Carmen Electra and fiancé Rob Patterson are expecting a lil bundle of joy. The Korn guitarist and former Baywatch babe signed a pre-nup before they plan their wedding. Now they both are prepping for the arrival of their baby. Look at that baby bump!

I am watching the rise and fall of my salvation.

There's so much shit around me.
Such a lack of compassion. 
I thought it would be fun and games.
Instead it's all the same.
I want something to do.
Need to feel the sickness in you. 

I feel the reason as it's leaving me, no, not
again.
Its quite decieving as I'm feeling the flesh make
me bad.

All I wanna do it look for you.
And when I fix, you needed to.
Just to get some sort of attention.

What does it mean to you?
For me its something I just do.

Creativity can be implemented on any subjects. Creativity having a part in making art sculptures, musics, concepts, way of business strategy, way of calculate the data, in general creativity  has a part in every things that we want to do. I'm saying this because creativity is not just act in the art concepts. Most people just seeing creativity in obvious way not about how to define the problems, as example.

As my self, I prefer to see the creativity from the point of common people seeing it. Because I am the common people. I like to see things that have a prestige on it. I like to see statue or figures that formed and described another person or character history.

With all of the condition that extract the human physical imagination and attraction, this one person had created a story ,implements the event and creating the prestige in the form of figures. At this time, this one person designed/illustration and stories have been a breaking issue in many nations. People also adore and salute to this person because of his idea of mixing the idealism and taste of public without reducing the concepts.

He is the CEO of the McFarlane Toys Company. The peson is called Todd Mc'Farlane

Todd McFarlane was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on March 16, 1961. Todd first interest in the world of comic books when he was in high school. He also likes to play and watch baseball.

In 1984 ,Todd's firt working project is the back up story in Epic Comics' Coyote. After the success of the Coyote, he soon working with the marvel. He illustrated several issues of Marvel's  Incredible Hulk.

Meanwhile, McFarlane married a girl who was the "sweetheart" on the high school, Wanda, in July 1985. What an incredible lives was it? (for me... haha) , to be an artist, married a lovely wife...what a life that I really want to achieve. So back to the history.

Mc farlane joined the writer of The Amazing Spiderman, David Michelinie in 1987. He changed the character appearance to be more spider like the large eyes of the spider and the wiry limbs.

All of you must have know that the character on the spiderman  called Venom right? Mc Farlane also helped to create it and the character had become a wildly popular villain. 

The works on the amazing spiderman had turned him into an industry superstar. In 1990, The result of the hard working is the launched of the monthly Spiderman Series which Mc Farlane wrote and illustrated by himself. 

Spider-Man #1 sold 2.5 million copies, it was the big event that had been rolling over the comic industry to be the pioneer in early 1990's. 

In 1991, Todd McFarlane took a 6 months hiatus from Marvel to take care of his new born daughter. During his hiatus on Marvel Company, he also began to make a plan for his own publishing company. 

This is happen because Todd had been frustrated and bored about the workings of the mainstream publishing companies. Todd want his creativity to be more implemented and crossover the boundaries of the boss's control. Todd spokes with the other artists that working in Marvel who learning to felt the same way about it.

And then, from the idealism and creativity that he had, Todd MCfarlane created a strong wild powerful devil called Spawn. At first he implemented the idea on the Image Comics series. Therefore Todd said "Spawn is in this seedy, David Lynch kind of world that isn't quite right. I made it dark to make the guy who he is. If the shadows are removed, then the essence of the character is removed," 

The spawn first issue had been sold for 1.7 million copies. It is the best selling comic book independent. After that, Spawn has continued to be the top selling comic title in the U.S and all over the world, 35 countries at total with ten different languages.

According to the info on http://en.marveldatabase.com/Todd_McFarlane, Todd McFarlane's work has won him numerous awards over the years, including a 1992 National Cartoonists Society Award for Best Comic Book.

Todd Mcfarlane began to try other things that related to the world of art. Todd had licensed a toy companies, movie studios, and television producer.

