The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Powerstars]

Thanks for the kind words, TH. Hopefully it'll be fixed up soon.

[Trollheart]

Almost October guys! Time to come in from the cold nights, squeeze up to the fire and switch on the old desktop or laptop, start writing those .... ah have it your own way! A small improvement this week, but we're seeing those halcyon days of about a month ago receding in the rearview now, when there was so much to talk about and so much to write about. Well, let's see what we got this week.

Always dependable, and a great way to start an alphabetic listing, Anteater is back advising us that we should check out a Devin Townsend-like band called The Omega Experiment. Read, and hear, all about it in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html

After lambasting their "Temper temper" album last week, Ki is looking back at Bullet for my Valentine's "Poison" and wondering why the band lost their way so badly? He's also checking out if Franz Ferdinand are Worth The Hype? Hey, when he says http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html he damn well means it!

Back after an absence of just over five months, Psychedub Dude is running something he says will be a weekly offering, that he calls Jamcast. Want to know more? Step this way http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ool-stuff.html!

For some time now I've been bending your collective ears about the upcoming Metal Month. Well, you have to suffer a mere one day more, as it'll be starting on Tuesday. I've been working really hard on it (still am) to make it a real event, so take the time to drop by and see what you think. Until then, a few more entries hit http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html this week, including reviews of albums by Terence Trent D'Arby, the Beautiful South and It Bites (take THAT, all of you who hated the title track in Rez's mixtape!) as well as another descent into Eurovision Hell. After tomorrow there will be nothing in this journal for a month that is not metal. Seriously. I'm even writing the reviews with a pen made out of carbon steel. Honestly. Well, ok maybe not. But it is going to be a heavy month.

As for http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html, well I have a lot --- and I mean a lot! --- planned for this journal, but right now there's some more Futurama and the final episode of chapter one of "House of Cards". Details soon of at least four new series starting up, the return of Supernatural and more!

Unknown Soldier doesn't know what a slowdown is. I think he has only two speeds, and they're both top. In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html he's picked his album of the year for 1978, and if you want to know what it is --- you may not guess! --- head to his journal now.

So we come to the end of the final update for September, which if I'm honest has been a very disappointing month compared to others, but then as was pointed out to me, school and college start back and the footy is back on the telly (if you're a Brit or an Irishman) so I guess people have other priorities. Next week's update is of necessity going to feature a lot of my own entries, as I intend to post at least two entries per day during Metal Month, and there won't be a day goes by without an update. Or two. Maybe even three. Mods, beware! Make me a semi-mod now, or on your own heads be it!

Expecting to have a very sore neck from all the headbanging for the next four weeks, I'll see yaz all on Sunday.
Till then,
Toodles!

[Trollheart]

Well, here we are in the first week of October, as bangers explode dully in the distance and we're all reminded that Halloween is only three weeks away. And that means ... only seventy-nine shopping days left! Sorry, had to say it! It'll be upon us before we know it. Until then though, what's been happening down in the land of Journals? Not all that much I'm afraid. Here's what we do know:

With myself and Unknown Soldier, Ki is keeping the place in order and this week he's looking at a live gig from Tool he attended, and struggling with writer's block as he tries to write about Rob Zombie. Know the feeling, man! Check out his words at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html

Making a welcome return, Surell presents almost the end of his list of favourite albums in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnections.html. Short and sweet, but he's left us waiting for number one... Oh no wait: he did that, um, last year...? Connections, indeed...

Note: Any malware warnings that were being issued when people tried to access my journals this week have been stopped now. The site is clean and this should not occur again. It was a situation outside my control, but nevertheless I apologise and hope it didn't spoil things for you. If by some chance someone is still getting these warnings, please let me know. Thanks.

Since I've been bleating on about it for about a month or more now, you'll no doubt realise that Metal Month is here, and I've been busy trying to squeeze it all in (ooer!) and get the widest scope on Heavy Metal that I could. So if you thought I was going to wimp out and not review "real" metal bands, let me drop a few names: Death. Carcass. Candlemass. Kreator. Morbid Angel. Yeah, Morbid Angel. I don't say I'll like everything I review, but I'm giving them all their chance. From Death Metal to Doom Metal and Nu-Metal to Thrash, Prog Power and even Melodic, and despite what I said originally, even Black Metal is getting a look in. They're all there, and more besides. Plus the ABC of Heavy Metal, The Batlord's Top 10 Poseur Bands, and a whole hell of a lot more. It's all to be found in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, with much more to come over the next three weeks.

