deserve the title of Gothic Metal Master. Their music has always been on the dark side, yet their music is never too dark (With some exceptions). They’re heavy, but they don’t get too heavy so you don’t feel the emotions that the song provides. Despite not being as popular in the United States when compared to the band below, Paradise Lost still has an army of fans in the country, who prefer the band’s more serious take on Gothic Metal. Creating a legacy since the late 80s, Paradise Lost is a band that should be at least observed by metal fans in the U.S., simply due to the band’s history.
6) Type-O Negative (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
If Paradise Lost takes on the more serious side of Gothic Metal, then our number 6 spot takes on the serious side mixed with occasional humor form of Gothic Metal.
Due to the tragic death of lead singer Pete Steele in April of 2010, Type-O Negative is no longer together, but the music they left behind have formed a powerful legacy. Despite their legacy, Type-O Negative was a band that didn’t quite get the credit they deserved, except from fans and media outlets that were willing to give them a chance. It’s tragic in all honesty, because the music the band created is very well done. From Pete Steele’s booming & somewhat erotic voice, to Kenny Hickey’s work on the guitar, Type-O Negative is a band that has more that earned the respect it deserves.
5) Ozzy Osbourne (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Like AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne was someone that I didn’t like for a long time, but ironically enough, I grew to like Ozzy sooner than AC/DC. It was my 15th birthday, and I had gotten the Ozzman Cometh compilation from my parents. I did have access to a song or two prior to this CD, but it wasn’t until I got the CD that I opened myself to, and I quote, “Rock and Roll’s bigger brother.”
What made the CD so great was that it contained a wide range of his carrer. From his earliest days in Black Sabbath, to his solo career in the 80s, and his time up to the mid 90s, I got an interesting range of songs. Slow, fast, light, and dark: there wasn’t anything on the CD that I didn’t like. Since then, I’ve bought his Black Rain album in 2007, and got his Scream album in 2010 as a Christmas gift. It will be a tragic day when the Prince of Darkness dies, and I’ll probably be weeping the entire time.
4) Devin Townsend (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
It’s really hard to classify what style of music Devin Townsend does, since he bounces all over the spectrum. Thrash metal, grindcore, progressive rock, and ambient are just a couple of the styles he’s done since the 90s. After becoming sober in 2009, his mental state has become far more clear than it’s ever been, yet he still manages to tap into that bipolar mind of his when he needs some warped inspiration.
I guess that’s why I like him. My mind is a lot like his: it bounces all over the place, is very hyperactive & imaginative, and is possibly a little deranged. There’s times where his songs are wacky, like Lucky Animals, but there are times where his music is highly serene, as in Watch You. In this circumstance, the rainbows of music in Devin Townsend’s mind is the reason why I’m attracted to his work in the first place.
3) Rammstein (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Funny story about the number 3 spot. I didn’t even know about these guys, until I accidentally came across their song Ich Will over my walkman radio. After my dad downloaded the song, I tracked down a copy of Mutter. I was immediately hooked, and I haven’t looked back since.
Interestingly enough, I preferred the instrumentation when I first listened to Rammstein. As time went by, I became more interested in the German language, and as of now, I have a healthy interest in both. If I had one complaint about the band, it’s that all of the albums (With perhaps the exception Herzelied. Yet again, I’ll review this when the time is right) have a sameness to them. Many of the individual songs do sound different, but when an albumful of them are compared to one another, they just feel too similar. A good band regardless.
2) Eisbrecher (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”) **
Now, on a instrumental level, Eisbrecher & Rammstein are equal (They perform the same genre, after all). On a vocal level, Eisbrecher & Rammstein are equal (Although the lead singer of Eisbrecher seems to have a slightly expanded vocal range, but that’s just me). With that being said, you’re probably wondering why Eisbrecher has taken the number 2 spot on this list? Well, it's because of a couple of reasons actually!
For starters, Eisbrecher has been around nowhere near as long as Rammstein (Eisbrecher first formed in 2003, while Rammstein first appeared in 1993 or 1994), and they feel newer because of being a more recent band. Secondly, Eisbrecher has been putting out music more consistently than Rammstein (They've put out an Album on 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012, while Rammstein's releases have been all over the 90s & last decade), thus making them predictable in terms of releases. Third, Eisbrecher isn't quite as popular in the states as Rammstein (Eisbrecher on numerous occasions has states they would like to come to the United States, and host some concerts to get some American fans). Finally, the reasons that Eisbrecher is number 2 on this list and Rammstein isn't is because of their attitude towards the industry, and perhaps their attitude towards the world. Eisbrecher shows no signs of slowing down, and they look at things with a more youthful vigor. Rammstein also doesn't necessarily show signs of slowing down, but they have a more bitter/cynical view on the music industry, and they don't necessarily have nice views towards the United States.