Because many company unwilling to grant him the creative control over the toy production based on the characters that Todd's created. In 1994, Todd Mcfarlane decided to make his own toy company (McFarlane Toys Company). The Toys includes all of this segmentation:

- Intricately Detailed

- Highly Articulated

- Reasonably Priced 

This picture below is the several samples picture of Spawn Action Figures that Todd MCfarlane created with his company. ( I will be focusing on the spawn itself to present the reader about the improvisation of quality and designed through the years )

As you can see the evolution of the spawn figures had been implemented through year to year. Until now in 2008 Todd Mcfarlane has been running the company and still producing toys especially spawn figures. 

He also made his own self-toys, as you can se below

So back to the biography of Todd Mcfarlane that made me choose him to be the most creative person on earth. Todd MCfarlane not just only interest in comic and toys industry. Todd also had a deal with every major studio to make Spawn into the movie. He acted as the scriptwriters and the production man also. The Spawn Film was opened in August 1997. Despite the movie not so good in my opinion, It was ranking on a 2nd place in a box office in week one. After the success of the Spawn Movie, Todd began as an Executive Producer for the Todd McFarlane's Spawn (series) that was showing in HBO in animated.

NOT JUST THAT!

Todd McFarlane also "swimming" in the sea of music industry. He helped Pearl Jam to make their video music. He collaborated with Eddie Vedder to create animated video which song called "Do The Evolution" from the album Yield. The Video music was nominated for " Best Short Form Music Video" for 1999 Grammy Awards. 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Snapshot of "Do The Evolution" Video"][/caption]

NOT JUST THAT!

He also helped KORN band to produce the "Freak on a Leash"  music video from Follow The Leader Album. The result is one Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Awards! Wow! (Was that Incredible!?)

So in the conclusion, if we are an idealism person. Just focus on our idea and imagination and implement it. We better try not just thinking that it can be failed or something. We have to be brave like Todd McFarlane. Even though he quit the job from Marvel because he could not afford what he think of doesn't mean that he give up on it and just "yelling". He began something that he focused on and the result with the hardworking is like nowadays. It is just so perfect. 

"My ability to deliver a good product is my greatest strength," said McFarlane. "I'd like to be remembered as a guy who turned out some quality comics and toys, while doing a few different things even if it wasn't the easiest road to follow."

http://www.spawn.com/info/todd/bio.long.aspx

Wir nehmen alles aufs Korn und wenn es sich darstellen lässt, wird es auch veröffentlicht.

Besuchen Sie hin und wieder unsere Kommentare im mayhiaBlogg!--> Besuchen Sie auch unsere Einkaufsseiten oder Berlins UnderGround StreetsWear

I love this damn movie. And not recently. I loved it when it was in theaters and I was but a wee child. I was spooky from a young age.

I'll give you a quick rundown.

Overture(DeVotchKa)

Pretty straight-faced playthrough, nothing too wild or out there. I didn't get the feel for the cover artist, just more Nightmare stuff. Still, not bad. Listenable.

Opening (Danny Elfman)

Not technically revisiting, is it? This is all ground he's ploughed before. Cheating. Let's move on.

This Is Halloween (Marylin Manson)

This is an old cover. If you haven't heard it by now, you lose at the internet. Still, it's solid. Say what you will about Marylin Manson, he knows what songs to cover. Another solid version of this is offered up by Panic at the Disco.

Jack's Lament (All American Rejects)

Now, understand, this is my favorite song of the movie. I absolutely adore it. So when I hear that whiny voice streak through my eardrum, I wail inside. I got 20 seconds into this song before I had to turn it off, and only 4 seconds of that was comprised of vocals. Next.

Docter Finkelstein/In the Forest (Amina)

Thus far, the instrumentals are two-for-two on being good, and this one takes a step outside of what Nightmare originally laid out for it. I think this one's quite well done. Loving the theramin.

What's This? (Flyleaf)

Ugh. So, instrumentals are winning, but vocal bits are just... not clearing it. Her vocals are not quite emotive enough to handle the wonder that is supposed to be coursing through this song. She sings "What's this?" but it sounds like she really couldn't care less about what anything is.

I never in my life thought I'd write these words, but Fallout Boy did it better. You have failed. Next.

