Game Review: Duke - Nuclear Winter

Welcome to the end of 2021 fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Okay, that’s not exactly true. We still have a few days before 2022 is upon us, so it stands to reason that I got my annual holiday review tradition. Sadly, I didn’t have access to any Christmas anime, nor did I think of listening to any Christmas albums. Then out of nowhere, a weird idea lit up in my head, and I decided to pursue said weird idea. The subject of today is actually a personal tradition of mine, as I’ve been playing this expansion to one of the most iconic FPS titles for over a decade. An expansion that, while certainly not the best that was made, still has the kind of character & personality that could only have come from the 1990s. So, load up your shotgun with the finest buckshot, put on your ugliest Christmas sweater, and enjoy my review for Duke: Nuclear Winter. Let’s begin!

Development History
And here is where things are rather strange for this expansion pack. The developer for Nuclear Winter, aka Simply Silly Software, has a background that is just bizarre. As stated by the Duke Nukem Wiki:

“Simply Silly Software is a development company that was probably established sometime in the 90's by Joe Wilcox and are one of the three companies to be involved with the Duke Nukem 3D expansions; the other two being WizardWorks and Sunstorm Interactive; both of which are now defunct. Simply Silly Software's most notable product is the 1997 Duke: Nuclear Winter expansion for Duke Nukem 3D. They also developed the D! frontend for Doom, Heretic, and Hexen, the Doom DeathManger replacement Doom/Master, the Doom/Heretic to Hexen pwad converter CONV2HEX and sold them to WizardWorks for inclusion on the D!ZONE and H!ZONE discs. They also deleloped the Shadow Warrior frontend Shuriken and the Blood network front-end, 'BloodBath'. Aside from developing Duke: Nuclear Winter and Duke Nukem, Doom, Heretic, and Hexen add-ons details on the company are scarce which is unusual considering they made an expansion for the immensely popular Duke Nukem 3D. Due to so little information being available it's unknown if the company still exists but they are most likely defunct as nothing has been heard from them since; however despite their inactivity unlike WizardWorks and Sunstorm Interactive there isn't any information to confirm if they are defunct or not.”

So that is the brief history of Simple Silly Software, As to how they got the job to make Nuclear Winter, I don’t know. As to how they were popular enough that 3D Realms contacted them for the job.....that’ll probably be one of gaming’s biggest mysteries.

In-Game Story
From the Duke Nukem wiki:

“Santa Claus has been captured and brainwashed by the aliens that Duke previously defeated. To make matters worse, the aliens are now supported by an enemy force calling themselves the Feminist Elven Militia. Duke Nukem must travel to the North Pole in order to stop the brainwashed Santa Claus and his manipulative captors.”

This is not a joke. That is the story of this expansion pack. The main game had a basic story, and Nuclear Winter is the same in that regard. It is a little tasteless with the inclusion of the “Feminist” elven militia (Calling them “Feminist” seems like a super cheap shot, despite there being absolutely no feminism in the game), but it’s pretty much harmless.

Gameplay
The gameplay is almost exactly the same as DN3D. Kill things, find keys for doors, look for secrets, complete simple puzzles, etc. However, Nuclear Winter introduces small subtle things that give the game a holiday touch. In addition to base enemies that have a seasonal makeover, there are 6 brand new enemies that you can only find in Nuclear Winter. 3 are fundamentally complete reskins of base enemies with tweaked attacks (The Frosted Battle Mobile are reskined Pig Cop Tanks, Flying Frosty is basically the Assault Commander if he was a snowman, and Santa Claus is a reskined Dukebot from multiplayer), but the other 3 are brand new. There are the Snowmen, who are stationary, but their snowball attack can distort your aim if you’re too close. Finally, there’s the Grunt & Groan elves of the militia. The Grunt wields dual machine guns (A rare variant that looks like the normal version uses rapid dual shrinkers instead), while the Groan is packing a shotgun (Weird sidenote: The Groan doesn’t wear pants). The Grunt & Groan introduce the perhaps the most interesting mechanic of Nuclear Winter, and that is the presents! The Grunt & Groan have a chance upon death to drop a present, and the content inside is random but helpful. It could be Pistol/Shotgun/Ripper ammo, armor, or health. I do love the fact that as you walk over a present, there’s a cute unwrapping sound, and while they don’t show up all the time, they can on occasion genuinely help a fight.

If there’s one big complaint I have, it’s with the opening levels. One of the biggest criticisms of Nuclear Winter is that the beginning levels are basically the 2nd & 1st levels of L.A. Meltdown, and you play through them backwards. This is most definitely a lazy move, as they fundamentally function like the base versions. There are some level changes here & there, but for the most part Deja Vu & Where It All Began are the exact same as Red Light District and Hollywood Holocaust.....just with a holiday coat of paint.

Another complaint, but much smaller in scale, would be the music. On the one hand, it’s exceptionally cute, and easily fits with the Christmas theme for incredibly obvious reasons. The problem is, the music isn’t exactly original to Nuclear Winter. From what little info is out there (Mostly from Civvie 11's 2018 Christmas Grabbag Video), the MIDI music files were taken from some Geocities website that were normally used for custom Doom WADs, and instead were used for this Duke expansion. It adds to the further “Lazy” feel of the whole package, but I give a hint of slack since the resources were already available.

Graphics
Duke: Nuclear Winter has basically the same graphics engine as DN3D, but with the addition of holiday themed textures & animations. The reskined enemies for the most part work, as do the brand new targets to take aim at. Everything else.......varies. Some of the textures work surprisingly well, but there are others that clash too much with the level design. There are also some snow textures brought in to make things more Christmas-ey, but if I recall correctly they came from a fanmade expansion released after DN3D. I’m not completely sure on that, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Other
If you’d like to see this expansion in action, then click on the link below:

Duke: Nuclear Winter (Walkthrough)

One other thing. Nuclear Winter, along with Duke It Out In D.C. & Duke Caribbean: Life’s A Beach is no longer available on Steam (Through the Megaton Edition), but it can still be found on Zoom-Platform's Duke Nukem 3D Atomic Edition. Though it’s unclear why Nuclear Winter didn’t get a re-release when World Tour came out, Duke It Out In D.C. & Duke Caribbean: Life’s A Beach didn’t come back because of so-called content in the expansions that was considered borderline "sexist and racist" by the publishing team. I will not open up that can of worms, since it’s close to the most wonderful day of the year, and I’m in good spirits. Ironically, despite being taken off Steam back in 2016, if you still had the Megaton Edition it was never taken away from your library.

Overall Impression & Rating
Duke: Nuclear Winter.......is definitely the worst out of the three expansion packs. This definitely feels rushed, lazy, and the few good things it does having going for it are rather flawed. In comparison to Duke It Out In D.C. & Duke Caribbean: Life’s A Beach, it’s rather hard to believe that Nuclear Winter was official. However, I can’t deny that I actually have a bit of fun when playing this. Sure, it’s not that great, but it’s become a personal Christmas tradition for me on Christmas Eve. Right before I go to bed, I load it up, and enjoy a little bit of seasonal mayhem before thinking of sugar plums dancing in my head. Nuclear Winter may not be good, but it is most definitely a curiosity that you should at least watch if you have the time.

Duke: Nuclear Winter gets a 6 out of 10, but it makes me smile as if it was an 8 out of 10.

And that was my review for Duke: Nuclear Winter, and by extent the last review of 2021. This was definitely a better year than the disease-ridden hellscape that was 2020, and while things were still rough, it was much easier to move through things. I’m taking a break for the next few weeks to celebrate the holidays with my folks, so have a Merry Chrismahanakwanzaa, and a Happy New Year! Let’s have an awesome 2022!



