Anime Review: Tokyo Godfathers

Merry Christmahanakwanzaa fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

With my top 5 lists out of the way, it’s time to get into the meat of this month. Though I no longer have any of the Love Hina OVAs to review, since there were only 3 ever made. That doesn’t mean I want to stop reviewing anime during this month! To change things up, there will always be one Christmas/Holiday anime review for December! Picking a title out for this was a little tricky, but I wanted to go in a bizarre direction, and check out an OVA by a man who sadly left the world & his oddity behind. It’s ironic that I say that, as this is his least bizarre film ever. With that out of the way, bundle up in your warmest clothes, ponder a mystery or two, and check out my review for Tokyo Godfathers. Let’s begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from the back of the DVD case:

“In modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people's lives are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. As the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seemingly unrelated events and people force them to confront their own haunted pasts, as they learn to face their future, together.”

On the surface, Tokyo Godfathers appears to have a stereotypical story. 3 strangers with ruined pasts come together, there’s a problem that needs solving, and in the process of solving this problem, they find themselves & get redeemed. In a way that’s what the story is, but that would actually be doing the movie a big disservice: Satoshi Kon explored the concept of coincidence throughout the entirety, and how we’re all connected. Sometimes it’s through very obvious ways, but other times it’s through more subtle ways we’re connected. We’re all drawn to one another as time rolls on, and regardless of whether or not the encounters we come across were good, we still stay bound to one another (Regardless of communication). 

Animation
Satoshi Kon was a man who knew how to create some of the most vivid, imaginative, and visual striking movies & shows in the realm of anime, and Tokyo Godfathers is no exception. Ironically, there’s no weird imagery in this movie. No over the top bizarre reality, nothing to screw with your head, etc. Everything is considerably more grounded in reality, and the color palet is more realistic also. This also adds to how grounded the movie is, and shows how versatile Kon is as a director.

Voice Acting
Tokyo Godfathers marks a first here on this blog, for it’s the first anime I’ve reviewed here that doesn’t have any dubbing involved. This presents something of a situation when watching: on one hand it preserves the authenticity & cultural aspects of the movie. There are some situations where a dub really can’t capture what the original voicework does, and even if it gets things right, there’s bound to be at least a screwup or two. On the other hand, for people with brain issues like myself, it’s annoying to try & read while there’s images moving across the screen. To give the movie credit, things don’t move by too quickly, so you do have some time to read the subtitles. Still, a dub would have been great, even if it does ruin a little bit of the flavor.

Characters
This is kind of a strange movie when it comes to it’s characters, but not necessarily in a bad way. There are hordes of minor characters all over the place. From the Yakuza gangsters, to the convenience store clerk, and even the police, everybody is interconnected in some way. Not only that, but they all add something to the story. However, it’s our three main characters that get the most time in the spotlight....along with one surprise.

First up is first off is the middle-aged alcoholic of the gang, Gin. It’s obvious that he’s a bitter man, but at the same time still has a caring side to him. He’s saving money her earns to pay off a big debt (Won’t spoil why), has something of a fatherly streak (Won’t spoil also), and can be outright pessimistic. Over the course of the movie, we see the negatives of his personality & character slowly peel off overtime, and we see just how kind he actually can be. He’s still pretty gruff, but it’s more towards people he knows & cares for.

Next up is my personal favorite of the trio, the former drag queen & trans woman Hana. I love the crap out of this beautiful person: they’re sassy, they know their place in the world, and having a really fun personality. Not only that, but Hana has a very motherly attitude once the baby comes into her life. Hana is often the one to hold her & take care of her, which in turn kind of spread to everybody else in the trio. At times Hana can be a little bit obnoxious, but more often than not it shows off how humorous & loving this drag queen is.

Finally, there’s the youngest of the group, the runaway & dependent Miyuki. Miyuki is a......acquired taste. At the start of the movie, she a brat, constantly acting out, and you kind of want to smack her. However, as the film plays on, she kind of softens up on her attitude. She’s still a snot, but Miyuki’s a snot in ways that are.....appropriate? It’s kind of hard to say, but by the end, you might just like her.

Now, we come to the surprise character, and that the Latino woman Miyuki meets near the halfway point of the movie. Upon getting kidnapped from a Yakuza wedding by a maid (Who turns out to be a Latino man in disguise, and is married to the woman), she’s taken to an apartment where this woman resides. Even without subtitles (The only time there isn’t any), you can understand what she’s talking about, and the two develop something of an odd friendship. Miyuki even opens up a little more about why she’s with the homeless, and it’s heartwarming in a way.

Availability & Pricing
Tokyo Godfathers is readily available over on Amazon. Despite having been out since 2003/2004, it’s had a re-release or two over the years. Depending on which new copy from which version you’re purchasing it from, it ranges from just barely under 10 dollars, to nearly 20 dollars for the most recent release. Used copes across each version are a little different, with prices that range from just under 7 dollars, to almost the same price as a new copy of the 2018 release. Definitely plenty of options to go around!

Overall Impression & Rating
Tokyo Godfathers is just a wonderful film. Equal parts funny, serious, and sad, it just goes to show how talented Satoshi Kon was as a storyteller. While it might only be subtitled, it still manages to convey it’s story to individuals like me with ease. If you’re looking to add some anime magic to your holidays this year or in years to come, this movie can easily fit the bill!

Tokyo Godfathers gets a 9 out of 10.

And that’s that for 2018 everybody. Certainly a more chaotic year when compared to 2017, and I’m sorry that I took so long to get this review out, so here’s hoping to a better future in 2019. See all of you next year, and have a great holiday in the meantime!

Album Review: Twisted Sister's A Twisted Christmas

Happy Holidays fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

You might recall last year my end of 2017 post, wherein I reviewed the iconic John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together (Click here if you didn’t read it). That album was a lot of fun to look at, so I thought it would be fun to look at another Christmas/Holiday classic. Given how wild, chaotic, and bizarre 2018 was, something peaceful wasn’t on the chopping block. Instead, it seemed appropriate to go for something weirder & out there. Maybe, something a little twisted?

That’s right everybody, it’s time for my first look at Hair Metal legends Twisted Sister! Despite having a short career, they were none the less beloved by a surprising amount of people. Even into the 2010, fans were still chanting their name, raising the horns, and having a good time at their shows. Fronted by an equally iconic singer, they carved their own niche into Heavy Metal’s history, and they’ve stayed there ever since. Today’s review covers perhaps their most twisted record ever. It’s so twisted, it brings a smile to my face, and gets me into the holiday spirit. So slip into some comfortable slippers, grab a big glass of eggnog with a nice dash of nutmeg, and take a look at my review for A Twisted Christmas. This season’s gonna get nice & twisted!!!!

Background
Out of all the albums I’ve covered on this blog, never has the history of an album been so odd as A Twisted Christmas. According to Dee Snider himself from their Christmas show in Vegas, 4 years prior they had begun a reunion tour due to renewed interest in the band. After a show, Dee went up to the founder of the band (J.J. French), and suggested to him about doing a Christmas record in addition to the one coming in 2004. He liked the idea, and on October the 17th, 2006, A Twisted Christmas was released to the public.