Town Meeting Song (The Polphonic Spree)

Let me just get this out of the way: I love The Polyphonic Spree. And their absolutely inspired cover of Nirvana's Lithium made me very curious to hear this. I'm really enjoying this one. It's not what I expected, but it's doing it's thing and taking me along with it. Best of the vocal songs so far. My only real complaint is that it needs to pick up the pace.

Jack and Sally Montage (The Vitamin String Quartet)

Another instrumental. Rather meh. Doesn't entice, doesn't push away. It's just there, four people on string instruments playing some music that stays just this side of spooky.

Jack's Obsession (Sparklehorse)

I didn't know you could ruin this song this badly. After all, it's a bit more obscure, and doesn't draw as much love or notice as the others. I thought this would slip under the radar of suck. I was wrong.

Kidnap the Sandy Claws (Korn)

It's Korn. I don't think I have to say any more. I started laughing at this cover not ten seconds in. I'd much rather be listening to She Wants Revenge, and even I'm able to recognize that SWR didn't do that amazing of a cover.

Making Christmas (Rise Against)

Not horrible, but the vocals just do not work for this song.

I've started down this dark path, and I will finish. Not rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail will stop me from this crap. But good God, what have I condemned myself to?

Nabbed (Yoshida Brothers)

More instrumental. More delicious things-not-sucking. Seriously, I could take half those singers to school on how you do these songs, and I'm barely passable. This track is great, really divergent from the original, displaying the Yoshida Brothers for what they are, but still keeps that kick of what the song once was.

Oogie Boogie's Song (Rodrigo y Gabriela)

So, wow. First, whatever made Disney decide to pick up these two is beyond me, but for once, God bless 'em for making a good call. This was a wonderful cover, even if you don't like two guitars playing maniacally side-by-side (which really, if you don't, what's your problem?). Gabriela's standard percussion-style strumming and Rodrigo's sharp picking make for an amazing cover here.

Sally's Song (Amy Lee)

When I first saw who was singing this, I muttered "Goddamnit." She has a solid voice, but it's so typical, putting the lead singer of Evanescence on this kind of project. Still. She did a very solid job, and I really can't complain. It doesn't compete with Fiona Apple's version at all. I think the two bring their own things to the table, and shouldn't have to fight for the lead.

Christmas Eve Montage (RJD2)

Meh.

Poor Jack (Plain White T's)

First of all... what? The Hey-There-Delilah assholes covering Nightmare Before Christmas music? And... wow. This... isn't terrible. Crap. Have my standards fallen so low that this is good, or is it good on its own?

To the Rescue (Datarock)

The first few measures of standard uhn-tiss made me concerned. Largely, not bad, but not incredible. Feels like that's become the mantra of this CD (alongside "singers can't sing").

Finale/Reprise (Shiny Toy Guns)

And welcome to why I'm here. Hearing this is a terrible tease. It makes me want to hear them cover the whole album. I can only imagine how they'd kick ass at What's This, Sally's Song (though I'd wager Carah would swing it better than Sisley). Ah, well. Damn.

Closing (Danny Elfman)

End Title (The Album Leaf)

Maybe we go through a lot of suck, but this is prettymuch the best way to wrap up this CD.

In the end? I'd say don't buy it, just download the good tracks.

It's funny to see what you wondered yet fear begin to happen but then apart of you moves away from it. When you deal with trauma some times you either repress, deal with it, or die from it.

Maybe I did die from this?

Maybe I've died a few times?

Not physically.

But...

Spiritually?

Emotionally?

What if this is just all reborn? A new process? A new life? It would give so much explanations to why I've become this way.

There is so much to enjoy in life right now and truthfully I'm not taking up on much of it. I have given to much power to some people. Than to the right ones.

I only see myself as some one who wishes to lead.

but I get shy when I try to lead

Then I always have a fear

Of

Failing.

It's what holds me back a lot. As a child I got punished  , not by my parents but by peers. I went to "Kids Klub" as a child and kids where brutal there. I didn't fit in because I was never a child to belong to one person. Back in Elementary I was a really weak child but I social a lot between groups I did have friends in Odd places. From the popular kids to the loser kids. As like now, I wanted friends.

