Cipher's blog.

Micro Review: Jimmy Gnecco ~ The Heart

2010-10-18T11:04:00.000-06:00

Jimmy Gnecco's solo album The Heart is beautiful, and quite honestly heartfelt. It's sadness may be to hard for some to take. I recommend this to anyone who has been following Jimmy over the past couple decades. I stumbled upon him on accident when Distorted Lullabies came out, and have been a slave to his tormented and beautifully placed sadness. His career has had highs and lows, Precious stands out as a really low point in my opinion, save Red Colored Flowers. But here on The Heart he is completely stripped down and purely basic, the emotion is so raw and real, if you take the time to let it settle in, you will feel it too, just like I have. So take a chance on this unique and honest artist who makes music that he really loves.

Find the album on Amazon Here.

Downers.

2010-04-26T14:15:00.000-06:00

WARNING:

The following may contain explicably depressing dialogue, readers may find themselves prone to rolling their eyes in in great apathetic circles. The content here in could be classified as reduntant self pity.

BUT:

You may find something shiny and sweet, something you might hold dear to your heart and even read segments to your children as bed time fables while they lull themselves off into dream land. A dream land where everything is fluffy and nice and were sheep and pigs and oddly shape rodents can fly, and where everything is happy.

So there is something to look forwards too.

Mediocrity:
Let me bring it down a notch. I tend to think of myself as not being the smartest person on the earth, and because of that I have issues with smart people who know to much. How would it be to think of yourself as the SMARTEST person on the earth, you got to have one hell of an ego. Or like, what if you felt you were the CHOSEN one, the messiah, the antichrist, harbringer of doom, savior or all man kind? Were do people get off thinking like that. It's not a question. It's a statement. Like, how selve absorbed do you really have to be? I'm not anything like that. I'm a fucking consumer, and stagnent roach existing off the sweat and back bone of the middle fucking class. I used to dream extremely big, like really big. I used to think I could do whatever I wanted too, or be whatever I wanted to be. I don't think like that anymore. I kind of despise myself, if I knew someone like me I'd think I was a selfish little prick. My defenses are so high that I attack and bite those who try to tear down my walls. A facade I've mastered over the years. DON'T FUCK WITH ME, I'LL FUCKING TEAR YOU APART. (I didn't come up with that last capitalized bit, it's from She Wants Revenge which you can purchase on Amazon.com for a surprisingly low price of $8.99 also something I highly recommend, and also I make a commission from Amazon if you buy it when clicking on the hyper link, because I'm a tool like that.) But, all seriousness aside, I will do it. I'll turn into this crazy wolfman type person slash dog and kind of morph into Hulk Hogan, only more pasty and freckly. Then I'll start slobbering and Barking like Ozzy Osborne in the early days after he left Black Sabbath. It's funny yes? Hahaha. My point is, I don't like people knowing that I'm really not this confidant and sophisitated egomaniac who sooner or later will become the Antichrist. Oh wait I think I just contradicted myself. Scratch that.. This is where mediocrety comes into play, after the dreams and the granduer I'm just standard issue, normal and complacent. I have lost my motivation for most things. EXCEPT two, and this is hard for me to say, because I swear if you talk to me about this I'll go off like a screaming BANSHEE! So this is for me to say and for you to listen to..

I LOVE MY WIFE!

She means the world to me, and I'll kick and scream and kill anyone who would take her away from me, she may not know it but I really do love her. Almost to the point of becoming unhealthy, she's my best friend, and yeah everyone has best friends and bestest best friends, and I have other best friends but she's my bestest friend. Why? Because she loves me too, and she listens to me and makes me feel good and safe and when I'm out with her watching a black metal documentary called Until The Light Takes Us (which doesn't have a fucking link on Amazon, stupid.. I gotta scream at my Amazon peeps, and get them to sell it. How can I be any sort of good tool if they don't offer the products I want to force people to buy? Yeah you all have to buy this shit.) Or when we dye her hair with the super awesome and extremely vibrant Special Effects Hair Dye - Sonic Green #17, we really bond and share stories of our childhood, or I am just super silent and stoic, bitter with anger because I can't play my most favorite video games... Sorry I'm not going to link that shit.. I'm getting lazy.

I ALSO LOVE VIDEO GAMES

It's scary and I have a really unhealthy obsession, and I really don't care that I do. Self help bullshit doesn't work. I'm to the point where my two obsessions are conflicting and it's like an epic war in my head. I'm sick of feeling bad about either of my obsessions though. She is okay with my love of video games, but I don't want it to be just an obsession, I want to make games, and design worlds to live in. If this is really all I care about the most, then why can't I have both? I'm just sick and tired of constantly blowing up on people, when I feel attacked for what I like. A light was shown on me and my ways. It's something for me to think about. I've written a lot about video games here in this blog before so anyone who reads knows I'm obsessed, so I won't go into any more details.

I just don't feel so good right now and had to get this out there some where.

Thanks for reading, and now that I got my teenage angst out, I can be a proper functioning adult man again.

Peace and love.

Dal.

Ps. I hope you like all the product placement, you better like it... Bitch.

