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Saturday, January 12, 2008

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:10:32 GMT

Review: Scarscab, Soulblood (2007)

Would you expect to find Louis Armstrong on a German metal record? No? Well, you might be right; there is no obvious reason to. The more it struck me, when I heard Louis Armstrong’s famous line And I said to myself / What a wonderful world being sung on Scarscab’s album Soulblood. To be more precise, it is used in the record’s last song Behold Beware. Some might say this is blasphemy. I would agree, if Armstrong’s words would be used in a bad piece of music. However, Behold Beware is one of the best metal songs I’ve heard in a long time, leading me to one deeper insight: this is not blasphemy, this carefully crafted and yes, catchy, metal from Germany.

The same holds true for the rest of the record, even though Behold Beware remains the strongest song. Take, for instance, the beginning. The opening track, named after the album, is merely a prelude, emphasising the band’s taste for rhythmic and melodic arrangements – the first moment of good songwriting. But it’s clearly the second song, which shows that the band has more to offer: Human Havoc has everything a metal fan might ask for: speed, brutality, melody. Wow. I simply can’t find a real weak spot on that record. Quite the reverse. For someone like me, who is not a regular metal consumer, this record is a revelation and brings back my taste for music with heavy guitars.

Admittedly, one cannot deny Scarscab’s resemblance to bands such as Machine Head or Fear Factory. In fact, the band’s music is based on the same principle of speedy double-bass metal blended with clear, melodic singing. However, as mentioned above, Scarscab is not a rip-off. Rather, the band was able to create their own sound and style, which sometimes even leads to Metallica-resembling ballads such as All That Lies, which could easily receive some airplay on MTV. What these guys need now is a proper record deal!!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:34:31 GMT

A QUESTION OF IDENTITY

Europe is a great idea but leaves us with a challenging task: creating a common identity.

The difficulties are obvious. On the one hand, Europe benefits from the various cultural differences of its members. However, these differences could also be seen as the main obstacle towards a common European nationality.

The EU, for instance, has now 27 members with 23 official languages. This can become a real problem, as identity is closely linked to native languages. In the EU, the three main languages are English, French and German. But what about other states such as Greece, Poland and Portugal? Language is still a hurdle to common understanding and will remain a problem for European identity.

Therefore, building our nation requires different methods. One of them has been the introduction of a common currency, the Euro. A spontaneous look into my wallet revealed coins from Ireland, Italy and Germany. Suddenly, bridging cultures and countries becomes very easy indeed. Unfortunately, the UK has refused to join the Euro until now and therefore missed the opportunity to move closer to the continent.

According to last week’s New Statesman “The euro has become the world's favourite - and most stable - currency and no country has lost its identity.”¹ Still, the author remains too general about the term ‘identity’ and neglects the issue of a European nationality. But joining the European currency could make it much easier for Britain to become part of a multinational Europe – a step it only has taken half-hearted up to now.

Europe has to take every opportunity to become one. As part of Europe, Britain should not wait any longer.

Massow, Ivan. 2007. Come back, euro – all is forgiven. New Statesman. February 26, p. 10.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:56:17 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY MERRILL!!!!!!!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:20:36 GMT

A HURT NATION

How long does it take until a nation gets over its past?

It was this question troubling Germany after World War Two. A whole generation, known as the movement of 1968, critically engaged with the country’s Nazi-past – something, they claimed, their parents had failed to do.

It is due to this generation that the Third Reich is probably the best-researched period in German history. However, the movement also brought one of the biggest traumas to the country, known as the Red Army Faction (RAF). During the 1970s and 80s, the terrorist organisation assassinated several business tycoons and state officials in their attempt to uncover a nation still steeped in fascism.

This week’s Time showed that German politicians still have huge difficulties in closing this matter in an objective manner.¹ The debate circles around the release of two convicted former members of the RAF, Brigitte Mohnhaupt, 57, and Christian Klar, 54. Both were sentenced to a respective 24 and 26 years in 1985 due to numerous counts of murder and attempted murder.

Now, after 22 years, Mohnhaupt became eligible for parole and will be released from prison in March 2007. Klar has appealed the German president for early release. However, there is debate among conservative politicians whether parole should be granted at all. Markus Söder, general secretary of the Christian Social Union (CSU) has uttered strong concern about the release. So, too, familiy members of the RAF-victims would like to see Kahl’s appeal rejected.

Terrorists are criminals and should be treated accordingly. But if politicians question probation, law becomes obsolete – Guantánamo Bay has shown what this means. Only when “law takes its course”, Germany will get over its past.²

¹ Purvis, Andrew. 2007. Red Ghosts. Time. February 19, p. 32-33.

