DIZTURBIA.COM | RECORD INDUCTION | ASKING ALEXANDRIA "FROM DEATH TO DESTINY" (2013) | 07/20/14

I. OPENING THOUGHTS

So I present to you now my 2nd set of *RECORD INDUCTIONS* going into

my personal DVSNGH Record Collection (every month I induct 2 records),

this month (July) I bring to you 2 records that, well, contain loads of ANGER!

The first of which being, "From Death To Destiny", the 3rd album release

from British alt/metalcore band ASKING ALEXANDRIA (released, 2013).

I can simply declare this record "THE RECORD OF MY (CURRENT) TIME",

meaning, if you were ask me "what's my favorite music album? right now?!"

(not of all-time, but of right now), THIS would be "tha one", far and byfar.

Everything, from the music (obviously), the album art, even its album title,

just strikes me, what can I say, it's like the perfect package FROM HELL!

II. THOUGHTS ON ASKING ALEXANDRIA

Asking Alexandria, what a freakin' amazing band, *hands down* MY #1!

as far as 'current generation' bands go, I wouldn't quite declare them my

*all-time* favorite just yet, having only been around the block 5-6 (?) years.

Be interesting though, considering the band's personal history, that involving

*drugs, alcohol, and depression*, most particularly with band lead singer,

Danny Worsnop, if they're able hold up fine another 5-6 years (on the road).

Perhaps it's just me, but the band doesn't seem to be as *popular* anymore

(as like, 2-3 years ago), perhaps due to their most recent record (the very

same record I show you here) being touted as a 'letdown' by many its fans.

But yeah, here's hoping AA reaches bigger heights, to be our next Metallica!

III. TRACKLISTING

1. "Don't Pray For Me" (4:40)

2. "Killing You" (3:11)

3. "The Death Of Me" (4:18)

4. "Run Free" (4:10)

5. "Break Down The Walls" (3:31)

6. "Poison" (3:46)

7. "Believe" (4:31)

8. "Creature" (3:14)

9. "White Line Fever" (3:43)

10. "Moving On" (4:02)

11. "The Road" (3:27)

12. Until The End" (feat. Howard Jones) (4:30)

13. "The Death Of Me" (Rock Mix) (3:24)

IV. TRACK REFERENCE

2. "Killing You" ★★★★★

3. "The Death Of Me" ★★★★★

4. "Run Free" ★★★★★

5. "Break Down The Walls" ★★★★

1. "Don't Pray For Me" ★★★★

6. "Poison" ★★★★

13. "The Death Of Me" (Rock Mix) ★★★

7. "Believe" ★★★

11. "The Road" ★★★

12. Until The End" (feat. Howard Jones) ★★

10. "Moving On" ★★

8. "Creature" ★

9. "White Line Fever" ★

V. FAVORITE TRACK

First off, when it comes to this record, there is no one "big hit" song/single,

(unlike the band's previous 2 records, where you can easily identify them),

so picking a 'favorite track' from this record seemed a bit challenging here.

But the one track I would say that has gotten the most hits/clicks (for me)

is track #2 "Killing You", a song about, well... (still have no fucking idea, lol),

but it's the instrumentation and production of the song that won me over.

I can even recall a night I slept with this song 'on repeat' (as I laid to sleep).

The one gripe I have to say, is the music video, tho I'm happy it got a video

(and a professionally done one, not a crappy live video), it's just that it had

no connection with the song lyrics, as well as, no appearance by the band.

VI. OTHER STANDOUT TRACKS

What I liked alot with this record was its first half was non-stop adrenaline!

Like, I would listen to track #2 ("Killing You" my favorite song, as stated),

and it would blend into track #3 ("The Death Of Me"), and then track #4

("Run Free"), most of the time, I wouldn't even notice (like one big song).

But track #3 "The Death Of Me" definately deserves *HUGE PROPS* too,

the amount of times I've played this song, it's indeed surpassed overkill.

Track #5 "Break Down The Walls" I really like, mainly because it sounds

like a band I grew up listening to ALOT, when I was younger, Spineshank

(some HATE it, some LOVE it, the mixing of METAL+TECHNO is money).

And lastly, track #1 "Don't Pray For Me", and it's fuckin killer opening riffs!

