Show Murder

The fall tv season is now almost over. There have been remarkable new shows, some disappointments (Heroes) and some continuation of standard quality (House MD). But the one show that does its thing only in the fall season, is the clear winner. Dexter killed them all dead.
For those unfamiliar with the show, Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall) is a blood spatter specialist working for the Miami police department. Not a job for the squeamish, and Dexter is anything but! He is also quite likable, even if slightly weird. What nobody suspects is that he's a methodical serial killer!
The show just delivered its second season finale, and I must say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. No episode, from first season premiere on, was below greatness but second season kept raising the bar and us at the edge of our seats. "Dexter"'s cast consists of talented actors but the strongest aspect of the show is the writing. Every plot point falls into place, the characters are consistent and the memorable lines are plenty. Maybe the fact that the show is based on a novel is the reason behind this. Whatever the case, the show has been a big success and a third season is ensured. Until then, you are advised to check on the first two for some bloody fun!

The Enemies Of Democracy

Philosophy is sometimes accused of being void of content, nothing more than an indulgence at word-play and useless intellectual gymnastics. I don't think anyone is justified to hold such an opinion, especially after Karl Popper. After all, he set the standards of modern science by introducing the concept of falsifiability.
In the first part of his influential tome "The Open Society and its Enemies", Popper attacks a widely revered persona : Plato.
Plato lived at the very crucial time of the Peloponnesian War, the time when the ideas of individualism and democracy were introduced for the first time. It was a transition that Plato opposed, despite the influence Socrates had on him. Popper shows how the social model that Plato proposes is totalitarian, and how he manages to present it in a way that continues to appeal even to modern times. Plato's ideal society is one of rigid roles and no individuality. His theory of Forms (or Ideas) naturally supports such a model : perfection lies in the past because everything that exists is a degenerate copy of its ideal, primordial Form (this is a version of a concept that Popper calls "historicism"). Thus, any change away from the ancient, tribalistic societies is evil. An argument Plato uses is comparing society with the body of an organism. An organism cannot function if its parts seek roles that are different from their natural ones.
Plato manages to present his social model as just and good by clever philosophical tricks. One is to present the laws of tribalistic society as natural ones. In the same way that you cannot challenge gravity, Plato assumes that this applies for the laws of his ideal society. As these laws are part of the past, they are more perfect copies of their original Form. Another trick is to present concepts like individualism as inherently selfish and destructive for society. For Plato, being a free individual is not an option, it is not natural - it is egoistic and thus, evil. The reason why such clearly totalitarian ideas remain popular is because they prey on our natural urge to belong to a group.
Karl Popper has dug deep into the platonic texts and manages to elegantly explain and expose their origin and content. By doing so, Popper also offers us an important understanding of the democratic values that emerged when the tribalistic society collapsed. There is only one point that I think Popper gets wrong.
Popper briefly criticizes Plato's fame as "the nearest approach to Christianity before Christ" and it is here that I think he fails to make a case. Plato's fame is very much justified because Christianity opposes democracy with the same arguments and tricks that Plato uses. Popper argues that modern philosophers fail to see the connection between Plato and totalitarianism but he himself fails, in the same way, to see the connection with Christianity. It may be that Popper wanted to avoid insulting his religious readers. It's hard to believe he would have missed the similarities between Paul and Plato, as they both use the "body" comparison (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) for their proposed societal model. Inadvertently or not, Popper's criticism of Plato also reveals the totalitarian nature of Christianity.

Paramount's Heir

There are always bands that receive much more respect and recognition than actual sales, and this is very common in progressive circles. I would say that Germany's Sieges Even is a perfect example of this phenomenon. They started off as a very complex thrash metal band influenced by Watchtower, but by their second album it became obvious they are anything but ordinary. In 1991, "A Sense Of Change" combined an ethereal, lyrical style with the technical prowess of prog rock but the time was a bit too early for the audience. After a few more albums where the band tried to be more accessible and the resulting disappearance, Sieges Even were back two years ago with a new vocalist and an absolute masterpiece, called "The Art Of Navigating By The Stars". In this album, they worked from a new perspective and improved the already high level of "A Sense Of Change".
So, it is a very difficult job for the successor! "Paramount" doesn't stray far, it is clearly a heavier album, and Rush is a much more obvious influence. Everything we love about Sieges Even is present, the warm vocals, the lyricism, the discrete yet admirable technicality. The more prominent guitars will certainly please a lot of people, but as I said, it is difficult to repeat the perfection that was "The Art Of Navigating By The Stars". In any case, "Paramount" is still an album that you will proudly include in your collection.

