Crowgrrrl's Perch 11-12-06

CROWGRRL’S PERCH 11-12-06

By Athena Schaffer aka The Crowgrrl

Check Out The Link for Bazaar Bizarre in "Other News"!

Spotlight: MERCENARY, MERRIMACK, CHROME DIVISION, AS I LAY DYING, UNTO ASHES

CROWGRRL’S SPOTLIGHT: MERCENARY

* Mercenary’s 11 Dreams held the Number 1 slot for The Crowgrrl’s list of the Best Albums of 2005. So when the new album, The Hours That Remain, was released, I was almost afraid to put it in the cd player. It either wouldn’t stand up to its predecessor, or it would show growth, the next natural musical evolution for the band, and possibly earn its way onto that list again. Well, let’s put it this way. I’m NOT disappointed in the least. It’s a fantastic album!

The Hours That Remain taken as a whole is both a cautionary tale of the decline of civilization, of mankind. But at the same time, it also shows you how important every moment is, to live in the moment and make the most of it. The album also includes guest vocals by Soilwork’s Björn "Speed" Strid and Heaven Shall Burn’s Marcus Bischoff. It’s also an enhanced cd with a video of the title track.

Hailing from Denmark, Mercenary are: vocalist Mikkel Sandager, bassist/vocalist René Pedersen, guitarists Jakob Mølbjerg and (lead guitarist) Martin Buus, drummer Mike Park, and keyboardist/pianist Morten Sandager (also on backing vocals). The Crowgrrl recently caught up with Jakob.

You are aware that 11 Dreams was the #1 album for 2005 in The Crowgrrl’s Perch, right?

No, I wasn’t actually. But that’s really awesome!

It was an awesome album! So, what can we expect from The Hours That Remain? Is it going to be along the lines of 11 Dreams like with a 3-D version of a song?

I don’t know - you can definitely tell it’s the same band, I think, even though we lost a member during the recording. Actually, Kral was the only founding member left. He was our bass player and growler. He left in February or March, and we had booked our studio for March, so we were pretty much in the deep. We just decided to face the situation and do the best we could.

I think people will definitely get that this is the same band, but also think that this album has a more modern touch. It’s more direct, but there’s absolutely more melodic a touch as well. It’s more of the same but in a different way.

So was Kral on any of the songs on The Hours That Remain?

No. He participated a bit in the jamming, but we quickly found out he isn’t continuing in the band. He only jammed with us at first, and then we used our own material.

How did the songwriting process work for you? Who did most of the songwriting on The Hours That Remain?

Actually, we all pretty much did a pretty big effort in writing the album. Basically it worked like in teams, more or less. Me and Martin, our other guitarist, really would put together most of the song structures together with our drummer Mike, just in the rehearsal room to try to see which riffs fit with which other riffs, and putting together song structures.

We brought something new compared to our other albums. This time we had like a rough sketch for each song. We would record that, and then in the other room - our rehearsal room - Mikkel and his brother Morten, they would start working on the vocal arrangements and keyboard arrangements together. So instead of being 5 people in the same room at the same time having different opinions, we sort-of split up into different processes, then getting each other’s feedback. But it turned out really good!

I heard the song Soul Decision online, and it sounded more raw than the songs on 11 Dreams. I didn’t even hear any keyboards in it.

No. That song is actually quite untypical for the album. It was a short song to use as a sample song. I think it’s probably the most raw, and the song that has the least keyboards. It’s not really representative, but we thought it was pretty fun, never the less, just to see what people make of it.

Is that going to be the first single from the album?

Yeah. We’re going to put it out like on MP3.

Are you going to make a video for it?

As of now, we don’t actually have any plans for a video. We actually want to do it, but we don’t have any definite agreements on how to do it and when. But I hope that we will have one.

What’s your personal favorite song on the new album?

It’s Simplicity Demand, actually. That’s very forceful and direct, I think. It’s a song that people will be able to hum along to the first time they hear it. I hope, at least.

Have you done a 3-D mix of any of the songs on The Hours That Remain like you did on 11 Dreams?

No, I don’t think so because more or less we did it with the help of a local company who was developing that technology along with the local university. So it was both a fun project for us but it was also a new project for them as they tried their mix on a real band. That was a new challenge for them. So it was sort-of a one-off.

It’s still awesome!

It was quite different!

The limited edition version of The Hours That Remain has 120 minutes of a documentary and live footage?

Yeah, that’s right. We did the "Making Of" feature ourselves. We just bought a rather cheap video camera quite early in the songwriting process. You’ll see a lot of stuff going on in the rehearsal room. We filmed most of the process out of the actual recording studio. Then we did the editing ourselves as well. I think it turned out quite interesting. It’s quite intimate and up close and personal. There’s not like a lot of pretense on it - it’s just us working with the music and being ourselves, and of course making some silly fun every once in awhile.

Otherwise the DVD will contain a show from the Dynamo Open Air Festival that we did last year. We had a really good camera crew, like 8 or 9 people filming that show, so there are a lot of angles. It looks really good - good stage, good lights, and so on.

Then, finally, you’ve got sort-of a bootleg concert that was filmed with just one camera that is stationary during the Brainstorm Tour we did in Europe last year. Actually, I think both shows sound pretty good. We haven’t done any dubs or anything. It’s just raw, it’s what it sounded like, and of course mixed by the people at the concert. It’s pretty good.

Very cool! Tell me about the new band member.

It’s a guy called René. We actually hired him after we recorded all of the music for the new album. We get certain vibes as we go into the recording. Everything again - on the new album, Mikkel is shouting. Actually, we had put out an advert seeking new people for the band. We got answers from all over the globe, basically. We got people from Germany, France, Holland wanting to try out. We even got a guy from Brazil who was attempting to try to move to Denmark to see if it worked. It probably wouldn’t have.

But in the end, this guy René, he actually played in local bands, but we didn’t know that he could also play the bass. He was playing guitar. We needed somebody who could play bass, who could do the harsh vocals, shouting, and play bass at once. So when we found out, we contacted him, had him come up for rehearsal. He had been a long-time fan so it worked out really smoothly. It was very easy, more than we expected.

You’ve re-released Everblack and First Breath?

Yeah. They will be out on our old label, Karmageddon Media, ] who originally we worked with. Both albums have been remastered to get a sound that is more powerful. So it’s a pretty good thing they’re available now because a lot of people haven’t been able to find our old stuff. Also there will be a new cd out by Karmageddon featuring our demos. It’s going to be called Retrospection. But it looks like very old material from the early ‘Nineties. There’s lots of stuff going on.

That will be interesting to hear, to see how you’ve matured and progressed over the years.

Yeah. It will be something very different.

The only two live shows you have coming up are the two Prog Power events?

Yeah, for now. We’re booking some shows in Denmark to support the album. We also are looking at different tour options. Right now there are some tours that might work out, but we cannot say too much about it yet.

You definitely don’t want to jinx it. Are you going to be doing any DVD’s or anything?

Not that we’ve planned. I think that there is a very good possibility that we could have the bonus DVD and get some audio-visual aspects of the band, of the live energy. I think it is going to be awhile before we want to do a DVD in whatever shape. I think we will collect really good material before doing something like that again.

What have I not asked that is new and exciting in the Mercenary camp?

