Darkestrah: Embrace Of Memory

At long last, my copy of Embrace Of Memory has finally arrived!

Some months ago I discovered Darkestrah, and found them even more intriguing after finding out their origin of the small country of Kyrgyzstan. Even more interesting is that they are one of the few true Pagan Black Metal bands to feature a female vocalist (who I will add, does an incredible job at creating a dark shrieking aural abyss!).

A more detailed post will replace this in a day or so, but let me say that this album definitely marks one of my best purchases in the last year or so. An amazing band with an amazing future ahead!

Official website: http://www.darkestrah.vze.com/

Immortal frontman's new band "I" - song available

i.battlegrim.net report that the first I song, "The Storm I Ride" is now available for download:

Click here (sendspace.com - 3.1 Mb) to download the song titled "The Storm I Ride" from the upcoming "I" album "Between Two Worlds". Rip made from NRK P3 Pyro - Norwegian radio show by Jon Øyvind Tøsdal.

"I" will play live for the first time at Norway's "Hole In The Sky" Festival on August 26th this year.

MGŁA: Presence (EP)

Finally my copy of MGŁA's "Presence" EP has arrived from Supernal Records.

I came across this Polish band by "accident", and found they seem to have an affiliation with Mikko Aspa of Clandestine Blaze and Deathspell Omega, having appeared on the Crushing The Holy Trinity compilation released earlier this year on Northern Heritage records.

With Satanic lyrical themes, "Presence" is split into three tracks (I, II, III) with each one seemingly being an extension (or somewhat modified recital) of the previous. It's ice-cold hateful Satanic Black Metal, fuelled with chainsaw guitars, slicing tremolos and thin snowblasted yet ominous vocals.

The simple ingredients above make for an outstanding and essential Black Metal release: it's delivered honestly and directly as you expect true Black Metal to do: no flamboyant drum fills, solos or electronics, things are kept raw, simple, yet undeniably powerful. MGŁA don't break new ground, but masterfully execute their music with a style that is certainly their own.

The Presence EP is under-produced enough to not sound like a demo, and clean enough to not sound over-professional (think of a colder production of Weakling's "Dead As Dreams" album). The production balance sits perfectly over the musical structure, and the snarled vocals cut through the thick textured wall of drums and guitars on each verse. Beautiful.

I highly recommend this EP (and band) to any Black Metal enthusiast, as judging from their small amount of available material, MGŁA could gather a strong following with their established, yet somewhat unique style that plays no games with what it attempts to achieve.

MGŁA also have Mdłości (EP) available, but I haven't been able to find this one on mCD - it appears that this release has so far been vinyl only. The band are currently preparing for their first full length in early 2007, and I for one will be keeping a sharp eye open for that release.

In summary, an extremely worthy addition to any Black Metal collection. Outstanding work.

Official Site: http://hatepropaganda.org/MGLA/

Agalloch News

Well, two things of note:

Firstly, according to Don Anderson, Agalloch is pronounced "AG-uh-Lock", not "uh-GAL-luck".

You learn something new everyday!

Secondly, a great interview with the Agalloch squad is here. Enjoy.

iTunes under Nordic scrutiny

Well, well... it seems Apple is copping it once again... this time in Scandanavia!

Below is from the Sydney Morning Herald:

Nordic consumer regulators will meet in Iceland this month to discuss possible legal action against iPod-maker Apple Computer if the company does not ease restrictions that prevent songs bought at its online store from being played on rival music players.

The meeting, to take place in Reykjavik on August 24-25, will discuss whether the countries will seek to file a lawsuit against the company, and "whether we will address the Apple case individually or jointly," Bjoern Erik Thon, the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman, said Tuesday.

In June, consumer agencies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden claimed that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in their countries by making its iPod the only portable music player compatible with songs purchased from the company's iTunes Music Store.

In a reply, Apple staunchly defended its restrictions and indicated it was not willing to change its business model by opening iTunes purchases to rival devices that cannot play music protected by its digital rights management technology.

The Meanies: DVD!!!

The late 80s and early 90s were a massive period for my life, really shaping me into who I am today from an artistic and musical perspective. My obsession with Metal starting in 1986, then extending into some punk and grunge in the 1990s and now evolving back (even more extreme) into Metal again, it's bringing back my happy days like I can't believe.

So, upon wandering up to the Junction today, I got the biggest surprise I could ever imagine - The Meanies on DVD. I didnt think twice and bought it straight away.

The Meanies, thanks to my old friend Jono Barwick in high school and Baulko's own "indie queen", Celeste, became one of my favourite bands ever next to Smudge. In my last Meanies gig, I was crushed against a metal fence right at the front of the crowd with 8 thousand people behind me in (one of the sickest moshes ever seen) back around 1993 or thereabouts.

The Meanies, for myself, my skate, punk and goth friends back in those days were a focal point for many of us. The Meanies gelled many of us together, including new people who we would meet at gigs.