The Way To Constantinople

I am rarely impressed by new bands these days, but ok, wow! "The Varangian Way" by finnish metallers Turisas had me at first note and I was frozen for the rest of its duration. Epic, symphonic, folk or whatever you want to call it, I can't find a single flaw about it. Adding the fact of its wonderful concept, "The Varangian Way" completes a triad of what we should call "ethnographic" metal (yeah, I just made it up!!), the other two members being Orphaned Land's "Mabool" and Solefald's "Red For Fire".
The variety and richness of sounds is amazing. Vocal-wise you will listen to clean and brutal vocals, choirs, the dry and acidic Martin Walkyier-variety, Viking bards and more. Folk instruments, of course, like flute and accordeon. Keyboards that use both classical elements and the majestic brass sound that would put Bal-Sagoth to shame. The guitar work, while not something extraordinary, is exactly as it should sound. Heavy and groovy but also melodic and a guest player when needed. You will even be surprised to listen to a small part of progressive experimentation that manages to not seem out of place at all, in the masterpiece that closes the album "Miklagard Overture".
The story of the album involves the adventure of a group of Northmen as they travel the Varangian way, a river route from the North to Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. This reminds me an excellent novel I read, Stephen Lawhead's "Byzantium" , as such an adventure is central to it! Like the book, Turisas's album is an adventure in history...click on the post's title to experience it in full!

Link found at http://metalwords.wordpress.com/

The Silver Voice

Lisa Gerrard's voice is an experience that is the closest I have come to what people describe as "spiritual". Sweetly haunting, it usually sings no words, but you feel it says so much.
Her career with Dead Can Dance offered us albums of unsurpassed quality. Her later collaborations, including quite a few Hollywood movie soundtracks, were both artistic and commercial successes, mostly due to her own presence.
"The Silver Tree" is her second official solo album and while I was pretty certain of its quality before listening, I wasn't prepared to be surprised. Yes, it seems we haven't heard everything from Lisa Gerrard just yet. "The Silver Tree" is a very dark album...not in the gothic way of "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun", but touches ambient and trip hop territory. You will hear Gerrard sing in ways you haven't before. Of course, her trademarks are still present...the eerie chants, the heartbreaking incantations. You will not find the ethnic elements that dominated the last Dead Can Dance albums, but all the haunting creepiness is there.
"The Silver Tree" is not recommended for everyone or for everytime...it's best enjoyed in the dark, with your eyes closed and your mind open.

Born For Language

Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist and cognitive scientist, but more importantly a very talented writer. "The Language Instinct" is one of the most interesting and well-written books I have read. It shouldn't be surprising for an author who writes about language to use it so masterfully.

In his book, Pinker attempts to show that the ability of the human species to speak and understand language can be explained with Darwin's powerful idea of natural selection. The experimental evidence suggests that there is a physical area in the human brain that underlies language. This area is responsible for the hard-wiring of the fundamental aspects of language in every human brain. Even though there are countless languages spoken (or signed) today, they all share a universal template of grammar (which resides in the brain) that is subsequently trained by baby experience to receive the form of a modern language.

Pinker brings forth a wealth of examples and experiments to support his ideas that are extremely convincing. For instance, there are diseases or instances of damage to specific areas of the brain (in the left hemisphere) that impair one's ability to speak or understand language. This clearly shows that language has a physical aspect. Pinker then goes to explain how such an aspect could evolve and does a great job at it.
Steven Pinker, and many others with him, probably closed with their research another gap in our knowledge of how the world works. What amazes me all the time is that the explanation is even more wonderful than the mystery itself, and Steven Pinker does well to convey this amazement to the reader.

The Road To Hell

...is paved with good intentions, or so the saying goes. This couldn't be more true for Light Yagami, main character of the Japanese anime series "Death Note". Light is a 17 year old student of an exceptional intellect and impeccable reputation whose life changes when he comes across a strange notebook. The notebook was dropped into the human world by one of the Death Gods, Ryuk, who was looking for some entertainment, and Light was quick to provide it. The Death Note has the power of killing any person whose name is written in it, provided its owner knows that person's face. Numerous rules also allow control over the time and the circumstances of someone's death. Light sees this as an opportunity to rid the world of evil; by disposing of criminals and people he judges as evil himself, he will create a better world. And Light, being the judge and creator of this world, will naturally be the world's God.
Things don't stay easy for long, though. The large number of deaths draw the attention of the mysterious detective known only as "L", while the media dubs Light as "Kira". L is as brilliant as he is eccentric and makes life very hard indeed for Kira. The two of them engage in an exciting chase as they try to outwit each other, L needing evidence, Kira needing just a name for his Death Note. Things get complicated when FBI agents, Kira's family and even more Death Gods get involved.
"Death Note" stands out for its unique story and the timeless questions it raises but also for the exciting plot lines that don't allow you to watch just one episode at a time. I read somewhere that it's the "Prison Break" of anime, and I can definitely understand the comparison. I am only half-way through the series so I can't give you a definitive opinion. So far, I am disturbed by Kira's emotionless sense of justice and intrigued by L's weirdness and powers of deduction. For now, I will speculate that L may have a connection with the Death Gods and I will get back on you later!