As for their Twisted Christmas Live show in Vegas, Dee goes on to say that the idea came from him & his family went to Radio City Music Hall for their holiday extravaganza. They watched the whole show, and Dee turns to his kids and asks “Watcha think of that?”. His oldest child turned to him and very bluntly says “Father (A joke from Dee), that show made me hate Christmas”. From there, the rest was history.

Basic Description
A one trick pony.....but a good one trick pony!

I’ll eventually talk about that description in the “Worst Track” section of the review, but for now let’s talk about the good stuff. Their first offering of the 2000s, while flawed, showed that Twisted Sister could still hang. With A Twisted Christmas, we actually got the best selling album of the band’s career since the 80s. This record is full of that classic drive, passion, and punch that these Hair Metal icons are known for, but dipped in a vat of Christmasey colors & delights. They actually have a surprisingly high amount of respect for the classics they cover (Ironic if you watched their show from Vegas), and it’s great to see them harness the power of other classic metal tracks (Including their own) to add something more. It’s surprising at first, but by the end you’ll get why this is one of Twisted Sister’s best!

Best Track
Oh Come All Ye Faithful was the first thing I ever found from this record, and virtually every track on here is fantastic, it’s the song that’s stayed with me the most. Calling upon their iconic song We’re Not Gonna Take It, they take that tune’s vibe & mentality and apply it to one of the most holiest songs of the season. It’s weird at just how well both sides work together

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Worst Track
Again, this album’s only fault is that it’s really only good to listen to in December. Unless you’re a die hard Twisted Sister fan and you’re listening to all of their releases in one day, there’s no real reason to listen to A Twisted Christmas early. In many ways this make the album kind of an anomaly when you compare it to everything else in the band’s discography: you can listen to all of the albums before this one any time & any where. With this one? It’s really only good during the holidays.

Other
If you’re curious about this album, click on the link below.

A Twisted Christmas

Overall Impression & Rating
A Twisted Christmas is right up there in my list of Christmas/Holiday albums. While it might be narrow in scope when compared to everything else they’ve produced, at the same time it was crafted so well by everybody in the band, it’s hard not to get charmed by it. So, whether you’re watching their live show from Vegas or you’re listening to the CD itself, this is a great & twisted alternative to the more traditional selection of tunes for this time of year.

A Twisted Christmas gets an 8 out of 10.

So that was a look at A Twisted Christmas. An unusual album for this time of year, but given who created the record, it’s not exactly a surprise. See you all in a few days for the final post of 2018, when I’ll examine a proper Christmas amine classic. Take care!



***
This originally wasn’t what I was going to post today. Having time to watch the movie was been strangely difficult, while this review I managed to get done early. By this Friday, I swear I’ll get the last review out!

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 10: Blizzard's Not Dead......But It's Dying

Hey everyone. I'll be resuming my holiday posts next week, as I'm finishing up watching one of the subjects in question as we speak. In the meantime........lets talk about Blizzard.

Let's rewind the clock back to 1996: it was a hard year for 9 year old me. I had just moved to a brand new town, and a few weeks after that, I had lost my Grandmother on my Dad's side. It was tough on me, and on my Dad, who loved his Mom very much. Anyways, fast forward to late 1996, and a little game called Diablo appears in the gaming world, and my tiny self was blown away. I had played games like Wolfenstein 3d & Doom a few years before, but this was one of the games that left an indelible impression on me from the 90s. Right at the dawn of the new millennium, the sci-fi warfare of Starcraft was the next game I encounter. The first few years of the 2000s gave me access to both Diablo 2 and Warcraft 3. World of Warcraft came, but I ignored that game like the plague (Apart from early 2016, when I played the free version). Then 2007, things changed.

In that year, Blizzard & Activision entered a deal where they would become a new entity, Activision Blizzard. At first it seemed alright: Diablo 3 & Starcraft 2 showed a lot of promise. However, cracks seemed to start immediately. Diablo 3 kept getting delayed & delayed, while the first part of Starcraft 2 (Oh yeah, Starcraft 2 was split into 3 separate games covering a specific race) came out to good reviews if I remember correctly. Then in 2012, D3 finally was released......and wow were the first few years rough! Constant need for an online connection, a little more colorful that prior games, gameplay elements not as polished as prior games, and a real-money auction house (There was also a in-game gold auction house, but I actually didn't have a problem with that) were just a few of the issues. Meanwhile, World Of Warcraft began showing issues of it's own, and it looked like it just got worse & worse as the years went by.

2014 rolls around, and we got Reaper of Souls, which seemed to fix so much.....to bad it was the last big thing they did for Diablo 3 apart from some game upgrades & the Rise Of The Necromancer DLC from last year. 2015 shows up, and we got the surprisingly good Heroes of the Storm. While it was released a bit into the MOBA genre's existence, and some elements were flawed, but it was actually a lot of fun. I had been invited to the beta by a friend (Got into D3's beta as well), and after getting over my apprehension of the MOBA genre, I found HotS to be an absolutely wonderful game (Read here for details). Then, in 2016, we got the company's first new IP with Overwatch, and I got invited to the beta for that as well. I was absolutely in love with the game (Read here for details), dents & all. In the short time that it's been out, it's gone through things both good & bad, changing in both directions.

However, it's obvious that it recent years, despite a new IP & other game related achievements, that we don't have the Blizzard of old. Since 2005 when the O.G. company (Blizzard North), the group ever so slowly drifted away from their original vision. Joining Activision didn't help, as that caused the company to drift away further, losing more of their identity, and becoming a little more like the people they joined. And then.....we have what transpired late yesterday.

As of Thursday night, people from the Heroes of the Storm have been moved off of that team, and onto others (It's never specified). On top of that, the college based Heroes of the Dorm & the international Heroes Global Championship have been completely shut down, not to return in 2019. This wasn't done because of a "Tough" decision by the higher ups (Read here to understand). This was done through the new ideology laid out by Activision to cut costs and save money.

Blizzard......you're not Blizzard anymore. Given the disaster that was Blizzcon 2018 last month, you have proven to your long time fans, and even to your newer ones, that at the end of the day.....you're just another face of Activision. You just another outlet of garbage gaming, and you now develop stuff just to appease the shareholders. You abandoned your long-time Diablo fans ,just to chase the banality that is the mobile market, and you're not even trying to hide that fact. I'm trying hard not to delete battle.net launcher, and throw away the games I've spent so much time and money on. Even seeing games like Black Ops 4 & Destiny 2 operate on the launcher are further proof that the company is just another aspect of Activision, even though I actually kind of enjoy Destiny 2. Given what's been going on with so many game companies in recent memory, it's scary to think we might get a games crash worse than the one in the 80s. Like it says in the title: Blizzard is not dead......but it is most certainly dying....and I really hope it doesn't.

Well, I'm sorry to be such a bummer, but this was something I wanted to type out. Thank you for taking time out of your day & reading this, and I promise that next week will be considerably happier with my remaining Christmas/Holiday content. Until then, somebody play the TAPS.


