Avenged Sevenfold's new video ... Nightmare.

Thanks to Metal Hammer here is the new video by Avenged Sevenfold.  Can't get enough of this band at the moment!

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Northern Kings - Reborn and Rethroned

When I read about Northern Kings on Last.fm I was flabbergasted.  A finnish symphonic metal cover supergroup made up of 4 supreme metal front men: Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni), Marco Hietala (Nightwish and Tarot), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) and Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (Charon).  To be honest it sounded too good to not investigate further.  A quick search in Spotify and I was listening to their 2007 debut album Reborn.

As already established frontmen of very successful metal bands what else could Northern Kings possible come up with but pop classics of the 70's, 80's and 90's transformed into symphonic, almost theatrical, metal versions?

Reborn is indeed an odd collection of tracks at first glance.  It really shouldn't work but it does and it does it so well.  We Don't Need Another Hero, Sledgehammer, In the Air Tonight and Hello are all tracks that literally left me open mouthed.  All magically mixed to sound just like the original while not sounding anything like it at all.

In 2008 they released Rethroned, another mental selection of the finest pop offerings from the last 30 years.  Kiss From a Rose, Nothing Compares 2 U, My Way, Take on Me and Killer are particularly impressive.  I feel I have to mention the I Should Be So Lucky cover which really didn't work for me at all.  Shame really because there is video evidence somewhere in my family archive of me covering the same song aged 11.  I would have loved to have been blown away by their version.

They are working on new material, but no announcements have been made about a release in the near future.  I really can't wait to see what pop classics will appear on another album if they do decide to release one.  I am hoping for a more impressive Kylie cover, perhaps some Take That and without a doubt they need to do a Madonna track.

I read a review recently which described Northern Kings perfectly in just 2 words.  I really couldn't summarise them any better - “Karaoke Metal”.  But please bear in mind that it's not just any Karaoke Metal – it's the finest Karaoke Metal I am sure you will ever hear.

Wellbeing Day 2010 - The Sheffield Round Walk

Yesterday I went for a walk … and not just any walk.  The Sheffield Round Walk is a 14 mile walk through the parks, woodland and countryside of South West Sheffield.  It starts in Endcliffe Park and heads off through Whiteley Woods, Mayfield and Porter Valley, Ringinglow, Whirlow and Ecclesall Woods, Ladies Spring Wood, Beauchief and Chancet Wood, Graves Park, Gleadless Valley, Meersbook Park and Brincliffe Edge Woods before returning to Endcliffe Park.

What was all this in aid of I hear you ask?  Bizarrely, my work holds an annual Staff Wellbeing and Health Day.  Many activities are organised ranging from circus training to tea drinking and cake decorating.  You pick an event.  You go to it.  No work for the day.  Bonus.

I chose the walk because I haven't walked a great deal this year, I fancied seeing what Sheffield's parks and woodlands had to offer and the weather looked to be very promising.  The only concern was that I have been suffering with lower back pain for some time now.  I have been seeing a wonderful Chiropractor of late who has made my back feel a lot better, however I was a little apprehensive and ensured my back was heavily strapped before I headed to the meeting point.

We met at Endcliffe Park cafe at 9am.  Once we'd all had a cup of tea and taken a register we headed off towards Whiteley Woods.  The weather, as predicted was stunning and I soon regretted wearing trousers instead of shorts.  

The team leader was a brisk walker and I found myself near the back of the group.  Luckily there were some others who walked at a similar pace to myself and we became our own group.  The scenery was stunning and combined with the very warm weather, made for some excellent photo opportunities.

What I found so fascinating about the walk was the change from woodland or park to a main and busy road such as Abbeydale Road and then back into a beautiful woodland.  It is so obvious how Sheffield has become know as one of the greenest cities in Europe.  At times you would never have known how close to the city centre you really were.

The first half of the walk is pretty flat with some inclines that are manageable for anyone of reasonable fitness.  When you reach Ladies Spring Wood however, this is a different matter.  There is a very long and steep incline up towards Park Bank and Chancet Woods.  Very steep.  There are steps carved into the hillside, but at the pace we were walking in a bid to keep up with the main group, it almost killed a few of us.  This was the point where my hips gave up and I started to struggle with every step that I took.

Luckily, we stopped for lunch soon after and sat ourselves down next to Beauchief Abbey.  Here I ate my pre-packed cheese sandwiches and banana. :D  The group leader said we were just over half way at this point.  Wow, 7 and a half miles in 3 hours.  I really couldn't believe it had been 3 hours, let alone how far we'd come.

