People say that I stare a lot. But how do you appreciate beauty with just a glance? Is it possible to drink it all in a sip? How can you just take one look and be done with? I call this "Stalker"

Don't look her closely in the eye,
What side of the glass you are on?
The safety of the life you have built,
Everything where it belongs

What if all the world you know,
Was just an expansive dream?
If you look at the reflection,
Find yourself afraid to see

And you're really all alone
You can live in this illusion,
You can choose to believe.
Is it all you want it to be?

We're in this together now
None of us can stop us now
When all our hope is gone
And all that we were is gone

Under the rust of time
Feelings don't disappear
I cant help but stare
Because you are still right there

Its been a long time since my last post, but I have been really busy and have not had any time at all. Today's posting takes me back to what is regarded as the turning point in Metallica's journey in metal - The Black Album. The album marked their entry into the mainstream, with shorter songs, simpler song structures, and slower tempos overall. More in the review :



I have put off this review for a long time, but now i know what to say: it's way too hated because it's the major mainstream album. I couldn't care less, it has everything Metallica had before except the fast speed. Sure, it's not a classic like Master of puppets, but it's far from any other album.

The "Black Album" is a turning point in the history of rock music. Rarely has a such a hyped up album lived up to the billing. Granted, the hits such as Sandman, Sad But True and Nothing Else Matters are played out. However, the album never stops delivering. The production of this album is flawless. I maintain that if Justice was recorded the same way this album was, it would be regarded as the best Metallica album in the catalog. Besided the hits, the album has underappreciated tracks such as "Of Wolf and Man", "God that Failed" and "Holier than Thou". If you want to get into Metallica, this is the first stop. While it may not be their greatest album, its damm close and you will not be dissapointed.

Track Listing:
1.Enter Sandman: What alot of people consider Metallica's trademark song, putting this track first best shows Metallica's evolution from crashy thrash since Dyer's Eve on ..And Justice for All. Even though this track is hard and heavy anybody who is anybody will dig this track. 10/10
2.Sad But True: You know how great a song is when even crappy rock posers like Kid Rock use the riffs in their songs (I still think "American Bad@ss" or whatever that track is called sucks, dont get me wrong). Kirk's riffs are outstanding, they are not like the overly heavy riffs from Justice, it sounds like hard rock guitar. If you could look up hard rock sound in the encyclopedia, this would be right next to it. 10/10
3.Holier than Thou: Even though they were no longer thrash, the transition isn't always a good thing. Take Holier than Thou for example: its a hard rock track but it is also obviously filler material. The guitar on here sounds too much like Scott Ian rhythm (which isn't bad, but this is Metallica) and the lyrics aren't really great ("No more, the crap rolls out your mouth again"? WTC!!) 6/10
4.The Unforgiven: Metallica's first true power ballad. I wouldn't call Fade to Black or Sanitarium power ballads, they are more darker songs, of subject material that is frightening while this song is about.... wait, what the crap is it about? It makes no friggn sense! The lyrics are inspired, Hammetts guitar work is moving, but I still don't know the message behind it! Unlike other so called "old metallica fans", I actually like this song better than their previous efforts; it shows real evolution for a band to go from "ahh, F#$k you!" to "want to join us at Borders?" 9.5/10
5.Wherever I may Roam: Another Tallica classic, the guitar work form Kirk on this track is ART. Thank god Lars and James finally let him wear the pants for at least this track or who knows how long he would have been doing thrashy riff after thrashy riff. If I learned anything from this track it is that if it weren't for Kirk's artistic playing in this album and the ones before it Metallica would sound like every other overtly heavy thrash band. 10/10
6.Don't Tread on Me: Unlike the whole Justice album, at least this song doesn't leave the listener thinking: "its about justice, ladefriggn DA!" Its a short song for Metallica in this age and time but the lyrics actually make freedom sound good. I think Kirk has a great guitar piece in this, which he probably picked up from lessons with Joe Satriani when he just joined Metallica. 10/10
7.Through the Never: This song sometimes seems like they added it just to make an album over an hour in length. First, the guitar work is weird, so almost everything else on this. Sounds like they were TRYING TO MAKE FILTER. Fluff: 6/10
8.Nothing Else Matters: This track is what I would call the centerpiece of the album. Sure, Enter Sandman may be the biggest single from this album and Unforgiven may be Tallica's first power ballad, but this is hard rock classic defined. Everyone is like:" Man, One is Metallica's best ever!" Whatever! One is nowhere near their best! It's great but not the best. The string arrangement adds a whole dimension to Metallica's playing and enriches Kirks playing. Kirks guitar spots are almost reminiscent of Randy Rhoads' spots in "Diary of a Madman" or "Revelation (Mother Earth)". Just when I though we would never hear what Kirk always called his "Rhoads influenced guitar playing", not only does the song sound great, but it ends up being what many call Metallica's greatest work. 11/10
9.Of Wolf and Man: Loud, Heavy, straight-out metal. The intro bang drum assault and loud tempo rings are stringing to the soul. Also, these lyrics scream "James Heitfeld!" so loud it isn't even funny. 10/10
10.God that Failed: A good song, not filler but not "Wow!" 8/10
11.My Friend of Misery: Long, complex songwriting with a bit of zucato instument work. Not very impressive, I think it is a little overated. 8/10
12.Struggle Within: It is really hard to write reviews for albums with more than 10 tracks, that is why these latter track reviews suck like crap, so I will try as hard as I can to do a good job on this one. This is the fast paced allout rocker on this album, the vocals are fast paced and aggressive, the drums and bass loud, but the standout on here is definitely Kirks solo: it is pure awesomeness. It sounds like classic VH virtuoso mixed with with heavy Motorhead-like tempo, the first obvious virtuoso guitar work i have heard from Kirk. 10/10

When Metallica released this album in 1991, they had already earned a fanbase that was so strong and dedicated to their music. And since ...And Justice For All hit #6 on the charts, it's no surprise that this album went straight to #1. Produced by Bob Rock, the sound is more solid and polished than the previous albums. What sets Metallica apart from other bands who have taken this route, however, is that the music is still heavy and on their own terms. Yes, the 8 minute prog-metal jams and 220 bpm thrash beats are gone, but the songs sound great with a more simple structure, and it's tight as ever. The bass comes through much better than the previous album, and the drums sound very full without sounding like a Poison or Ratt album. This is not Metallica's angriest or darkest album despite the album cover. But, not only is it one of best records they have ever made, it is one of the best records ever made, period.

