Across the Sun - Before the Night Takes Us (Review)

So this one was.. I don't even know. It's good, but it's odd.. it's here and there. Sometimes they sound like KsE, sometimes there are these weird keys buzzing around your head. Honestly at one point I thought I was listing to Howard Jones. But it wasn't quite on. It was like Howard was having issues hitting notes or didn't warm up. With that said it's not terrible. It's got metal core elements, prog, and like opera-metal kinda vibes. There are some really good tracks on the disc and from what I can tell this is there first one. Good on them, this is a great opener that will help them push forward into the abyss that is modern metal right now. Where most bands sound very similar. Maybe the keys (even though sometimes out of place) will help them stand out and bridge a gap some folks are missing. This is one to get, but it is for sure an acquired taste, preview it first. I am actually wondering how this transfers to live performance. If they come to Calgary I will surely check them out.

Tracks to Check out:
- Tipping the Scales
- Seasons
- In the Face of Adversity
- Belay My Judgement

So I finally got around to watching this. I had really high hopes and it's not bad. The beginning is pretty well done, lots of ghost activity. I LOVE paranormal stuff as I'm sure you know by now. And I'm super curious about demonology. BUT.. for me and some other friends who are really into this stuff it full short an hour into it.

** SPOILER **

So things for went off course when it starts on about the "traveling". It's kind of a kool concept, we think they are dreams really our souls are traveling on a different plain. No problem I'm with you. Demon wants the boys body, still with ya. Show where the demon's dwelling is and having him sharpening his (metal?) claws? Losing me. Demon looks like darth maul? K I'm out.

I think they did really well with the ghost part but lost it a little. Don't get me wrong it's a good flick and I'd watch it again. But would have liked it better if it stayed a ghost story. It's tough because The Exorcist still after all these years has the corner on best ghost/demon story. This is for sure one of the best to come out in the recent years. Turn the lights out.. crank up the volume and sit back and watch this one late at night. Enjoy!

~Dog

All Shall Perish - This Is Where It Ends (Review)

So I just came across this, it's not out until July 29th says wikipedia. THIS RECORD IS FUCKING AWESOME! I have all their albums so far and everyone of them are fan-fuckin-tastic! My fav track is still from their disc The Price of Existence, it's called Wage Slaves. If you don't know it you better get on that. Start to finish this disc pounds. In my car it gave me a back massage from all the double kick. At one point I honestly had to change pants.. that's all I'm saying. This type of music is not for everyone, but it's awesome sauce in a world of bland foods. I'm not even going to give you tracks to check out. Just get this disc when it drops and sit back and enjoy! It will not disappoint unless you are a douche. And you're not a douche right?

~Dog

3 Doors Down - Time of My Life (Review)

So as I had mentioned these vets are back at it with their new disc here. We all know their older stuff and have pretty high expectations for these guys on their 5th album. Their self titled came out in 2008 with a Christmas on in between. To me.. this is not bad, BUT, it's kinda the opposite of the Pop Evil disc. The lyrics are there but the music isn't. It's still good, but it's very light rock. Which normally I love by them, but it didn't hold up to their other efforts. I'm sure the die hards will love it, it's exactly what they will be expecting from the guys. Maybe it was a bad idea to listen to it the same time as the other 2 heavier rock albums, but I wasn't blown away by it. At points I was actually bored and thought I was listening to the same song over and over again. I had to keep checking that it was changing. Not a good sign. To me it's a skip, and I heard it's not even out yet. I think it comes out this week, so check it out. I always say judge it yourself, but to me it's pass.

Tracks to check out:
- When You're Young
- Round and Round
- Heaven
- Every Time You Go

~Dog

RED - Until We Have Faces (Review)

So like I said I had never heard of these guys until a friend of mine passed them on to me. I liked it. It's kind of a hit or miss disc for me though. It goes all over. From a pop-rock vibe to an almost Nu-Metal or heavy rock sound. Don't get me wrong I like when a band has a wide range and shows they aren't one dimensional. Bands like Slipknot that very well. These guys aren't close to that heavy, but none the less. Some of the tracks remind me of Tool from a vocals stand point. While other tracks are in the same area of Chevelle or Evans Blue. All those bands are great and it's a pretty good group to be lumped in with. Then there are songs that are almost too pop for me. Maybe it's to grab the radio listening section, I have no idea, but they wouldn't make it on any of my play lists for sure. Give these guys a chance, like I said they are all over so there is surely something on here you will like. Maybe preview it before and get only the tracks you like, yadda yadda.

Tracks to check out:
- Feed The Machine
- Faceless
- Lie to Me (Denial)
- The Outside

~Dog

Pop Evil - War of Angels (Review)

First off out of the gate the album art is pretty kool, very awesome concept.. props to the artist for sure. I love a good cover, usually sets the tone for the disc I'm about to experience. This is what I have to say about these guys, they are rockers! I love the southern rock vibe through the whole disc. I don't know if it's Leigh Kakaty's vocals or the ripping guitars, but it's just a good rocking disc. Now as a wordsmith myself there are some parts that I find painful cuz the lyrics aren't quite where they could be. Sometimes it comes off a little amature / garage band-ish. Which sometimes works cuz I do like raw emotions, and it's only their second disc, But I would like to see if more polished, and the lyrics a little more intricate.

Tracks to check out:
- Broken & Betayed
- Boss's Daughter
- Purple
- Black & Blue

~Dog

Rock Review's A Coming!

