Movie Review: 127 Hours

As screenings of 127 Hours began to roll out the stories began to filter out. They generally consisted of people fainting and those who were not able to handle the arm cutting scene. My initial reaction was to mock them, but then I thought about it a little more. I am a veteran horror movie fan and enjoy my share of blood and guts, both realistic and cartoonish, so it is unlikely this movie would have that affect on me. However, the audiences this is likely to draw will probably be a lot more diverse than a horror crowd and many will probably not be used to seeing blood on the screen, although it is unavoidable with this story. So, there's that.

Concert Review: The World of Webs Tour - Twiztid, Blaze, DJ Clay, and More (Poughkeepsie, NY 12/4/10)

As many of you who know me know, I am not exactly the biggest fan of rap or hip hop. I am not against it, it is just not my cup of tea and my knowledge can be called severely lacking. That said, I am a pretty big fan of the Psychopathic Family, you know, Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Anybody Killa, and the rest. So, when I saw that Twiztid was going to be rolling into town, there was no doubt that I was going to be in attendance. No doubt. This was a must see strengthened by Twiztid's incredible recent album, Heartbroken & Homicidal.

Movie Review: The Warrior's Way

This is certainly an odd movie and one that I was rather surprised to see get a wide release. No matter how good or how bad it turned out to be I could not seeing it being a hit on the national stage. With that said, I am very glad to see it having gotten the opportunity to make the attempt. I eagerly went in hoping to see an enjoyably odd genre mash up. Unfortunately, The Warrior's Way did not live up to my expectations. I did enjoy it but not nearly as good as I had hoped it would be.

Music Review: God Dethroned - Under the Sign of the Iron Cross

Very, very good, possibly great. That is a good way to start of describing God Dethroned's latest. It is a death metal record that includes all the usual ingredients but has seemingly come out tastier and catchier than many of their brethren's releases. It is a record that I hesitate to call great, but there is something terribly infectious about this music, brutal in its melody, melodic in its brutality. Under the Sign of the Iron Cross is a blast of metal that caresses your ears while it punches a hole in the top of your skull. If you like metal, you will like this. It may not be the best thing you'll ever hear, but it is likely one of the best new albums you've heard of late.

Music Review: Kill the Client - Set for Extinction

The more I listen to what is called grindcore music, the more I realize it really isn't a sound for me. Well, at least no in the traditional sense. This realization was driven home during my recent listening to Phobia's latest release, Relentless. I cannot say that I really liked it at all. There are bands that I have seen referred to as grind that I have enjoyed, Pig Destroyer somewhat and Cephalic Carnage definitely. However, when I listen to someone like Phobia, I have to wonder if is something I really want to listen to. Curiouser, I have since decided to check in with another grindcore act, Kill the Client. Stranger still, I kind of like it.

Music Review: Phobia - Unrelenting

Where to begin. Just when you think you may be getting into it, it's over. Seriously. Unrelenting is exactly what its title says it is. Phobia is one of the fathers of grindcore, and this apparently shows them off doing what they do best. What is that, you ask? Grinding it out. They do not seem to care about what you think or what you want, this is about the abusing their instruments in fits and spurts of violent music.

Music Review: Deadly Remains - Before the Nothing

At the end of Before the Nothing, I have to wonder if this is indeed all there is. Quite frankly, I was hoping there would be a little more to chew on. Deadly Remains leaves me with the impression that when the nothing does arrive it will be a welcome relief as what has come before has finally come to an end. Wow. That actually sounds a lot harsher than I meant it to. It is not really that bad, but it just fails to really grab me in any meaningful way.

Music Review: Facebreaker - Infected

If you were ever looking for just the right band to clean your weapons too, this could be the band for you. Who hasn't been cleaning the barrel of a shotgun or been sharpening ax and just been at a loss of what to listen to? We've all been there.... or not. In any case, Facebreaker is a band that reminds me a little of Entombed, only a bit more intent on the face breaking over the entombing, if you know what I mean. Infected is this Swedish act's third full length album and my first exposure to them.