Anime Review: Monster Girl Doctor (Revised)

Happy 1st of October fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The month of tricks & treats is finally upon us. The leaves are a little crunchier, the air is a little cooler, and you can’t go into any supermarket without seeing at least half an isle stocked with candy. This year though.....is a little scarier than most. I don’t think I need to repeat what’s been going on in the United States since the beginning of this year, not to mention how seemingly so many other places in world in 2025 are just going to hell in a handbasket. None the less, I hope to leave you all this month with some nice treats, and to start things off is a revised review of an anime I covered just about 5 years ago. A series that’s it’s own thing, yet was inspired by a monstrous juggernaut that still has a foothold in the otaku/weeb mindset. So, I won’t waste anymore time, so here’s my revised review of Monster Girl Doctor. Let’s begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from Crunchyroll:

“Welcome to the town of Lindworm, where humans and monsters coexist and rookie doctor Glenn carries out some…risqué medical examinations! Whether probing deep into the gills of a mermaid, suturing the thigh of a flesh golem, helping a harpy lay an egg, or palpating each and every scale of a dragon… No matter how different their looks, bodies, and properties, Glenn devotes his all to saving them—and, in the process, winds up in some pretty dangerous liaisons…? But don’t worry—it’s all just a part of his medical exams!”

For anyone that wasn’t in the know, Monster Girl Doctor was based off of a manga, which in turn was based off of a novel series. Only a chunk of the manga was ever fan translated, but that was never finished, and it was never published. Meanwhile, the novel series was fully translated, and it did get fully released in the states. I’ve read the chunk of the fan-translated manga, but I’ve never read the novel series, yet I know that the anime doesn’t delve deep into the novel & manga series’s story. It’s not dumbed down or watered down by any means, but it is simplified. If you were a fan of both the manga & novels, then this might be a turn off. But for people like me that haven’t had that much exposure to either, then it’s not an issue.

Animation
The animation for Monster Girl Doctor still looks lovely in the almost 5 years I last reviewed this. Outside of an odd hiccup in the 1st episode, everything looks great. Background, characters, character movement, colors, and shading all make this series look & feel believable. Even stuff that happens in the background of a scene was animated nicely, but that isn’t the focus sometimes in certain moments.

Voice Acting
When I originally reviewed this back in 2020, there was only the original Japanese dub, with only a scant trace of the dub on Youtube (I could be wrong about that). When I found out that Sentai Filmworks was going to release it, I was skeptical at first, since many of their dubs are mediocre at best. Color me surprise when I got a hold of dub a few short years later, and found out that it’s pretty damn good! There are some voices that don’t have quite as much steam as a few others, but the overall English dub really surprised me with how wonderful it is. Again, some voices aren’t as strong as others, but I was never irritated by it at all.

Characters
Monster Girl Doctor has to have one of the most charming cast of characters ever in a harem series. Unlike some series where some of the girls (Or guys if it’s a reverse-harem) aren’t in the spotlight as much as others, virtually everyone in the main cast all have equal time. There are certainly a host of side characters as well, and many of them do fade into the background, but even plenty of them have some time to shine. Perhaps what is most surprising about this anime is that, outside of Nurse Sapphe (The Lamia girl, who is best btw), nobody really wants to have sex with the MC. Again, outside of Sapphe (And maybe 2 other Centaur retainers of the main horse princess), nobody is trying to jump on Doctor Glenn’s family jewels. The whole vibe of him & the others is more like a group of friends than a harem: sure, there’s a few harem moments, but everybody feels more like friends than anything else. The interact with each other differently than they would if they were a harem, and bond more different than they would if they were a harem as well. Again, I love Monster Musume & all of his cheesy harem tropes, but every once in a while I love the other side of the coin, and Monster Girl Doctor is most definitely the other side in this regard.

Availability & Pricing
I bought my copy at a convention about 2 or 3 years ago, and I believe it was 30 to 60-something dollars at the time. To play, the series only came out on Blu-Ray, which definitely made it more expensive. As I’m typing this, there are still plenty of copies over on Amazon with a 53% off sale. By the time I post this I’m not sure if the sale is still going, but if it is I suggest you get it!  

Overall Impression & Rating
Monster Girl Doctor is a nice contrast to the colossus that is Monster Musume. I love that series, and by extension the franchise as a whole to death, but it’s nice to know that there’s a show that’s on the other side of the spectrum. A show that still has all of the monster girl & harem tropes, but reigns them in for more of a grounded experience. Sure, the story isn’t as deep as the source material, and there’s a small animation flub, and maybe some of the voicework lacks just a little bit, yet this show is such a charmfest that they don’t really drag it down. If you are or were a fan of MM, but want something that’s not as over-the-top, then give Monster Girl Doctor a try. 

