Over the weekend, Ryan Page produced a short film for his New Media class. It’s a zombie movie that stars Ben Doty, Zev Eisenberg, Renée Bissonnette, Cody Roberts and myself. This production received quite a reception by fellow students and forum-goers, so I feel it right to promote this effort. Keep your eyes peeled for a director’s cameo.
As the Spring semester winds down, I find myself preparing for only two more broadcasts of “Ministry of Metal” before the show takes a summer’s long hiatus. Thanks to the enthusiastic reception and success of the show I look forward to resuming broadcasts in September, and by then I can pretty much guarantee that the WMEB website will be fully functional, with a 156K web-stream playable directly from the home page.
But that’s not all. Due to some job interviews a couple weeks ago, my good friend Ryan Page hosted the show in my stead, and though I couldn’t listen in, I was assured that all went well. So I am proud to announce that starting this Friday, Ryan will be co-hosting the “Ministry of Metal” on an opportunity basis (which means he’ll host every Friday that he doesn’t have plans otherwise for). As my copilot, Ryan will inject some of his own flavors into the weekly playlist. Though he plans on living off campus next semester, I’ll be more than happy to have him return to the co-host’s chair upon the show’s resumption in the fall.
Check out Ryan’s 10-second video project he did for New Media.
That’s not all that is planned. Zev Eisenberg and I are seriously considering starting our own talk-based radio show on WMEB. Tentatively titled “Honorable Mention”, we will dedicate an hour of airtime to discussion of the weekly Honors 211 and 212 reading, lecture, and subsequent discussion on relevant topics. HON 211 will pick up where HON 112 left off (Machiavelli) and work its way from the Reformation through the Enlightenment and beyond, covering all philosophical, sociocultural and scientific developments of those eras and their significance. We plan to have guests students and (possibly) professors join us every week to provide their own insights. Zev and I will coordinate this undertaking over the summer so that by the first week of the semester we’ll launch our endeavor with all guns blazing. Don’t forget that the web-stream will be functioning by then, so be sure to tune in if you’d rather hear intellectual discourses than extreme music.
I have registered for fall courses, but I’ll wait until everything is definite before I detail my selections. Expect plenty of Latin, Greek and what not.
I’ll conclude this post with a seething polemic against certain bands that have by their very existence been an offense to metal and rock music in general. This rant is courtesy of a friend who will remain anonymous. By reading below this paragraph you officially release me from all liability of offense you may take from the following statements. In the vein of the WEEI Whiner Line, “The opinions expressed in this rant are not necessarily the opinions of ZephyrBlog or its staff. Don’t blame us for what this nitwit says. Hey, he doesn’t speak for us.”
“Worst bands ever… Ok they’re mostly metal
All right everyone, this is my first attempt at writing for the site, so I thought I’d start with something easy. If there is one thing anyone who’s into metal hates, it’s when the genre is subverted by gimmicky losers. The subject has been done to death, but when I moved up to Maine, I became inspired…
I think of one incident in particular, when someone who asked me what type of music I liked. I went on with my overly long speech, which pussyfoots around the genre question. I asked him what genre he liked. His response was “I listen to smack manly” I gave him the look I give when I want someone to continue talking. “You know Godsmack and stuff”. Confused and generally weirded out I managed to grunt before walking away. The idea of a band that I had given up on in 5th grade being offered to me as a blanket statement for a genre brought to my full attention a situation I had hoped we had left behind years ago people are into: bad Nu-metal bands.
So I made this crumby list. Over time I added newer bands that I equally disliked and why I liked them. Here they are in no particular order
10. Mudvayne: Well, the spell check on my computer doesn’t like their name and that’s a bad start. They’re Nu-metal band. That doesn’t help. They wore masks and formed a band called Hellyeah… They’re a Nu-metal band. Their lyrics are pretentious and dumb. They’re a Nu-metal band…
As for the fans: buy a new t-shirt dude it’s not fucking 1999 anymore. Were they even out then? Who cares?
9. Ko(backwards R)n: I just get sick when I hear them. Who knows maybe I’ve been wrong about them all this time. This could be the most extreme band ever. How many other bands can I think of that will make me simultaneously puke and want to murder people with baggy pants at the same time?
…One actually and that’s SunnO))) but only if the volume is up high enough. So where was I? Fuck these guys are horrible.
8. The Devil Wears Prada: Have you ever noticed that horrible bands come with horrible names attached? Well this one’s just terribly mediocre, but the fact that they are a Christian band masquerading as a hardcore/metal unit wouldn’t be nearly as offensive if they didn’t pray on stage. Oh and dude your song titles aren’t funny.
7. Godsmack: You knew it was coming didn’t you? I hate this fucking band. I hate the guys who where their t-shirts. And don’t even try to get me started on that song they did for the scorpion king soundtrack (tastefully re-used by Uwe Boll in his adaptation of Alone in the Dark)
… HAH! Sarcasm!
6. 311: Teenage girls still like them… but then again if teenage girls were into Agoraphobic Nosebleed they might be on here too, no, never mind they didn’t write “Amber”. These guys make my fucking skin crawl. I’d rather drink Nilbog milk, turn into a plant, and be eaten by midgets in potato sacks.
Actually that sounds kind of cool.
5. Still Remains: When your keyboard tone is worse than Ronnie James Dio circa 1981 and your not band’s name is not Styx there’s a problem. The fact they have terrible breakdowns on top of which their singer (read session musicians) croons “wait for love” Makes me want to die. Shoot me in the fucking face. No seriously. As soon as you put this down hunt me down and put me out of misery. I can’t stand this.
4. Hellyeah: I’m not going no to make fun of their name this time. No, wait, what the hell am I talking about, of course I am. Hellyeah? I mean Christ at least change spelling if your going to combine two words for your name. That just reaks of lazyness. The fact that their drummer is related to Dimebag Darrel is absolutely no excuse for retarded lines like “Balls, volume, strength getcha come on”… what?
Your IQ has to be lower than a ford bronco to appreciate this garbage, but given the 2,746,528 and counting views they’ve accumulated on myspace, the state of world starts to make sense. I commented on one of their videos and mentioned that they make hick music; an angry fan responded, “I think you mean SICK MUSIC. HELL YEAH!”
I stand by my previous statement.
