Who does most of the song writing for the band?

Do the lyrics come first or does the music come first? What is the songwriting process like for you guys?

Why was the 6/06/06 show moved from Chicago to Los Angeles?

How did the show go?

Congratulations on "Kogoeru yoru ni saita hana" making # 1! I understand

the single has a video on it as well?

Any fun stories behind the filming of the "Again It’s Over" video?

I know the name Cronian was applied by Milton to the Polar Sea. Did you name the band before you came up with the lyrical content, or the other way around?

MUSIC

* Vader’s new Impressions In Blood

(Candlelight Records) indeed gushes crimson-soaked carnage from the cd player’s speakers.

Intro starts with a theatrical flavor, like watching opening credits in what promises to be a thrill-ride of a horror movie. The uncompromising pummeling begins in Shadow Fear – a conjuration of evil forces for serious bloodletting. As Heavens Collide is a brutal blitzkrieg, with lyrics that tell of "the river runs red with the blood of the suffering"; there’s a deliciously chilling break with threatening vox over percussion before the guitar solo. Helleluyah! (God is Dead) is a fist-pumping anthem if I’ve ever heard one! Great song! (This is also the first video from the album).

One of the best tracks on the album is Field of Heads, which talks about "the kingdom of sin"; I especially love the break with the almost tribal percussion. It indeed stirs the blood and calls to something primal in the soul. The Vampiric Predator is another favorite – with theatrical keyboards as a backdrop for lyrics like "I walk among you as one of you. Never kill your food", "quenching the thirst" and "I live for the flowing red". Warlords is a fierce battle cry.

Red Code is extremely threatening. Amongst The Ruins is a dose of despair; "there’s nothing I can do but run through the ashes"; pay special attention to the stellar guitar solo. They Live!!! describes something "in the blood"; this one packs a musical punch. The intro to The Book gives a theatrical vibe, but makes way for intensity.

* Seven Witches , led by guitarist Jack Frost, have released their first ever live DVD: Years of the Witch! Including both recent and classic footage, Seven Witches prove they’re a force to be reckoned with when they’re blazing the stage live. The DVD includes such favorites as: Dance With the Dead, Apocalyptic Dreams, Metal Tyrant, Incubus, Metal Asylum, Camelot, Nature’s Wrath, Cries of the Living, and Metal Messiah.

The band will also be appearing at the BW&BK Sixpack Weekend IV at Le Medley in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 13.

* Unto Ashes has an eternal quality – the music has roots in medieval melodies but paints them over very modern albeit gloomy dreamscapes. This is very evident on their newest release, Songs For A Widow. (Projekt Records)

The trio making up Unto Ashes – Michael Laird (guitars, dulcimers, drums, percussion, tenor voice), Natalia Lincoln (keyboards, alto voice), and Mariko (violins, soprano voice) – deliver mournfully haunting memories on this new album that lays painfully raw emotions bare.

One World Funeral starts things off with a somber march. My Lord Is Born is very Pagan, harking back to pre-christian Europe with tales of the sacrificial god. Convivio has an exotic, almost Middle Eastern flavor. Intacta Sum is a mesmeric a-cappella track, would almost sound like a Gregorian chant except the vocals are female and angelic. The instrumental Snow Leopard – the Crowgrrl’s favorite track on the album – is fire and ice, both hot and cold, and invokes the image of a beautiful but deadly predator crunching through the snow.

You Will Never Know brings encroaching melancholy. Dreams of the Rood, another instrumental, shares gloomy, fevered nightmares. The Life Of This World is a bittersweet lamentation. Another instrumental, Intermezzo, sounds like a brief intermission at a vintage silent movie theater. Drei Todesarten is a bit livelier, with an almost Gypsy vibe.

Song For A Widow is funereal and dismal, almost feels like an instrumental but there are whispered, barely discernable vox. Occupying Force is slightly militaristic, but subdued. I Am Untouched has a more upbeat tempo behind almost chanting vocals. In Memoriam Robert Luscombe is a caliginous canonization. One World One Sky is a Covenant cover, but given a distinct Under Ashes stamp, mixing Old and New worlds.

* Keep of Kalessin’s fourth release, Armada, (Candlelight Records) reaches into the annals of history for inspiration instead of the fantasy world of Ursula LeGuin’s "Earthsea" series. And nowhere can you find more blood-spilling, gore, horrors, and atrocities than in those inflicted by humans on humans throughout history.