VII. LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS

Sad to say, as great a record "From Death To Destiny" is, at approximately

the halfway point of the record, well, it unfortunately suffers a STROKE!

and it doesn't really pick up much, unlike the band's previous/first 2 records,

where it would bang from start to end with occasional down/filler points.

Interesting in all this, track #12 "Until The End" has guest vocals, from a 

singer named 'Howard Jones', formerly of the metal band Killswitch Engage,

(who I was also a HUGE FAN of for a while, but now they are just, meh)

but the song barely had my interest, and yeah, letdown of a collaboration.

There's a bonus "The Death Of Me (Rock Mix)" thrown in there at the end,

a nice 'gift' to us AA fans, I guess, altho the original actually ROCKS more!

VIII. ARTWORK

No doubt about it, the artwork that accompanies "From Death To Destiny"

is indeed FUCKED UP, to say the least, with the whole (you know...)

*NAKED WOMAN IN THE VENDING MACHINE* (as seen on the right) :P

You dare go show this image to a group of, idunno, DIE-HARD FEMINISTS, 

and yeah, I'm sure you will get alot of interesting comments, give it a try.

Now, seeing as I bought the actual VINYL RECORD here, and am able to

get a closer look at the album art, and all its detail, about the naked woman,

she is NOT DEAD! while some might think that, having gotten closer look,

it does show actual OXYGEN MARKS, lol, on the vending machine glass.

Oh and yeah, I own the t-shirt of this same image, and do wear it regularly.

IX. CLOSING THOUGHTS

Upon doing this analyzation of "From Death To Destiny", I kinda realized,

that yeah, this band's previous/first 2 records completely KILL this one,

and no wonder a good number of AA fans/supporters were letdown by it.

And yeah, had its accompanying artwork, consisting of demented pornstars,

not been so *alluring* to my eyes (sounds fucked-up, I know), well maybe,

I might not have been so *infatuated* with the album as much as I have.

While I happen to enjoy a wide range of music, there's no doubt about it,

if you happen to catch my other writings, as well as my tweets, that yeah,

I am a rather UNHAPPY, RESENTFUL, ANGRY individual (often at times),

and yeah, the music on *this record* really holds comfort to that mood.

X. PICTURES

(FRONT COVER)

(BACK COVER)

(INLAY, FULL)

(INLAY, CREDITS)

(INLAY, LYRICS)

(VINYL 1 & 2)

(VINYL 1, SIDE A)

(VINYL 1, SIDE B)

(VINYL 2, SIDE A)

(VINYL 2, SIDE B)

(CARDS, FRONT SIDE)

(CARDS, BACK SIDE)

(ALL TOGETHER)

DIZTURBIA.COM | RECORD INDUCTION | HELMET "AFTERTASTE" (1997) | 07/20/14

I. OPENING THOUGHTS

So, with the induction of ASKING ALEXANDRIA's "From Death To Destiny",

along follows this record, "Aftertaste" by American metal band HELMET,

released in 1997, which I not only bought in '97, but bought on CASSETTE!

No MP3's back then, no INTERNET either, so when it came to "new music",

either off what you saw on TV, heard on the radio, or read of in magazines.

So I bought this album as a gamble, based off reading a "magazine review",

putting it over as "HEAVY and INTENSE", and what can I say, it lived up!

Not the heaviest record ever, but for me, heaviest shit I heard (at the time).

Having been exposed to it at such young age, dare I say, this mighta been

THE record that steered me in the direction of ANGRY, INTENSE music!

II. THOUGHTS ON HELMET

Helmet, gotta love the band name, HELMET! (as simple as they come by).

Tho they have reached worldwide claim and fame, upon their peak years,

mainly being 1992-1997, and 2004 (their comeback year) to some degree,

Helmet was an awesome band, despite not really having one 'big hit' song to

remember them by, "Sinatra" (my guess) being their most 'memorable' song.

Helmet, on one hand, is a band praised for their rough-edged guitar riffs,

as well as, being a "metal band", who stuck to "metal" 100% of the way

for over 20 years (no electronics, acoustic guitars, genre-mashing, etc.),

but on the other hand, they get labelled as 'bland' and 'boring', especially,

when the lead singer isn't much of a singer (like Alex Jones on a bad day).