Review: Heavy Rain (PS3)

2010-02-28T09:46:00.005-07:00

HEAVY RAIN - PS3
Developed by: Quantic Dream
Written and Directed by: David Cage

How far would you go to protect the one you love?

That is the over arching theme through all the characters, and the developers here have crafted a great murder mystery that will have you guessing until the very end. It's easy to be empathetic to all the characters here, and one truly feels the weight of choices made. This is the games biggest feature, the choices and outcomes are a sight to be seen. Heavy Rain is a masterfully crafted ride and it does feel like the situations that transpire could really happen to anyone. It's a rare and unique experience that gamers do not get to experience.

Game play:

Heavy Rain plays like an adventure game where the player has direct control over the character in the inviroment, controlling the movement is a bit hard to get used to and often I found myself walking in circles. The quick time events are indeed intense, and the actions you preform work brilliantly in referrence to the action you are making on screen. The puzzle elements weren't that hard to figure out, but challenging and engaging enough to feel satisfied and smart. Heavy Rain isn't terribly long, I completed my first play through in roughly 12 hours, but the replay value is here, and I do see myself playing through this game at least 1 or 2 more times just to see the different outcomes.

Sound:

Here is where some of the issues come up, the voice acting is barely passable with certain characters, yet others are acted superbly and very believable. It seems that they had a mixed cast with some european and some american. Well, take the kids for example they do not sound in the least bit american. So it does break the spell a little bit, but nothing severe. The score is subtle and beautiful but surprisingly short, it seems like they only used a few tracks throughout the game, but they're placed perfectly helping set the mood and tension.

Visuals:

The location where this game takes place isn't ever identified but it seems it is somewhere in the US, but to be honest I never really felt like it was in the states, there is a alienating feeling and I think that helps bring the player closer to the characters, and what is going on in their lives. The developers have really out done themselves with the character modelling and just the extremely life like movement, there were certain parts in the game where it really is hard to tell you are looking at a game character and not real people. Everything from facial movements to body movements you feel what these characters feel.

Story:

It's hard to say anything about Heavy Rain without giving away any spoilers, but HR's story is great don't listen to everyone else saying it's mediocre, this isn't a movie or CSI or some afternoon drama, it's up to you how it unfolds, you make the choices and you feel the weight of the consequences. It packs a great punch and I knew based on my choices why I got the ending I got, now I just want to go back and change things just to see the other possibilies..

Final Thought:

Heavy Rain left a very heavy and dreary impression on me, one which I've been thinking about ever sense I finished it. So, if you are a gamer and you enjoy a mature well paced noir style story you will love this game. It is unlike anything else out there aside from it's predicessor Indigo Prophecy, also developed by Quantic Dream. Heavy Rain has set a new bench mark in gaming, and I hope people will support this title and go pick it up. I know Feb - March is insane with releases but if you have the time and money it is well worth it.

Gameplay: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Visuals: 10/10
Story: 10/10
Overall: 9/10

Peace and Love,
Dal.

Ps. Next I'll be working on my review for Dragon Quest V: Hands of the Heavenly Bride, stay tuned..

Nine Levels of Despair

2010-01-10T00:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the full version of a project I did years ago and just finished recently.

Dragon Age: Much better than Anticipated

2009-12-06T11:25:00.004-07:00

Dragon Age: Origins IS the best rpg on the Ps3, and it's what the system needed.. More RPGs!! I finished my first play through a few days ago so it's still fresh in my mind, and what really kept bringing me back to the controller was the epic story and the feeling of personal involvement. I know many have spoken about the choices in this game. Well I feel that is this games best trait. Here you've got a game where I felt like my choices truely do matter and I will definitely be playing this game many more times through just to see how diverse this game is. I played a city elf male warrior, and didn't think twice about re rolling and trying another class. It's was just that compelling to me. Now at the same time my room mate purchased the PC version of the game, and I saw just how much more tactical control he had. I wish I had gotten this for the PC, but my specs aren't nearly up to par. I already had the ps3 anyways. The battle system was aggrivating to say the least at certain moments, but for the most part it worked fine. I would recommend this game to fans of fantasy and old bioware rpg's like baldurs gate and the likes.

The goods:

Extremely deep story elements and rich history to delve into.. There were parts in this game where I was so wrapped up in the rural dramas going on I had completely forgotten what the main plot of this tale was.. And I consider that a good thing.

DA has some really well developed characters, Morrigan for example, everything about her fascinated me, and the more I found out the more I dug deeper. Each of the characters in the game have personal side quests which I recommend you find. I only did about 3 of them so I will do more in the future play throughs.

Combat in the game plays surprisingly well even though it's on the ps3. At first there were issues with the radial menu, but after 70 hours it becomes second nature. The combat in DA is intense to the point it can become frustrating.. It wasn't ever so frustrating that I couldn't continue, just enough to egg me on to play one more time and try a different strategy.

The art direction in this game was a breath of fresh air. One thing that annoys me to no end is how ugly the characters in western rpgs, here all the models look great! While the graphic engine may seem dated, they utilized it to it's best ability. Good job Bioware.

I purchased all the DLC in this game, and I found it interesting and worth the extra 5 bucks. I'm glad they are making even more which I will definitely support!