After an all too short lunch break we carried on and headed towards Graves Park.  Graves Park is a massive park with an animal farm and very handy cafe.  We insisted we stop here for cup of tea and a proper sit down.  Most enjoyable cuppa I think I have ever had.  Another group from work were at the park having a 'sports day'.  It looked more like a sunbathe and a picnic if you ask me, but they were having fun and gave us a wave as we passed them by on our way towards Meersbrook Park.

The view from Meersbrook Park was amazing.  You could see so much of the city and I recognised the view from a famous 1990's movie filmed in the city, The Full Monty.   My hip at this point was becoming more and more painful and I soon  realised that the breakaway group were long since gone and we were on our own for the remaining few miles.

Originally the walk finished in Graves Park but in order to make it a complete circuit they connected Graves Park and Endcliffe Park with a route along the main roads.  It made that last section a little boring, but it also meant I could put my head down and really crack on through the pain without missing out on a view.  I possibly should have stopped at this point - caught a bus or called a taxi, but I'd come so far and was not about to give up so close to the finish line.

Seeing the Hunters Bar roundabout was like a mirage.  I couldn't believe we were so close to the finish and I was still going.  We headed into Endcliffe Park and towards the cafe.  We had already decided to celebrate with an ice cream when we got there.  Yet another group from work were having a 'sports day' and had chosen Endcliffe Park to hold it.  Again it looked more like a picnic and a sunbathe but they welcomed us back from our walk very warmly and offered us a drink and a sit down on their blankets.

The walk took 6 and a quarter hours and we covered 14 miles of Sheffield's finest parks and woodlands.  The weather was beautiful and spending time with colleagues I've barely spoken to before was lovely.  The walk was brilliant and a smashing way to spend a working day.

My body is still in shock if I am honest.  My hips have completely seized up and my legs throb.  I dived straight into a cold bath when I got home.  I could barely bend by that point so I required the help of Doozr to just get in and out of the bath.

No matter what the pain today, the sense of achievement is overwhelming.  This time last year I was over weight and battling to loose 3 stone, I couldn't have walked up my driveway without stopping for a breather.  Yesterday, I walked 14 miles in just over 6 hours.

Whether Wellbeing Day will happen next year remains to be seen.  With all the budget cuts in education I don't know if the college will be able to afford to close for a day just so the staff can have some fun.  It would be a shame though.  Being paid to go out and do something you love during work time is such a privilege and one that everyone on the walk was grateful for.

Wii Balances Busy Bodies

Life always seems to be so busy.  I'm a single mum with a 3 year old daughter, live 100 miles away from my family and hold down a full time job (and write for TME).  An online degree in E-Communications was yet another commitment I had made for my time.  So, how was I going to lose weight and get fit as well?

I have tried home exercise DVDs before and found them uninspiring.  I bought a Nintendo Wii in 2008 and in May 2009 I thought I'd give Wii Fit a try.  Of course, you can't lose weight by exercise alone, so I signed up for WeightWatchers online as well.

By getting up earlier and exercising in the morning, while my daughter was still asleep, I was able to spend half an hour on the Wii each day.  After that I'd feel more awake than I'd ever felt before.  I found that not only was I losing weight and having fun, but I was also getting on better with work as well.  At the beginning of the plan I also tried to fit half an hour into an evening.  As I have got closer to my target I have reduced this to every other day.

The great thing about Wii Fit is the variety of games and exercises that are available.  With the release of Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort there is even more to try!

The four main exercise groups are: Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics and Balance Games.  Wii Fit Plus also includes a section called Training Plus.  As I wanted to lose a lot of weight I concentrated on Aerobics.  I also used the Balance Games and Training Plus to exercise while entertaining my daughter or when friends were over.

No matter what you want to achieve there will be a combination of exercises to suit.  My personal favourites are Rhythm Boxing, Hula Hoop, Step, Running, Rhythm Parade and Perfect 10.

Wii Fit  tracks weight loss and BMI; something I found particularly motivating.  By using Wii Fit and following the WeightWatchers diet I have lost a total of 41lbs and reduced my BMI from 33 to 26.  I would still like to lose a further 12lbs.

A Nintendo Wii console costs between ￡150 and ￡200.  The original Wii Fit game costs around ￡60 and Wii Fit Plus costs around ￡80.  Both games include the Wii Balance Board.

With Wii Fit I have managed to find time to enjoy exercising, have fun with friends and family and improve my general health and fitness levels.  All in my own living room whilst studying, working, writing and being a mum.