***
You can tell he's holding back the tears as he talked......I was too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUifL67bQac&t=513s


(Update 1): December 23, 2018/9: AM/Eastern Standard Time

Well, this centainly explains a bit. As much as I don't like the site in question, they do something right once in a while: https://kotaku.com/with-activisions-influence-growing-blizzard-is-cutting-1831263741 

The Top 10 Best Christmas Commercials Ever (No. 2)

Seasons Greetings fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

As you might recall from last year, I took a look at 10 of the most iconic Christmas/Holiday commercials out there. To be honest, I had a lot of fun doing it. Discovering old classics & modern favorites really brought out the festive spirit in me, so from now on, I’m turning this into an annual series! Once per December, I’m devoting one post to advertisements that call upon this time of year, and low & behold I found a few more commercials to take a look at. So with that said, get on your ugly sweater that you want to burn but can’t, fill up a mug with hot cocoa, and enjoy my take on more top 10 Christmas commercials. Let’s begin!

10) Heroes of the Storm - Toys, Toys, Toys! (Link) & Overwatch - Winter Wonderland 2018 (Link)

The Nexus calls to us once again this holiday season. For years now the festival of Winter Veil has occurred during this month, but in 2018 things are quite a bit different. This year we get a festival of toys & childhood! Honestly, this trailer was just adorable: the kid announcer sounds like a lot of us back when we were young on Christmas Day. Back when we got something cool from under the tree, and just how quickly our imaginations went to work with the worlds our newly acquired gifts would inhabit. The HotS team did a really good job here!

And then we get the holidays in the world of Overwatch. I covered 2016 & 2017's ad for the Winter Wonderland event last year, and I basically said that they were some of the sweetest & most heartwarming commercials ever put out for a game. 2018's advertisement is no different: it’s still charming, there’s a lot of wintery colors, and the music they use is equally sugar coated. My only gripe is that 2018's Winter Wonderland trailer is much shorter than 2016's or even last year’s, and it doesn’t quite have as much staying power as the previously mentioned 2. Still, it’s a nice nugget of Blizzard goodness, and just gets me ready for the holidays more.

9) A Christmas Story Trailer (Link)

Alright, I had to get another movie trailer onto this list. Last year it was the incredibly hokey trailer for The Santa Clause, but this year I’m going a bit further back in time. Back in time to a movie trailer for a film that has become a permanent staple of the Christmas/Holiday season. That’s right, I’m talking about A Christmas Story this year! From top to bottom, it gives us snipbits into the life of a young child & his efforts to get the toy of his dreams. Along the way, we see just how odd life is around him during December. Things can’t be said any further, other than to watch it and enjoy!

8) Staples Snowbot (Link)

Though it’s only 30 seconds long, this has to be one of the funniest Christmas commercials ever put out. It’s 2 Staples employees talking about the new snowman robot in store, where it helps customers with technological gift ideas. Simple enough, but then a guy asks about a fax machine, and the robot begins to fly off the handle, refusing to help and saying that it’s his girfriend. A small fight breaks out, and the 2 employees from earlier give the robot a power cable as a new girlfriend. Again, it’s pretty short, but you’ll be laughing for much longer.

7) Nestle Christmas Commercial From 1992 With Farfle (Link)

Hellhounds. Somehow....someway...Nestle managed to conjure up hellhounds in 1992 to advertise holiday candy. Not just any normal hellhounds, mind you, but hellhounds with eyes that pierce your soul, and mouths with only a lower row of teeth. I guess Nestle wanted you to feel pain as these fiends sang about the sugary treats they tempt you with into their lairs. Thank goodness it’s only 30 seconds long, cause the hellmouth might have stayed open for longer!

6) Folgers Christmas Commercial: Brother & Sister (Link) & Folger's Coffee: Peter Comes Home For Christmas (Link)

The second of 4 ties on this year’s list (The 1st was number 10), we start off with two iconic commercials that are well known......for widely different reasons!

Let’s begin with a rather demented take on family & coffee. We see a young man get dropped off at his house (After being away in West Africa for some time apparently), and is greeted by what is shortly reveled afterwards to be his sister. The brother comes in, they talk, they drink coffee, and exchange gifts. Then the sister puts a red bow on her brother, he asks what she’s doing that for, and she simply says that he’s her present this year. For a few seconds afterwards, you’re giving the most intense staredown between the two, as if they want to bang...but then the parents come in, and it’s a nice, happy moment. I can see why people might like it for a moment, but the massive incest vibes are incredibly off putting. Since it’s release, countless parodies have cropped up, and all of them bank on the incestuous nature of the original. In fact, I covered a parody on last year’s list, so you should check it out!

Now if you want family & coffee done right, then this classic commercial will certainly warm your heart! We see a young man get dropped off like the original, but this time we don’t know where he’s been. He comes inside the house, and turns a switch, lighting up the tree in the other room. A little girl comes down, and it’s then that we learn his name is Peter, and he’s the big brother to said girl. The two are careful not to wake up the rest of the family, and proceed to go into the kitchen.....to wake everybody up peacefully (So odd). We get some brewing coffee, the parents upstairs smell it, wake up, and come downstairs to find their son. Judging by the Mother’s reaction, it seems as if he’s been gone for a while. Simply put: this is how you do coffee & Christmas right!

5) Japanese KFC Christmas Commercial (Link)

Of all the commercials on this list, this KFC Christmas commercial from Japan was the hardest to find. I searched on Youtube for what seems like months (A year or two, if I’m being honest), and was only able to find 2: a really short commercial from 1989 (Which you can see here), and the one you see in the link above. Upon finding it, I was surprised by how tame it is. Hearing all of the stories about how big KFC is in the land of the rising sun, I was shocked at how big this thing was. Make no mistake, this thing is still pretty odd. Just not as odd as I was hoping it would be.

4) Pepsi Holiday Nintendo Game (Link)

Handheld gamers of a certain age might recall this classic commercial, and like the Staples commercial from lower on the list, it’s only 30 seconds long. You see Mario traversing through a grocery store, showing off various Pepsi products. All the while, the narrator shows off the various things you can win....as long as you buy and drink Pepsi. Even with that said, I can more than understand why many people get nostalgic over this one, and coming from the PC Master Race camp.....I can’t help but smile a little too.

3) Merry beeping Christmas from Oral B (Link)

To be honest, I had never heard of this commercial. It just happened to be in my “Suggestion” section on Youtube one day, so I decided to give it a look, and holy crap is this a good one! It doesn’t exactly last long, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most hilarious yet strangely charming & heartwarming Christmas commercials out there. It’s just a bunch of people trying to get ready for the season, and things don’t go the right way. They swear profusely, and the beeping just makes the screwups even funnier. Despite said screwups & swearing, the heart of it all doesn’t fade in the least. Certainly one to keep an eye out for!

2) Edeka Christmas Commercial 2015 (Link) & Kellog’s Christmas Ad (Link)

I honestly wasn’t sure what to do with this one. I knew about this one for a few years, but didn’t really watch it until recently, and.....I’m conflicted. One the one hand, this is an emotional commercial. A Grandfather is all alone at his house during the holiday, and his family is nowhere in sight to celebrate with him. So what does he do? Fakes his death, and sends notifications to as many family members as possible to come to the house to attend his “funeral”. They step inside, and instead of a gloomy atmosphere, they see a nicely decorated table, and said grandfather steps out from the kitchen, and all is well. This has to be one of the most manipulative advertisements ever made. I’ll give Edeka credit in making something that tugs at the heartstrings, but if this ever happened to me in real life, I would slug someone in the face if they pulled this kind of stunt, good intentions or otherwise!