***
If you want just the soundtrack, click on the link below:

Duke: Nuclear Winter OST

The Top 5 Typical Christmas Albums

Seasons Greetings fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Much like last year, I don’t have a top 5 movies of the year list, and it’s very obvious as to why. Probably by next year, I may finally get a top 5 movies list up for you all to enjoy! In the meantime, it’s the holiday season, so why not talk about a few more album that are typical of this time of year? However, since this year was a little more normal than 2020, I won’t be talking about weirder records. This time around, I want to talk the more typical Christmas albums. The albums that are well established in the pantheon of the holidays, and the ones we often think of when we enjoy the season. So, grab a big comfy blanket, get a nice warm cup of cocoa or tea, and enjoy my list of the top 5 typical Christmas albums. Let’s begin!

5) The Very Best of Lou Monte (Song)

We begin the list with a rather odd choice, and one that may not be typical for some of you. Italian American singer Lou Monte was always played in my Dad’s household, and while not a Holiday/Christmas musician per se, he has done a number of songs in that style. Lou always has a great ton of energy when he sings, and even if you don’t like the seasonal tracks on this compilation, everything else will be up your alley. So why not embrace your inner Italian, and listen to some Lou Monte!?

4) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Soundtrack (Song)

Much like a typical movie soundtrack, a Christmas film’s soundtrack can be just as memorable, and one from the older generation that’s a classic would be the one for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Even though the older generation is more familiar with this feature that some of the newer ones, those from a certain time (Like myself) will probably recognize the music as well. A lot of the songs are very simple: none of them ever go over 3 minutes, but there’s a shocking amount of love & care in each of them. The emotions go in a variety of directions, but you all feel them under a nice gentle snowfall. Certainly a classic set of songs, but my generation has a Christmas movie we call our own as well!

3) The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack (Song)

What Rudolph to the generations before mine, The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack is to mine and past that. For almost 30 years, the saga of Jack Skellington wanting to bring his own brand of Holiday magic to the world has been nothing short of demented awesomeness! With this kind of warped story, it pays to have someone equally strange craft some classically spooky songs, and that’s exactly what Danny Elfman did! Across 20 classic songs (On the original version), we’re told a warped and demented tale. One in which can be used not only for Halloween, but for Christmas as well. Even though my generation & the ones after are definitely the target audience of this film, there’s plenty of older people that definitely find something about The Nightmare Before Christmas that they can enjoy as well.

2) Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (Song)

Heavy Metal & Christmas goes together like peanut butter & jelly, American politics & corruption, and rum & fruit juices. It may seem silly at first, but it’s funny to hear the holidays alongside pounding guitar & drums, not to mention occasionally loud vocal work. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is all of that, yet not. Though firmly in the realm of Christmas, their metallic roots with Savatage (Sample here) still come to the forefront when the Prog metal elements show up. Not only that, but there’s Blues, a little bit of Jazz, and even a hint of Gospel throughout the holiday festivities! The Ghosts of Christmas Eve has managed to age incredibly well since it’s release back in 1999, and both older & newer generations still enjoy it to this day. However, as wondrous and badass as this record is, there is another that’s just a little bit better.....and you may laugh as to what it is.

1) John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together (Song)

Go ahead. Laugh. I totally get it.

I’m just going to come out & say it: I’m not a folk guy. Never have been, and outside some of Devin Townsend’s material, I never will be. However, the one lone exception to this would be John Denver’s collaboration with the Muppets. I actually reviewed this album nearly 4 years ago (Link here), so I won’t repeat too much in this post. I will say that John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together is one of the most important album in my family’s life. Every Christmas (Most of them to be honest), we play this as we decorate the tree & do other seasonal things around the house. Just the sheer amount of love & soul not just from John Denver, but from the Muppets as well, is an incredible thing to feel. Even on the off time where a song takes a more hysterical turn, there’s a warmth that’s felt. Like I said at the beginning, I’m not a folk guy in any way, but for one month out of the year.....I can make an exception.

And these were what I consider to be the top 5 typical Christmas albums. There are definitely way more out there, but these are the ones that came to my mind first, and so they got onto the list. Well, I got one last review for 2021 next Monday.....and it may be the strangest thing I’ve looked at yet. See you soon!



***
If you’d like to know what I thought were the more atypical Christmas albums, then click on the link below:

The Top 5 Atypical Christmas Albums

Also, if you’d also like to listen to these albums, then click on the links below:

The Very Best of Lou Monte

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Soundtrack

The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together

The Top 5 Albums of 2021

December freezes on fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

2021 was certainly a way better year than the plague-ridden wasteland that was 2020. So to celebrate, I’m showing off the best that this year provided! This was a disturbingly easy list to make: 3 of these albums came from January to February, and one of my honorable mentions was released back in April. This made picking out the rest to be oddly difficult, but in the end I pulled through. On top of that, this was a year of legends, so expect to see some familiar old-school faces on this list. So with that out of the way, here are the top 5 best albums of 2021. Enjoy!

5) Accept - Too Mean To Die (Song)

It’s been quite sometime since I sat down and properly listened to an Accept album. Not since when I bought Restless & Wild years ago did I put aside some time to listen to these Teutonic Titans, so when previews & singles started to come out for their 16th studio album, I knew that I would eventually have it course through my ears. I’m happy to say that it was a very enjoyable time! It might not do anything new when compare to their albums in the 2010s, but I didn’t feel bored in any way. The band are still on key when it comes to instrumentation and singing, and the production behind Too Mean To Die is wonderful. Not a single slipup or rough audio patch can be heard, and while I wouldn’t consider this release to be an essential Accept record, I can say that your fix for Germanic metal will easily be sated with this release!

4) Moonspell - Hermitage (Song)

The last time we encountered Moonspell (Outside of the Sin/Pecado & Memorial re-releases from 2019 and 2020), it was through their ode to the infamous Lisbon Earthquake & Portugal at large with 1755 back in 2017. It was grand, it was daring, and it was most definitely Portugese! So, when news came around that they were getting ready for a new album, the hype was real, and this was all during the plague-ridden year of 2020 no less. Then on the 26th of February of 2021, Hermitage was released. A more stripped-down experience than the album before it, the record also comes at what some consider to be Moonspell’s twilight years. Fernando Ribeiro has said in a few interviews that the band isn’t getting any younger, and hints that they may slow things down after this release. This mix of feelings has helped to create what is the band’s most thoughtful & perhaps darkest and/or cynical album in their entire career, but much like Obsidian from Paradise Lost, the more serious nature is oddly needed even in a year that’s better than the last one. If you found the language barrier issue of 1755 to be a problem, then you’ll find Hermitage to be a big improvement!

3) Alice Cooper - Detroit Stories (Song)

Not even a plague could keep one of the icons of Shock Rock & Metal down for the count! Forgoing the more supernatural/shock aspects prevalent on much of his work, and instead embracing the city that he once called home & it’s musical history, Alice Cooper created the beast that is Detroit Stories. A little bit of Motown, some Rock ‘n’ Roll, and a sprinkle of a few other genres that came out of the Motor City were all sources of inspiration for Alice. This means that there’s literarily something for everybody on Detroit Stories, and while you could argue that there’s no solid theme.....it wouldn’t be an ode to Detroit if it was nice & neat!

2) U.D.O. - Game Over (Song) & Beast In Black - Dark Connection (Song)

The only, and I mean only, reason that U.D.O.’s 17th studio album is at number 2 instead of number one is that it’s regressed somewhat. Not in terms of quality though, as this album is just as good as the behemoth that was We Are One! The band don’t have the force that is the Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr backing them this time around, but they’re still cranking out Heavy Metal that’s simultaneously old school & modern at the same time. Virtually every song on here is awesome, and I dare anyone to accuse any of the tracks on Game Over of being bad. I say regressed because they backed away from the more social-political stance that was so prevalent on their last record. A lot of the subject matter on here seems to be more in line with stuff off of Steelfactory & many other CDs before it, rather than singing about the social issues that were seemingly everywhere at the time (And now by extent) for another output. Regardless, Game Over is still a badass sonic assault on the ears, and I for one have no regrets listening to it!