Monster Girl Doctor gets an 8 out of 10.

And that was my revised review for Monster Girl Doctor. A fun & oddly fresh take on the monster girl harem troupe, it manages to use familiar aspects in a way that’s somewhat different from the norm. Even if you don’t like monster girls or harems, the story is still fun enough that it’s worth watching at least once. Join me next week, as we see what the Prince Of Darkness was like at the dawn of the new millennium. Until then, take care!




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If you’d like to look at my original review, click on the link below: 

Anime Review: Monster Girl Doctor (Original)

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzmosis

Fellow Otaku & Metalheads.....any of you still listening to Ozzy?

Today’s review is pretty significant in the career of the Blizzard Of Ozz. I’ll be repeating this fact a little later, but on the 23rd of October in the year of our lord 2025, Ozzy’s 2nd release in the 90s turns exactly 3 decades. Ozzmosis is an.....interesting release. Coming out at an interesting time in Ozzy’s career, the album came to a crossroads. The road to the left would have seen him continue down his old-school path, while the road to the right would be more along commercial lines & see him embrace a more mainstream mentality. In the end, Ozzy would somehow pursue both paths at once, and the end result is unique to say the least. So, without further delay, here is my review for 1995's Ozzmosis. Let’s begin.

Background
Taken from part 2 of my Ozzy overview: 

“Ozzmosis. If there was ever an album from the Blizzard of Ozz that certainly divided fans to an extent, it is this one. Released on October the 23rd, 1995, the album came during interesting times. After the release of No More Tears & the subsequent touring, Ozzy had checked into rehab on account of the drugs maybe taking too much of a hold on his life at that point. Coupled with the failed retirement still somewhat fresh in his brain come close to 1995, Osbourne was definitely feeling the strain of his career & life in general. Come 1995 itself, and things began to turn around. For starters, his entire back catalogue was re-released, and once Ozzmosis itself came out, him & the gang would go on what would be dubbed "The Retirement Sucks Tour".

Ozzmosis would go on to achieve a nice amount of commercial success. It would reach number 22 on the UK Albums Chart, five spots lower than No More Tears, and three spots lower than the album that would come after it. It achieved it’s greatest success in the United States, reaching no. 4 on the Billboard 200, which would be Ozzy’s highest charting album at time. Ozzmosis also reached the top ten in Finland and Sweden, top 30 in Germany, New Zealand and Norway, top 40 in Switzerland, and the top 50 in Australia. By the end of 95, the album would be certified Platinum, and Double Platinum by April of 1999. According to Billboard magazine, Ozzmosis sold in excess of 3 million copies in total, and as of the 2010 release of Scream, it’s the latest Ozzy album to be certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.

However, the view of Ozzmosis from the opinion of critics would be more mixed. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic criticized it, with a focus on what he said was it’s lack of evolution from Ozzy’s previous 2 releases. Despite praising guitarist Zakk Wylde, Erlewine condemned the "modern-rock conscious" production style of producer Michael Beinhorn, which he claimed was the cause of Ozzmosis's main problem – that "on the surface, the music is hard and loud, but it actually sounds smooth and processed." Entertainment Weekly critic Chuck Eddy claimed that because of the length of the tracks on the album, it "feels like a parody of the most overinflated opera".”

Basic Description
Ozzy’s Still Not Black Enough. 

While Ozzmosis isn’t as dark & tragic as that record, it is by far in a way Ozzy’s most emotional album at that time. Considering he was trying to retire a few years prior to it’s release, not to mention going through rehab & other things, meant that the Prince Of Darkness poured his heart out once he was out of getting clean. Most of the songs on this release deal with something he was going through or feeling in 1995 & before, and even the ones that don’t still feel emotionally heavy. There are faults to be sure (I’ll definitely be talking about them later), and the reception of this release was mixed among people, it still manages to tug at the heartstrings almost 30 years later since it’s original release (Turns exactly 3 decades old next month on the 23rd).