Now one emotional Christmas commercial I don’t have issues with is this Kellog’s ad. I think what makes this one so great is just how well they made it out to look & feel like an old holiday add from back when (80s by the look of things, despite the 2013 remaster). The kids are adorable, as is their mission to bring a nice breakfast to Saint Nick instead of the usual. I cried a little when I first watched this, as the innocence & happy emotions are really strong in this 1 minute ad. I hope it’s used more & more throughout the years, as it deserves to be called a commercial classic!

Now before we get to my number 1, I wanted to go over some commercials that didn’t quite make it onto the main list. These advertisements weren’t terrible by any means, but they didn’t have as much of the holiday spark as everything else on here. With that out of the way, here are my honorable mentions of Christmas commercials....part 2! 

HM1) Norelco Razor Commercial (Link)

Every once in a while, I see a Christmas commercial from the past that leaves me scratching my head in confusion. Case in point: the old Norelco Razor commercials from back in the day. We get Santa using a razor as a sled, and he comes down the hill all jolly & happy, not to mention a delightful little Christmas town. Apart from that, they don’t feel like a holiday commercial to me. Not 100% at least. Despite that nitpick, I can see why people feel warm & fuzzy when they happen to come across this classic online, and I confess it even gets me to smile a little.

HM2) Icelandic Glacial Commercial (2016/2017) & Joey Ryan Starring in The Sleaziest TNA Impact Wrestling ShopTNA Commercial Ever (Link)

Both of these commercials made me facepalm immediately (I think I hit my eye one time). Like, they made me facepalm hard. Both are over the top, both get shockingly kinky, and yet there’s a warped charm to either one. If I’m being honest, I’m not exactly surprised by the Joey Ryan one, especially when you take into account the character he plays as on the Independent Wrestling Circuit. The Icelandic Glacial Commercial on the other hand......yeah, that came out of left field for me!  If both of these weren’t so out there, I might have found a spot for them on the main list. Maybe even tied with my number 5 spot. Regardless, if you need to spice up your holiday season, then these commercials are for you!

1) John Lewis Christmas Advert 2014: Monty The Penguin (Link)

If there’s one thing that the English do right (Besides tea, Heavy Metal bands, and the proliferation of Chicken Tikka Masala), it would be creating some of the most whimsical, magical, and emotional Christmas/Holiday commercials every to air on television. Case in point is the 2014 add from the equally legendary British store chain John Lewis (John Lewis & Partners, to say the name completely), and it concerns a little boy and the penguin that’s his best friend & playmate. They go through the days leading up to Christmas playing & doing stuff, when his penguin starts seeing images of love around him. From a couple in the park to some images on TV, it’s obvious that he wants a companion of his own. Then on Christmas Day.......na, not gonna spoil things this year. This is one you’ll have to watch to find out instead! Regardless, this is one of the most touching adverts out there, and more than earns it’s spot at the no. 1 spot on this list.

So those were 10 more of my top ten Christmas commercials. Ten more timeless advertisements from the past few decades, they’re sure to stay in our brains until the end of days. There’s a little bit of content left, so see you all in a few days, when we’ll look at some quality holiday anime goodness. See you soon!

The Top 5 Albums of 2018

Still chilly isn’t it fellow Otaku & Metalheads?

I confess this top 5 list of music will be rather bizarre when compared to the rest of the top 5 album lists I’ve made (Even more so than my 2016 list). With the exception of the honorable mentions, every spot on this list is a tie. 2018 was a weird year for music, but it was a great one at the same time. So, in an effort to not make such a huge list again, each spot is occupied by 2 albums. Not only that, but I also tried to make matching pairs in the process, so said pairs aren’t weird combinations of musical styles. With that out of the way, here are my top 5 albums of 2018. Let’s begin!

5) Arkheth - 12 Winter Moons Comes The Witches Brew (Song) & Asunojokei - Awakening (Song)

We begin the list with a relatively obscure album that comes from a relatively obscure band, which is something I haven’t done since 2014. Up until this release, this Atmospheric Black Metal act from Orange, New South Wales had put out only 2 beforehand: One in 2003, and the other in 2010. This extreme length of time between each record’s release really keeps Arkheth firmly in cult status, which is a tragic shame as these guys really know what they’re doing (Technically not true, but more on that in a sec). Though there’s only 5 songs on this release (At 41 minutes & 7 seconds in length), these tracks are incredibly well done despite being made by 1 guy. When you’re listening to this for the first time, you would swear that it was all created by an actual band, and when you find out that one dude did all of this, it makes all the better.

Another obscure album comes from the land of the rising sun, and it’s even more recent than Arkheth! Hailing from the Akihabara district of Tokyo, Asunojokei combines the bleakness of Black Metal, the brutality of Death Metal, the fist pumping of Hardcore & Punk, and mixes in Japanese folklore & a surprising amount of beauty. They put on an EP in 2016 (A Bird In The Fault), and we finally got Awakening earlier this year. The end result is a band that’s completely unique to Japan, yet expands Black Metal into territories that it’s never traveled to before. It might be a little weird at first, but Asunojokei’s first full-fledged offering is not something to miss!

4) Paradise Lost - Host: Remastered (Song) & Paradise Lost - Believe In Nothing: Remastered (Song)

When one thinks of Paradise Lost, their late 90s to early 2000s period doesn’t come up in the best light. Around that time the band stepped away from their then current Gothic Metal style, and embraced more of an Electronic-like style. In general, fans don’t look upon this time in a kind view, but despite the negativity, there was some material on here that was good. Upon finding out that one of their albums from this time was getting a remaster (Technically 2 remasters), curiosity arose within me to seek this record out, and I was pleased with what I listened to. It’s not the band’s best material by any means, but Host: Remastered is a fun little release that definitely is a surprise for those expecting a heavier edge to this band. I don’t pull this album out all the time, but when the mood strikes me for funkier metal, I sometimes think of Host.

The same can pretty much be said for Believe In Nothing. Released at the height of Paradise Lost’s Electronic phase, the album wasn’t highly praised by Nick Holmes after it’s original release, but around the middle of the year he became warmed up to it (See his newer views here). You can definitely hear & feel the band’s original vision for the record on each song, and much like their remaster for Host, this release is for you if you want some odder music.

3) Ghost - Prequelle (Song) & Lordi - Sexorcism (Song)

My number 3 spot almost makes it feel like Halloween all over again. In one corner is the newcomer, Ghost. Despite having lawsuit issues & the frontman increasingly showing off his ego, Tobias Forge still knows how to create good music. Though the album has a few hiccups, Prequelle is a blast to listen to. Containing some of the band’s most iconic songs of the end of the 2010s, there’s definitely a lot to like on here. It might not be as great as what they put out in 2015, but at the sametime has a bit more ambition, and I can always respect that.

Unlike Ghost, Lordi had a really strong year with their newest release. The most sexually charged album ever produced by the band, Sexorcism combines sensuality on the serious & silly spectrum with the shock rock horror the band is normally known for. Yet the band knows that going too dark somehow goes against the fun factor they’re normally known for, and thus they know how to tiptoe the line between darkness & silliness with ease. If you found Prequelle to be too pretentious, then get yourself a sexorcism!

