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

Update for week ending September 29 2013
 

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! :laughing:

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!

Update for week ending October 6 2013
 

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!

Special announcement. Please read!
 

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.

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 :shycouch: 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? ;)

Update for week ending October 13 2013
 

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!

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

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.

Update for week ending October 20 2013
 

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!

Update for week ending October 27 2013
 

I tell you one thing: it's just as well we shelved the idea of the League Table! Would have made very boring reading in recent months. :shycouch:

Well, the slight groundswell has, er, ground to something of a halt. Very little happening in Journal Land, but what there is I will regale you with if you look below...

Ki's getting to be top dog these days, and rightly so. He's putting a lot of work into http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html, with this week another song stuck in his head, a further album from his favourite 15 and a debate on whether or not Nirvana are worth the hype? You're the man down in the engine room, Ki! And speaking of Engine, no real updates this week but I'm sure we'll hear from him very soon. Looking forward to it.

And where Ki goes can his lady(islingering) be far behind? Jogging her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html this week is Roxy Music, on whom she's doing a special. Do I expect Lou Reed next week, given the tragic news?

Look out! Look out! There's a thief about! Powerstars is so lazy that he's decided to rip off some of my ideas for http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html. Well, we'll just see what these high-priced high-powered lawyers have to say about that, won't we? See you in court! ;) :jailed:

And speaking of me, as I never stop doing, Metal Month begins to draw to a close this week. It will actually carry well into next week, as it runs to the end of October, which is Thursday. But we're on the way out of the dark wonderfully noisy tunnel that is Heavy Metal, soon to emerge, blinking, into the sunlight of mainstream rock. Until then, you can console yourselves with reviews of albums by Anthrax, Motorhead, Korn, Slipknot, Amon Amarth, Metallica and more, as well as the last few letters in Trollheart's ABC of Heavy Metal. Oh, and one last chance to fall into the Meat Grinder! It's all happening at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html

And that's not all. Well, it sort of is. But nevertheless, I've managed to get the next three episodes of Babylon 5 into http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html, as well as signposting yet another new series due to start.

And who else but Unknown Soldier would we expect to play us out? http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html brings you two great albums from Scorpions and Thin Lizzy. How can you resist? Man.

And that once again is it for another weekly update. Gettin' a little predictable in terms of contributors, boys and ghouls (getting in early for Halloween, y'see?)! Anyone else feel like getting out their keyboard and ramming headphones on, giving us an update? Or maybe you think you can do it better, and want to start your own journal? New members are always welcome here, and there will be cake and biscuits at your house warming party, so why not join up?

(Note: There will be neither cake nor biscuits at the housewarming party. Nor will there be a housewarming party.)

Till next week then,
Toodles!

Update for week ending November 3 2013
 

Before we get to this week’s update, a mystery. Somehow one of the posts in my main journal has disappeared. Thanks to the ever-vigilant Batlord I was made aware that my review of “Heartwork” by Carcass is no longer available. I have no idea where it went, why or how, but am working on getting it reinstated. It’s a worry though, and if anyone else has found entries missing or deleted from their journals, please let me know.

Okay then, that’s that. On with the update.

It’s starting to get a little more respectable round here. Some old favourites are returning, with even a new journal being started this week. Here’s how it breaks down.

The Batlord returns in triumph with the screaming, shredding, pounding sound of … rap music? Juggalo? Seems the phrase http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...lks-about.html has never been so appropriate, as the Lord of Metal takes a break from things heavy and loud and investigates the likes of Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid. Great writing as ever, though the music, er, sucks. (Disclaimer: the views expressed here are those of Trollheart solely and do not represent those of others associated with The Playlist of Life … oh wait. Yes they do.)

I’m not sure how happy his Batness is about sharing space with someone whose journal is called http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html, but that’s what Briks is calling his first journal, and it looks to be an interesting one, with a review of Helloween. And spiders. Lots of spiders…

DJ is back too, as promised, and if you take http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...chameleon.html you’ll find a review of A$ap Ferg in a new “Razor’s Edge”. More to come soon, he assures us.

A man who has been busily beavering away over the last few weeks and keeping things going here at Journal Land, Ki is rating his favourite albums of this year as he tells us http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html, kicking off with Daft Punk (must give that a listen, see what all the fuss is about) and Killswitch Engage.

