The show was sick. This song is sick. Enjoy.

You can find this and 9 other badass songs on their new album Myself < Letting Go in stores now.

I think Kane  is my new fav Thrasher.

While we (once again) wait for the official H2 trailer to make it’s scheduled internet debut sometime today(!!!), i found a bootleg of the thing…

Click here to view the embedded video.

*As far as i can tell, BK and I don’t make any actual appearances in the trailer… which is a real shame because we did some riveting work. Someone get a hold of the trailer-maker-dudes and show ‘em whats up.

Crack The Skye

Reprise Records

March 24, 2009

I’m sure most of you out there in Bearsland have heard at least one song from this record, maybe seen the video for Divinations, hell-maybe even listened to the whole record. Mastodon’s latest release Crack the Skye is making major waves in the music industry, and rightly so, Crack the Skye is nothing short of amazing.

If you’ve never heard of the guys, let me inform you. Back in 1999 in  ATL these dudes got together and thought to make a grungy alt metal sludge proggressive kinda cd. In ’02 the band released their first disc Remission, which was hmmm..eh I’d say. Then in 2004 Leviathan was released with a super cool Moby Dick artwork cover, also with some super cool tunes such as Iron Tusk and the uber cool Blood and Thunder (currently a track on Guitar Hero: Metallica). In 2006 Blood Mountain was let loose to high critical acclaim and a giant (and growing) fanbase. This disc contained the rad as hell song Sleeping Giant and spawned European tour with the almighty Tool. Skip three years and Mastodon releases Crack the Skye, the fourth installment of their concept records (this one being about a quadraplegic, astral travel, and Czarist Rasputin). And the cd has a bear on the cover.

Several months ago I downloaded the first two singles Oblivion and Divinations, both of which I enjoyed, nothing spectacular, but good nonetheless. A couple weeks ago the cd dropped and I purchatized it on itunes, my ears were graced with a very Black Sabbath-y, Ozzy esque record that delved deep into the creative musical folder. I don’t like Sabbath, nor do I like Ozzy, but I like, no love, this record. The songs The Last Baron and The Czar…(both clocking in at over ten minutes) explore the limits of rock music like none other in recent memory. With this cd Mastodon have set themselves on pedestal of their own in the current rock scene. They’ve raised the bar on their own creativity and will most likely find it very hard to top this record in years to come.  This record is my current fav of the year and will definitely find its way into my top ten maybe top five (if Darkest Hour and Killswitch Engage and Dredg and The Bled and He Is Legend and Circle Takes The Square and I’m sure I’m forgetting some, don’t suck.) Great job!! Mastodon, you rock. [4/5]

brandon addition: this is my favorite song from the record…it’s called ‘Oblivion’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZkMEm6E96Y

I’m kind of ashamed that, given my affinity for both singer/songwriter and americana/country-twinged stuff, that I hadn’t heard of this guy before.  I mean, I’d heard of his daddy Steve, I’d heard of his namesake Townes Van Zant, but never really listened to them either..so like..I fail all around. I’m doing my best to make up for lost time though, as this record has gotten quite a few spins since first finding it’s way into my itunes collection. JTE, as I pretty much told you a second ago, is a singer-songwriter straight outta Nashville who  feeds the listener with a steady diet of a great classic country and folky americana rootsy sound that I, quite honestly, can’t get enough of.  Oh and hey..all you folks out there that prefer a more modern alt-country (think Ryan Adams or Josh Ritter circa ‘The Animal Years’) sound..Earle has you guys covered too. Cool, eh?

This was one of those records that immediately caught my ear and drew me in, and if you’re into this type of music, I really think it will have the same impact on you. It’s only about 30 min long, so it’s got that ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’ thing goin’ on..which is a bit of a bummer for a dude like me who would really like it to be another 15 min or so, but on the bright side, the replayability level of this record is through the roof. Aside from the length, there isn’t much for me to complain about at all. The album flows really well, the songwriting is solid, and I just really, really (really? yea, really) enjoy it.

Let’s see, what else? I think I’m gonna use bullet points in a post for the first time ever! Be glad you’re here for this momentous occasion, my friends.

• There’s a Replacements cover (‘Can’t Hardly Wait’), if that does anything for you.
• The track ‘Someday I’ll Be Forgiven For This’ is wonderful and would probably be a hit if a hip, popular country singer was singing it.
• JTE was in Atlanta the other day and I didn’t feel like driving downtown to see the show. I’m so lazy.
• Maybe I didn’t have as much left to say as I thought. Oh well.