This is what happens when you have a REALLY bad day....

Periphery of change
Just an illusion
Disputed dreams
Of revolution

Your morality is hypocrisy
Obsessive self-esteem
Enforcing your ideals
Your puritanical dream

Siege of power
Inside your fucked up mind
Outward restrictions
To keep you in line

Hide behind others
Hide behind life
You should be living
But you only survive

One last thing that I HAD to post.. this one is very dear to me...

Reflection

So I won't have to say a word
What I never meant to say
Make it right again some day

Say you'll never leave, please
This war inside my mind is killing me
When you're staring at the ground

Wishing that you didn't know
What I'm really thinking
You won't even look at me now

A knife cuts deeper than a hammer's fall
But the pain is the same when
You're losing it all

The sound is coming closer
I feel it in my veins tonight
Shame on me, my black heart

The mirror is on the floor,
Shattered a million bits
Each reflecting my eyes

I know I am getting kinda repetitive with posting of my "pieces", but I think I just can't help it.. :-)... Anyway, here goes another one...

Beautiful

As beautiful as the sun
As wonderful as they come
I can't help but feel attached
To feelings i can't even match

I'm sure you know me well,
As i'm sure you don't
But you just can't tell
Who'll you want and who you won't

Let the clouds roll by your face
Let the world move on to another place
Climb the tallest roof above it all
To look down on you and me and them

Here just waiting for you
Under your stars forever
Neither here nor there just right beside you
I'll be under the stairs forever

Some more pieces that I thought of posting...

This one's unnamed yet...

Crossroads outside of town
Let heartbroken faces shine
In city lights, so far and dull
Turning left, I know it's time

With an urgent wind upon my rolling heels
To carry me along
My face downcast
That I turn to ruins passed and home

Wander off in the dead of night
Past terrors and broken homes
Wipe the sleep from your eyes
Of riverbanks and catacombs

Sleeping to the bee and the sea
Always lived this life alone
Lay down beneath the loft
Cry out I know it's time

Love is everything I want
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold the secret flames

Silent times

Silent times are sliding away
Ones in grey shroud of sky and stars
When this world was young
Under bloody eye of anger

People of all kind
Killed each other here
Now in hard embrace of the unknown
Are their eyes in mortal suffering

Gripped by thick ice of ages
Fierce, indocile, yet beautiful
Forest's Gloom collided together
Satiated with blood the Earth

And Wind's roar with suffering
At sunset battle's hammer subsided
It was dark and peace in universe
All were dead and unstable swamps
Grew their grave forever

As I mentioned earlier, I have grown up in terms of my writing abilities... I think I am very selfish when it comes to writing stuff... I cannot be as heartfelt as some people... I am sometimes very blunt and unorthodox.. Hope you like these few pieces.. They are, after all, pieces of me...

Stand Strong Alone (2005)

Confrontation can break you down to your very last compound.
Beat you down, drag you around to break you
Refuse to bend, never ever let it take you
Over the edge where you can never break through.

Overcome, set back, stand strong alone
The good, the bad, the truth, the unknown
Locked up at war with the demons within
I fight to live, I live to win.

The harder that I battle with life's deceit,
The stronger I stand on my own two feet.
If I allow the world to assimilate my mind,
Will my freedom be forever denied?

________________________________________________________

Colors (2005)

Over seeing, over analyzing
separates my body from the mind.
Withering my infatuation,
missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment
drawing outside the lines.

Black then grey are all i see in my infancy.
Blue and red then came to be, reaching out to me.
Lets me see there is so much more and
Smiles at me to look through to these possibilities.
As down, so above and beyond, I think
Drawn beyond the lines of thought.
Push the will. Watch it bend.

_______________________________________________

I have always maintained that music is something that has helped me conquer difficulties in life. When confronted with a problem, there is just one recourse for me...

One such song that I have been listening to a lot these days is Sevendust's "Xmas Day".The atmosphere is dependably dark and gothic - to match the leeches and forked tongue depicted within the CD booklet - and this ominous near-ballad finds some real weight within waves of desperation.

You can listen to a sample from this song by visiting http://www.last.fm/music/Sevendust/_/Xmas+Day

Of course, if you need the entire song, email me!

XMAS DAY - Sevendust

One step in the dark
Touch her hand just to see
If she's all alone again
Still she hasn't seen sun
But I promise you now when she wakes
There will be none
Don't know how she gets by
Sleeps with a phone on her chest
And a bottle that's totally dry
Forgets the day I was born
But if she saw me right now
She would hold me until we both die

I could be the one who would die to
feel you breathe

I could break into a million pieces
So just run as fast as you can for me
You mean everything

I can't deny her. I'll do whatever
To stop all the bleeding that makes
her world so red
Such a delicate one
She screams so loud that I run to
hide from the sound
And I could be the one who would die
to feel you breathe
But it's too far-gone
And this love cant die


Until the next time... Cheers!!!