Also returning this week is Mondo Bungle, who has some very personal writings in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...istortion.html

while Powerstars is paying his own respects to the late lamented Lou Reed in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html

Metal Month is over! After thirty-one days of power chords, screams and growls, pounding rhythms and jarring guitar solos --- most of which I’ve loved --- my first monthly special has come to a close. Hopefully a successful one. Rounding out the month are reviews of albums from Slayer, Overkill, Bring me the Horizon, Maiden and Lamb of God, among others. The ABC of Heavy Metal wraps up and we bring the curtain down in fine style. After all that it’s time to tone everything down for a little while my ears get back to normal, so we’re looking at the new album from Visage to ease us into the first days after Metal Month. This is, of course, as I’m sure you know, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-journal.htmll, where so much more is planned, some of which may actually happen… :shycouch:

And what about http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html, I hear you cry? Do I hear you cry? No? Just the wind then… At any rate, we’re wrapping up season one of Futurama, so go check it out.


And who else but Unknown Soldier can tell you about the best rock music of 1978? Head to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html and drool at reviews of Molly Hatchet and some more live albums from that year.

Which takes us, inevitably, to the end of another journal update and, interestingly enough, to the beginning of a new month. Glad to see some movement in these here parts, hope to see more next week. Oh, and if you see someone dressed in a stripy jumper, moving furtively with a sack slung over his shoulder, don’t pounce on him thinking he has my missing Carcass review: that’ll just be Powerstars, making off with some more of my ideas for his “special”. Don’t worry: I’ve got his number. He’ll be getting a very nasty surprise in the post real soon. Yeah, real soon… :laughing:

Till next week,

Toodles!

Ten bucks says you've never even listened to either of them. :p:

I had the same thing happen to me once with the deleted entry a while ago. I had posted it. I had seen the post. But when I came on an hour or so later, it was gone. I think it glitched or something.

Yes TH, listen to Daft Punk. :3 I reccomend their latest album.

Ten bucks is on the way! Still, you yourself said it was crap so I'm only going on what you wrote. Not the kind of music I'd be in the least interested in, surprise surprise!
Yeah thanks Ki: seems to be one of those mysteries that will never be solved, like Stonehenge or the Pyramids or why anyone listens to Miley Cyrus...:p:
It's on the list and may be in the "Gobsmacked" section if it's as good as 99% of people here claim it to be...

Update for week ending November 10 2013
 

It's getting colder. Snow is beginning to fall in soft drifts on the roofs of the little houses down in Journal Land, and inside those little houses, the usual suspects are hunched over their computers, whispering strange incantations such as "Work you bastard!" and "Windows Eight my arse!" not to mention the ever-present "Oh WHY didn't I save that document?" Let's peek in on them, but be quiet, for they are subtle, and quick to anger. Well, maybe not subtle. But very quick to anger. And they keep a lot of sharp objects handy, just in case. Especially this one...

The Batlord continues to investigate the concept of "Juggalos" and Psycopathic Records (appropriately enough) with more from ICP, Blaze ma dead homey and other acts I'll never listen to. Whatever the case though, his writing is always worth reading.

Briks compares two of his favourite Black Sabbath albums in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html

Two "Razor's Edge" features from the chamelonic one in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...chameleon.html, with Nine Inch Nails and Goodie Mob,

Engine is continuing to educate us all on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html, lamenting the lack of success and demise of a band called Mare

But the prize for the most work done this week goes without question to Ki, who is enthusing over Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree, while also waxing lyrical about a lot of videogame music AND looking at another of his top fifteen albums! It's all here in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html

Ladyislingering has her usual batch of favourite videos recalled from her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html

and Powerstars is looking at the idea of bands breaking up in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html

Personally, I've been taking it a little easy after the stress of Metal Month, though you can be assured I'm working very hard behind the scenes on upcoming material. All I have though in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html for you this week is a review of Roger Hodgson's second album, while over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html there's another episode of "The Onedin Line", final notes on the end of season one of "Futurama" and another episode from "Les Revenants". Also, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html is back, with a review of the new album from Ghost Riders.

Unknown Soldier pounds his way into 1979 in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html, bringing us reviews of albums by Rainbow and Aerosmith: getting closer to the eighties, my man!