Well, Mikkel is going to be a father in slightly more than a month from now. That’s new and exciting, at least for him. That’s very cool, but it also means we’ll have to give him like a month of time off for paternity leave.

Right now we’re just rehearsing the new songs, getting the new guy to learn all the songs from the album and eventually have to prove the ability to learn them and play them live.

The most different thing about this year from any other year when we officially do have a lot of gigs is it’s right before the release of the cd. So we don’t really have any time for a vacation.

Fans should definitely pick up the new album because I’m sure like any of the material before, they will not be disappointed. I think the new cd will show the band has become stronger and more mature. It’s actually more focused as well. Check it out definitely.

SECOND SPOTLIGHT - MERRIMACK!

* French Black Metallers Merrimack have changed some of the faces in their coven - now wearing the ceremonial black robes and inverted pentagrams are: vocalist Terrorizt, guitarists Feyd and Perversifier, drummer Necrolith and bassist Dispater. They performed the conjuration which resulted in the excellent new Of Entropy and Life Denial (Moribund Cult Records), which has been unleashed on the world to bring us to the brink of the abyss.

The Crowgrrl caught up with frontman Terrorizt to find out more about this unholy ritual of terror and destruction.

Why did it take four years between albums?

Merrimack had to face some heavy line-up changes. Vocalist / guitar player Sateo left right after our debut album was released, and bass player Kaelifer followed his path to the way out one year after this. They were both heavily involved in the song-writing, so it’s been a hard work to give birth to "Of Entropy and Life Denial". But we finally made it.

Who does most of the songwriting for the band?

We’re all involved. Everyone throws ideas and riffs and we take decisions and give tries during rehearsals. Of course the guitar players (Perversifier and Feyd) are the most prolific members.

Are the songs on "Of Entropy And Life Denial" tied together lyrically?

Some of the songs of "Of Entropy and Life Denial" are totally independent and aren’t lyrically linked to the other ones in any way. Only three of them are clearly dealing with the story of a character. We sing his conception, his birth and his death. We don’t sing about his life. Every other song can be apprehended separately or as illustrations of what his life can be, simply because they depict particular aspects of life in general. He just walks his way in this world and suffers from the deeds of our God, the holy entropy, but as an initiated person he sees beyond illusions and recognizes the Father behind it, and then dedicates his life to Him according to His principles. You can see it all like a puzzle if you like it better. It’s more a spontaneous transcription of disordered visions.

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

The music always comes first. I just write down some ideas whenever I feel inspired, but the lyrics are always built around the music and its structures. It’s very important to me to have the music first so I can make the lyrics stick to its dynamics. The song-writing has nothing special: we all compose riffs on our side, we record them and send them to the other guys through the internet, or we simply gather to work; then the guitarists mix the different riffs to get an interesting song structure. After this we work on the arrangement in rehearsal room and when the song is ready I put my words on it.

What are some of your lyrical and musical inspirations?

Don’t expect me to tell you we’re inspired by this or that band, ‘cos we’re not. At least deliberately and consciously. As big music consumers, and of course especially Black-Metal, we’re constantly haunted by atmospheres and tunes from other artists, but we don’t try to sound like anyone in particular. We just write music that moves us, that’s all. This said, of course we might be influenced by some bands, but as stated above it’s completely unconscious; so I guess you can figure I can’t tell you which bands influences us…

It might go the same with the lyrics. I read a lot of books, all kinds of stuff; I read the lyrics of most of the albums I buy (in fact I buy so many records that I physically don’t have the time to read all the lyrics, I would spend my fucking life doing it) but I always try to create MY stuff. Writing decent lyrics is so important, so difficult and so personal that you just can’t rip anyone off. That would just make no sense.

Any stories behind the cover art?

Well, no. We found it by chance, and it was completely fitting with the lyrics and the global context. So we used it! The fact is REPUGNANT (Swe) has used the same picture for their full-length "Epitome of Darkness" released 2 or 3 months before "Of Entropy and Life Denial". We have realized it just when we got back from the Necromorbus studio. It’s no big deal anyway. The drawing has been performed by Dr Frederik Ruysch (1638 - 1731), a dutch doctor seemingly severely mentally disturbed. I think it’s definitely appropriated to the content of the album since the drawing has a medical / scientific basis, plus it shows babies and the topic of childhood / filiations is very present in the lyrics. It’s about the inexorable decay of flesh, the fragility of human bodies, the omnipresent entropy!

What’s your personal favorite song on "Of Entropy and Life Denial"?

We have no favourite song. That would mean one is great and the other ones are just there to "fill in the blank". That would suck. We’re satisfied with this album in its entirety, every song is at its right place and all of them kill. We spend a long time on each song’s composition, so we wouldn’t get satisfied with something uninspired or less good than the rest. Every song on "Of Entropy and Life-Denial" has specific dynamics, and one can find interest in all of them. That wouldn’t be worth our task to offer inconstant work. Black-Metal required excellence, and we work as hard as we can to match it.

Any video plans for any songs?

We should start working very soon on a professional video for "Melancholia Balneum Diaboli". I have no idea how it will turn out, but sure we’ll work as hard on it as we do for everything, so it should be ok.

Tour plans?

We were supposed to hit the road in late August together with the Black-Metal veterans ENTHRONED from Belgium, but the whole tour got cancelled for various reasons. We have some gigs planned, like in Paris on the 23rd of September, and we’re looking for playing everywhere it’s possible. If any promoter is interested, feel free to contact us.

What is your live show like?

You can expect Black-Metal fanatically respectful to the tradition: blood, spikes, corpse-paint, leather… As every decent Black-Metal band, we must create the right atmosphere of darkness, danger and death.

Which songs are the most fun to play live?

We don’t have fun on stage, it’s not the point. Black-Metal is no "fun".

If you want some fun, just go to a porno-grindcore gig.

Is there anything that I didn’t ask that you want to talk about?

I don’t think so. Buy our new album "Of Entropy and Life-Denial" if you’re into Satanic Black-Metal. You can download a promo MP3 on our website at http://merrimack.satanslegions.com/

AVE SATHANAS!

THIRD SPOTLIGHT - CHROME DIVISION!

* What happens when Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir picks up a guitar, adding more guitars from Ricky Doom,

Luna from Ashes to Ashes brings throbbing bass, The Carburators’ Eddie Guz belting out vocals and Tony White from Minas Tirith is kicking the skins? All Hell breaks loose, that’s what!

This unholy alliance is known as Chrome Division, and their debut album, Doomsday Rock ‘N’ Roll (Nuclear Blast), is a dose of in-your-face pure Biker Metal. The band’s slogan pretty much sums up what you can expect: "Booze, Broads, and Beelzebub".

Great album! It’s totally different than anything you’ve done with Ashes to Ashes, though, isn’t it?

Yes, it’s another world.

OK, so is this project just to show another side of your musical personality?

Yeah, I think so. It’s always good to do something else I think. I’m not just into one type of music, so this is another version of me.

Who does most of the songwriting?

I suppose it’s mostly Shagrath, our guitar player, who comes up with most of the riffs. Then we make the song together in the rehearsal room the old fashioned way - just jamming the songs, jamming the parts together. So we make it together all of us, but the original riffs are from the House of Shagrath.

