EVO will have to wait...

Due to unfortunate last minute situations, I will not attend the Evolution World Finals at Las Vegas this year. I am saddened that I cannot experience the ultimate gathering of fighting gamers personally. I wished that I was able to try out the new upcoming games including Skullgirls, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, and The King of Fighters XIII as well as watch the numerous community documentaries such as Bang The Machine.

I made a promise to myself that I will go next year to not just cover aspects of the event but also compete for some of the games available.

On a positive note is that I will still watch the event from home so I can still enjoy what's available.

A review of one of the featured docs at EVO entitled Focus will be available tomorrow. If I have time, I might be able to write a review of King of Chinatown as well.

Good luck to those attending EVO this year!

The Future Part 1

Short note: Japan has hit hard with an 7.9-8.9 magnitude earthquake and is horrible. :(

I haven't posted anything in a long time but I will post more as I am planning to go to WonderCon 2011 this April. I hope to post my experiences.

Best wishes to the Land of the Rising Sun.

San Diego Comic Con 2010: Day Three Video Game Panels

Scheduling for the third day of video game panels was a bit complicated, some were early while others were too close from others.

Despite some misses, I got into the "Street Fighter" and "Epic Mickey" panels.

Street Fighter

"Super Street Fighter IV" producer Yoshinori Ono began the panel about the rumored "Darkstalkers" game believed to appear in Comic Con. Confirmed to not be true, Ono though asked the crowd to pull out a dollar and were photographed to convince Capcom to help create a new entry in the series.

Ono then talked about the success of Super Street Fighter IV and planning for a Nintendo DS release of the game.

"We're going to do our best to have the look and feel of SSF4 on the 360 and PS3 and bring that to the DS," Ono said. So be on the lookout in the future for more information about SSF4 on DS."

The two mysterious character slots featured in the upcoming arcade version of SSF4 have been discussed with the crowd guessing who will they be.

"In September we have the Tokyo Game Show and we'll talk about that more then," Ono replied.

Ono made an announcement that a new version of "Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike" is now in development with the additional subtitle "Online Edition." No further details including platforms have been released.

He jokingly said shortly after, "because you saved my job, the least I could do is bring Street Fighter III back to you."

During some talk about additional content to SSF4, people from Namco interrupted by giving out copies of Tekken 6 and suddenly producer Katsuhiro Harada came in to announce that his company and Capcom are working on two projects using characters from Tekken and Street Fighter.

The first revealed titled "Street Fighter X Tekken" (X pronounced as cross) is being developed by Capcom. It seems to resemble and play more like Street Fighter IV with additional tag features.

Harada announced that Namco will be developing "Tekken X Street Fighter" which will play in a 3D gamefield, closer to what is in Tekken.

Ono did want the crowd to enjoy "Marvel vs. Capcom 3" first as both of the "X" games will not arrive "for a while."

Epic Mickey

Later on in the day, renowned developer Warren Spector and Marvel writer Peter David were panelists for their upcoming Disney project tentatively titled "Epic Mickey."

Spector considered that when people get their hands on the game, they should "perceive the game as they want it."

Spector began to talk about the origins of the creation of Epic Mickey including his strong interest in developing a platformer and David's involvement after the Marvel/Disney merger.

A new trailer was reviled showing familiar locations like Steamboat Willie and new ones influenced by Pirates of the Carribean.

Later on, the topic of morality in the game was discussed. Spector wanted to avoid the good/bad path and dig deeper into more detail like how one group might admires a said activity while another group doesn't.

As additional content, a digital comic named "Tales of Wasteland" was announced providing background information about the universe named "Wasteland;" where older Disney characters and settings have been deserted.

David will be working on the six issues as well as an 64-page graphic novel adaptation to the game when it ships fourth quarter of 2010.

San Diego Comic Con 2010: Day Two Video Game Panels

On the second day of Comic Con, I visited some of the important video game panels including Epic Game's anticipated shooter "Gears of War 3."

Twisted Metal

Earlier in the day, I went to see info on the upcoming "Twisted Metal" coming for the PlayStation 3. People at the panel featured members of the development team Eat Sleep Play including series creator David Jaffe.

Jaffe detailed on the single player mode which will focus on four characters; Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, Dollface and Preacher. Each will have live action sequences detailing some backstory as well as endings.

Eat Sleep Play would later reveal a new level still planned in development named "Rooftop;" heavily influenced by similarly named maps in the first two Twisted Metal games.

Jaffe also discussed different concepts of what Twisted Metal was supposed to be. Included is "Twisted Metal: Apocalypse" taking place in a post-nuclear setting and another was a clean and stylized approach similar to what can be seen in the "Midnight Club" game.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Unfortunately, I missed the "Marvel vs. Capcom 3" panel due to being open when Twisted Metal ended and being full in the meeting room. From what I have heard, it basically talked about what the game was and shown the trailer to new character and Okami protagonist Ameterasu.

Gears of War 3

During the evening, Epic Games shown tons of new content for "Gears of War 3" and other expanded content surrounding the series.

Moderated by G4TV's Adam Sessler, Epic Game's Rod Ferguson and Cliff Blezinski appeared to talk about new stuff in Gears of War 3.

They begun talking about the origins of the new mode "Beast." After some testing of "Gears of War 2's" "Horde" mode, it was believed that an Epic developer suggested trying the Locust Horde and lead to the creation of Beast. It's different from Horde where players take roles as the Locust in order to take down the humans. Blezinski called Beast a "class-based squad mode."

Both Blezinski and Ferguson provided specified commentary to the E3 co-operative demonstration giving more insight to parts including weapons and enemies.

While female characters were confirmed, more details was revealed in the panel. Actress Claudia Black was confirmed to play as a soldier named Sam. Another named Bernie was confirmed to fight along with the other Gears.

The rumors of hip-hop artists Drake and Ice-T in Gears of War 3 was confirmed to be true as they will be important characters in the story.

Book series author Karen Traviss who worked on the previous two Gears of War novels is now confirmed to be writing two more books respectively titled "Anvil Gate" and "Coalition's End." The latter book has been revealed that it will take place 18 months in between the second and third games.

The action figure series by NECA is still developing new models just in time for Gears of War 3. The main panalists were then suddenly interrupted by actor Carlos Ferro, who played as major character Dom. Eventually the voice actors of Cole, Lester Speight, and then Carmine, Michael Gough, appeared creating loud reactions from the crowd.

Gough especially talked about the dispute of Carmine's fate and was split on both choices: "Save Carmine" and "Carmine Must Die." Blezinski would introduce a video serving as a campaign video about picking one of the sides.