And then we got Beast In Black. The new rightful heirs to the title of “Beast”, Anton Kabanen’s 2nd band is everything that his former compatriots Battle Beast used to be, and cranked up past 11 with the knob broken off! Back in 2019 they launched From Hell With Love onto store shelves the world over, and the mix of 80s nostalgia & cheese, geekery, and Power Metal kept people hooked. So when it came to 2021 and their new release Dark Connection, all I have to say is that their 3rd outing is damn fantastic! Taking things a little more in the electronic/keyboard direction, it matches with the Sci-Fi flavorings that this release has to offer. There’s still plenty of fantasy elements here and there, and the usual references to Berserk is accounted for, but this record is chalked to the brim with references to classic Science Fiction & Cyberpunk. The ONLY reason that Dark Connection doesn’t make it to no. 1 is that the music there just edges out over this, but that in no ways diminishes how damn good this album is!

Before we get to my number 1, let’s go over some honorable mentions. The two albums here this year are certainly interesting. One is from an up & comer back in April that I mentioned at the beginning of this list, and the other is from a band I’ve talked about once before back in 2019. Anyways, here are 2021's honorable mentions!

HM1) Avaland - Theater of Sorcery (Song)

I didn’t want to put this brand new band here. While they aren’t legends right now, these lovely Frenchmen have the potential to be metallic titans later on down the road. Much like Finnish Power Metal badasses Everfrost, Avaland created their own universe to sing about, as well as slathering a massively thick coat of both Symphonic Power & Melodic Heavy Metal over the whole damn thing! While I do find the over-abundance of guest vocalists something of an issue, it in no way blunts the impact that Theater of Sorcery will have on any listener. As founder Adrien G. Gzagg has said, he plans on taking this show on the road, completed with a giant metal/rock opera filled to the brim with various voices singing to the heavens. If Avaland come to the states, you sure as hell can bet that I’ll have a seat!

HM2) A Pale Horse Named Death - Infernum in Terra (Song)

The last time I talked about the spiritual successor to Type-O Negative, it was about their 3rd album, When The World Becomes Undone. It had been about six years since their last release when the album came out in 2019, and while the mild Grunge vibes and more mixed reaction gave the release a not-as-good reputation, I still managed to have some fun with it. So, when it came to the band’s 4th record.....I was genuinely surprised. Though a tiny sliver of the previously mentioned Grunge vibes still linger, A Pale Horse Named Death have delivered what is perhaps the most Doom Metal laden album to date. On top of that, they also crafted the most Type-O Negative release with Infernum in Terra, as there’s a healthy presence of Gothic Metal atmosphere also. I find it so baffling that many reviews of this band tend to be negative, when it’s records like this that bring back the Goth legends of old and fill that decade-plus hole after Pete Steele passed away back in 2010. Regardless, if APHND’s 3rd outing wasn’t what you were looking for, then maybe this one might be more to what you want.

1) Ministry - Moral Hygiene (Song) & Mastodon - Hushed And Grim (Song)

I still stand by what I said in 2018: Amerikkkant was one of the best albums of that year. It came out at the right time, and for the most part reflected that period of time quite well. Looking back in hindsight however, I’ve come to realize the faults more & more with each listen. Uncle Al may be too on the nose when it came to the issues he covered, some of the instrumentation/vocal work isn’t quite as good as it could be, etc. Because of it’s faults, it certainly divided the fanbase, and gained the band a few ignorant critics. So when the group’s 15th studio album Moral Hygiene came out back at the beginning of October this year, a lot of fan’s & critic’s fears were laid to rest. Moral Hygeine is a far stronger, far more potent, and seemingly less reactionary than Ministry’s 2018 output. Sure, the material on here still isn’t very subtle, and the stench of Donald Trump isn’t completely gone (Despite not having much of a presence on Amerikkkant), but Al Jourgenson & Co seems much more confident on this album than perhaps anything since 2012. If Amerikkkant disappointed you in any way, then I can tell you that you’ll have a great time with Moral Hygiene.

We also have the Prog Metal juggernaut that is Mastodon. Back in 2017 I highly praised their full-length classic that was Emperor of Sand, as well as their mini-monster that was Cold Dark Place. Both releases were really well done, and helped me become a fan. Casual, but a fan regardless. For a while I thought that nothing after these two would ever be able to top them.......and then Hushed And Grim comes out. If you were a fan of Cold Dark Place, and appreciated the more serious nature of that bite-sized release, then you’ll easily enjoy this. Clocking in at nearly 90 minutes (1 hour, 26 minutes, and 17 seconds. The longest album in their career.), the quartet from Georgia continued exploring a variety of emotions like on EOS & CDP, and paid tribute to their longtime manager & dear friend Nick John at the same time (Passed away from pancreatic cancer back in 2018). Though certainly a little soul-crushing at points, there’s also something weirdly life-affirming at the same time with what’s on this record. I can’t say anything else, other than to give Hushed And Grim a go!

And these were my top 5 albums of 2021. Again, it was easy to get together at first, but when that challenge came in, it became fun to try to fill everything else out. Anyways, I got two final posts for this year, so join me this Friday for some Christmas albums.....that are a bit more normal than some. See you then!




***
If you’d like to look at what I thought the best albums were of last year, check out the link below:

Top 5 Albums of 2020

The Top 5 Games of 2021

Happy beginning of December fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Well, we did it! Somehow, we managed to survive 2021 and all of it’s various troubles & pitfalls. Personally, this year seemed a bit more bearable than the plague-ridden bullcrap of 2020. Make no mistake, this year had it’s own set of problems, but for whatever reason things just felt....better. I don’t know how, but moving through 2021 felt a little bit easier than going through the year before, and not quite as soul crushing. So, to celebrate this occasion, let’s take a look at what I thought the best games of the year were. This list shares a little bit in common with the one I made for 2019: mainly, the fact that many of the titles on here are FPS games. However, I got a twist or two for 2021's list that will certainly surprise some of you. So, without further delay, here are my top 5 games of 2021! Enjoy!

5) Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War (Video)

Call of Duty seems to have been on something of a return to form of sorts in recent titles. The reboot of the Modern Warfare series brought back a lot of the trilogy’s grittiness, and the 4th (Technically the 5th if you count Black Ops 4) entry in the Black Ops series hearkens back to it’s earliest outings. In many ways, Cold War shares the flexibility of how the story moves ala Black Ops 2, not to mention the cast of characters you’ll get attached to. On top of that, the multiplayer continues the enhanced customization that was established in the MW reboot, it adds onto Warzone’s excellent gameplay, and the Zombies mode is just fantastic. If you’re a disciple of the ways of Black Ops, then join the cold war if you haven’t already!

4) Mortal Shell - Steam Edition (Video)

Now this was a game I was excited for!

Unlike Borderlands 3, I wasn’t upset that this ode to Dark Souls was a year exclusive to the Epic Game Store. Cold Symmetry is a smaller studio, and they probably needed the financial help, and thus I can’t complain. So when it finally came out back in August, I quickly picked it & the DLC on the same day, and hot damn was it worth it. Mortal Shell might go by quicker when compared to a release in the Souls trilogy (Along with Bloodborne & Sekiro), but it makes up for that by having tight yet well developed gameplay, and a world that’s varied and unique despite it’s small size. This game may be  faster than the series it takes inspiration from, but it’s still well worth your time.

3) Arthurian Legends (Video)

So this is a game that came out of nowhere!