I can recall back in 1992 or so, hitting Sydney's Metro (I think it was?) to see The Meanies play, and ending up chatting with tonnes of fellow punters, all of us not yet 18, pissed off our faces with sore necks from headbanging (and im my case, my homemade Smudge t-shirt ripped right down one side and a bootprint on my back from moshing so hard).

I can remember that gig so well - the mosh became so insane, I simply had to back out in the end, it was a swarming mass of flesh and flying hair everywhere, girls and boys sweating and panting, Link Meanie almost constantly airborne onstage.

I wish I had a camera of those memories, for those are the only reasons I would ever want to return to my teens.

It's this kind of vision that you see on The Meanies DVD - all the footage of gigs like the one I've just described. Incredible, electric, alive!

Quake IV: the dust settles a bit.

Thanks to SyncError's involvement, Quake IV is finally stable & maturing according to ESReality community reactions regarding the 1.3 Point Release.

I've been holding off any development for it, although I know it's somewhat unfair to the community. I just felt that Quake IV got off to a very rocky and unfinished start, and I don't want to map for a platform until it's nice and stable.

Because of my attitude towards players and mapping, I prefer for things to mature before I go releasing anything so I can gauge playing styles a bit better.

Now that the dust has settled, I can finally start to get things going. My first map for Quake IV (and Aerowalk as well) will be a little while off yet, but at least now I know that my patience was for the better.

Time to dust off that copy of QE Radiant :)

Negură Bunget: OM

Massive news from Code666: The new Negură Bunget album OM is off to the pressing plant for an October 2006 release!

iPodding my Nokia

Ah the joys of technology.

While I've toned down on obsessing with it over the last 4-5 years (e.g. not jumping with joy about Beta/leaked drivers like I used to), some things are hard to let go of.

My new Nokia 6111 phone is a total treat. It was so cheap (approx $350 through Employee Purchase=$35 each month for approx 10 months).

Bluetooth, large screen, smaller than any phone I've ever owned, and a cute little 1 megapixel camera are just some of the things I like about it (most importantly the IrDA actually works! Thank god I didn't chuck out my dongle).

As with any tech, I start turning things off, getting rid of default settings and simplifying things. Eventually, I want to pull it apart and modify it in some kind of way. In the case of this Nokia 6111, it's the interface.

Maybe because I'm obsessed with my iPod, I want simplification on my phone too: the UI on the Nokia is FOUL. Totally hopeless and takes up far too much screen real estate.

I've learned that the .nth files this phone uses on its Symbian OS are just like PK3 and PK4 archives for Quake3 and Quake4. i.e. simply open with a decent compression program (Winzip, WinRAR), check the directory structure, file formats and image sizes, plus any code included, and edit to your hearts content.

I'm aiming for my own Nokia 6111 iPod theme over the next few days. Pics forthcoming!

Aussie Metal Scene On Fire?

So far this Winter and coming Spring, we have an amazing series of gigs coming up:

Kreator: August 25th (Gaelic Club)
Funeral Moon: Sept: 9th (Newtown RSL) inc Virgin Black, Ne Obliviscaris among others
Megadeth's Gigantour: Oct ?? (Venue unknown)
Nevermore: Nov 3 (Sydney UNI)
Nevermore: Nov 4 (Gaelic Club)
G3 Tour: Dec ?? (Venue unknown)

This is one of the biggest years we've had, with Opeth already having come and gone, as well as Arch Enemy and Behemoth among others. 2006 has shaped up to be amazing amazing year so far! I hope I can make all of these dates.

Black Metal boosts Norwegian language interest

While surfing away tonight, I came across Aftenposten, a Norwegian newspaper who (thankfully) have an English section of their site.

It intrigues me as to how well known Metal is in Norway, and how much it's recognised as part of youth culture, while over here in Australia it's widely condemned in favour of the popular mysogeny of Rap and Hip-Hop styles of music.

After hunting around on the site, I found something interesting regarding Black Metal and their language:

I have myself wanted to pick up the language given the amount of Norse and Icelandic that's used to Black Metal. I generally find non-English languages to be a superior form of lyrical expression in music anyway (see various Operas for quick non-metal examples).

While Norway hasn't had a good experience with Black Metal given the church arsons and the Euronymous murder back in the early 90's, the country should see this as a positive thing, also given that Black Metal is the country's biggest musical export.

Sidenote: Norway has a cricket team playing an international match in Scotland!

F**king Internet :| & f**king Kellyville

Damn you Singtel!!! Beause of your congestion in your network which is supposed to have been upgraded by now, my DSL is running like crap. I've a good mind to annoy Tier 1 and see what's going on, but I have a feeling I'll end up with a nasty engineer on the line.
//grits teeth
//Linda screaming at Wallabies in the loungeroom
//I hate football.

Nothing is worse than seeing an influx of friends become an outflux. I'm noticing this happening more and more as the years go past.
Is this a by-product of being 30? All your friends vanishing?