1) Ministry (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Although their latest album has left fans divided, Ministry has managed to stand the test of time. Starting in the early 80s as a pop band, they quickly moved over to metal, and from the rest of the 80s to now, they’ve become icons in the Industrial Metal scene. Although the singing and instrumentation are good (I especially like Al Jorgenson’s voice, which has a surprising range to it), they aren’t the reason why they are my number one band.
Let’s take a personal trip through time. It’s August 27th, 2006, a day before my Fall 2006 semester at college. I wake up and come down stairs as usual, and I see my day hastily putting some clothes in a travel bag. When I ask why, I was told that my uncle (Which I saw a week prior at a family reunion) had died in a plane crash. I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t even cry because I was so shocked by what I was told. I didn’t even go through the day normal, but sometimes fate moves you in the weirdest of directions.
I think a couple weeks prior to his death, I was surfing through the TV, when I came across MTV (When they still kinda sorta played videos). On the screen was Ministry’s latest music video, Lies Lies Lies. I liked it, but I didn’t think much of it. About a week or two after, I was with my girlfriend at the time, and I managed to find a copy of the album the song came from. When my uncle died, I listened to the whole album, and somehow I was healed.....for the most part. Due to that act, Ministry will be my number 1 band for all time.
See you all later this week. Until then, stay Otaku!
**
(Update on 6/13/2013 at 11:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time)
10) AC/DC (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Guys, I have a confession. For the longest time, I didn’t like this band. Both of my parents would play the hell out of their songs when they showed up on the radio, and when they would put in Back in Black, they would crank up the volume enough to the point where you’d swear to god that your ear drums would shatter. There were a couple songs that I enjoyed regardless, but it wasn’t until 2008 when my parents bought the anticipated Black Ice album back in 2008, and my attitude towards the band began to soften a bit.
I’m still not a big fan of AC/DC, but I can say that when they show up on the radio, I’m less likely to pitch a fit. As for their newest album, I can safely say that I like a good chunk of the songs in questions. There’s an energy within them that I can’t describe, and it sounds like they have lots of fun when they play. It also doesn’t help the fact that there’s a school boy in the band, and he plays the guitar quite well.
9) Faith No More (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
If I could describe Faith No More, I would describe them as a modern-day Led Zeppelin.
All throughout the band’s career (Past & present), they always experimented with various genres and instruments, and have created some memorable songs. True, many of their songs sound similar when put next to each other, but there’s enough of a difference between them for some uniqueness to appear. From the bombastic guitarwork of Epic, to the rhythmic blues-like vibes of Midlife Crisis, to the solemn, almost gothic like tone of Ashes to Ashes, Faith No More created some memorable songs that are just perfect for about any kind of situation.
8) Weird Al Yankovic (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Are you guys surprised by this choice?
I’m 26 years old, but somehow, Weird Al still makes me laugh and smile. From his antics during his live concerts, to the oddball choices for covers & music videos, or just his general mood & attitude during interviews, Weird Al is a musician that has something for just about anyone. His classic songs like Eat It & I’m Fat still have some oomph to them, while newer tunes like Perform this Way bring in new fans who might be interested in his work, and old fans who want to come back into the fold.
So, pop culture, you may want to tread lightly. Otherwise, a curly-haired man with an accordion might just take the chance, and jump on you!
7) Paradise Lost (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Gothic Metal is a genre that requires a band to walk a thin rope. If you’re too heavy, or you’re too dark, you’ll fail off the rope. It’s because of this of these tight restrictions that make the genre a unique, yet difficult one to use when making music. Most bands who claim to do Gothic Metal are either unpopular, or don’t get the credit they deserve. Paradise Lost somehow manages to be neither, despite a short period in the mid/late 90s.