So like. I couldn’t find a good youtube vid of his new stuff, but here’s a video for a song from his last album, both called ‘The Good Life’, so you can get the vibe.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA3sdQWICaI

Here’s a picture of Bill Moseley from Rob Zombie’s forth coming “Halloween” sequel “H2″. His characters name is Uncle Coffins…and he plays the host of Haddonfield’s Creature Double Featurrrrre…

SO STOKED ON THIS…

And on a side note, my friend Natasha Chamberlain is a kickass makeup artist out of NC and the spooky skeleton face she gave her husband Phil for Halloween reminds me of Uncle Coffins…only better. They should have hired her instead…

GUYS. OK SO I KNOW BEP.COM IS A WORLDWIDE PRODUCT, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION, AND JUST BECAUSE IT’S ONLY IMPACTING BEPHQ IN ATLANTA DOES NOT MEAN THE SHOCKWAVES AREN’T FELT ACROSS THE GLOBE.  I MUST COVER THIS STORY, IT’S MY CIVIC DUTY.
IT IS CURRENTLY 1:30 AM HERE IN THE DEEP SOUTH, AND WHILE IT IS CURRENTLY 50 DEGREES AND DRIZZLY, ALL THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE PREDICTING A MONUMENTAL BOMBARDMENT OF SNOW FOR THE AREA THROUGHOUT THE DAY TOMORROW. I AM CURRENTLY HOLED UP IN MY APARTMENT WITH CANDLES, MATCHES, MILK, BREAD, BLANKETS, AND MY WEATHER BAND RADIO WHERE I WILL ATTEMPT TO BRAVE OUT THE STORM.
2 TO 4 INCHES ARE PREDICTED TO BE ON THE GROUND TOMORROW EVENING, AND IF THIS TERRIBLE PROPHECY COMES TRUE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME..TO ANYONE! POWER AND PHONE LINES WILL TOPPLE TO THE GROUND, ROADS WILL BE VIRTUALLY..NEIGH..COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. TREES WILL BE UPROOTED LIKE THEY WERE TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOD HIMSELF. MY CAR AND ALL OTHERS LIKE IT WILL BE REDUCED TO A LARGE BLOCK OF METALLIC ICE.  TERROR. PANDEMONIUM. LOOTING. RIOTING. TERROR. PANIC. EVERYWHERE! THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS CITY TOMORROW. IT WON’T BE PRETTY FOLKS!
THANKFULLY, I PLAN ON FULFILLING MY JOURNALISTIC DUTIES BY DOCUMENTING THIS ENDTIMES EVENT FOR YOU AS THE DAY GOES ON VIA MY WORDS AND PICTURES. IF YOU LIVE IN ATLANTA, THIS COVERAGE MIGHT BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO SURVIVE. BECAUSE TODAY, MY FRIENDS, IT’S NOT JUST BEARS THAT EAT PEOPLE. IT’S SNOW AS WELL.
THE THREAT IS REAL. THE END MAY BE NEAR.

STAY TUNED TO BEP.COM FOR UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH OUR COVERAGE OF WINTER STORM WATCH 2009!

UPDATE: ok guys, it’s 1:40 am. it’s 49 degrees outside now.  it won’t be long before everything is white. i have recently run out of orange juice, so i don’t know what i’m gonna do for drinking if the water becomes tainted. i guess i’ll cross that bridge when it’s in front of me. be safe.

UPDATE: 2:26 AM in the BEP WeatherCenter. I’m watching the BEP TrueViewMegaDopplerand it still  appears the turbulant weather is coming right for us. In a matter of hours this state will be a federal disaster snowzone, make your final preperations now. Get in the nearest bathtub and wrap yourself in your warmest blanket and wait there until you hear the all clear sirens in your area. it is 48 degrees and dropping rapidly. it appears to be visibly colder based on the way things look from the BEP WeatherWindow, so for the love of all that is holy, take cover NOW!

UPDATE: 10:38 AM here in the ATL. The Rain is falling very heavily now but the snowy squall line is just to our west.  WE ARE IN THE DANGER ZONE. Here is a photo from high atop the BEP TowerCam taken just moments ago of the city:
and here is an artist’s rendering of what the city will look like in a few hours:
as you can see, we expect SIGNIFICANT snowfall, perhaps up to 140 or so feet in some areas, so I recommend you go grab your snow shoes and chisel and shovel right now, because you won’t have time to once the snow event begins. Any Atlantans with snow experience are requested to make themselves known, as we WILL need you to build igloos and hunt wild game for the rest of us who are not accustomed to weather like this. Stay tuned all day for updated coverage of WINTERSTORM2009

UPDATE: It’s 12 Noon. The rain has nearly all turned to sleet, which will soon become snow. The New Ice Age is upon us. I will be out braving the elements with visiting BEP Phoenix correspondant Bazmazh shortly. We have hired a pack of sled dogs and put on our snow shoes. Wish us luck as we venture into the unknown. These events will be documented. If we don’t return, it’s safe to say the elements have beaten us. If that happens, I hope my camera is discovered many years later by archeologists and used to teach the kids about our journey. Until I return, stay warm, denizens.