So that's it for this week. I'm sure everyone has lots planned for the coming week and months --- I know I have! --- particularly as Christmas hovers ever closer. You know me: always a special effort for the yuletide season! Hope to see some of you back who have been away before then, and of course anybody who wishes to join our merry band and open up their own journal is more than welcome to.

Till next week then,
Toodles!

Oh psh, I only do so much in my journal because I enjoy writing about a lot of things. I don't know if people really read it as it's mostly stuff that interests me, but hey, it's a place for me to dump my thoughts and I have a lot of fun with it.

Update for week ending November 17 2013
 

http://www.picturesof.net/_images_30...603-082042.jpg
I can’t blame anyone for not updating this week. If you read the “Tech support” thread (and sure why wouldn’t you?) you’ll already be familiar with my tale of woe, which resulted in my spending several days offline while I tried to figure out the problems with my computer, resulting in my having to completely reinstall Windows 7, a horror most of us would rather avoid and which it turns out was unnecessary, had I the requisite knowledge to have figured out what was going on.

But that’s all in the past now, and while I struggle to catch up --- even the update is a day late! --- others have been working busily away, so let’s see what they’ve been up to while I was grappling with the intricacies of Microsoft Security Essentials and hard drives without the proper plugs…

Anteater is enthusing about the debut album from Seal, all that time ago, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html

Come back to us, Batlord! Metal needs you! But though I cry and shout down the rabbit hole down which he was last seen disappearing, seems His Batship is deep into his juggalo phase, and continuing to explore the mysteries of Psychopathic Records, with a look at Anybody Killa (charming), Dark Lotus, more ICP and a somewhat personal reflection on his younger days. Yeah yeah but when is the Batcave reopening for business, is what I say? Until then, you can catch all this juggalo nonsense where http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...lks-about.html

Briks is looking at Helloween’s classic “Keeper of the seven keys” as well as Sabbath’s debut deep in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html

DJ is kickin’ it with no less than three “Razor’s Edge”s, including Chvches and (no it ISN’T a spelling mistake, annoying built-in spellchecker! No I DIDN’T mean Churches! Please don’t auto correct for me I SAID please DON’T…) MGMT, and also has a very personal piece of writing about his mother. Feel for ya man, know just what you’re going through. Hang tough… Read it all by taking http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...chameleon.html

Ki has just realised that even though his journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html is apparently titled after a song by Elliot Smith (I didn’t know that) he has yet to run a feature on the man, who happens to be one of his favourites. Well, he’s setting that right this week. Also looking at AC/DC to see if they’re “Worth the hype” and finishing his list of top fifteen albums with entries from Devin Townsend (of course), Alesana and who else but Mr. Smith? Lots more to read too so head on over there: he’s becoming one of the most prolific writers in the journals section!

And his other half is scanning her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html wherein she’s written a feature on the Carpenters. Great group and a fine writeup.

Some more personal observations from Mondo Bungle in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...istortion.html

while Powerstars is gearing up for the festive season, announcing “The 12 days of Alternative”. Sounds interesting. Read about it here http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html

As I say, I’ve been very remiss in updating this week for reasons beyond my control. All I’ve managed is a new “Pet hates” in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html --- hey! Be thankful! This almost became the first week when there were no updates from me! Lots planned for this week, especially as Christmas looms closer…

In the final year of the seventies, Unknown Soldier is taking on Thin Lizzy, Van Halen and Gillan: bet I know who wins! Step this way! http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html Getting closer to the year of NWOBHM! Can’t wait to see how he reviews that!

So after a brief hiccup I’ll be back to updating as regularly as you’ve come to expect from me, and seems the other denizens of Journal City are (yeah yeah I know I said Journal Land, but this sounds better. Anyone who can come up with a snappier title do let me know!) getting their acts together, so the creative juices are flowing again and keyboards are tapping as we all head inexorably into the Season of Goodwill. Hopefully it can only get better from here on in.

Sorry for the delay with the update. Till next week, at the usual time,
Toodles!

I'v actually had the next chapter almost done for months now, I've just not got around to it yet.

Thanks for the mention TH! More details shall be coming soon..

Wot? No update?
 

They do say that the biggest single threat facing the internet these days is real life. What? They don't say that? Hmm. Excuse me one moment .. Hello? Patent office...?

Ahem.