The not so goods:

Graphically this game has issues on the ps3, there were certain points in dialogue where there would be no audio for whatever reason, losing chunks of the story.. Other issues were with actual looping of events where they would repeat. I had one friend who said that she had to watch a scene over 4-5 times because it wouldn't stop looping. Finally it stopped and she could continue with the game.. When the battles become large and intense there were issues with frame rate, but it wasn't game breaking at all. I just wish that Bioware would have ironed out these issues prior to release, or even if they patched later like many developers seem to be doing.

This obviously being a port the controller issue is apparent, the definitive version is on the PC, but those without that option the console version is just fine.

Final Thoughts:

At the end of the game there is this deep feeling of accomplishement, and it left me craving more, I can't wait to see where this all leads, and my imagination just runs wild.. I wouldn't spoil anything for anyone, but just take my advice.. If you have the time this game is well worth it. I wouldn't say it's the greatest game of all time, I was just really surprised, and it completely took me away from all the other games I was playing at the time.. And that rarely happens. :)

Fun factor: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

New MIND.IN.A.BOX album to be released in February

2009-12-06T10:09:00.004-07:00

This February will see the release of a new album from mind.in.the.box: "R.E.T.R.O." An homage to the era of the Commodore 64 and 1980s video games, the album will even include a few cover versions of cult classics. mind.in.a.box mastermind Stefan Poiss first locked horns with the C64 when he was just 11 during his first attempts at music making. He had no idea of the classic electronic albums like "Lost Alone", "Dreamweb", and "Crossroads" he was to create later. In a way, "R.E.T.R.O." represents a return to his earliest musical roots through the medium of modern technology. We can't wait to hear the results!

www.myspace.com/mindinabox

Taken from Gothtronics.com

I am personally very excited about this news, I knew they were working on new stuff. Does this mean they'll be dropping the story book approach and this will not be linked with their previous work? We'll see what happens..

Rule Number 32: Enjoy The Little Things.

2009-10-04T08:26:00.003-06:00

I saw Zombieland this weekend, and it taught me something.. I don't have it so bad, infact I have it fucking great. Sometimes I try to write things here and it's like.. 'Hmm what can I bitch about' but that is just silly, I mean I have nothing against bitching but it's so much better when it's real and raw. When you really feel it. I'm getting of topic, so this movie is killer, it's about this reclusive loser loner kid who drinks mountain dew and plays World of Warcraft gets his 'reality' shattered and finds out the entire world has been taken over by Zombies. Along the way he runs into other humans and hilarity ensues. So this kid has a list of rules on how to survive Zombieland, certain things like Cardio, keep your cardio up and you can always outrun the zombies, or the double tap, which means always shoot twice, and make sure they're dead. Well my personal favorite was rule number 32: Enjoy the little things, which the kid learned from a wreckless blood loving zombie killer named Talahase (no one went by their given names due to the short expectancy of life and the attachment reasons) which basically revels in the sheer art of killing zombies in unique ways..Or aquiring a Twinkie before it's expiration date. But in my own twisted mind it applies to our reality as well. I enjoy the little things, in my own version of Zombieland, such things like hearing Seth's crazy laughs, or just random singing. Or the way Nadya will suddenly hide and pounce out of corners to attack me, which she's done many times. Or spending the night in just playing RPG's for hours on end, letting myself completely drift of into alternate realities, and burst out laughing at the dialogue. I'm currently 50 hours into SMT: Persona 4 and it's the best SMT game I've played yet. I put 120 hours into SmT: Persona 3 until I completed it, just to give you an idea how insanely dense these games are. I know it sounds extremely dorky, but I love it, these are extremely thought out story lines and plots, with well developed characters that you just can help but love. See? Give me room to talk about it and I could do so forever. Anyways these little things keep me sane.. Keep me going in a sense, making Zombieland a little less of a burden to deal with. Oh and on an end note the movie is worth seeing to, for all of those who care.

Peace,
Dal.

Hitchcock.

2009-09-14T17:08:00.004-06:00

Fall is almost here, I can see the leaves changing, and it rained for most of the day. I like how on days like this the clouds become so big and dark. It adds many dimensions to the every day lull. This morning I woke up and Hitchcock had died. He was a dove Nadya and I found on our back porch, I think he must have been attacked by one of the neighbor cats. I was just smoking a cigarette like I usually do, and there he was just sitting at the base of the porch all crippled and sad looking. I was struck with a moral dilemma, and couldn't really decide if I should just leave him there, or take him in and try to revive him. Nadya came out and I showed her, and she instantly brought it food and wanted to help. After that it was an easy decision because obviously we were going to try to help. So, we found a box and made a bed for him, put a dish with bird feed and some water. Honestly for a while there it seemed like he was doing so much better, he was cooing, and sitting up properly, and I actually felt like even though it was so little, I was doing something good. I came up with the name Hitchcock, like in the director of the famous movie about birds. Nadya liked it so it stuck. Yesterday he wasn't doing so well, and so we decided to take him to a animal shelter nearby and see if they could help, but yesterday was Sunday and these places are closed on Sunday. So we were going to take him today, but when I saw him this morning he was laying dead in his makeshift home/box. I honestly felt terrible, because he didn't make it. In a short amount of time, I felt I had a bit of a bond with that little birds life.

