Modification Apprehension

Out of the numerous band shirts I've managed to amass over the years, these ones are in need of serious  modification. Why? They are all men's size large or extra-large, which leaves me swimming in extra fabric. I've had plans to modify several shirts for some a very long time now, but can't seem to find the time required, or get over the apprehension at potentially destroying a shirt and creating something completely unwearable. I think a few of these may be a project for this winter...

The Perfect Halloween Album?

        If you're on the hunt for the perfect macabre album to listen to on Halloween, or perhaps play in the background at a hauted house, there's one out there. When Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider set out to make a Halloween concept album, modeled on the fictional tale of an unfortunate boy, he nailed it. This is a spine-tingling sound-track to go impeccably with those creepy-themed October nights.

Van Helsing's Curse - "Oculus Infernum"

Track Listing:

1. Patience (Introduction)
2. Tubular Hell
3. All Fall Down
4. Let Me Prey
5. The Child
6. The Tortured Soul
7. Revenge
8. War
9. Let The Pain Begin
10. The Curse

Music For Halloween

Halloween: That time of year when those of us who love all things morbidly creepy can revel in what the rest of society partakes in for a single day without looking like complete lunatics. At the very least, it’s the time of year that all of those horror and gothic themed decorations that remain up all year seem normal. 

I love the aesthetic of Halloween. I’ve always loved horror movies, horror art and horror literature, and Halloween draws together all of the morbid fascinations that I have. Hard rock and heavy metal tend to bring these together too, in the form of lyrics and in the form of some downright spine-tingling music. 

While there is an incredible amount of horror-related musical material to choose from, especially within the death metal subgenre, I’ve thrown together a few picks for a “Halloween” playlist. Some of these tracks are obviously related directly to Halloween itself (which I have chosen to be picky and not include a ton of directly-Halloween related songs), some of them are more than slightly disturbing, and some of them may not even have been intended to be what I perceive them as. Of course there is no shortage of somewhat repulsive, disturbing, horror themed material from bands like Cannibal Corpse and Entrails, although Entrails is much less disturbing lyrically than Cannibal Corpse. As for King Diamond (or even Mercyful Fate, which I didn’t include), almost every song is occult based. Without delving any further into any of these sub-genres represented, this is my quick Halloween-themed playlist:

Alice Cooper - Black Juju (from Love It To Death)

“Under the soil now waiting for worms all that I feared is all that I've learned”

Alice Cooper - I Love The Dead (from Billion Dollar Babies)

“Cadaver eyes upon me see nothing”

Alice Cooper - Cold Ethyl (from Welcome To My Nightmare)

“One thing I miss is Cold Ethyl and her skeleton kiss”

Annihilator - Phatasmagoria (from Never, Neverland)

“Don’t you know that ghosts never rest”

Bathory - Raise The Dead (from Bathory)

“Calling the vengeance, I tear at the lid, and promise to raise, from the dead”

Cannibal Corpse - Necropedophile (from Tomb Of The Mutilated)

“Pleasure from the dead, complete satisfaction”

Cradle of Filth - A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For the Devil’s Whore) (from Dusk and Her Embrace)

“Drunk on red wine, her dead lips on mine”

Death - Scream Bloody Gore (from Scream Bloody Gore)

“Controlling the minds of the bloodthirsty dead”

Entombed - Left Hand Path (from Left Hand Path)
 "I will be beyond the grave"

Entrails - Cemetery Horrors (from Raging Death)

“Voices from the grave - the cemetery horrors”

Entrails - Undead (from The Tomb Awaits)

“The dead are walking at the cemetery, hungry for flesh and thirsty for blood”

Grave - In Love (from Into The Grave)

“You lie so nice in front of me, as I brought you from your grave”

Helloween - Halloween (from Keeper Of The Seven Keys)

“In the streets on Halloween, the spirits will arise”

Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark (from Fear Of The Dark)

“Watching horror films the night before, debating witches and folklore”

Kataklysm - The Night They Returned (from Serenity In Fire)

“They are... the flesh eaters”

King Diamond - The Invisible Guests (from Them)

“Speaking to no one...”

Possessed - Phantasm (from Beyond The Gates) 

“From the crypts they rise”

Rob Zombie - Dragula

“Dead I am the one..”

Slayer - At Dawn They Sleep (from Hell Awaits)

“Blood sucking creatures of the night”

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Just to throw everyone for a loop, two more songs that are somewhat synonymous with Halloween and horror, but not the slightest bit hard rock or metal:

The Ramones - Pet Sematary (from Brain Drain)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (from Thriller)

The 69 Eyes - 'Lost Without Love' Inspires A Bit Of Rambling...

       

Jyrki channeling Jim Morrison at Rockperry Festival,
Vaasa, Finland, 2008. My own photo. 