The 3+1 Musketeers Of Atheism

Atheism is rising fast as a coherent, self-reliant thinking and moral framework. You may not have noticed because, in western societies, religion is a topic of casual tradition that is of little consequence to everyday life. Of course, this is slightly generalizing - the difference between european and american societies is not subtle. In any case, atheism is no longer an abstract unbelief held by a few eccentrics, but a promising ideology for the future, with a rapidly rising number of followers. Some very remarkable individuals have taken the lead in this paradigm shift, all with their own unique style.
There is Richard Dawkins, who is a renowned zoologist and professor at Oxford University. He has authored numerous books about biology, zoology and evolution. His contribution to the public understanding of the theory of evolution is immense and his own understanding is that evolution strikes a death blow to foundational religious beliefs about the specialness of humankind. His latest book "The God Delusion" is the first that deals specifically with religion and has sold about 1 million hardcover copies already. Dawkins deals with religion in a most scientific fashion, demanding proof for every claim and demolishing popular but false philosophical arguments for the existence of God. His style is calm, clear and only mildly sarcastic.
Sam Harris was an unknown philosophy graduate (who is currently completing a doctorate in neuroscience) before he published "The End Of Faith" and most recently "Letter to a Christian Nation". In those books, he highlights the dangerous irrationalities of religious belief and makes a case for separating spirituality from religion, as a genuine human need that can be addressed without invoking the supernatural. Personally, I haven't yet read a writer that delivers or demolishes arguments with such direct and devastating clarity. As is evident in the many debates he has taken part in, Sam Harris's style is very polite, calm and controlled as the effectiveness of his arguments doesn't require him to raise his voice.
Daniel Dennett is an accomplished philosopher who has made a lot of research in the matter of consciousness and his insights will probably be monumental in the future development of cognitive sciences. While not a vocal atheist, his book "Breaking The Spell" explains religion away in a thorough fashion that highlights the necessity of atheism. His style is somewhat more difficult as he addresses the philosophy-curious person as well as the general reader. Nonetheless, his contribution is important as it deals with territory that is unexplored and severs what few ties religion holds with reality.
Christopher Hitchens is probably the most fearsome of the four. A renowned author and columnist, he is an odd defender for atheism considering he politically leans to the right. In his latest book with the provocative title "How Religion Poisons Everything", Hitchens uncovers religious atrocities across history and the immoralities that underlie religious beliefs in a direct and brutal fashion. In his debates, Hitchens avoids niceties and unearned respect for his opponents. His controversial attitude though is also important because ridicule is a potent weapon that religion hasn't yet faced.
There are other notable writers like Victor Stenger ("God, The Failed Hypothesis") and Michel Onfray ("The Atheist Manifesto") but the 4 above are the most prominent. I am not sure whether these people are leading the wave of rising atheism or simply riding it, but it is clear that things are changing in areas that remained static for a very long time indeed.

Lost In The Mirror

Don't read below if you don't want to be spoiled!

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to claim that Lost's 3rd season finale was two of the most satisfying hours of tv time ever. I read somewhere that Lost is probably the only series that doesn't underestimate the intellect of the viewers. Nothing is served, ready and waiting for your consumption. This isn't a cop-out in the sense that the writers can cook up infinite stories out of vague clues. No, the hints are not subtle, but they remain hints and not boring facts. This is crucial to the reason why "Lost" has become a cultural phenomenon that transcends the limits of a mere tv show. How insulting for your intelligence it would be if Ben came out and said, "Hey, the smoke monster can take human form!". We never saw it happen, no one has said it, but it's a solid conclusion nonetheless. So, I will be a little harsh and say that anyone who asks "How did Walt get on the island now?" should go watch Ugly Betty instead.
"Through The Looking Glass" was an episode that delivered on every level, but "Lost" has many such episodes. What is so special in this case, is that the show changed direction and goals and the way this change was presented. What could be more surprising in that the goal of a show about castaways is NOT their rescue. Of course, "Lost" has made it clear that it is not a show about the mundane rescue of some plane crash survivors, but everyone couldn't help but assume that rescue would coincide with the conclusion of the series. It turns out that rescue is irrelevant to the goals of the series, or just a necessary step towards them.
In a rather Lost-esque way though, we never actually see the rescue. The viewers are tricked by the usual "flashback" technique of the show to assume they are watching scenes that took place in the past of the plane crash, while the real time events are moving toward the prospect of rescue. Only in the final scene, it is made clear that what we are watching is the future and rescue has happened, as was hinted on the real time scenes on the island. Of course, we are still far from resolution, as there are a lot of questions.
Who are on the rescue boat if it's not Penny Widmore's people? Why does Ben warn this will be "the beginning of the end"? Who is the person in the coffin, whose death almost drove Jack to suicide? Why does Jack desperately want to return to the island?
There is now a blank in the time sequence of the show that starts just before rescue and ends some undefined time later at the last scene of the episode. This makes predictions about where the show will go on the 4th season very hard indeed. Will we see the rescue? Will we see events after the rescue, or events after Jack's last encounter with Kate when he pleaded with her to go back to the island? The details of the rescue itself are important and will now feed endless debates until the show resumes on February 2008. If patience is a virtue, then Lost fans are saints.