III. TRACKLISTING

1. "Pure" (3:32)

2. "Renovation" (2:55)

3. "Exactly What You Wanted" (2:36)

4. "Like I Care" (3:19)

5. "Driving Nowhere" (4:19)

6. "Birth Defect" (2:31)

7. "Broadcast Emotion" (2:44)

8. "It's Easy To Get Bored" (3:26)

9. "Diet Aftertaste" (3:16)

10. "Harmless" (2:58)

11. "(High) Visibility" (2:41)

12. "Insatiable" (2:31)

13. "Crisis King" (3:54)

IV. TRACK REFERENCE

4. "Like I Care" ★★★★★

1. "Pure" ★★★★★

5. "Driving Nowhere" ★★★★★

12. "Insatiable" ★★★★★

3. "Exactly What You Wanted" ★★★★★

11. "(High) Visibility" ★★★★★

10. "Harmless" ★★★★

13. "Crisis King" ★★★★

6. "Birth Defect" ★★★

8. "It's Easy To Get Bored" ★★★

7. "Broadcast Emotion" ★★

2. "Renovation" ★★

9. "Diet Aftertaste" ★

V. FAVORITE TRACK

Despite the album not being a big success, yeah, it was full of big bangers,

and I mean HEADBANGERS, cause this record was damn FUCKIN' LOUD!

But if I had to choose one song, track #4 "Like I Care" deserves top mention

(though released as the album's 2nd single, not to great success, however),

for it's addictive, catchy bassline, and yeah, somewhat 'laidback' vocal style.

Helmet, a band known mainly for providing excellent (guitar) riffs and licks,

they also (in their peak years) provided one of the best full BASS sounds of

any rock band I'd ever known, and this song showed best example of that. 

What I like most with the song, is how the bassline starts off dry/chuggy,

and then gets switched to *OVERDRIVE* and literally fries my brains out!

VI. OTHER STANDOUT TRACKS

So yeah, I remember playing "Aftertaste", in my small Sony cassette player,

for the first time, while on the (Pickering Transit) bus, on my way home, 

and yeah, being blown away by track #1 "Pure", and how HEAVY it was.

I also remembered a commercial on TV (...back when I watched TV, LOL, 

now I don't) promoting this album, with a snippet of the video, for track #3

"Exactly What You Wanted", another one of the many wonderful, yeah,

ANGER FUELED songs on this album, an album that's just full of them,

you would think the whole band was on STERIODS during its recording,

and track #12 "Insatiable" highlights this best, yeah, downright VICIOUS!

As well as, track #5 "Driving Nowhere", music that makes you RAMPAGE!

VII. LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS

Not all tracks on "Aftertaste" are awesome, which is fine, amongst the duds,

track #8 "It's Easy To Get Bored", not that the song is 'boring' or anything, 

lol, it's just not that good, (and to me) the rhythm itself sounded like "filler!"

Also, TAMBOURINES have no place on this album, which was on that song.

Let's see, track #9 "Diet Aftertaste" (title-track, I guess), most boring song on

the record, hands down, right next to (boring) track #7 "Broadcast Emotion".

There is one flaw early on the record, this being track #2 "Renovation", and

its poor placement, one of the few "up-sounding" (and not so good) songs,

placed right between 2 of the more ANGRIER (and indeed far better) songs

on the record, but whatever, I eventually got used to *skipping* that track.

VIII. ARTWORK

The album cover art of Helmet's "Aftertaste" shows all 3 band members

walking in a "smoky, debry" like setting, dare I say, similar to that of "9/11",

as well as the band members edited/dimmed/blurred for whatever reason.

It's a pretty cool looking cover, and MUCH, MUCH better choice of cover,

compared to their previous album (Betty, 1994), which was quite strange,

how a band, who puts out such pulverizing music, would name their album

"Betty" (while having some random 1940's era "blonde babe" on the cover).

Had the band opted with another poor choice of cover, as opposed to this,

hey, maybe I may not have viewed this album in the serious light as I did,

but yeah, I considered it the most serious album I'd ever bought, for the time.

IX. CLOSING THOUGHTS

Quite sad in saying, as much as I LOVED this album, it wasn't quite LOVED

by the masses, and yeah, HELMET ended up breaking up a year later for

no explainable reason, my assumption, they gave it their all with this record,

not only musically, but financially, with a major label (Interscope) behind it,

but it didn't *perform*, and maybe, that kinda caused the band to disband.