2) Judas Priest - Firepower (Song) & U.D.O. - Steelfactory (Song)

Right away, any old school metalheads that’s reading this & sees that this album isn’t at the number one spot, will more than likely pop a blood vessel. Make no mistake: Judas Priest’s 2018 offering is hands down one of the best releases of this year, and is a heavy inducer of headbanging. Taking the Power Metal aspects from their prior 2 albums out for the most part, and going for an older sounding & feeling route, Firepower comes across like a lost album from the late 80s & early 90s. Judas Priest even taps into the Juggulator period of the band’s career, despite doing their hardest to completely ignore that point in time. The only reason that Firepower is number 2 and not number 1, is that an album that came out that simultaneously tugged at my heartstrings, and acts as a perfect reflection of 2018 as a whole. Regardless, get yourself some Firepower, and be ready to rock!

Probably from the same place that cranked out Firepower, we have U.D.O.’s latest buffet of metal. Though I thought that Decadant was an alright release, it came across as a little weak in spots (Especially when compared to the album that came before it). With Steelfactory? We have ourselves a release that harkens back to the band’s heyday in the late 80s & early 90s. Udo’s voice is still top notch, his son is a great replacement for Francesco Jovino on the drums (He proved it before on Decadent as well), and everybody else does a damn good job as well. If you want modern U.D.O. with an old-school twist, then take a walk down to the Steelfactory, and see what it’s produced.

Before we get to my number 1 album of 2018, I wanted to talk about some honorable mentions. The records here aren’t bad by any measure, but certain factors came into view as I was listening to these that prevent them from getting onto the main list. Production value, delayed appreciation, etc. Again, not bad releases, just not quite as good as the rest of 2018. With that said, here are this year’s honorable mentions.

HM1) Sargeist - Unbound (Song)

If this album had come out earlier in the year, I would have possibly put it right alongside Arketh & Asunojokei’s offerings. Instead, it came out in early/mid October, and thus is still cooling down a bit. However, that won’t stop me from talking about an album that I had no idea I would enjoy so much! Despite being just a mild fan of Black Metal, I’ll never deny the fact that when a band in this style hits me just right, I stick with them. Such is the case of Finnish Black Metal masters Sargeist & their 5th studio album, and by god did it hit me hard. Harkening back to the 90s, but with a touch of modern recording & production, Unbound is a damn good release, and those who are devoted to the dark side might do well to listen to this!

HM2) Emigrate - A Million Degrees (Song)

This has been out for merely a week or two by the time I’ve posted this, so I have even less of an opinion on this album than Unbound! If anything, I was surprised when this album was announced. However, with the great quality of their prior 2 releases, I wasn’t scared....and I’m glad I listened to this. With Rammstein getting an album out next year, it’s strangely appropriate that this side project gets something out beforehand. I’ll eventually talk about this album more in a few months when I do my overview on Emigrate in February (A sneak peek for your Birthday stuff Al), but suffice it to say I consider this record the sleeper hit of 2018.

1) Ministry - AmeriKKKant (Song) & Turmion Kätilöt - Universal Satan (Song)

What Gods Of Violence was to 2017, AmeriKKKant was to this year. Like I said when I updated my overview on Ministry & the review during Industrial Metal Insanity part 2, the album isn’t perfect. The politics are a little too over-the-top, and maybe the album isn’t quite as subtle as I once thought, but I can’t deny that Ministry’s return to the spotlight was a much needed one. The further & further we go down the rabbit hole while Trump is in office, we need more & more music that challenges him & his administration’s bogus authority, and Ministry has always made music that stuck it to Republicans & Conservatives. AmeriKKKant has definitely divided the fanbase, and has more of a mixed reaction among critics & music lovers, but even some of it’s haters can’t deny the power that Al Jourgenson & friends still got it in the late 2010s.

And then we have Turmion Kätilöt. I’ve talked about this band a couple times. Once in 2015 for their overview & top 5 album list, and the other last year when I updated the overview for a 2nd time and the top 5 album list of 2017. I do not know why Universal Satan is tied with AmeriKKKant, but somehow it is. Despite having no political flavoring at all (They’re devoted to dance-like Industrial Metal to a degree), the band has somehow managed to stay afloat despite having a more cult-like following here in the United States (In Finland & Europe, they’re huge). Thanks to their new 2nd singer, the band feels rejuvenated & refreshed in all sorts of ways, and that manages to get their latest release at no. 1 along side Ministry’s newest Industrial Metal offering. Definitely something to look out for if you want more alternative Industrial music.

And those were the top 5 albums of 2018. Again, easily the weirdest of the top 5 albums lists I’ve made, but it’s one you’ll under stand why I constructed this way. Chances are you’ll find something on here to enjoy, whether it’s by itself or conjoined with another album. See you all next time, when I’ll take a look at some more holiday commercials!

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If you like to know what I thought of last year, check out the link below

Top 5 Albums of 2017

The Top 5 Movies of 2018

December carries on fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Just two days ago I posted up my top 5 games of 2018, and next in line is the world of cinema. I saw quite a number of movies this year: good, bad, indifferent, doesn’t matter. Outside of 1 to maybe 2 spots, I was able to figure out what went where pretty easily. Some movies you won’t be surprised to find here, and others you won’t expect (Especially my no. 1). That said, grab some popcorn & enjoy my top 5 movies of 2018!

5) Solo: A Star Wars Story (Trailer)

I had initially intended my number 5 spot to be a tie between this film, and The Last Jedi. Ultimately, I decided to give the number 5 spot to Solo, mostly because of the fact that between this & The Last Jedi, I enjoyed this offshoot Star Wars movie far more than the other. Unlike The Last Jedi, I found Solo to be incredibly less boring, liked a good chunk of the characters, and just had a better time at this movie. Sure, there’s a little bit of Bullshit Justice tossed in (Anti-Slavery droid...Rly?), but that one thing doesn’t ruin what I consider to be one of the best Star Wars movies made for this new run of the franchise (Despite it being the worst performing entry). It has a flaw or two, but it’s obvious that some effort was put in as well. Definitely one to consider watching if you’re looking for some fun Sci-Fi.

(I’ve grown to loathe The Last Jedi in 2018, thanks to the sheer amount of Bullshit Justice infusing each & every scene, not to mention the evisceration of lore & just how bad the director and Kathleen Kennedy were. Star Wars isn’t dead, but it’s still bleeding profusely from the massive wound it received.)

4) Rampage (Trailer)

Dumb stupid fun is the best way to describe this video game re-imagining! My only complaint was that I was watching a summer movie in the spring, but beside that, I loved my time watching this. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson puts in a cheesy performance that only he can do, the supporting cast was great, and I don’t know how this movie pulled it off, but the movie managed to make me feel for a CGI albino gorilla. I don’t know how this was possible, but what I do know is that this was one of the greatest “Turn Your Brain Off” flicks of 2018. If you’re in the mood for a cheesy popcorn monster movie, then Rampage will definitely fit the bill!

3) Black Panther (Trailer)

From the moment I saw T'Challa of Wakanda in Captain America: Civil War, I immediately wanted to see a film centered around him, and earlier this year I was not disappointed. Much like Solo there was a little bit of Bullshit Justice put in (Mostly on Hatemonger’s shoulders, but even then I think that’s a bit of a stretch), but that didn’t stop me from liking....no.....loving one of the best Marvel movies to be put out in recent years! In a way I felt that this was 2018's Doctor Strange: A fun action movie, but with a bit of seriousness thrown into the mix. The vibrant colors of Africa melded well with the ascetics of the rest of the feature, and overall it was a fun time. If you want a Marvel movie with an exotic flair, then Black Panther is the film for you!

