This is currently one of my favorite songs, by a Thai metal band called Chthonic, called 49 Theurngy Chains:

I rarely listen to death metal. I am quite the metalhead, but it's usually more in the vein of stuff like Megadeth and Mastodon. But this...this is wonderful. I'm not sure I can explain WHY, but I'm going to give it a shot...

For one, having two different singers/screamers makes for an interesting dynamic. One higher-pitched and more manic, the other lower, more monstrous. Following on that note, the, is that a cello? Or a singing voice that's been manipulated? I'm pretty sure it's a cello, but it, coupled with the epic keyboard work, provide a great melodic foil for the absolutely BRUTAL guitars and drums, which sound like machineguns. It's a perfectly paced song, not too long, not too short. The lack of any solos from the guitars is a bit disappointing, as I for one believe that metal and guitar solos are inseperable, but the song by no means suffers from this.

I'm actually trying to put a list together of my all-time favorite songs. I doubt this will go on it, but still. It's only got 6 tracks there right now. I'll post it if it ever gets to a satisfying point.

Classes start next week. Torn between wanting to do a pulp sci fi tribute or hardcore one-on-one fight for the comic class, but I guess I'll decide when I get in there. Finished a painting and started on a charcoal drawing at work today. And I built this last week:

Behold PHMEH, the Reader Eater! Cut from the pages of the 10th anniversary issue of Heavy Metal, 1987, my first and hopefully last attempt at papercraft! The instructions were vague and my large man-hands are not suited for such intricate work, so he looks pretty crappy, but I love him nevertheless.

That's all I've got tonight.

[Brett]