3. Insane Clown Posse: I’ve been calling out some really shitty nu-metal and metalcore bands, so I thought I’d stop for a bit and harp on some rappers that dress like nu-metal guys. Once again, I’m shooting fish in a barrel, but if these bands weren’t infuriating in every way, they wouldn’t make it onto my list. Terrible and stupid rap over terrible metal influenced beats. And if you, dear reader, happen to be a juggalo or a juggalet (for the uninitiated this is what their fucking fans refer to themselves as you can stab yourselves in your respective genetalia for liking a band that features a rapper who refers to himself as Shaggy 2 Dope
2. And speaking of Dope: Thanks for polluting Guitar Hero III you fucking assholes!
1. Nickleback: I just keep waiting for the bubble to burst so I can laugh at what has-beens these guys have become, but it never happens. Like a giant robot monster with titanium skin and well-groomed hair, they seem to have powers of deflection from any of the salvos that rock n’ roll has unleashed on shitty music. Some day they’ll fall and I can whiz on the corpse of this colossus, but, until then, I can just hope for an overdose, or for one of them to be caught sucking a dick…a dogs dick…No wait…a puppy’s dick, yeah.”
Oh yeah, the blog…
Sorry to keep you all in the dark for the past month and a half. Second semester has been much busier than the first; tons of reading, writing and translating. But at least the subjects are engaging. Roman Philosophy has been the highlight, where my small group of Latin scholars have tackled Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura and are currently working through Cicero’s De Amicitia. In addition to academic priorities, I am balancing my esoteric exertions with minimum wage dog-work at York Commons, washing dishes and sorting pots and pans (though I did work the deli bar today).
As for my radio show, “Ministry of Metal” has so far been a success, having aired six broadcasts so far to listeners all over the Bangor area. As of last Friday I have been taking requests via WMEB’s call-in number. Since that is useless to most of you I should update you on the status of the WMEB website, through which a live web-stream will grant access to listeners all over the world(wide web). So far there has been minimal progress, even after I introduced them to Zev Eisenberg as a consultant to their technological woes. Multiple times I have been told that the site should be up soon, and so far no dice. So to avoid crying wolf I’m not going to announce anything until the site is up. That said, as soon as the WMEB site is fully functional, I will begin transitioning my blog site into my DJ profile page on the WMEB site.
Now for a brief look at things to come, academically, occupationally and musically. First off, registration for Summer and Fall classes begins April 11th for me, and I intend on signing up for classes such as Ancient Greek, Latin Prose Composition, Adolescent Psychology, Intro to Computer Programming, and Civilizations III. Professor Passman also has a summer Latin course in the works, an internet course in which we’ll translate the work of a Roman historian (probably Livy).
I have recently registered for Honors housing for next fall. Zev Eisenberg and I will be rooming in Room 316 of Balentine Hall. Zev and I scoped out the room the other day and it looks great. Spacious with wooden floors and a scenic view of the quad.
As for summer jobs, I am currently in pursuit of a marine-related occupation around the midcoast of Maine. Been looking at fish markets and marinas mainly. So this means I’ll probably be at home (in Maine) for most of the summer. Come visit me off-hours.
And now to the music. Because I’ve been so busy this semester I have not been able to work on any music projects such as Xanthus, though my Spring break visit to Nick Adams in Toronto has generated some drive toward progress. We hope to have a full-length album out by the end of the year. All lyrics in Latin as promised. Once summer rolls around I will have much more time to devote to recording and producing my projects. First off, I will resume bass and vocal work for Xanthus, along with mixing and drum programming. After Derek Kelley’s struggle to provide competent drum work for his Tennessee Black Metal band Blood Red Moon, I have volunteered to program drums for that project. Finally, my recent lust for industrial black metal has inspired me to pursue a solo career, in which I will be tinkering with techno/industrial style drum loops, programmed guitars (but real bass), and pipe organ music to produce something truly unique. I have yet to name this potential project, but I can’t wait to wrap up my studies and get cracking.
And on a final note, I’d like to announce that as of March 22nd, I am now the uncle of a healthy baby boy named Anthony, my sister’s son. I have volunteered to be this child’s godfather. Below is a picture of the new relative.
This being the first concert I’ve attended since the blog’s launch, the New Hampshire leg of the “Lucifer over America” tour will be covered in my first live review. Despite foul winter weather, a sizable crowd showed up to Mark’s Showplace in Bedford, New Hampshire to experience some of the best black/death metal offered today. Being used to more concert-hall and open-area spaces like the Palladium and the Bank of America Pavillion, it took some time to acquiesce to the more intimate atmosphere of a small stage crammed next to the bar in a billiards hall. However the acoustics were not terribly affected by such dimensions, especially when standing in the front row, as I did for the entire concert. This was essential to my enjoyment of songs I wasn’t familiar with. The guitar tones of each band were sufficiently distinct and not drowned out by the bass or percussion sections.
First up was Averse Sefira, a three man black metal act out of Austin Texas. This was my first experience with these guys, and I was very impressed by their show. Their music was dark, violent and seething. The vocalist’s intensity was not hindered by his multitasking playing lead guitar. Besides the music itself, the presentation was worthy of note. They dressed in typical corpse-paint, spikes and leather, but they wore it with class and artistic flare. It served more to enhance their intimidating character than to animate any cheesiness. I picked up their brand new album, Advent Parallax, after the show and got Sanguine Mapsama (guitars/vocals) to autograph it.
Next up was the Austrian black/death unit Belphegor, who dove right into a relentless blast-fest that really got the crowd fired up (too bad moshing was prohibited by the venue). The clarity of the sound was critical in this performance, as the lead guitar melodies, in contrast to the crushing rhythms, form the core of Belphegor’s sound. Through every song the guitars were quite audible and it was like listening to their albums, only at an insanely high volume. The band played a eclectic mix of their discography, including “Belphegor - Hell’s Ambassador”, “Swarm of Rats”, “Seyn Tod in Schwarz”, and “Lucifer Incestus”. To show my support I purchased a Pestapokalypse VI t-shirt and I’m eagerly awaiting the release of their latest album Bondage Goat Zombie. That album is scheduled for release on April 11th through Nuclear Blast Records.
Next up was Immolation, who along with Suffocation and Incantation comprise the big three of New York Death Metal. Once again I benefitted from an audible sound coming through the guitar amps, since most of the songs were unfamiliar to me. Of the album I have heard, Harnessing Ruin, they played “Swarm of Terror” and “Son of Iniquity” with more force than can be heard on the album. Also in their setlist were numbers from their venerable debut Dawn of Possession and their latest album Shadows in the Light. Crushing.