I guess thats where I am again. Inside I feel weak but I try grow strong. The friends I made now help me so much and all the ones who show me love do wonders for me. They mean the world to me and its simple when I think of them I do smile. They are only a handful but they are all true and all distinct. Some I dont see as much as others. Then some I haven't really seen in years.  I do so much for these people only expecting them to remember and realize it comes from the heart.

I'm not the nicest of people, but I'm not the meanest. I'm just odd. Like an 8-Ball. Depending on who you are or how I feel about you will you see one side of me.

It kind of makes me think now. All of who we are is really opinionated. It's sad.

To those who I love I am a great guy.

To those who I hate.

I'm a monster.

I find myself dragging back to Wonderland, what is mine. Even my tattoo's I want to be Alice in Wonderland. Hell I wanted to do a giant sleeve like this for 3 years. But the style I want it to be in a style that I know represents me. So this sleeve may take awhile. As all my tattoo's I want it to be meaningful and represent me. Thats my only view. I've had some idea's like bat's on my chest, but it didn't mean anything. It was just to look cool and that in the end, annoyed the shit out of me.

I keep listening to In Flames, Lacuna Coil, and even some Korn. Weird range of metal there but it works. It's not all what I listen to just what represents me right now.

Clayman - Comalies - Take A Look In The Mirror.

Albums which are me. Which is very trippy at the same time. I find it awesome that the new friend I made was in love with the same Korn songs as me and that I could actually scream with some one a song driving 50 down a road and got all into it. Very awesome friendship status if you ask me.

I suppose its where I am now. Maybe I don't want to be in a relationship now. I want to focus on life. But maybe I do and I want that girl to help me through this. It's a weird situation. But it's my life.

My Own Life.

Sincerely,

Spooky McGee (c)

Den ständigt växande kristna delen av metalscenen har nu fått ännu ett tillskott då den före detta Korn-gitarristen Brian "Head" Welch gått solo efter att ha lämnat Korn 2005. Albumet Save Me From Myself bygger på Welchs självbiografi med samma namn som släpptes 2007 och som letade sig högt upp på bästsäljarlistorna i USA. Biografin och albumet handlar om hur Welch, nära till självmord, lyckades ta sig ur sitt beroende av metamfetamin tack vare att han hittade Gud. Han försökte nå ut till sina vänner i Korn utan resultat.

Trots detta känns det, skönt nog, som att man inte blir påkastad massa kristen propaganda. Jag som vid första lyssningen förväntat mig ett "preach" album om Gud var således tacksam för att detta hölls till sitt minimum. Det religiösa budskapet finns där men texterna handlar mer om Welch egna erfarenheter av droger och missbruk såväl som att behandla andra illa eller bli illa behandlad själv. Intressant lyssning, definitivt. Welch förmedlar även budskapet att den stela och människotillverkade kristendomen behöver förändras för att nå den yngre skaran. Han menar att Gud inte existerar i byggnader (kyrkor) utan i varje enskild individ.

Musiken påminner mig mycket om en blandning mellan Korn och, ironiskt nog, Marilyn Manson. Trots ett inte alltför högt tempo i musiken finner man mycket intensitet, djup och kraft. Blandat med stråkar, körer och barnsång som faktiskt gör sig riktigt bra här hittar "Head" ett skönt sound som jag tror många kan uppskatta. Det jag saknar är dock någonting att verkligen fastna för, genom albumets gång blir jag smått uttråkad av enformigheten på skivan. Det finns inget som riktigt förankrar mig och håller mig intresserad hela vägen fram.

Betyg 6/10. Kunde ha nått längre men en sexa är ingenting att fnysa åt. Tack till Simon för tipset om skivan!