Best Track
Like I said back in 2022, I Just Want You & My Little Man were the best tracks of the album, and I still stand by that. The former I originally discovered on The Ozzman Cometh compilation long before I listened to it here, and it hits me just as hard way back in 2002 as it does now. On top of that, I said almost 3 years ago, that I think this track was dedicated to Sharon, as Ozzy is pouring his heart out along with the rest of the band, as the instrumentation just affects your mind in a way I can’t completely describe. Meanwhile, the latter track was dedicated to his son Jack, and the best way I can describe it as singing about a dream in a way that only the Prince Of Darkness could. It’s captivating & mesmerizing along it’s entire playtime, with the instrumentation feeling like it was plucked from the dream, and Ozzy’s singing just beyond your range of sight, yet he still feels close to you. It might be a tiny bit hokey with some of the lyrics, but the song on the whole is quite sincere.

I Just Want You

My Little Man

However, I gotta give some honorable mentions to Ozzmosis’s closer, Old L.A. Tonight. A giant nostalgia blast, the song is a soulful, almost blusey like track. There’s wonderful piano playing through the whole tune, and it’s coupled with great guitarwork from Zakk Wylde & basswork from Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler (who came back for this album), and drums from Deen Castronovo. Ozzy’s vocalwork adds to the soulful nature of the song, as it’s equal parts nostalgic for a time that’s been gone for a decade, and pines for I believe his wife (I could be wrong on that). It really tugs at the heartstrings quite a bit, and it’s emotional power definitely earns it’s spot as the final track of this album.

Old L.A. Tonight

Worst Track
There isn’t a bad track on Ozzmosis per se. Fundamentally, the whole album from top to bottom is fantastic, but there are certain aspects that do add a dent or two. Also like I said in October of 2022, the record’s biggest fault was that it was nothing but ballads, and while one or two (maybe 3) is a-okay, to have an entire release nothing but ballads is absurd. Outside of that, there is a song or two where Ozzy’s voice sounds weird, and the instrumentation sounds like it’s just following popular trends at the time in certain tracks as well. 

While this isn’t a problem in my view, I did see some comments somewhere (Might have been on Youtube) saying that Ozzmosis was Grunge-like. At first I thought that was a funny thing to say, but after doing a little research, there actually was some truth to it.  The producer, Michael Beinhorn, was also the producer for Soundgarden & Hole, and thus some of those Grunge vibes leaked over to this album. Again, I don’t see this as a problem since I’m a Grunge fan, but metal elitists back in the day (And some still now sadly) probably had a absolute brain aneurysm over this.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below: 

Ozzmosis (w Bonus Tracks)

Overall Impression & Rating
Ozzmosis was certainly divisive back in 1995, and still has some divisiveness nearly 30 years later. Completely composed of ballads, weird sounding vocals in certain tracks, and trend-following instrumentation certainly pushed some people away, not to mention the Grunge vibes that only metal elitests would have fits over. Yet, for anyone willing to move past those issues, you will find some of the best & most personable music that Ozzy has ever made. Was the album made for everybody? No, but for some Ozzy fans it is the most unique album in his career. I can understand if some pass on this record, but for anyone that does go for it, it is certainly a special experience.

Ozzmosis gets an 8 out of 10.

And that was Ozzmosis. Certainly one of the more mixed albums of Ozzy’s career, but one that still has it’s fans to this very day. Again, with the album turning 30 years old next month, it felt only right to give it is’ due. So, it’s October tomorrow, and as usual it’s time for some spooks & screams to appear here. So, join me on the first, when I’ll take a revised look at a doctor.....and the monsters he helps. See you then!

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard Of Ozz

Fellow Otaku & Metalheads.....we still miss Ozzy.

Almost 2 months later, it’s hard not to still see the Prince Of Darkness in plenty of places. The legacy that he left behind was not just with the rock legends Black Sabbath, but with his own solo career, which lasted for 4-something decades. Even the concert juggernaut that was Ozzfest will be an enduring legacy to Ozzy, as it created so many memories for a lot of people. It still hurts that he’s gone, as it makes the world a lot less metal, and a lot less fun. 

So, to pay tribute to a fallen titan, I’m dedicating the rest of September, and parts of October, to taking a look at some of his releases. Something from the 80s, something from the 90s, something from the 2000s, and something from the start of the 2010s. We start off in Heavy Metal’s early day in the beginning of the 80s, where Mr. Osbourne was beginning to stretch his legs on his own. Little did we all realize at the time, but he would go on to establish a career that was just as good as his time in Black Sabbath, if not better in some places, and it all begins.....with the Blizzard Of Ozz. Let’s see what all the fuss was about!