If you remember my review of Draconian Times (Click “***” to read), I said that Paradise Lost deserve the title of Gothic Metal Master. Their music has always been on the dark side, yet their music is never too dark (With some exceptions). They’re heavy, but they don’t get too heavy so you don’t feel the emotions that the song provides. Despite not being as popular in the United States when compared to the band below, Paradise Lost still has an army of fans in the country, who prefer the band’s more serious take on Gothic Metal. Creating a legacy since the late 80s, Paradise Lost is a band that should be at least observed by metal fans in the U.S., simply due to the band’s history.
6) Type-O Negative (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
If Paradise Lost takes on the more serious side of Gothic Metal, then our number 6 spot takes on the serious side mixed with occasional humor form of Gothic Metal.
Due to the tragic death of lead singer Pete Steele in April of 2010, Type-O Negative is no longer together, but the music they left behind have formed a powerful legacy. Despite their legacy, Type-O Negative was a band that didn’t quite get the credit they deserved, except from fans and media outlets that were willing to give them a chance. It’s tragic in all honesty, because the music the band created is very well done. From Pete Steele’s booming & somewhat erotic voice, to Kenny Hickey’s work on the guitar, Type-O Negative is a band that has more that earned the respect it deserves.
5) Ozzy Osbourne (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Like AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne was someone that I didn’t like for a long time, but ironically enough, I grew to like Ozzy sooner than AC/DC. It was my 15th birthday, and I had gotten the Ozzman Cometh compilation from my parents. I did have access to a song or two prior to this CD, but it wasn’t until I got the CD that I opened myself to, and I quote, “Rock and Roll’s bigger brother.”
What made the CD so great was that it contained a wide range of his carrer. From his earliest days in Black Sabbath, to his solo career in the 80s, and his time up to the mid 90s, I got an interesting range of songs. Slow, fast, light, and dark: there wasn’t anything on the CD that I didn’t like. Since then, I’ve bought his Black Rain album in 2007, and got his Scream album in 2010 as a Christmas gift. It will be a tragic day when the Prince of Darkness dies, and I’ll probably be weeping the entire time.
4) Devin Townsend (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
It’s really hard to classify what style of music Devin Townsend does, since he bounces all over the spectrum. Thrash metal, grindcore, progressive rock, and ambient are just a couple of the styles he’s done since the 90s. After becoming sober in 2009, his mental state has become far more clear than it’s ever been, yet he still manages to tap into that bipolar mind of his when he needs some warped inspiration.
I guess that’s why I like him. My mind is a lot like his: it bounces all over the place, is very hyperactive & imaginative, and is possibly a little deranged. There’s times where his songs are wacky, like Lucky Animals, but there are times where his music is highly serene, as in Watch You. In this circumstance, the rainbows of music in Devin Townsend’s mind is the reason why I’m attracted to his work in the first place.
3) Rammstein (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Funny story about the number 3 spot. I didn’t even know about these guys, until I accidentally came across their song Ich Will over my walkman radio. After my dad downloaded the song, I tracked down a copy of Mutter. I was immediately hooked, and I haven’t looked back since.
Interestingly enough, I preferred the instrumentation when I first listened to Rammstein. As time went by, I became more interested in the German language, and as of now, I have a healthy interest in both. If I had one complaint about the band, it’s that all of the albums (With perhaps the exception Herzelied. Yet again, I’ll review this when the time is right) have a sameness to them. Many of the individual songs do sound different, but when an albumful of them are compared to one another, they just feel too similar. A good band regardless.
2) Eisbrecher (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”) **
Now, on a instrumental level, Eisbrecher & Rammstein are equal (They perform the same genre, after all). On a vocal level, Eisbrecher & Rammstein are equal (Although the lead singer of Eisbrecher seems to have a slightly expanded vocal range, but that’s just me). With that being said, you’re probably wondering why Eisbrecher has taken the number 2 spot on this list? Well, it's because of a couple of reasons actually!
For starters, Eisbrecher has been around nowhere near as long as Rammstein (Eisbrecher first formed in 2003, while Rammstein first appeared in 1993 or 1994), and they feel newer because of being a more recent band. Secondly, Eisbrecher has been putting out music more consistently than Rammstein (They've put out an Album on 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012, while Rammstein's releases have been all over the 90s & last decade), thus making them predictable in terms of releases. Third, Eisbrecher isn't quite as popular in the states as Rammstein (Eisbrecher on numerous occasions has states they would like to come to the United States, and host some concerts to get some American fans). Finally, the reasons that Eisbrecher is number 2 on this list and Rammstein isn't is because of their attitude towards the industry, and perhaps their attitude towards the world. Eisbrecher shows no signs of slowing down, and they look at things with a more youthful vigor. Rammstein also doesn't necessarily show signs of slowing down, but they have a more bitter/cynical view on the music industry, and they don't necessarily have nice views towards the United States.
