Derek Spear- Shine

With Shine Derek Spear has set out to make an entire metal album based around the concept of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (and Stephen King's book under the same title). Unlike Spear's previous work with 237 this album takes a slightly slower approach. Filled with tight playing and an abundant amount of grooves Shine is quite the listening experience.

Musically comparing this to something like Fear Factory wouldn't be too far off. The guitar playing focuses on a groove throughout the majority of the playtime. Most of the tracks on Shine come close to or exceed five minutes. The enchanting grooves keep the listening experience fresh and prevent this forty plus minute album from becoming stagnant. Though there isn't much variation in the playing it fits the style Derek is trying to create quite well. The opening track has some excellent qualities. Aside from being the biggest standout track on the album it also employs some odd effects laced with slow riffing that gives off a very eerie vibe.

The vocal performance used on Shine is fairly clean. The style used here is very reminiscent of the latest Kosmokrater release, a sort of menacing snarl. On occasion some actual straight up, clean vocals will be used and it comes out sounding very similar to Ozzy Osbourne. The cleans fit the style quite well and it would be interesting to see this approach used more often on Shine. Catchy choruses aren't hard to find on Shine. The chorus to "The Bad Thing" will echo in your head for hours after listening. The drums on the record are programmed but unlike many bands that use a machine it actually doesn't come out sounding too bad.

Overall Shine not only features a very interesting concept for an album it also features a sound you don't hear that often. Tracks like "Shine" have a very epic atmosphere while songs like "Darkness Falls" are just simple metal songs that are driven by a constant groove. This album isn't by any means groundbreaking but it does what it sets out to do and does it in an entertaining manner. Fans of heavy metal should definitely give this a listen, while it doesn't feature the speed that was used in Derek's past project 237 it makes up for it with great, memorable songs. Shine on, shine on.

I Spit On Your Grave (2010)

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"IT'S DATE NIGHT!"

It isn't all too surprising to see a film like I Spit On Your Grave being remade considering the recent  success with the Last House On the Left remake. Many are outraged about these horror classics being remade and in a day and age when it seems it is just being done for a quick cash grab it would be hard to say these people are mad without good reason. What's next? Last House On Dead End Street? Last House On the Beach? Forced Entry (okay, maybe that is a bit too far)? With all that being said, why fight it? Companies will continue to do this until they turn blue in the face and there really isn't much the audience can do. So why not sit back and watch the remake of one of your favorite all school flicks? The worst thing that could occur is you having a laugh at the mediocrity or how the new crew "missed the point" of the original film. Now with that out of the way it is onward to the story.

Jennifer Hills is a writer from the city that has traveled out in the middle of nowhere to a cabin in order to direct her focus towards her writing. When she gets her key from the nice old man who owns the place she is given a paper with some less than satisfactory directions. She goes about her way and ends up stopping at a gas station in the sticks to get directions, when stopping she is greeted by a group of hoodlums. The ringleaders proceeds to hit on Jennifer trying to impress his friends but much to his dismay, ends up soaked and embarrassed. With the knowledge of where the beautiful Jennifer Hill is staying it is clear that he is going to get his revenge. The group of friends are accompanied by a mentally challenged man by the name of Matthew, who the next day fixes Jennifer's pipes, she kisses him in excitement and he runs out nervously before getting payed. After these events the group goes up to the cabin to collect Matthew's cash, or so it seems until things take a brutal turn that will effect her forever.

There are a few big differences between this film and the original. Unlike the original the law enforcement gets involved with the situation which adds a great deal of depth to the plot. Some may take this aspect as a good thing while many others will consider it bad. This remake isn't quite as brutal in the rape scene but the revenge sequence takes a step up in violence. Many seem to be making this out to be the most brutal rape scene ever brought to film but that is in no way the case, not much is shown and films like Irreversible and even Gutterballs make this pale in comparison. The kills are fairly unique and painful to watch. Those who oppose eye violence, dick violence, and sodomy with firearms should journey elsewhere in their movie watching. Sarah Butler does an excellent job playing the part of a woman who has been broken and battered to the breaking point. While she is a beauty it is clear by the time that the credits roll that she can do some major damage.

Overall those who are fans of the original should enjoy this as well. If you're going to be disgusted to the point of complaining (yeah to all of you "this is vile and disgusting, what is the world coming to?!?" viewers) then simply DON'T WATCH THE FILM!!! It isn't like the director of the film created the concept of rape. This is a good film to watch for those who like to challenge themselves with what they can handle, you won't be calling this the most disturbing film you've seen when all is said and done but it certainly isn't something you'd gladly show your kids. Check out the I Spit On Your Grave remake, it shows a slightly different variation of the simple idea that was brought forth in the original and it will not disappoint long time fans of the genre.

Overall: 9/10
Gore: 9/10
Kills: 10/10

Cross Pain- EP

Cross Pain is a two piece epic thrash band from the United States. The members are sixteen years old but should not be written off for their age. This is the band's first release which consist of just under twenty minutes of thrashy instrumentals. With a real drummer thrown into the mix this could be something to look out for.