Background
Taken from part 1 of my Ozzy overview: 

“Upon leaving Black Sabbath on some rather bad terms, Ozzy recalled that "I'd got £96,000 for my share of the name, so I'd just locked myself away and spent three months doing coke and booze. My thinking was, 'This is my last party, because after this I'm going back to Birmingham and the dole".  However, Jet Records owner Don Arden (Who also ironically had Black Sabbath on his payroll) signed Ozzy to a deal to make new solo material, and sent his daughter Sharon to L.A. to attend to his needs (aka “Protecting” his investment). Arden had hoped he’d come back to Sabbath, but that would not happen. Later, he tried to have Ozzy name his solo career “Son Of Sabbath”, but that didn’t happen either. Meanwhile, Sharon tried to convince Ozzy to form a supergroup with guitarist Gary Moore. As Gary recalled:

“When I lived in Los Angeles, G-Force helped him to audition musicians. If drummers were trying out, I played guitar, and if a bassist came along, my drummer would help out. We felt sorry for him, basically. He was always hovering around trying to get me to join, and I wasn't having any of it.”

In late 1979, under Don’s guidance, Ozzy would form the Blizzard Of Ozz. It would feature drummer Lee Kerslake of Uriah Heep, bassist-lyricist Bob Daisley (Rainbow & later Uriah Heep), keyboardist Don Airey (Rainbow & later Deep Purple), and Quiet Riot guitarist & guitar prodigy Randy Rhodes. Then, on the 20th of September 1980, and the 27th of March 1981 in the United States, the group’s first album was released. Also titled Blizzard Of Ozz, Jet Records would credit things simply to Ozzy, which in turned launched his solo career. Co-written with Daisley and Rhoads, it gave Ozzy considerable success, and while it accepted that Osbourne and Rhoads started the band, Daislet would later claim that him and Osbourne formed the band in England before Rhoads officially joined.

Blizzard Of Ozz would go on to chart high upon it’s release. It would make it to number 21 on the Billboard 200, number 8 on Canada’s top albums/cd list, and number 7 in Ozzy’s home country of England. It would eventually sell well also: in Australia it would be certified Gold at 35,000 sales, 60,000 in Britain on both the original & 2011 re-release (Silver), Platinum at 100,000 sales in Canada, and a whopping 5 times Platinum here in the United States, with sales equaling 5,000,000 copies. Pretty impressive if you ask me!”

Basic Description
Metal Legend.

To say that Blizzard Of Ozz is an essential album within the genre is an understatement. As phenomenal as Ozzy was within Black Sabbath, he proved that he was just as incredible when he was outside of that group. Sure, he managed to assemble a team of incredibly talented & like-minded musicians that carry their weight in more ways than one, but Ozzy himself seems liberated somehow. Like he can stretch out his voice in more ways than one, and nobody was going to stop him. That drive is what pushed him to go out on his own, surrounded by equally talented people, and the rest.....is history.

Best Track
I said this close to 3 years ago now, but you could throw a dart at this record, and it would hit a great song. From the infamous Suicide Solution, to the ode for one of the most infamous warlocks that is Mr. Crowley, you genuinely can’t screw up at all! However, to say that Crazy Train shouldn’t take the crown of best track of Blizzard Of Ozz is pure lunacy! Right from the very first second, you’re treated to a high-octane tune, with fast & powerful instrumentation, and singing from Ozzy that cemented his legacy in the 1980s & beyond as one of Heavy Metal’s true titans. If there’s anything even remotely bad about the track, it would be that it doesn’t open the album! In fact, it’s actually the second track, behind the lovely I Don’t Know. Regardless, Crazy Train is a classic, and is a song that should never be skipped.

Crazy Train

Worst Track
I stated it back in October of 2022, but I stand by when I said that there’s not a bad song on Blizzard Of Ozz. From top to bottom, everybody in the band were great in their role, with Randy Rhodes cementing his legacy as a guitar god. Even the recording & production behind the album was fantastic, as even modern re-releases still sound great. It’s only real weakness would be it’s age. Back when I looked at this record, it was just over 40 years old. In 2025, it turns 45 years old over in the UK, and 45 years old next year in the United States. It genuinely shows it’s age quite a bit now, as being 5-years short of half a century in age is pretty striking at this point. As important of a building block Blizzard Of Ozz was to Heavy Metal’s budding years, it’s also obvious as to how old it is.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below: 

Blizzard Of Ozz (Expanded Edition)

Overall Impression & Rating
Blizzard Of Ozz is a metallic classic! Sure, it’s exceptionally old in 2025, but the endurance of it’s legacy keeps it fresh in listener’s minds. Older fans look back at it fondly as the start of an amazing solo career, and newer age fans find it to be Heavy Metal of the nostalgia variety. Again, it’s most certainly dated, but it still sounds so good, whether it’s the vocal work from Ozzy or the instrumentation from the rest of the band. With his death still pretty fresh in our memory, fans have been looking back at his career from beginning to end, and we all agree.....that Blizzard Of Ozz is one of his best. 