The panel ended with a strong question and answer session involving things in multiplayer and the universe.

Fans of the game were able to get autographs from every panelists including Gough who was eager to get as much signatures as possible.

San Diego Comic Con 2010: Day One Video Game Panels

Thursday at this year’s San Diego Comic Con International featured a prominent video game appearance including special panels for upcoming releases which some I visited.

At the morning, one of the many meeting rooms featured Capcom’s “Dead Rising 2” with a high volume of people attending.

While developers Blue Castle Games were unable to come by to talk about the game, creator and executive producer Keiji Inafune and producer Shinsaka Ohara appeared before the crowd. Inafune discussed a bit of how surprisingly successful the first game was and hopes that Dead Rising 2 will “cater more to western audiences.”

More details of the plot have been revealed where the zombie outbreak hit Las Vegas and later the main area Fortune City.

While Dead Rising 2 takes place 5 years after the original, the downloadable “Case Zero” will confine to the Vegas infection just two years.

Dated for an Aug. 31 release date just a short of a month before the full game, Case Zero is an Xbox 360 exclusive priced at 400 Microsoft Points. The game is “To provide a taste of Dead Rising 2 while serving something new,” Inafune said. Case Zero introduces sequel protagonist Chuck and his daughter surviving zombies in Vegas. The downloadable also gives background on the anti-zombification medicine “Zombrex” which will serve a strong role in the full sequel.

Chuck in Dead Rising 2 participates in a zombie killing show in Fortune City to fund enough money for his daughter’s Zombrex medication. Along the way, Chuck gets framed for trying to destroy television equipment and must clear his name before a 72 hour extraction deadline.

Capcom also details about Dead Rising 2’s multiplayer where players can play against each other or in co-op as well as participate in mini-game challenges dubbed “Terror Is Reality.”

Set for Sept. 28, Dead Rising 2 will receive a special “Zombrex” edition featuring various props and a special disc different in both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. While the PlayStation 3 will receive a making of documentary, the Xbox 360 version will have Inafune-directed B-movie horror film “Zombrex Dead Rising Sun” with an exclusive alternate ending.

Later on, Ubisoft began a panel for “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” featuring G4TV’s Morgan Webb on moderation.

Writer Jeffrey Yohalem described how the whole Assassin’s Creed series relied on a specific set of rules where everything in the game had to have justification for it to exist. The storyline relying on controversial historical periods and being “the spine of the experience;” meaning that other elements including gameplay and sound aids this plot.

Brotherhood continues the storyline of Italian assassin Ezio Auditore di Firenze and his struggle leading to truly leading the Assassin Order. Yohalem confirmed that the themes of Brotherhood was heavily influenced by “The Prince” by real-life person and series character Machiavelli. Characters in the “Assassin’s Creed 2’s” story including Ezio’s mother Maria and will have a much larger and complex role in shaping his destiny.

The multiplayer fits in to the story where members of the antagonistic group Abstergo takes over personas of assassins to train them. Along with an overview, two new characters were announced including the bearded “Blacksmith” and the smirky “Soldier.”

With the release of Brotherhood, a comic book series is planned. Taking place in early-1900 Russia, the protagonist is a novice assassin named Nikolai who travels between Siberia and St. Petersburg while the infamous Tunguska Event occurred.

Towards the evening, members of Bungie initiated a demonstration of new features in “Halo: Reach.” Multiplayer designer Lars Bakken discussed the options that can be placed in returning mode “Firefight.” Players can customize wave types and enemies, end a game prematurely, and provide objectives including generator defense. Still multiplayer enabled, Reach features matchmaking along with friend based joining. A mode introduced in the panel is “Versus” where one can be a Spartan defending Covenant forces led by another playable member. Versus will be playable tomorrow at Comic Con.

Another part of the live demonstration is the much improved “Forge” mode. While the multiplayer favorite “Blood Gulch” returns to Reach re-titled as “Hemorrhage,” it’s part of a tremendously bigger map called “Forge World.” Just like its title, it’s a map perfect for different designs using Forge. The capabilities of constructing new things in Forge has increased like where objects can clip on other pieces and much better rotation controls giving new possibilities in making outrageous designs. Bungie also had video documentary shortly released showing what can be done in the new Forge mode.

Before the end of the Halo: Reach panel, Bungie revealed a special Xbox 360 containing a special silver design on the console and two controllers along with a full copy of the game. The special edition console is planned to release the same as Reach.

Music To Frag To! – June, 2010

(From Digital Gaudium)

This series of monthly features will talk about select songs on the latest albums from extreme music based bands (death metal, hardcore punk, powerviolence, etc.) which you should listen to when getting the nuke or capturing a flag.

Sometimes when I play games like “Call of Duty” or “Halo,” I get a bit irritated of those moments of silence. It became an annoyance when I played the “Lost Planet 2″ multiplayer demo where distant sounds sounded too far and near proximity effects fade too quickly. I put on some fast grindcore which in result turned out excellent. The immediate assaulting songs worked in context of the game and would work in others too.

For this month I will showcase music from the first half of 2010. For the coming months, it will regularly be based on releases during a particular month while I might do some special entries on occasion.

NOTICE: Music on this edition will be removed by next feature of this series. Labels, if you request a track removal during this period, contact staff@digitalgaudium.com and we will happily remove the file.

1. Kverlertak - 'Mjød' (self-titled)
In extreme music, Norway is the capital of its significant black metal scene. Murders, church burning and even a bizarre suicide situation. The ideology is dangerous but the music is intense and mysterious.

The atmospheric energy from the sound is blended with Kvelertak's love for party time rock and roll. Sort of like a mix of Turbonegro, Emperor and Refused. Their latest album is perfect for those casual play sessions with friends where good clean fun is more important than winning. Kvelertak's self-title album is currently streaming here.

2. Celeste - 'Ces belles de rêve aux verres embués' ("Morte(s) Nee(s)")
Most of the time I hear people put their microphones near their music speakers on Xbox Live; it's pretty much badly done hip-hop music with the bass frequency of the beat pattern repeatedly coming on. French quartet Celeste also focuses on constant rapid repetition but for their case it works.

Hypnotizing black metal-like guitars and bass fill the left and right channels, drums stays and a pummeling rhythm, and vocals contribute to the chaotic approach. The production is intentionally overpowered to match the constant bombastic and bludgeoning terror the album encompasses. Would sound great for the upcoming "Splatterhouse" reimagining. An intensely violent game with intensely violent music; there will be blood. The album along with their previous two is officially available for free here.