Doozr's Half-Time Review

It's been a busy old year, musically speaking. 24 album purchases in 6 months, of which 14 were released in 2010. And of course, there are numerous artists and albums that I've heard but not bought. With this wealth of new musical greatness, I thought I'd break from tradition and produce my personal "best of" list for the first half of 2010 rather than waiting until New Year. So without further ado, here are my top 5 albums of 2010, part 1.

Dark Tranquillity - We Are The Void

I think this one goes without saying. My review of the album has been criticised for being less of a review, and more an outpouring of praise for this amazing album. I plead guilty, your honour.

65DaysOfStatic - We Were Exploding Anyway

One to work to. Whether writing code, mowing the lawn or writing blog posts, this post-rock/dance infusion is both motivating and enthusing. It's a fair departure from previous albums, but all the better for it.

Tarot - Gravity Of Light

This is my new driving album. Doesn't matter where I'm going or what sort of traffic I'm stuck in, this album makes it all the more bearable. Wind down the windows, turn up the volume, and use the steering wheel as your drum kit.

Martriden - Encounter The Monolith

Surprise of the year comes from Martriden. I first heard about this album on Invisible Oranges, and bought it on a whim. It's brilliant, and definitely one to put on headphones and listen to properly. Like so many death/black metal albums, the joy is in the subtle details that you might miss if you just had it on as background noise.

Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here

A latecomer, having only been released very recently, but instantly a "best of" candidate. I've lost track of how many times I've listened to this album, and when I do it feels so very familiar. It's like I've never not known it.

Of course, lists should always be 10 items long. I've only listed my "top five" so that, come Christmas, I'll have a "top ten". But just in case the second half of the year fails to live up to the promise of the first, here are five honourable mentions.

Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs

I picked this one up from Amazon's MP3 shop after spotting them in my last.fm recommendations. A bit more commercial than the likes of Dark Tranquillity, and with a vocal leaning toward Black Metal, but still some brilliant tracks.

Dream Theater - Octavarium

Prog rock meets heavy metal. It's heavy, it's twiddly, it's definitely prog. This is what you'd hear if Montgomery Hall in Wath held 10,000 people.

The Engines Of Armageddon - Self Titled

Probably the best stoner-thrash-prog-doom-groove metal band in the world.

Avenged Sevenfold - Self Titled

Another one of those random Twitter followers that I thought I'd check out. Ostensibly metal-core, but with heavy metal, hard rock and many other influences. This album changes genre faster than I change underpants. A bit thrash, a bit heavy, a bit stoner, and just a bit good.

The Courteeners - Falcon

What's this? Not metal? Well no. I do like a fair old variety of music, and that does include a bit of radio friendly indie. I surprised myself by liking them so much, but like them I do and this is a bloody good album. A guilty pleasure indeed.

Shrek Forever After

I've made no secret of my disdain for the new Shrek movie, Shrek Forever After. After the horrendous butchering of the once promising franchise in Shrek 3, I couldn't imagine the new one being any good at all. Considering that Shrek 3 crammed as many pop culture references in as possible to mask the lack of any discernible plot, and the sheer number of primary and secondary characters, the only possible way to "improve" on that would be to make it 3D. Right?

Right. So I really didn't want to see it. Or even acknowledge it. My opinions on gratuitous 3D-ification of films just so they can charge an extra £3 to get in are, shall we say, not great. As far as I can see it's a gimmick that not only detracts from and therefore robs the audience of the film itself, it also robs them of their cash. When the sole purpose of 3D in a film is to make people say "wow, look at the 3D!", the film has failed. The audience don't care about the screenplay, the script, the characters ... they just want the spectacle. It's gogglebox culture, writ large.

When 23inertia and I took our horde of children to the cinema to see Shrek 4, it was entirely for their benefit. I couldn't imagine myself enjoying it, and fully intended to pretty much doze through it. Much as I did when I suffered the Hannah Montana movie. Yes, I saw it. Mock all you like, I don't care any more. We didn't see the 3D version. That was sold out completely, and to be honest, we didn't fancy paying £15 extra for the privilege. Combine that with trying to get a 3 year old to keep 3D glasses on, and 2D seems infinitely preferable. The kids didn't care in the slightest that they weren't getting the "full 3D" experience. In we trekked to the almost empty cinema and took our seats.

And, oh, how wrong I was! This film is a true return to form. With a similar style and feel to the original film that made the franchise, it's a world apart from the crass commercialisation of the sequels. In fact, with a cunning bit of alternative reality wrangling combined with classic fairytale cliché, it's successfully removed everything that made the other sequels such a chore in one fell swoop. In fact, the only character who remains the same through out the entire film is Shrek himself, although the other characters are very much present. Am I confusing you? Good. You have to go see it to find out what I'm talking about.