And then came the main event, the “Greek Gods”, Rotting Christ. I only recently got into this band, mainly because I didn’t approve of its moniker. But in anticipation of this tour I picked up their latest album, Theogonia, which centers on a mythological theme compatible with my interests. A band that started out playing grindcore and then black metal, now play a healthy mix of black metal and gothic metal to create a powerful, evocative sound with heavy doses of Eastern themes. Every member of this band, the vocalist/guitarist especially, showed great enthusiasm throughout their shorter-than-expected set, which included the songs “Enuma Elish”, “Non Serviam”, “Χαος Γενετο (The Sign of Prime Creation)” and “Nemecic”. I could tell some of the stalwarts were disappointed by their performance, since it was devoid of earlier songs from their black metal era. Regardless, I was well pleased with the show, and I recommend you attend this tour if it’s swinging by your town anytime soon.
Yes, the title refers to the second track off of Venom’s album Black Metal, and it describes my road trip, and concert experience, perfectly.
But first, a word about the radio show. The debut broadcast of “Ministry of Metal” went off without a hitch. Anyone still tuned in from the tragic UMaine hockey game was greeted by Marduk’s “The Leveling Dust”. For the next 2 1/2 hours I played a plethora of classics and fresh material from my favorite bands such as Crionics, Mercyful Fate, Borknagar and Pentagram. I’m taking requests for next week’s broadcast, which will be available via live stream online through WMEB’s new website, which will be launched on Thursday, February 14th. Leave your requests as comments to this post or else shoot me an email. I’ll try to play at least one song per person requesting. Be sure to check my Metal Collection so you know what I have at my disposal.
And now to recount my adventures (and misadventures) of the past 24 hours. My good friend Cody Roberts allowed Ryan Page and me to borrow his car for the weekend trip to Bedford, New Hampshire to see Rotting Christ, Immolation, Belphegor and Averse Sefira tear it up. Our original plan was to leave campus by 1 PM and drive 4 hours to southern New Hampshire where we would check into a motel and then meet Ryan’s friend Chelsea for dinner somewhere. Afterwards we would get to the show at 7.
Well, not all went according to plan. In fact, almost none of it did. To start things off, I couldn’t find Cody’s car anywhere on campus. I looked in every parking lot he could have left it, even though he affirmed that he left it in the Maine Center for the Arts lot. After luckless searching and many phone calls we learned that his car was towed because the MCA lot was scheduled for plowing. So I had to hope on my bike and pedal over to Old Town to retrieve the silver Taurus from the towing lot. After forking over 70 dollars (which Cody will pay back) I grabbed Ryan and we were on the highway by 2:30.
After grabbing a quite bite in Kennebunk the weather went downhill fast. The sun had set, sleet was falling and Cody’s windshield wipers were apparently defective. So we slowed down, crawled into New Hampshire and exited toward the west. After misinterpreting the directions a couple times, we arrived at Mark’s Showplace at 7:15. At last we made it.
But the fun was not over. Mark’s Showplace is an 18+ venue that requires you to show legal ID at the door. I got in with my Maine driver’s license, but poor Ryan only had his UMaine ID, which the bouncers wouldn’t accept. And of course they blamed the state for enacting such retarded legislation as this. So I went in myself and met up with Ryan’s friend Chelsea, while Ryan sat in the car. I did find out later that he climbed onto the venue’s roof and watched the concert from above, but out in the cold and snow. I feel really bad for him, and I hope he can get his ticket refunded somehow.
I’ll provide a concert review in the next blog post. For now I’ll say that it was fun as hell, and I don’t say that sarcastically this time.
The concert was over at 12:30. Time to find a motel. Not. According to Chelsea, weekend rates were much higher than we anticipated, and we were too jaded to bother driving around to find one. So we agreed to drive 4 hours+ back to Orono. We’d be back around 5 AM. Well that didn’t happen either. Soon as we crossed back into Maine, the weather once again went to hell, and the lack of plowing made the roads treacherous. We knew that driving further north would mean freezing road surfaces and it would take forever to drive at a safe speed. So we got onto Route 1 in Brunswick and drove to my house on Westport Island. We got in around 3 AM and crashed until 11 AM today. We got back to UMaine at 1:00, exactly 24 hours after this escapade had commenced: to Hell and back.
Less than two weeks ago, a message was posted in the Rock/Metal folder of UMaine’s FirstClass conference, a message asking for volunteers to DJ a metal show for WMEB, the campus radio station. This was the perfect opportunity for me to promote metal music to a community of enlightened individuals, too many of which have not experienced what real music sounds like. Luckily, FM 91.9 is “redefining the alternative” and offers a wide scope of music, from indie to international. I felt responsible to satisfy the absence of true metal from their eclectic rotation, so I volunteered.
After a highly informative training session called “Radio 101″, I learned the skills for conducting my own show, which will be titled “Ministry of Metal”. The show will hit the airwaves on Friday, February 8th at 9 PM and will run to midnight, as it will every Friday night until the end of the semester. For those of you within the broadcast radius, be sure to tune in!
As for what I’ll play, I plan to provide from my extensive collection selections of black, death, doom and thrash metal. I’ll play everything from 80’s classics to the latest releases. However, I am required to play a few required tracks from albums that the station has received from promoters, which in most cases will be more popular forms of metal. The purpose of this requirement is to support local and up-and-coming bands with radio airplay, which when charted, provide stats for labels to use when considering signing bands.
I will undoubtedly feature bands that I have cooperated with through this blog, whether through reviews or interviews. Bands such as Bothildir and Shadar Logoth are guaranteed airplay.
For those of you out of broadcast range, such as my pals at Ultimate Metal, I am conspiring with Zev Eisenberg to set up a podcast production for each show.
So please tune in every Friday night from 9 to midnight, for “Ministry of Metal” hosted by your truly.
Review submitted by Zephyrus
It’s Opeth! It’s Emperor! No…it’s The Matt Parsons Band! Steamrolling out of Athens, Georgia, this solo project intends to make its mark on the underground. I received a free copy of his 2008 demo CD, Alas, Tyranny, directly from Matt Parsons himself. Onto the review then.As the opening interjections indicate, this project draws influence from the full spectrum of modern extreme metal. Metal-Archives.com labels it as “Symphonic Black/Death Metal”, which is appropriate for a band like Crionics. Matt Parsons, however, only comes close to this classification on the final track “Prometheus”, where a melody of synthetic strings sing over a crushing wall of guitar energy. So what genre does this band fall under? To determine that is an injustice because this demo sounds like four completely different bands; one for each song. That’s a good way to avoid being called generic, but not to be praised for cohesion and focus. Even within some songs, the mishmash of styles seems to interrupt the flow. Keyboard interludes and acoustic sections, while good for catching your breathe, feel somewhat unnecessary in the context of the song. It’s hard to identify core themes to the music. But it’s a useful method to put out a demo showcasing a range of styles, so that with feedback you can select your strongest direction. Each of these songs represents a possible path that is just as promising as the other three (personally, I would choose the symphonic death metal of “Prometheus”).