1) Ministry (Sample Tracks: “***” & “***”)
Although their latest album has left fans divided, Ministry has managed to stand the test of time. Starting in the early 80s as a pop band, they quickly moved over to metal, and from the rest of the 80s to now, they’ve become icons in the Industrial Metal scene. Although the singing and instrumentation are good (I especially like Al Jorgenson’s voice, which has a surprising range to it), they aren’t the reason why they are my number one band.
Let’s take a personal trip through time. It’s August 27th, 2006, a day before my Fall 2006 semester at college. I wake up and come down stairs as usual, and I see my day hastily putting some clothes in a travel bag. When I ask why, I was told that my uncle (Which I saw a week prior at a family reunion) had died in a plane crash. I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t even cry because I was so shocked by what I was told. I didn’t even go through the day normal, but sometimes fate moves you in the weirdest of directions.
I think a couple weeks prior to his death, I was surfing through the TV, when I came across MTV (When they still kinda sorta played videos). On the screen was Ministry’s latest music video, Lies Lies Lies. I liked it, but I didn’t think much of it. About a week or two after, I was with my girlfriend at the time, and I managed to find a copy of the album the song came from. When my uncle died, I listened to the whole album, and somehow I was healed.....for the most part. Due to that act, Ministry will be my number 1 band for all time.
See you all later this week. Until then, stay Otaku!
**
(Update on 6/13/2013 at 11:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time)
2-Year Anniversary
Can’t believe it’s been two years since I started this blog! Truth be told, I didn’t think that I would make it to this point, but I’m glad that I’ve been proved wrong. I’m still glad that you guys come and explore my little corner of the internet, and even though you don’t leave comments, just having you look at my posts means the world to me.
To celebrate my 2-year anniversary, I’ll release two or three posts a week (This will be dependent on how I’m feeling on that particular week). They’ll be a mix of things: reviews, insights into my geeky life, and other things I’ll surprise you with. I’ll also bring my “Seeds of Geekdom” mini-series that I put out last year, and tell more stories about how my Mother & Father helped me become a geek, along with some more of my personal stories in the realms of geekdom.
In addition to these posts, I’ll be going though my entire collection of posts and clearing out anything that’s needlessly taking up space. On top of that, I will be going through each and every single one of my posts, checking & correcting any spelling errors, posting up pictures in any review that doesn’t have any, and fixing any broken/missing links. Perhaps the biggest thing I”ll be doing this month is posting up a special anime review towards the end of the month. I won’t tell you why it’s going to be special, but I will say that if you’ve looked at any of my video game/album review, you might get a clue or two. What I will reveal is that if that later post is successful, then I will be using that format for future anime reviews.
Well, that pretty much sums up how I’m feeling about this 2nd-year anniversary. See you all later today, when I'll show you my top 10 bands. Until then, stay Otaku!
To celebrate my 2-year anniversary, I’ll release two or three posts a week (This will be dependent on how I’m feeling on that particular week). They’ll be a mix of things: reviews, insights into my geeky life, and other things I’ll surprise you with. I’ll also bring my “Seeds of Geekdom” mini-series that I put out last year, and tell more stories about how my Mother & Father helped me become a geek, along with some more of my personal stories in the realms of geekdom.
In addition to these posts, I’ll be going though my entire collection of posts and clearing out anything that’s needlessly taking up space. On top of that, I will be going through each and every single one of my posts, checking & correcting any spelling errors, posting up pictures in any review that doesn’t have any, and fixing any broken/missing links. Perhaps the biggest thing I”ll be doing this month is posting up a special anime review towards the end of the month. I won’t tell you why it’s going to be special, but I will say that if you’ve looked at any of my video game/album review, you might get a clue or two. What I will reveal is that if that later post is successful, then I will be using that format for future anime reviews.
Well, that pretty much sums up how I’m feeling about this 2nd-year anniversary. See you all later today, when I'll show you my top 10 bands. Until then, stay Otaku!
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