With the amount of work and attention going into Metal Month, you'll forgive me I hope if my other journals suffer. And they have. All I have in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html this week is another episode from "Les Revenants" and an updated list of the shows I'm working on and planning in the future. However, mad bastard that I am and glutton for punishment, I've started yet another new journal. To find out what http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...m-reviews.html is all about, clicky clicky!

As ever, you can depend on Unknown Soldier, and as 1978 winds on in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html he's discussing albums by UFO, Judas Priest and Van Halen. Oooh yeah!


And once again that brings us to the end of another update, with sadly still not too much to talk about. No point in special sections, as there isn't enough going on to justify them. Hope to see more entries next week, but at any rate if you're even mildly interested in Heavy Metal don't forget to drop by during Metal Month: there's a beer waiting at the bar for you, on the house!

Till next week then,
Toodles!

[Trollheart]

I think it's important that everyone --- everyone --- check the latest entry in Ego Tripping and lend Steph your support. You may not all read it usually, or you may, but guys she needs our help so please take a few seconds, click the link and give her your help. You'll see what I mean when you get there.

This is a time to prove we're a real community, not just a bunch of music-loving nerds. A member is in pain and needs our help. Let's offer it. Please.
Thanks.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Since I've been bleating on about it for about a month or more now, you'll no doubt realise that Metal Month is here, and I've been busy trying to squeeze it all in (ooer!) and get the widest scope on Heavy Metal that I could. So if you thought I was going to wimp out and not review "real" metal bands, let me drop a few names: Death. Carcass. Candlemass. Kreator. Morbid Angel. Yeah, Morbid Angel. I don't say I'll like everything I review, but I'm giving them all their chance. From Death Metal to Doom Metal and Nu-Metal to Thrash, Prog Power and even Melodic, and despite what I said originally, even Black Metal is getting a look in. They're all there, and more besides. Plus the ABC of Heavy Metal, The Batlord's Top 10 Poseur Bands, and a whole hell of a lot more. It's all to be found in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, with much more to come over the next three weeks.

You've had a few odd choices, but if you reviewed Swansong then I will consider your Carcass review to be irrelevant.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You've had a few odd choices, but if you reviewed Swansong then I will consider your Carcass review to be irrelevant.

Nope: "Heartwork". Not that I think it makes much of a difference. Yes I've had odd choices but I did ask for help and CERTAIN PEOPLE were too busy to help me so I had to make my own determinations. Definitely in some cases I chose the "easier" or more well-known albums, but I think I did ok all in all.

Mind you, you won't be happy till I listen to "Scream bloody gore", will you?

[Trollheart]

Before I get to this week's update, I'd just like to reiterate what I said above. This goes way beyond music and into a very dark and uncomfortable place, none of which I intend to discuss without her permission out here in the open, but due to the nature of the event I won't be featuring Junkyard Donner's update to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-tripping.html this week. However I do strongly encourage you all to read what she has written and then, if you feel as anyone who reads such a thing should, send Stephanie your support in whatever way you feel best suits. I'm sure she would appreciate it. That's all I will say on the matter, and hope I'm not overstepping my bounds.

As to the other journals, well Anteater is looking at a strange movie directed by Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html while

doggedly refusing to give in to the general slump in activity around these here parts, Ki has several updates to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html, with a rant about cover versions of classic songs, a look into the future and another song that's stuck in his head. Good man, Ki! There's only a few of us left, it would seem...

... literally. I'm up next, and with Metal Month in full swing some of my other journals have perforce (it's an old word, meaning "as a result" or "unavoidably due to this") suffered, though I've done what I can to keep them from falling off the front page. Plenty to get excited about in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html of course, with reviews of albums by, among others, Sepultura, Morbid Angel, Kreator, Entombed, In Flames and Doomsword. Also new albums from Stratovarius and Orphaned Land, as well as the continuing ABC of Heavy Metal, the Metal that Made Me and more, including links back to some old metal reviews I did way back when. Still lots to come of course.