End of Days - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Clean Version] (1999, Interscope Records)

Track listing:
1. "Camel Song" performed by Korn ... 4:22
2. "So Long" performed by Everlast ... 5:00
3. "Slow" performed by Professional Murder Music ... 3:58
4. "Crushed" performed by Limp Bizkit ... 3:24
5. "Oh My God" performed by Guns N' Roses ... 3:40
6. "Poison" performed by The Prodigy ... 6:15
7. "Superbeast (Girl On A Motorcycle mix)" performed by Rob Zombie ... 3:52
8. "Bad Influence" performed by Eminem ... 3:40
9. "Nobody's Real" performed by Powerman 5000 ... 2:54
10. "I Wish I Had" performed by Stroke ... 6:34
11. "Sugar Kane" performed by Sonic Youth ... 5:58
12. "Wrong Way" performed by Creed ... 4:20

Soundtracks can be a great (and not so great) snapshot of a certain time in music history when said soundtrack is full of contemporary songs & artists. The soundtrack to 1994's The Crow perfectly captures the grunge & alternative rock scene and End of Days does a fairly good job of showing what rock music was at the turn of the century: rap metal, nu metal, industrial metal and post-grunge rock.

BUT... While the soundtrack covers it's musical bases just fine, that doesn't necessarily mean those genres were any good in the first place and that this album is. Okay, okay... I'll be honest, there's actually some solid stuff going on here and not your usual soundtrack throwaway filler.

I could mention that, surprisingly, I like the Korn, Limp Bizkit, Creed and Eminem songs, but that's not what is important about this album. What IS important is that it holds the only officially released single from the mythical Chinese Democracy from Guns N' Roses. Of course, I'm talking about "Oh My God" which is a loud, aggressive NIN-inspired song that is just awesome and features Axl at his angriest and most sneering. It's a far way from "November Rain" or "Nightrain", but so what? Good is good and I love this song and it's the only reason I bought the soundtrack. At this time though, if Democracy does ever come out, I think it's probably best to leave this one off the record due to the time that's elapsed since it's original release.

In the end (of days), despite the genres involved, this album actually offers up some really great tunes and to this day, it's an album I'll occasionally pull out and listen to. Which is a lot more than I can say about the supposed "comeback" the movie was meant to be for Arnie.

And yes, I have the "Clean" version, picking it up at Wal-Mart and not realizing until later that there was an explicit version.

Highlights: "Crushed", "Oh My God", "Superbeast [Girl on a Motorcycle Mix]", "Bad Influence", "Nobody's Real", "I Wish I Had"

“Save me from Myself “es el nombre del primer intento en solitario del ex-guitarrista de Korn, de verdad me pareció triste y lamentable que solo un miembro de la banda sea el que transmita ese sonido original que tanto nos hizo estremecer en los 90. Juzguen ustedes mismos. El video de su primer single es una muestra de que el por más que nos pese es Korn. El nombre del single es “Flush” suena como Korn debería de sonar hoy en día, lo que si no me gusto es que tal vez intentar de imitar mucho a la voz del frontman de Korn Jonathan Davis.Los temas del disco son experimentales pero sin dejar a un lado las jodidas “roots “ que tanto Korn nos prometen que volverán con un disco duro y pesado, y en realidad sin Head dudo que lo hagan. El disco es diverso hay temas lentos, con una onda industrial que te vuelve adicta al mismo. Tal vez será un buen recuerdo del sonido “old school” de Korn que siempre quisimos que nunca abandonaran.

1. DJ Taucher, Science Fiction - Sicher nichts für jeden, aber ideal für mich wenn ich gerade mal wieder durch die Stadt laufe.
2. Subway to Sally, Die Rose im Wasser - Der Text geht mir einfach nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.
3. :Wumpscut:, Capitol Punishment
4. KoЯn, Did my Time
5. Depeche Mode, Enjoy the Silence - für ruhige Minuten mit $girlfriend undso *g*
6. Rammstein, Benzin - Noch eins dieser Lieder die man eigentlich urplötzlich auf der Straße gröhlen könnte... wären nicht diese verdammten gesellschaftlichen Zwänge.
7. The Prodigy, Firestarter - Noch ein Lied das einfach für Stimmung sorgt
8. Der Verfall, Der Verfall - Text ist halt auch bei elektronischer Musik wichtig.
9. Wolfsheim, A Look Into Your Heart
10. The Horrorist, The Virus

Weitere Lieder gibts übrigens auch in meinem Profil auf Last.fm, dort landen aber nur Lieder die ich zuhause über die passende Software anhöre, was ehrlich gesagt nicht gerade der größte Teil ist. Dadurch dass das so eingeschränkt ist, läuft darüber auch immer ziemlich ähnliche Musik, die die ich unterwegs, beim coden oder beim Kuscheln mit meiner Freundin anhöre wird sich natürlich teilweise erheblich von der bei last.fm gehörten unterscheiden.