Systemizing Chaos

Dream Theater are releasing their 9th studio album and I believe there's no one who knows their name that treats this fact with indifference. The band that put the term "progressive" into metal hardly needs to prove anything anymore. Yes, it's been a long time since Dream Theater's music was progressive in any real sense but that's way beside the point. John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess and John Myung play their instruments as if they were extensions of their bodies. With such remarkable ease come a lot of options, and Dream Theater can just pick and choose what kind of music to play. They just happen to like 70s prog rock and 80s heavy metal the best!
"Systematic Chaos" combines the best elements from the previous two albums and rejects most of what made fans complain. It's true that Dream Theater fans are very diverse and very hard to please, but I suspect that this album will be a lot less divisive than "Train Of Thought" with its excessive heaviness, and "Octavarium" with its obvious commercialism were. The album opens in the best way with "In The Presence Of Enemies part 1". I was getting bored of the "rock-hit" wanna-be openers of their previous two albums. This time we get a 5 minute instrumental intro, true to their Rush heritage before James LaBrie comes in. You may have noticed that LaBrie's vocals have improved greatly in "Octavarium" and the improvements remain here.
It's not a coincidence this album contains two songs that pay tribute to 80s thrash metal, both music and lyric-wise ("Constant Motion" and "The Dark Eternal Night"). Dream Theater's new label is Roadrunner and the band knows exactly how to impress them. "Systematic Chaos" also contains the first slow and mellow Dream Theater song that hasn't bored me in a while, the dark and hypnotic "Repentance". Any songs written for success? Yep, that's "Forsaken" and it rocks! And of course there are long epics like "The Ministry of Lost Souls" and "In The Presence Of Enemies part 2". It wouldn't be a Dream Theater album otherwise!
"Systematic Chaos" shouldn't surprise anyone, as Dream Theater are not up to reinventing the wheel for the second time. Its purpose is to delight your ears, and that's a success.

A Great Blow For A Day Job

For those who never heard of Skyclad, their unconventional and original (in the early '90s) folk metal, and Martin Walkyier's intelligent lyrics, here is a small sample. "A Great Blow For A Day Job" comes from the "Oui Avant-Garde A Chance" album and is a fun folk rock tune with some of the most clever lyrics I have read. Enjoy the lyrics with the most witty word plays ever below. Oh, and try to listen to the song as well!!

Hear my tale - I'm Norman Normal, always humble, mild and meek.
In my bank a lowly banker - run-down brach on nowhere street
'till one day a stranger called - a fetid bible black he laughed,
said "Sonny I don't want your money, I don't need an overdraft.

Boy you have a great potential, don't you let it go to waste.
My offer ends - so it's essential that you hurry on (make haste!).
For a life of milk and honey sign along the dotted line...
Thirty years of girls and money - at the end your soul is mine!"

No one can dissuade me - I'm down on my knees,
my conscience says "No" - my libido "Yes please!"
If I put my pen to paper for eternity I'm damned.
If I don't I'll never be the singer in a fiddle band.
Can anyone blame me? - I don't think they'd dare,
my soul says "No way" - But my mouth cries "Oh yeah!"

Here I am - your good friend Norman, not so humble anymore.
Others age - but I look younger, stronger that I did before.
I used to drive a Fiat Panda - now a lime green Cadillac.
Guess my story goes to show not all the 'devils' own' dig black.

I know there is a price I must pay for my thirty years misspent,
when my satanic manager recoups my soul (100%).
I'll meet him at the crossroads, midnight chimes - my time has come
to party with the 'porno-queens' down by the shores of Acheron.

I'll party on in Acheron!

No one could dissuade me - I fell to my kness,
my conscience said "No" - my libido "Yes please!"
I have put my pen to paper and eternally am damned,
I've squandered my immortal soul by singing in a fiddle band.
Could anyone blame me? - I don't think they'd dare,
my soul said "No way" - but my mouth cried "Oh yeah!"

'Evil I did dwell - Lewd did I live' -
It's a small price to pay for the gift that he gives.
Was it all worth it? - I'm too drunk to tell,
I swap my cocaine for the brimstone of hell.