Serial Killer is a fun video! Any stories behind filming it?

It’s a bit strange because when we arrived in Sweden (where we did the video) - the guy had everything lined up for us, so we just went with the flow. He had everything lined up, with the cars, the girls, and everything. He was very eager to do this because he really liked the album a lot.

He did actually all the work, and we just did what he told us to do. It was cool that he was so anxious to do this.

It looked like a fun video to make.

Yeah, it was real fun!

How long did it take?

It took about 24 hours.

That’s pretty short for filming a video.

Yeah, we did it all in one take. So it was from early morning to late at night. It was hard when you played the song all over again in that time period. But as I said, he was really eager to do this.

When we left, it took maybe 3 or 4 days and he had put it all together. He was really enthusiastic.

Are you going to be filming a video for another song on the album?

It was intentional at first, but I don’t think so. Right now we think it would be better for us to - when you’re a new artist it’s very important that there’s not going to be a long period between the debut album and the next. We’re trying to focus on making new songs now.

Ah, OK. So you’re already working on a follow-up?

Yeah! Sure!

Do you feel the song Chrome Division sums up the band? It’s very anthemic.

I think so. It’s pretty much, "Here we are. We are really eager to expose ourselves as much as possible." Yeah! It’s describing maybe a band in the start, in the beginning. This is a young band even though we’ve had a long experience with other bands. We have this attitude for our young new band, actually.

Very cool! The Angel Falls is another great song. What were some inspirations behind that?

Lyrically? It’s difficult to say because I’m not really into the lyrics because the vocalist is doing all the lyrics. I don’t really recall what the lyrics are about.

OK. So what’s your personal favorite song on the album?

It differs between the songs all the time, actually. Right now I think maybe Trouble With The Law.

That is a great one.

Thanks! It’s different than Serial Killer, Hate, or maybe the last one, When The Shit Hits The Fan sounds good. I have a lot of favorites.

Yeah! It sounds like a fun album to have played on.

Yeah, absolutely! It was very fun, very spontaneous. I think it was only two or three weeks when we had the songs ready, and we went into the studio. So it was very fast. You can actually hear how spontaneous the songs are because it’s very much alive. You don’t have to think and analyze the songs for two or three months before you go into the studio.

Right! And I love your motto: "Booze, Broads, and Beelzebub".

Yeah! That is a really fun thing to be. We often talked about having that as the title of the album first. But we went for the other one. It was a working title for the album. It’s just another version of "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll". It’s our version of it.

So are you possibly going to use it as the title for the second album?

Maybe. We’ll see. We talked about doing a song that has this in the lyrics also. We’ll see what happens.

Musically, the album sounds very Motorhead influenced.

Yeah, I hear that a lot. It was not intentional, but we all like Motorhead and it’s cool to be compared with a cool band of course. But it’s not - we never talked about, "Let’s do a band in the Motorhead vein. We just wanted to do Rock & Roll/Metal album. It just sounds a bit like Motorhead. It’s just a coincidence.

It’s definitely an In-Your-Face, Rock Out album. So are you guys going to be touring with Chrome Division?

Hopefully. It’s difficult because in the Autumn, Dimmu Borgir is going back into the studio. That takes a lot of time. When they release the album, they’ll also go on tour for a long time. If we are going to play, we are going to play in-between. It’s not going to be a long tour; it’s going to be some gigs here and there I think.

OK. Do you know what your live show’s going to be like? What we can expect?

I think you can expect the same energy as on the album. Maybe a bit more, even so. We’ve played just one gig in Oslo, and it was a really big party. Beer was flowing everywhere. It was really much positive energy on the show. I think it’s the old fashioned Rock & Roll attitude and energy.

You also have a unique logo. Who designed it?

It was me. I drew the front cover. It was just one of my sketches.

It kind-of sums up the music.

Yeah. It’s a biker thing, I think. When you see the patches on the back side of the leather jackets of the bikers, it was intentional to do something similar to that.

Are you still with Ashes to Ashes?

Yeah, I’m still in the band. We’re in the studio mixing a new album right now. It’s very savvy to jump from this band to the other band. It’s different very much. You have to make yourself mentally….when you’re in the studio you have to focus on that kind of music. That’s much more complex music; it’s songs that last for maybe 13 or 14 minutes. We have a lot of themes, and there’s a big symphonic environment into this. It’s a lot of things, so it takes a lot of effort to mix it down. It’s going to be cool, but it takes a lot of effort.

Do you do a lot of the writing for Ashes to Ashes?

I do the lyrics. Not all the lyrics, but most of them. I’m also doing the same thing as in Chrome Division, the arrangements of the songs - putting the riffs and the parts where they should be. That’s my part in that band.

Any tour plans for Ashes to Ashes?

I don’t think so because we have hired the drums. The drums are done by a guy called Cato Bekkevold who usually plays in Enslaved. He’s pretty occupied with that band. We don’t have a keyboard player, either. So, we have to see what happens. I don’t think maybe we’re going to play a lot with that band.

You’re also a horror movie enthusiast?

That’s right. My favorite movies is a long list, actually. I like many of the old ones from the ‘Seventies: The Exorcist and The Omen and those sort of films. When it comes to new films, I really like the Japanese and Asian films.

Yeah, some of those are pretty twisted.

Yeah! I like the atmosphere; they’re really creepy, those movies. They have a strange atmosphere. I also like things in-between like the splatter movies. Those sort of things.

Did you see the remake of The Omen?

No, I haven’t seen it yet, and I’m not sure I want to. I don’t know if it’s good or not. I believe that when a remake comes, it’s just a polished version of the classic.

I also like all the Alien movies.

Is there anything I didn’t ask about Chrome Division that you’d like to tell Perch readers?

Only that we’re working on a new album. We have 4 or 5 songs ready for it. We’re really enthusiastic about our album. We hope that people in the ‘States will buy the album and maybe a six-pack of beer at the same time so they can have a laugh with old friends and everything.

So what are the 4 or 5 songs that you’ve already done like?

It’s in the same vein, but I think maybe a bit more groovy I think. It’s got a Punk Rock sound yet maybe we were working on a bit slower songs before groovy things.

When are you going into the studio?

It hasn’t been decided yet. I think we’re supposed to release another album at the end of next year or something. We may be going into the studio in the winter.

FOURTH SPOTLIGHT - AS I LAY DYING!

* As I Lay Dying’s Shadows Are Security (Metal Blade Records) should find its way into every Metal fan’s cd player - it’s certainly in my heavy rotation stack! Profound, emotional lyrics throughout are delivered in both clear and growling vox styles, a great harmonic counterbalance, set against a backdrop of precision musicianship.

As I Lay Dying are: guitarists Nick Hipa and Phil Sgrosso, frontman Tim Lambesis, bassist Clint Norris and drummer Jordan Mancino. The band is currently on tour in Europe, and then will be working hard on the follow-up to Shadows Are Security (according to their website, four songs are already completed). The Crowgrrl caught up with Jordan while they were still on the Sounds of the Underground tour.

How is the Sounds of the Underground tour going?

It’s good! We’re on our fifth show. It’s really awesome.

What’s your set list like for this tour?

