My Inner Wasteland

Aversion

One Man Unity

Not Like You

Mastaffe

Back To The Past

Fall As One

Gott Aus Dem Viereck

Urin

Review-Blood Attack is one of those bands that have so much going for them during a song, they have amazing guitar melodies and riffs that recall early Slayer. They have a vocalist who has a brutality to his vocals that metal fans seem to get into. The problem is that this band has a form on this cd that all these elements just do not help bring any life to this long boring uninspired cd. This whole record just seems that the band had lofty goals and high expectations, but I am just so underwhelmed by this riff, riff, growl, roar, break down, drum drum drum scream and end formula that this band seems to be in love with all over this record. This just feels like a demo of guys jamming, because it just feels so incomplete and lack of focus and direction. The singing all over this cd is horrid and does not even try, the guitars though are great but if you heard anything by Slayer or Meshuggah, you have heard all these riffs.
This cd tries to incorporate metal, hardcore and punk in some hybrid but it just fails on all counts. This is such a below average affair that I cannot even give it a rating, because I am just not sure if they meant to put out this record.

Review-The Spirit of 76 is alive and well with the latest treasure that Vinegar Syndrome has buried up. A Labor of Love which is shot as a documentary by Robert Flaxman and Daniel Goldman about the making of a porn film or X-rated film, whatever term fits you best to use. With pornography we let actors suck us in to their fake world to make us think it is real, that once the clothes are off and things are licked, inserted or pleasured that the acting is over and that is reality. The film is called The Last Affair and it was shot in Chicago during the years of 74 thru early 75. The film is about the original X rated picture that would later be re-shot and aimed for an R rating instead. The Last Affair was set to be about a male brothel where women can go fulfill their sexual needs and wants. There were a few fantasies that would provide the sex scenes which involved prostitutes and one who pretended to be daddy. What a Labor of Love achieves is the proverbial pulling the curtain back on what the porn industry is, and that is human reality. This film could make the horniest teen in search for a source of masturbation material off porn for a long while. Nowadays there have been other porn documentaries that I have seen that were a million times better, but I really enjoyed this. The filmmakers gave the two documentary guys’ permission to interview the stars and crew, and it does at times get very fascinating and intriguing. One scene that struck me as interesting is when a leading man fails to achieve but before the scene the leading lady tells us they went out and he drank so much Tequila and was stoned, and she seems very disturbed by what happens. As the scene plays on we find out that they did not get along on their date or on set, and they have to find a stand in to play the role. This film explores a side of porn that really had me wanting so much more, I mean if you are going to watch this film for the hardcore porn element or sex, you will be letdown. If you are going to watch this film for the human experiment of how human beings can make fiction real, this is an interesting little piece that kept me interested.

7 out of 10

Ancient Crypts

From taking a glimpse at the artwork to “Devoured by Serpents,” I had a feeling that I would be into this band. The artwork itself has a classic look to it where they are already setting the mood that the album will put us in. With the strike of the first chord, you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Ancient Crypts takes us down to the depths of hell with a dirty, grimy, evil sound not present in most bands today.

The band weaves in and out of classic death metal style riffs as the vocals seem to be shouted out by Satan himself. My two favorite tracks from this four song EP are the middle two, Between the Mortuary Remains and the title track, Devoured by Serpents. These songs rely on the power of the riff to continue to paint the bleak portrait that the album cover already set us up for.

And if you think that Ancient Crypts is a one-trick pony, you would be wrong. They can crank it up and slow it down with the best of them as evidenced with the closing track, Procession to Nyarlathotep. The final track is simply the soundtrack of someone’s trip down River Styx with its evil twists and turns and tempo changes.

Just do yourself a favor and pick up  Ancient Crypts’ “Devoured by Serpents” next month. You will thoroughly enjoy this evil feast.

Devoured by Serpents Track Listing:
1) Deep Into the Ancient Crypts
2) Between the Mortuary Remains
3) Devoured by Serpents
4) Procession to Nyarlathotep

Purchase Queensryche Queensryche

Progressive metal veterans Queensrÿche are offering fans the opportunity to listen to their entire new self-titled album ahead of its release. You can listen to the whole thing here, so enjoy it while it is available. The album drops officially on June 24, 2013 in Europe and June 25, 2013 in North America via Century Media Records.

Queensrÿche is the first album to feature new vocalist Todd La Torre and the comparisons with Geoff Tate’s Queensrÿche are inevitable.

Queensrÿche Track Listing:
01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication
07. Midnight Lullaby
08. A World Without
09. Don’t Look Back
10. Fallout
11. Open Road

Review-This is a remake of the 1976 film Who can Kill a Child? I will admit, I never seen that film but somehow or another when I saw the red band trailer for this film, I knew whether I did or not see it, I had to see this film. This film is covered in some many odd facts, the oddest being that writer and director Makinov seems to always wear a mask to hide his identity. The story is simple enough we are plunged into the world of Francisco and Beth who are a happy couple who are expecting their third child. Well they decide to spend a weekend away from the kids in Mexico. Well they rent a boat and take to the high seas from the mainland to a small little island. Things get old in a Children of the Corn sense when they get on the island and they see a small bunch of kids playing and discover that there are no adults on the island. They soon find out that the reason for no adults being around is because of the kids and now they have to escape before they become causalities to the kids. What makes this film work for me is that it is so tense and never lets up, the performances by all involved is really praise worthy, and really keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what is coming in the next scene and not wanting to blink. While the storytelling is pretty black and white and is not really built up in the first half, the film make no mistake about it is a step above any other film in this genre in a very long time. While the kids behavior is never really told to us, we just have to assume but make no mistake about this, there are some scenes in this film that are so intense and borderline psycho evil that you really seem to forgive this film for its shortcomings. The film is very bleak, dark and haunting; it will keep you at the edge of your seat with some nails being bitten. The film has a little gore but the film works for the simple fact that I am a huge fan of thrillers that even though I know the situation; I am still intrigued to see how it will play out. All in all, this is a very recommended for fans of Children of the Corn, now I have to go see that damn film this is based off of.