Into The Storm

Once more, the german bards find their way to Greece. It's no mystery considering the response they get. Ydrogeios club was packed full with an enthusiastic crowd. Looking at the age distribution, I'd say the new fans are few, but the old ones were all there. Well, so was I!
Typical for Ydrogeios club, the sound was average at best but I must say I am so used to it by now that it hardly bothers me. This must be how all greeks feel about the inadequacy of every other aspect of this state. Anyway! Blind Guardian stormed into stage with "Into The Storm" after a minor delay. Watch the video for details! They take a while before getting into new material but noone seems to mind! "Born In A Mourning Hall", "Nightfall" and "The Script For My Requiem" are an immense pleasure before we get to "Fly".

Hansi (vocals) is nervous about the new material, saying "whether you like it or not, we have to play it". He's exaggerating; their last two albums were very well-received considering that metal audiences do not react well to change. The problem is that most of the new songs have trouble to work on stage, even though they are great on the cd. Luckily, the bards know to balance their set and give the fans what they want. "Vallhala" brings deliverance with its amazing chorus, "Mordred's Song" was probably my favorite part of the concert, "Majesty" was, well, majestic! There was more..."Welcome To Dying", "Time Stands Still", "Skalds And Shadows", "This Will Never End" and the 14-min epic "And Then There Was Silence" (another amazing song that is sadly poor on stage) closed the first part of the concert.
After the obligatory "we want more" buisness, the bards returned for three songs that never get old : "Imaginations From The Other Side", "The Bard's Song In The Forest" (pure magic) and "Mirror, Mirror". I'm sure everyone left the club with a huge smile on their faces. Yep, it's been over 20 years of Blind Guardian...and it never gets old.

We Are Meme Machines

I had previously refered to the concept of memes, but it took me a while to actually get to read Susan Blackmore's book. It is definitely a thorough presentation of what memetics is all about and the most revealing aspect about it is the field's extreme infancy and doubtful future. Don't get me wrong. Blackmore has some really brilliant ideas that could be the solution to difficult problems like the origin of language and the idea of self (I am sure Douglas Hofstadter's "I Am A Strange Loop" has a lot of insights on this subject - you will probably wait another year for a review of that one!).
The general idea behind memetics is that from the moment a species, namely us, developed the ability to imitate a second replicator was born, the meme. As a consequence, humans, unlike most animals, evolved under the pressure of not just one replicator, the gene, but two. The two replicators care nothing for us - we are merely their vehicles - but they also don't care for each other. Memes and genes aren't always allies. Susan Blackmore does a great job at explaining the interactions between the two replicators and how those interactions worked to bring the human species to its current level. The memetic theory does provide some powerful explanations and Blackmore follows the scientific method and suggests a number of tests for her theories. I am not sure if there have been attempts at them and the reason for this is that there's no clear benefit from a theory of memetics. Scientific theories provide more than explanations - they provide solutions and predictions - and there are considerable criticisms on whether memetics will be able to provide either. Blackmore is very fair when it comes to criticism, she cites a great number of authors, scientists and philosophers from all sides of an argument, but she's a little bit obvious when she's promoting her theory. That's understandable, of course, and doesn't substract from her integrity.
Despite what will become of memetics, "The Meme Machine" is a wonderful book as it makes you look at the world in radically different ways - this can only be positive.

Floor Ends Eternity

After Forever are definitely not newcomers and they hardly were a band to be ignored. Part of the rich atmospheric metal dutch scene, it is hard to stand out when there's The Gathering and Within Temptation to compete with. Not to mention the fact that the so-called gothic/atmospheric/operatic or whatever you want to call it metal is a genre that was repleted so fast that it was very hard to convince you are not another dull copycat. After Forever managed to do just that and keep their name to the surface, but not exactly near the clouds.
However, it is their new self-titled album that is their undeniable peak and one peak that leaves many, many others looking up in their direction. The band managed to trim their music enough so that songwriting could shine, without compromising their character one bit. "After Forever" is full of majestic classical music, furious heavy riffs, catchy melodies and a variety of rhythms and vocals. The vocals...miss Floor Jansen is simply a wonder. We already respected her, but she really really shines on this one... she goes from epic operatic singing, to being aggressive and powerful and then to fragile pop with remarkable ease.
Since words hardly do justice to the music described, you should really listen to the magnificent "Evoke".

Black Requiem

Virgin Black had impressed me at first listen when their debut "Sombre Romantic" was released. It was the combination of dark classical music, modern gothic metal and most original and expressive vocals. They were compared with Saviour Machine back then, which was justified, but their new album "Requiem - Mezzo Forte" will allow some to invoke the holy name of Dead Can Dance. The band's requiem, which will apparently come in a trilogy, shares a lot with "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" (an album everyone should own) but you will also make favorable comparisons to My Dying Bride. Grayh's vocals are an interesting mix of Aaron Stainthorpe and Eric Clayton which gives the dramatic effect that Virgin Black's music asks for.
The album gets heavier as it progresses, but it never stops justifying its title. Darkness, sorrow and despair are portrayed through music in a very effective, almost religious, way. It may become overwhelming at times, but there are beautiful moments as well. If you can find beauty in darkness, you will appreciate Virgin Black's music.

