Abigail is back on. After taking a hiatus to clear my head, complete my demo, and recover from a goddamn hard drive crash, we're back in action.
I've completed a fresh new 3rd draft which Joel should be reading...right about now hopefully! It clocks in at about 112 pages. It will probably have to be whittled down, but I'm glad that we have more than less. It means there's a story here somewhere. Now we just have to keep chiseling away.
Back to work!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
In the Works: Fratricide Demo (EP) Part 5
The Fratricide demo/ep is pretty much complete and now we're just waiting on getting it printed and distro'd.
What does the final product sound like? A demo. A somewhat higher production value demo than most, but a demo nonetheless. Frustration has been a continuous part of putting together a simple 4-song product. I won't go into details. I'm not a perfectionist, but I am nit-picky. I've nit-picked a LOT of stuff. From liner notes for the CD to the final mix itself. There comes a point where you just have to accept what you have and move on.
Will there be a full-length Fratricide? Rob is pushing forward with writing lyrics and is involving himself in writing the music for two song titles I created: "Preparing the Grinder for Angelic Remains" and "Through Scorched Heavenly Valleys, We March". Meanwhile I haven't been doing anything except concentrating on script writing and filmmaking. I haven't taken out my guitar since recording finalized in mid-May.
To tell the truth, I'm not that interested in pursuing it further. If the demo gets "rave" reviews, that's great. If it gets panned, who cares. I set out to do what has been in the works for years and now it's almost complete. Longevity and continuing Fratricide was never on my mind when starting this. Only to create something and have fun with it. The fun part faded a while ago.
So I guess if you're reading this after the release, like it, and are disappointed by what I wrote. Let me know. I give in easily to peer pressure if comments are positive. If you hate what you heard and need steel wool cue tips to jam into your ears, let me know that as well. I'll politely say "thank you" and will wish you a belated or early happy birthday. That's how I roll. Now let's play some Yahtzee.
What does the final product sound like? A demo. A somewhat higher production value demo than most, but a demo nonetheless. Frustration has been a continuous part of putting together a simple 4-song product. I won't go into details. I'm not a perfectionist, but I am nit-picky. I've nit-picked a LOT of stuff. From liner notes for the CD to the final mix itself. There comes a point where you just have to accept what you have and move on.
Will there be a full-length Fratricide? Rob is pushing forward with writing lyrics and is involving himself in writing the music for two song titles I created: "Preparing the Grinder for Angelic Remains" and "Through Scorched Heavenly Valleys, We March". Meanwhile I haven't been doing anything except concentrating on script writing and filmmaking. I haven't taken out my guitar since recording finalized in mid-May.
To tell the truth, I'm not that interested in pursuing it further. If the demo gets "rave" reviews, that's great. If it gets panned, who cares. I set out to do what has been in the works for years and now it's almost complete. Longevity and continuing Fratricide was never on my mind when starting this. Only to create something and have fun with it. The fun part faded a while ago.
So I guess if you're reading this after the release, like it, and are disappointed by what I wrote. Let me know. I give in easily to peer pressure if comments are positive. If you hate what you heard and need steel wool cue tips to jam into your ears, let me know that as well. I'll politely say "thank you" and will wish you a belated or early happy birthday. That's how I roll. Now let's play some Yahtzee.
In the Works: Last Four Series Part II
This project has been put on hold indefinitely. To the folks that were interested in it, thanks for your inquiries. I'll stay in touch should it ever get off the ground again.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Dictation...
I told a fellow employee that I flirt around with to "take a note." Then I told her to write that she was "a jerk." She kept writing down everything I said. Below is the following transcription of that dictation:
"Jason is a jerk. Hahahahahahaha"
"You are writing more than I told you."
"I don't pay you to write extra!"
"Cough" <~~I coughed and she wrote that too. What a jerk.
"Jason is a jerk. Hahahahahahaha"
"You are writing more than I told you."
"I don't pay you to write extra!"
"Cough" <~~I coughed and she wrote that too. What a jerk.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Ah Paris!
Here's the MSN article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19102663/?gt1=10056
But I'll be honest and say that I laughed and laughed and laughed when I read that she screamed "Mom!" in court and "It's not fair!" No, it sure isn't is it honey? Now at least you'll get a slight glimpse into the lives of people who will never know such wealth or privilege. And while it's certainly not your fault that you were born into it baby, you definitely had a choice as to how you conducted yourself. Now THAT my friends is fucking hot!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!
But I'll be honest and say that I laughed and laughed and laughed when I read that she screamed "Mom!" in court and "It's not fair!" No, it sure isn't is it honey? Now at least you'll get a slight glimpse into the lives of people who will never know such wealth or privilege. And while it's certainly not your fault that you were born into it baby, you definitely had a choice as to how you conducted yourself. Now THAT my friends is fucking hot!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!
Paradise Lost - In Requiem
I posted this on the WMA, figured I'd throw it up here as well.