Blizzard Of Ozz gets a out of 10.

And that was my look at Blizzard Of Ozz. Ozzy’s first album on his own, it showed that he was great on his own, as was just as metallically strong as the band that gave birth to his career. With his passing not too long ago, it’s perhaps more important than ever to take a look at the legacy he left behind. Now, we set our sights on the 1990s, so join me at the end of the month for a look at one of Ozzy’s most infamous records.....and it just so happened to turn 30 years old here in 2025. See you then!

Food For Thought/Though For Food No. 38: Charlie Kirk Shot (And Killed)

So.....it’s been a bit since I did a political version of one of these.

As of earlier today, Turning Point USA founder & Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck at the University Of Utah outside during a presentation of his. Information about the shooter is sparse, but what is known is that Kirk was shot right in the neck as he was speaking (Apparently, he lost quite a bit of blood), and the crowd immediately began running out of the place in case they were shot as well. A few hours after the shooting, he was pronounced dead at 31 years of age.

I feel.....conflicted about this. On the one hand, it’s tragic that this took place on an active campus. A lot of people were there, and it could have been worse. On top of that, I can’t even begin to imagine what Kirk’s wife & children are feeling at this moment in time. I don’t take pleasure in the fact that he died, nor do I take pleasure in how his family are feeling. I can’t even begin to fathom what they’re going through.

On the other hand, this happened because of the environment that’s been established now. This happened because the Right established an atmosphere of Might Makes Right, Guns Over Progress (I like firearms, btw), and Fear. It is because of the Right that we have shootings like this all over this country, in so many shapes, sizes, and body counts. We have an environment that practically enables these kinds of horrible actions, it’s getting worse & worse, and nobody is doing anything to stop it. Democrats aren’t doing anything to stop it, Republicans sure as hell aren’t doing anything to stop it, and Centrists are just sitting around with their thumbs up their ass.

My final words are as such: political violence is absolutely horrible regardless of who is targeted, but do not be surprised when it happens because of the environment that’s being made for it. I’ll be back in a few days. See you on the 15th.



***
A link for what’s going on regarding this situation at NBC. It’s updating whenever it can.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-shooting-charlie-kirk-event-utah-rcna230437?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

MTG Set Review: Zendikar Rising

September is here fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We’re here. Somehow, we’re all still here in the United States. I don’t know how we’re still here, but here we are. Each passing day, more & more of what made this nation so remarkable crumbles to dust, yet somehow we all wake up in the morning without fall. It makes what we experienced in 2020 look somewhat tame in hindsight, but I digress. Even though I’m done looking at my top 5 albums of 2020 as of last month, there’s still a chunk of time left in 2025 to look at a few pieces of media from the beginning of this decade, and to start off we have one of, if not my absolute, favorite sets from 2020. It marked the 3rd time we traveled to an iconic plane that went through quite the apocalypse during the middle of last decade. Thankfully, the good guys won in the end, and a few years later we see how time moved on for the better. So, grab your adventuring gear that you have stashed in the closet, find the right party of adventurers that’ll help you during your exploration, and take a look at my review for Zendikar Rising. Let’s begin!

Story & Setting
Taken from the MTG Fandom wiki: 

“Zendikar is a dangerous world of lethal risks where brave adventurers delve into ancient ruins in search of priceless rewards. The storyline features no Eldrazi but we see the ruin they have caused. From the perspective of its inhabitants, it is a hostile place that seems to be actively trying to kill the creatures that have the audacity to live there. The danger is unrelenting: precarious terrain, cunning predators, natural disasters on a massive scale, and the still continuing Roil — the unpredictable ripples of change that wash through the land — all present a constant challenge to survival. Nahiri has returned to Zendikar, and is willing to do anything to get rid of the Roil. Nissa has also returned home, but for reasons of her own.”