In regards to the sound, nothing short of a top notch production graces this demo with clarity, heaviness, and atmosphere. Vocals range from high to low growls, and are well-practiced, though not very unique (somewhat reminiscent of Vintersorg). The drum programming is done so well that one could be easily fooled into thinking it was a human producing those beats. Hiring a live drummer for the debut album is still recommended. The highlight is undoubtedly in the guitar section, where technical skill meets a flare for melodic leads and thrashy riffs.
Pay attention to this band if you are a fan of modern extreme metal, but be wary if you are an old-schooler. The Matt Parsons Band writes nothing but fresh material that represents what metal sounds like today. Check this band out if you like later Opeth, Dark Tranquillity, and/or Dimmu Borgir. But indeed there’s something here for everyone who has confidence in the current state of metal. And if not, be glad there are bands like these who can deliver inspiration to fans worldwide.
Alas, Tyranny was self released in January 2008. 5 songs. Total playing time: 22:50
It’s been since last April that I’ve attended a metal concert (Dimmu Borgir/Behemoth at the New England Metal Fest), but soon that hiatus shall end. I’ve been invited by Ryan Page to attend Rotting Christ’s tour with guests Immolation, Belphegor and Averse Sefira at Mark’s Showplace in Bedford, New Hampshire. They show is Saturday night, February 9th.
Let this serve as an invitation to any UMaine student interested in joining an excursion over to New Hampshire. We can take two more people, three if you’re willing to squeeze for 4 hours straight (not counting the mosh pit). Our plan after the show is to crash at my place in Arlington, Mass. for the night and drive back north the next day. Ryan and I will pay for gas, and you can pay for your meals. What’s most important is that you purchase your tickets ASAP. Up until a week before the 2/9 show I’d say is a safe bet to get the tickets shipped to your dorm or apartment.
Tickets are $20 and can be ordered here - http://enterthevault.com/moreInfo.php?id=1287
Mark’s Showplace is an 18+ venue, so no kiddies please.
Please email me if you would like to join us. The sooner you confirm a ride with us, the sooner you can get your tickets. Time is running out!
After the first week since a triumphant return from the holiday maelstrom, I feel obligated to give an initial assessment of my Spring courses. Looking at the schedule gives the illusion that I have lots of free time this semester, but believe me that time is spent working. Not that I’m in over my head, but the load of reading, writing, and translating is coming down like carpet bombs. Heavy, but consistent.
College Algebra - I dropped this course after my first class session. The intelligence level required for this course is abysmally low, and it required that I sign up for a lab. That’s too much unnecessary work to add to my other 17 credits of work. And I’d rather take Computer Programming in the fall to satisfy my math lab requirement.
Civilizations: Past, Present & Future II - now with Dr. Passman (who teaches two other of my courses) instead of the infamous Professor Haggerty, I expect a bit of a break here for the second installment of the Honors gauntlet. But it’s not cake-walk either. I still have weekly reflection papers due after the lecture, and another buffet table full of classics, such as Dante’s Inferno, Machiavelli’s Prince, and St. Augustine’s Confessions. So far we have read The Golden Ass by the Roman author Apuleius, and I quite enjoyed this humorous yet critical tale of the aging Empire in the 2nd century.
Roman History - to give you an idea of how much reading I do for this class, I had to buy four textbooks that I have to read between every class session. But the content is of paramount interest to me, and should greatly help advance my education as classicist.
Honors 180: A Cultural Odyssey - this weekly class is a requirement for all Honors students, and its aim is to develop our appreciation for the range of visual and performing arts. Among the six major events we must attend are performances of The Marriage of Figaro and Julius Caesar, the latter being my favorite Shakespeare play for obvious reasons.
Readings in Latin Literature II - just as last semester, I benefit from translating on my own time, from the comfort of my desk chair as I convert into English writings focused on Roman history, mythology and culture, from Aeneas to Augustus.
Education in a Multi-Cultural Society - this will probably be my least favorite class, and not because I’m a racist. The goal of the course is to guide aspiring teachers past the barriers of their cultural worldview to effecively teach a diverse classroom. So far we are focusing in introspection and becoming aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our own personalities. Myself, I am an ISTJ.
Roman Philosophical Thought - unfortunately, thanks to last week’s snow emergency and today’s national holiday, this weekly class has yet to meet, but Dr. Passman has given us our first assignment, to start translating Lucretius’ magnus opus De Rerum Natura.
To help maintain both a focus on academics and a financial consciousness, I have imposed upon myself a moratorium on CD-shopping, whether from the store or internet. I vow not to purchase any more albums (or patches) until Spring Break begins at the very end of February. I bought roughly 25-30 CDs over the break and I got nearly as much additionally, in electronic form, from my pals Pat and Gabe. My collection has swelled to over 215 albums, and to prove it I arranged them all on my dorm room floor and had Zev take a few shots.
Zev, the photoshop savant that he is, created a high-resolution composite image of the layout, which can be viewed here through Zoomify, which lets you zoom in on specific details with remarkable clarity. Thanks again Zev!
http://zeveisenberg.com/dropbox/cd_covers/
Well it’s about damned time. After some creative editing and gargantuan uploading, I am pleased to present at long last ZephyrBlog’s first interview! With our subject living just down the hall, and a media-savvy ally, I engaged the benefit of conducting a video interview, the first of hopefully many more, by whichever medium. After watching the two-part interview be sure to check out Ryan Page’s bands through the links I have provided under “Band Sites”. These Myspace sites let you enjoy free streaming of the bands’ material, and your input is encouraged.
Part I
Part II
After a couple miscues such as uploading the wrong cut and duplicating the original, Zev finally got the extended version of “Dissonance” up on Youtube. This edit features much more of me making a fool of myself as well as Zev’s cello shredding.
After three weeks of recreation with family and friends, making a few bucks tuning pipe organs, and stuffing my face (I gained 10 pounds if you can believe it), I am now set to resume my academic pursuits. Spring semester at UMaine starts tomorrow, and with 20 credit hours per week, I’ve been served quite the cut of work on my plate. However I should still have some time left over to continue my blog-oriented activities, which include a couple new reviews to be written on some underground bands from the Southeast US. I extend my gratitude to Blue Wizard and The Matt Parsons Band for sending me free copies of their material.
At week’s end I’ll give my first assessments of my Spring classes. These include Roman History, Education in a MultiCultural Society, and Roman Philosophical Thought.