3. Extortion - 'Regrets' ("Loose Screws")
FAST! FASTER!! FASTEST!!! High speed intensity represents this powerviolence band from Perth, Australia. It's immature and punk but that's the point. They play it very straightforward in every release they had. Great for those tactical knife sprinting runs on Modern Warfare 2.







4. Ceremony - 'Sick' ("Rohnert Park")
Ceremony is too after two album of fastness. Rohnert Part takes it back to the early 1980s where bands like Black Flag and Bad Brains were emerging from their own scenes. The song "Sick" best represents that feeling.

Staying on a pacing tempo, Ceremony vocalist Ross Farrar goes all out nihilistic about hating everything. If you have that same mood and won't care if you are playing adversarial or team modes, you hate everyone and it's time to kill them (in game of course).



5. Trash Talk - Tracks 1-3 and 5-10 ("Eyes & Nines")
Removing the fourth slow track 'Hash Wednesday,' Eyes & Nines from this Sacramento, California quartet is just about 12 minutes long. But hell those 12 minutes go out fast like a bullet. A big player count Halo match should be enough for these nine songs. The minutes will be blissful chaos during melee combat and constant ballistic urgency.






6. Integrity - 'Learn To Love The Lie' ("The Blackest Curse")
Cleavland, Ohio metalcore masters debuts a full length (ever since 2001) with more "Holy Terror."

Remember when Slayer's 'Angel of Death' was in almost every skateboarding game? Even a great thrash song can get tiring. If there was an alternative, I will take this song or others from Integrity's The Blackest Curse." They match the rage that Slayer perfected in "Reign In Blood" and makes it more in key with hardcore punk. It's still angry.



7. "This Comp Kills Fascists Vol. 2"
It's 74 tracks of aural violence in one CD! The compilation soundtrack to utter chaos for any intense multiplayer game. Enough said. Here are two tracks from the massive grindhouse of sound. DON'T PRESS PAUSE.

Halo: Reach multiplayer beta (preview)

Originally posted on Digital Gaudium (May 8, 2010)

Bungie, developers of the acclaimed Halo video game series released a multiplayer testing build of their final franchise-based game “Halo: Reach” to the public with high anticipation before the retail release this fall.

Officially released on Monday, people who own a copy of “Halo 3: ODST” and have a membership to the Xbox Live, can download the beta. The download provides a small taste of the multiplayer mode that will be featured in the final build.

After a short introduction message from Bungie, players can pick one of the two modes available.

Matchmaking mode allows online players to combat one another in multiple playlists featuring game types common in Halo like “capture the flag” and the deathmatch-based “Slayer” while some new are introduced in Reach. “Headhunter” requires players to grab skulls from fallen enemies and deposit them at specific capture areas for points while “Stockpile” is a variant of capture the flag where teams must store neutral flags in their own bases.

Throughout the beta, Bungie will add more game types for players to play and test. “Generator Defense” has a small team of Spartans have to defend multiple machines from a rag-tag group of invading Elites. The other, “Invasion,” is the large scale mode featured in the beta where Elites must complete a set of objectives while going through Spartan defenses; this mode also has a Slayer only variant.

Introduced in “Halo 3,” “Theater” mode allows players to watch footage of their played games as well as take screenshots.

So far, the Halo: Reach beta looks, sounds and plays like any other Halo game but like the series’ previous incarnations, new features and other nuances makes this distinct from the others.

The most apparent addition is armor abilities where each player can pick one of the four provided. These abilities replace the equipment system in Halo 3 where it was one use as opposed to Reach being reusable. Each ability serve different purposes best for particular situations. Active camouflage increases the chances of assassinating enemies without being seen while the jetpack allows temporary air superiority against ground forces.

Weapons have gone towards another overhaul in Reach featuring new additions as well as removing some common in the series. Similar to the original Halo and Halo 3: ODST, dual-wielding is not featured in Reach. In return for balance, weapons like the magnum pistol have more power into it just in case if ammo for a primary weapon runs out; those single handed weapons serve as more of a sidearm.

The popular battle rifle has been removed as well for another called the DMR, short for Designated Marksman Rifle. Instead of a three-round burst, the DMR can only provide single shot fire generally preferred for mid to long range combat; making it closer to the battle rifle’s original envision during Halo 2. It’s not easy to handle though because the DMR along with almost every other weapon in Reach has accuracy and the faster each firearm is shot, the less accurate it will become. The DMR and many other new weapons are featured in Reach for all of us to play with.

Although Bungie wants everyone to enjoy this small bit of the beta, they want players to discover and report any issues or bugs; which in this phase is normally suited for private testing. Bungie is eager for every players’ opinion if such things as the focus rifle being overpowered or someone found a way to get under the battlefield ever occurs.

There are some particular issues in the beta but with over a million participants, all the feedback up until closing day on May 17, 2010 will allow Bungie to fine tune and help create the best possible experience in Halo: Reach when it comes out fall 2010.

My Favorite Games of The Decade (2000-2009)

The decade which brought about tons of new advancements for gaming. They have been more cinematic, dense, and also a first on console gaming was communication upon many others around the world. I never had enough time or money to play a lot of games but I have played enough to make my personal list of the best of what the 1/10s of what the 21st century offered!

Here is to the new decade!

10. Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy(2003)

This game will probably the only place to have great Star Wars lightsaber matches that's not located in the backyard with toys. It lacks the problems that plagued Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (elevators, vague puzzles, etc) and provides much improvements. As opposed to using a gun for the beginning levels, the protagonist already has a lightsaber. Eventually you can use two sabers at once or even the Darth Maul-esque staffsaber for more flexibility.

After an introduction to force powers, it's on out to quick and fun missions involving helping Chewbacca or stopping a train. Along the way, Sith will come and fight. The dynamics of lightsaber fights and the flexibility of picking and leveling light and dark side force powers makes each clash more engaging. This ties on to the multiplayer which the fights are challenging and a quick slip up can change the outcome.

9. Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 (2005)

You can say that this is the video game version Band of Brothers. In a certain extent, it is. Instead of following the members of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's Easy Company, it's about the 502nd and what happened to them during the invasion of Normandy. Although the main story with the non-officer characters in mind being fictionalized, it's an interesting story of responsibility and brotherhood during times of danger.

To make the plot work in this game, real life areas and battles are provided. From the capture of St. Mere Eglise, to Lt. Col. Robert Cole's Medal of Honor awarded march in an open and hostile field close to the town of Carentan and finally the Battle of Bloody Gulch (specifically Hill 30), it's exciting to witness important battles that would slowly help end the Nazi regime. The real time tactics of controlling a squad and authentic elements also contribute to the World War II game nobody wanted to compete against.

8. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

Until Splinter Cell: Conviction comes out, Chaos Theory is still the best one I have played. As opposed to the stiff animations in the previous two games, controlling Sam Fisher feels very smooth. It feels like I am the Third Echelon operative. This had a big graphical jump where it can match with some games today. Sam's suit can get wet from being in the rain for too long, more detail on the models and the visual modes have more fidelity and look more realistic. Being linear in the big picture, the subtle varied paths to complete and objective are very impressive and something that its successor lack.









7. Call of Duty (2003)

Before it went modern, it was part of the World War II game breakout. With members from the 2015 team (Medal of Honor: Allied Assault), it's expected it would be as good but at the time exceeded and broke boundaries for games based on one of the most important conflicts in history. No undercover work but took influence of Allied Assault's Omaha Beach level and put it throughout the whole campaign. All about intense battles from the eyes of a regular soldier aided by other many and helpful teammates.

The game keeps on the tension with Hollywood like events including amazing car chases and the stunning march up Stalingrad; where I have only ammo to carry and seeing men being slaughtered. A fun multiplayer with the barebones modes helped keep it going for a while. Although people transitioning to the newer products, everybody can play the intense single player and not feel bored that no one is around.

6. Shadow Complex (2009)

It's this decade's Metroid/Castlevania: Symphony of The Night. Providing a very similar reward system to its influences but it has certain characteristics that makes it fresh. It's embraces nostalgia but doesn't do so for the sake of itself. Being a tie in to Orson Scott Card's Empire novels, Chair Entertainment made a very interesting backdrop that would aid the books. Utilizing a control system that's simplistic and effective against the many enemies and weapons that contribute to many situations (especially the awesome foam gun), I really had fun playing this game when attempting to gather 100% items. Challenges and some time trial based courses, there is a lot more to do in the Xbox Live Arcade hit.

5. Counter-Strike: Source (2004)

It's Counter-Strike! With the Source engine! Purists or devotees will say it's not as good when compared to its version 1.6 predecessor. Although it will probably never be equally comparable to its older counterpart, it's just fun though to have the addictiveness of what made the series fun along with the always exciting physics.








4. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003)

Although the original Max Payne brought about a mini revolution in first providing the bullet time heavily influenced by The Matrix movie, having a very classic film noir influence with using a hybrid mix of real time and comic book style plot development, and graphics that looked amazing at its time (especially on Sam Lake providing the many and sometimes faces of Max); Max Payne 2 made it even better.

It's a more engaging and complex story about Max's romantic obsession with Mona Sax and the high profile gangster conflict in between the protagonist's trouble emotions. The bullet time had a very necessary upgrade with shoot dodging unconnected with the easily refillable hour glass and the reloading (although animation wise unrealistic) much less of a timer hog in the mode. Stronger voice acting, better graphics that stand very well today, and the chance to play as Max's muse. Those and many other improvements just made the game simply better.

3. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)

METAL GEAR! Despite Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots being released, the most memorable iteration of the Metal Gear franchise was the second Solid game. Most of us probably began with the first Solid on the original PlayStation as opposed to Metal Gear or Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Supported by very impressive visuals and a movie like soundtrack from famed composer Harry-Gregson Williams, it was considered one of the games to look out for.

Great experience to play as a bad-ass super soldier throughout. When Sons of Liberty was released, most if not all of us expected to play as Solid Snake all the way especially with all the new moves he has recieved since the Shadow Moses incident. But Hideo Kojima does the most unexpected with something crazy: Play as some guy named Raiden. Kojima-san effectively done it well of trying to mess with our minds. Starting with Raiden and the ongoing communications between him and the "Colonel." It seems all over the place but after looking at the big picture of long plot based cutscenes and codec conversations, the story is clear with discussing the emergence of comm. technology and the future of mankind. If I can have any very cinematic game, this is it.

2. Halo 3 (2007)

The first Halo was great and Halo 2 provided some improvements but had flaws from being much better than its oldest counterpart. When the third one came out, I felt that classic Halo spirit along with the noticeable Halo 2 like additions. Fighting the Brutes in this one is very reminiscent of the Elites from the original. This game's Brutes are equally formidable and intimidating as their once allied partners. They defectors are now friends and some of them including the interesting Arbiter can aid the Master Chief in stopping the Covenant Prophet of Truth from destroying the universe. The campaign especially when playing cooperatively online with friends (and sometimes on Legendary difficulty) is exciting from beginning to [non-Legendary] end cutscene which was emotionally heartbreaking that the Chief''s trilogy journey has ended and reached a full circle.

Even with the epic conflict finished, there is always multiplayer. It's great to have the assault rifle back. Even if there are dual wielding and very powerful melee weapons, there is a Halo multiplayer mentality; probably something Halo 2 tried to recreate. Slayer never gets old especially in well constructed maps (and DLC maps) against 16 players or 8 for team based combat. The additions of a theater mode and user generated Forge helps extend its lifetime (unless Halo: Reach has them and more). After playing many hours online, I realized I will never sell this game.

1. Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

Killing people with rockets, having some prostitute action, and smashing vehicles is a great thing to do when I am not focusing in the missions of a Grand Theft Auto game. In the fourth installment, it's always exciting to play the story quests. Besides having variety, it's exciting to listen to the dialogue between the characters of the world and protagonist Nico Bellic. He is a very detailed and dense character who has struggled to leave his murderous past behind and part for The American Dream. His mentality and his behavior are reflected on both the player and the many well thought out themes that some games lack. Niko Bellic is lovable character and if the most important created in this decade

Lacking the arcade flavor of the previous iteration, this follows a more realistic path with very noticeable changes including stricter (but justifiable) car handling and the physics system backed by NaturalMotion's Euphoria animation engine. Running over a person never gets tireing in this game; they don't fall flat, they flail and tumble naturally. Multiplayer doesn't remove the feature as it's also fun the player model get run over by a friends fast car while running for a helicopter.

Although I don't regularly replay anything single player, this is still the one I always go back and hear memorable characters, experience well constructed plot points, and awesome gameplay. Certainly one of the best games I have ever played.

My Top Three Favorite Records of 2009

I don't need to explain them. These are my favorite albums I heard this year. It's four not three but Converge has to be in the spot but Altar of Plagues stole my heart this year because it felt so lively while still being very heavy and dark. I can feel many emotions while listening to it which I haven't felt in a long time.