Out of all the sets that came out back in 2020, Zendikar Rising was the one that had the most optimistic story. Sure, you had upbeat elements within our 2nd trip to Theros, or the first time we went to Ikoria, but it’s our 2nd return to the plane of exploration & adventure that for the most part isn’t soul-crushing. If anything, seeing Zendikar as it was prior to the awakening of the Eldrazi was refreshing in 2020. Without a big giant evil threatening the world, the denizens could go back to going through ruins for loot without the fear of some big eldritch-like behemoth coming down on them. You also have others who are readjusting to life without constant conflict, and some who are pursing goals that they weren’t able to do while the biggest threat to the plane were around. Given what life was like at the beginning of this decade, it made for a very warm welcome.

Art
Zendikar Rising’s artwork is just fantastic. Taking a page from the original Zendikar, the various vistas are striking, the numerous denizens all look distinct & familiar (Especially if you played the prior 2 visits to the plane), and all of the plentiful creatures, spells, and other elements of the setting are given a lot of detail. The Eldrazi, along with the damage they’ve done, are nowhere to be seen (Save for one example), which makes sense considering what happened to them during the Battle For Zendikar storyline. The numerous variants are pretty nice as well, showing off some of the creatures & the planeswalker in a different light. Right below is a tiny sample of the artwork you can see in this set. Enjoy!

Mechanics
For the most part, Zendikar Rising doesn’t massively differentiate itself from the original Zendikar, and Battle For Zendikar/Oath Of The Gatewatch to a lesser extent. The usage of lands & the theme of lands is still very much apparent, as is the return of Kicker. As for taking something away, the removal of the Eldrazi again make sense, as they were defeated during the previously mentioned story arc. There’s only one big rule addition that was added, and that was the Party mechanic. Essentialy, it was all based around the idea about having a full party. 1 Wizard, 1 Rogue, 1 Cleric, and 1 Warrior. Given that teams were still exploring the ruins of Zendikar even after the war with the Eldrazi, it made a lot of sense from a flavor perspective. Mechanically.....well, I’ll get to that in a moment.

 

Negative Aspects
Zendikar Rising really doesn’t have any faults to it’s name. You can make the argument that getting a full party together does take some work & isn’t always effective, which is true depending on how your deck is constructed. There is also the matter of the precon decks: while certainly not awful by any means, they didn’t have as much of a “Wow” factor when compared to prior pre-build decks (Especially when compared to Ikoria from earlier in 2020). This would be a problem for the Commander Legends & Kaldheim decks as well, but would ultimately stop by the time Strixhaven came out.

Side note about the Party mechanic: is it just me, or does it feel like it was meant for Adventures In The Forgotten Realms, and they held it back?

Overall Impression & Rating
Zendikar Rising was so much fun back in 2020. Though practically every MTG fan back then were holed up in their homes, going back to Zendikar for a 3rd time gave us a feeling of adventure that was a relief to all of the isolation we were experiencing. We may not have been able to travel, but we were able to explore a realm of ruins. It may have been a little odd to not see the Eldrazi for a tiny few players, but the more fun nature of exploring the plane without a massive threat made the set a warm & fuzzy one. Definitely a great set for many, and my number one set of 2020.

Zendikar Rising gets a 9.5 out of 10. 

And that was my review of Zendikar Rising. A bright spot towards the end of 2020, it still continues to be a fun set that provides a lot of entertainment. If your hobby store still has a few boosters lying around, then grab them before they’re gone. So with that said, now begins the more sad task for the rest of this month & next month, as on the 15th I begin my look at the Blizzard Of Ozz. See you then.

Album Review (Obscurus Metalus): Lord Vigo's Danse De Noir

So here’s a bit of a 2020 musical bonus fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

This one’s a bit interesting. I was aware of this record for quite some time that year, and listened to it on & off quite a bit back then, but for whatever reason it didn’t quite grab me as hard as all of the albums I’ve looked at throughout a good chunk of this year. It wasn’t bad by any means, and it was most certainly enjoyable, but it didn’t click more with me until a few years down the road. Now, over 5 years later, I’ve come to regret not putting this release on my top 5 list back then. Still, it seemed right to truly close out my retrospective on 2020's music with this one. So, sit back, jack into the web, and enjoy my review for Lord Vigo’s 4th album, Danse De Noir. Let’s begin!

Background
It’s a bit difficult to find information on these guys, as they’re a foreign band (Germany). A trio of a band, there’s Vinz Clortho on drums & vocals, and both Tony Scoleri & Volguus Zildrohar on guitar and drums, and as it’s described on their bandcamp:

“Evil, loud and paranormal, LORD VIGO is one of the best and most productive Epic Metal bands of our times. Hailing from Germany, they already have released three studio albums
and they descend the army of angry spirits upon the Earth to deliver Epic Doom Metal with NWoBHM-guitar harmonies and scatterbrained organs. A ghostly vague chimera of sound destined to haunt you.”