We'll begin with the negative things about this EP. The drum programming gets to be a bit grating on the listener. This wouldn't be so bad if the mixing didn't have the drums so loud in the mix. The guitar playing on the album is great but on more occasions than one it is overpowered by the drum machine. The machine isn't programmed horribly but when it is this high in volume it does get a bit tedious.

As mentioned previously the fretwork is Cross Pain's main reason to terrorize your earholes. They are armed with catchy grooves and lots of soloing. Some of the riffs tend to be a bit underwhelming due to the loud drum programming but the song structures are good enough to get the general idea across. The epic intro for "Rain Ghost" is one of the highlights of this EP as well as the breakneck riffing displayed on "Revival (The Beginning). It is clear when listening that these guys have chops and have the writing ability to show them off.

Overall throughout the playtime of this EP Cross Pain shows some potential and with a little tweaking in the mixing department this could be an excellent release. Another thing that could have helped the end product is a vocalist. In the end this EP isn't anything amazing but it definitely isn't something to ignore. The things that are done right on this release are done quite well. This isn't something I can recommend to everyone but if you are a fan of thrash or instrumental music or just things with a progressive edge in general I'd say give it a shot, don't expect to be blown away but there is some quality to be found here.

Psycho- Pain Addict Pigs

Psycho is a nasty extreme metal band from Singapore. The band blends a vile mix of death, thrash, and black metal with a punk attitude. Imagine if Toxic Holocaust, Horrific, and Hellhammer had a Circle Jerk and the aftermath was artificial inseminated into a female zombie, Psycho would be the little zombie child that would eat it's way out after nine months. Prepare yourself for some horror themed metal with a distinct that will make you fear for your life the second it hits.

Pain Addict Pigs is over thirty minutes of mosh worthy metal that will possess you to rip the spine out of the person nearest you and play air guitar with it. The aggressive bass will leave you with bruises after one mere listen but you can't help but come back for more. Psycho just maims, kills, and cremates the listener and gets rid of all the evidence by evaporating the ashes so they can continue their murderous ways. The sinister grooves that Psycho churns out are not only memorable, but backbreaking to boot. When the Bryan John isn't crushing you he is either shredding your face off or playing an amazing bluesy solo. The morbid sounds pour out of the amp until blood shoots out of the listens ears like a geyser.

As mentioned previously the bass plays a big part in the overall sound of Pain Addict Pigs. It's up high in the mix and adds some thickness to the aural assault that Psycho is dishing out. JY is able to get some time in the spotlight and show off his talent in tracks like "Mater Lachrymarum…Mother Of Tears". Great to hear some more audible bass in a band with a sound leaning toward the sick and extreme. The vocals on Pain Addict Pigs are insane. Imagine screams from the deepest pits of the underworld backed by the vicious barks of a hellhound and you should have a pretty good idea out of what to expect from this. The vocal style fits the music perfectly and doesn't just stick to the cookie cutter death growl that is used so often.

Overall this album is the perfect balance between old school metal and a more modern sound. The band plays mad professor and amputates elements from multiple genres and stitches it all together creating a brand new musical beast. Death has never been so damn fun. Highly recommended for all the metalheads with a craving of gore and for those looking for something different within the piles of uninspired metal albums that come out these days.

Buried

Buried is a film that explores the idea of waking up in a coffin. The film brings claustrophobic horror to a new level and manages to keep you entertained even with it all taking place in one setting, a box. Imagine waking up only to hit your head when you try to sit up, you roll to one side only to be stopped by a wall. Submerged in darkness you reach around to try to find anything to create some sort of light. After shining light on the situation you discover you are in a box and naturally have a panic attack of sorts. This is the situation Paul Conroy finds himself in and with his wife and child back at home he'd do anything to get out. After waking from his slumber he begins to recall the events that had happened before awaking. Paul is a truck driver for a company based in the United States working in Iraq. There was an explosion that had taken out some of the men in his convoy and shortly after men wielding guns came out and killed most of the others, but for some reason Paul lived and was submerged in the sand to endure the psychological torture that we sure ensue.

Soon Paul comes to relise that in the box with him is a cellphone along with a few other things. Right when the film seems to be losing your attention the phone comes in to save the day and make the situation even more intense than it was initially. He speaks with his captors and they want a hefty five million dollars before they will release him. Paul contacts everyone he can think of, the police, FBI, his family, and even the company he works for but all of them turn out to be very little help. Soon he receives a call from someone who directs him towards a man that specializes in these sort of situations. The man gives Paul the hope he needs to continue on in his current state but he still has his doubts about whether he will get out or not and it seems everyone he speaks to is trying to keep his mouth shut in order to save their own reputation.

There are many gut-wrenching and stomach churning moments spread throughout this suspense filled movie. A highlight would be when Paul decides to contact his mother at the nursing home. It's hard to watch as Conroy fights to stop himself from having a mental meltdown while talking to his mother who has fallen victim to alzheimer's. He tries to explain how the phonecall would be his last time speaking to her but she can't comprehend anything he is saying. It is exhausting watching the struggle one man has to find his way out and to receive the help he needs. Every moment of this film is intense and keeps the watcher on the edge of their seat.