² Ibid.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:25:35 GMT

LIFTING THE DEBATE

There is a huge difference between quality and mediocre media. The most visible one is the quality media’s ability to move beyond current issues and discover their true meanings for society.

Last week’s Economist confirmed my opinion. With its leader on bird-flu, the publication uncovered the British media’s dependence on people’s fears. As the author notes, “the British press does love a good panic”¹ – but bad news also sell newspapers. Instead of reporting what is actually happening, stories are embroidered to justify a disturbing but yet attractive headline.

When it comes to media frenzy, diseases seem indeed to be tailor-made. Take, for instance, BSE and SARS which have long been a constant source for front-page stories. Once the victims of these diseases faded, so did the coverage. Therefore, I was pleased to see that these shortcomings of media mediocrity were revealed by another publication.

But the leader not only confirmed what I already knew. It took the debate to another level by stating what we should really be worried about. And that is the lack of investment in those countries where these diseases are widespread. Containment has to start there. But our awareness seems to be limited to the society we live in. As long as we are not directly affected, there is no reason for us to care.

I admit that I never made that step before. To me, thinking about the double standards of mass media seemed sophisticated enough. But I never considered that our society has to invest in other, poorer societies to prevent diseases like bird-flu.

Only quality media can provide us with this awareness.

¹ U. a. 2007. Be concerned about avian influenza, but for the right reasons. The Economist. February 10. P. 15.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:33:42 GMT

Deadly Dedication

Dedication is believed to be a good thing. Still, one should not forget that sometimes it leads people to crime and even murder.
As a huge fan of football culture, I was shocked by last week’s murder of a 38-year-old policeman at a football match in Sicily. After the derby between Palermo and Catania, rioting hooligans killed the married father of two children, marking another death due to football-related violence - according to the Financial Times, it’s the eighteenth since 1963.
And that’s only Italy. Think back to the World Cup in France in 1998, when gendarme Daniel Nivel was almost beaten to death by German football fans. Only last Sunday, 36 policemen were injured when 800 hooligans rampaged after a football game in Leipzig.
Through their fanatic loyalty, some football fans do nothing but harm to the world’s most famous sport. In fact, it should tie people and cultures together and not encourage them to hurt each other. But again, reality disabuses us from this ideal notion.
Why is violence a constant splinter in football? One explanation lies in the governments’ inabilities to effectively control and destroy violent hooligan groups. The fear of terrorism has sensitised leaders to implement measures in order to prevent such acts. But apparently, this is not enough. In the case of Italy, the wrongdoers have been well-known for a long time and their attacks were expectable. In contrast, no one knows exactly when and where terrorists will strike next.
Governments should act with more dedication to protect sports events from those incidents. Last year’s World Cup in Germany showed that it can work.

Source: Barber, Tony. 2007. Italy fails to raise its game in fight against football hooliganism. Financial Times. February 7. P. 6.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:28:18 GMT

Guns and Grins

Remember Mr Pink cutting off a cop’s ear in Quentin Tarantino’s legendary Reservoir Dogs? The scene’s brutality is undeniable and inflicts pain on viewers who see it for the first time (of course, there might be some gore-loving cineasts, even able to eat a full-scale dinner while watching Hostel). But if you forget the pictures and just listen to the music, in this case, Stuck in the middle with you by Stealer’s Wheel, you might just even think of a groovy song accompanied by a couple of strange noises. The point is that the mixture of brutality and good music brings about a scary but yet entertaining film – a receipt which has been used thousandfold by filmmakers others than Tarantino. Think of Snatch or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – two utterly enjoyable masterpieces where blood and humour is spilled generously. This is gangstertainment at its best.

Just recently, a new movie hit the cinemas which successfully builds upon this unbeatable combination. Smokin’ Aces is not another poor copy of perfectly crafted movies such as Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown. Rather, it is told straight forward but with the usual twists and turns in the main story. The plot is quite simple. Las Vegas magician and Mafiosi Buddy Israel decides to turn informant to the FBI. Of course, the Cosa Nostra want to prevent this by offering $1 million of head money. The stage is set for a bloodbath in which a couple of mental bounty hunters are trying to make their way to kill Mr Israel (played by Jeremy Piven). What surprises most is the overly famous cast, featuring such names as Andy Garcia, Ben Affleck and Ray Liotta. Even R’n’B star Alicia Keys appears as a professional killer – and does so convincingly. Nevertheless, it is a highly entertaining movie which sometimes tries to add some tragic moments. This clearly sets it apart from other films of that genre but does not reduce its quality as a jocular high-speed piece of cine-art. My recommendation: Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 23:23:05 GMT