They would end up reforming 6 years later, and yeah, they still exist today,

but yeah, all their recent albums, with exception to their 'comeback' album

(Size Matters, 2004), completely suck, and find them a BORE to listen to.

Previous to "Aftertaste", Helmet had released 3 albums, and those ones

I also found (mostly) BORING, but they really had me, with this one record.

X. PICTURES

(FRONT COVER)

(BACK COVER)

(INLAY, FULL)

(INLAY, LYRICS)

(INLAY, CREDITS)

(VINYL, SIDE A)

(VINYL, SIDE B)

(ALL TOGETHER)

DIZTURBIA.COM | EPISODE 05 / CODE:BLU | "MID-SUMMER 2014 (REVIEW)" | 07/13/14

I. MID-SUMMER 2014 (THOUGHTS)

So here I am, on this Sunday afternoon (July 13th, 2014), issuing this report,
having reached the mid-way point of SUMMER 2014, 6 weeks gone by,
another 6 more to go, before Canada becomes "Canada" again (COLD!).
Now why it is I present forth *this report*, to begin with is because, well,
for each summer presented upon me, I have certain "expectations" that have
to be met, and if I'm unable to have met them, I get very much disappointed.
And yeah, when I mass a certain amount of disappointment, well then (ha!),
I begin to channel it out *in my unique way* and feed it to *certain people*.
As result, my frustration (and how I channel it) starts frustrate other people,
and then I cool off, and restart the cycle, once the next summer approaches.



II. MY BIRTHDAYS (MAY 30TH+31ST)

Yes indeed, peoples, I am in fact a man gifted with (not 1, but) 2 birthdays,
May 30th AND May 31st, and though my birth-certificate writes "May 30th",
having experienced one too many "lackluster birthdays" in recent years, 
I decided to *extend my bday* thru into the next calendar date (May 31st),
this way, when I'm left disappointed on *Day 1*, I got *Day 2* to make up.
And how intriguing is it, of all days, my birthdays come at the end of May,
literally, leading into the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER, June 1st (my opinion!).
Needless to say, I got handed to me yet another SAD, MISERABLE BDAY,
this year, thus starting my SUMMER 2014 off on a real sour note, so yeah.
Still to this day, I am very much ANGERED, by this most recent (bad) bday.


III. UNISOM (SLEEPING PILLS)

I think it's pretty much safe to say, I am now reliant on UNISOM Sleep-Aid
(sleeping pills, 2) to help get me through the night, yes, EVERY NIGHT now!
Originally used to push me to sleep, in case of early morning work shifts,
what can I say, I now take em, even when I don't gotta be up early next day.
Despite being familiar with these very same meds for, I think, 8 years now,
it wasn't until this most recent (2013) holiday season though, when I, well,
chose to take them nightly, mainly, to fight off having to 'cry myself to sleep'.
Fast-forward, and here we are into summer, a time much like *the holidays*,
where we should be making the best of it (and life), unfortunately, "I'm not".
Riddled with so many problems, and thus unable to sleep, unless I take 2...



IV. HIGHLIGHT OF THE SUMMER

The highlight of my Summer 2014 "thus far..." has been, well, sad to say it,
but yes indeed, ELLIOT RODGER, and the infamous night of 05/23/14.
While the vast, vast majority of the world has UNANIMOUS HATRED for 
the man that was Elliot Rodger, over the fact, he killed 6 absolute nobodies!
I wouldn't really go so far to say, what he did was RIGHT, by any means,
but the fact, he had to endure a LIFETIME'S WORTH OF BULLSHIT, yeah,
he had every right to do what he did, and I applaud him for VENGING OUT!
Now just because I'm a "fan", doesn't mean I plan to follow in "his footsteps",
nor have I encouraged/wished for another such "incident" to happen again,
but the fact "he couldn't get a GF", just like "I can't get a GF!", amuses me.


V. LOWLIGHT OF THE SUMMER

The lowlight of my Summer 2014 "thus far..." has to be the WORLD CUP!
And the fact, FUCKIN GERMANY had to win, how I hate those germans,
and wanted SOOO BADLY for Brazil to win (possible conspiracy here?!). 
But I kid you, I didn't give one single FUCK for the World Cup tournament.
Though it made my workplace (#RestaurantThatCannotBeNamed) happy,
in attributing to great revenue (as well as some stress/fatigue to my body),
I personally find it idiotic for people to be so much behind this HORSESHIT.
Often times, I would pass by large group of (mostly) guys, standing by a TV,
staring towards a (bboorriinngg) soccer game like mind-controlled zombies!
As best as I tried not to care, still, this summer could have done without it.