2) Deadpool 2 (Trailer) & Overlord (Trailer)

Once again, the Merc with the Mouth hits it out of the park! The only reason that Deadpool 2 isn’t number one is because it would be too obvious....and I wanted to surprise all of you. Regardless, this movie is an even greater example of a “Turn Your Brain Off” flick. It’s more politically incorrect than the last Deadpool film (I love how it was taking jabs at Bullshit Justice and Bullshit Justice Warriors), it made me laugh more, the cast was fantastic, and it made me interested in the possibility of a Deadpool 3 (Ironic, given what is coming out in a couple days). If one was to watch Deadpool and this movie back to back, they’ll probably keel over & die from heavy laughter. In short......Deadpool 2 kicks ass!

Another great movie this year was the ode to WW2 & Horror/Science Fiction, Overlord. One of the more recent movies on this list (Overlord out on the 9th of November. The other relatively recent movie is my 2nd honorable mention, but that was out in late October.), it’s obvious from the first few scenes that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Despite some great acting from everybody involved, Overlord is just meant to be a fun time. A fun time seeing Nazis get their asses kicked. A fun time seeing the creepy aspects, and a fun time seeing some nice special effects (Both practical & CGI). If you & your friends are hosting a WW2 themed movie night, go for Overlord as the wild card. Everybody there might not expect it!

Before we get to my number 1 movie of 2018, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions of this year. The films below aren’t bad or awful by any means, but there’s just something about these films that don’t quite measure up to everything else on this list. With that out of the way, here’s are 2018's honorable cinematic mentions.

HM1) Ready Player One (Trailer)

I’m honestly not sure what to make of this movie. On the one hand, Ready Player One is a loving tribute to pop culture. There were plenty of references & characters I spotted and recognized immediately, and the cast (Both main & supporting) put in a great amount of effort. On the other hand, there were many more pop culture references I didn’t see or recognize, and the whole mood is a little more lighthearted & cheesy than the book (I never read the book, so I’m going off of what I’ve heard). I had these feeling throughout the movie, but at no point did I hate or dislike watching Ready Player One. It’s definitely a fun flick, and one that some Pop Culture nerds will remember for years.

HM2) WWE: Evolution (Clip)

I said it back in my review (Which you can read here), and I’ll say it again: I was genuinely shocked by how good WWE’s first all-women PPV event was. There were definitely some botches, a couple odd spots, and other things that kind of weigh down on it’s shoulders, but it was also a lot of fun to watch. The women really put on a great show, and despite the fact that Evolution was put on only to placate the critics, it’s obvious that the women really cared about what they were doing. It might not be one of the best shows that WWE put out this year (Or in recent years to be honest), but it’s definitely not bad by any means, and is worth your time if you’re curious.    

Also, I know that Evolution technically isn’t a movie. To be honest, This 2nd honorable mention spot was actually a little tough to pick this year, and I admit it’s a bit more filler-y when compared to previous lists. The Crimes Of Grindlewald was close to being here, but I’ve grown to dislike that movie somewhat since I’ve seen it. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms was also close to being here, but I found it to be mostly forgettable a few weeks after I saw it.

1) Christopher Robin (Trailer)

I cried during this movie. Twice, I cried while watching this incredible movie. Once when Pooh was singing his classic Up, Down, Touch the Ground song, and later on when Tigger sings the equally classic The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers. In fact, I was about to unleash a torrent of tears during the first song, until my Mom (I saw this with my folks, btw) grabbed my hand in an effort to comfort me. It’s been a long time since I cried at any movie, much less a Disney movie. However, this movie really harkens back to the innocent days of childhood, where things were more innocent & simple, and is incredibly heartwarming to boot. If you’re a parent & you want to show something wonderful to your kids, or you’re just someone who wants to feel a huge wave of nostalgia, Christopher Robin is what you’re looking for.

And these were my top 5 movies of 2018. An absolutely fantastic year for cinema, The films on this list are the highlights of the year in my opinion, and they’re certainly ones you should watch if you didn’t manage to see them beforehand. We got 1 more list incoming, so see you all this Friday for the best music of 2018. Until then, watch a movie or two will ya!?

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If you like to know what I thought of last year, check out the link below

Top 5 Movies of 2017

The Top 5 Games of 2018

Here we are fellow Otaku & Metalheads. The end of 2018.

2018 was trying hard to be like 2016. It was trying really hard to be just as depressing & garbage as 2 years ago. It fails, but it’s not far off either. More shootings, more bullshit from Trump & the right, the death of Stan Lee, and just more bad stuff in general. Luckily, it’s the start of the best time of the year, and the time where my annual end-of-the-year top 5 lists get put out. This year’s lists are fulled with interesting things, so maybe they’ll help get some good energy put back in. With that out of the way, here are my top 5 games of 2018. Enjoy!

5) Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle (Trailer)

We begin this list with one of the most bizarre titles I’ve ever come across. Produced by the team that made Slayaway Camp, it takes the violence & gore of the iconic Friday the 13th horror movie series, and gives it what I can only describe.....as a “Cutesy” makeover. It’s also incredibly funny, as the spectral head of Jason’s mom is constantly around giving you advice, the premise of some of the episodes are out-there, and some of the kills are hilarious. The puzzle element of the game is pretty challenging. There are times where it can get irritating (I had to resort to looking up videos for some of them), but figuring out how it all works is part of the experience. If you like your murder more on the cerebral & cartooney, then Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle will be for you!

4) Call of Duty: WW2 (Trailer)

I think it’s a safe bet to say that no matter how much damage is repaired (Or is attempted to be repaired), Call Of Duty will probably never be the same. It’s a crying shame, as Infinite Warfare from 2016/2017 was pretty damn good, and WW2 from 2017/2018 was great as well. Returning to the franchise’s World War 2 roots after nearly a decade of absence, we get an engaging singleplayer with lite squad tactics & some old-school elements (Health Packs anyone?), and a multiplayer that had it’s faults, but proved to be incredibly entertaining by the end. Coupled with a Zombie game mode that brought things back to it’s darker roots (Infinite Warfare’s zombie mode was considerably campier, even though I liked it), and you have a modern WW2 game with roots in the past. If you can get past some issues, you’ll enjoy this game.

3) Dark Souls: Remastered (Trailer)

I’m genuinely conflicted about this one. On the one hand, it’s great to see the original Dark Souls game get a re-release in 2018. I was still riding on my Dark Souls high from the year before (Thanks to Dark Souls 3) when the re-release came out, and it was great to see the game that started the franchise that’s known the world over come back. On the other hand, not much has changed with this remaster. Apart from a few small things, the gameplay still comes across as dated & clunky, the sound hasn’t changed much, and while the graphics have indeed been improved, they’re just as dated as almost everything else. I can certainly see why some fans would be critical because of these issues, but for me I’m happy it’s around because I’m so new to the world of Dark Souls & it’s lore. If you never played the original, then Dark Souls: Remastered is worth the purchase.