Surface starts off with atmospheric FX that builds in intensity, rage bubbling under and rising to the surface with angry vox, blistering percussion, and searing fretwork. Crown of the Kings is Imperial and commanding. The Black Uncharted throws the listener into storm-tossed seas (and has a melodic break with a Flamenco feel). Vengeance Rising is a war rally that definitely stirs up some shit, almost making the listener look around to grab the nearest sword or warhammer.

Many Are We presents a united front whipped into a murderous frenzy. Winged Watcher is an elegant change of pace, especially the almost tranquil outro. Into The Fire brings to mind the atrocities of the Inquisition.

The instrumental Deluge begins with storm FX before exploding into a full-scale musical tsunami. The Wealth of Darkness seems to invoke a demonic horde. Armada brings the battle to a climax with plenty of fierce twists.

* Iron Maiden are also preparing to hit the road in support of their newest release, A Matter of Life And Death. The Limited Special Edition version of the disc also contains the DVD: The Making Of A Matter of Life and Death, which includes nearly an hour of studio performance and interview footage. There is also a Limited Edition Double Vinyl Picture Disc in a gatefold sleeve available.

Tourdates include:

* Silent Civilian’s Rebirth of the Temple (Mediaskare Records) may be the debut for this entity, but features seasoned veterans Johnny Santos (formerly of Spineshank) and Chris Mora at the helm. The result is a polished yet super-aggressive dose of Metalcore. The musicianship is solid, a perfect backdrop for the mix of both growling and clear, melodic vocals.

Intro: A Call To Arms starts things off with an atmospheric instrumental (great percussion in this one – rallies the warrior bloodlust in the soul). Funeral is not solemn at all – quite the contrary! It’s anthemic with razor-sharp riffs, lyrically laying the past to rest and looking at the future with hope. The Song Remains Un-Named is absolutely murderous. Rebirth of the Temple is very catchy, while lyrically supporting being true to your own ideals.

Divided features interesting structures and melodies, including the disjointed outro. Despite the awesome guitar solo, Bitter Pill is laced with regret. Force Fed is a dose of pure rebellion. Lies In The House of Shame is politically-charged anger, with an atmospheric outro that features an angelic choir. Wrath, ironically, is not as "angry" feeling as some of the other tracks, and talks about "breathing life into what’s dead".

Dead To Me 2006 is an aggressive rebuttal against a personal betrayal. Blood Red Sky is a quest for Truth. Falling Down is definitely a crash landing. Live Again takes an almost tranquil turn, with a hint of a Latin flavor to the guitars.

* Glenn Danzig unleashes Black Aria II, the follow-up to his top-selling classical release. This dark, haunting disc tells the ancient tale of Lilith.

Though he made his reputation with his uncompromising metallic rock and hardcore punk, Glenn Danzig turned heads by debuting at #1 on Billboard's classical chart with 1993's "Black Aria," a darkly beguiling interpretation of the "Paradise Lost" story that blended orchestral, Celtic and other forms to tell the epic tale of Satan's rebellion.  On October 17, Danzig will release the eagerly awaited "Black Aria II" (evillive/Megaforce), which takes on another rebel of ancient lore - Lilith, Adam's wife before Eve.
  
Produced, written and - with a couple of exceptions - performed by Glenn, "Black Aria II" employs thundering organ, otherworldly chants, operatic lamentations, poignant strings, ominous percussion, ritualistic chimes and other mysterious sounds to weave its spell.
  
Mesopotamian demon, night goddess, mother of abominations, witch, vampire, Satan's paramour, victim of patriarchy's first big frame-up - Lilith is an elusive but endlessly compelling presence in human mythology.  Danzig explores the darkest contours of this tradition on "Black Aria II," conjuring sounds of black masses, monstrous processions and fearful births on such tracks as "Dance of the Succubi," "Bridal Ceremony of the Lilitu," "Unclean Sephira" and "The Succubus Feeds."
  
"The first 'Black Aria' is very Wagnerian, and also has these violent, Scottish-Celtic qualities," Danzig reflects.  "This one is more Eastern, because it's about Lilith.  It still has a lot of the classic elements I like, but many of the sounds come from elsewhere because of this fascinating story, which has its origins in even older myths and legends."
  