I’ve only known about this game since near the end of October. In fact, it was due to an accidental discovery in my “Suggestions” on Youtube that I ever found it (Due to the Alpha Beta Gamer channel. I’ll mention the channel again in the Honorable Mentions). I downloaded the 2-level demo, and practically fell in love with it right then & there. Then just a few days afterwards, I bought the game for just a little over 12 dollars......and it was worth every single penny! Despite being the first title from a relatively obscure studio (Scolaro Games), it’s very obvious that they know what they’re doing. Taking on the more fantastical elements of the Arthurian Legends (Hence the game’s name), the game is another wonderful addition to the classic FPS boom in recent years, rightfully earning a place among titles like Dusk or Ion Fury. If you have some change lying around, why not give Arthurian Legends a go!?

2) Quake: 25th Anniversary (Video)

Hard to believe that one of the FPS titans turned 25 years old back in June. My 9 year old self in 1996 was blown away by how it looked, how fast it could be, and how it played. Though I hold Duke Nukem 3d in much higher regard, I still get some huge nostalgia vibes when I play this Industrial meets Lovecraft first person shooter. Cut to this past August, and a free 25th anniversary edition comes out with force! Updated graphics & textures, original soundtrack, and all of the expansion packs (Including a brand new one made) are within this delicious FPS buffet! Playing through everything brought back a lot of childhood memories & nostalgia, and for those who grew up with it back then will get that effect also. For those who didn’t, the 25th Anniversary of Quake is a great portal into the gaming past. From a time when things seemed simple, and we didn’t have all of the drama we have now. For the older generation looking for a nostalgia blast, or for the newer generation that never played games like this, Quake’s 25th anniversary is for you!

Before we get to my number one game of the year, I wanted to go over some honorable mentions. The two titles here couldn’t be any more opposite of each other: One is funny, sexy, and oddly charming, while the other harkens back to one of the grittiest FPS titles of the late 90s. So, with that said, here are my honorable mentions of 2021.

HM1) Futa Fix: Dine & Dash (Video)

Possibly one of the most absurd games I’ve ever come across!

Ironically enough, this American made visual novel came out right near the end of 2020. The 21st of December, as a matter of fact. Now, this has a bunch of stuff I like: cute girls/women, futa (Don’t judge), an absolutely absurd story, and a surprising amount of cleverness behind the entire spectacle. What puts Futa Fix in the honorable mentions is twofold: the story is the same with multiple playthroughs (There’s a good ending & bad ending), and the sex most of the time is okay at best. As problematic as that sounds, I genuinely encourage people to give this novel a go. It’s definitely not for everybody, and I can easily understand why some would drop this like a bad habit & delete it, but this absurd yet charming tale is something to possibly consider.

HM2) Cultic Demo (Video)

Not since the “Honorable Mentions” section all the way back in 2014 have I ever talked about a game demo, but lo & behold this beauty showed up a few months back! I actually found this thing by accident on Youtube thanks to the Alpha Beta Gamer channel (Link here). Much like New Blood Interactive’s 2018 masterpiece Dusk, Cultic’s demo is another heartfelt tribute to the cult classic Blood. Dark, brooding, gory, and fast-paced, this slice of FPS cheesecake bring back the spirit of the 90s, but with a decent touch of modern technology, it’s sure to be a hit when the whole thing comes out.

1) Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery (Video)

Last year I ended my list with Doom Eternal & the re-release of Doom 64. Two of the most highly anticipated games of 2020, and rightfully so. This year? I’m ending this on a title a lot of you might not have heard of. Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery. Developed by the Taiwanese game group Silver Lining Studio, this game is the exact opposite of the two FPS releases I mentioned above. Behind the Frame is calm, soothing, relaxing, charming, and has a mild Ghibli-esque look in terms of it’s visuals and animation. The puzzles you solve are fun but not terribly complex, and the story is easy to get into. It does play for a short amount of time (I beat it in an hour & 6 minutes if I recall correctly), but it doesn’t feel like it goes by too fast, and there’s definitely some encouragement to go through a second time (Maybe even a 3rd or 4th if you’re trying to grab all the achievements). If you want something to soothe the soul & warm the heart, especially after the kind of year 2020 & this year was, you can’t go wrong with Behind the Frame!

And those were the top 5 games of 2021. This was certainly an interesting mix of games, as there’s something for everybody on this list. Fantasy, 80s Cold War, a return of a legend, you name it! So, I’ll see you all next Monday, for I have quite the list of top 5 albums this year. See you then!


***
If you’d like to look at what I thought the best games were of last year, check out the link below:

Top 5 Games of 2020

Album Review: U.D.O.'s We Are One

Strap in fellow Otaku & Metalheads. This one’s going to be long.

2020. A year that we all want to forget, but a year that we’ll sadly never forgot. A horrific plague swept the Earth, derailing all sorts of giant social gatherings, killing swathes of people, and injuring many more. Here in the United States, I believe the death total is over seven hundred thousand at this point (Please correct me if this is not the case). Not only that, but there’s so much false information about not only the plague, but the vaccinations, masks, and so many other things that can nip all of this in the bud. Coupled with increasing racial tensions & political corruption/incompetency due to the actions of the thankfully ousted Donald J. Trump (Vomited in my mouth a little after typing that), it seems that just about everything in my home country is up in flames, but if you want to see someone describe how everything looked in the world back in mid-July of 2020 (And still right now, if I’m being honest), take a gander at this behemoth of a letter.

“Dear Udo Friends,

I’m writing these lines at the end of April 2020. Corona is ruiling the headlines and all of our day to day activities. I am currently in the Cologne area after I was able to “Rescue” myself by driving to Germany from Ibiza two weeks ago after several weeks of total isolation.

I am currently in the studio with Sven almost every day and we are working together on the upcoming U.D.O. album, which should be released in the coming year (2021). The guys behind the band are all at home and only connected to our studio via Skype. Actually, we all wanted to come together in the studio because this type of work has proven itself on our last album “Steelfactory”. No chance, since this virus has a firm grip on the world...

THE WORLD! OUR WORLD! OUR ONLY WORLD!

Our world is dying! A little more every day! And we are all responsible for it. We are heading towards enormous problems and those “Doing Nothing” are responsible for the consequences. To make matters worse, there are ever increasing tendencies toward nationalist and right wing structures that lead to more isolation and selfishness. This is happening right now at a time when the whole world should be acting in a unified and collaborative manner. Unfortunately, lost for power, lobbying, selfishness and a giant dose of stupidity are preventing a better world for everyone.

- The rainforest in Brazil is burning. Billions of animals are dying in the flames and the world is watching as a “President” allows this to happen.
- The oceans are full of plastic and the world is watching millions of animals cruelly die from the plastic. Nevertheless, we continue to produce tons of plastic waste every day.
- Dictator, tyrants and the right-wing people are gaining more and more power and the world is watching.
- A corporation is obviously poisoning entire insect cultures worldwide, not to mention the bees and humans themselves with its pesticide. The world is watching.
- Car companies are massively damaging our environment with fake emissions data and the world is watching.
- In Australia (And Worldwide), we had true flame infernos in forest fires last year and again, billions of animals painfully burned to death, proven effects of climate change and the world is watching. Many a president denies climate change and yet, they still have chances of being re-elected. Our forests. The lungs of the world are burning while most people are not really worried and continue to live their lives the same way!
- Refugee camps in Europe are full of suffering people and the world is watching. There are thousands of traveling children who are alone in refugee camps in Europe, living in the worst of circumstance and being exposed to many dangers every day, and we can’t even bring these children to us and give them a new future? For months now, our politicians have been discussing whether we can get the children out of these! It is shameful!

There are currently many trillions in corona funding under discussion worldwide. Part of these funding is for prehistoric companies that will continue to pollute our environment in the extreme. Wouldn’t it be better to invest the money in new technologies such as fuel cells to help save our only and unique world instead of spending the money on polluting companies just because they have more power through their expensive lobbyists? Should we not take advantage of the unique opportunity for a better world just so a few people can keep stuffing their pockets at our own expense? Should we save jobs that, by design, exterminate our insects and bees worldwide? I think no! The free world must stand together and ensure that this ball does not continue to roll while many thousands of people are kept as slaves for years just to build new (football) stadiums! Unfortunately our politicians all too frequently play in the many-sided concert of injustices!