The funny thing is, I had never heard of this band until early 2020 if you can believe it. I just randomly watched a music video for one of the songs off this album, and something about it got a hook in me. Maybe not strongly, but it did. Then, on the 10th of April in that year, Danse De Noir was released. Their prior 3 records were all inspired by different things within pop culture, and their 4th one is no different. Being massively inspired by Cyberpunk and classics within the genre like Blade Runner, and I believe this release was the first time that keyboards & sound effects were used (Haven’t listened to anything before). 

Basic Description
Cyberdoom.

A bit of a strange way to describe things, but hear me out. In one corner, you’ve got Doom Metal. It’s slow, atmospheric, grim, and has a nice pace. In the other corner, you’ve got Cyberpunk in both music and mood. It’s also slow (Though sometimes it can pickup a little speed), atmospheric, grim, and has a nice pace as well. Despite coming from 2 different worlds instrumentally, vibe wise there’s actually a lot in common with these two, and thus the mix works surprisingly well with one another. Neither aspect of Danse De Noir ever overpowers the other, and what you get is music that you could put into any Cyberpunk Game and/or Movie, as well as a soundtrack to a great Cyberpunk novel. Pretty versatile in my opinion!

Best Track
Danse De Noir on principle alone is the best track of the album, and considering that from top to bottom the album is filled with nothing but great songs, that’s saying something. It’s a slow & brooding number, with a pace that just creeps along as it plays out. The instrumentation is powerful and emotional, & Vinz Clortho’s vocals really pulls on your emotions rather strongly. The Cyberpunk aspect comes in pretty strongly also, but never overwhelmingly so, as there’s sound bites from Blade Runner, and other little effects that make the track come across as more futuristic. Certainly very tasty!

Danse De Noir

However, Between Despair and Ecstasy kinda comes out of nowhere towards the end. The only track that’s faster than anything else on the album, it’s got a bit of a Thrash Metal vibe to it because of the faster speed, as well as it’s attitude. It really surprised me when I first heard it, simply due to the fact that I didn’t expect it! Even with the faster speed, the Doom Metal/Cyberpunk atmosphere is never lost at all, as the instrumentation isn’t played too fast, and helps hold up the rest of the music well. 

Between Despair and Ecstasy 

Worst Track
Danse De Noir really doesn’t have any faults to it’s name. It’s a great record from top to bottom, with nothing in the way of a bad track by any means. IF you want to be at least a little picky, there are 3 soundscape tracks (The Voight Kampff Situation, Are You Human?, Fiery the Angels Fell) that feel like they take up space, but to play devil’s advocate they also provide quite a bit of atmosphere to the record. Also, if you’re not a fan of Doom Metal pacing, then you might not like this release as a whole.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Danse De Noir

Overall Impression & Rating
Danse De Noir is the sleeper hit record for me from 2020. While I definitely liked it back then, nowadays I think it’s a masterpiece of the 2020's that deserves to be standing right next to many of my number one albums I’ve talked about these past few years. The mix of genres creates an experience that’s really unique, and entertaining as well. The truly picky might criticize a track or two as well as the pacing, but those people are few and far between. 

Danse De Noir gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was my review for Danse De Noir. An album from the most diseased year of this decade that came out of nowhere, the mix of styles creates a unique experience that anybody who’s curious at the very least. Whether you like Doom Metal or Cyberpunk, Danse De Noir is for you. So, tomorrow is the first of September, and I’ve got some special, & after that my look at the Blizzard Of Ozz begins. See you tomorrow!



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If you’d like to support these guys, then click on the link below: 

Lord Vigo (Bandcamp)

Album Review: Majestica's A Christmas Carol

Here it is everybody! My final review on my final no. 1 album from 2020!

This was a hell of a journey throughout 2025. Looking back at all of the music I listened to from then was pretty nostalgic, and thankfully was disease-free! With today’s subject, it’s got a lot of the trappings of Skycrest from the end of last month: it’s upbeat, warm & fuzzy, and full of all sorts of positives vibes.....but it’s different somehow. Yeah it’s upbeat, but there’s twinkling lights everywhere. Yeah it’s warm & fuzzy, but you’re given a wooly sweater and some cocoa (With the little marshmallows of course). Even the positive vibes are different, as snow comes gently down from the sky, and you swear you’re hearing jingle bells in the distance. On top of that, but this album is the second reason why my top 5 list from 2020 was delayed until near the very end. So, put on some nice clothes, get into the seasonal mood (Despite it being the middle of August), and enjoy my review of Majestica’s second outing, A Christmas Carol. Let’s begin!