Another plus to being back at school is I can now directly encourage my producer Zev Eisenberg to get our video material online and available to the public. So far he has released one video, that being the short version of his Design Basics project, titled “Dissonance”. It features both Zev and yours truly, as well as a 60’s tune that you’ve likely heard of. The full-length director’s cut of the film should be released shortly, a version that has most of the song in it. Enjoy.
Review submitted by Zephyrus
Less than a month since its inception, ZephyrBlog has reached the 1,000-hit mark. I can only attribute this to the gratuitous amounts of support I have received from family, friends, peers and fellow forum-goers. I thank all of the bands who have contacted me for reviews and who have added ZephyrBlog on Myspace. Keep those requests coming.
I’m starving for reviews at the moment, but my video producer Zev Eisenberg is soon to unveil ZephyrBlog’s long-awaited first interview with Ryan Page. The video will be split into two parts and both will be hosted on this site, on Myspace, and on Youtube.com.
Along with the interview video, there will be released two versions of Zev’s recent New Media project, which features a popular Beatles tune. That video will be posted here exclusively and will be made part of the new Videos page, which will contain self-produced films as well as music videos by relevant bands.
1,000 hits and counting, Zephyrus pledges to deliver. Stay tuned.
Happy New Year! 2007 has drawn to a close and now it’s time to reflect on the year’s best releases. I was considering doing a list for metal in general, but since the year’s acquisitions have been mostly black metal, I will limit my assessment to albums from that genre. Make note that the #1 of this list is not my personal favorite for the year. That honor goes to stoner doom metallers Electric Wizard with their opus Witchcult Today.
And before we go to the formal list, I’d like to give credit to those bands who have put out quality albums this year but have not quite made the top 10. Those bands are Xasthur, Naglfar, N.I.L., Eldrig and Be Persecuted. For bands not under the black metal genus, I grant my praise to Dark Tranquillity, Crionics, Behemoth, and of course Electric Wizard. So here we go…
Despite low expectations, these infamous “symphonic extreme metallers” have returned with a thoroughly enjoyable serving of malefic bombast, symphonic grandeur, and a few more operatic climaxes provided by ICS Vortex. The fact that this is a concept album shows evidence of not just lyrical but also musical consistency.
After Perdition Insanabilis saw this French death squad tying a leash to their formerly chaotic brand of blackened metal, Arkhon Infaustus managed to inject a heavy dose of their past into their new formula of calculated chaos.
Influences of recent dabblings in dark ambient and industrial music have contributed to this band’s uniqueness in the USBM scene. While the previous album Ordog saw a consistent slew of bizarre chord progressions, this album combines more traditional black metal odes with sections of disturbing ambience and ritualistic noise to invoke waves of trepidation from the mind of the listener.
2007 features quality releases by some of black metal’s most respected veterans, but notable contributions have been made by newcomers, such as China’s Be Persecuted. However, the award for best black metal debut goes to Slovakia’s Alatyr, who through their eponymous genesis blend atmosphere, emotion and a shot of Slavic tradition into a work of melancholic beauty. As a bonus highlight, there is a cover of Darkthrone’s “Transilvanian Hunger” to close this album, played with no compromise to Alatyr’s fresh new style.
Ever since the relentless debut titled The Codex Necro, these Brits have added new dynamics with each successive album yet have managed to retain the vitriolic onslaught that defines their sound. In Hell Is Empty…, new flavors come mainly out of the vocal department, which range from the mainstay throat-ripping screams, to Attila-esque growls and snarls, to Ihsahn-ic clear vox, and even low gurgling grunts characteristic of brutal death metal bands such as Wormed.
These Austrians never fail to manufacture parcels of diabolical guitar riffs of technicality soaked with malevolence. 2007 sees Abigor applying these riffs to a radical new formula of avant-garde drum patterns, tempo changes, and clinically-clean production. It was a risky move to shed so many elements of their past, but it paid off so long as they kept honing their potential for riff writing, which they did.
It’s dirty yet well-produced. It’s melodic yet resonates tones of misanthropy. It’s awesomely epic yet downright rockin’. Watain and their recent contributions have taken up the fallen torch of Dissection and have risen to the epitome of Sweden’s violent yet agreeable brand of black metal. Sworn to the Dark is the perfect mix; it provides a channel for your hardest aggressions but with plenty of room for aesthetic to please the enlightened metal enthusiast.
When one mentions Marduk most people think of 30-minute blast-beats like Panzer Division Marduk, where razor-sharp riffing synchs far too easily with the constant drum pattern and the emotion rarely shifts from that of satisfying hatred. Rom 5:12 sees Marduk both reinventing themselves and taking the best parts of their past into a mix of varied drum patterns, dark melodies, and a more visceral production. Slowed down tunes intertwine with the Swedes’ trademark sound in the band’s most dynamic opus yet. Most notable are Mortuus’ signature vocals and a guest appearance from Primordial’s frontman on “Accuser/Opposer”.
This ever-so mysterious French entity has helped spearhead the storming third wave of black metal through a trilogy of unrelenting chaos. This latest output sees an evolution that pushes the genre’s boundaries where jaw-droppingly technical riffs and tempestuous drumming give way to moments of unsettling ambience. Even after multiple listens, the sudden detonations of lightning fast riffing and percussion still feel unexpected. Yet behind all this seems to be a demonically mathematical harmony that distinguishes this album as a manic masterpiece rather than a jumble of blasting and wankery. It’s a strange feeling to gain such an appreciation for an album that only so subtly exhibits the elements one expects from a typical black metal album. It’s a labor to get into this album, but patience pays off gratuitously.
Review submitted by Zephyrus
There are many advantages to going solo when making music. As evident by Bothildir in the previous review, one-man metal bands have potentially better focus from a despotic self-government, with all the decisions left to a single person. Another advantage is the achievement of identity through such a focus. With no need to compromise, an individual vision is more likely to transcend boundaries and stand on its own.So how does Rebirth to Ends, a solo project operating out of the University of Maine at Orono, live up to such a potential? For that assessment, let’s look at what the band presents us. This project advertises itself as “industrial-tinged alt-metal”, which purposes itself to seek a median between technical prowess and marketable accessibility. Indeed this music demonstrates such a quest, with competent guitar work and aggressive vocals in mutuality with memorable melodies and emotional clear vox. The influences of popular bands such as In Flames are blatantly evident here, while the synthetic feeling conveyed by programmed drums and industrial-ish beats attempt to avoid the music from being called generic.