Exposed And Buried

One of the reasons why I love "Lost" is the way it can surprise you with things you already know. For instance, Nikki and Paulo became immediately the show's most hated characters, even with minimal screen time. Everyone, including myself, was quick to assume that these characters were to play some important role and their awkward introduction was there to mislead the audience. Wrong! Nikki and Paulo's purpose was exactly that : be hated!

Their episode was a very fun flashback of life on the island from their perspective, and basically a tribute to the "extras"; all those other survivors we never hear anything from, and don't care about. The attitude of the show towards them is clear. It happened with poor Dr. Arzt (featured on this episode, as well as other dead characters like Shannon, Boone and Ethan), and now it has happened again in the most disturbing way. Nikki and Paulo end up being buried alive when they manage to paralyze each other over a handful of diamonds. One of the darkest episode finales, and another unusual episode overall. Sure, the main plot is ignored, but "Lost" is so much more than its main story. If you appreciate this fact, you will enjoy the show much more!

Nikki foreshadows their demise with her very ironic line "you know what happens to the extras". I hope Locke's line "things don't stay buried on this island for long" is not another foreshadow!

The Ghost Of The Opera

There are very few bands in today's power metal that still have my attention. Kamelot though have much more than mere attention; I can't wait to get new music from them! And the wait is almost over...the successor to the amazing "The Black Halo" will be released on June 4th and it is entitled "Ghost Opera".
As you can see, the artwork for the album is simply stunning! I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but my doubts about its high quality are very few indeed!

Abbey Road Wishes

In the picture, Tuomas Holopainen seems quite pleased with the progress of the new Nightwish album recording. The finnish band's keyboardist and songwriter has chosen the legendary Abbey Road studios for the recording, and the same orchestra that was used in the previous album, "Once". This is very good news; "Once" contained the band's two best songs (the phenomenal, outstanding, etc. "Creek Mary's Blood" and "Ghost Love Score") and Tuomas seems determined to surpass it. The fans of the band, though, have reasons to worry. This will be the band's first album without their trademark vocalist, the adored Tarja Turunen, and her replacement will have to fullfil the expectations of an army of fanatic fans.
Even though the new Nightwish front-woman has already been chosen (among 2000 contesters!), her identity will remain a secret until the release of the band's new single "Eva" on May 30th. It is very probable that she is a lady we never heard before, but if I had to bet on someone, that would be Epica's Simone Simons. I think she would be perfect for Nightwish.
The band's new album will be released on September 26th.

Unbelievable

Stephen Colbert is famous for the caustic satire of his show and the liberal views it supports. It seems though that some people at the White House can't distinguish between caustic satire and mere comedy. There's no other explanation for this video which is an excerpt of the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. It is simply astonishing that Colbert is allowed to make such harsh criticism in the presence of the President, even under the comedian license. It is very rare that words like "insolent" and "audacious" acquire a positive color and this is one of these cases.
Click here for the video.

Labyrinth Of Fiction And Reality

This spanish movie managed to gain lots of attention and some well-deserved Oscar nominations. Indeed, its climb in imdb's top movie list is very impressive. Given my attraction to fantasy- related movies, I naturally checked it out. The pleasant surprise was that "Pan's Labyrinth" uses its fantasy elements in a very original way. Fantasy movies usually have very realistic messages or very strong allegories. In this case, we have a fantasy that is only a by-product of a very realistic story and empty of most meaning on its own. This is something that one can be very critical of, since the movie's main attraction are the special effects of its fantasy aspect. However, meaning and imagery are not qualities that are required to be present in a uniform way in order for a movie to achieve its purpose.
To be more specific, "Pan's Labyrinth" deals with a young girl's fascination with fairytales and the way this fascination is put to use when her life in fascism-plagued Spain takes an unpleasant turn. The realistic part of the movie is very reminiscent of some greek movies with similar theme. The portrayal of the dictators' evil and the rebels' heroics is very simple and direct, but also very effective. The fantasy part of the movie is there just to amaze the viewer with beautiful and/or disturbing images. It is very effective in this as well. The lack of a deeper message is no drawback. The sadness of the story, coupled with the original use of fantasy elements more than make up for it. Even though I hesitate to call it a masterpiece, it appears that internet movie-lovers seem to think so. I urge you to decide for yourself.