One could get the impression that this world is doomed and that humans are the biggest scum in global history. There is considerable evidence of this! I am not a scientist, but I have the hope that we will still be able to change this current course. Of course, there are a lot of stupid, selfish and bad people (Even several leaders of the largest countries cannot deny the accusation), but there are also a great deal of wonderful, good people and I am encouraged by this.

Check out the fantastic people within the Fridays For Future movement, or those from Greenpeace, Medicines Sans Frontiers and learn their names. This is my hope.

At FFF, young people are getting straight to the point of what we should be doing: “Save the world. It’s the only one we have and there is no planet b” and I feel really terrible when I hear the accusations against FFF from the ranks of some politicians. How can you make Greta Thunberg to appear negative and even hostile? This young lady is remarkable and deserves all the respect in the world. She has my deepest personal respect!

Rebel Town handled the demonstrations in Lepzig as well as in many other cities in East Germany that finally brought down the wall in Germany in 1989. We “The Little People can also achieve something like this. We only have to stick together and stand up for our goals. Be brave out there and be uncomfortable for the offenders! Fight!”

Nothing will change if we accept everything as is and do not tackle these abuses. And we ourselves also need to change. Starting with little things like dealing with plastic waste and avoiding waste and also in our mutual human interaction. Luckily, metal fans are mainly very open and tolerant people. One could almost conclude that we need more metal in everyday life. A cool idea! In any case, I’m thankful to be part of this scene!

We need more understanding and love in our interaction with each other. And right-wing thinking must not be tolerated. It isn’t self-explanatory that most of the right or at least “Right-Leaning” politicians deny global warming and don’t give a shit about looking after the environment, people and animals?

We need to break out of our paralyzing comfort and finally act ourselves. Set an example! Write to your politicians and demand that they opt for humanity and not for money and everything behind it! Support the actions of organizations like FFF, Greenpeace, the WWF, etc. Help people and help yourself. Become active! Small steps eventually rest in a very big step.

Our current album is frighteningly more relevant today and we could have ever imagined. The Coronavirus has shut down the world. Was it created in an incredibly cruel animal market in China or did it escape from a laboratory? I don’t know, but I don’t tend toward conspiracy theories and certainly not doomsday scenarios (I guess it was the transmission from the unspeakable animal market). Regardless, we must take this virus and it’s effects extremely seriously. A new virus could go around the world tomorrow: One that is even worse and more cruel than Covid 19.

But please note that Corona is just a tiny little fucker. The big thing to come and we have to prevent whatever it takes is global warming with all negative impacts for us (Billions of death cases, famine, crop failures, floods, extreme climate changes, etc) worldwide. And there is no vaccination against global warming! We have to do everything possible and impossible in order to avoid global warming since once it is out of control, there is no going back to normal life.....

We changed the world through our actions, both positively and negatively. Where the journey goes is in our hands. I am afraid that the last decisive journey is imminent and I hope that we will be able to act sensibly and cautiously and look toward a great future for people, animals and our environment. WE ONLY HAVE ONE PLANET AND WE ARE ALL UNITED. WE ARE PEOPLE!

WE ARE ONE”

Those of you who are in the know may recognize this rather lengthy letter, but those that don’t, these are the first words when you look within the CD packet for U.D.O.’s 16th studio album, We Are One. That’s right everybody, I’m going with my “Loose” approach to my no. 1 record of the year before. Well, technically one of three no. 1 releases from 2020. I certainly considered reviewing the more lighter releases like Skycrest from Iron Savior or A Christmas Carol from Majestica, but I felt that this outing from one of Germany’s most iconic bands was most appropriate, given how things still suck, despite being better than the year before.

Udo Dirkschneider, despite being near 70, is still a master metal general. The power he commands, along with the rest of his band, is nothing short of incredible. Like any smart military leader however, they know that going into battle with a partner sometimes creates greater chances of success than going in alone, and that’s exactly what Udo did. Enlisting the help of another equally power German music group to help him with this album.....Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr. Who are the Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, you may be asking? Well, these guys just so happen to be the official orchestra of the German military! Don’t believe me? Give the sample below a try, and see what I mean!

Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr - Summon The Heroes

See!? Take U.D.O.’s metallic might, and have it right alongside Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s majesty, and the end result is nothing short of incredible! Somehow, the Heavy Metal guitars, bass, drumming, and vocal work, meshes with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s orchestral playing seemingly flawlessly. This also ties in with the message that Udo is going for with We Are One: the world is going to potentially go to irreparable hell in a hand basket, and we gotta do what we can to make sure that it doesn’t happen. Dirkschneider would always dabble with politics/social issues on a song or two, but for the first time in his entire career he dedicated an entire record to political & social issues. There’s one issue I have with this (More on that later), but I will say that he holds his ground on what he believes within this release, and he doesn’t let anyone push him back. With such a big release, you could see why he needed the help from one of the most premier orchestras in the world!

This all culminates in what is one of my absolute favorite albums of this new decade. The raw heaviness of the guitars & bass, the Thor-like thunder of the drums, Udo’s voice that still sounds like it did all the way back in 1979 on the very first Accept record, and Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s equal level of mastery of orchestral playing all get together and produce some of the most genuine metal magic my ears have ever heard. Not since the days of Apocalyptica have I ever heard metal with an orchestra done so well, and while a few other bands have come close in prior years, I’m not sure they were able to obtain quite as much as U.D.O. have with We Are One.
    
Picking what the best track from this album was easy for me, and that has to go to the juggernaut that is Neon Diamond! The saxophone that shows up a few seconds in is a little jarring at first, but that immediately goes away when said saxophone playing is both really good, and gives the song a huge 1980s vibe whenever it plays. Hell, the whole song sounds like a lost Accept/U.D.O. track from the 80s. From the guitar & bass, to the drumming, and to Dirkschnider’s & guest vocalist Manuela Markewitz’s singing. Coupled with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s orchestral playing, Neon Diamond feels like a tune that could fit perfectly in any 1980s action movie, and nobody would say anything bad about that.

Neon Diamond

So with all of the praise I gave this album, you’re probably thinking that there are no criticisms with We Are One.....and I almost didn’t want to find any. However, I do happen to have one small nitpick, and that’s with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr themselves. Not that they don’t perform well, because they do so with incredible talent & skill! Across all 15 tracks they mesh with U.D.O.’s classic Heavy Metal style seamlessly, and both sides become incredible partners. That being said, I do find that they are used better on some songs than other. For every track like Neon Diamond, you got a song like Pandemonium where it still sounds good, but the orchestra accompanying the metal instrumentation & singing could have matched up better. But taking that nitpick aside, Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr still deliver quality orchestral music alongside Udo Dirkschneider’s squad of metal troops, and it’s a sound that’s some of the best of the beginning of this decade.

Outside of that nitpick, my only fault with the album has to be the message & goals behind the music. Make no mistake: the sentiment behind every word sung is heartfelt. The idea of getting together and making the world a better place, as hokey & cheesy as it sounds, is something that I bet many people believe in and do their best to actually partake in throughout their lives. However, I feel that Udo may be too optimistic on We Are One. I feel like he’s maybe looking at things through glasses that are too clean, and not ones that maybe have a scratch or two on the lens. I still stand by and say that people throughout the world need to listen to this album, not to mention listen to what Udo’s trying to say, but at the same time maybe look at things a little more realistically when trying to change things for the better.
            
We Are One gets a 10 out of 10. Even with that one tiny (And I mean absolutely tiny) nitpick and my only criticism, U.D.O have crafted an album that perfectly reflects what’s going on, and will hopefully become an absolute classic a decade or two from now. I know that it’s a classic right now with me at least.