"Great Shipwreck Of Life"

2009-07-07T23:29:00.004-06:00

That title pretty much sums it up, I took it from the latest IAMX album, The Kingdom Of Welcome Addiction, I highly recommend it. It's a song about things not quite working out the way you expected. At least that's what I've gotten from it, I wish I could report that things are going well, but they're not. Now, I've also drawn this picture, hopefully it'll shine some light into the situation. I don't know where things are going right now, I'm feeling fairly horrible, perhaps this weekends road trip through southeastern Utah will help. We're searching for ghosts, but maybe I'll also learn to see some ghost that haunt me on a daily basis.

Vicariously I live while the whole world dies.

2009-06-03T08:53:00.005-06:00

Brushes with death often stir people to re evaluate their lives, what seems to be your last few moments of life stream vivid images of everything and nothing. I write this because, I just spoke with a guest here at the hotel who visibly is shaken and depressed to the core. Last night there was a huge thunderstorm, and as he told me what happend, you could see his eyes welling up with tears, the fear stricken across his face. I offered as much comfort as I could, but really there isn't much to say. I've known this guest for years, can't say I particularly like the guy, but I honestly felt bad for him. He explained to me that last night as he was flying into Salt Lake International, the pilot told all passengers after 7 circles and 3 attempts to land, (one attempt just 200 feet above the airport, resulting in the wind nearly slamming the plane into the ground)they'd be flying to a nearby airport in Idaho. Halfway to that airport, the pilot then announced that they wouldn't be able to make it to Idaho, because they were running out of fuel, so they turned around and litterally had to glide the plane on empty into the airport here in SLC. The way the guest described it, everyone on the plane was screaming, panic stricken, absolute chaos. I just felt for the guy, I once had a brush with death, many many years ago, while I was still in my teens, some people say that it's a second chance to see the world differently, or that there was some sort of higher power who decided that it wasn't my time yet. Well I think that's pure bullshit. Chaos ensues, and the cards fall where they may. A plane went down over the atlantic, from Brazil to Paris, there were no survivors, aparantly 'god' has a dark sense of humor.

DRAG ME TO HELL

2009-05-30T10:42:00.004-06:00

Sam Raimi co-wrote and directed what I believe is the best horror movie to have come out in years, not only that, he complete re instated himself as a mastermind in what he does best, splat stick. A term coined from the old Evil Dead era, a combination of slap stick style humor and bloody good horror. Not registering with you? Go rent, Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army Of Darkness, or Dead Alive, and you'll see what I mean.

Drag Me To Hell, opens with a booming and powerful blast literally from hell, and ends the same way, and I left the theatre grinning from ear to ear reviling in what I had just witnessed, the story seems ridiculous at first, a loan officer, Christine Brown, seems to be having an off day, troubles with co workers, a boss who won’t give her the promotion she deserves, and when an old gypsy woman comes in to beg for an extension on her loan, Christine decides to show her boss she has what it takes to do the hard job, and turns the poor little woman away. This is where the film suddenly explodes, and you realize you’re in for a ride. While her boss recognizes her and lets her know what a good job she did, aside from having the security drag the little old gypsy lady out of the bank, she feels confident and proud of herself, she chose her career and her future, yeah she could have helped her out, and extended her loan, let her keep her house, it was her call after all. I think most of us have to face these sort of moral choices throughout life, and that is what makes this whole scenario so familiar, what we don’t tend to remember or think much about is that there is a consequence.

As for the preformances, everyone is spot on, and I have to say that Alison Lohman showcased her range of talent, not only her emotional range but also her physical, the way Raimi tosses her around is brutal and unforgiving, so props to her, and Justin Long co stars as her loving supportive boyfriend, he's great in this except his character is alittle one dimensional, this is all about Alison Lohman, hopefully she'll get the recognition she deserves.

Perception is everything, and what seems small and insignificant can become utterly consuming and terrifying in a flash, and for poor Christine, she was cursed to hell within the next three days. What follows is a masterpiece of pure horror, and humor mixed together to create the creepiest, tingling moments of pure suspense, letting your imagination run wild with speculation. There are also absolutely grotesque stomach wrenching moments, where I imagine Raimi and co, laughing hysterically at themselves, particularly the gumming… Ew.. I mean, what Raimi does with this, is amazing, instead of using the gallons and gallons of fake blood, like in previews Evil Dead movies, he keeps his PG-13 rating by using the most unusual ways to gross you out, I used to believe that no horror movie in this era could pass with a PG – 13 rating, I mean The Ring being an exception, but Drag Me To Hell proves that it can be done. Raimi fans will be glad to see all the nods to the past, and like I did, feel the blood rush inside knowing that he still has it in him. After the last Spiderman movie, I’d all but lost hope. . I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie, where I laughed hysterically one moment, then was curled up clutching my wife’s hand the next moment, in complete fear of what will happen next. New comers will have many wtf moments, but I think it will only connect the old with the new, do yourselves all a favor and see this movie, it’s the best thing I’ve seen all year.