"They do say that the biggest single threat facing the internet these days is real life." (Copyright Trollheart MMIII. All Rights Reserved)

Seriously. apologies for the lack of update last week but I have had the week from Hell and really, MB and the web was the furthest thing from my mind. I don't want to just throw together a quick post as I can see a lot of people have put serious work into their journals, and I didn't want to just skim through them in order to meet a deadline; they deserve to be properly read and appreciated, and reported.

So I'll hold off and do a double update at the end of this week, which will then end up being the last update for November and the first for December.

Sorry if anyone was looking for their work to be immortalised last Sunday but I will definitely get to it, and the update will be the better for waiting.

Again, apologies but when your sister needs to go to hospital, three time in one week almost, I hope you can all understand this, and everything else, takes a very low priority.

Thanks for your patience: I shall return!

Minor disappointment, but I really hope your sister is okay. Also, sometimes real life has to come first, after all. ;)

Yeah man, we'll be waiting...:)

I understand completely since I was in a similar situation but it didn't end well for me. My mother ended up passing away at the hospital.

Thanks guys for your good wishes. Karen seems to be on the mend now (fingers crossed).

DJ, my condolences on the passing of your mother. I hope it was as peaceful as possible and no unfinished business was left behind. Hang in there, man.

Take your time, man. Your sanity and healing is more important than our egos and silly journals. Hopefully you can take a lot of time to unwind. :)

As the others have said your priorities quite rightly lie somewhere else, as this is just a hobby forum and not real life.

Anyway all the best to your sister.

Update for week ending December 1 2013
 

First off, I'd just like to thank everyone who posted messages of support here over the last week or so. It's really appreciated guys, thank you. Secondly, as I mentioned last week this is a double update, so covers both the last week of November and the first week of December. I won't be differentiating between posts made in let's say week one as opposed to those in week two, as I'm making this one big update, so if you posted something from November 17 to Dec 1, it'll all be treated as having been posted “this week”. Hope that's clear.

Also as I said last week, and as I had hoped, things are certainly beginning to move down in Journal Town, with two new journals being started and the return of an old favourite. I've been working hard, having made zero updates last week, to work on my journals as much as possible this week, which we will get to in due course.

Right now, it's time to see what the rest of you got up to when I wasn't here...

Briks takes us in, opening the doors to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html once again, behind which we find reviews of albums from Modest Mouse and The Smiths, while one of those new journals I mentioned is from

Butthead aka 216, who believes http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html, and sets out to prove it, with interesting dissertations on bullying and why you --- yes, you there, and you! --- are all pussies. Along the way he's invited some often heated debate (which is always good) and also managed to shoehorn in some music, such as The Get Up Kids, Cellophane, Texas is the Reason and Movielife, to name but a few. Methinks this could be one to watch!

There's some bleeding hearts going on down at Engine's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html journal, where he's musing on hippies and metalheads who want to save the planet. Sure why not? It's the only one we have. Spaceship? What spaceship? No, not in MY shed mate! You must be thinking of someone else...

Seems Journal Land wouldn't be Journal Land these days without Ki, who is certainly working hard at keeping things ticking over here. Down at his workshop, otherwise known as http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html you'll find his pick of 100 albums he enjoyed 100%, with the likes of The Sword, The Beatles and Nick Drake, as well as more videogame music, Theocracy, a feature on Runescape and more!

And of course Ladyislingering has her usual selections from her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html with no less than seven – count 'em: seven! --- selections from her Top 100 of 2009. Why 2009? Go to her journal and all will be revealed! Gotta retain some mystery... ;)

Plankton is back with his http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...r-players.html, with an intro to the great Robert Fripp. Didn't think he was that obscure? Oh well, it's your journal man, and well worth checking out I might add.

Powerstars, one of the few/only Bon Jovi fans here other than myself, has reviewed “Have a nice day” in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html. He's also starting up the 12 Days of Alternative, and foreshadowing Trollheart Rip-off Month, to air in January. Contacting my lawyers as we speak... ;)

And so to me. As I mentioned, I didn't manage to update in the last week at all, so this week I've been hard at it. In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html you'll find five more Reasons to be Cheerful (god knows I need them!), a review of Springsteen's “Darkness on the edge of town”, two brand-new sections and the beginning of Christmas with Trollheart. Things are hotting up over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html too, where we're beginning our look at some of the worst Christmas movies ever made (probably), as well as starting off the series “Mayday” and more from Frasier. There's also a return for Red Dwarf as season two gets underway. And I've managed to get a review of Steve Earle's new album in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html. Phew! Lots more to come, especially as the Christmas season gets started in earnest. Stay tuned!