        It’s true that The 69 Eyes cannot be classified as metal, but every once in a while I like to indulge in a little bit of gothic rock and this has been my band of choice for several years. They have provided inspiration for a lot of things in my life, although this was more true in the past than in the present. They have also inspired their fair share of discussion amongst my circle of close friends. The first time I witnessed a live performance, they played in between 3 Inches of Blood and Cradle Of Filth. How does that not deserve some discussion regarding how strange of a line-up combination that proved to be? Anyways, moving on and providing more potential discussion material...

The 69 Eyes will be releasing a compilation album entitled “The Best Of Helsinki Vampires” in a few weeks time. I’m not a big fan of compilation or ‘best-of’ albums, but they definitely serve a purpose for the casual listener or new fan. The 69 Eyes have previously released a ‘best-of’ album, “Framed in Blood - The Very Blessed Of The 69 Eyes” back in 2003. This album was a good sampling of the eclectic mix of earlier material. Having been around for as long as I have been in existence, The 69 Eyes have demonstrated a wide variety of their influences throughout their albums. Early albums such as “Bump ‘n’ Grind”, “Motor City Resurrection” and “Savage Garden” clearly have a bit of a sleaze metal and glam metal sound. The “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” era through to “Paris Kills” and into “Devils” demonstrates a significant gothic metal/rock influence. These are arguably my favorite albums, and the reason why I enjoy The 69 Eyes, even though I own and have listened to their entire discography. (Thanks to a friend who was able to secure the earlier albums before they were easy to obtain in North America). 

I suppose a ‘best-of’ album updated with the last four albums that this band has released is in order, especially since it has been ten years since the last compilation album. Of the last few albums released, “Back In Blood” is possibly my favorite. “Angels” is probably my least favorite, as this album seemed like an appeal and ode to celebrity obsession. As far as I’m concerned, trying to appeal and speak to the internet celebrity culture is pointless, but I obviously differ from a good portion of the population in these thoughts. I also tend to love the humor in songs like ‘Dead Girls Are Easy’, ‘Frankenhooker’, and ‘Christina Death’ (whether that one was meant to be humorous or not). Personally I think this particular compilation should have included ‘Suspiria Snow White’, as I feel that draws together most of the elements, minus the pure gothic sound, that have influenced and can be heard on almost every 69 Eyes album. ‘Stigmata’ should be included as well, because it is just a neat song. Especially when there are a few versions of it floating around, but I digress...

While that was a bit of diversion from the ‘Lost Without Love’ single, it sets a bit of a background scenario for the comments I’m about to make. While the lyrics of this particular song are okay at best, I’m not a fan of the pop elements it contains. It shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise, considering the latest direction The 69 Eyes have chosen to take, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not disappointing. From a band that had (several) distinct sounds, not necessarily appealing to a mainstream audience, this frustrates me. Again, it’s not awful, but it’s not that appealing either. A quick scan of the comments people have made on YouTube say it all. This is polarizing. Some fans yearn for the old sounding 69 Eyes, and some argue that change is a good thing. Honestly, I’d argue against that. I can reiterate it in regards to more than one band, but if I wanted something to sound completely different, I would have listened to a different band in the first place. Artists sometimes feel a need to change direction, and I guess the inevitable consequences are either losing or gaining fans, or developing fans who have strong preferences for certain albums. 

From Blabbermouth. 

Kataklysm: 'Elevate' Video

With Kataklysm's new album, "Waiting For The End To Come", set to be on shelves just before Halloween, they've released a video for the track 'Elevate'. Check it out, if you haven't already:

Kataklysm - 'Elevate'

These Canadian death metal masters have created one hell of a neat video. Personally, I love the special effects and gore present in this video. Bear in mind that this is coming from someone who has had a bit of an attachment to vampires (before they sparkled) and zombies (before they became mainstream-popular and fell in love), but if you appreciate horror-themed visual effects mixed with death metal, you'll like this video. Having a bit of an idolatry for the reaper/death figure, I quite enjoyed Kataklysm's take on a figure that it has used time and time again in it's band imagery. This video plays like a short horror movie, and there is definitely nothing wrong with that.

Heavy Metal & Hockey

An article found on Esquire's culture blog:

Tuukka Rask Rocks Out


First of all, I'm not surprised and second, I'm glad the article specified rock and metal in the subject line because I wouldn't exactly consider all of the bands he listed as metal.

I mostly wanted to share this because it made me chuckle, partially because of the truth about Finland in the summer. I do someone disagree with 'Dark Light' being the HIM album Tuukka would recommend starting with. (My personal pick to give to someone else would be 'Razorblade Romance').

It seems somewhat strange to me that more professional hockey players don't listen to metal, but that always seems to be the case when you hear stories or read articles such as this. The part where Rask mentions having to put on headphones in the locker room because no one else likes the music is reminiscent of stories of a former Edmonton Oilers hockey player and fellow Finn. Anyone else remember Janne Niinimaa?