Now I don't listen to all that much rock anymore. I was a big rock/alternative guy in the 90's and in many ways that is still where my heart is. I read an article once that said whatever you listening to is your late teens early 20's is going to be your favorite type of music your whole life. Now I'm into mostly deathcore, metalcore, really heavy shit. But you put on a Nirvana disc, or something from Pearl Jam and I'm in heaven. But with that said; since those bands are so dear to my heart most rock music now sucks. Just the way I look at it folks. In many ways I think that music in general is in a sad state. You can't turn on a radio right now without hearing some whore singing about sex. I'm sure they are nice people, but they don't have anything to say. And the old adage is "sex sells". Well now that's all that is selling. Everyone wants something on that they can grind on each other to at the club. Not that there's anything too wrong with a little "Bump & Grind". But pop music is shit right now.
There are 3 rock albums that came out recently and 2 of the bands I have enjoyed previous selections by.

- Pop Evil - Had a decent album called Lipstick on the mirror come out in 2008. There is a song called "Hero" that I really liked. It was the lead off on the album and had some success on the radio I believe. These guys are posted under Post-grunge on wikipedia. With all the sub-genres now a days it's a little crazy. It's rock music.

- Red - They are an American Christian rock band that have had a couple discs come out. I had never heard of them until this was passed on to me. And before we get into things further: I don't care what religion you are, music is music. I'm not a big fan of the "Christian Rock" label that a lot of bands come out under. Who cares your beliefs. It's rock music.

- 3 Doors Down - These dudes have sold over 16 million albums world wide and tour like mad men. Everyone knows who they are from songs like Kryptonite, Be Like That, and Here Without You, Here Without You being one of my personal favs. They have a new disc out and it's chalk filled with rock music.

So I have spent the last couple days listening to nothing but rock and seeing what I like and don't. Until today I stumbled onto the new All Shall Perish disc... and have since had to change my pants, pretty much with each track. So bring on the reviews!!

~Dog

New dream!!

So I guess I spoke too soon about not having any dreams! Last night I had a doozy. It was awesome. So it starts out with me buying an old abandoned University to renovate into a house. So apparently in my dreams I am Oprah rich! Anyway and bunch of friends and I went down to check out the building and see what we will need to do to renovate it. When we get there it looks like it's in pretty good shape. I open one door and it's pitch black. All I can see are these glowing yellow eyes. Then I slip into something. I thought it was a swimming pool or something. I only went in about waist deep. I pulled myself up and the lights came on. The glowing eyes belonged to lions! dun dun daa!
Anyway this is where the dream gets wild. So the lions are my friends, they had 1 at a time fallen into the swimming pool in the dark and turned into Lions. Turned out that the swimming pool was filled with a mutagen that turned people into lions and it was this big conspiracy from this crazy doctor guy that was a professor there before it shut down. I guess they found out what he was doing, took away his licenses and shit and closed the school.
Since I had only fallen half way in I became a werewolf like beast. Half lion half human, 100% ass kicker. So I went on to save the day through defeating me lion/friends and other henchmen. Kicked the evil doctors ass and got him locked up. And that was the end.
I suppose it's a decent ending. But when I woke up I had a lot of questions. Can I change back into a human? Who cleaned up my pool of junk? I don't even know if there is like a company that deals with that.. Cuz if I pull the plug it's going to mutate everything in the sewer. Although that would make it easy for a sequel...
So after 15 mins of analyzing the dream I think I need to make this into a movie or comic book. lol.

I love dreams. Anything can happen. Bring it on!

~Dog

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Alpocalypse (Review)

So the latest disc to be passed on to me is the one the only "Weird Al" Yankovic's new one, "Alpocalypse". Now I might catch some flack for this one. But you know what.. screw you guys! LOL. We all have guilty pleasures. Al is mine. I have every album he has put out (except greatest or the food album cuz they have all the same tunes on there) and personally I think he's a freakin' genius. My obsession goes back to the days of BMG or Columbia House. You remember that shit? Where you would get 20 Cd's for a penny and then you had to buy 5 at regular price to fulfil your deal or whatever. Yeah that's where it all started. I got a bunch from there when I was young and he's just been there ever since. I might even expand this into a full review of Al himself!!

I digress. "Alpocalypse" is a great funny disc. He does what he does best. Only now he's taking shitty pop tunes and making them almost funnier than they already are with their shitty auto tune junk. So pop music kinda kills me a little more each time I put on the radio. Which is why I only listen to the radio when I drive the shuttle for work. Other than that it's iPod all the way. If anyone from Apple is reading this feel free to hook a brother up with a pimped out iPhone and I will plug that shit ALL DAY LONG!

Off topic or what today? Sorry Al. There isn't much to say really. If you like comedy, satire or parodies. "Alpocalypse" is your disc and Al is you man!

Tracks to check out:
- TMZ
- Polka Face
- Party in the CIA
- Another Tattoo

~Dog

Dreams

So it's been a while since I have written about the crazy dreams I have had. I went through some of my old posts and it's crazy. All the old reoccurring dreams I was having (mostly the haunted mansion) I haven't had since then. It might be because I have been to busy to work on my movie or watch paranormal shows like I was when I was working overnights. It's funny reading the description of the dream it slowly started coming back to me, the noises, the fear, the sounds. And it an almost crazy way I felt myself thinking, "I kinda miss that". In all honesty I don't know if it's because the hours I have been working but I don't remember the last time I had a dream. I know we dream every night but don't always remember them, but it's been a long ass time since I remember a dream.

I really love paranormal stuff. Ghosts, entities, visions, feelings, all those things that come along with it. Hmmmm... I must return to the unrest of the dead! MUHAHA

~Dog