Never one who has been known to take a break, it's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html as usual for Unknown Soldier, who this week is looking at Thin Lizzy and Motorhead, as we get closer to the birth of NWOBHM...

Normally that's it, but this week we have a second new journal, as William The Bloody leaps http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html with some fine music and information on The Sisters of Mercy, among others. Looking good: just don't let anyone stake ya Spike! ;)

And so ends a long-overdue update. Again, thank you for the comments and well-wishes, and I think I can safely say my sister is on the mend. Hopefully. Sorry for the delay and thanks for keeping the engines running while I was otherwise engaged. All I can say is, if you come to Ireland and get sick, make sure you can afford private healthcare! Total of FIFTY hours approx spent over three days in the hospital to find they'd messed up putting her catheter in and have it replaced, leading to an infection. Bloody Irish health service!

Anyway, thanks again and all should be back to normal for next week.
Till then,
Toodles!

Good stuff, TH. Thanks for the mention. I plan on shoehorning in much more music in the future. Hopefully I can get into some other members' journals. Not a lot of music I particularly like but I'm not exactly someone with a wide scope or musical variety either.

Hopefully just as a reader. Even though I haven't touched my music journal in months, for some reason I still worry that if I start it up again you would have the uncontrollable urge to poop all over - to borrow a phrase from Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.

Update for week ending December 8 2013
 

Been doing a lot of work on my journals this week, so no time to conceive and write a snappy intro to the update. Let’s just dive right in, shall we?

Starting us off this week is Buttheadaka216, but he’s tired (he says) and only manages a little sort of postscript to his Alkaline Trio article. Never fear, he promises much more to come in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html

We have another new journal! This time it’s Closer, who is looking at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...bient-rnb.html, with what looks like some lyrics posted this week, hers or someone else’s I don’t know but check them out. Will be keeping an eye on this.

Normally I don’t include entries posted after the Sunday 6pm local time deadline, but DJ deserves to be an exception. If you take http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...chameleon.html you’ll find an eloquent guy trying to deal with the very recent passing of his mother. Some of us, me included, know what that’s like and sadly those of you that don’t will at some point, so lend him your support, cos it’s needed at a time like this.

If it’s “Heavy Doom Metal” you want --- or possibly "Funeral Black Death Doom” --- then head to Engine’s place for some more http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html --- that’s Heavy with a capital H!

(DJ I know that might seem really harsh juxtapositioning, given your situation, and I apologise, but it’s all down to the alphabetical listing. Hope you’re not offended man…)

After all the work he’s put in over the last few months it looks like Ki is taking a break till the new year, and hasn’t he earned it? Before he goes off to enjoy the Christmas, he’s posted about the solo work of Zep’s mainman, Robert Plant, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html. Nice work Ki! See ya in 2014 mate! :wavey:

After her mega-update last week, Ladyislingering is back with part eight of her “Sounds of 2009” recalled from her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html, with music from The Cars, Patti Smith, The Alan Parsons Project and, uh, Sparks? Who woulda guessed? ;)

Plankton has news of another of the http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...r-players.html he’s looking at, with one Robert Emmanuel…

… which takes us right up to me. Christmas being the way it is, TV and films and all, I’ve been working hard on the other main journal, of which more soon, But in the meantime, things have not been slack at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, where in addition to wishing you “Have yourself a Metal little Christmas” with so far seasonal songs from Manowar, Alice Cooper and Kamelot, we’ve a full review (finally) of the album I’ve been raving about for the last few months. No, it’s not Daft Punk, in fact it’s not any kind of punk. Rod Stewart’s new one, “Time”, is the album in question, and before you laugh give it a listen. Other than that, we’ve got an album from Vangelis, another dose of MUSH and a retelling of the Battle of Britain through music. Sort of. Also, have you been collecting Trollheart’s Christmas Message? You could win a prize, you know! Check it out! http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1390653