3. Coalesce - Ox/Converge - Axe To Fall (TIE)
2. Baroness - Blue Record
1. Altar of Plagues - White Tomb

Other stuff of the second half of 2009 which I thought were great too.

• Liturgy - Renihilation
• Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough
• Portal - Swarth
• Katatonia - Night Is The New Day
• Blacklisted - No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me
• Iron Age - The Sleeping Eye
• Gaza - He Is Never Coming Back
  
• Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
• Rise & Fall - Our Circle Is Vicious
• Marduk - Wormwood
• Between The Buried & Me - The Great Misdirect
• the_network - Bishop Kent Manning
• A Storm of Light - Forgive Us Our Tresspasses
  

This Week of Gaming Madness 2009: The Future

Finally finished with my Modern Warfare 2 week blog about some interesting things related to the game. I have discussed so much about the story on Giant Bomb, posted my best time for The Pit (19 seconds!), and whatever that I can contribute to the game. After beating it, there will be a sequel; probably a trilogy based series with the next one being a sort of Return of the Jedi vibe. It will likely be so and that's good but when it comes out, will it just be same old?

To be honest, Modern Warfare 2 is similar to the first Modern Warfare. Tutorial in the second one feelt like I have done the same thing already just with no flashbangs. That and some other things like multiplayer feels much the same too; while still being great. The framework for the multiplayer is just the same. Deathmatch is still deathmatch and hardcore is still the same challenging playlist. No real defining perk additions besides the new kill streaks but they feel like helicopter but en masse. Titles and emblems are cool and all but does it really matter when people who just want to play the game? Very likely not. It's a pleasure but not a Christmas present that every kid on the street has or will get.

But being a Call of Duty game, what is there to expect? Nothing. Hopes to Inifnity Ward to blow our minds again with not just the same thing but with something special and spectacular.

The Week of Gaming Madness 2009 Part Six: Spoilerific Chaos

I have completed the game a couple of days back probably by day two after release. When having a first playthrough on the hardest difficulty, it's very challenging to understand what really has happened because enemies are just bastards but reasonable bastards as opposed to the previous Call of Duty games. When before you had to be precise with what you would do, Modern Warfare gives more open air for the gamer to finish the situation because there is no grenade spam or respawing. Just you and probably a squad against a large force of Russians. But is it Makarov's Russian force or the actual country retaliating back?

Just like a high octane and big budget movie, there are plot holes being buried under the guns, killing, and total fucking destruction. An interesting thing was how people interpreted the storyline. It led to personal conspiracies of who is calling the shots. Most commonly was Giant Bomb doing a special podcast based on the single player campaign of Modern Warfare 2. They took it step by step of what happened but the confusion occurred especially in Vinny's case with the airport massacre. A regular player will get confused of what just happened and if they don't pay close attention to the loading screens and the in-game shock events, they are going to think it's dumb or something in particular. If trying to digest the story, the game wants the playerthrough think who is the real culprit of the airport scene and Washington D.C.. Is it really Makarov completely doing this? But after killing Shepard, it's pretty obvious that he done it. Makarov was part of Shepard's maniacal plan but Makarov's motives haven't really been revealed besides getting revenge on the people who killed Zakhaev from the first Modern Warfare.

Hope for the best that Makarov is a bastard to kill in the third chapter of the Modern Warfare series albeit the airport sequence wanted me to kill him at that moment. Although seemingly to be very prominent in the promotion, his screen time is very limited. He is the target that needs to be eliminated, but Shepard had to be stopped because he was initiating an unnecessary conflict for his own personal purposes. Probably due to losing his men from Al-Asad's attack in the first game and wanting to be a hero for invading Russia if America survives. In order to do so, he must recruit people; for that to happen in a world that can be relative to ours, the country needs to be attacked so people have the mindset to survive and protect their loved ones. It's crazy that someone of a prestige rank would want to deceive the U.S. by trying to encourage the U.S.. Just like the guys at Giant Bomb, it can be an allegory to our suspicion of our government.

These are dark time for Soap and Price. Now international fugitives after the death of Shepard. I can relate to the original Star Wars and Halo trilogies. The first feels triumphant, the second is the exposure of defeat and evil, and the third is the state of redemption and balance. How is Infinity Ward going to end the blast? One side can be more counter-terrorism or plain terrorism but for the benefit to make the world at peace again. Makarov, this time it's war.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 review

Yo Oscar Mike!

Two of the three words mentioned are one of the most said phrases in what is considered the most anticipated game of 2009 and probably in video gaming history so far; beating Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the forth child by veterans of the modern first person shooter genre known as Infinity Ward. Originally following in the footsteps of Medal of Honor and the intensity of World War II, the new world decades away from the great war is specialized by the folks at IW. Unlike the historically written cases where events were already written, the Modern Warfare series gives the developers in making a more free form interpretation of what our future may be later on especially with countries like the United States of America in conflict within the Middle Eastern zone. Along with an interesting narrative in relation to our current situation outside our homes, the first game excelled in expanding the single player and multiplayer experience by making very fluid and engaging moments of action that is still rivaled by other shooters. When a sequel comes, everyone who has been a fan of Infinity Ward's work and/or the Call of Duty series expects a step up. Just like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare before it with going into new territory, Modern Warfare 2 does the same and then some.

Taking place five years after the original Modern Warfare, Ultranationalist member and terrorist Imran Zakhaev is still dead but yet his spirit hasn't been forgotten when Russia ultimately becomes controlled by the said political party with Zakhaev being recognized as a hero and martyr. Peace exists on both sides of the Earth but one man who was a major associate of Zakhaev named Vladimir Makarov wants to end it by any means. It's then up to the multinational counter-terrorism unit Task Force 141 led by Call of Duty 4 protagonist Captain "Soap" MacTavish to stop Makarov from creating any catastrophe.

In Call of Duty tradition, the player follows multiple protagonists with Task Force 141 operative Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson being the most prominent. Roach will assist Captain MacTavish to such missions including retrieving a lost module in an airbase located in the Russian mountains and saving hostages in an oil rig. Aside from 141's activities, the perspectives of both the character and the environment changes where the action hits home with such characters like Private Ramirez and the United States Army Rangers defending Washington D.C. from invaders.

The plot discusses issue of terrorism may not be destroyed by a gun shot to a leader's head which explains Makarov's intent of revenge. By playing through, it's a bit vague of what he is going after but his introduction in Modern Warfare 2 especially in the controversial airport massacre level, it's good indication that he is someone that should be despised. It also deals with the theme of escalation where it becomes very prominent by the second act. With that being dealt with, it's doesn't try to go very subtle on events as it tries to shock you every couple of missions. The game provides little to no breathing room. Sometimes it's excessive but for something that has a strong Jerry Bruckheimer vibe (as opposed to the more realistic narrative of Call of Duty 4), it's acceptable.