Planet of the Apes

After a record break of one month and seven days, the stonemason decided to appear again. His return to Cardiff had been quiet but he knew that he had to make himself known to the outside world again. The first thing he found himself in when he stood outside Cardiff central bus station on Sunday 2am was a disgrace embodied in large groups of boozed zombies fringing the pavement in the city centre. When he had booked the flight he wasn't aware of the fact that he would arrive during a Saturday night in a city in the state of civil war. Now it was too late to change and to regret it. In fact, he felt a strange kind of satisfaction standing in the midst of those creatures whose ability to look human seemed to be the only commonalty with him. And in his mind, they almost even failed in doing that. Instead, they resembled a huge army of chimps freaking out after the warden has given them infinite amounts of bananas. Was it really that little setting a human apart from an animal? Obviously. Looking at a half naked female chimp, he became aware of the true event’s momentousness. While trying to eat an unidentifiable lump of cheese and chips, she (or rather it) attempted to communicate with a conspecific in a language the stonemason couldn’t understand. It sounded like gargling rather than the screams of a monkey. Clue- and hopeless, he took a cab to his place in order to flee from the horror. The driver, a non-chimp, told him that he had landed on the planet of the apes. Fortunately, chimps normally turn into humans again on a Sunday, he thought.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:46:41 GMT

Love letter

Dear Ziyi,

I saw you in a movie yesterday and…. ahh, it was called, like, House of the Flying Daggers and you were just so, like, ahh, pretty in that thing ‘n stuff…I was like OH MY GOD....and, well, I’m in love with you so badly right now and…ahh…I was just wondering if we both could, like, get together sometime…just if you’ve got time or somethin’….ahh…how you killed those soldiers with your daggers was just sooo cool and…well….maybe you could show me stuff like that when we…ahh…meet up for a drink or somethin’…ahh…I don’t know but I’d really like to meet you someday and maybe you and me we could, like, rent a car and drive somewhere like in the movies or somethin’….well, only if you like, but right now I’m, like, pretty busy ‘n stuff so, ahh, if you like, ahh, I could, like, come to China or wherever you are after Christmas, cuz, ahh, right now I’m busy ‘n stuff with work ‘n stuff…but….well….do you like to play Super Nintendo….I’ve got, like cool games ‘n stuff, like megaman and metal warriors and, well, it’s Japanese but, like, that’s pretty close to your place, so, maybe..ahh…you can just write back….or…..like…..give me a phone call or somethin’….I’m like online all the time cuz’, like….the internet is like sooo cool, and, well I’m home most of the time, cuz’, well, I’m workin’ at home if you know what I mean but maybe….ahh….like…..the guy you kissed in that thing…ahh…was that your boyfriend or…….well, I was just wondering cuz’ my friend Ned was like WOOOOOOOO when he saw that cuz’ he knows that I, like, fancy you ‘n stuff….but then I was like NO WAY cuz’ she’s like different ‘n stuff….and then he was like SHE’S PREGNANT and I was like YOU LIE and….ahh…..he was just like laughin’ at me….well….ahh…by the way….I’m Chris….ahh….yeah…..well……China rules ‘n stuff…..peace out………

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:01:11 GMT

Champagne Supernova

Several drunken MAIJ students were seen at a pub in Cardiff last night, police sources revealed today.

Strangely, some of them were dressed in suits, devouring large amounts of British, German and Belgium beer. Two JOMEC staff members were also reported to be seen. Their identity has yet to be confirmed by the police. However, there is reason to believe that one of them was the MAIJ lecturer Gary Merrill. Eyewitnesses said that the other person could have been Huw Thomas, administrative assistant at JOMEC.

The students were celebrating the thirtieth birthday of fellow David Vetter at the pub Inncognito. The gathering lasted for at least five hours before the party’s remnants were thrown out of the pub. Before that they were able to grasp two bottles of champagne to drown their sorrows in the fine beverage.

Mr Vetter and another MAIJ student were reported to rejoice at their performance of songs by the bands Metallica and NOFX. In the middle of alcoholic intoxication, Vetter relinquished: “We’re working on a Metallica opera. It’s gonna feature all our favourites such as Fight Fire With Fire, The Thing That Should Not Be and The Call of Kthulu.” Vetter and two other students were seen leaving the pub with a gale of laughter about this great idea.