“Christmas on the couch with Trollheart”? Now come on: how many of you ladies have put that on your list to Santa? Come on, be honest. Raise your hands. Don’t be shy. Ah. I see. Not. One. Single. One. Fine. No, no, if that’s how you want it, I’m fine with that. No, look just forget it, okay? I’m fine! Really! No! Look, I SAID I was fine, didn’t I? Can I just get on with this update now? Please? Thank you. Mutter mutter people never appreciate me grumble grumble revenge soon take all be sorry mumble nobody spared …. Huh? Oh yeah, where was I? Well, “Christmas on the couch with Trollheart”, far from being the (Ah-HEM!) fantasy of so many ladies here at MB is in fact (No, just shut UP okay! I SAID I was FINE….!) my recommendations for TV programmes you should watch out for over the Christmas. I can ony speak to Irish or UK TV of course, but already we’ve had “The Snowman”, “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” and “WIlly Wonka and the chocolate factory”, with a lot more to come as we get closer to the big day!

As well as that we have some of the worst Christmas movies ever seen, in “25 of the worst Christmas films --- ever! (probably)”, more season two Supernatural, as well as a review of classic World Cinema movie “The Seventh Seal”. Whew! Oh, and what was that about the "Battle of the Classic Christs"? Stay tuned!

Over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html Unknown Soldier is about to reveal the top album of 1979, as he sees it. Number 2 is AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”: can you guess what number one will be? No? Then click that link, man!

And just when you thought it was safe to peek inside that crypt to impress the big busty blonde who works in accounts, William the Bloody is leapin’ http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html as he finishes off his article on the Sisters of Mercy and goes headlong into one on … Blood for Blood! Like the irony there Spike, sorry William! :thumb:

It’s time to return to my
http://www.trollheart.com/quill.jpg
and I’ve chosen this one for various reasons. One, it shows the level of debate in his journal, which is certainly jumping. Two, it shows his almost encyclopaediac knowledge of his subject matter, and three, it shows the interest that has built up over time with his journal, which quite rightly is receiving its fair share of nominations for Journal of the Year in the 2013 Awards thread: go there now and register yours! Yes it’s our old mate (not so much of the old, I know!) Unknown Soldier, with this gem, posted today:

So that wraps up another update, as things begin to hot up while the weather cools down. Don’t forget, if you want to win yourself some albums check out my competition, and if you don’t then to hell with you! ;) See you all back here next week, same place, approximately same time for the next-to-last update before Christmas.

Till then, as ever,
Toodles!

Another stellar update, TH.


The Journal section is where I button up the collar and adjust my tie. But I also have the runs right now, so it's gamble you'll have to take.

Update for week ending December 15 2013
 

Oh man! Less than two weeks to Christmas! Hope Santa got my list --- what’s that you say? No, surely not! Why would anyone ---? Look, maybe I’d better just calm down and go through this week’s update before someone else upsets me. This is the next-to-last update before Crimbo, so expect many Xmas references, some appropriate, some not.

Briks starts us off this week with another visit to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html, in which he’s discovering that all he wants for Xmas is “gothic rock” as typified by The Cure and Bauhaus. Looking for more examples, so anyone familiar with that genre might let him know?

Butthead is back, all rested and ready to remind us that http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html, though his journal is being kind of taken over… There’s an interesting argument raging between The Batlord and DJ on the subject of TV doctor shows. Really! I’m not kidding! Naughty or nice? You decide. Or don't. What do I care? ;)

Perhaps one of the best-reearched and intelligently written journals in the section (but enough about me!) :D Gavin B is continuing his journey through http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...songcraft.html with articles on Mack the Knife, Blind Willie McTell and the great Scott Joplin, and more!

With Ki taking a well-earned break over Christmas, it’s up to LiL to keep the flag flying for MB’s favourite couple, so she’s wrapping up her look at 2009 while also checking out yet more T-Rex and some Lesley Gore, Slade, Golden Earring and more in her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html

Powerstars is starting off the “Twelve Days of Alternative” as he promised, with so far articles on Nirvana, Stone Roses and Smashing Pumpkins. Lots more to come in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html . Well, nine more I guess!