ID 2009

2009-05-07T23:45:00.001-06:00

My avatar 2009

SRTOGS:EF

2009-05-06T09:53:00.003-06:00

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier, try saying that one ten times fast, I dare you! This is by far one of the longest game titles I've ever seen, with Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha versus King Abaddon, being another exception, although also a game published by Atlus! But I digress, to keep this in the vein of this new and refreshing JRPG, I'll try to explain to you why I like this game, and make a pathetic attempt to not sound like a pervert.. *ahem* This game is definitely not for everyone, and first and formost I'd like to say the amount of blatant sexual innuendos and fan service shots, is over the top to say the least. Now if that is your thing then this is the game for you. Now you're probably thinking to yourself, 'yeah, but why would I buy this game, since there are like a million other jrpgs on the DS?' this is very true, there has been an explosion of jrpgs lately for this little system, but it's a good thing in my mind. Well, what really makes this game stand out, is it's battle system, and it's light hearted humorous story, and for me this was a breath of fresh air. The battle system really does do something new, while it still plays out in turn based attacks, it utilizes a combo system, that is almost rhythm based, there is a intensity and speed to the battles that I really love and enjoy. It's a juggling act really, and you'll find yourself adjusting the skills and order of things in your party to perfectly string together a perfect combo, in order to get bonus xp, and also to fill up your gauge bar. Now once the gauge bar is full, you'll then max out and be able to pull of a overdrive move that really is amazing to watch. Aside from the refreshing game play, the rest of the game plays like your typical jrpg, with a world map, dungeons, various towns with inns where you rest and upgrade etc.. So far I've played 10 or so hours into the game, and it's held more than my attention with its beautiful roster of characters, sorry perverted, awesome mech designs, innovative game play, and pure tongue in cheek sillyness. I wanted to give this little game some credit before it's washed away in the sea of DS shovelware (Yes I'm looking at you Dora the Explorer) Show some love to your underdog unknown developers and pick up this game. On a last note, obviously this is a game for a niche group of creepy otakus, you know who you are. But who knows, this game just might appeal to more people if they give it a try. ;D

All in all I give the game 4/5

While not perfect it's definitely changes things up and does something different.

Thanks Atlus, keep the good games coming!

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

2009-05-03T18:40:00.003-06:00

SMT: Persona 3 and 4, fan art.

.the world we live in.

2009-04-29T17:07:00.002-06:00

Here is one for the spring time allergy season.

Ultimate Combo

2009-04-07T13:38:00.002-06:00

I tried this move once. ;D

::FUNKER VOGT::

2009-04-01T13:36:00.002-06:00

Funker Vogt - Hostile Waters

Here is one of my favorite songs by them, check it out, if you like what you hear come to the show it'll be great.

mind.in.a.box - Live - just watch the video.

2009-04-01T13:06:00.002-06:00

"mind.in.a.box goes live" clip from miab on Vimeo.

This is one of those moments I got really excited and had to share.

Most anticipated albums for 2009

2009-03-29T09:53:00.005-06:00

Alright, to get things started I just thought I'd gush a little bit about some of the albums I'm looking forward to this year, music for me is a really big deal, and I get all sorts of excited when hearing some of my favorite bands are working on new material. Here is a handful of artists I think are very much worth looking into this year.

IAMX - Kingdom of Welcome Addiction (May 19th 2009)
http://www.iamx.eu/

I've heard the first single from Kingdom of Welcome Addiction, and even heard some stuff played when we went and saw IAMX late last year in SF, but I can't really say honestly how this new album is going to turn out, the last album was amazing, it'll be interesting though to see if his demons finally destroyed him, or if this mash of glam and industrial decadence can continue. One honorable mention is to say another favorite of mine is singing on this album, Imogen Heap, now that will be interesting.

Imogen Heap - Untitled 3rd studio album (No release date as of yet)
http://www.imogenheap.co.uk/

Little has been revealed about this album, I've seen some of her pod casts and even some of her tactics and leads for inspiration, ie, walking through dark parks and recording noises and birds and etc, and from the little bits she's shown, it kind of has a more of a middle eastern flair this time around, which will be exciting, I am convinced she can't make a bad song, let's see if it continues.

Depeche Mode - Sounds Of the Universe (April 21st 2009)
http://www.depechemode.com/

I think it's safe to say this one is a given, everyone should know the single Wrong by now, it's pretty good, but if this album is anything like Playing The Angel, it's going to be amazing, these guys have been doing this for a very long time, and Martin Gore really is a genius when it comes to making music, I give Dave props for trying to make it on his own, but obviously the magic is when they're together.