We’re playing basically just a combination off of the earlier material and from Shadows Are Security. About half and half. We’ve been playing mostly songs off of Shadows Are Security because we’re obviously supporting that record on tour. This tour is probably our last U.S. tour on this album cycle until the next one comes out. So we figured we’d play songs off those, some songs we haven’t played live before.

Are you already writing for a follow-up album?

We’re in the process of it. We’ve already started writing just random ideas. It’s just that we’ve been touring so much, it’s been kind-of hard to get time to do that stuff. After this tour, we have two months off. We’re going to spend a good chunk of that time writing.

You’re not able to write on the road?

Not really. We are, but the road keeps us busy - playing, doing interviews, setting up, getting food. It consumes most of our day. We don’t have time to do any writing on the road.

So, what do you do on the road during your down times? Videogames?

Not really. Pretty much any free time we have, we’re ready to go to bed. We wake up, we do interviews and stuff all day, then warm up and eat, then play. That’s pretty much it, you know?! We don’t have too much down time.

That sounds like a grueling tour!

Yeah, but it isn’t too bad.

When you do write, how does the songwriting process work for you guys? What comes first, the concept, lyrics, or music?

As far as lyrics go, Tim comes up with a concept that will tie the whole album together with the lyrics. We usually write the songs and the lyrics separately. He puts the lyrics in after the music’s done.

Any fun stories behind making the video for Darkest Nights?

For me, personally, I was not there when they were shooting the concept. I was there when we shot the performance. The performance was just shot on a soundstage.

Are you filming any footage from Sounds of the Underground for a possible DVD?

Definitely! The person who’s filming our DVD is actually coming out for a few days to shoot some stuff. This tour will definitely be included on the DVD.

Hot Topic has an exclusive Sounds of the Underground cd?(I think your Darkest Nights is on there).

Oh, yeah. I know what you’re talking about. Darkest Nights was just the song we just shot a video for - that’s kind-of the song that’s out there right now. So we figured why not, you know?!

You’ve been nominated for "Best Metal Band" on MTV2?

Yeah! We’re very excited.

So, are you rallying the fans to get them to vote?

Yeah, we put something up on our website. Tim did an interview on MTV when they were talking about it. We’ll see what happens.

What else is new and exciting in the As I Lay Dying camp?

I don’t know. We’re coming towards the end of the album cycle. We’re kind-of starting to wind down from touring - all the touring that we’ve been doing. We’re trying to get into the creative mind-set, I guess, for writing. That’s about it. We’re going to write the new record, put it out, then start the whole cycle over.

We’re going to Europe in the Fall with Bullet For My Valentine and Bleeding Through. That’s about it. We’re just out playing right now.

Is there anything you’d like to tell Perch readers?

Just that we appreciate all the support! We wouldn’t be able to do this if they weren’t there. We definitely have an amazing fan base. Everybody’s always coming out to the shows and supporting us. It’s really amazing! I think it’s something very special, I think. We highly mean it - we’re very, very thankful for that. It’s awesome!

FIFTH SPOTLIGHT - UNTO ASHES!

* 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. The Crowgrrl recently caught up with all three.

Who does most of the songwriting for Unto Ashes?

Michael Laird: We all contribute!

Do lyrics come first? Does the music come first? What is the songwriting process like for Unto Ashes?

Michael Laird: Depends on the song -- usually we start with an element (or elements) of music, but the words influence where the music goes.

Do you know what instrumentation you’re going to be using when writing the songs?

Michael Laird: No, we never know anything in advance! We just try to let the songs happen.

Mariko: Sometimes we'll have a song down, leave it alone for awhile, then come back to it and think "Oh, this would sound great with violin in it" or "This would sound great with this type of percussion". The song just grows from there.

Which medieval instruments do you use? How did you get involved with those instruments?

Michael Laird: Many different ones: keyboards, violin, hurdy-gurdy, dulcimers, drums, percussion, guitars... whatever works!

What language is being used in "Convivio"?

Michael Laird: Italian.

Who is/was "Robert Luscombe"?

Natalia Lincoln: Robert Luscombe was the gentle and good-humored fiancé of my best friend. Unfortunately, he died very young of medical causes which have not been ascertained. This was a very unexpected tragedy and we felt we had to register a complaint with the universe, or at least mark the occasion of his death.

"My Lord Is Born" is very Pagan, lyrically. What inspired this song?

Natalia Lincoln: A poem by James Joyce which we promptly retrofitted to

pagan sentiments.

* What are inspirations behind "Occupying Force"?

Natalia Lincoln: The U.S. government's arrogance, imperial aspirations, and shoot-em-up mentality.

Why did you decide to cover Covenant’s "One World One Sky"?

Michael Laird: We liked the song, and we just thought we might be able to make an interesting version of it.

What’s your personal favorite song on "Songs For A Widow"?

Michael Laird: Occupying Force

Natalia Lincoln: Drei Todesarten

Mariko: The Life of this World

Any video plans for any tracks from "Songs For A Widow"?

Michael Laird: Not at this time - but we're certainly not ruling out that possibility.

You’re touring Europe in October with Qntal?

Michael Laird: Yes, we'll be performing 17 dates -- please see our website http://untoashes.com for the full tour schedule.

Mariko: We're extremely excited to be performing with these great musicians..and great people! It certainly will be a tour to remember, both for us and the audiences!

What is your live show like?

Michael Laird: Depends on the venue and the audience. For instance, we sometimes perform an acoustic set at the Court of Lazarus, which is a vampire salon on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Obviously larger shows are much different.

Mariko: Lots of interesting instruments onstage and usually a very ethereal atmosphere...although we have been known to heckle an audience or two...depending on

their involvement. ;-)

Any North American tour plans?

Michael Laird: Not at this time.

Is there anything that I didn’t ask that you want to tell Perch readers?

Michael Laird: Thank you for your support!

Mariko: Thank you and we hope to see you at future shows!

MUSIC

* It’s great to see strong women fronting bands that are just as aggressive and vocal-chord-shredding as male counterparts - Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow, Kittie’s Morgan Lander, and Otep come immediately to mind. Add to those ranks Loana dP Valencia, the relentless voice behind Southern California thrashers Dreams of Damnation.

She gives her distinct voice to the team that includes former Dark Angel guitarist Jim Durkin, rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist Rick Alsup, bassist Matt Arner, and drummer Miguel A. Moran.

Dreams of Damnation’s newest album, Epic Tales of Vengeance, grabs the listener by the throat in a choke-hold and proceeds to beat the living shit out of you. Crimson Vengeance is a blood-soaked, atmospheric instrumental that doesn’t prepare you for the pummeling that follows. Kill For Peace is an anti-war protest turning into a full-blown riot, while simultaneously giving a face to the men and women fighting in war zones for our freedom. The tribal percussion traps the listener in Beyond Salvation before thrusting them deep into Brimstone.

The Bloodletting is an unmerciful ass-kicking. Now Flesh shines light into the dark world of S&M. An abused child who’s had enough extracts vengeance in Patricide. And the band saved the best for last - my favorite on the album: Eaters of the Dead, named after the Michael Crichton book that the movie The 13^th Warrior is based on, but musically as fierce as a full-on Viking battle!