That story - excised from modern Judeo-Christian tellings - involves the chilling, tragic journey of the first woman.  "In the earlier stories, Adam and Lilith were both made individually," Danzig relates.  "But Lilith was too headstrong - she had her own opinions and thoughts.  Though they loved each other, she was cast out and could no longer be the mate of Adam.  The Creator - let's say God, though you're talking about different creation stories - took Adam's rib and created Eve so she wouldn't be too independent.  That's why so many women's movements have championed the Lilith character.  She's free to be sexual, to have her own opinions, and not be condemned."
  
Although Lilith and Adam lament losing each other, Danzig continues, "She goes off, has sex with demons, and becomes a demon herself.  Because she can't have children of her own, she goes into a murderous rage and strangles children in their sleep.  People actually began making amulets to protect kids from her.  In certain parts of Europe, they still make children wear these Lilith medallions so they won't be strangled at night.  It's just a great story - you couldn't invent a better one.  There's a blurring of black and white, where neither one is what you think.  That's something I like to write about.
  
"I just let the story take me," the versatile musician notes.  "Each song tells me what it wants.  Sometimes I have it all written in my head - every single part.  But at other times, I'll be doing the skeleton framework and different parts will come to me.  At times, I'll be listening to playback and suddenly I'll hear where another part can go.  It tells me what I need to add."
  
The process even demanded an entirely new composition at the last minute.  "The night before I was mastering this record, I was in the studio adding another song, 'Unclean Sephira,' which is all vocals and no instruments," Danzig says.  "Eventually the layers of vocals started sounding like a keyboard."
  
Although "Black Aria II" is marked by a striking, atmospheric minimalism, Danzig reveals that some of the pieces boast as many as 30 or 40 individual music tracks.  "Even in rock music, sometimes, you'll have a million tracks.  You won't necessarily hear them all, but if you took them out, you'd notice a change."
  
While he admits to a deep fascination with religion in general and with rebellious figures like Lilith and the Satan of "Paradise Lost" in particular, Danzig enjoys the fact that the music of "Black Aria II" can be savored independently of its narrative.  "If people want to just listen to the music and not think, I write it on that level," he insists.  "But if you want to think about it and learn a little, you can do that too."
  
In addition to his ambitious work as a composer, Danzig is widely acknowledged as an architect of hardcore and metal; over the course of his 25-year career, he has helped to define both the sonics and - as a graphic designer and photographer - the visuals of these forms in his bands the Misfits and Samhain as a chart-topping solo artist.  But he's also widely admired as a songwriter, having penned material for Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison and been covered by Metallica.
  
In addition to completing this ambitious new disc, Danzig has been creating on multiple fronts as a typically furious pace, penning the script for "Gerouge," a voodoo film set in 1904 New Orleans, as well as screen adaptations of two graphic novels put out by his Verotik publishing house.
  
"First I make myself happy, and I hope that's what will make my fans happy," Danzig muses.  "It's what I do - if people like it, fantastic.  If not, well, I'm not going to change.  To me, music is still an art and a craft, and the business should be secondary.  That's how I feel about writing and painting as well.  If you can make a living out of it and be successful, that's gravy."

* Kittie are currently in Retro Media Sound Studio in Red Bank, New Jersey, recording their fourth full-length release.

Industry veteran producer Jack Ponti, who has worked with will produce the record. The album will be released on Kittie’s own label, Kiss of Infamy. Kevin Shirley, who has worked with Jimmy Page as well as Slayer, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Dream Theater, will mix the album.

"Starting our own label is an amazing feeling," said guitarist vocalist Morgan Lander. "We have always been entrepreneurs of sorts, so this path really made sense. I cannot tell you how lucky we are that Jack chose to come out of retirement to do this album with us. He taught us a lot about recording, about how less is always more, about improving sound with different microphone placement, and the importance of focusing on one song at a time. Jack is also a master at arranging vocal harmonies, which is something we have never really experimented with."

"This album has so many more dimensions than anything we have ever done before," said Lander. "The harmonies are huge and lush, and the guitars are crushing and complex all at the same time. The bass is smooth and complimentary to the ridiculously fast and precise drums and allows the song to just open up. There is so much more going on now musically rather than two guitars playing the same riffs."

