Heard of Slipknot, the masked men from Iowa, dressed in jumpsuits. Oh yeah, they also have bar codes on their jumpsuits. They also change their masks with every album, the change is supposed to be an evolved form of the previous one. That is pretty creative, isn't it? and difference in approach from the other bands out there. That is not all, Slipknot is a 9 member band; 1 lead vocalist, 1 drummer, 3 handling the guitar, 2 on percussion, 1 on turntables, and 1 on sampler. With all this, these fellows must a bunch of talented musicians, right? Most of them don't really think so. There are a large group of Slipknot haters out there, but I would give their fourth studio album "All hope is gone" a thumbs up. The album does show signs of maturation in Slipknot's musicianship, with much improved vocals from Corey Taylor and better guitar riffs. Some of songs are Stone Sour-esque slow songs, but overall, the album does sound heavy.
"All hope is gone" starts with .execute followed by Gematria, sounding heavy as ever with good guitar riffs, clearly setting the intensity that you are bound to start headbanging. The following track Sulfur doesn't disappoint you either. The transition from Sulfur to Psychosocial is totally mind blowing, I was out of my mind with Psychosocial. Vendetta and Butcher's Hook show you how heavy Slipknot can get. Gehanna and This Cold Black are also impressive, but the best song of the album for me is the title song, All hope is gone. By the end of it, I'm already yearning for more.
Rating : 8.5/10
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Why do we read books?
Ever wondered, why we read books? With the new technology giving so many other ways to get information, like the TV or just googling, we still read books. Its not just the information that drives one to read. I used to read books before 2000, but stopped after 2000 until now. I dint read a single novel for the last 9 years. The reason being simple that I just dint feel like reading, but now I feel like reading again. I was in this confusion what exactly makes people read or not read. What exactly are the stimulants for reading. I actually used to believe that people who used to hold a book all the time are trying to show off to be more intellectual, but now I realize that I was really stupid to think so stupidly. Well, I forgive myself for that and hope you guys also forgive me for that. One question that kept stimulating my neurons is "why the hell do people read books?" I don't really know why I wanted to read books now again after I had stopped it, so I started to pop this question to many of my friends. I just sent out an email to all my friends and acquaintances with certain questions regarding novel reading. The results were pretty much interesting.
In the world of book reading, there are 2 broad categories; one group of people who read books and the other who doesn't. Let me start with the latter one first. Why people hate reading books? Almost all of them had only one answer, waste of time. They considered there are lot many things they can do instead of reading books. Some of them had no time to read at all.
Coming to the first group of people who read books. Most of them read for enjoyment. They considered reading as refreshing and relaxing. Most of them who used the terms like refreshing, relaxing, see different perspectives of life, etc, to describe their book reading were in the age group 20 to 30. The ones below age 20 mostly used "just for fun" to describe their reading. The elders, age 35+, had a very descriptive answer on why they read books, like "to get away from reality of life" "to understand the life better" "to succeed in life," One thing common in these is life. Guess, we get a little serious as we grow up, or at least we try act a little more serious. So this gets to my next questions, Does one's reading change with age.
My 3 groups here surely had different reasons to read. The 3 groups were also different in the kinds of books they read. Below 20 ones read mainly fiction, comics, romance, murder mystery, etc. The age 20 to 30 ones read fiction, nonfiction, personality development, drama, success stories, etc. The age 35+ ones read fiction, political, drama, etc. Now, I do feel the reading and interests change as one grows. I used to love reading The Hardy Boys during my childhood days, not anymore. The changes I feel depends on the individual's influences and interaction with situations.
While the nonreaders find it difficult to give a reason why they don't read and the readers have lots of reasons to read, reading is certainly enjoyable. With age, the reasons for reading and the kind of reading might change, but the reading goes on. Its always said that "a book can change one's life" Books are always the best source of inspiration and motivation. May be to change our life and expand our thinking to a new level or to experience someone's experiences or just for the sake of entertainment, reading does give your mind some much needed change in this routine mechanical life.
As a leisure activity or to improve my emotional and intellectual well being, I am going to do some reading for sure, at least 1 book a month. Happy reading.
Note: My sincere thanks to all of you who replied to my mail. God bless you. Those who couldn't reply or who dint receive my mail, can use the comments section below to express their views.
In the world of book reading, there are 2 broad categories; one group of people who read books and the other who doesn't. Let me start with the latter one first. Why people hate reading books? Almost all of them had only one answer, waste of time. They considered there are lot many things they can do instead of reading books. Some of them had no time to read at all.