* 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:
Nov. 12, 2006 - Tampere, Finland; Icehall
Nov. 14, 2006 - Helsinki, Finland; Hartwall Arena
Nov. 15, 2006 - Helsinki, Finland; Hartwall Arena
Nov. 17, 2006 - Stockholm, Sweden; Globen
Nov. 18, 2006 - Stockholm, Sweden; Globen
Nov. 20, 2006 - Gothenburg, Sweden; Scandinavium
Nov. 21, 2006 - Oslo, Norway; Valhalla
Nov. 23, 2006 - Bergen, Norway; Vestlandshallen
Nov. 25, 2006 - Stockholm, Sweden; Globen
Nov. 27, 2006 - Den Bosch, Holland; Brabanthallen
Nov. 28, 2006 - Paris, France; Palais Omnisport de Bercy
Nov. 30, 2006 - Barcelona, Spain; Palau Sant Jordi
Dec. 02, 2006 - Milan, Italy; Datchforum
Dec. 03, 2006 - Milan, Italy; Datchforum
Dec. 05, 2006 - Zurich, Switzerland; Hallenstadion
Dec. 07, 2006 - Stuttgart, Germany; Schleyerhalle
Dec. 08, 2006 - Dortmund, Germany; Westfallenhalle
Dec. 11, 2006 - Cardiff, Wales; NIA
Dec. 12, 2006 - Birmingham, England; NEC
Dec. 14, 2006 - Manchester, England; Manchester Arena
Dec. 15, 2006 - Glasgow, Scotland; SECC
Dec. 17, 2006 - Newcastle, England; Newcastle Arena
Dec. 18, 2006 - Sheffield, England; Sheffield Arena
Dec. 20, 2006 - Dublin, Ireland; The Point
Dec. 22, 2006 - London, England; Earls Court
Dec. 23, 2006 - London, England; Earls Court

* The members of the thrash/punk band SLAYER - Kerry King/guitars, Tom Araya/bass, vocals, Jeff Hanneman/guitars, and Dave Lombardo/drums - will take a few hours off from their current European "Unholy Alliance Tour" schedule to pay a visit to the 52nd Services Squadron located on the Spangdahlem U.S. Air Force Base in Germany on Wednesday, November 8. With a sizeable chunk of Slayer's core audience being enlisted men and women, this will be the band's first-ever visit to a military base.

The band, whose latest release, "Christ Illusion," deals with the brutality of war and religions fanaticism, scrutinizing America's role in Iraq and Afghanistan, will spend a couple of hours meeting and chatting with the soldiers, signing autographs, and possibly viewing a fighter aircraft or two.

Upon returning home just before Thanksgiving, Slayer will take the holidays off and then launch a headlining tour of the U.S. Dates are still being confirmed and will be announced shortly.

* Evergrey pick apart a relationship that’s falling apart in their stellar new Monday Morning Apocalypse.

The title track explores the pain of solitude and isolation. Unspeakable desperately wants to render assistance to someone who doesn’t want to ask for help, against myriad musical backgrounds ranging from atmospheric to intense. Lost indeed gives that feel musically, racing in lots of different directions while lyrics explore feeling "Inside out going outside in". Obedience takes a cold hard look at domestic violence.

The Curtain Fall confronts unfaithfulness and lies. In Remembrance is bittersweet, both musically and lyrically. At A Loss For Words demands truth with complex, schizophrenic structures (and excellent guitar solo before the dark bridge). Til Dagmar is a dark, somber piano solo.

Still In The Water feels like being trapped in a nightmare unable to awaken. The Dark I Walk You Through is intensely apologetic. I Should is as electrically charged as a coming storm, as lyrics search for a scapegoat to blame for all problems. Closure is just that, a morose acceptance of an ended relationship.

* Candlelight Records confirms January 23 as the North American release date for Crowbar's Live: With Full Force. Filmed at the popular German open air festival of the same name, Live: With Full Force was captured on Crowbar’s world tour supporting their 2005 release, Lifesblood for the Downtrodden. The live performance dvd also includes candid backstage footage plus the band’s second (and previously unavailable) promotional video for Lifesblood for the Downtrodden album track Slave No More.

It goes without saying the scope of contributions and merits Crowbar have had on the heavy music scene since their formation over a decade ago. Originally noted as a cross-mix of Pantera and The Melvins, later dubbed sludge metal/core, Crowbar pioneered the genre’s early sound and today continue to push its boundaries with experimentation and endless determination. To date their US soundscan history approaching a quarter of a million units.

Track listing for Live: With Full Force is as follows: Self-Inflicted, I Am Forever, The Lasting Dose, Burn Your World, New Dawn, High Rate Extinction, Planets Collide, All I Had (I Gave), Slave No More (video)

Crowbar are planning a series of dates in 2007 while continuing work on new material for their next album expected early 2008.

* Mushroomhead’s might still wear matching jumpsuits but they’re celebrating their release of the new album, Savior Sorrow, by adopting new masks, each member’s being different from the other.

12 Hundred starts distorted then turns aggressive; I love the catchy, crunchy riffs. Industrial beats prevail in Simple Survival. Damage Done is aptly named; it also features a heavy distorted intro and a break with an Eastern vibe, almost sounding like a sitar. Save Us is a melancholic power ballad.

Tattoo gives the listener an aural version of the painful experience. Erase the Doubt experiments with blending FX. Burn is pure heat, with a hint of a Faith No More influence. Just Pretending is haunting but lovely.

There’s awesome percussion in The Need. Cut Me starts darkly demented, but winds its way through complex twists. The Fallen runs the listener over like a steamroller. Embrace the Ending is a melancholic, moody ballad.

Mushroomhead also have an interactive flash game on their website that pits the band members against each other in Mortal Kombat style, and each has their own unique "fatality". Check it out at: www.mushroomkombat.com.

* Christmas will mark the beginning of Leaves' Eyes' production of their first DVD, which will include a complete movie with a lot of interesting background information. Moreover, the band is planning an indoor and an outdoor show with special stage and show elements exclusively for the DVD. Leaves’ Eyes are currently on the road in North America with Blind Guardian. Tour dates include:
Nov. 12, 2006 - San Francisco, CA; The Fillmore
Nov. 14, 2006 - Vancouver, BC; Commodore Ballroom
Nov. 15, 2006 - Seattle, WA; El Corazon
Nov. 18, 2006 - Monterrey, MEX; Monterrey Metal Fest
Nov. 20, 2006 - Englewood, CO; Gothic Theatre
Nov. 22, 2006 - Minneapolis, MN; The Quest
Nov. 23, 2006 - Chicago, IL; House of Blues
Nov. 24, 2006 - Cleveland, OH; Agora Theatre
Nov. 25, 2006 - Detroit, MI; Harpo’s Concert Theatre
Nov. 26, 2006 - Toronto, ON; Opera House
Nov. 28, 2006 - Sainte-Foy, QC; Salle Albert-Rousseau
Nov. 29, 2006 - Montreal, QC; Le Medley
Nov. 30, 2006 - New York, NY; BB King’s Blues Club
Dec. 01, 2006 - Worceser, MA; The Palladium
Dec. 02, 2006 - Philadelphia, PA; Trocadero
Dec. 04, 2006 - West Springfield, VA; Jaxx
Dec. 05, 2006 - Charlotte, NC; Tremont Music Hall
Dec. 07, 2006 - Lake Buena Vista, FL; House of Blues
Dec. 08, 2006 - Atlanta, GA; Roxy Theatre
Dec. 09, 2006 - New Orleans, LA; House of Blues
Dec. 10, 2006 - Houston, TX; Meridian
Dec. 11, 2006 - Austin, TX; Emo’s

* Leatherwolf take us to the bowels of insanity with their new World Asylum. (Massacre Records) New vocalist Wade Black (Crimson Glory/Seven Witches), new guitarist Eric Halpern (Helstar/Destiny’s End), and new bassist Pete Perez join long-time members, guitarist Geoff Gayer and drummer Dean Roberts. This new mix creates a mind-numbing mix of Old School Metal, compared to the likes of The Michael Schenker Group or Metal Church.