Some of the song titles for the album are: "Never Again," "Funeral For Yesterday," "The Change," "Breathe," "Last Goodbye," "Slow Motion," and "Flowers of Flesh and Blood."

"This album is sort of a concept album in a way," said Lander. "All of the songs were written over a period of about a year and a half and they all revolve around dying, death, and the promise of resurrection. The subject matter is a direct result of what Mercedes and I were going through personally and professionally these past few years - dealing with life on the road, personnel changes, deceit, hopelessness and an overall feeling of "is this the end." Death of one kind or another - be it literally, figuratively, or emotionally - has been at the center of our lives these past few years. But you must have death before you have resurrection and I feel the band is in its resurrection stage - a new hope, a new light and a rebirth."

Kittie’s yet untitled album will be released March 2007.

* The End Of The Wizard (Napalm Records) is the darkly atmospheric, elegant new album from Liechtenstein’s Weltenbrand.

Bewitched Herd Boys is exquisitely enchanting, with a nice vocal counter balance between Dina Zambelli’s Siren’s call and Ritchie Wenaweser’s deep, clean vox. Dina dominates the vocal tracks on The Ghosts of New Year’s Eve. Ritchie poses the Question By The Night Ghost, a powerfully orchestral track.

The French & The Wine is as tranquil and beautiful as fond memories revisited as "they drank themselves into delirium". I love the bass and drum foundations of the melancholic The End Of The Wizard. Among Them follows the abduction of a mortal by a faerie procession.

Foal In An Egg is magickally atmospheric, the punctuating bells are a nice touch. Overheard is serene. Gipsy Magic indeed weaves a spell that conjures images of caravans and dances around campfires.

* A report from Clawfinger’s lead singer Zak Tell on his impressions of the Tuinfeest Festival in Holland:

"Had an early flight which also meant arriving early, which meant time to lounge, sleep & slack at the hotel which we also did!  We headed off for dinner at a restaurant nearby the festival and when we hit the backstage area, it gave me flashback as I was fairly sure we'd played the room that now was a backstage VIP area for the bands.  After looking through old photo albums, I found proof that we had!  There were photos of an ugly looking skinny guy with a pubic hair goatee - me of course.  Saw a bit of Nashville Pussy - those guys & girls play good old boogie woogie AC/DC-styled rock & roll.  We hung around backstage, unfortunately we couldn't get everyone into the VIP area so we stood outside the gate talking to a bunch of the Clawheads until it was time to make our way back to the hotel. I think an after-party followed there but I was too tired and drunk to participate so I stumbled off to bed leaving the night prowlers to their destiny! Thanx everyone!"

* Thor’s new album Devastation of Musculation IS OUT! (Review coming soon). The album was recorded and produced by Metal warrior Jon Mikl Thor, whose production credits include the soundtrack for the film Zombie Nightmare which included performances by Motorhead and Girlschool. Sharing production credits is Mike Kischnick (Empyria, Severed Serenity). The album was recorded at Iron Works Studios in Kelowna, BC from November 2005 to March 2006. Mastering was handled by Craig Waddel at Gotham City Studios (Van Halen, Aerosmith, Sum 41) in Vancouver, BC.

Thor said, "I recently saw a program about ‘The Man Whose Arm Exploded’. It was about a guy who wanted to have the biggest biceps in the world. He pumped himself up with so many steroids and oil injections that his arm reached 50 inches and actually exploded! That is Devastation of Musculation.

Trying to make sense out of these desperate measures is what this new album is about. It is easily the darkest and most powerful album I have ever written."

In addition to completing the new album, Thor filmed three videos to help promote it. The Release the Beast video is featured on the CD and was directed by Benn McGuire and produced by Knock ‘Em Down Productions and Jon Mikl Thor for Chompa-VMS Ltd. The videos completed for Devastation of Musculation and Lords of Steel will debut during an upcoming Smog Veil podcast.

* Lucan Wolf’s third Vampire album, Nocturnal, IS OUT! (Review coming soon.) You can actually hear four of the songs on his myspace page: www.myspace.com/lucanwolf1 - check them out! In the meantime, check out his Vampire Nights and Night World.

Lucan will be appearing at Monsterfest 2006 at the Chesapeake Central Library in Chesapeake, VA on October 14^th. Also appearing there will be Count Gore De Vol (See Spotlight).