And this was my review for We Are One. One of my 3 number one albums of 2020, and maybe even my absolute favorite. Like I said probably a bunch of times throughout this review, the world needed this album & the messages within. 2021 was certainly better, but we can definitely work on it some more. With that fellow Otaku & Metalheads, December is near, and the last few posts of the year are incoming. So join me in a few days, when I’ll show off the games that made this year great. See you soon!



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

We Are One

Also, if you’d like to see my no. 1 album of 2019, click on the link below:

Album Review: Rammstein’s Rammstein

My Top 10 Youtubers

Hi there fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Before we get to one of my number 1 albums of 2020, I wanted to take a brief detour into the Top 10 neighborhood. Not since March (September if you want to be really picky) have I done one of these, and today’s list is one I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. I think it’s a safe bet to say that there’s a Youtuber for every single color of the rainbow. Some are old, some are young. Some have a legacy that’s still around to this day, while others are beginning to establish a legacy of their own. Suffice it to say, I’ve watched a ton of Youtube since 2005, and I’ve come to love a variety of content creators.....so why not show who I love off to you? Here are my top 10 Youtubers! Let’s begin!

10) Super Huuman (Video)
If there was a Youtuber that embodied “Pleasure From Suffering”, it would be Super Huuman. I discovered this guy back in 2019 if I recall correctly, and he’s become an internet guilty pleasure for me. He’s not really that complex of a creator: he just does dumb wrestling move stunts, often with painful & hilarious results. Not much else I can say.

9) Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time (Video)
I sort of feel bad for these guys. A parody/tribute to one of the most iconic/infamous channels out there, Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time (ROSMT for short) are absolute dorks. When they’re not peeling potatoes with their own skin, cutting onions or carving meat with an axe, or causing mass destruction in the kitchen, they’re also performing some incredibly goofy skits. Whether it’s assembling an IKEA chair, or having to deal with the demonic entity that is Mr. Fox, you’re bound to see something ridiculous. After one of the cast had a child, and another saying that ROSMT was more of a hobby than anything else (Despite having a nice business on the side), the signs were put up for all to see. It’s a shame, as their old content is still entertaining, and I suspect that they would still be going strong today. Still, there’s a moment here and there where I swear I hear the faint sound of Swenglish echo in the wind, and the smell of Swedish food wafts in front of my nose.

8) Commander’s Quarters (Video) & Game Knights (Video) & Quest For The Janklord (Video)
For anyone who knows me personally, you’ll know that I’m a huge Magic The Gathering dork. I’ve been playing for almost 20 years, and I confess there’s been years where I wasn’t always the greatest player. Hell, even now I know I’m not always the best, but after discovering these three channels, I like to say that I’ve gained a little more knowledge. Each of these channels provided something unique to me: Commander’s Quarters gave me great ideas for inexpensive decks to make, Game Knights showed me that force sometimes is a good thing, and Quest For The Janklord told me to relax & make something weird once in a while (While also providing some entertaining skits & a weirdly intriguing story). There’s definitely something for any magic player on each of these channels, so give them all a go, and see what you think!

7) The Proper People (Video)
Urban Exploration has always fascinated me. Whether in this country or abroad, I always thought it would be cool to wander through various decrepit hotels, factories, and other locals. Thankfully, I can do that in the safety of my own home through The Proper People channel! Having produced content for the past 7 years, they’ve taken a look through a lot of places. The Glass Bank in Florida, numerous mental hospitals, and two abandoned nuclear reactors are just some of the places that these fine chaps have examined. What’s also cool is how much they respect the places they go to, as they make sure not to cause damage, and they never take anything. Good on you Proper People.....good on you!

6) Binging With Babish (Video) & HowToDrink (Video)
Some more cooking!

Okay, I gotta take a slight step back. Only one of these channels is cooking related. At over 9 million subscribers, and having made cooking videos since February of 2016, Binging With Babish has been simultaneously entertaining & informative. He’s taken on all kinds of real-life recipes, as well as numerous dishes from pop culture. From Bubble Bass’s orders from the Krusty Krab, to Squid Ink Pasta from Jojo, and just fairly recently Apple Cider Donuts, Babish has taken on a wide variety of foods with various degrees of success. HowToDrink is fundamentally in the same camp, but with an obvious focus of cocktails. He’s worked on real life Tiki cocktails, the Blue Milk from Galaxy’s Edge, and the flaming behemoth that is Café Brulot (That video was particularly entertaining on account of how scared the host was). Both of these channels are incredibly informative, and give out great recipes to try. If you’re interested in cooking or cocktail making, you’ll want to check these two out!

5) Sabaton History (Video)
I’m somewhat surprised that I didn’t put this channel higher. I recall being incredibly excited for this channel when the glorious Swedes began hyping it back in late 2018, and in early February of the next year the first episode premiered to a great amount of fanfare from the Sabaton faithful. For over 2 years, Joakim & Par talked about the background of the song in each episode, while the host of the series, Indy Neidell, talked about the history behind the track. They’ve covered practically everything in their entire discography, as well as a few side subjects (Heavy Metal history, for example). If they were a little slower with putting out each episode, and by extent making the show last a little longer, I may have put this channel a little higher on the list. Still, Sabaton History is a damn good channel, and whether you’re a fan of the music or the historical content, there is something for everybody here.

4) AVGN (Video)
The pioneer of the angry content reviewer, James Rolfe still manages to be relevant to this very day. It’s pretty remarkable that he can still be entertaining not just with his original character, but with many of the others that have come out over the ages. Though he’s looked at games from console & old computer’s past, in recent years he’s come over to the PC Master Race with some select reviews that really struck a chord with me. If he covered more PC games I may have considered putting the nerd a little higher on this list, but even if he didn’t I still find him not only to be nearly infinitely enjoyable to watch, but also an internet cornerstone that’s still standing strong today.

3) Civvie 11 (Video)
If you are an AVGN fan, or at the very least a fan of AVGN’s style of reviews, then you may like the maximum security prisoner CV-11. Take James Rolfe’s formula, focus on PC titles, and make an absolutely ridiculous backstory for one’s character, and you have Civvie. In a weird way I kinda feel a little more sympathy for Civvie, as he actually looks at a variety of games in terms of quality. Good, bad, mediocre, it doesn’t matter. Civvie has played games that would break lesser men.....as long as he wasn’t getting tazed for making too many Gordon Ramsey references, or being sent into the cold room for not wanting to finish Island Peril. If you wanted AVGN that covered a wider base of games, then this sad prisoner will be someone to watch!

2) LGR (Video)
By a nose hair or two did this channel miss the number one spot. For 14 years, LGR (Real name Clint) has been releasing all sorts of videos. Game reviews, PC parts review & analysis, thrift store adventures, unboxings, and even making sandwiches. LGR is a jack-of-all-trades kind of channel, yet there’s a consistent level of quality across everything he does. Not only that, but he’s also incredibly warming & welcoming, and manages to be pretty funny at just the right moment. Again, LGR just managed to miss being no. 1......but as usual on some recent years, you’re not going to be surprised at who did make it to the number one spot.

Before we get to my number 1, I wanted to talk about some honorable mentions. These two creators are the ultimate example of “Fallen From Grace” to me. Their content is good, no question asked, but maybe I don’t seek them out for.....personal reasons. Anyways, here are my Youtuber honorable mentions.

HM1) Razorfist (Video)
I find myself so conflicted with putting this.....guy, on this list anyway. Before a certain cheeto became president, he was more of an elitist gamer/metalhead youtuber that would delve into other geeky things once in a while. Once said cheeto became president, he became insufferably political, and it only got worse with each passing year. Nowadays, almost every video he puts out is some form of political video where he gets almost every fact wrong, and is just a far-right grifter that pours fuel on the fire in order to keep viewers glued to his hipster ass. 9 times out of 10 I stay far away from his channel on account of not wanting a brain aneurysm, but on rare occasions I come over to watch his older content, and the exceedingly rare modern video that even remotely interests me.