Being a Call of Duty game, it follows the tried and true format just like usual. In cases where successors sticks to its guns, it can feel feel boring but for Modern Warfare 2, it's constantly exciting. The content is dense when shooting at the enemies with from a moving helicopter or clearing a room full of baddies and even civilians. You will witness tanks assaulting hostile houses while your squad moves up and takes down the enemy. When an area of enemies is defeated, you know they are defeated as this sequel lacks one of the most common issues in single player; which is the infinite waves. When playing, the game can trick the player that there is no end to enemies but in execution, it is very likely a large force. It doesn't force the player to move up and find a checkpoint to end the battle but encourages to eliminate the opposing force with excellence

The lack there-of makes the very challenging veteran difficulty less annoying and more enjoyable; while nonetheless very challenging. The battlefield and the AI seem to be one with each other as they know how to flank and take the upper hand instead of just being cheap sharpshooters. The design is still linear while having open room for both sides to take part and conquer. Still being stuck into two weapons only with grenades, the player can use new gadgets to get the upper hand including the addictive UAV Predator missile which can exterminate numerous foes at once without consuming too much ammo.

Task Force 141 infiltrating

Similar to the first Modern Warfare, the sequel contains specific varied sequences where you might have to defend a building from an invading force or stealth-fully get from point A to point B. It also includes controllable vehicle scenes which includes Roach and Soap having to escape by means of snowmobiles. The sequences and how the enemies currently act keeps the pacing going at a constant rate. When comparing to the lengths of both Modern Warfare games, the second one goes on faster yet can be finished about the same time as the original. Never a bad thing though because it's short and sweet.

Though great and all, I can safely say that Modern Warfare 2 bears so much similarities to its predecessor. There is no actual blatant improvement as opposed to the changes from Call of Duty to Call of Duty 2 to Modern Warfare. But when the campaign being much larger in context, it's very minor.

One of the biggest reasons that the first Modern Warfare became really popular was its multiplayer which contained very fun playlists as well as a role playing game like leveling system where people are rewarded with weapons and perks that can change the tide of a match by doing special tasks and challenges; and as well as kill people. It gave people an initiative to keep on playing especially when taking part in the Prestige Mode where they build up their rank all over again and again and again. That never went away in Modern Warfare 2. The framework is still the same with such popular modes such as team deathmatch and headquarters with its regular and hardcore settings (although old-school is gone). New modes include a third person perspective creating a new and interesting way to play the game; it feels very odd to view your player model yet feels fluid and and reactive during action.

Most of the new maps feels varied and exciting to play through. Some range from the symmetrical (Highrise) and the very condensed (Scrapyard, Rust). Old favorite from both Call of Duty and Call of Duty 2, Brecourt (now titled Wasteland) has returned with a new face lift. Some of these maps fit for specific playlists where Rust is great for small term deathmatch while Terminal is euphoric for domination.

The leveling and rewards system has improved with subtle changes. No more always unfair active perks such as juggernaut and martyrdom, people must die constantly in order to get some of these boosters. With kill streaks, there are now death streaks which can help get a player who might be trailing to get back into the game. It can help new users to get comfortable with the already ready and hardened multiplayer community. The kill streak system has improved with providing more types of rewards including a supply drop that can contain ammo or a random kill streak or even commandeering a gunship for the player to take down enemies right from above. Another interesting kill streak reward is the tactical nuke which destroys everybody and ends the game with the winning team containing the person who used the reward. But at 25 kills, it will be very rare for anybody to witness it. That leads to the initiative for the player to wisely pick which streak will fit for their playstyle as the limit is to three.

Besides destroying the opposition itself, people can destroy the opposition's rewards. Similar to shooting rockets at the chopper in the first Modern Warfare, people can now destroy the opponents' gunships, planes, and even the UAV recon plane disabling any chance of the enemy to find you. In order for everyone to have a equal chance, they make the rewards penetrable to destroy. It causes the rocket launcher to be a necessary weapon as opposed to originally being a perk. The explosive launchers as well as machine pistols and shotguns are moved to the secondary weapon side while the usual rifles and machine guns are still primary. A new weapon in both single player and multiplayer called the riot shield provides a new way of how to play the game where the shield-man is creating a defensive line for people behind him. Being indestructible, it can benefit objective based games where teamwork is necessary.

Some new identity based additions also exist in multiplayer with now titles and emblems that can help characterize any player.

The snowmobile getaway

The newest mode to Modern Warfare 2 is the cooperative capable Special Ops mode which was influenced by the bonus Mile High Club from the original Modern Warfare. It's simply a challenge mode with different types of objective for the player(s) to complete. The mode uses assets from the main campaign and as well as the first Modern Warfare. It can be played alone or with a friend through split-screen or online. The differences with playing alone and with a buddy is key with some missions where communication is golden. Some of these include a mission influenced by the ghille suit mission in Call of Duty 4 where the goal is to get from point A to point B. The environment though is very dense with heavy foliage causing enemies including camouflaged ghillied enemies to blend in completely. Having a friend for a case like that can really help find the snipers. It's an exciting mode with so much tension and fun that it can encourage players to play it again and probably at a harder setting.

Despite being a sequel on the same generation of consoles as Call of Duty 4, it looks fantastic from the dark and torn Washington D.C. to the faces of character like Soap and ally Ghost. Running at 60 frames per second, it can add so much visual fidelity while still being consistently smooth. You will be amazed and speechless to what you will see. The sound is a big improvement as well with such things as the believable ambient-scapes and battle chatter from your teammates. The game recruits popular talent including sci-fi hero Lance Henricksen and video game voice veteran Keith David as prominent characters throughout the campaign. The voice of Soap (played by Kevin McKidd) is probably the strongest video game performance this year after never hearing a word from him while playing Call of Duty 4.

There were controversies before the launch of the game but it doesn't stop Modern Warfare 2 from being absolutely fantastic. There are some problems that plague the game but it's very little as opposed to the seemingly larger than life campaign, the fun Special Ops, and the still addicting multiplayer. Infinity Ward always knows how to make an exceptional product since day one and this game doesn't end the mark.

10/10

The Week of Gaming Madness 2009 Part Four: WOLVERINES!