Count Gore has also posted both an interview with Lucan and a rave review of Nocturnal on his website. Check it out!

* Blazed (featuring frontman Jesse Blaze) has changed their name to Baptized X Fire. Jesse made the change because there’s a new line-up, and it’s more a BAND in the true sense of the word – all members contributing – as opposed to just Jesse’s solo project that includes a few guys. They’re taking the attitude of New Name, Fresh Start.

Jump on over to www.baptizedxfire.com to listen to the entire 7-track EP for free! It freaking ROCKS!!!

SCREENS (Large & Small):

* Frazer Lee has succeeded in putting terror in unexpected, everyday settings (making them even more disturbing) such as a dentist’s office and classroom in his short films, On Edge and Red Line, respectively. Both of these macabre mini-masterpieces (starring Doug Bradley – Pinhead from Hellraiser!) are available together on one DVD! Grab a copy at Amazon.com or http://www.customflix.com/213479

* Speaking of Doug Bradley, he will be appearing at the Rock & Shock Festival October 13-15 in Worcester, MA. Mark it on your calendars, and be there if you’re anywhere close to that area!

* The Crowgrrl and family recently saw The Covenant. Fantastic supernatural flick! (My friend Lucan Wolf describes it as The Lost Boys meet The Craft. I can’t top that quote!)

The five founding families of Ispwich are actually Witches. Because of the growing attacks on Witches in the 16th and 17th centuries, these families make a pact of Secrecy and Bonding. One family is believed lost during the Salem Witch Trials. Now, the Power these families possess is incredible, but each time they use it, their bodies wither and age. Add the nuance that to some, it’s completely addictive, and they can’t stop using the Power.

Fast forward from Backstory to Modern Day. Four teenage descendants are carrying on the family tradition. Calling themselves the Sons of Ipswich – Caleb Danvers, Pogue Parry, Tyler Sims, and Reid Garwin (Steven Strait, Taylor Kitsch, Chace Crawford, , and Toby Hemingway, respectively – have "Lost Boys" like invincibility, have a tight-knit clique/friendship, and pretty much rule the school. A new girl comes to town, Caleb’s new love interest Sarah Wenham (Laura Ramsey) who comes to discover and accept the secrets of the Sons of Ipswich.

But with the arrival of another newcomer, Chase Collins, (Sebastian Stan) things start going awry both mundanely and metaphysically. Who or what exactly is Chase? Why is he trying to harm the Sons of Ipswich and people close to them?

Fantastic movie, culminating in an epic magickal battle! This showdown is more intense than any Western duel. The music in the movie was also great, especially the new mix of Rob Zombie’s More Human Than Human.

* Horror Author Michael Laimo shares the following information:

CAST & CREW OF ALL POSITIONS SOUGHT FOR INDEPENDENT FEATURE

TITLE: Anxiety

FILMING LOCATION: Northern California, USA

PLOT: A semi-famous and inspired psychiatrist treats patients with extreme anxiety by forcing them to confront their worst fears. When patients are murdered in the fashion which they are treated, the psychiatrist comes under suspicion for capital murder. Based upon the short story by Michael Laimo.

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Greg William Stechman (Burning Grounds Independent Media). Produced by Stechman, Jon Rogers, David Clough, Lacie Oakley, and Michael Laimo.

Anxiety will lens in Northern California starting late November 2006 and lasting through December. They’re looking for male and female actors of all age ranges, and also an actress within the 8-10 year-old age range for a supporting lead role. Actors in California are given first priority. They’re also seeking non-union or union-eligible crew members, but only crew members in California will be considered for positions on the film. Interested parties may e-mail requests to:

or mail demo reels to:

"Anxiety" c/o Burning Grounds Independent Media

733 East Woodside Lane, Unit 8

Sacramento, California, 95825

* New releases in theaters that look interesting: The Covenant, The Wicker Man, Crank, Hollywoodland, Snakes on a Plane, Pulse, The Illusionist. , Jet Li’s Fearless.

* Starz recently had a sneak preview weekend, and threw together a great mix of both old and new movies. Including the classic Candyman. (Columbia Tri-Star Home Video)

Based on a story by Clive Barker, The Candyman supposedly can be conjured by saying his name 5 times into a mirror. In life shortly after the Civil War, he was Daniel Robitaille (Tony Todd), a renown and gifted artist. He’s hired by a wealthy Caucasian to paint a portrait of his daughter. The girl and Robitaille fall in love – scandalous for that era – and she becomes pregnant.