The aggressive I Am The Law shows an out-of-control psycho with a padded room sure to be in his future. King of the Ward is pure dementia, the patient talking about having no soul and eyes rolling back in his head. Behind The Gun is a son heart-wrenchingly pleading his father to confess whether he is or isn’t a murderer. Live Or Die intensely reminds us to live life to its fullest.

Disconnect is extremely catchy as it talks about feeling like a prisoner with only one way to break free. There’s a great guitar solo in Dr. Wicked, a protest about a doctor trying to play god, but ending up in a drug-induced hallucination. Institutions is dark and ominous with manic twists.

Derailed is indeed a train wreck you can’t look away from. The Grail is a demented quest, the trail paved with excellent vocal harmonies and complex musical twists. The dark, ominous guitars steal the show in Never Again, which starts out ballady but gets stronger and heavier.

* HIRAX has returned from the Mexican leg of their 2006 tour. The band played to their rabid metal fans across the border on October 28 at Cocktail Bar Live in Leon , Mexico and October 29 at Circo Volador in Mexico City .

"The show in Leon gathered a lot of die hard metal brothers and sisters," vocalist Katon W. De Pena said. "We had the honor and pleasure to meet such great Mexican bands as Panik (ex-Transmetal members), Strike Master, Raped God, and Pirana. We had so much fun that at one point there was slam dancing on the tour bus as it was speeding down the road. The next day we played in Mexico City with very little rest. Upon arriving to the concert hall for sound check, there were a lot of fans waiting to welcome us to their country. I will say that out of all of our travels in Mexico , Circo Voldor is one of the best places we have ever played. I will never forget how LOUD the headbangers cheer and chant during and in between the songs. It is unbelievable. I made a promise to them that HIRAX will return very soon. Viva Mexico !"

The band mixed 5 new songs on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 at Shiva Industries Studio in Santa Ana , California . The tracks Lucifer’s Inferno and City of the Dead are slated for the compilation Speed Kills Again, to be released on Heavy Artillery, a subsidiary of Punk Core Records. The other 3 tracks, Summon the Death Dealers, Assassins of War, and Invasion, will tentatively be released on limited edition vinyl through Black Devil Records. The compilation will also feature two songs each from Merciless Death, Warbringer, Violator, Enforcer, Meltdown, and Avenger of Blood.

KNAC.com will play several of the new studio songs during their radio interview with the members of HIRAX on Sunday, December 10, from 3-5 pm PST.

HIRAX’s highly anticipated East Coast tour kicked off on November 10 at The Barbary in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania. Tour dates include:
Nov. 12, 2006 - Boston, MA; Middle East Downstairs
Nov. 13, 2006 - Lemoyne, PA; Championship
Nov. 14, 2006 - Rochester, NY; Montage Music
Nov. 15, 2006 - Cleveland, OH; Jigsaw Saloon
Nov. 16, 2006 - Providence, RI; Holy Order of Cherubin & Seraphim Church
Nov. 17, 2006 - Allentown, PA; The Sterling Hotel
Nov. 18, 2006 - Baltimore, MD; The Ottobar
Nov. 19, 2006 - New London, CT; El N Gee
Dec. 09, 2006 - Victorville, CA; Trilogy Theater
Dec. 15, 2006 - San Francisco, CA; Annie’s Social Club
Dec. 16, 2006 - Hollywood, CA; Safari Sam’s

* Crescent Shield are releasing The Last Of My Kind (Cruz Del Sur) on November 20th.

Crescent Shield's sound, tight and fierce, is the sum of years and years spent playing, living, and breathing Heavy Metal Music - born and developed by true Heavy Metal musicians capable of recreating and further expanding the glorious sound of the US Metal school.

With slabs of the most refined Jag Panzer, Mercyful Fate, Fates Warning, The Last Of My Kind moves through epic and melodic atmospheres, maintaining the tension high with a sharp and creative guitar sound matched by one of the most impressive vocal performances in today's metal music. The strong, precise, and solid rhythm section delivers an inspired and clean performance that will make The Last Of My Kind a classic heavy metal release for the years to come.

The beautiful artwork of the album was especially created for Crescent Shield by IMAGE/ DC/ MARVEL Artist Gerry Alanguilan. The package will contain a killer 16 page booklet layout was done by heavy metal's artwork and packaging master Travis Smith.

Crescent Shield are: Michael Grant (Onward) vocals; Daniel DeLucie (Destiny's End) guitars; Melanie Sisneros (New Eden/Sinergy) bass, and Craig Anderson (Ignite/Engine) drums.

CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC and CRESCENT SHIELD have issued a promotional podcast of The Last Of My Kind, with full-length songs (with voice-overs) available on streaming and for download on the bands' website. It was the express willing of the band, who felt it necessary to provide fans any tool available to enjoy their music.

* Demented Are Go were recently denied entry to the U.S. and subsequently had to cancel a tour. Could it be because of when frontman Sparky was arrested for pinching a girl’s arse in a mall - she turned out to be sixteen, and he was arrested while wearing a silver dress, purple cowboy boots, and a pink tiara? Could it have been when same frontman/founding member took the stage performing in the nude? We may never know, but what we DO know is this band is definitely no stranger to controversy.

At least we have their new album, Hellbilly Storm, to tide us over if we can’t see them live any time soon in the U.S. Although we don’t have the visual experience to go with it, this album RAWKS!

Demented Are Go are one of the founding fathers of the Psychobilly subgenre - which is an unholy alliance between Horror Punk and Rockabilly. The band has gone through frequent line-up changes, the only constant being the aforementioned frontman/founder, Sparky. This time around, he’s been joined by dual guitarists Stan and Doyley, bassist Strangy, and drummer Criss Damage. (All the other members provide backing vocals). This album also features guest appearances by former guitarist Lex, Country Woman on mandolin and guitars, and Charlie Harper on harp, and unidentified female vox on the bonus track, When Death Rides a Horse.

Pedigree Scum thumbs its nose at those with noses in the air. Guitars dominate in The Noose (That Snapped). The title track, Hellbilly Storm, has great storm sound FX, and talks about "riders IN the storm" (not to be confused with the Doors’ "Riders On The Storm"). The very crass Skating In The Rain appropriately begins with a huge belch. The catchy Out Of Control shows a transvestite who’s also a murderer. Block Up rocks out, and has a hint of a Caribbean flavor in one break.