Sydney hasn't been the friendiest of places since I came back 5 years ago, and making new friends here has been like sitting down at a piano for the first time and attempting to play Beethoven right off the bat.

Yet another friend is about to leave, but thankfully, he's not going too far away. This particular odd creature is moving to Adelaide (stay away from big plastic barrels dude).

The problem, as has been the case a little bit, as that the send-off is planned on a Saturday.

In the morning on a Saturday.

At around 0900AM in the morning on a Saturday.

In KELLYVILLE where there's NO public transport for Eastern Suburbs dwelling povo's like me who need public transport!!! >:[

I feel horrible that I can't make it, because this particular pr0n-loving creature has been one of two friends I have left from school, and although I don't see him much I love him dearly and always get concerned when he tells me he's upset or something.

I'm really sorry man, I guess I'm going to have to try to see you before you go. :(

Brandenburg Recollection

Now playing: J.S.Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major (BWV 1051 I: ohne Satzbezeichnung)

Prologue: Over the last couple of years, I've made a "logical" transition from Metal into Baroque and Early Music thanks to Linda.

My curiosity came from dark Western Art Music I'd heard as a teenager, chiefly some harpsichord concertos. I knew something about it spoke to me: the plucking of the metal strings, the dances, the emotion and timelessness among other things.

My passion for Baroque these days is approaching the level of passion I have for Metal. I can go from Tåke to Marin Marais, to Burzum and onto some Folias seamlessly. Both styles speak the same message, just in different ways.

Discovering this music comes with wonderful opportunities to see concerts by various orchestras and muscians. I've left the halls speechless each time. This music is so natural, so pure, that I've been reduced to tears of joy by it.

Around 2 weeks ago, I rushed over to Angel Place to buy Linda & I tickets for the ABO (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra). We were really excited about it, having seen the ABO once or twice before and knowing full well they give excellent shows (not to mention they have some hot musicians!).

Nothing was to prepare us for what was to come though, let's just say that I've become an ABO fanboy! Season tickets here I come!

In this concert the ABO played:
Brandenburg Concerto No 6 in B flat, BWV 1051
Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D, BWV 1050
Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G, BWV 1048
Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in F, BWV 1046

It's one thing to hear the music of Bach. It's another to see the Orchestra seated around Paul Dyer (conductor) and actually watch each voice of the counterpoint being sung by each instrument. Seeing all of this happening infront of you helps Bach's work make more sense. It's funny to think you can go to a concert and your eyes are darting from one end of the orchestra to the other akin to watching players in a sports match.

Paul Dyer (harpsichordist, conductor, ABO Artistic Director) is remarkable. His personality flowed through the entire performance. He looked like he was having the time of his life: a constant smile, body animated with each movement and every note. He made so much effort with the performance that it would have been worth seeing him solo... kickass, Paul!

Due to our great seating, I got to see his hands all over the harpsichord. Every other concert I've been too far away and with the harpsichord being my period instrument of choice (only just beating the Gamba), I was enthralled for almost 3 hours. I could happily sit infront of Paul for a day and listen to him play, he is an incredible and positive musician. I wish I could have taken photos!

One amazing moment of Paul's performance occurred during Brandenburg No.5 In D Major (BWV 1050 I: Allegro). The harpsichord solo towards the end of the movement was simply stunning. He worked so hard his ears burned red. Upon finishing his solo, a funny thing happened: the audience was too stunned to clap, it was that amazing. Finally, a woman at the back of the hall yelled "YEAH!!" and the crowd erupted! It was fantastic! I would've thrown flowers all over the stage if I'd had them! I had been dying to scream my lungs out as soon as he finished, but I dont think a metal attitude at a Bach concert would be too appreciated!

Another person who I had been looking forward to seeing was Lucinda Moon. This stunning woman captivates with her violin playing. She fuses with her instrument, swaying back and forth, giving a truly emotional, heart wrenching performance every time, which forces you to fight back tears . Unfortunately, Lucinda's back was facing us - she was on the left hand side of the orchestra. I look forward to seeing her play again, she is remarkable.

While I only mention Paul and Lucinda here in detail, I cannot close this post off without mentioning the rest of the orchestra. There were some new faces which I had not seen before, but also some familiar ones too.

The beauty of the chosen music by the ABO was that it provided the opporunity for each musician to show themselves as a soloist in their own right. Each musician, due to the layers of counterpoint in the Concertos, had their moments in the spotlight, and it was an absolute pleasure to see the individuality of everyone's playing style and personality shine through the performance. It's this factor which at various points in the performance reduced both Linda & I to tears, and for myself, again a few days later when listening to a recording, recalling this very concert.

Linda and I left as excited as when we had walked in. We couldn't stop talking about it well into the next day, and even now, I still think about that concert every few days. It was a truly memorable performance and one that every member of the ABO present on that night should be immensely proud of.

My wish would be that I could shake the hand of Paul Dyer himself - for providing beautiful Baroque music with a 21st Century attitude... truly incredible!