Her father hires a bunch of local thugs to cut off his right hand, cover him with royal jelly stolen from beehives, and subsequently he was stung to death, then his body was burned. But the ghostly, murderous apparition is able to come back from the dead when conjured, with a hook replacing the severed hand.

He sees the people in a run-down tenement as his "congregation"; they believe in him, and don’t do anything to attract his ire. There are empty apartments with shrine-like graffiti portraying his image, keeping his memory and fear alive.

Enter local college student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) who is writing a thesis trying to debunk the local beliefs of The Candyman. She talks to residents of the tenement, finds the graffiti-filled space, but finds people reluctant to talk because "the Candyman will get them". At first, she encounters some young thugs dressed up and pretending to be The Candyman, one even wielding a hook. After a less-than-pleasant encounter, she thinks that’s all the legend will turn out to be.

Then the real Candyman shows up, and the killings begin. Police think Helen is the murderer, but she’s being pursued by the Candyman, who is afraid that she will turn "his congregation" against him and "they won’t need him anymore". He kidnapped a baby of one of the residents who had talked to Helen – the only way to save the baby is for Helen to trade herself for the infant.

Originally released in 1992, this is one of those movies that deserves to be revisited from time to time.

* New on DVD: The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift, 666 Demon Child, Ancient Evil 2: Guardian of the Underworld, Beowulf and Grendel, Blood Reaper, Bloodthirst 2: Revenge of the Chupacabras, Boudicca of the Iceni, Dark Shadows: Collection 26, Gormenghast, Power Rangers Mystic Force: Dark Wish, Stephen King Collection, Vampires, X-Men: The Last Stand.

* Dark Water (Touchstone Pictures) is a moody, gloomy work of horror, based on a novel by Koji Suzuki.

Dahlia Williams (Jennifer Connelly) is in divorce proceedings and a bitter custody battle for her daughter Ceci (Ariel Gade). They move into a run-down apartment, only to be confronted with a constant problem of water dripping from the ceiling that the landlord nor superintendent seem able to correct.

Ceci also claims to have an invisible friend, Natasha, and this relationship goes beyond normal childhood "invisible friends" as Natasha starts causing disturbances both at home and in the classroom. But Natasha is not just a figment of childhood imagination. She’s really the ghost of a child.

Natasha lived in the apartment upstairs with her mother and Russian father. The mother left the family to enroll in an alcohol treatment program and left Natasha with her father. The girl disappeared one day, and the father thought the mother returned and ran off with her. But Natasha never left. But how did she die? And what did the building’s superintendent know about it?

Other creepy things happen, like blood and a child’s face appearing in the washing machine in the laundry room, and locks of hair coming out of the faucet into a glass of drinking water. What does this all mean?

Natasha’s body is eventually found, and part of the mystery solved, but her ghost is not satisfied. She even tries to kill Ceci! Why? And does she succeed? How did Natasha really die?

This 2005 release was also released as the 2002 Japanese movie, Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara, and the U.S. release also stars John C. Reilly, Dougray Scott, and Pete Postlethwaite.

* Upcoming movies that look like they may be good: The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, Beowulf, AVP2, Eragon.

* New Game Releases that might be fun: Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2, Valkyrie Profile 2, Scarface, B-Daman 2, Star Trek Encounters.

PRINT:

* One of the treasures The Crowgrrl picked up at Horrorfind Weekend 6 was a copy of Frazer Lee’s excellent book, Urbane - And Other Horror Tales. (Available from the Store section of his website). This book proves that not only does Frazer have quite the artistic eye for movie making, but is also a fresh voice in literary horror as well, the caliber of possibly becoming the next Clive Barker.

The short story Urbane starts things off on a macabre note, a look at a night of fun that takes a turn to a living nightmare. Pendragon Rising is a delightfully dark twist on the Arthurian legends. Ill Met By Moonlight is a luscious lycanthropic love story. Conspiracy of Silence feels very much like an urban legend come to life.

The second part of the book I’d especially like to recommend to the film students and horror movie aficionado Perch readers! Frazer shares the shooting scripts for his short movies, On Edge (if you thought dentist offices were scary before – you’ll never go back to one after this!) and Red Lines. The shooting script for what was intended to be the third short of this trilogy starring Doug Bradley is next, Urbrain, where a subway commute takes a chilling Twilight Zone-like wrong turn.