The best track on the album is the testosterone-driven Hot Rod Vampires. Destruction Boy is fast, intense, chaotic. Doin’ Me In is twangy with harmonicas evident. This is followed by the Hellspawn of the murderous Demon Seed. Jogging Machine lyrically stalks female joggers. Someone’s Out To Get Me is ebony-colored paranoia with a hint of the Blues. There is a bonus track, When Death Rides A Horse, which has a Spaghetti-Western flavor with female vox.

* Spider Rockets jettisoned their third release onto the public, Ever After on Halloween. Rock bands are increasingly pigeonholed into a slew of sub-categories but New Jersey’s Spider Rockets seems to mix many influences to form its own brew of hard hitting rock. The band melds the caustic with the otherworldly; singer Helena Cos vocals run the gamut from haunting to witchy, bitchy to sweeping and grating to seductive. Paired with guitarist Johnny Nap’s heavy metal roots, Spider Rockets weaves a web meshing traditional loud rock with a dark quirky element. The result is hard modern rock intertwining the grunge vox stylings of 7 Year Bitch with the radio rock sound of Velvet Revolver or Godsmack.

Spider Rockets has shared the stage with some of rock’s most renowned names - Slash’s Snakepit, Glenn Hughes and Saigon Kick, among others - and have had no problem holding their own. And it’s not every day that a former member of Guns N’ Roses compliments your band, but that’s precisely what the group received from everyone’s top hat wearing guitarist, Slash, after witnessing a particularly hot set in the band’s home state of New Jersey. Spider Rockets also recently performed at Popkomm Festival in Berlin, Germany as well as a handful of music conferences in the United States.

The band's new release, ‘Ever After,’ sees Spider Rockets working once more with producer Martin Bisi (who’s resume includes the likes of Dresden Dolls, Helmet and Sonic Youth). Bisi also produced Spider Rockets’ previous two releases, ‘Preview’ and ‘Flipped Off.’ The group will be going for CMJ adds on October 24th (an outlet with whom the group has had previous success - ‘Flipped Off’ charted in the top 15 CMJ adds) and gearing up to launch supporting dates for its upcoming release.

Confirmed tour dates include:
Dec. 14, 2006 - Worcester, MA; Lucky Dog Music Hall
Dec. 15, 2006 - Providence, RI; AS220

* Readers, remember to grab copies of Thor’s new album Devastation of Musculation and Lucan Wolf’s third Vampire album, Nocturnal!

* 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!

* The hit Japanese movie Azumi (Urban Vision Entertainment) will be unleashed on U.S. soil in a 2-DVD collectors’ edition on November 21!

Azumi takes place in 19th Century war-torn feudal Japan when a master samurai takes on the task of raising ten orphans and training them to be assassins. Their single-minded mission: do the bloody work of the state by silencing troublesome warlords. But burdened with the cruel assignment that means killing friends and enemies alike, Azumi begins to question her faith in her master and her devotion to her country. Still, Azumi remains determined to single-handedly complete her bloodbath mission.

The film will be presented in both Japanese and English (or optional English subtitles), delivered in 5.1 surround sound. There are also tons of extras, including Fighting On The Edge: The Making of Azumi, Azumi In America, The Battle of the Creators: Kitamura vs. Yamamoto, About the Actors featurette, Cast & Crew Profiles, a hidden music video, and more!

* A fun website highly endorsed by The Crowgrrl is Count Gore de Vol’s Creature Feature which celebrates all things Horror.

As a post Halloween treat, Count Gore brings you "Teddy Scares," an incredible animated short, staring some big names in a story to die for. It's part of the New Blood Showcase!

Tom Savini has been known for his make-up effects, but he's changing direction in his career. Learn all about it as I put him on The Rack! The TombKeeper learns all about southern vampires as she reviews "Dead Until Dark" and then looks at "Bloodlines" from Richard Matheson in The Tomb!

It's the last week to enter Count Gore’s "Mystery Moustache" Contest with a "Frankenstein Vs. The Creature from Blood Cove" DVD as the Grand Prize. Learn about it in The Game Room! It's also you last chance to watch "Frankenstein Vs. The Creature from Blood Cove" in The Lab!

There's a new essay from Prof. Griffin, discover the first Internet Web Comic, see pictures from the "Spooky Movie Festival" and much more this week at: http://www.countgore.com

Guest Review of the Movie Silent Hill by Keith Schaffer

* Silent Hill is one of the few movies in recent memory to scare the crap out of me. It has some of the scariest elements to be found in a movie in years, fanatical fundamentalist Christians, Fire, dark Nurses and you have a terrifying combination that sets this movie off. The only thing that could make this movie scarier is by having clowns in it.

Silent Hill is another addition of the recent trends of video games being the basis for movies. This story starts off with little Sharon (played by Jodelle Ferland) having sleep walking episodes which have a recurrent theme of a place called Silent Hill, a coal mining town in West Virginia which has a hidden terrifying secret past. Rose Da Silva, Sharon’s adopted Mother, (played by Radha Mitchell) decides to take Sharon to this place from here dreams to get to the bottom of them, Trouble if I’ve ever heard it but a short movie if they don’t.

Over the protests of her husband, Rose takes off with Sharon only to find credit cards being locked out and a brief run in with a local motorcycle officer Cybil (played by Laurie Holden and looks awesome in her riding Leathers) at a gas station/rest stop. Apparently her husband was concerned and reported her missing and the vehicle possibly stolen. They get on the road again and the motorcycle officer decides to pursue resulting in a high speed chase between herself and a police officer only to end in a crash for them both on the outskirts of the abandoned and cordoned off town on a rainy night.

Rose awakens from the crash to find the SUV dead and Sharon is missing. Who knows how long has past since she blacked out but now everything is lit by an unearthly, glow from the ash falling and the coal mine fire(we later learn has been burning for over 30 years). Rose sees and begins to follow what she thinks is her daughter's silhouette up the street and down into the dark recesses of Silent Hill or more accurately Silent Hell. There are really wicked and cool done horrific creatures and after being trapped with what appears to be burning children they change into wicked creatures Rose blacks out again to the sound of a wailing emergency-alert siren--just as these creatures have gotten a good grip on her...

This is a seriously sick movie and has an all star cast, great special effects like the darkness transitions where everything seems to turn to ash and fly UP. An awesome set of extras are on this DVD, like how the heck did they do the wicked special effects and how the creatures were made and played. I would say this is a great movie to get and watch with your sweetheart on a dark night where you might enjoy a good scare together. Or for the very brave you might dare this one alone, but I’d do it in broad daylight if at all, I would suggest you find a friend and add this new scare the pants off of you Movie to your dvd collection.

* New releases in theaters that look interesting: The Prestige, Saw III, Marie Antoinette, The Return.

* Disney has recently fished out their animated version of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic, The Little Mermaid. This 2 disc Platinum Edition DVD boasts all-new digital restoration.

We follow Ariel on her quest to find love with a mortal prince with brighter colors, more crisp detail, and grandiose, almost theater-quality sound on this release. The original movie was shot on film, so the digital artists had to examine and clean each and every frame to work the visual magic. Sound is provided by the all-new Disney Enhanced Home Theatre Mix.

This collector’s edition also includes tons of extras, including audio commentary with co-writer/directors Ron Clements and John Musker, and composer Alan Menken. A DisneyPedia: Life Under the Sea takes a look at real ocean life that inspired some of the characters in the movie. Treasures Untold: The Making Of The Little Mermaid reunites the original team responsible to reminisce about making the movie (DVD "Easter Eggs" can be found in this section, too). There’s even a sneak peek at the upcoming Little Mermaid III.