So does this band succeed in creating a unique identity? Perhaps, but maybe too much is sacrificed to maintain a “mainstream appeal” which in most cases requires conformity to a generic formula that is superficial and lacks sufficient depth to warrant continued listens as time goes on. Metal is not about selling out to the popular market, it’s essentially the opposite, whereby the quality of the music depends upon its creator, with the central goal never to be appealing to the maximum number of people. A musical composer should not have to yield to conformity, especially if he or she aims for uniqueness, whether as an individual or a group effort. Rebirth to Ends does bear this in mind, but the pressure to compromise proves costly.
This is not to say that the music is bad. It is quite clear the effort expended in composing this material and producing it, and for that I give my complements. As for its aims, there is no doubt this music will appeal to a large number of listeners; perhaps not veteran metal enthusiasts, but rather the thousands of youths on the journey into metal. These are the targets for my recommendations. Rebirth to Ends is the perfect band for those who are testing the waters of metal, those who require a smooth transition from the realms of popular music, such as alternative rock, into the less accessible spheres of the metal underground. There exist hundreds of bands that exhibit this purpose, and Rebirth to Ends is a fine representative of Maine’s contribution to this blurred line between the musical mainstream and the nether-regions of extreme music. So if you’re one of the many who traverse these transitional waters, and you want a taste of the local scene, give your support for this solo act, for the rewards shall be instantaneous to your ears.
Awakening is available for streaming in its entirety through http://unsigned.com/rebirthtoends
http://www.myspace.com/rebirthtoends
Today I began acquiring patches for my personal patch jacket. Patch jackets, or vests (denim or leather) are a popular side-hobby for metal enthusiasts, and something different than just collecting CD’s. Patches are usually cheaper than albums, so the financial commitment shouldn’t be an inconvenience. For the jacket, I’m using my father’s old denim jacket that he got from his old software employer, Quickturn. I was debating whether to cut off the sleeves and make a vest, but I decided to keep the sleeves for practical purposes (thanks to the GMD crew for the advice).
As for patches, I will rely on eBay.com for deals and steals. I have already purchases patches for Emperor, Limbonic Art, Burzum, Samael, Satyricon, Summoning, and Krieg. Add to that a Dimmu Borgir patch I got for free with Stormblåst MMV. I’m also looking at a large Bathory patch to cover up the Quickturn logo on the back of the jacket. Here are some of the patches I’ve bought so far…
I expect this endeavor to take a few months before I have a decent arrangement to sew on. I’ll probably pay a friend to do that part, since I failed sewing in middle school home-ec.
I’m especially on the look-out for a Borknagar patch. If anyone can find one, please contact me.
After meeting in person and relentless brainstorming, Vercingetorix and Zephyrus have at last determined the new name for our black metal band Totalus Necrum. After intensive research of proper names in the Aeneid, and pages upon pages through Latin dictionaries, the new moniker will be Xanthus, named after a river of Troy which Vergil alludes to as “flowing red with blood” in his timeless epic.
As we transition into this new title, we will be scrapping our Myspace and Metal-Archives profile. However all our Totalus Necrum demos will still be available for distribution and sale by request.
As mentioned in prior posts, the band is writing new lyrics and songs, and has plans to re-write and re-record most of our demo material in preparation for an upcoming album projected for release around late 2008. This process will also see the lyrics re-written in Latin.
With a new name arises a need for a new logo. Let this serve as an request for any logo-designers interested in helping us out. We will pay for professional-grade jobs. Please contact me if you feel artistically competent for this assignment.
Let Xanthus be to Totalus Necrum as Hellhammer was to Celtic Frost. A new era has begun, and we confide in our hopes for the future. Thanks for all you support; without it we couldn’t have gotten this far.
Review submitted by Zephyrus.
Imagine you are lost on a cold windy night in the pined forests of Maine. In the distance, the remnants of an autumn storm harass the rocky coast. Above, the moon is shrouded in wispy clouds. Suddenly you are ambushed by a group of hooded beings who bind you in chains and drag you into a deep cave lit by the fires of an infernal symphony. Amidst your suffering the pains of ritual torture the trumpets of Hell are blaring and demonic figures dance about your writhing form. All the while you struggle to glimpse the night beyond the mouth of the cave, longing for peace and solitude. Throughout the night the ceremony continues until at last you are led out of the cavern in a mournful procession of your fellow victims who disappear upon exit. You look east toward the sea and upon fainting you witness the first rays of the rising dawn.
Such an account, my friends, is analogous to what you’ll experience while listening to For What Once Was…, the debut full-length by Old Town, Maine’s Bothildir, a solo project by Ardroth (drummer for Shadar Logoth). While the band for whom he handled percussion was a collective effort that could be criticized as lacking identity, Bothildir benefits from the focus of a singular vision.
Musically we have black metal which is guitar-driven and dirty, with symphonic flares that at times add either emotional ambience or fanfares of infernal majesty. The music churned forth here has several parallels with Abigor, with diabolical riffing, marching drums, accentuating synthesizers and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re trapped in the fiery caverns of Hades. One can also hear influences of early Bathory. Amidst the ritual hatred spewed forth here we find a few passages of synth-driven melancholy, a reminder that this is a human making this music and that sadness is a common precursor to malevolence.
The production may be a turn-off to those unaccustomed to the black metal aesthetic. Rather than a clean wall of sound surrounding you, you are rather grabbed by the ears and sucked into an abyss within your soul where you dwell in thoughts of misanthropy until you are released back into a tranquil reality. This metaphor applies well to the vocals, which sound like they are being shouted up towards you from the flames below, beckoning you to descend. All the songs demonstrate this feeling but the album’s highlight is the song “With Luciferian Pride” which dances to a main riff that elicits an evil grin from your face. Following this is the title track, a recessional hymn that reminds you that the devil himself suffers, not just his victims. Listen to this record while reading Dante’s Inferno for full effect.
For recommendations, fans of most kinds of black metal should dig this rock-solid record. Abigor enthusiasts in particular should pay close attention. This is neither the over-produced orchestrations of Dimmu Borgir nor any of that minimalist bedroom USBM. This is the true spirit of black metal, influenced both by the external beauty of the Maine environment and the internal pains of the human soul.
For What Once Was… was released in 2006. 8 songs; total playing time: 34:14
Scarcely over a week since its inception, ZephyrBlog is expanding its cybernetic horizons into the turbulent straits of Myspace.com. Encouraged and inspired by the success of Slam-Minded and its Myspace outlet, I have crafted a page much like this site, but with the special features of Myspace included. With that site as a host, ZephyrBlog fans can more easily access band pages, sample tracks, music videos and more. Friends of ZephyrBlog on Myspace also have the benefit of posted bulletins as a convenient way to be notified of updates and new reviews, interviews and any major goings on with either site.