Not Quite In Portland... *spoilers*

It's been 3 months without "Lost". Some people were frustrated, some were waiting patiently, some forgot the show's existence. It's too early to say whether this long break was as good an idea as it first seemed. What's pretty safe to say is that those who are really into the show's spirit and pace will not be disappointed by the returning episode.
Juliet, the seemingly cold and determined Other, gets her first flashback where we learn that she is not who we think she is. There are several new things we learn in this episode, and several new questions arise (as always) :
The Others are not above using aggressive brainwashing technics. What we don't know is for what purpose and why poor Karl?
Alex is Ben's daughter. Adopted daughter of course, because we know she is Danielle's daughter and Danielle was pregnant when she arrived on the island. Alex probably ignores Danielle's very existence. It is mysterious though that she would turn out to be so rebellious considering she was raised by the leader himself.
Finally, we learn why Juliet wants Ben dead, or we can begin to suspect why. She was manipulated into joining the Others' jolly team of scientists and has been a prisoner on the island for three years, forced to abandon her life and her pregnant sister. We also see that she is not above murder to accomplish her escape from the island, removing that annoying Picket from the picture.
In the end, the status changes once again. Kate and Sawyer find their way back to the home island, and Karl joins the castaways. Let's hope the brainwashing didn't erase some valuable info he could have about the Others. Jack remains a prisoner and we can't be sure what Ben's reaction will be to his ploy that freed Kate and Sawyer.
We will learn soon enough. Lost is on every week until the season finale. Finally!

Anneke FTW!

The Gathering is one very special band. It's been a long time since they first popularized the concept of woman-fronted metal band, and it's now quite a common phenomenon. But that's not why they're special. It is because ever since Anneke Van Giersbergen joined the band in 1995, they make their own unique way in music. Sometimes dark, sometimes happy, sometimes heavy and sometimes mellow, but always making you sing. I had seen them live in 1998, so it was definitely time for refreshing my memory. It would be a shame to miss this concert.
Maybe my preconception that concert attraction has dropped is mistaken, but Ydrogeios Club was fully packed. It would be nicer to have more space to move, but that's where my complaints end. The band's sound was great, and I found that many new songs sound a lot better live. Anneke is the kind of frontwoman who tries to keep a low profile but fails utterly. She's not the most beautiful woman out there, true, but it's hard not to be adored by the fans when her expressions and her movements are so cute, and her smile so enchanting. What's more amazing is her crystal-clear voice that is at the same level it was 12 years ago (if not better). The woman simply delivered the goods and made the cd recordings sound poor.

As for the setlist, and I know I speak for the majority of the greek fans, it couldn't be better. "Shortest Day", "Waking Hour", "Monsters", "Liberty Bell", "Leaves", "Probably Built In The 50s" (awesome!), "Even The Spirits Are Afraid", "Saturnine", "Great Ocean Road"...I sure am forgetting some, but the encore was unforgettable : "Eleanor", "In Motion #1" and "Strange Machines" (I'm sure they knew they couldn't get out of there without playing it!).

In the video, a song from the concert (thanx to RoughSilk!). Enjoy!

Death By Black Hole

That's the title of Neil deGrasse Tyson's new book, and here's a video of his appearance in the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Tyson also gave an awesome speech at last year's "Beyond Belief" conference. Watch the video, it is simply hilarious!

TIME On "24"

The previous issue of "TIME" magazine had a brief but interesting article (by James Poniewozik) about Fox's tv series. I take the opportunity to write some of my similar thoughts on the subject.
For someone who hasn't really watched "24", it would be easy to conclude that it's nothing more than conservative propaganda : the good americans vs the evil terrorists. This is Fox, after all!
The reality of the tv show, of course, is much different, in the same way that the actual reality of our lives isn't black and white. Whether we like it or not, the existence of terrorism is real and it's not a made-up construct by right-wing agendas. On the other hand, dealing with it effectively should not be the responsibility of a narrow political line. "24" manages to highlight all these aspects, even if it is through the excesses and exaggerations that make it an exciting show. Very real moral dillemas like civil liberties vs security are presented very rationally, with no hint of adhering to a single ideology.
Jack Bauer himself is no fan of fixed rules of conduct. Extreme situations demand extreme measures, even if that means cooperating with an ex-terrorist responsible for hundreds of deaths. I think the show is doing a very good job in stating the importance of rationality and that people are more important than rules and laws. I don't know about you, but I can't exclusively assign this idea to one political party.

The Last Days Of The Maya

Mel Gibson hasn't been in the public opinion's favor lately. It's understandable considering his conduct. Having stupid beliefs and being famous is a bad combination (see also : Tom Cruise).
Of course, all that is completely irrelevant to Gibson's skills as a director. "Apocalypto" is one of those movies whose visual character render their creator a respectable artist. The plot is about a young man of a Mayan tribe who flees his sacrifice to save his family. The simplicity of the plot, however, is an excuse for a series of excellent action scenes, beautiful imagery and the skillful portrayal of a civilization that is rarely featured on the big screen. It is also an excuse for us to ponder what are the greatest motivators of a human being, no matter the time or the circumstances.
I am overlooking the fact that Gibson's most succesful movies have been, in part, violent. Violence can serve a purpose in art, and it's the purpose we should criticize, not violence itself. The purpose of the violence in "The Passion Of The Christ" was probably just a guilt trip for the believers. In "Apocalypto", if I am to interpret one of the taglines of the movie, the violence is meant to be offered as a reason for Mayan corruption, and eventual downfall. I find this slightly hypocritical, considering that the violence of the Spanish (seen arriving at the end of the movie) to whom the Maya succumbed, isn't really morally superior.
But that's a bit of ranting on my part. "Apocalypto" is a rare movie that can justify your visit to a multiplex. Not many movies do lately.

