The Heretics - Tumblr Posts
OUR TVD SHOW IS T.V. DONE!!
I've been a TVD devoted fan since Day 1 and I was super excited that this show (and at the time my favorite book series) was becoming a TV Series. As the years passed on and the episodes and seasons kept piling on, I grew more and more impressed with the writing and everything this show had to offer. Season 4 was passable and very angst proven, but still brought in the number of viewers to continue a new season. Season 5 was....interesting to way, in my opinion and incredibly great to watch. Really piled on the Travelers trying to rid the world of Spirit magic, Bonnie and Damon going to an alternative universe never to be heard from again. Season 6 was okay to say the least, but that was the season things started to go downhill.
Kai was a perfect villain and reminded me of the Joker from Batman: completely insane and had a thirst for destruction and chaos. Caroline losing her mother was the pivotal point in her life now that she's beginning her immortal life and it terrifies the hell out of her. Turning off her humanity was a game changer and I got a glimpse of the REAL Caroline Forbes: fearless, powerful, completely blunt, a badass bitch and a total, "well-behaved" (for the most part) controlled vampire. The season was exciting and mind blowing towards the finale!!! Especially towards what happened with Elena and the total epic fail of Bonnie’s anger and revenge of leaving Kai in the prison world: Lily and the Heretics
And now with the new season premiering tonight on The CW is a little bit worrisome for a fan. We all knew that because of the ratings, it’s not going to last very long...and now with these new rumors floating around: let me just say this....IF they actually come true....it’s NOT going to end well for ANY fan to say “tvd is awesome.” I really hope I’m proven wrong about these new developments, but scared over what the answer is.
Classic Greek black metallers Rotting Christ released a "Best Of" album last year to celebrate 30 years as a band, and it's been finding heavy rotation in my listening of late. I've always enjoyed the band, but they've really struck a whole new cord with me over the past year or so.
I've really found them to sort of transcend black metal into a wholly spiritual realm. They do get some flak for their modern releases not keeping the classic raw black metal sound, which is a shame. The atmosphere they've learned to build and maintain is exceptional, and one of my favorite aspects of their music. And their growing experimentation with folk elements, world music, and inversions of traditional Christian music traits creates a powerful listening experience. I've never tended to feel very spiritual, but these days I'm finding more and more black metal that challenges that. And this band is at the top of that list.
Dare I call them "magical"? They certainly invoke some ethereal force within me, and I am most grateful for it.
I look forward to finally sitting down with their newest album in the coming week, once I wrap up my Master's Thesis, which has been a serious distraction. The singles I've heard are promising and I'm quite excited.
Rotting Christ
The Heretics
Greek black metallers Rotting Christ released their newest album earlier this year. Interestingly, perhaps due to their Best Of album from last year, I feel The Heretics harkens back to the melodies of some of their bigger hits. This album is fire and brimstone but with an anthemic bent, and it maintains the atmospheric approach they've taken with their latest releases.
One of my favorite elements of this album is the vocal work. Sakis Tolis continues his grandiose growling screeches we've come to expect, but also capitalizes on some fantastic guest vocalists. Dayal Patterson's spoken narrations are moody and evocative, and a lovely inclusion. Irina Zybina's vocals on the second track recall Russian blackened folk metal band Arkona, and make the track one of my favorites.
The melodies and rythym recall some of my favorite songs such as In-Yumen -Xilbalba, careful whispers dancing around chants, tribal drumming, and atmospheric riffs. Songs like "Heaven and Hell and Fire" and "Fire, God, and Fear" take their titles literally, auditory infernos blistering your ears with an intense roar. The album also maintains that magical, spiritual element I love about their music, invoking beings of the abyss with utter gusto.
Overall, this is a solid album, and I thoroughly enjoy it. You can pick it up from Season of Mist, Bandcamp, Amazon, etc.