You can find a link to the site under the Blogroll and also here - http://www.myspace.com/zephyrblog
The Myspace extension will serve mainly for promoting the Maine metal scene. Blog posts on that page will only be metal-related, so all the interviews and reviews will appear there as well as here. Also check out the friends list, which includes many of the bands that have cooperated with this site via reviews, interviews, and general relevance. Here’s a snapshot of the Myspace page, custom-designed in a theme quite similar to the original ZephyrBlog:
In other news, last night I conducted my first interview with Ryan Page of Anal Jesus, Carrion Afterbirth and Tarsonis, the latter two having music videos featured on the Myspace page. The interview will be posted here and on Myspace as soon as Zev, my producer, finishes editing and uploading. Keep on your toes for that one.
Finally, I will be adding links to the official websites and Myspace pages of all the local bands I am supporting. Be sure to check those out. I wouldn’t want to show you these bands if they weren’t producing quality music!
Review submitted by Zephyrus.
First off, I’d like to thank Ardroth for the free copies of this CD as well as his debut solo full-length, which I’ll be reviewing sometime next week. One of my goals for this blog is to promote the local metal scene and Ardroth, the drummer for Bangor’s Shadar Logoth, has given me the opportunity to realize that goal.
So what is Shadar Logoth? The name, the cover art, the logo and song titles seem to point straight at Black Metal, but the music itself is much more complex than your typical Black Metal sound. While that genre seems predominant in the music, a range of other styles are mixed in to the point that you really can’t place these guys in any category. I would call it “symphonic blackened folk death metal” if I had to be real specific.
That aside, the best way to describe these New Englanders is through the instruments they play. Dominating the sound is the band’s vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Dan Eaton, who contrasts rough and clean vocals that are both quite reminiscent of Vintersorg, with a little Mikael Åkerfeldt mixed in. While a skilled vocalist, he demonstrates superior prowess with his guitar by belting out complex, dynamic riffs that fly all over the fret board. However, good technique does not always translate into good songwriting ability. Luckily for this band, it does. A great example of this is featured in the song “Prima Nocte” in which an emotional breaks into a clean vocal acoustic section before launching into another attack of fast-paced riffing.
To describe the work of the other instruments draws a complaint that they are a bit too low in the mix, often overpowered by the guitars and vocals. The bass is audible in some sections, and is played well. The drumming is masterfully played with blast-beats and fast-paced rhythms that keep a confident pace, but again they are suppressed, with the bass drums virtually inaudible. The keyboards harmonize well with the guitar melodies, but they are a bit of a chore trying to hear, and the atmosphere also suffers. This is especially evident in “Of the Lanterns”.
All of these instruments combine into a unique sound that reminds me much of Borknagar, with a little of Gorgoroth’s Under the Sign of Hell thrown in for an extra kick. This is a far cry from your typical suicidal/depressive USBM à la Xasthur or I Shalt Become. Given its geographical context, this band’s sound is not the only thing in common with Scandinavia (Maine has the only natural fjord in the contiguous United States, to give you an idea).
So in conclusion, Shadar Logoth is a unique find and should be placed at the pinnacle of the Maine metal scene. Composition matches musicianship in a band that I recommend for Borknagar fans or any folk/black metal enthusiasts.
4 songs; total playing time: 23:57.
After a couple months of settling into the daily routines of college life, UMaine freshmen, I among them, are nearing the finish line for the Fall ‘07 semester. Finals are fast approaching and the tension in the air around campus is almost palpable. I have three finals in Psychology, Anthropology and Ocean Science scheduled for the 17th and 18th with the Honors 2-hour in-class essay of doom set for the morning of the 20th. The Latin final is available online starting the 16th. Hours of studying await me. Wish me luck!
Today I presented my final project to my Honors preceptorial. I composed a chart illustrating how four of the texts from this semester demonstrate a common theme of the unity of opposing forces by a standard of idealism. I dicussed the works of Plato, Laozi, Aristotle and Robert Pirsig: four philosophers separated by thousands of miles and years, yet regardless of context they communicate a common message: that humanity should strive for the mean between extremes as the key to fulfillment. Here’s a picture of the chart, and I have included in this post a PDF file so you can read the quotes and captions.
Honors 111 Final Project - PDF file (click this)
Totalus Necrum Update
Enough of philosophizing and now time for an update on Totalus Necrum, my Aeneid-inspired band with Nick Adams. After a season-long hiatus during the fall semester, Vercingetorix (Nick) has once again taken up his guitar and has begun writing riffs for new material. Zephyrus (Me), refreshed by his recent study of the Aeneid in the context of the Honors gauntlet and his months of strenuous translation of classical texts, Virgil’s among them, is set to pen new lyrics, but this time in Latin, making Totalus Necrum one of the few bands in the world to use that language for their lyrical content.
This recent buzzing in the TN camp has produced some ambitious plans for the band’s future. With three demos under our belt, the band feels ready to pursue a full-length recording, which will include tracks from both Perditio Troiae and Vortex Vorax, and perhaps one from Revelations Through Carnage as well. For the new album, these existing tracks will be re-recorded and re-worked to the band’s current standard of songwriting and production quality. But that’s not all. Zephyrus plans to translate these songs’ lyrics into Latin before re-recording the vocal tracks, making the new full-length exclusively sung in the ancient tongue.
And finally, after over a year of dissatisfaction, Zephyrus and Vercingetorix have agreed to change the band’s name. We feel that Totalus Necrum sounds too immature for our more serious focus. And as a Latin scholar, I can no longer stand to be in a band whose name is grammatically incorrect, regardless of the words’ own legitimacy. The name change will occur as soon as we have agreed on a new name: one that is not only grammatically sound, but one that conveys the true spirit of Virgil’s timeless epic.
Review submitted by Zephyrus.
Too often do people describe a metal album as the “soundtrack to the apocalypse,” simply for the album’s merits in brutality. However, few bands can convey the sheer terror of life in a post-apocalyptic world as Italy’s Aborym through their latest album, Generator. From the bleak introduction to the fading conclusion of “I Reject!”, the music you find here is a cold, mechanical manifestation of calculated violence and contempt for humanity.