Diary Of Dreams - (if) - (March 13th 2009 in Europe - April 14th 2009 in USA )
http://www.diaryofdreams.de/

Adrian Hates, this man is a machine who aparently is constantly churning out music, I have just barely started to comprehend Nekrolog 43, and he hits us with a new album, I've heard the first single The Wedding, and I'm in love with it, I was a little dissapointed to find out I had to wait even longer for the US release but I'm patient, if anything that alone proves how amazing this band is. What's been said about this album (if) is that it's not a concept album, and the songs are in their own right completely individual, that's a pretty big change, I think change is good though. Now if only we could get a tour from DoD and Diorama in the US, please? *begs*

Placebo - Battle For The Sun (June 8th 2009)
http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/

Some may know that Steve left the band and the threesome was finished, it was a pretty big deal to me as a fan, and I questioned whether or not Placebo would continue, but they are and they've got a new producer and record label, and a shiny new drummer, I've listened to the single for this album, and yeah it's fantastic, and it invokes that special feeling that only Placebo can bring out in me, you can just feel the excitement, and the momentum build. Meds had a profound impact on my life, some would say it wasn't up there with Sleeping with Ghosts, or Black Market Music, I disagree, and I think it definitely holds it's own, it was a huge success and I have very high hopes that this next album will boost them even further.

AFI - Crash Love (No release date yet)
http://www.afireinside.net/

I'd like to get something out in the open here about these guys, their last album in my opinion wasn't really an album and it just showed the band splitting between Blaqk Audio and the a bleak representation of what AFI can do. Now, decemberunderground was a great album, with some weak tracks, but some really great tracks as well, that could have easily been put on the Blaqk Audio project. With their new album I'm really really hoping they get back on track, they were already toying with the more synth electronica roots in Sing The Sorrow, but I really think they still nailed that dark intensity that really made them explode and break out of their own confinements. Lets hope they do it again with the new album.

VNV Nation - Faith Power and Glory (June 2009)
http://www.vnvnation.com/

Ah Ronan Harris seems to cover such grand topics, I was reading an interview in relation to the next album, and he basically says that "Of Faith, Power and Glory", or as Harris puts it: "The 3 things that people desire and which can make you or destroy you!" If Judgement is any indecation of things to come, I definitely think this is going to be a great album, Nadya once pointed out to me, that while VNV sometimes really seem to convey a doom and gloom apocalyptic imagery, there is always that trancendant optimism of hope and humanity. So for me, the news of a new VNV album just makes me happy.

Well that's my little post, if anyone has anything to add to this feel free, I very well could have left out some great new albums, also if you have anything you think I might be interested in please msg me.

Thanks for reading.

CnS.

.blackouthesun. (WIP)

2009-03-12T12:31:00.002-06:00

Heres the line work for a drawing I'm currently coloring.

.critical prick.

2009-03-11T09:20:00.002-06:00

Here is another self serving rambler, sigh, I've learned recently that the world doesn't revolve around me, what a shocker right? I'm not the center of the universe and people get along just fine without me. I'm sad today because I've realized just how critical and severe I am to those that are around me. I have the ability to completely deconstruct people and point out every single tiny flaw I might see in them, why I would consider it an ability, I dunno, lately it seems more like a curse, but add that with a severely broadened range of emotions, and it elevates to an even more intense scenerio. I realize that this is one of those self loathing posts, and it really doesn't service any purpose, but there was a time, these reactions were initionally activated due to my own self defense and preservation. When someone has a problem, why do I automatically think it has something to do with me? Or somehow I can turn the entire situation from being something completely different, into something about me. It makes me sick, I make myself sick. So yeah, I'm sorry I'm such an critical prick, and it seems like I don't care, but in fact I do, to much sometimes.. I'd rather address these issues and try to resolve them instead of just losing everything around. On a side note I've really started to consider that I might need some sort of mood stablizers...

I'm going to keep thinking about this because it's something that is important to me..

CnS.

This is the day I die.

2009-02-25T02:09:00.003-07:00

Combichrist - All Pain Is Gone

I went to bed early..

2009-02-24T12:29:00.003-07:00

But I ended up staying up late, just talking to Nadya, I even learned something new, ever progressing, spiralling upwards or downwards, left or right.

Diary of Dreams - The Wedding

2009-02-20T14:13:00.001-07:00

Diary of Dreams - The Wedding

The new video and single from the up coming DoD album, I think it's pretty fantastic, check it out.

Their new album drops March 13th 2009.

I used to be..

2009-02-19T20:37:00.002-07:00

Somebody.

Let The Right One In (2008)

2009-02-16T09:45:00.003-07:00

I just watched this little swedish movie last night with Nadya, I found it very thought provoking, and different than your average vampire movie, or if you're not into boys that glitter ;p

Fear and Loathing...

2009-02-16T08:54:00.004-07:00

Why do we choose to constantly fail, and be judged by those around us? A friend of mine wrote an interesting post about empowerment, and it made me think alot about how we allow the things around us effect us. Just because your peers don't seem to value you, or confirm your greatness, doesn't mean your any less of a person. Condescending, self absorbed narcissism, hypercritical behaviors... That's just the way I see things. That is the way I see myself sometimes. Is my love for you any less because you choose not to see how much I support you and hold you, regardless of how you think I may view you or what you do? I don't think it is any less, is it any less because our conventions are different and traditionally we break the rules? Should I feel bad about the fact that we may have different views on so many different things? Should I feel bad because, what used to be so precious to me seems to be a distant memory of us drawing everynight? Or that we would drive for hours on end in the old Caravan, listening to our favorite bands and just talking about the whatever? Or that when we used to talk every day, it's dwindled down to more or less talking maybe once or twice a month? I dunno, somehow these things effect me, I don't know if they effect you. I'm pretty sure they do. Maybe it's just my self involved reality, maybe it's my need to seek confirmation.