No review yet. I am working through my single player playthrough on veteran difficulty. It was the case with Call of Duty 4. I am a fan of the franchise from one to now yet as I played the first Modern Warfare, I picked veteran after ignorantly thinking that it's the easiest. What a dumb ass am I! Although with hardships trying to move forward to get to a checkpoint before a new wave of infinite soldiers, I succeeded with almost 1000 gamerscore with every mission done on the difficulty. I tried World At War but the issue is that it was too cheap with not just infinite enemy respawns but with the issue of grenades and just hoping for the best that I can get to the next checkpoint. I opted out.

With Modern Warfare 2, veteran is still balls to the wall hard but there are benefits to it (will keep brief). No grenade spam and no respawns! It keeps the game going for the determined yet gives them a time of their life.

Hopefully a review can be written tomorrow or else I might be distracted from multiplayer.

The Week of Gaming Madness 2009 Part Three: Release Day

I got it, playing it, and loving it. Review tomorrow.

The Week of Gaming Madness 2009 Part Two: Big Title or Small Title?

Tomorrow is the day. It will be the anniversary of the Marine Corps.' formation and most commonly, the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Sometimes it's weird to say or type that whole phrase instead of just having Modern Warfare 2. Ever since it's announcement back at the Game Developers Conference in early 2009, people have been in debate if the game should be placed under Call of Duty or try to be separated from the main series as now part of the Modern Warfare. If you see something like Wikipedia, they were debating about the names and constantly moving to each one in between the announcement and now. Recently Activision finalized the public title on the regular edition of the game by adding the Call of Duty name to likely get customers who would buy Modern Warfare 2 if it had the franchise title.

I know the gaming industry just commonly says it Modern Warfare 2 and it's fine because I say so too but there's an interesting question lingering in my head... Would the game sold more copies with just Modern Warfare 2?

I guess people who might not be the most hardcore gaming fanatics in a local Wal-Mart would question Modern Warfare 2 when they seemingly never heard of Modern Warfare 1. If they added the Call of Duty name, it would have reminded them of the previous two games which were CoD 4: Modern Warfare and CoD: World At War. It would have likely gave them the initiative to buy it.

Just having Modern Warfare 2 doesn't equal bad sales but a majority of fans of the series will get it and will be strong nonetheless, although lesser than what you would compare now with having the largest quantity of pre-sales in retailer GameStop. Just like Call of Duty 4, the sales would increase by game reviews and word of mouth from a fan to one who is curious of what is up. But for the case of Activision, it's not enough for them to earn more money as opposed to just slapping Call of Duty and frolic in their pool of cash.

For the sake of success, having the name is necessary because gamers of different stages know what Call of Duty is and will get it but to get the sales from a crowd who are just playing whatever is popular or not very knowledgeable in gaming yet wanting to enjoy something. People though will still just call it Modern Warfare 2.

The Week of Gaming Madness 2009 Part One: Release date?! Pfft!

Ah yes the most anticipated game of 2009 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is coming real soon into our boxs of graphical intensity. After Infinity Ward's CoD 4: Modern Warfare was well received from fans of the series as well as people who play the game only because of its popularity, for sure the sequel will be much more popular and infamous than it's engaging predecessor. For a moment, the pre-release buzz of the sequel almost feels like 2004 all over again with Halo 2 with some interesting and controversial additions. It includes the abandonment of PC specific traits such as mods and dedicated servers, the playable airport massacre, and the F.A.G.S. debacle. One thing that stands out that just happened recently is the selling of Modern Warfare 2 before its November 10, 2009 street date.

According to news blogs such as Joystiq and Kotaku, GameStop who is promoting Modern Warfare 2 have stores in the east coast including New York already selling copies in advance to the public. Not to reviewers or whatever but to people who would have been waiting in line on Monday night to actually play the game. It was initially believed that Activision told specific Gamestop stores to sell the game according an employee of a Bowling, Ohio store. Activision later responded that no GameStop had any special permission to sell it in advance.

I feel that there is something missing from what just happened. Was the employee at GameStop lying about it and just selling it for the sake of so? Is Activision lying (and with what's up with Activision it doesn't seem that surprising, but I digress)?

Tens of thousands of people are already playing the game according to the leaderboards. I don't seem to understand why is that so when Activision is trying to follow the release date. Isn't there some sort of fashion of suspending or banning someone who tries to get online before the release date? It raises my suspicion...

For a couple of seconds, I thought of this situation as a leak of sorts but the problem is that it's really not. Leaks are more obvious in what has led to where this advance sale feels like a mystery. Leaks are not being sold to the public for oodles of cash they are just free but in a different context. There was a leak for Modern Warfare 2 and it was free to download but it came at a heavy price especially to the culprit but anyways...

I don't see the point of having a release date for the public to pay when you can just sell it days or probably weeks before. One problem with something like that is the lack of unity and respect for the product that was planned to be only coming out on that day. It might have worked for the Ohio store for probably short term economic reasons but that's stupid when the publisher seemed to want the game to be released on that day, not daty before. In the future we will have Blizzard release Diablo 3 suddenly into the digital distribution market as they finish the product. Another reason is that it's very anti-anticipation based where a majority of gamers who will wait will be jealous and then discouraged when they finally play it when other impatient gamers have already mastered the format.

I don't know what's happening with this hoopla and I am angry that it's very unfair but what can you do with a game that contains the largest pre-order sales at GameStop. What can we do? Nothing really. Still indeed horrible news.

Coalesce - "Wild Ox Moan" Dissected

Lasting for more than a week even if I have discovered this recently, Coalesce has issued a contest where anybody can win prizes for having the best remix and/or rearrangement of their OX song "Wild Ox Moan." Although great to win crap including a special LP version of OX, I feel that people including me who are trying to get into music production, specifically extreme metal, can understand how can we make a good sounding track with this song as good reference.

It's great that engineer Ed Rose dissected the main elements of the song (guitars, vocals, effects, etc.) for us to understand in a technical manner. Notable elements include the panned bass guitar, the room and close drum mics, and the use of vocals with how having either just the main vocals or the backing vocals can affect the performance especially in the 02:38-02:58 section.

I am trying to understand extreme metal production and trying to make my own sound. Thank goodness someone would break down a song or else most of us would be overproducing/underproducing which can respectively lead to constant clipping or inaudibility. Most of us recording music in a DIY fashion might not sound good as OX but at least it's a stepping stone for success in the future.