UPDATE: 12:08pm. The snow has arrived. 8 minutes later.  I am seeing BLIZZARDLIKE conditions outside the BEP WeatherWindow. THESE ARE SURELY THE LAST DAYS OF HUMAN EXISTANCE. be strong, bearites. be strong.

UPDATE: 5:00 PM. There looks to be no end in sight. The snow is coming down like a plague of white locusts from the heavens above.  THIS IS MADNESS. Thankfully, I have made it back to my safehouse where I will remain until the snow clears. If it even clears. BEP MegaPlusSuperDoppler shows snow clouds continuing without end for miles upon miles and the view from the BEP WeatherWindow is practically nothing but white. Whiteout conditions are in effect. Oh the horror!

UPDATE: 5:48 PM. we have photos coming in like crazy to the BEP NewsDesk from viewers all around the south..let’s check them out..

DEAR GOD it’s worse than I thought! Oh that brave young woman standing outside in the parking lot with the snow, ALL THE GODFORSAKEN SNOW, falling atop her. No word on what happened to her, but I fear she may have fallen into a snowdrift and lost her brave battle with the snowy beast. ‘dolences to her loved ones in this time of sadness, if indeed she didn’t make it into the store in good health. This storm is a harvester of sorrow to be sure. We here at BEP wish all of you out there dealing with this weather monstrosity the absolute best, you’ll need it.

UPDATE: 10:38 PM.  The snow has stopped but the hazardous conditions rage on!  The streets are full of catastrophe, with layers of ice nearly 4 inches thick and enough downed trees and powerlines to boggle one’s mind. I dug out of my protective BEP quarters earlier to check on the street conditions and interview any fellow survivors i might come across.  It pains me to say it, but I did not see a sole survivor (neither human or otherwise) in my travels. I fear I might be the only one left. WHY DIDNT YOU HEED MY WARNINGS GEORGIA? I TRIED TO SAVE YOU. If i am the only survivor of WINTERSTORM09, I vow to do anything possible to bring this state back from the proverbial dead. I will approach Alabama about joining up with them, and I will serve as the leader of this new state. If, however, my deepest fears are confirmed and this is the start of the new SnowZombie Apocalypse, I do not know what I will do. I do not want to become one of Them.  I have, however, now run out of pasta, and the thought of becoming a SnowZombie and feeding upon the living in other states may not be as crazy as it once was. All I know is I know nothing. Be strong. Godspeed.

UPDATE: 3:02 AM, Day 2. More than 24 hours have passed since I first began alerting you all to the perils that would soon befall us. I am currently afraid to sleep, as I worry I will freeze to death.  A quick look outside the BEP WeatherWindow shows glacier like conditions continue to approach from the northern/arctic regions and all survivors and SnowZombies alike will be trapped under ice.  I am preparing my body for the shock of the icy conditions accordingly, as i have on two layers of sweatshirt and a puffy jacket nearby to put on at the last moment. This will protect me for a few days, but after that, if i cannot find an ice whale so as that I may inhabit his belly for shelter and warmth, I surely won’t survive.  This may be the last BEP correspondence  you receive from me for a while, barring an unforseen miracle. I thank you for your patronage, for your encouragement, for your smiles. I’ll always remember the good times. Fare the well, friends.

UPDATE 1:29PM, Day 2. The snow came like a giant white beast in the night, marauding and pillaging, leaving millions and trillions for dead. I went into the night not knowing if i would survive, but determined to find a sea whale to inhabit so i could live on. Somehow, graciously, I was spared from an icy death but the perils continue.  I now focus my attentions on building a Noah-like ark because this world will soon be covered in liquid ice, otherwise known as water. The snow may be melting, but the troubles have just begun. I now seek to gather 2 of any species I can find and will set out to brave the Great Flood and find a new land, a new home.

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eff you frank wren.
i get it, but eff you anyway.
what a lame offseason it’s been.

I have been playing this nonstop for the past handful of days and ommmg is it awesome. I’ll have you know that yours truly is now a member of the Atlanta Thrashers after having created myself and dominated the hell out of the minor league Chicago Wolves team I was on.  Next, I’ll be rookie of the year! Then win the  Stanley Cup! I am unstopppppable!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oh Dorian is a girl named Heather Kemp annnd is a singer songwriter from Atlanta-ish that I heard for the first time tonight. Actually, I went to go see her perform with a friend of mine who was already a fan of her work. Quite often, when you go see an artist you’ve never heard of, it ends up bringing the suck. Thiiis time however, I must say I was pleasantly surprised.  I really like this girl’s voice, and her lyrics were pretty solid as well. This song in particular is great, and I probably should have bought her cd for it..oh well. The sound cuts out right near the end, but you get the idea.  Enjoy!