HM2) Vegan Black Metal Chef (Video)
I recall all the way back in 2011 when I first watched this bloodthirsty warlock set out to craft some of the most surprisingly great vegan food. Taking one part Julia Child, mixing in a little Darkthrone, and add a dash of humor, and you have a recipe for a surprisingly entertaining channel. He fell out of favor for me when I discovered an interview with him on ABC Nightline, and he came across like one of the self-righteous vegans that think they’re morally superior to anyone who even gets close to animals. He wasn’t necessarily smug, but you could sort of see a subtle “I’m Judging You” face when he was talking to the reporting. Still, his recipes are good (The ones I like at least), and I think the concept of a Black Metal musician cooking vegan food is kind of funny.

1) Silvervale (Video A/Video B) & Doug The Pug (Video)

Of course the most charming Sakura Wolf girl is going to be at number 1! No one.....especially people that know me personally.....should not be surprised by this! I’m not even sure what else I can say at this point about her: Silvervale is one of the sweetest, bighearted, warmest, and most hardworking Vtuber that’s out there. Maybe even the most, if I’m being honest. She puts so much work into even the littlest videos, and there’s also her real-life Mother & Brother that come in and join the fun as well (Their interactions are cute & fuzzy). Every single cent she gets from donations or when people buy her merch......she earns.

And then there’s Doug The Pug. For 6 to 7 years, this heartwarming little pooch, along with his kind owners, have crafted some of the cutest dog videos the internet has seen. Not only that, but Doug has gone to numerous children’s charities, and the attention that’s given to the kids is nothing short of warm & fuzzy amped up to 10. It might be silly to love a dog like Doug & his adorable antics so much, but when you’ve had dogs throughout your entire life, you’ll understand. 3 cheers for Doug!

And those were my top 10 Youtubers. All of the content creators here have made some fine material, and they all have earned their spot in the reaches of the internet. Well, I’m taking a break, but come back towards the end of the month, when I’ll show off one of my number 1 albums of the plague ridden year that was 2020. See you then!

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Ordinary Man

Happy November fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

It’s time for a little bit of self reflection once again everybody. Last year I began a tradition of taking a look at some of the albums from a year prior, and seeing if I still liked them as much as I did when I first sat down & listened to them. 2021 is no different, as I got some behemoths to look at from the plague-ridden year that was 2020. As awful as that year was, some of the best Heavy Metal of the beginning of this decade (Maybe even of this decade period by the end of it) came out. Today is the honorable mention review, and it’s one that I wish wasn’t one. The musician in question has been around for 50 years at this point, and he’s certainly made a legacy for himself. So, get a glass of wine, toast to all the good times you’ve had, and take a look at my review of Ozzy Osburne’s 12th studio album, Ordinary Man. Let’s begin.

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“Ordinary Man is Osbourne's first studio album as a solo artist in ten years following Scream (2010). It is also his first album overall since he reunited with Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for their final album 13 (2013), with him as lead singer. After the release of 13, they went on a farewell tour titled The End Tour, which ended in Birmingham, England on 4 February 2017. After Black Sabbath concluded their farewell tour, Osbourne kept working on new material. In September 2019, he was featured alongside American rapper Travis Scott on American rapper Post Malone's "Take What You Want", from Malone's third studio album Hollywood's Bleeding, which went on to become Osbourne's first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 in over 30 years, thus making it the longest gap between top 10 appearances in the chart's history. On 8 November 2019, it was revealed that Osbourne had worked with Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on the album. Speaking about the recording, he commented that the entire album process is done "in just a short time", adding "Duff and Chad came in and we would go in and jam during the day and I would go work out the songs in the evenings. I previously had said to Sharon I should be doing an album, but in the back of my mind I was going, 'I haven't got the fucking strength.' But Andrew pulled it out of me. I really hope people listen to it and enjoy it, because I put my heart and soul into this album."”

Ordinary Man would be met with mostly high praise upon it’s release. AllMusic critic Fred Thomas gave the record an almost positive review, writing “The production is huge but the energy is spontaneous, sounding like it was as fun to make as it is to listen to. 71 years old at the time Ordinary Man was released, Osbourne's voice is in great shape, sounding more or less like he always has. How he's making music this strong after riding the crazy train for more than half-a-century is anyone's guess, but the better songs here rank among his best.” Josh Gray of Clash magazine said that “Ordinary Man is far from perfect, but all Ozzy Osbourne's solo releases tend to reflect their creator's flaws to one degree or another. It does, however, absolutely succeed on its own terms, serving its purpose by reminding the world just what we'll miss when this titan among titans finally departs us for good.”

Ordinary Man would debut at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with 77,000 equivalent units, including 65,000 pure album sales. The release is Ozzy’s eighth top ten album on the chart as a solo artist, and would also debut at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

Basic Description
Ozzmosis’s spiritual successor.

That might sound like a bad thing for some, given the reputation of that release. However, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Sure, Ozzmosis was a album composed entirely of ballads, but it also was perhaps Ozzy’s most self-reflective at the time. Ordinary Man is much the same way: an album devoted to looking at one’s past, sprinkled with little bits of fantasy to give the record a dream-like feel at times. Perhaps the biggest difference from Ozzmosis however, is that there’s more variety on here. You got fast-paced tracks, you got middle-of-the-road tracks, and you’ve got some slower-paced songs also. This variety in song speeds gives Ordinary Man more of a unique personality than it’s 1995 counterpart, and because of that endears me to the album.

Best Track
The title track is definitely the juggernaut of the album. Looking into his past once again, Ozzy really pours his heart out, and offers another introspective look into his life. The piano that plays throughout a giant portion of the track adds a big melancholy vibe, and the instrumentation reflects this as well. Even Elton John, despite being a guest singer for just a portion of the song (He’s also the guy playing the piano), adds some of his own self-reflection to the tune. It’s hard not to feel the age of these two musical legends, as they’ve certainly gone through some pretty big trials & tribulations throughout their exceptionally long lives. Again, the juggernaut of the album.

Ordinary Man

However, I do want to briefly talk about his collab with Post Malone. It’s A Raid is the exact opposite of the album’s title track: fast, energetic, and is a hell of a lot of fun. Post in particular provides a youthful energy with his voice, and on the surface you’d think his presence wouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Ozzy’s gruff voice, combined with Posty’s surprisingly clean vocal delivery, makes for an entertaining Yin/Yang kind of feel. This is a track you shouldn’t skip.....period.

It’s A Raid

Worst Track
There isn’t a bad song on Ordinary Man per se, but it’s more of a collection of things that hurt what otherwise could have been something incredible. For starters, there’s Ozzy’s voice. To play a little bit of devil’s advocate, he was having some health issues at the time (He found out about his Parkinson’s during the recording or after the album came out. I can’t remember.), and as such it would be understandable if his singing wasn’t up to snuff. Still, there’s a lot of auto-tune on this album, and it shows up in odd places across the entire record. The second, and perhaps the most shocking, is that there are a horde of people on Ordinary Man. Despite being a solo record, there are 54 additional musicians brought on to help, some of which are pretty damn notable. Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slash from Guns & Roses, Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine, and Post Malone (Perhaps the most important guest musician weirdly enough) on vocals for two songs and composition. Those are just some of the big names that came onto this record. Finally, and to bounce off of the big amount of additional musicians, there were 26 additional people that worked on the engineering, mixing, production, and recording. That’s a lot of people to work on a record, and you can sometimes gets some hiccups because of said amount of individuals. There’s a few more issues, but these 3 are the ones that are the most notable to me.