We’re treated to three more great screenplays as well – the monstrous morning after in Hair of the Dog. Love Will Tear Us Apart is a bizarre dance. Frazer shares one of his personal favorites as well – he was one facet of a black diamond where five filmmakers would give their vision of an apocalyptic last day of Earth, each set in a different part of the world. The project, called Time Is A Ghost, has not yet been filmed, so readers get an intimate first look at his glittering portion of it, which he describes as Cape Fear meets Silence of the Lambs. Forces of Good and Evil square off as time is running out for the planet – locked in a jail cell. Intriguing screenplay! I’d love to see this one on film (and am curious as to the other facets of this dark jewel).

* Darren Shan’s Sons of Destiny is the final chapter in the Cirque du Freak series. The Cirque du Freak series is one of the most deliciously ghoulish storylines The Crowgrrl has had a chance to sink my fangs into! It’s incredibly addictive, from the very first entry into the series, Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare. A new reader can start anywhere in the series – each book can stand on its own, and gives a synopsis of what went before. (But trust me, readers, if you do that, you’ll be backtracking for the earlier books in the series. As I said, they’re addictive!)

The Vampires are currently in a deadly war known as The War of the Scars with their vicious cousins, the Vampaneze, and if the latter win, the race of Vampires will be destroyed. Darren – a Vampire Prince – comes closer to a final, deadly showdown with his nemesis, the Vampaneze Lord Steve Leonard.

Orchestrated by a sinister agent of chaos, Desmond Tiny, the War of the Scars would yield one leader of the two races, but that leader is destined to become the Lord of Shadows, who will plunge the world into a post-apocalyptic nightmare era. So, Darren is damned if he wins, and dead if he doesn’t. But like Pandora’s box, is there yet a miniscule glimmer of hope? Is there the slightest of chances of thwarting destiny itself?

The story picks up from the previous tome, where Steve had just murdered Shancus, the young son of snake man Evra Von (one of Darren’s closest friends). In a rage, Darren was going to do the same to Steve’s son Darius – only to find out that Darius is his own nephew! Through Darius, Darren is reunited with his sister who thought him dead since the fateful night he was turned into a Vampire’s Assistant and joined the Cirque du Freak.

The stage for the final showdown is set at a stadium, where Steve is holding all the Cirque du Freak performers hostage. This is obviously a baited trap to ensnare Darren. But with staunch supporters/warriors by his side, Darren accepts the thrown down gauntlet, intent on saving the performers and going mano-a-mano up against Steve.

In a way, I’m sad to see this enthralling storyline end. But this is indeed a stunning and fitting end to this journey. And luckily, Darren has turned ins literary talents to another equally engrossing and Hellish storyline, The Demonata.

* The Witch’s Datebook (Llewellyn Worldwide) is not a little black book for single Witches, but a personal weekly planner with loads of extras.

Along with the planning pages, there is info on the full moons, Sabbats, Esbats, recipes, poetry, astrological information, and historical significances of certain days. There are a few pages in the back devoted to being a mini address book, making the Witch’s Datebook a good resource to carry along almost everywhere.

Plus, there are a few very informative articles starting things off including: "Night of Hecate" by K.D. Spitzer, the always helpful "Tips For The Busy Witch" by Emely Flak, "The Cone of Power" by James Kambos, "My Other Broomstick" (which focuses on protection spells for your car, vehicle altars, spells to find parking spaces, etc) by Dallas Jennifer Cobb, and "Making Magical Inks" by Lynn Smythe.

* David "Avocado" Wolfe (author, foremost authority on raw food nutrition, and one of the Alts on the Sci Fi Channel’s Mad Mad House) has a special message to Perch readers. "Are you tired of eating food that’s sprayed with chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, larvacides; genetically modified ingredients, hormonally altered additives, preservatives, red dye #3, yellow dye #4, blue dye #5?"

Wanna know how to eat healthier? Make sure you’re putting the best foods in your body? The Crowgrrl recommends checking out his books Eating for Beauty and The Sunfood Diet Success System, or better yet – catch one of his lectures or retreats! (And don’t forget to check out www.rawfood.com for products like raw cacao and yummy vanilla beans!)