2) Nekopara Extra (Trailer)

Kinda like last year, 2018 needed an injection of rainbows & sunshine, and we got that injection in the form of Nekopara Extra. My only complaint is that it plays much faster than any other title in the series. Possibly even more than Nekopara Vol 0. Apart from that, this is one of the most charming games to have been put out this year. Catching a glimpse of the crew of the Minaduki household at a much earlier time, seeing Chocola & Vanilla at a time when they’re just kittens just causes the warm & fuzzies to well up inside. Seeing everybody else in a younger state is charming in it’s own right as well, and the game is an overall “Awwww” fest to the 10th degree. Even if you haven’t played anything else on this list, Nekopara Extra isn’t one to miss simply due to how incredibly happy it is. Nya! 

Before we get to my no. 1 game of 2018, I wanted to cover some honorable mentions. These games are, while definitely fun, had some issues that kept it from getting onto the main list. Development quality, flawed features, and more could have kept these titles off of the card. With that out of the way, here are 2018's honorable mentions.

HM1) Baldi’s Basics (Trailer)

It’s been a while that a game has left me scratching my head, feeling confused after witnessing what I’ve seen. I confess I’ve never played it: after witnessing Markiplier’s playthrough, it’s difficulty really pushes me away from trying the game out. That being said, I kind of have a great deal of respect for Baldi’s Basics. An ode to the creepy & bad educational games of the 1990s, there’s a weird reverence for the good educational games as well. I might consider getting Baldi’s Basics sometime in the future, but it’ll all depend on how masochistic I am at the time.

HM2) Destiny 2 (Trailer)

Funny story about this one: I had avoided the original game like the plague whenever I hung out with friends, and I pretty much did the same thing when I found out that Destiny 2 was coming to PC last year & running through Battle.net. When I found out that Blizzard was giving the game away last month, the seeds were planted in my head to download it, and I wasn’t sure at first, but realizing it was a free game, I finally bit the bullet. I haven’t completed everything, but I can say that it’s been strangely fun. While the story is a little weak & the characters are a little bland, the gunplay is great, and the graphics are nice to look at. If you haven’t gotten into the game yet, I’d say give it a try.

HM3) Heroes of the Storm (Trailer)

I know I’ve already talked about this game before way back in my top 5 Games of 2015 (Which you can see here), so I find it a little silly to put it on the main list again. That being said, the HotS team really has been hitting it out of the park this year. Starting last year with the huge 2.0 update last year, they’ve introduced many wonderful characters, awesome maps, and plenty of cool events to participate in (Still loved the Lucha Libre event from about the middle of the year). I recommended the game 3 years ago, and I still recommend it in 2018.

1) Hellgate: London (Trailer)

I.....uh.....WHAT!!??

PC Gamers from the late 2000s might recall this infamous RPG title. Created by a company headed by one of the original members of Blizzard North, Hellgate: London showed massive potential back in 2007, but fell hard onto it’s face just a year later when Flagship Studios closed and it was re-acquired by it’s parent company, HanabiSoft. So when it was announced that it was coming back onto Steam, and with it’s rather tacked-on Multiplayer removed in an effort to deliver a more solid Singleplayer experience, I was shocked. Then when I got the game, I was shocked again....but in a good way!

A lot of memories came flooding back into my head upon playing. There was so much I was able to recall from late last decade, but thanks to the many gameplay & graphics improvements (It was a little rough at the beginning), it almost feels like a brand new experience. It might taking some getting used to (Especially for people who were disenfranchised with it last decade), but I’m not kidding when I say that the resurrection of Hellgate: London somehow manages to become the number 1 game of 2018. That’s no joke, and I’m telling you with all sincerity it’s genuinely worth your time.

So these were my top 5 games of 2018. A motley bunch of titles, but ones in which I enjoyed to various degrees, and some releases that surprised me. Be sure to stay tuned for my top 5 movies post, which will come out in a few days. Until they, stay warm, and game on!

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If you like to know what I thought of last year’s games, check out the link below:

Top 5 Games of 2017

Also, if you’re interesting in acquiring Baldi’s Basics, check out the link below:

Baldi’s Basics in Education & Learning

Album Review (Obscurus Metalus): Alcatrazz's Dangerous Games

Welcome to the end of Alcatrazz Month fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Over a week ago, we took a look at the Steve Vai incarnation of the band with their 2nd release, Disturbing The Peace. Gone is the ego of Yngwie, and in his stead is the weirdness & artistic genius of Vai. With this second version of Alcatrazz it seemed like things might finally go their way, but it sadly wasn’t meant to be. So let’s take a look at the final release of this unknown band, and see what people missed back then....and now.

Background
Despite the acquisition of Steve Vai, and not to mention the release of a great record, success continued to elude Alcatrazz. God Blessed Video was the first single & music video off of Disturbing The Peace, but MTV barely played it. Things only got more difficult when they had to cut a tour short (Funding issue), and they hardly were able to get out of their cult status & become a more popular band. Finally, the nail in Alcatrazz 2.0 would be Steve Vai leaving the group for the David Lee Roth Band. No bad blood this time: Steve Vai & Graham Bonnet got along just fine, and Vai continues to praise and complement his time in the band to this day (He even put Disturbing The Peace in a cd collection of his work). His replacement would come in the form of Danny Johnson, who played in Rod Stewart & Alice Cooper (Along with a couple other groups) beforehand. Once Danny got comfortable, Alcatrazz 3.0 gelled, and would get to work on their next musical venture. In September of 1986, they would release Dangerous Games to the public.

Dangerous Games is the only Alcatrazz album to never have been on the Billboard 200. Either it sold next to nothing when it first came out, or nobody cared to notice it. It’s a crying shame, as the record might very well be the most unique thing that the band put out. Sadly it would be the last album that they ever produced, as Graham Bonnet was disheartened by guitarists coming & going (Danny Johnson would eventually leave for the band Private Life) and dwindling album sales. Ultimately, Alcatrazz would break up and go their separate ways in 1987.

Basic Description
Very Heavy & Very Japanese.

When I said that the first 2 albums weren’t quite metal & this one was in my overview, I confess that was only because I had listened to all of Alcatrazz’s albums once at the time. Upon listening to everything a few more times, I’ve changed my mind. That being said, Dangerous Games is still the heaviest album of the 3. Despite my issues with one musical element, the band seems to be going for something a bit more harder this time around, while at the same time keeping the Prog element that was present since 1983, but pushing more in a melodic direction as well. It sounds strange at first, but it somehow works when you sit down & listen to it.

The very Japanese vibe is odd....until you find out why: while Alcatrazz wasn’t massively popular over in the U.S., they were huge over in the land of the rising sun. Whether it was at the behest of the studio, or because the band wanted to, they gave the music on Dangerous Games a Japanese flavor. You could put this on any 80s anime soundtrack (Possibly even some 90s shows), and it would somehow fit. This aspect of the album is what has it circulating in many singing clubs & bars to this day, and I’m impressed by this.

Best Track
Blue Boar is just an odd song to me. Like I said in the overview on these guys, I don’t know why I like this track so much. It’s not as keyboard & bass heavy as just about every other song on Dangerous Games, but it’s just so cheesy it might as well be. Graham Bonnet is at the top of his game on this track, shifting between high & low and never slipping up in the process. It can’t be explained....you just have to listen to this!