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

Ordinary Man

Overall Impression & Rating
Ordinary Man is certainly Ozzy. There’s absolutely no question about it. From beginning to end, you’re treated to a kind of rollercoaster that only the Blizzard of Ozz could provide, and it’s a hell of a ride. However, it’s got some dents in it’s armor, and it obvious that Ozzy sort of needed the help on this record. Still, there’s definitely some material on here that’s absolutely fantastic, and many of the tracks are absolute bangers. I can understand why some people might not like this release, but if you put that dislike aside, you can definitely find something great.....with being ordinary.

Ordinary Man is a 6 to 6.5 out of 10, but I enjoyed it as if it was an 8 out of 10.

And that was Ordinary Man. Certainly not a dumpster fire like some of the negative critics have said it was (Go over to Metal Archives, and you’ll see what I mean), but it definitely isn’t top tear either. Still, for whatever reason I dig the hell out of this album whenever I play it, as there’s definitely something badass here. Still, Ozzy could have done better, but at the same time this definitely isn’t an awful way to end a career on if it’s the case. Well, before we take a look at one of my number 1 albums of last year (I had 3 no. 1 albums in 2020 if you recall), it’s time for a 10 top list that I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. See you next week!

*** 

If you're curious about what honorable mention I looked at last year, then click on the link below:

Album Review: A Pale Horse Named Death's When The World Becomes Undone

Album Review: Van Halen's A Different Kind Of Truth

Happy Halloween Fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

This is it everybody! The one time of the year where mortals & the spirits walk alongside each other. The one time of year that Pumpkin Spice is just a little more potent, and the candy flows even more than Christmas. For people like myself, we bring out the albums that are perhaps a bit spooky. The albums that send chills up our spine, and the albums that may sometimes attract the restless spirits of dead music lovers. As you’ve obviously noticed, I’ve been covering a much less scary band this October in tribute to Eddie Van Halen, who’s now been dead for just over a year now. I took a look at the original run at the beginning of the month, Sammy Hagar’s reign in the middle, and now we’re at the end, and I saved what may be the best for last. So, grab a big bucket of sugary sweets, spray your hair with so much Aquanet that you make a fog cloud in the room, and somehow read my review for A Different Kind Of Truth. Boo!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“The genesis for this album goes back as far as 2000, when the band briefly reunited with David Lee Roth after scrapping Love Again, the second album that would have featured Gary Cherone. The band, with Michael Anthony returned to the studio to write and record some of the tracks that would eventually find their way onto A Different Kind of Truth. Most of the tracks written/recorded were originals and not the reworked tracks spearheaded by Anthony's replacement on bass, Wolfgang Van Halen. A source cited in the article claims to have heard 2000 recordings of future ADKOT tracks "Honeybabysweetiedoll", "As Is", "Blood and Fire" and "The Trouble With Never".

In 2007, Van Halen reunited with original lead singer David Lee Roth – who had left the band in April 1985, at the peak of their global popularity – for a North American Tour. This tour added bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, the then-16-year-old son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli, forcing out original bassist Michael Anthony, who would go on to form both Chickenfoot and Sammy Hagar and the Circle with Van Halen's second lead singer, Sammy Hagar. The reunion tour consisted of 74 shows from September 2007 to June 2008, and became the band's highest-grossing tour of its thirty-year history, earning over $93 million. Eddie Van Halen was reluctant about the possibility of recording new material with Roth in 2009, citing the poor reaction to the three new songs recorded with Hagar for the 2004 compilation Best of Both Worlds. After Wolfgang became enthusiastic about recording a new Van Halen album, Eddie's opinion changed: "We're doing this [album] for us."

Eddie, Wolfgang and Alex Van Halen began jam sessions at the former's 5150 Studios three months after the tour's completion. During this time, Wolfgang discovered rough, unreleased demos from the band's archives. After listening to these and believing they had potential, he brought them to Alex and Eddie to rework and refine. The first of these tracks, "She's the Woman," was completed by August 2009. It had originally been demoed by the band in the mid-1970s. Roth decided to join the project after hearing this song, as well as two other reworked tracks: "Let's Get Rockin'" – later renamed "Outta Space" – and "Bullethead."

Wolfgang's original intention with the album was to create a collection of previously released "b-sides" (According to Eddie, this would mean deep album tracks such as "Drop Dead Legs" and "Girl Gone Bad") along with three reworked demos, with Eddie saying: "It would [have been] a record of our more hardcore songs and none of the pop stuff. That was the initial plan, but the deeper we dug, the more we found. At the same time I was writing new songs. Dave got very excited about that. We all did. We ended up recording demos for 35 songs." After deliberating over whether to self-produce the album or choose a producer from a list that included Rick Rubin and Pat Leonard (who had involvement on their scrapped album Love Again), Roth suggested John Shanks. Shanks liked the first three songs, and agreed to produce the album, working alongside Wolfgang to pick the demos that would be developed into the album's tracks. While all of Van Halen's albums since 1984 had been produced inside 5150, Roth persuaded the band to work at Henson Recording Studios—where he had been recording for more than a decade.”

The reception of the album was met with positive reviews, and was also a commercial success. A Different Kind Of Truth entered the US Billboard 200 at No. 2, selling 188,000 copies in the first six days of it’s release, becoming the group's 14th consecutive top ten album in the country. By the end of 2012, it would have sold 411,000 copies, making it the 71st best-selling record of the year & the third highest-selling hard rock album. It also debuted at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 14,040 copies, making it the highest-charting release in the country. In Japan, it wound up being at No. 3 on the Oricon chart, and was one of the few western albums to appear on their year-end tally, finishing at number 89 with 79,517 copies sold.

Basic Description
Van Halen resurrected......and a reluctant way to go.

This right here is the return of a legend. Whatever cobwebs or rust they may have accumulated since 1998 in terms of album output were completely cleaned off by this record. Though the original incarnation of Van Halen came back a few times beforehand, this album truly feels like they’re back together. All of the pomp, all of the awesomeness, all of the 1980s vibes, you name it. David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, and Alex Van Halen feel like they’re more connected on this album then perhaps any other during their original lineup. Wolfgang Van Halen, meanwhile, is a great replacement for longtime bassist Michael Anthony, and despite this being the only record he played on, has some damn good skills. Sadly however, A Different King Of Truth would ultimately be the final album on which to end their storied career on. You obviously know why.

Best Track
Tattoo is a hell of a way to show that the band was back. The band had one foot in the door of the past: the whole song is steeped in the band’s original David Lee Roth run. There’s a massive amount of 1980s Hair Metal/Hard Rock nostalgia all over, complete with guitar, bass, and drums that feel like they could only have come from that decade (In terms of playing). On the other hand, the band also have their other foot in the door of the present. The recording & production make the whole song sounds fresh & crisp, as there’s no slipup or stutter though the whole track. On top of that, the band feels incredibly energized, and not at all like the “Dinosaurs” that some of their detractors called them. Definitely the right song to open things up!

Tattoo

Worst Track
Honestly, the only bad thing about A Different Kind Of Truth.....is that this was it. No more Van Halen albums came right after this. The band certainly did a few extra tours, but there were no signs of anymore records. It’s a shame, because this album is so damn good!

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

A Different Kind Of Truth

Overall Impression & Rating
A Different Kind Of Truth was a welcome return to the old days. After the dumpster fire that was Van Halen III, going back to the past seemed like a great change of pace. Sure, this was the last thing they put out, and that it’s the only time father & son were together on a record, but it effectively became a hell of a way to go out on. Definitely an album to have in your collection!

A Different Kind Of Truth gets a 9.5 out of 10. A hell of a record to end a career on.

And that was what would ultimately become their final release, A Different Kind Of Truth. For one last time, we saw one of the greats come back, and deliver perhaps the finest work they’ve ever done. For one last time, some 80s nostalgia came back in force. Eddie Van Halen.....I salute you! With the spookiest time of the year now in the rear view mirror, it’s time to revisit a tradition I started last year. So see me in about a week (Maybe less), when I’ll take a look at one of my honorable mentions from the plague ridden year that was 2020. Take care, and be well!