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="354" caption="Dokken must have had wicked hairspray bills."][/caption]

My first show was Al Stewart at the Westport Playhouse in St. Louis. You know, "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages." My second show was Iron Maiden at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. You know, "The Number of the Beast." Talk about a change of pace! The Iron Maiden show was so loud that my ears rang for three days. I'll never forget the newspaper review the next morning: "About as subtle as a baseball bat to the forehead. But to these kids, all zonked to the rafters on Clearasil and beer, it was probably poetry." It was.

The best performance I've seen was Eric Clapton on his 1994 blues tour. His guitar work was as skilled as you'd expect, but it was also unexpectedly emotional. The best show I've seen is, believe it or not, Ozzy Osbourne. He may have only three functioning brain cells, but he sure knows how to work his audience. It's hard to call the worst show I've seen, but Ringo Starr and Van Halen totally phoned in their performances, and Metallica was badly off their game when I saw them play in the rain in 1994.

Here's the list I've pieced together, in chronological order. Headliners are listed first. You'll see that I gravitated toward heavy-metal shows, and then gave up on concerts altogether for nine years while I was busy with my young family.

1986: Al Stewart

1987: Iron Maiden, Waysted | Eric Clapton, The Robert Cray Band

1988: Heart, Mr. Mister | Iron Maiden, Anthrax | Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken, Metallica, Kingdom Come | Metallica, The Cult | Grim Reaper, Armored Saint

1989: Helloween and two bands I forget

1990: Motley Crue, Whitesnake | Paul McCartney | Rush, Mr. Big

1992: Ozzy Osbourne, Slaughter

1993: Heart | Aerosmith, Jackyl

1994: Rush, Primus | Metallica | Ringo Starr | Eric Clapton

1995: Megadeth, Korn, Flotsam and Jetsam, Fear Factory

1997: Metallica

2006: Heart

2007: Heart, Head East

I'm sure I'm still overlooking a band or two. But now tell me who you've seen! Leave a comment, or blog about it and link back here.

Welch's solo album, "Save Me From Myself", sold 7,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 63 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on September 9 through Driven Music Group (distribution by Ryko/Warner Music Group), the label Welch co-founded with music execs Greg Shanaberger and Mark Nawara.

"Save Me From Myself" was produced by Head, who recorded the music off and on for the past two years in Phoenix, Arizona. It features renowned musicians Tony Levin (PETER GABRIEL, DAVID BOWIE) and Josh Freese (A PERFECT CIRCLE, NINE INCH NAILS), and was mixed by Ralph Patlan and Bob Clearmountain. It's a testimony of Head's life as he battled with drug addiction and leaving KORN, and finding spirituality.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

Pick up a copy of HEAD's debut album, "Save Me From Myself" at DIVINE METAL DISTRO.

SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH.NET

An der Tanke angekommen, schlägt mein Herz, vollgefüllt mit Koffein und Alkohol, ein wenig schneller. Ich gehe zum Kühlregal und da sehe ich: Kunolbert, der Tankstellentyp, hat nur für mich meine Lieblingsmarke kalt gestellt.

In diesem Moment erkenne ich: das Leben ist immer wieder lebenswert, da der Erfolg nie wirklich lange auf sich warten lässt. Als nächstes teste ich mein Glück im Puff....

Bisher habe man nur Korn und Liköre der Traditionsbrennerei und der Nordbrand Nordhausen GmbH angeboten,  die auch gern als Souvenirs von Touristen und Nordhäusern gekauft wurden.  Jetzt habe man das Sortiment um „Förstertrunk“ von der Brennerei und Likörfabrik Becker und Ostmann und „Harzer Grubenlicht“ aus dem Nordhäuser Stammhaus der Spirituosenfabrik Picht erweitert. „Damit können wir nun eine  Auswahl von traditionellen Brennereiprodukten aller noch bestehenden Nordhäuser Brennereien anbieten“, sagt sie.