Paradise Lost has been my proverbial "white whale" over the years. I was an adoring fan of the slow, doom/death grind of their first release Lost Paradise and soon became a rabid fan after their slow, yet much catchier second release Gothic. It wasn't until Shades of God though that we first started hearing significant changes in sound and technique. Still creating an ambient sense of doom with simplistic, yet beautiful guitar riffs and percussion, we started hearing chorus' and tighter song structure. Nick Holmes voice changed to reveal a vocalist who could not only growl with the best of them, but could also give any metal vocalist (like James Hetfield) of the era a run for their money. Icon and Draconian Times would follow which converted me into an adoring, rabid, fanatical fan of Paradise Lost. Draconian Times had it all. Catchy riffs, Hetfieldesque type vocals, memorable chorus', yet still, STILL the music retained the doom-laden feel of their previous recordings. Paradise Lost was my absolute favorite band of the 1990s hands down. I can say that without hesitation.
Then the dark times came... The release following Draconian Times didn't even sound like Paradise Lost. Gone were the rough-edged vocals and heavy, doom-laden riffs. The vox were clean and wimpy, the guitars were pushed into the back as electronic drums and tones entered the mix. Yes, those were very dark times. Times when I wrote Paradise Lost off much like I did with Metallica. They had lost their way and become some Sisters of Mercy cover band.
But unlike Metallica, Paradise Lost is back! Suddenly we have guitars back in the mix AND they're chunky and thick, creating a wall of sound. They've reached back in time and pulled from their first couple of releases and built upon it. No, In Requiem is NOT Draconian Times, but what it is, is a step back in the right direction. Elements of their "dark times" releases still hover around, but luckily are integrated well. In Requiem is the album that should have followed Draconian Times. It is an evolution of the Paradise Lost sound that feels natural and progressive. The "dark times" releases felt like a totally different band. It seemed like they fell into this gothic new wave well and were being sodomized by kids in top hats and fake fangs.
In some ways In Requiem is more reminiscent of Lost Paradise as the tunes aren't as catchy as say, Icon or Draconian Times and have this morose pall of doom that falls over them. Songs like "Never for the Damned" and "The Enemy" definitely have this intense mood about them. The tune "Requiem" is probably the highlight of the album and falls smack in the middle. Kind of like this climax mid-album instead of at the end. Unfortunately, since the climax is in the middle, the rest of the tunes are good, but not great. In fact, on the last song "Your Own Reality" it feels like the guys have just run out of steam and is definitely my least favorite.
Despite some of the weaknesses I pointed out, In Requiem is still a pretty strong album and is a nice nostalgic reminder that Paradise Lost is one of the most underrated bands in heavy metal.
Paradise Lost has been my proverbial "white whale" over the years. I was an adoring fan of the slow, doom/death grind of their first release Lost Paradise and soon became a rabid fan after their slow, yet much catchier second release Gothic. It wasn't until Shades of God though that we first started hearing significant changes in sound and technique. Still creating an ambient sense of doom with simplistic, yet beautiful guitar riffs and percussion, we started hearing chorus' and tighter song structure. Nick Holmes voice changed to reveal a vocalist who could not only growl with the best of them, but could also give any metal vocalist (like James Hetfield) of the era a run for their money. Icon and Draconian Times would follow which converted me into an adoring, rabid, fanatical fan of Paradise Lost. Draconian Times had it all. Catchy riffs, Hetfieldesque type vocals, memorable chorus', yet still, STILL the music retained the doom-laden feel of their previous recordings. Paradise Lost was my absolute favorite band of the 1990s hands down. I can say that without hesitation.
Then the dark times came... The release following Draconian Times didn't even sound like Paradise Lost. Gone were the rough-edged vocals and heavy, doom-laden riffs. The vox were clean and wimpy, the guitars were pushed into the back as electronic drums and tones entered the mix. Yes, those were very dark times. Times when I wrote Paradise Lost off much like I did with Metallica. They had lost their way and become some Sisters of Mercy cover band.
But unlike Metallica, Paradise Lost is back! Suddenly we have guitars back in the mix AND they're chunky and thick, creating a wall of sound. They've reached back in time and pulled from their first couple of releases and built upon it. No, In Requiem is NOT Draconian Times, but what it is, is a step back in the right direction. Elements of their "dark times" releases still hover around, but luckily are integrated well. In Requiem is the album that should have followed Draconian Times. It is an evolution of the Paradise Lost sound that feels natural and progressive. The "dark times" releases felt like a totally different band. It seemed like they fell into this gothic new wave well and were being sodomized by kids in top hats and fake fangs.
In some ways In Requiem is more reminiscent of Lost Paradise as the tunes aren't as catchy as say, Icon or Draconian Times and have this morose pall of doom that falls over them. Songs like "Never for the Damned" and "The Enemy" definitely have this intense mood about them. The tune "Requiem" is probably the highlight of the album and falls smack in the middle. Kind of like this climax mid-album instead of at the end. Unfortunately, since the climax is in the middle, the rest of the tunes are good, but not great. In fact, on the last song "Your Own Reality" it feels like the guys have just run out of steam and is definitely my least favorite.
Despite some of the weaknesses I pointed out, In Requiem is still a pretty strong album and is a nice nostalgic reminder that Paradise Lost is one of the most underrated bands in heavy metal.
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