Ryan Reynolds gives an outstanding performance in Buried. He makes the movie extremely believable and real while watching. This really shows he has the skill to take more of these dramatic roles because he single handedly makes this film work. There are scenes of pain, despair, and regret as we slowly see Ryan Reynold's character fall into an endless stream of hopelessness. In the end all all the audience wants to see is Paul getting home safely with his family.

Buried is a tour de force of psychological terror. It is a horrifying descent into depression and really makes the viewer think "what would I do?" in the situation Paul finds himself in. It isn't often that a movie with one character, in one setting works or is even attempted but Ryan Reynolds pulls it off. This film is highly recommended to everyone who enjoys things that are good, plain and simple. Everyone should see Buried at least once, it is an experience that is definitely worth having.

Overall: 9.5/10

Haiduk- Plagueswept

Haiduk is a one man band that hails from Canada. This is Luka's debut release but when listening it seems like he has been at it for a great amount of time. It isn't often you find a band that has already crafted it's own sound by their first release. It is obvious much time and effort was put into this demo because it simply looks, and plays like a full-length album. This album breathes new life into what was beginning to seem like a stagnant genre. Haiduk plays melodic death metal that employs atmosphere as the driving force behind the music.

The fretwork is without a doubt the highlight of this album. The playing is delivered with a vast amount of precision and creates a very tight, professional sound for the album. The majority of the riffs played in the entire playtime of the record are ridiculously catchy, and along with that every element of Plagueswept is composed in an excellent manner. The hypnotic melody of "Dark Forest Path" is a solid example of what can only be described as amazing songwriting. The tone has a nice bite to it and utilizes just the right amount of distortion for the style.

Luka manages to incorporate large amounts of melody without sacrificing the raw atmosphere that makes Plagueswept such a special album. The vocals mesh well with the epic instrumental work. The vocal approach is a standard death growl but they are delivered with a certain exhaustion that adds an interesting flavor to the already attention grabbing sound. If the vocal style was to be any different than it is here it would most likely change the album for the worse, the technique used on Plagueswept is just so fitting that imagining it any other way wouldn't be nearly as satisfying.

The album clocks in at just under thirty minutes but when listening it feels like it ends so quickly, but hey, time flies by when you are playing good music. From the first note played on Plagueswept all the way down to the final note atmosphere is served up in abundant amounts. With all that being said there is one thing here that does drag the album down a bit. It's been said many times about a countless number of bands but, Haiduk would be better off with a real drummer rather than a machine. The drum machine is used in a respectable manner on Plagueswept but with a flesh and blood human working the kit the album would gain some depth.

Overall with Plagueswept Haiduk has created an album that has an enormous amount of replay value. With the addition of a new drummer it wouldn't be a surprise to see Haiduk gain some serious popularity within the metal community, it is evident on Plagueswept that he definitely has the chops to take this project further. Being a skilled player is only half the battle, writing ability is the other half, fortunately Luka has tremendous skill in both fields. Highly recommended to all metal fans.

Check it out:
Haiduk's site

Blut Aus Nord- The Mystical Beast Of Rebellion (Reissue)

Blut Aus Nord is a black metal band from France. The band formed in 1994 and have since dominated the black metal scene with their brand of atmospheric annihilation. While this release may not be as good as their classic debut it is still black metal that should be held in the highest regard for it's vicious, cold atmosphere that would have most other metal musicians green with envy. This rerelease features three new epic pieces that clock in at just under thirty minutes.

The vocal performance on The Mystical Beast Of Rebellion is gut wrenching to say the least. Vindsval delivers a performance riddled with pain and struggle. The shrieks seem to be very distant and faded creating the effect of someone stranded in the woods calling out for help only to be abandoned and forgotten. The style brought forth is extremely fitting to the wicked conglomeration of sounds that is known as Blut Aus Nord.

The guitar tone used here is very raw and distorted but fits the tone of the album itself quite well. Tremolo picking is used a fair amount and manages to go by without becoming tedious. The Mystical Beast Of Rebellion proves to be an trance inducing album in some sections in the same manner as some of Electric Wizard's material (Dopethrone). The song structures are repetitive yet effective which adds even more depth to the already mindnumbing vibe the album puts out. The twilight zone esque closer for "The Fall Chapter III" adds a great flare to the track. The drumming featured here is very standard. It stays at a nearly constant pace throughout and rarely throws the listener for a loop (if ever). The shear atmosphere that is abundant in the album is more than enough to make up for this shortcoming. Sure, nothing in the performance could be deemed bad necessarily but a little variety wouldn't have hurt the album in anyway.

Overall Blut Aus Nord deliver what most fans have to come to expect, and that is in fact, extremely high quality black metal. This album is the musical equivalent of holding the reaper's hand as he guides you to the afterlife, this is the eye of a tornado. The album manages to have so many chaotic elements but be relaxing all in the same stride. If The Mystical Beast Of Rebellion wasn't enough the three new tracks featured are worth checking this out on their own. Highly recommended to fans of black metal and all things that reek of atmosphere.