It's got its funny moments, it's touching moments, and a whole lot of comical running about all wrapping up what is, fundamentally, quite a simple premise. Shrek is bored with his life. He wants to spice it up. In comes Rumplestiltskin with an offer of a deal ... You can see what's coming, but you won't see how it all falls into place. It is at the same time both utterly predictable (you know how it ends, surely?) but at the same time completely surprising. The joy is in watching how the story pans out, rather than in what happens in the end. This may render it harmless, but it's a feel-good family film of the best sort. It's got humour for the adults, and slapstick for the kids (who am I kidding? Slapstick for the adults, too). It's got everything the first film had, and was so sadly missing in the interim.

If you've got kids, and even if you haven't but liked the original Shrek movie, then Shrek Forever After is for you. It's the sequel the original deserved, rather than the ones it ended up with.

Tarot - Gravity Of Light

I don't know why I hadn't heard of Tarot before. The Finnish heavy metal band, while quite obscure outside their home country, is also Marco Hietala's band. He started it with his brother, Zachary, in the early 80s, 20 years before he was to join Nightwish. They were originally known as Purgatory, and released their first album under the name Tarot in 1986.

I discovered Tarot while browsing Marco's musical history on Wikipedia after discovering that he also sings for Delain, another recent discovery. He has one of the most recognisable vocals in metal, and I knew it was him the second I heard him singing on Lucidity, Delain's first album. When I discovered the imminent release of their 8th studio album, Gravity Of Light, I quickly acquainted myself with as much older material as I could.

Tarot are a heavy metal band. If you prefer your metal with a never ending list of genre prefixes, you might look away. It's not melodic, it's not symphonic, it's not operatic. It's not post-anything. It's unashamedly heavy metal, even when some in the industry are looking to ever tighten genre definitions to differentiate themselves from the pack.

And it works. It works well.

Already a big fan of Crows Fly Back, I was hoping it would be more of the same style, and I wasn't disappointed. From the opening riff in Satan Is Dead, a descending, detuned guitar drone leading into a nice, heavy riff, you know what you're going to get. All sorts of tricks, riffs and tempo changes are used to keep your interest, and keep you listening. It's done tastefully, though. It's not cheesey. It's metal.

The first standout track comes in at number 3. Rise! has everything. Quick, precise drumming, twiddly guitar riffs and chugging bass combined with a strong chorus and clear enough vocal to keep you singing along for the rest of the day. I'd love to be in the crowd when they play this track live.

Another one that will have you nodding along is Magic And Technology. Much slower, more deliberate, still heavy. Calling Down The Rain, the very next track, changes again and has some solo riffs that will have you breaking all the strings on your air guitar.

Later on in the album everything softens just a little for I Walk Forever, which is almost balladic with its softer piano solos and wailing, heavy chorus. Sleep In The Dark includes more synths than other tracks, and so has a more ethereal, slightly symphonic feel. It soon dispenses with all that, though, and returns to the business at hand; good, heavy metal riffs that assault your ears when you're least expecting it.

This album isn't immune to filler, unfortunately. Not every riff or chorus will have you hooked. Hell Knows, the second track, is a bit overshadowed by it's neighbours Satan Is Dead and Rise! Others, like Caught In The Deadlights, are great songs but not as awe inspiring as maybe they could be. That said, there's not a bad song among them, and I think it's more a case of the outstanding tracks grabbing the attention before others get a chance.

The great tracks are evenly spaced though. It's no front-loader. Whenever you think it's starting to slip, they produce a bass heavy riff to wake you up and make you take notice. If you've replaced the strings on your air guitar and are trying to keep up, you'll have fingers like bloodied stumps by the end of Sleep In The Dark.

Toward the end of the album, things slow down again for Gone, which builds from a quiet, almost acoustic sounding ballad to a heavy, chugging finish. My copy also bonus track, End Of Everything, which effectively punctuates the end of the album and is, I think, a better closing track than Gone, which suffers unnecessary-fade-out syndrome. Fortunately, it seems that all editions have this bonus track, but that makes me wonder why it's labelled as a bonus?

Gravity Of Light is a competent, enjoyable heavy metal album. It's definitely worth a listen, and it's definitely worth checking out Tarot's extensive back catalogue. If you want your metal heavy, without the knobs on, this should be right up your street.