Deleted scenes are now revealed, as is an alternate ending. Hans Christian Andersen’s legacy is celebrated in The Story Behind The Story; and one of his other tales is animated and shown in the short The Little Match Girl. We glimpse Storm Warning: The Little Mermaid Special Effects Unit, The Little Mermaid Art Galleries, and more!

There is in-depth coverage of a conceptual ride - Under The Sea Adventure - that has not yet been built for the Disney theme parks. There is a virtual ride on the proposed attraction, as well as commentary from the creative people behind the scenes, the original models made for the ride, everything from the concept to experiencing the ride itself virtually.

* New on DVD: The DaVinci Code, Martial Arts Master: The Life of Bruce Lee, Raptor Island, Cars, Shadowboxer, The Forest, Shockwave, Swords & Sorcery, Ultraman Vol. 2, Devil’s Run, Legend of the Dragon, Tales from the Crypt: Seasons 1 - 5.

* The SciFi Channel recently aired the cheesy but fun Legion of the Dead, where an Ancient Egyptian tomb is found in the unlikely locale of Southern California. 4000-year-old High Priestess Aneh-Tet (Claudia Lynx) was banished from Egypt and sent across the ocean, where she was destined to be awakened as a Goddess.

When the tomb is discovered, Aneh-Tet is awakened when translator Molly (Courtney Clonch) inadvertently reads allowed the words on the wall in the tomb. The trail of blood starts when she tries to take six living souls for her own.

There was more blood and gore than actual storyline or accuracy in Egyptian research. Very gratuitous, very formulaic.

The film also featured Bruce Boxleitner and Zach Galligan.

* 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: Final Fantasy V Advance, Guitar Hero 2, March of the Penguins, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Platinum, Sega Genesis Collection, Sopranos, Tony Hawk Project 8, Bionicle Heroes, Cars, Dark Age of Camelot: 5th Anniversary Collection, Eragon, Everquest 2: Echoes of Faydwer, Genji: Day of the Blade, Justice League Heroes, Spiderman: Battle for New York, Tomb Raider Legend, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventure, Yggdra Union, Yu-Gi-Oh GX Tag Force.

PRINT:

* A lycanthropic romp is always a howling good time, but Wolf’s Trap by W.D. Gagliani (Leisure Books - Dorchester Publishing) raises its muzzle just a little higher to greet the full moon louder than the competition. It could stand alone among the most riveting detective mysteries despite the supernatural overtones.

Nick Lupo is one of Minnesota’s finest - but this police officer has a dark secret. He fights to both hide his werewolf alter ego from everyone around him, and also works to learn how to control the beast within.

Despite his personal problems, he’s hit with his most challenging case yet - a bloodthirsty serial killer surfaces, one with a personal vendetta against Lupo. This true monster stays one step ahead of the police, and toys with them (like making calls from right outside the window of Lupo’s partner’s house during a family dinner).

As the full moon approaches, Nick retreats to the safety of a secluded cabin in the woods. But the serial killer follows, stalking Nick and along the way picks up a nasty group of cohorts equally as detestable.

The wolf within will inevitably come out. But can it be controlled to make the serial killer hunter become the hunted instead? What would happen when the beast and the human monster (who knows Lupo’s secret and is armed with custom-made silver bullets) collide?

The story is told from both Lupo and the killer’s points of view - really getting into the mindset of each. Gagliani goes for the jugular, and refuses to let go for an instant.

* Author Steve Alten is now on Myspace! Check him out at: <http://myspace.com/stevemeg>

* Horror Library Vol. I (Cutting Block Press) is an anthology that brings together thirty authors, thirty twisted tales of terror.

The most disturbing one by far was even more so because it was ripped from the headlines: Palo Mayombe in Matamoros by Boyd E. Harris exposes the ancient and deadly ritual of human sacrifice utilized by Mexican drug dealers to ward off their enemies and be able to transport their drugs over the border into the U.S. undetected. This was told from the victim’s perspective, surmising the fear and pain of his final moments.

My favorite tasty tidbit was Wings and Hot Sauce by Fran Friel - a truly devilish delight. Eric Stark’s "Little Black Box" took a normal, everyday world and plunged it into a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits dimension. John Rowland’s "One Small Bite" reminds us that sometimes the biggest threats come from the smallest sources. Lemonhead by Vincent Van Allen is a believable look at desperation pushing someone over the edge.

Michelle Garren Flye’s "The Grove" is also steeped in savage tradition, harboring a dark yet revered secret. Kevin Filan adds a nice lycanthropic twist to The Remembering Country. Matt Samet’s Skull Farmers is a descent into dementia.

This collection of stories will make you leave the lights on at night. Some of these bone-chilling vignettes will stick in the cranium and haunt the reader long after closing the book’s cover.

* "Slawter", the third book of Darren Shan’s "The Demonata", is on sale in America NOW!!!! "Slawter" was a huge hit in the UK and Ireland, where lots of fans have claimed it's Darren’s best book yet -- or at least the best book in "The Demonata" so far!!!

* >Frank Cavallo’s The Lucifer Messiah [Amazon Link 65] (Medallion Press) is not what the Crowgrrl expected - it’s not about the true Fallen Angel/Prince of Hell Himself. However, this unique story was nonetheless exciting and entertaining.

It’s about a race of beings living among us, disguised as humans but with shapeshifting and other abilities that made them revered in ancient times, shunned and killed in other eras. This story is set in Post World War I New York City, and shows a time when these beings are ruled by the very cruel and sadistic Morrigan. (These beings take their names from mythological characters.) According to a prophecy, her reign of terror can only come to an end when the being known as Lucifer frees the rest of their race/society from her.

In 1917, Sean Mulcahy went to fight in the war. While in the trenches, he discovered strange things about himself - he doesn’t age, he has healing capabilities and he can shapeshift. Other forces also take notice of him, saying he is the Lucifer of the prophecy. Morrigan’s minions, of course, want to kill him to prevent the prophecy from manifesting. A rebellious faction led by Argus wants to protect him and enlist him in their cause.

Jump forward to 1947 - Sean is in his native NYC, and is nearly annihilated by forces loyal to Morrigan. He turns for help to the only person he can trust, his former best friend Vinny - a divorced, drunkard ex-cop. Vinny starts turning his life around to help Sean, and brings ex-wife Maggie into the fold - both Maggie and Vinny being thrown into a world and a battle beyond belief.

The Lucifer Messiah is truly a visionary work of twisted art.

* 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:

here

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.
Sign up here!

* Gothic Beauty Issue #21 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.

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

* The Crowgrrl highly recommends that readers check out the website Bazaar Bizarre for freakish deviations on fluffy conceptions. Great online place to shop for fun and unusual items (and with the holidays coming up, you can do some gift shopping there as well!)

* 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.

Also Exclusively for the crowgrrl's readers you can get your own FREE quart of Body Balance. Go to this website http://www.lifeforcefamily.com Then put in this special redeption code 20485805.

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!

The information provided at this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription for any disease. Please consult your physician for advice.

* 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!

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