Coming to the first group of people who read books. Most of them read for enjoyment. They considered reading as refreshing and relaxing. Most of them who used the terms like refreshing, relaxing, see different perspectives of life, etc, to describe their book reading were in the age group 20 to 30. The ones below age 20 mostly used "just for fun" to describe their reading. The elders, age 35+, had a very descriptive answer on why they read books, like "to get away from reality of life" "to understand the life better" "to succeed in life," One thing common in these is life. Guess, we get a little serious as we grow up, or at least we try act a little more serious. So this gets to my next questions, Does one's reading change with age.
My 3 groups here surely had different reasons to read. The 3 groups were also different in the kinds of books they read. Below 20 ones read mainly fiction, comics, romance, murder mystery, etc. The age 20 to 30 ones read fiction, nonfiction, personality development, drama, success stories, etc. The age 35+ ones read fiction, political, drama, etc. Now, I do feel the reading and interests change as one grows. I used to love reading The Hardy Boys during my childhood days, not anymore. The changes I feel depends on the individual's influences and interaction with situations.
While the nonreaders find it difficult to give a reason why they don't read and the readers have lots of reasons to read, reading is certainly enjoyable. With age, the reasons for reading and the kind of reading might change, but the reading goes on. Its always said that "a book can change one's life" Books are always the best source of inspiration and motivation. May be to change our life and expand our thinking to a new level or to experience someone's experiences or just for the sake of entertainment, reading does give your mind some much needed change in this routine mechanical life.
As a leisure activity or to improve my emotional and intellectual well being, I am going to do some reading for sure, at least 1 book a month. Happy reading.
Note: My sincere thanks to all of you who replied to my mail. God bless you. Those who couldn't reply or who dint receive my mail, can use the comments section below to express their views.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Trivium - Shogun (Review)
Trivium Line up:
Mathew Heafy - Guitars n Vocals
Corey Beaulieu - Guitars n Vocals
Travis Smith - Drums
Paolo Gregoletto - Bass n Vocals
Shogun has come as a bitter truth for most of the metal critics. After all the fun the critics had labeling Trivium as "Metallica Imitators," they are found speechless now. Shogun is Trivium's 4th studio album. I was pretty much impressed with their second album Ascendancy, but was equally disappointed with their 3rd album, Crusade. With Shogun, these Florida metallers have come stronger than ever, learning from their past mistakes and improving upon their strengths.
Shogun is an awesome blend of the good works of their previous albums. Quick tempo changes and choruses still persists, but the guitars solos are much improved. Heafy sounds much better in Shogun and I was very happy to see him get back to his screaming.
Shogun starts of with Krisute Gomen and clearly sets the tone for the album, and with every song, the listening experience gets better, better, and better. I was really impressed with solos with all 3 men with guitar coming out with great riffs; Gregoletto in "torn between Scyla and Charybdis" Beaulieu in "Insurrection" and both Heafy and Beaulieu in "into the mouth of hell we march" sounding very impressive. The album ends with an almost 12 minutes of masterpiece title song, really shows the maturity in Trivium's work.
If you dont wanna hate Trivium and listen to Shogun with an unbiased mind, this album is pretty much enjoyable.
Rating: 8/10
Mathew Heafy - Guitars n Vocals
Corey Beaulieu - Guitars n Vocals
Travis Smith - Drums
Paolo Gregoletto - Bass n Vocals
Shogun has come as a bitter truth for most of the metal critics. After all the fun the critics had labeling Trivium as "Metallica Imitators," they are found speechless now. Shogun is Trivium's 4th studio album. I was pretty much impressed with their second album Ascendancy, but was equally disappointed with their 3rd album, Crusade. With Shogun, these Florida metallers have come stronger than ever, learning from their past mistakes and improving upon their strengths.
Shogun is an awesome blend of the good works of their previous albums. Quick tempo changes and choruses still persists, but the guitars solos are much improved. Heafy sounds much better in Shogun and I was very happy to see him get back to his screaming.
Shogun starts of with Krisute Gomen and clearly sets the tone for the album, and with every song, the listening experience gets better, better, and better. I was really impressed with solos with all 3 men with guitar coming out with great riffs; Gregoletto in "torn between Scyla and Charybdis" Beaulieu in "Insurrection" and both Heafy and Beaulieu in "into the mouth of hell we march" sounding very impressive. The album ends with an almost 12 minutes of masterpiece title song, really shows the maturity in Trivium's work.
If you dont wanna hate Trivium and listen to Shogun with an unbiased mind, this album is pretty much enjoyable.
Rating: 8/10
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