Metal / Black Metal / Death Metal

"A band with Swords and Uggs"

WARLORD NYGÅRD - Voc.
JUSSI WICKSTRÖM - Gtr.
TUDE LEHTONEN - Drums
HANNES HORMA - Bass
OLLI VÄNSKÄ - Violin
LISKO - Acc.

"Toor-izz-ass, clap, Toor-izz-ass, clap, Toor-izz-ass, clap”… then onto the stage at Southampton Guildhall exploded several large blonde men (and a laydee) clad in lumps of dead sheep and (mostly) wearing ill-fitting uggs.

And Lo, this was Turisas come unto us.

Turisas is a Finnish viking metal band from Hämeenlinna. They were established in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström and designated almost at once as a Viking Metal band - named after an ancient Finnish God of War.

When I saw them last night  on their current tour (supporting ‘Dragonforce’) they exclaimed their music was mighty ‘battle metal’. Since they use accordion and violin, I find this a little hard to swallow. Since when do the massed bands of Her Majesty’s Household Division (for instance) lug squeeze-boxes and fiddles onto the battleground? But because of this morris-dance affectation, the band could also be pigeonholed into the folk metal genre ( see also Finntroll, Ensiferum, Korpiklaani and Moonsorrow.)

The supposedly heavy metal guitars in this band are, to be honest, almost extraneous and the rhythm guitar is often employed just for that-chugging out some rhythm- whilst the bass plunks away unobtrusively. The featured instrument in this band is the violin, courtesy of Olli Vanska. According to Turisas this meek little humble instrument is about to re-adjust the cosmic equilibrium that has been altered by those arrogant upstarts- the wicked electric guitars! Haven’t they heard of ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’ in Finnish-land?

Any band that has, as a major feature of its repertoire, Boney M’s singalonga-cossack ‘Ra Ra Rasputin’ is OK by me. This song always was plagiarism at its finest, mixing some trad. Turkish anthems with Cozy Powell’s ‘Dance With The Devil’ beat and pretending to be authentic disco. So why shouldn’t a viking-metal band claim it is their anthem?

Even though Turisas has bouzouki and balalejka-themed pretensions, this is ultimately music that Klingon’s would listen to around the campfire whilst droning on about the House of Duras. Lots of anthemic battle-shouting and Oi Oi Oi’s, then plenty of strutting about doing semi-nazi saluting type stuff. The average age of the crowd at Southampton was about 15… so maybe this is something to be a tiny bit concerned about.  But, no, this is he-man stuff, it is comic book stuff, it is Blue Peter teenage mutant ninja turtles in a bit of sticky-back plastic stuff. A bit of dressing up (albeit as a Viking goat-ostler) and striding around looking big and sounding scary is just fun and didn’t ever hurt anyone. Did it?. When was the last time Finland invaded anything (other than the Eurovision)? And, to be honest,  these leering viking-skulls in their leather nappies are no more fierce, frightening or imposing than your average school music teacher.

Unlike power-metal, there is not much symphonic context within the sound of Turisas, just a lot of growling and some riff-based hokum. There isn’t much light there either, the dirges are battle anthems for the office of the dead. On the whole, the Nordic jeremiad’s are less pessimistic than they ought to be, relishing and celebrating death and honour rather more like football anthems than proper warrior eulogies.

The blackness is not really in there either (unlike Opeth, Trivium, Annihilator, Wintersun etc) mainly because: 1) You can’t take men wearing uggs and sheepskin throws seriously and 2) because any band that plays Boney M disco covers is about as manly and masculine as Julian Clary wearing a pink tutu whilst dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy in this season’s ‘end of the pier’ performance of Round the Horn. So this is not a band for death metal/black metal heads.  It is just a fun ‘show-band’ for the kids.

Southampton is noted for being the home of the RMS Titanic and the Spitfire, both went down well. So did Turisas. That says a lot.

© Neil_Mach
Sep 2008

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