Everyone needs to check out the journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnections.html to bear witness to one of the best posts I have ever read. Ever. If you can’t be bothered (shame on you! No presents for you!) check below…

The spirit of Christmas is in full swing over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, where we’ve got more metal Christmas songs, this time from Far, as well as another selection from The Albatross, Room 101 which oddly enough has some people’s hackles up (!) and a very unwelcome guest comes to call! But http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html is of course where the magic happens this time of year, and we’re continuing our look through 25 really bad Christmas movies, spending more time with yours truly on the Christmas couch, while also getting in some more Babylon 5 and The Returned. Oh yeah, and Mister Burns crosses over from the Playlist to make his dread presence felt here too. Oh dear…

Unknown Soldier is of course doing the biz as ever, with reviews of albums by Kiss and some that failed to make the cut in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html. Wonder if he’ll charge into 1980 now or wait till after the festivities?

William the Bloody is wrapping up his review of Blood for Blood and moving on to Gallows. It’s all comin’ at ya, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html so don’t miss it!

And now, as promised, a return to
http://www.trollheart.com/quill.jpg

There could only be one. He doesn’t post that often, but with gems like this it’s more than worth the wait. One of the best posts I’ve ever read, full stop. Or period, as you Yanks would have it…
http://www.musicbanter.com/avatars/2...ine=1378693253
(Sorry: max character count kicked in so I had to truncate the entry. But you can read the full thing --- and you should --- in Surell's journal)

So that’s it for the next-to-last update before Christmas. Hope you’re all busily tracking down the elements of my Christmas message in my journals --- what? Not one of you? I don’t know: I go out of my way to do something fun, spend all this time, writing things backwards mutter mutter don’t know why I bother…

Anyway, stay tuned to The Couch Potato for the upcoming “Battle of the Classic Christs”, as already signposted. That’s due sometime next week. And watch out for that Monty Burns fellow! I swear, he’s the very devil! (Burns: “What? Who told you that? That’s supposed to be a sec---”)

Till next week,
Toodles!

I'm assuming he's going to take a slight break to rethink his system like he was planning. I'm looking forward to it actually. He's done such an amazing job so far that I think he's gonna knock a "change in direction" out of the park. And if he's looking for any input he can feel free to PM me for any suggestions.

I'll certainly be poking you for info on extreme stuff in the 1980s that may have slipped under my radar.

Update for week ending December 22 2013
 

Ah-hoy-hoy --- OH NO YOU DON'T! You already invaded my journals, doing your best to Scrooge up Christmas! You ain't getting back in here! SLAM!
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqtq0kUz3a1qbxntw.png
Why how dare you! I'll have you know I'm very well-connected in this city! You'll never work in the music business again, you talentless hack! You've just made a very powerful enemy, my friend...

Phew! That was close! Well, welcome to the last update before Christmas. It's turning damn cold out there --- well it is if you're in Ireland --- so let's look at the journals and see what our writers have been preparing for us in the leadup to the big day, shall we?

LIGHT BULBS! LIGHT BULBS! GET YOUR LIGHT BULBS! HALF PRICE TODAY ONLY!
http://bensix.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/mr-burns.jpg
Hmm, I could do with some light bu --- what a minute! BURNS! I thought it was you! Get off my property before I have you arrested.

Oh, you can try my friend, but I have half the doughnut-eating, coffee-swilling hippos they can police in this city in my back pocket, and quite a few judges too --- BEEDLE-BEEDLE! BEEDLE-BEEDLE! Ah, hoy-hoy? Yes this is Charles Montgomery Burns. What? Allegations of impropriety? Bribing a federal judge? What are you talking about man? All I did was ask if he had ever been to Aspen, and since I had a lodge there --- what? Yes I was under investigation for corporate corruption at the time but ... what? You can't? You do? I am? Er, excuse me just one moment ... SMITHERS!!!
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/uploa...urns-Image.png
Right, that's the end of him, though no doubt he'll be back, so let's get on with this while he's, ah, helping the police with their enquiries... ;)

Anteater is bowing out for Christmas while he concentrates on his “25 best albums of the year” thread, check it out. http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...ms-2013-a.html But in the meantime if you want to send him an album --- or movie --- to review he'll give it a go and no doubt post it next year in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html. Happy Christmas, Ant!

Before Briks closes down http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html for Christmas (presumably) he's taking a look at the music of Danzig, with some interesting conclusions.

All that doom metal has been weighing Engine down recently, so he's taking a break from http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html for a while, but before he does he's throwing out music from Thergotron and Funeral Mourning at us, and if that misses there's some Cannibal Corpse to follow!

There's something “Brand New” ;) in Butthead's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html journal, so check it out.