I had the most amazing day on Saturday, thanks for making it special.
And it reminded me just how important it is to spend time with the people I love, just to be in their presence, and listen to what they have to say, and take a breath and enjoy the moments together.

Nicotine stains

2009-02-11T08:47:00.004-07:00

This weeks obsessions: Blutengel, Combichrist, Beyond Good & Evil, Uncharted, RE5, Killzone 2, food, cigarettes (or lack of them)

I'm having some relative success with quitting smoking, it's been just about 2 weeks since my last cigarette, I've fought off a few cravings with a prime time every now and then, but it's been going well, naturally my appitite has increased, and I've been pigging out lately with food, which really doesn't help me much with my already distorted view of myself. I've become a royal pain in the ass to deal with, my hyperactive mood swings are pretty hard on Nadya I'm sure. I'll get really sad and depressed for no reason at all, or the polar opposite, happy and full of energy! I must say it's been amazing though, all my senses seem to be hightened, and kissing is amazing let me tell you, I feel like a little kid again. I guess I sort of am like alittle kid, but I don't think I'll ever really grow up. Whether or not that will be problematic I'm not sure. I have been thinking about something else lately, my obsession with video games, sort of annalyzing myself a little because gaming has been a past time of mine for practically my entire life. I don't know if it's a child hood issue or not though, because I always feel like someone is going to get mad at me if I play video games, I always felt that way as a child too. In my household video games were pretty much banned, aside from Commander Keen, we never had a Nintendo, or Sega, I would play over at my friends house all the time, and made them promise not to tell my parents so that I wouldn't get in trouble. In time my parents relaxed and were cool but still, I to this day no matter what always tend to try to hide my gaming excitement, and enthusiasm. I know it's become much more socially acceptable, but it wasn't the case back in the day. I want to make it more prominent in my life though, and feel more comfortable about it, because I want to work in this field, and I am proud to say that I am a gamer, and there shouldn't be anything wrong with that. Ahem, anyways.. Some would call it a time waster, and that they'll rott your brain, but it's just not the case.. Given I'm not going out to buy the latest Dora the Explorer game or anything, and you do have to still think about what you're spending your money on, but I believe games should be looked upon as a piece of art, or like literature. Most people think I'm just an over grown nerd, but look around you, pay attention more specifically to what your kids are playing, reading, watching, if your kid is playing Left 4 Dead, instead of punishing him or her, why not pick up the controller and slay some zombies with them? Don't ostrisize them, bond with them. I would have been awesome as a kid if I knew my parents were cool with what I liked. Fear consumes us all on a daily basis, stability, the future, the economy, and millions are retreating to the internet, to gaming, to movies, ever notice that? How much time do you spend in online or in a game each day, and just how much different is it than anything else? I could just be rambling about nothing, but it's nicotine stains on my brain.

Friday love.

2009-02-06T16:47:00.004-07:00

Just thought I'd post a doodle, trying to work on blending colors with paint.

Update: Just got back from seeing Coraline in 3D it was superfabulous, I really enjoy stop motion animation, and you could really tell there was a lot of love put into this movie, more people should go see it to keep supporting things in this medium, plus it's in 3D so yeah.

Have a good weekend everyone.

All Pain Is Gone

2009-02-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the Avalon theater just after 7:30 pm on saturday night, Seth dropped us off and Nadya and I briskly walked into the theater tickets in hand.. We had a long night ahead of us. Once we got inside the venue, and started to feel our bones again we decided we'd look for a coat check, realizing that they didn't have one, and the poor girl selling tix was shoving coats under her feet, we decided to just hold onto our coats. Now the thing about the Avalon theater is, it's an old movie theater so the entire place is inclined with rowed benches, so we just found a nice middle bench and took a seat, the room stunk of sweat and energy drinks, and actually Nadya did mention that to me, it made me laugh. As we sat down and started to get comfortable, I could definitely feel a lot of anticipation in the air, you see, that night everyone was there to see a few really talented bands.

The ones currently warming up and fine tuning their instruments were Stolen Babies, now I'd seen them before, so seeing them again in this venue was definitely a treat! They played mostly everything from There Be Squabbles Ahead, but seeing as that album pretty much combines all their previous work it is their best selection, it was rivetting though, they were as tight as ever, with their special dish of dark cabaret or Danny Elfman / Sleepytime Gorilla Museum flair, me personally favoring the more Elfman side of this act, still minus the stage props it excited me to the point of wanting to reread my JTHM again, haha. Something about this band really makes me swoon, and so I did throughout the entire performance. It's nice to finally have someone I can go to show's with, because usually I end up all by myself standing in some corner, but to have you there with me, Nadya, and at all the other shows we've been going to lately it's just been fantastic. ^^ Anyways on with the night! It gets better, and worse.. But ultimately better!