8.5 out of 10

This title will be released on June 25, 2013.

Review-Hansel & Gretel Get Baked is a stoner comedy take on the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale. In the last month we have had them be Witch Hunters now we go to the other extreme. As juvenile and absurd as the title sounds the film is actually a pretty fun film for the most part. This film has an even blend of horror, humor and action. For people expecting a laugh a minute Scary Movie type of parody like film are going to be letdown, because when the film gets going humor is gone and we get some gore and action. The title refers to a little old lady, but the story refers to the two being just normal people living in LA. Hansel is a normal guy into photography while Gretel is a dope head. She and her man Ashton discover some kind of weed named Black Forest which is sold by our old lady. Well, Ashton ventures to Pasadena where the lady lives at to score some Black Forest well when he meets the old lady is when things get crazy. This film takes a few minutes to find its identity and get going, but make no mistake about it when that does happen, this film is going to keep you guys interested. Lara Flynn Boyle plays the old woman and she really knocks it out of the park. This is quite possibly her best film role to date, she has fun with the character when she is not making one liners, she is almost playing off to the audience and telling in jokes that you feel were not scripted and were such a welcome relief. This film tries to steer clear of the original story but at times it does borrow from it, but for the most part this film is a really big shock that I did not think I would get into, but found myself wanting to watch it again once the credits rolled. You get some fun stoner comedy, and if you are not a fan of that you get zombies, cannibalism and a shit ton of effects that really were fun to watch. The story was solid, the characters were all fun and the script was fresh feeling even though it is not original. This one is recommended, very highly recommended.

8 out of 10

Review-While I am not familiar with the graphic novel this film is based on, I need not worry because the film spells it all out for me. The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse if anything else deserves points for trying. The film is based on the story of a kid who is afraid of his father becoming a bloodsucking zombie and killing him and the family. This animated tale takes a turn when the father comes back from the dead and eats his own wife, but she stops him of killing the son. The issue with Justin Paul Ritter’s take on the story is that it is way too bogged down by nonsense and confusion. This is seriously a story that needs more time and a lot more film to really keep the viewer interested. There is just so much going on with this story that at times it gets so hard to follow and you just get to the point where you get that they are beating you over the head to read the novels. This is shot in like some retro video game, where you get a lot of cut-scenes that look really bad and cheap. I feel that the budget restrictions hurt a film like this of reaching its full potential. Now it is not all a waste, Ritter does make a few steps in a good direction with the action sequences but the story and characters are just so boring and lame that you just get the feeling that not much heart or love was put into this project. All in all, this could have been so much more worst than it was, but it also could have been so much more better. If you are familiar with the story and the comics I would say you may like this more than a non fan. But, I just feel that the fans will nit pick this film, and hate that it was shot so cheaply and in this style. The actions sequences were decent, so I would say if you are curious why not. There is sure as hell worst choices you can make.

4 out of 10

In the Name of Massacration is the perfect example of Panzerchrist’s speed and power. Guitarist Nils Petersen’s playing is intense throughout the entire song, but drummer Simon Schilling is right behind him. The drums are insanely fast. By the end of the track, they are playing at breakneck speed with the look of never slowing down. Once the song ends, you would think that Stronghold of Hill 666 would give you a reprieve on the speed, but that is not to be. The band continues their familiar groove and keeps it going.

As expected, the band does have a sound more akin to fellow countrymen Illdisposed, but that is mainly because they feature members from Illdisposed in their roster. Both bands have had respectable careers with Panzerchrist being the more agressive band (by a little). With the release of “The 7th Offensive,” Panzerchrist shows that they have more blood to give to their fans, but be warned that you will have to give your blood back in return.

The 7th Offensive Track Listing:
1 Panzer The 7th Offensive
2 Foreign Fields
3 In the Name of_Massacration
4 Stronghold of Hill 666
5 Dogger Dead
6 Mass Attack of the Lychantrope Legion
7 Kill For Revenge
8 Drone Killing
9 Napalm Alarm
10 Pig Parade

Panzerchrist Line-up:
Panzer General Michael Enevoldsen – Bass and Synth
Søren Tintin Lønholdt – Vocals
Nils Petersen – Guitars
Simon Schilling – Drums

Concert Report Day 1

http://skullbanger.net/2013/06/11/sauna-open-air-2013-festival-review-day-1/

Day 2

http://skullbanger.net/2013/06/11/sauna-open-air-2013-festival-review-day-2/

Children of Bodom Interview

http://skullbanger.net/2013/06/12/photos-children-of-bodom-performing-at-sauna-open-air-2013/

Sabaton Interview

http://skullbanger.net/2013/06/12/video-interview-with-par-from-sabaton-at-the-sauna-open-air-festival-2013-in-tampere-finland/

TJ Fowler

Skullbanger Media

Fowler Photography Official Website

Fowler Photography Facebook Page

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*Wizard World’s next big Con is NY City June 28-30.