Background
With his old band resurrected in 2019 with their first album Above The Sky, Tommy & the rest of Majestica set off on tours & appearances all over Europe, and then 2020 came along. Derailing effectively any plans, it didn’t stop the band from producing music. By the October of that year, the band announced their second album, A Christmas Carol. As said in the band’s announcement of it: 

“It's pure symphonic power metal in the true Majestica spirit along with elements inspired by the likes of Twilight Force, Rhapsody, Alan Silvestri, Danny Elfman and John Williams.”

In regards to the musical direction for the record, Tommy said: 

“Once again people can expect real power metal, but this time it's a bit more symphonic and epic compared to our previous album Above the Sky. When it comes to the symphonic parts we've taken it a bit further and included a lot more orchestral instruments, including tubular bells, glockenspiel and sleigh bells to really get that Christmas sound to it.”

A Christmas Carol would be released on the 4th of December in 2020. The same day when Skycrest from Iron Savior came out if you can believe it, and was the 2nd reason why I delayed my top 5 album list that year. 

Basic Description
Ho-Ho-HOLY SHIT! ***

As good as Majestica’s first outing was with Above The Sky, there was that ever so slight off quality with the audio, and the whole thing comes across as random tracks put together (Even if it’s all tons of fun). A Christmas Carol, on the other hand, is perhaps the band’s most focused record to date. Gone is the patchwork nature of their previous release, and instead is one solid story from beginning to end. Sure, the tale of Scrooge and his redemption on Christmas Eve & Day is known by practically everybody that celebrates the season, but it’s the little things that make it different. Retelling the story through Power Metal makes it much more grand & epic, and the usage of so many Christmas instruments turns the seasonal knob to 11. Even during the more emotional parts, there’s this feeling of awesomeness that you can’t quite describe. On top of that, A Christmas Carol is one of the few pieces of seasonal media you can experience outside of December, and it’s not.....too weird.

Best Track
Like I said in my overview from a few years ago, The Joy Of Christmas just hits me so hard. A moment in the story that’s told from Bob Cratchet’s perspective, it’s also the least metallic song on the album. Most of the instrumentation is beautiful piano work, some orchestral-like playing, and some Christmas sound effects. Tommy’s singing is pretty soft throughout the whole thing (Even though it’s fantastic), and it’s not until towards the end where we get some intensity from the guitars & drums. Yet, it’s that softness with a hint of hardness that makes it work so well: Bob Cratchet’s side of things should be warm and fuzzy.....even when you’re raising the horns. 

The Joy Of Christmas

Worst Track
Also like I said in my overview from a few years ago, A Majestic Christmas Theme just feels like a waste of time. Make not mistake: it’s not bad when it comes to the instrumentation, which is fantastic. Nor is the recording & production bad, and I don’t hear even the smallest of audio errors. What makes it the worst is that it feels like it was put in just to be some padding, and just stretches the story for a few extra minutes. The instrumental at the beginning of the album makes much more sense, as it sets up the story to come, but the second one is just a recap of the entire tale we just heard. Again, quality wise it’s lovely, but isn’t worth much else.

A Majestic Christmas Theme

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below: 

A Christmas Carol

Overall Impression & Rating
A Christmas Carol absolutely deserved all the praise it got when it first release, and still continues to do some to this day by fans. It was a perfect example of a band-aid that heals not only the body, but the mind as well. It took something classic, turned it into something new yet familiar, and slathered so much yuletide warm & fuzzy all over it to make it feel like it’s Christmas all year round. Even if the final track feels like it’s just stretching things out, the overall experience is truly perfect. I guarantee that yule love it!

A Christmas Carol gets a 10 out of 10.

And that was my review of Majestica’s second record, A Christmas Carol. Full of seasonal magic, it definitely needed to be on my list in 2020. Never be afraid to listen to this in December, or even after.  And with that everyone, my look at my top 5 albums of 2020 is done! However, despite all of my albums from that year being covered, I still have one last release from then to take a look at.....and it’s one that I should have talked about back then & payed attention to. See you all at the end of the month!



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The description came from this: 

https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Majestica/A_Christmas_Carol/891183/Larry6990/330688

Also, I know about the extended edition. It contains two extra tracks that do flesh out the story a little more, but I own the original version only.