The other journal I've been keeping up to date is my TV one, and in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html you'll find the final episode in season one of Spooks, with the same due early next week for The New Statesman, and that promised return of Supernatural as it heads into season two. I've also reviewed by first album in my new journal, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...m-reviews.html, so swing by and see how wrong I got it. And did I get it wrong, let me tell you!

Valiantly bringing up the rear as ever is Unknown Soldier, who despite some caustic comments in my main journal is still The Man, and stuck deep in 1978, where he's reviewing albums by Van Halen and Rainbow.

And so we finish up another weekly update. Beginning to turn very much into a case of "the usual suspects" these days! Oh well, as I said (and keep telling myself) maybe the dark winter nights drawing in will encourage more people to write. Or perhaps not. Either way, whatever happens, I'll be here to report it.

Till next week
Toodles!

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Valiantly bringing up the rear as ever is Unknown Soldier, who despite some caustic comments in my main journal is still The Man

Caustic!!! It's called keeping you on your toes and not letting you rest on your laurels

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Nope: "Heartwork". Not that I think it makes much of a difference. Yes I've had odd choices but I did ask for help and CERTAIN PEOPLE were too busy to help me so I had to make my own determinations. Definitely in some cases I chose the "easier" or more well-known albums, but I think I did ok all in all.

Mind you, you won't be happy till I listen to "Scream bloody gore", will you?

It totally makes a difference. Not that you'd like Swansong, but they are completely different albums. Swansong is probably more like the entombed album you reviewed. And you have pleased my by reviewing Heartwork. The purists can say what they want but Heartwork is superior to Necrotism and is one of the most fantastic and unique extreme metal albums I've ever heard. Almost like if Judas Priest went death metal.

[Trollheart]

I wouldn't go jumping to any conclusions just yet, but it may just be that the simmering, smouldering dark mountain that has been the Journals Section for the last month or more is counting down towards eruption in a volcano of ideas and entries. Maybe. At any rate, there are a few updates this week, as well as (gasp!) a new journal from an old and respected member. Let's see what it's all about then, shall we?

Anteater is looking at progressive metal, with a review of Queensryche's "Promised land", as well as a plug for Metal Month! Nice one, Ant! You'll find it all here in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html

That new journal whereof I spake is from our old friend Engine, and he's started delving into http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html, with so far contributions from Siege, Carcass and Cattle Decapitation. Um. Expect it to get only more brutal! (No, it's spelled correctly)...

Ki is staying the course, and in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html he and I are having something of a difference of opinion over Axxis's cover of the Yes classic "Owner of a lonely heart". Apart from that, he's got another song stuck in his head and is looking at his friends Pg.Lost again. Oh yeah, and the new Trivium album gets his attention too.

While his better half is rifling her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html and digging out gems from Iron Butterfly, Ric Ocasek and the Stones, among others.

A broken computer doesn't keep Powerstars down! He's using his 3DS to make the occasional update, and this week in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html he's got a review of "Wasting light" by the Foos. Good on ya mate!

And so we come back to me. As Metal Month enters its third week in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, we have reviews of albums from System of a Down, Moonsorrow, Bathory, Trivium, Satyricon, new albums from Sabbath and Megadeth, as well as another fall into the Meat Grinder, a Triple Box Set featuring Helloween, more of the Metal That Made Me and a whole lot more besides.

Apart from that, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html there's (finally!) the promised return of Supernatural for season two, while The New Statesman season one wraps up, and I've even managed to get something reviewed for http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html, with an album from a prog act called Willowglass.

And as ever, Unknown Soldier holds the line as he continues http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html through 1978, with more Judas Priest, live efforts from AC/DC and Ted Nugent, more albums that failed to be included as they did not reach his high standards, and even a heavy metal soundtrack album!

In other news: DJChameleon tells me he's working on material for his journal which should see the light of publication soon, and the lovely Vanilla has hinted she may grace us with her stunning presence, so perhaps things are beginning to look up.

Or am I just dreaming all this? Was that an alarm clock I heard? Time to get up already?
Fingers crossed for next week.
Till then,
Toodles!