Blue Boar

A second best song has to go to the ode to Japan that is Ohayo Tokyo. When I talked about it in the overview, I said that this was the dishonorable mention off of Dangerous Games. Upon listening to it a few more times, it’s not quite as heinous as I previously believed. It’s still one of the biggest weeaboo songs out there, but it’s obvious that Graham Bonnet & the rest of Alcatrazz are showing their love to one of their biggest fanbases in their career. If there was ever a song to end a Kung Fu movie in Glorious Nippon on, it’s this one.

Ohayo Tokyo

Though it doesn’t have to do with the music, another plus for Dangerous Games is it’s cover art. The music is already goofy enough as it is, but to have a panther in a penthouse room, with a zebra-printed couch on the right, red high heels on the floor, a window to the terrace open (With a gentle breeze moving the curtains), and a table with a Martini that’s about to fall over on the left.....you can’t get much more 80s than this!

(Odd Fact: The re-release of Dangerous Games came with a new but inferior album cover. Hence the difference between the original posted at the top, and the one you see in the links.)

Worst Track
Like I stated in my Alcatrazz overview, Only One Woman is the only song on the album that’s bad. Though their cover of It’s My Life by The Animals seems forced, at least it was still fun to listen to. This cover on the other hand seems like it was just done to fill up space on an otherwise great album. Graham is trying really hard to sound like his old self throughout the whole thing, and he just can’t. The instrumentation isn’t terrible, but they’re trying way too hard as well. I can only say to avoid it, but listen to it if you’re curious.

Only One Woman (Marbles Version)

Only One Woman (Alcatrazz Version)

Apart from that, Dangerous Games’s only fault is the heavy usage of keyboard/synthesizers & bass. There’s definitely standard guitars being played, and there’s definitely some drumming, but everything else seems somewhat artificial. Metalhead & egotistical jackass Razorfist called this album the single most 1980s thing every release, and I place this sentiment squarely on the keyboard & bass guitar. If you’re a fan of 80s music this isn’t necessarily a bad thing (Such as myself), but it covers so much of the music it can be theoretically tiring.

Other
If you’re curious about this album, then check out the link below:

Dangerous Games

Overall Impression & Rating
Dangerous Games is a release that’s better than the first album, yet falls behind the second. This should not have happened! This record should have been high on the Heavy Metal mountain, standing alongside some of the greats of it’s day. Instead, it ends up being the death throes of a band that was never truly known by the larger public. This doesn’t mean that the album is bad, as it might be the catchiest thing Alcatrazz ever made! The heaviness of the metal, coupled with the hints of Japanese-style music, and slathered with 80s keyboard & bass sauce, creates something really original. Definitely a release to seek out!

Dangerous Games gets an 8.5 out of 10.

So with that rating done, we put the finishing touches on Alcatrazz Month. Though they only existed for 3 years & cranked out only 3 albums, they are one of the biggest sleeper bands in Heavy Metal to have created music. If you have never listened to these guys, now is your chance to give them a try! December is not that far away, and with the end of 2018 come my annual lists. See you in a few days!



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Another Odd Fact: Dangerous Games is the shortest of Alcatrazz’s albums at 38 minutes & 48 seconds. The longest is Disturbing The Peace at 41 minutes & 40 seconds, while No Parole From Rock N Roll is the 2nd longest at 41 minutes & 20 seconds. Also, if you haven’t read the first 2 reviews of Alcatrazz Month, check out the links below.

No Parole From Rock N Roll (Review)

Disturbing The Peace (Review)

Album Review (Obscurus Metalus): Alcatrazz's Disturbing The Peace

Welcome back to Alcatrazz Month fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

At the 1st of this month, we took a look at No Parole From Rock N Roll, and last week I showed you my favorite Alcatrazz songs (Some of them anyway). Now we’re at the middle point of their career: we got one guitarist out, one guitarist coming in, and a transformation that would change their music. Would it be better? Would it be worse!? Well, let’s take a look at my review of Disturbing The Peace, and see what’s what.

Background
By the end of the No Parole From Rock N Roll tour, it was obvious that there was tension in Alcatrazz. Though the band was popular in some circles, tensions were rising within the band. Yngwie’s now famous ego really became front & center, as he was constantly stealing the spotlight from everybody else, and wound up in one of the biggest on-stage blowouts in the history of Heavy Metal. So, with plenty of bitter feelings towards his former bandmates, he left with a chip on his shoulder that seems to have stayed on said shoulder to this day. So without a guitarist to shred with them, the search was on for a replacement. Enter Steve Vai: formerly a guitarist from Frank Zappa’s camp, he was discovered by Jimmy Waldo, who brought him into the band. Once Steve was in, he had just 1 day to learn all of Alcatrazz’s music, and he did. Once the trial by fire was done, it was time to sit down and crank out another album, and on March the 22nd, 1985, Disturbing The Peace was released to the public.

Disturbing The Peace also managed to get onto the Billboard 200, although not quite as high. It was up there for 7 or 16 weeks (Again, Wikipedia is weird in this regard), and reached the No. 145 spot. Not as good as No Parole From Rock N Roll, but still pretty decent for a more obscure band.

Basic Description
Wild & Fun.

Despite his incredible talent, Yngwie was really weighing down the band with his immense ego & pride. Kicking him and bringing in Steve Vai really changed this. Vai is a weirder, odder kind of guitarist. Able to play traditional Heavy Metal & funkier beats and rhythms, he seemed like the perfect fit for Alcatrazz. With him in, it seemed like the band was able to go a bit more over the top, and proceed down a path that was heavier & more Prog infused than No Parole From Rock N Roll was. Songs across this entire albums are definitely Heavy Metal, but there’s an aura of an eccentric artist in every nook & crannie. Definitely an upgrade!

Best Track
Like I mentioned in my overview, God Blessed Video has to be the best thing off of this album. Everything right, wrong, hokey, goofy, cheesy & silly about the 80s can be found in this song. Wild guitars, keyboarding that’s equal parts impressive & over the top, drumming that sounds like a machine gun, Graham Bonnet is just going to town with the vocals, and coupled with the most ridiculous music video of the 1980s (Not to mention being the 1st song on this album), it’s easy to see why this is one of the few songs from Alcatrazz that people can remember.

God Blessed Video

Worst Track
Breaking The Heart Of The City is the lone bad song of the album. Upon listening it a couple times more since my overview, I don’t find it as bad as others might. There’s definitely potential in the instrumentation & vocals, but much like Suffer me off of their last album, it seems to let go much of it’s potential.....although this one I don’t think drops as much of said potential, and it definitely can be fun in spots.

Breaking The Heart Of The City

Other
If you’re curious about this album, then check out the link below:

Disturbing The Peace

Overall Impression & Rating
Disturbing The Peace definitely ups the ante for Alcatrazz. A new guitarist game the band a second chance at life, and it allowed for new things to be tried out. The end result, while not an absolute favorite of mine, still has me hooked with it’s Prog Metal & Hard Rock undertones. If you weren’t satisfied with their first album, then Disturbing The Peace might fulfill that desire.

Disturbing The Peace gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was my look at Disturbing The Peace. With Steve Vai by their side, it seems like Alcatrazz might have a chance to shine on a great stage, but trouble was coming their way, and they would have to change one last time. I’ll get to that review at the end of the month, but before then I’ve got 2 updates for some of my older overviews next week. See you then!