VI. LAKESHORE MISSISSAUGA (07/11/14)

Now, on Friday, July 11th, 2014, I ventured out to Lakeshore Harbourfront
(Mississauga, not Toronto) BY MYSELF, sadly, since I have NO FRIENDS!
And yeah, had a shitty time to say the least, and indeed much of it had to do
the fact I WAS ALONE, and yep, showcasing myself in true LONER fashion.
Had gone to the Starbucks there, on 2 separate occasions (3 hours apart),
and felt judged and awkwardly mishandled by the idiotic staff working there,
perhaps viewing me as 'terrorist' (being brown in mostly white/asian crowd).
This had been my 3rd summer now, going out to Lakeshore, just by myself,
and while I liked 'the scenery', of course, this would get tarnished for me,
by couples holding hands, passing me, I would give em all THE FINGER!


VII. "THE HOOKER INCIDENT" (02/14/14)

So as I stated at the very start of this post, I've entered this Summer 2014
with "expectations", and I might as well just go straight to THE BIG ONE,
being that I HAVE TO HAVE SEX sometime throughout THIS SUMMER!
and addition to that, WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY $$$ UPFRONT FOR IT!
Now the whole *root* of this rather ridiculous, pathetic, public SEX PLEA
stems from February 14th, 2014 (Valentine's Day), when I paid a HOOKER
$520 (in bills), plus paying $110 for a hotel room, in an effort to GET LAID
and she tricked me, and DROVE OFF WITH THE MONEY, stranding me.
What had me from GOING APE, after this event, was me assuring myself,
I will GET LAID this very summer, and indeed, NOT THRU A HOOKER!


VIII. SUMMER VACATION (07/23/14)

Perhaps there's a possibility, that the "best days" of my SUMMER 2014
is *in the waiting*, considering, from July 23rd (through to August 12th),
I will be *ON VACATION*, away from my (quite so strenuous) restaurant job.
Indeed, that's 3 FULL WEEKS, of having the restaurant industry "leash"
removed from off my neck (free from ALL its body -and mental- fatigue).
The fact I've been quite MISERABLE this summer, is not only due to me
"not having a girl friend", but yeah, my (restaurant) job plays a HUGE factor.
(you know, the 'while everyone is out enjoying summer, I'm here?!' feeling).
So yeah, I got granted OFF-TIME, and during this (3 week) off-work period,
I want to have "THE TIME OF MY LIFE" and "INCREDIBLE MEMORIES".



IX. GOING TO... NEW YORK CITY

So, the start of my vacation comes with a trip to NEW YORK CITY, with
my parents, via car, for a family birthday party (and to go see other family).
Despite it only being for 4 days, ontop the fact, I won't get to see Manhattan
(the best part of NYC), as well as the fact, my family (down there in NYC)
don't really 'care for me', still, it's a MUCH NEEDED break from Brampton!
A side-note here, in that I USED TO LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY (Queens)
in late 80's, before having to move to Canada, and for a good time period,
from 1994 to 2010, I had the luxury of going to NYC, once/twice a year.
And then my family collapsed, lol, putting end to the whole 'every year' thing.
This will be my first trip to NYC in 4 years, next time after that, who knows.


X. BACK TO... BRAMPTON

So now, after I come back from New York City, it'll be back to Brampton!
Where I will have 2 weeks to do, pretty much, Fuck All! (meaning, nothing).
How much of that time will be wa$ted at #BCC/#Bramalea City Centre mall,
I guess we'll have to see, but I hope to make better use of my granted time.
So yeah, I don't go back to work until August 12th, but on the night before
(August 11th), I will be seeing my first concert (alone), in that of 7 YEARS!
(since 2007, when my cousin in NYC, took me to go see DEVILDRIVER!).
I will be seeing ABANDON ALL SHIPS! (amongst my TOP 3 fave bands).
So, whether I have (an eventual) good summer or (an overall) bad summer,
this concert should at least provide ONE worthwhile, remembering moment.

DIZTURBIA.COM | EPISODE 04 / CODE:GRN | "READY TO FALL IN LOVE" | 07/05/14

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