* Chapter One of my own book, Under Her Black Wings (yes, the title is with Glenn Danzig’s permission - I never would have used that title otherwise) is available to all my readers in the "Print" section of this site.

The chapter list (the actual titles of the chapters may be renamed, but the subject matter’s the same) includes:

All chapters are in progress, and as I research and as people share their stories, they’re included in the appropriate chapter. These should be available soon (to Crowgrrl's Flock Members only) to watch the work in progress.
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* Gothic Beauty Issue #20 is out! Be sure to grab a copy! Ad space is available for future Gothic Beauty issues. For specifics, go to www.gothicbeauty.com/ads and be sure to mention that Athena sent you.

Gothic Beauty Magazine has revamped its website, and it’s fantastic! Go to www.gothicbeauty.com and check it out. (Be sure to check the message boards there, too!)

* The Crowgrrl’s current reading stack includes: "Blood Hunt" by Ian Rankin; "Tyrannosaur Canyon" by Douglas Preston; "Vampire Hunter D: Raiser of Gales" by Hideyuki Kikuchi; an English translation of "The Kalevala", "Mind of the Raven: Investigations & Adventures With Wolf-Birds" by Bernd Heinrich, "How To Buy, Sell, & Profit on eBay" by Adam Ginsberg, "Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard" by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, "Norwegian In 10 Minutes A Day’, "Norwegian Verbs & Essentials of Grammar" by Louis Janus.

* The Crowgrrl’s current reading stack includes: Wolf’s Trap by W.D. Gagliani, Dark Lover by J.R. Ward, Natural Cures "They" Don’t Want You To Know About by Kevin Trudeau, an English translation of "The Kalevala", "Mind of the Raven: Investigations & Adventures With Wolf-Birds" by Bernd Heinrich, "How To Buy, Sell, & Profit on eBay" by Adam Ginsberg, "Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard" by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, "Norwegian In 10 Minutes A Day’, "Norwegian Verbs & Essentials of Grammar" by Louis Janus.

OTHER NEWS:

* The Crowgrrl has a Myspace Blog! Keep even more up to date by checking it out! It’s at: http://www.myspace.com/crowgrrl or more directly at: http://blog.myspace.com/crowgrrl

* Hey, Readers, you’ve gotta check out a product called Body Balance by Lifeforce. My family takes Body Balance every day! It’s much better than a daily multi-vitamin, that’s for sure! And another "plus", if we feel down or over-tired, a little more Body Balance does the trick to pick us up.

It’s a liquid, ionic, phytonutrient dietary supplement made from whole foods, and it contains a mix of over 120 vitamins, minerals, and phytronutrients that your body needs on a daily basis to keep healthy.

Why am I telling you about this because an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. I felt I had to share this as one thing most of my readers may not know, in July of 2003, The Crowgrrl was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is something I don't want anyone to have to go through what I did. I’ve refused the "conventional" paths of chemo/radiation/surgery, and have taken a holistic naturopathy approach instead (which I’ll go into in more detail in future Perch editions, or readers can e-mail me). I’m supposed to stay on a specific holistic protocol for two years. Withing 14 months the tumor was supposed to shrunk to half of its original size. Much to our surprise as of December, 2003, the lump (tumor) is gone! I’m fine! I firmly believe the Body Balance helped accelerate the healing.

Another Lifeforce International product in the online store, The Crowgrrl and family regularly use is Colloidal Silver. Silver is a natural antibacterial element that can be used both topically and/or internally.

My son recently tried to take care of an in-grown toenail without telling anyone, which subsequently became infected. After a trip to the podiatrist and some toe surgery, our podiatrist told us to keep Neosporin on the toe until it healed. We didn’t – we used Colloidal Silver instead. When the podiatrist checked the healing process a couple weeks later, not only was the Colloidal Silver working, but the healing process was happening a bit faster than normal/expected!

* For those of my readers who experience annoying computer (pc/mac/linux) problems (or those of you techies who are annoyed at friends and relatives expecting you to be their personal tech-support 24/7), go to einnovations.juvio.com for around-the-clock help. I’ve personally done so, and my computer’s working like a dream since getting help from there.

* Anyone who hasn’t already done so, check out the Gallery section here on the Crowgrrl’s site. Prints and some originals are still available. So, buy ‘em already!