Ready For A New Dream

The progressive megaband is once again in the studio. Personally, there are few things I find more exciting than a new Dream Theater album. I wasn't 100% satisfied with their previous release, "Octavarium", so my expectations are pretty high for this one. Until it is released, sometime in the spring, let's let Mike Portnoy give us a tour in the studio!

Rome is back!

HBO's series is a rare one, and I didn't have much hope it would continue into a second season. I am very glad I am proven wrong.
This genre is pretty much ignored on TV. It's understandable considering it requires a lot of work and money to create something serious and not some parody like Xena and Hercules. So, hats off to the creators for giving us this series.
In the first season, we followed the lives of two Roman soldiers, as they made their way to greatness next to the rise of Julius Ceasar. Season 2 begins exactly where we were left off last year and there are plenty of historical events we can expect to frame the adventures of the series' heroes, Vorenus and Pullo. "Rome" continues in its realistic direction; the nudity and violence do not make this a series suitable for small children. The rest of us can enjoy a very special TV time that really stands out.

Scarred For Salvation

There are very few bands out there that take the label "progressive" seriously. Pain Of Salvation is one of them and "Scarsick" is their 6th album that fails to fall below perfection. Truth be told, they lost some fans with the previous album, "Be", and this will also be true with "Scarsick". This is to be expected when you really want to progress. "Be" was such a deep, lyrical album and with such an unconventional concept but Pain Of Salvation's fans were already familiar with this side of the band. What was disturbing for them was probably the retreat from more "traditional" metal forms - not that PoS were ever "traditional" in any real sense.
It's hard to make comparisons because "Scarsick" sounds completely new. It is both darker and angrier but hardly metal. It is progressive in a 70s way but you also find that the hip hop elements have increased and that there's a disco track! You will definitely need more than a couple of listens to fully appreciate it but some things are evident immediately, like Daniel Gildenlow's expressive range in vocals and the band's talent in conveying emotions : frustration, sadness, anger, irony.
Definitely, "Scarsick" is a difficult to get album. No, I don't think it's better than "Be" but it is the new album of a band that is always trying something new, is obsessed with perfection and their music can scar you for life. Dare to try it.

The Evolution Of Morality

The Beyond Belief conferences have managed to bring together an impressive number of scientists, philosophers and writers to discuss the matter of the stormy relationship between science and religion. You can find the full discussions at the site. This is Richard Dawkins speaking about the change of our views on morality through time and how those views are unrelated to religious scriptures.

A Lost Moment

We still have a full month before Lost returns with the second part of third season. Here's one of the previews I found particularly exciting.

The Muse Returns

It's been 9 years since Loreena McKennitt's last studio album, the magnificent "Book Of Secrets". Now, we can finally enjoy Loreena's enchanting voice on new songs.
Loreena is mostly known for her celtic music background, but it's a long time since she has moved to eastern musical cultures. As was the case with her previous albums, Loreena McKennitt has thoroughly researched the traditions before she attempted to write songs. The result was "An Ancient Muse" and the wait was very much worth it. Both the music and the titles reveal that Loreena has spent a great deal of her research into Greek and Turkish music. "Caravanserai" and "Kecharitomene" are not only extremely beautiful pieces of music, but also celebrate the similarities between neighbouring cultures. I don't think there's much more that needs to be said. It's a new Loreena McKennitt album. It follows that it's beautiful and that we're grateful for it.

Kabbalah Of Music

It's more than 10 years since Therion released "Theli", the album that incorporated fully the classical music the band was flirting with since their beginning. Therion have come a long way since then and "Theli" that amazed a lot people back then, now sounds amateurish in comparison to their latest offering, "Gothic Kabbalah".
In the years between, the band's mastermind, Christopher Johnsson, has grown a bigger appreciation for more traditional forms of metal music, and with it the band's experience. We got a taste of this process with Therion's previous twin albums "Lemuria/Sirius B".
"Gothic Kabbalah" is a universal heavy metal album. It's heavy and fast with soloing that comes from the 80s. It's atmospheric and progressive in both a 70s and 90s way. Finally, every operatic and classical music element blends seemlessly with what is an unmistakable heavy metal album. The talent and technical prowess of Therion's musicians is evident throughout the album, but the highlight is the epic 12-min "Adulruna Redivivia" which closes it.
"Gothic Kabbalah" is an album of great quality and will satisfy everyone who takes music seriously. At the same time, it's an album with a clear heavy metal identity.