OMG ! OMG! OMG!!! Janszoon is back! And it's been worth waiting for! Check out the first entry in months as he gets back to chronicling http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sible-man.html with music from Rocket from the Crypt. No, go do it now! Don't wait to read the rest of the upd --- ah, I mean, go right after you've finished the update! But right after, like, not ”I'll just have this sandwich”! Fuck the sandwich!* And forget about meeting your SO to see the premiere of that new movie. THIS is IMPORTANT!


* = Not literally, of course. That would be just wrong on so many levels, to say nothing of unhygienic!

“The Twelve Days of Alternative” goes into overdrive this week as Powerstars brings us music from Muse, Jellyfish, RHCP, Pearl Jam and more!

And so we're back to me. Has anyone --- anyone? -- bothered collecting and assembling my Christmas Message? No? Not one. Thought not. Oh well: more albums for me. If you do intend entering just PM me with the full message as has been coded into my journals over the last three weeks and you could win five albums of your choice. Who am I kidding? Nobody's going to do that! Still, it was fun doing it. As for the actual content of my journals? Well not surprisingly, Christmas themes abound, but they don't completely take over either of the only two journals I'm concentrating on as the big day looms. In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html you're still being exorted to “Have yourself a Metal little Christmas”, with King Diamond putting in an appearance, and Mr Burns is trying to wreck your Christmas cheer by slagging off Wizzard's Xmas classic. There's also a review of albums by Eric Clapton and Threshold, and a new section, “A return to Childhood”.

But as ever what characterises Christmas more than anything is television, and over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html we're getting close to winding up the 25 worst Christmas films ever, spending more time on the Couch with that guy Trollheart, and finally pitchnig the two huge Biblical movies of the sixties against each other as “The Battle of the Classic Christs” sees “King of Kings” take on “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. Who will triumph? As if that wasn't enough I've also managed to cram in more Red Dwarf and Onedin Line. Honestly: I'm doing more stocking-stuffing than Santa over there!

As for Unknown Soldier, he's doing a little stocking-stuffing of his own in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html, with albums from UFO and Triumph

Leaving us with William the Bloody to close us out for Christmas, as he leaps http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html once again (yeah I know I make the same reference every week, but what else can you do with a title like that?) with more Gallows and moving on to The Smiths.

Just time then to squeeze in
http://www.trollheart.com/quill.jpg
and though his journal is relatively new, I think I have to give it to William this week for this fine but short specimen:

And so we come to the end of the update. Time to head off and root out that Christmas tree from the pile of junk in the spare room and make some sort of an attempt at straightening out its branches so I can put it up.

Thanks to all who have contributed to, and read, this thread, and we'll be back on Sunday with the final update of the year. Until then, enjoy the festivities, and if you're drinking, make sure you don't drive --- very hard to hold the glass still with your hands on the wheel! Seriously, don't even think about it. Christmas is not supposed to be a time for tragedies, for you or others. Have a great Christmas, eat plenty, drink responsibly, buy decent presents and hopefully get some, and above all, be kind to one another: it's the season of goodwill, you shower of bastards! :rofl:

Happy Christmas, one and all!
Nollaig Shona if you're in Ireland
Joyeux Noel if you're French (or Canadian)
Feliz Navidad to our Spanish friends
and if you don't believe, or don't celebrate Christmas, well, nothing then. Have an ordinary day.

I'll be back next Sunday, with a special extended edition for the final update of 2013, when I'll be looking at the high points of everyone's journal this year, checking out the newest additions and also awarding my own special versions of the Music Banter Awards. This is all assuming I don't eat too much turkey and have to be rushed to hospital to have my stomach pumped!

Till then,
Toodles!

Beautiful update as always my friend. A Happy Xmas to you too! :love:

You misread a bit, sir. I'll never be done with the heavy music, I've just had enough Doom Metal for now.
And that's Cannabis Corpse.
;)

Yeah I know. It's something of a wordplay with your journal title and the relaxation picture. I know you're not stopping reviewing/enjoying heavy music, but it fit in so well with the journal name, y'see?

As for the slipup on the band name, what can I say but "woops!" :yikes: Thanks for pointing that out before His Batship got on my case! Happy Christmas t'ya!
:)
http://crossfitbath.com/wp-content/u...anta-claus.jpg