Few bands so skillfully combine raw, hateful black metal with industrial nuances to create such a unique journey through the bowels of nuclear winter. Aborym accomplished this by advancing in maturity. Their previous album, With No Human Intervention (2003; Code 666 Records), was an excellent fusion of black metal with techno but seemed to lack the serious focus that would drive this opus into the realms of malefic perfection. Not a single sample, choir chant, or Charles Manson quote is out of place and the guitars are simply deadly. Prime Evil (Amok, Mysticum) effuses diabolical vocals worthy of such a misanthropic masterpiece, and he is a reputable replacement for the infamous Attila Csihar.
This album is devoid of mediocrity; each track contains within itself its own version of an apocalyptic nightmare, utilizing a deadly cold atmosphere which leaves the listener vulnerable to punishing drumming (now by a human, thanks to Faust) and vicious guitar-riffing. Tracks such as “Generator” or “Suffer Catalyst” come at you with explosions of hateful blast-beats and sections of emotional ambience. This method is most successful on “Man Bites God” where an unsettling exposition of keyboards and Atilla’s growls suddenly detonates into a cataclysmic blast volley.
Aborym have reached their apex with this album, their most focused effort to be “generated” from the Italian industrial black metal machine. This is my personal #1 Black Metal Album of 2006 and a must for anyone who likes their black metal with radically new flavors. Own this, and worship.
Generator was released in February, 2006 by Season of Mist. 9 songs; total playing time: 44:20.
It’s official! After meeting with my student advisor and the dean of the College of Education & Human Development, I have been cleared to add a Latin major to my program of academic pursuits here at UMaine. I was originally going to request a Latin minor, as it would not add any more work to my requirements for Secondary Foreign Language Education, my original major. It turns out that I can bear a major just as easily as a minor, so I went for it. Under the wing of Professor Kristina Passman I will be pursuing a B.A. in Latin, in addition to the original B.S. in Foreign Language Education and the Honors thesis. The road ahead looks challenging, but with enough support and dedication, I should be able to navigate it.
While on the subject of future academics, I might as well provide a peak at my classes for next semester. These include four classes relevant to my double major, which beats out the two I had this fall.
EDB 202 – Education in a Multicultural Society
HON 112 – Civilizations: Past, Present & Future II
HON 180 – A Cultural Odyssey
HTY 402 – Roman History
LAT 204 – Readings in Latin Literature II
LAT 452 – Roman Philosophical Thought
MAT 111 – College Algebra
That totals 20 credits, so it looks like some busy months lay ahead. I’ll provide a synopsis of each course once I’ve attended a few classes in January.
As for current studies, the last week of classes is at hand, and finals are fast approaching. Wish me luck!
As far as metal goes, I’ve scheduled for next weekend a tentative video interview with Ryan Page of Tarsonis, Carrion Afterbirth and Anal Jesus. Also, I had a brief rendez-vous with Ardroth, the drummer for the local black metal band Shadar Logoth. From him I received free copies of the band’s 2006 demo as well as the debut album of his solo project, Bothildir. Reviews for both albums will be posted sometime next week, so be sure to check back for those.
And once again, I’d be more than happy to host guest reviews. Just drop me a note.
First of all I’d like to thank everyone who visited the site since its launch and I am especially grateful for all the positive feedback I’ve received in such a short lapse of time. What’s excited me the most is that this blog’s potential for its metal-oriented function will soon be put into action. Thanks to your positive input and encouragement I am planning the following:
Also, a few of the folks from the Ultimate Metal Forum have expressed interest in adding their own metal reviews to this site. I’m hoping they follow through on that interest, because the more contributors there are, well, the more this site can contribute! Anyone interested in participating should either leave a comment or contact me personally. I’m open to reviews for the whole spectrum of genres, from power metal to drone doom and everything in between.
In addition, I’ve added a couple links to my friends’ livejournals: Andy Phelps‘ Visceral Pulse and Matt Warren’s Insane Kaos X.
Before reading this post, please scroll down to Welcome to ZephyrBlog for a helpful introduction.
With the introductory post out of the way, let us begin the first of the many standard posts that are to come in the next few months, or however long this blog will remain active (so please leave comments, and show some love). I’ve already given my spiel on my background in the About Me page, so let’s begin with a synopsis of current life here at the University of Maine.
First, a quick overview of my academics…
Aside from scholarly obligations I have made room for a social life, sort of. Scarcely a week into the semester I became very good friends with Cody Roberts and Zev Eisenberg, who both live down in room 312 here at Penobscot Hall. The majority of activities on campus I do with these guys, such as dining at York every night, attending school-sponsored lectures, movies, concerts and stand-up comedy. Cody (left), with his slightly immature brand of egocentrist humor, is a fellow Pats/Sox fan and New Hampshire native majoring in Business (and yes, Cody Rulez!).
Zev (right), on the other hand, plays as the foil character to Cody. This Portlander is a wizard at computers and photography, appropriately majoring in New Media. We share a love of classical music and ethnic cuisine, a rarity in these parts of the northwoods. I thank Zev for inspiring me (and teaching me pointers) to create this blog. I highly suggest you check out his own WordPress blog: iGeek Blog. Also be sure to take a look at Zev’s photography and video projects on his website - ZevEisenberg.com. This brings me to the reason for this post’s title, “10 Seconds of Zephyrus”. Last weekend Zev casted me as the star of his 10-second film project for his Design Basics class. The video, titled “School Dazed”, is a brief (and I mean brief!) look at a hapless college student waking up and getting ready for class, only to discover as he’s walking out the door that it’s Saturday!
Greetings and thanks for checking out ZephyrBlog, my new site dedicated to chronicling my life’s adventures and interests. This site will serve a dual function. First, this is a place where I can share my current experiences with friends, family and peers here at UMaine, Arlington, and wherever my travels may take me. The second purpose of this site is for metal music. I will be writing and posting reviews for new album releases, top 10 lists, and hopefully some interviews with band members.
Let this first post serve as a guided tour to ZephyrBlog. We’ll start at the top and work our way down the right side. Above all this you will see the header, custom-designed by Zev Eisenberg, to whom I owe so much gratitude for helping me endeavor this project. On the left of the header is the Roman Forum, in the middle a band photo of Limbonic Art, and on the right the iconic Stevens Hall at UMaine. Now on to the right bar.
Pages
Categories - posts will be categorized according to content: Maine, Metal, Reviews, Interviews & Miscellaneous.
Blogroll (Links)
Metal Links
Also, for those who can please subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s the perfect way to be notified of updates on this site (I don’t plan on sending out emails every time there’s a new post). The feed is compatible with Firefox and Safari web browsers.
Once again many thanks for coming here (even if it’s only this once). Please, please leave comments; it’s good to know that my efforts here are worth the trouble so please show your encouragement, suggestions, or what ever you fancy to say!
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