So following the Stolen Babies set, they briskly tore down their equipment and the next band began setting up. Nadya brought her camera with her and was practicing during the sets, she did have some problems, you see her camera is excellent as in it takes amazing out door pictures, I've seen it first hand, for example she took some amazingly stunning pictures during The Smashing Pumpkins a few years ago, with said camera, or other photo shoots we've done outside, but inside, it's a bit of a struggle, so she was feeling a little frustrated.. We ended up moving closer to the stage for the next act.

I was very apprehensive about this one, Black Light Burns, while I do have the albums, I just didn't know what to expect from the live show, Wes Borland seems like a very unpredictable person, and needless to say that is exactly what happened during the show. It was a blend of crazy guitar chugging, snot rockets, and lots of water bottles, mixed with him basically undressing down to his trousers. Not to say the man isn't sexy, I just don't see how all this exuberance mixed with snot and spit is sexy, some people just have to feel their music, and he definitely delves into his own expressionism.. It was disgusting and enthrawling at the same time. The real highlight was when they covered, Lucretia My Reflection. After everything I still have to wonder if Wes Borland will ever escape his roots with Durst, I think he’s moving in the right direction, and it seems like he’s trying to establish himself in his own space, and BLB might finally be his ticket… Following their performance, Wes offered blowjobs and snacks at the merch booth in the back for any that were interested. I wasn't so interested to be honest.

Okay so by this point we were both anticipating the real act for the night, Combichrist! Everyone seemed to be buzzing, or just not sure what to expect, I surely wasn't ready or clear what would be happening. But usually when it comes to the main act, they seem to revel in the anticipation, flaring up the fog machines, unveiling the massive percussions that looked like something of the set of Mad Max. I spoke to a friend of mine that night saying they were worried about the new sound of the new material, seeing as CC just released a new album in support of this tour, and myself having been listening to it for a few weeks now tried to comfort her in knowing that it was indeed a good album. I don’t know though it always seems there is skepticism and everyone fearing that ‘their’ band might sell out on the next album, but I think it’s very clear that isn’t the artists intention, it’s all very simple in my mind, and what Combichrist does is sell a product, and they beat it furiously into your brain with their repeated message of blood sex and violence, and their opener All Pain Is Gone was thunderous and I couldn’t help but just grin the moment I saw Andy and the gang up on stage, I knew it was going to be an amazing set, and I was ready to consume and just get lost in what they’re selling.. Nadya and I were rocking and dancing as much as we could in our little rows, and the fog seemed determined to foul up Nadyas camera work, but I’m still waiting to see the results from that night, hopefully she’ll post something. *wink wink* The highlights from Combichrist would have to be, Blut Royale, This Shit Will Fuck You Up, Without Emotions, and a hand full of classic Combichrist tracks, and quite a bit of the new album too. We stayed for the on core, and ended up heading out afterwards.

It was a lot to take in, and I have to say I must be getting old or something because my back was killing me, we were going to go to the after party, but ultimately decided to catch a cab and just head back home. Anyways after waiting about 15 mins in the freezing cold, said cab did show up, and we made our way west, while the driver explained to us that he really wasn’t doing okay, and that he felt like going home and curling up in the fetus position, always a reassuring thing to talk about while being driven home. We did in fact make it home safely and the cabby thanked us for letting him ‘cry on our shoulder’ he seemed like a nice enough guy regardless of his mental state of mind, and given the show we’d just come back from, who were we to judge.

Well there is the recap of the evening, next time come along with us.

Cheers,
Dal.

I'm mearly a shadow of my former self.

2009-01-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

So today I'm fidgety as all hell, I decided to quit smoking again, it seemed like the right thing to do, because I am pretty sick of smoking. Around this time last year I actually quit, and stayed away from them for 5-6 months, it was wake up call, I've been smoking for the last.. God... 7-8 years of my life? Anyways, I'm fiending pretty badly for a cigarette right now, so I thought I'd blog about it, haha.. It's like I could be running out and buying a pack of cigs right now, but instead I'll annoy the random person who might just stumble across this blog. But what the hell, I know I'm not the only one who smokes cigarettes, so I'm sure some of you can relate to the way I feel right now. A close friend of mine is also quitting so we're trying to support eachother, and it's always easier that way. Although last year.. I was all on my own when quitting. So yeah I'm hoping he'll make it because I know how badly he wants to quit, we even smoked our last cigs together last night, and I hope it meant something, not just another meaningless failure or attempt. My incentive to quit is the money I save from smoking, yeah sure it's also healthier on my lungs, but the price for cigs these days is rediculous, and given the current state of the economy, resources are tight. Also my beautiful girlfriend, isn't so fond of the smell.. I don't blame her for that.

Cheers,

.cipherinthesnow.

I'm like a leaf in the wind.

2009-01-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Pop culture, consumerism, media, movies, video games.. Comic books, anime, manga, inaguration, change, profiles, blogging, begging, starving, ranting, raving, sex, cigarettes, hate, spite, consume, food, pills, puke, death, death, truth, lies, blood, tears, work, smile, pacing, back and forth, too and fro, anxiety, waiting, dreading, hating, consuming, feeding, greeting, faking, smoking, joking, drawing, gaming, waiting..

I am a product of my society.