Official Rules

Indaba: Remix Page

My Favorite Extreme Music Albums of 2009's First Half Part Two

5. Buried Inside - Spoils Of Failure
The thing that I really like about Spoils is that all the songs draws you into a universe that's bleak and to a land of no return influenced by the NeruIsis sound as opposed to relaxing in a dream state. Four years after Chronoclast, they have slowed down their obvious intensity to only present more of it subtly with the Roman numeraled songs where odd at first it says something in that Buried Inside's Spoils of Failure is meant to be listened wholly to witness the full firepower of this Ottawa doom and gloom band.

4. Cobalt - Gin
Experimental progressive black metal? It's not Norway's Enslaved but Colorado's Cobalt where only two people (with Sgt. Phil McSorley currently serving in Iraq) doing probably the best things by Opeth, Neurosis, and even Tool into one record about one special drink and the effects of being drunk. When digesting universally (music and artwork), the mysticism of Hemmingway and Thompson gets farther with contributions by Swans' Jarboe, the everlong silent poem, and the great campfire bonus song at the end (spoilers!).

3. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
Split after split after split after split and so on... Drum machinegunners Agoraphobic Nosebleed hasn't released an album in years but did the splits without breaking any bones. After Scott Hull did his time with Pig Destroyer and his solo recordings, he got drone doomy Salome's Katherine to do some vocals along with commons Richard Johnson and Jay Randall to shout on a new form of ANb. Not super mother fucking high speed of messy grind but evolving to a more precise and tactical strikers with realistic drum programming, grooved up guitars, and shouters who want people to suck their dicks just like usual; sorry Kat!

2. Tombs - Winter Hours
Greatest surprise record of the year. Brooklyn shoegazy sludgified black metal Tombs makes a debut that's powerful mixing the wall of sound defined by My Bloody Valentine with the tempos of Neurosis and Darkthrone (especially Darkthrone) where sounds so fresh and warm. Hooky lines of chords and riffs played through by guitar Mike Hill and bassist Carson Daniel James like butter. Mike's vocals also make the awesome sound more awesome with his hollow chants of New York life. Wham bam thank you ma'am!

I have two number ones because they sound equally great in my ears!

1. Altar Of Plagues - White Tomb
Black metal is sometimes hard to digest to especially when it's in something along the lines of Xasthur but for some reason, Ireland's Altar Of Plagues rids of the problem and presents a new and attractive universe of the gloomy aggression to the dynamics of post-rock/metal. There is lyrical and musical sadness and anger against the industrialization of our world ridding of Europe's spring gentian flower especially in "Through The Collapse" arc where Altar Of Plagues presents a dead future without nature and hope that it returns to shine the Earth which these naturalists call the White Tomb.

1. Coalesce - Ox
More than ten years since their pre-first breakup album 0:12 Revolution In Just Listening, finally full length material which continues and expands on the influence of 1960s rock along with the element of spaghetti western soundtracks; not just musically but lyrically. Sean Ingram tells us first person stories of the wild west from long ago were Manifest Destiny was booming and there was trouble and loneliness in the new frontier (listen to "We Have Lost Our Will"). His shouts will intimidate even the bree-ist of folk. Although following in a more simpler tone, the music still is chaotic and unpredictable even with every listen because guitarist Jes and bassist Nathan make it so exciting to find out who is playing on which side! Let's not forget Junior who is a master at the craft of drumming in which without him, Ox would have been left for the crows.

Other great listens:

• Believer - Gabriel
• Graves Of Valor - Salarian Gate
• Kylesa - Static Tensions
• Victims - Killer

My Favorite Extreme Music Albums of 2009's First Half Part One

It's August thus part of the second half of 2009 and I am late in making my top extreme metal/hardcore albums of 2009 from January to June. But whatever as it's still acceptable.


10. Brutal Truth - Evolution Through Revolution
More than 10 years since 1997's Sounds Of The Animal Kingdom, it's indeed a great return of blasting noisy and sometimes jazzy deathgrind thanks to the very rapid stylings of Richard Hoak while a bearded Kevin Sharp does the catchy aggressive vocals to Minutemen's "Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs". It helps relieve the strong efforts of Dan and Erik doing the outrageous riffs on Evolution.

9. Isis - Wavering Radiant
In short what Wavering Radiant is, a combination of the past (Celestial) and the recent (Oceanic - In The Absence Of Truth). Maintained by the experimental foundation used in the previous three records, it doesn't display redundancy as it has *drum roll* RIFFING! It's entertaining to see Isis try to expand by wisely regressing in some degrees to prevent being part of the NeruIsis syndrome and still remain a characteristic entity.

8. Napalm Death - Time Waits For Slave
Although redundancy is a bad thing, it can be a good thing when there great content behind the constituency. That's where Napalm Death comes in where they continue on their deathgrind glory in the vein of Scum and From Enslavement To Obliteration. It's still full force and Barney Greenway will shout at you no matter what you threaten him with.

7. Obscura - Cosmogenesis
Unless you give me Symbolic or Obscura, I will not really listen to technical death metal except for Obscura (of course the group) as they don't rely too much on technicality over catchy material as they use necessary balance to attract both audiences who loved the reunion of Gorguts or simply loves the old school.

6. Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
It's something by Neige and what does it mean? Very attractive and warming melodies. Although Amesoeurs is not Alcest, it shares the same function but darkens the path with aggressive black metal with shoegazing similar to Brave Murder Day but kicks it up a notch with fast pieces like "Heurt". If you wanted clean singing in something frantic and hard, listen to Audrey's singing range and her patterns. Too bad we cannot have more after their immediate disbandment.

Other great listens:

• War From A Harlots Mouth - In Shoals
• Narrows - New Distances
• Gallows - Grey Britain
• Graf Orlock - Destination Time: Today
• Pulling Teeth - Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions
  

Part Two coming real soon.

New title, E3, and Teeth Of The Divine.

I had a fun new title (POW Block!) but had wanted to do powblock.blogspot.com but someone took it and was lazy to do anything to the blog and never even titled the blog POW Block. So I hope this catches on! After some Googling to check for similar results, I encountered another blog with a very similar title and I want to respect the blog so I finally settled with the best album name ever made by Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Bestial Machinery.

I was busy after just looking at the new products at E3 so no reviews or previews of games/music or interesting stuff. I will soon come back in a partially active state again with my blog habit.

I am gonna listen to new albums for review to see if I have the chops for extreme metal site, teethofthedivine.com. Here are my expected reviews...

• Coalesce - Ox
• Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
• Buried Inside - Spoils of Failure
• Brutal Truth - Evolution Through Revolution

I will do some more as well if I have time...

• Weekend Nachos - Unforgivable
• I Wrestled A Bear Once - It's All Happening (Yeah, I am really gonna torture myself with this review)