Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 22: 20 Years Later

I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001. It had been about 4 days into my 9th grade year in High School. That whole morning was nice: I woke up, had breakfast, got a hug from my mom, and off I went to school. So for the first few hours, all seemed well. Then an announcement rang over the entire intercom system for everyone to go to the auditorium, and that’s when everybody became a little on edge. The speaker came up onto the stage (It was either the announcement lady or principal. I can’t recall.), and then told us that the first of the two towers had fallen due to a terrorist attack. That announcement alone then put everybody completely on edge for the rest of that day. We weren’t allowed to go home early, for fear that there was going to be another attack. So, we all trudged through that day, nervous & scared than an airplane may or may not crash into the school.

I remember where my Mom & Dad were. Dad was at work for a few hours, and Mom was at home just randomly doing stuff around the house. A friend of hers called her up, and told her to go turn the TV on. If I recall right, I got home before my Father did, but once we were all together things seemed just a little bit better. Curiously enough, this song became something of a reminder to me of that awful day.

Black Hole Sun

Yeah yeah, I know that this is a few days late, but I confess I didn’t know what to do at first. I wasn’t sure I actually wanted to do this, but a curious thing convinced me to do so otherwise. It was this past Saturday during Connecticon, when I was watching the 2nd of 4 Cosplay Pro Wrestling shows. Before it actually took place, they had the audience stand up, and all of the wrestlers come up to the ring, and we all took part in a 10-bell salute to those lost on 9/11. That alone convinced to say something about the occasion. Again, this is a couple days late, but there’s still plenty of sentiment in the air about it, so I don’t think it’s that much of a sin.

Now, I could go into an entire political tirade about how this was all a giant cluster, as well as rage about the consequences we’re facing 20 years later, not to mention all of the increasingly awful fighting between both parties since then......but oddly I won’t. As incredibly tempting as it was to just have brain aneurysm about what happened.....I’m not. This post is about the 2,977 people that died that day (1 of which was a family member on my Mom’s side.). This is about the over 25,000 people who were injured by this event, and those who are still suffering health problem even now because of the collapses. To those that died, I hope you’re at peace. To those that are still with us, I say keep on going. To those that are still hurting, I hope the pain goes away.

So that my thought on 9/11, 20 years later. It’s still incredible to think that the attack happened 2 decades ago, but hopefully we’ve learned something from then. Well, I’m taking a break for the rest of the month, and come October I got another band I’ll be covering for the occasion......but with a twist. See you then!

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Still a highly powerful moment over 2 years later:

Jon Stewart says Congress 'should be ashamed' over inaction on helping 9/11 first responders (PBS)

And still a highly powerful moment over 20 years later:

Lilian Garcia sings the national anthem: SmackDown, Sept. 13, 2001

Convention Review: Connecticon 2021

So this is certainly something unexpected.

It’s been quite a while since I came to Connecticon fellow Otaku & Metalheads. I didn’t come to 2019 for reasons (Long story I don’t want to talk about), and it’s obvious as to why things didn’t happen last year. So when I heard that this glorious convention was coming back, I confess I didn’t believe it at first. Hell, when I pre-registered back in June, I admit that my mind still wasn’t comprehending what was going on. After adjusting, I realized I was coming back to my geeky home in Connecticut after 2 years away, and a little more normality came back not just into my life, but the lives of everyone that showed up. With that said, time to dust up an old tradition, and review my experience at Connecticon. Let the review begin!

Good Points
Before I talk about everything else here, I gotta talk about how tight the entry into the convention was. It was stated months in advance, you were to either have had a negative COVID test, or a picture of your vaccination card. A month or two after that (I can’t recall correctly), things were changed so you actually had to bring the card itself to show to the staff. On top of that, you had to have a mask. Outside of any eating area or the Games Room, you had to have your mask, and the entry wristband that you were given when you were approved. There was also a 20 dollar charge of you broke what held the wristband in place, which is definitely a good incentive to get people to not tamper with it. I was really impressed with how well implemented it all ways, and outside of one issue (See in “Other Points”), I saw everybody wearing masks, and not once did anybody complain for stupid reasons!

Now, let’s go into what was good, and for starters was the atmosphere! Despite a plague hanging relatively high above everyone’s head, the convention was full of people with high spirits. Everything felt a little more happy, the environment a little more colorful, and the people were just a bit more brighter when compared to the disease-filled miasma that was 2020. I didn’t care about everything else necessarily (Even though the rest was good): I just cared about being among a group of like minded individuals in a place where we can all feel safe.....if just for a weekend.

Next up is the amount of stuff that was there. So many panels, so many events, so many dealers & artists, so many other activities, etc. I confess that I didn’t go to that many panels and events on account of just wanting to be there, but the few that I did were top quality. In particular, the Cosplay Pro Wrestling shows (I went to two of them) were an absolute blast! On top of that, the Cosplay Deathmatch was perhaps the most energetic and the most efficient one I’ve ever been to in all my years at Connecticon. The crowd was so cooperative when The Drunks were called upon to solve a tie, and the whole thing lasted for an hour less than it normally was because things were moving along so good!

Finally, this was some of the best damn cosplay I’ve seen since Connecticon 2018. Hell, it was some of the best since Katsucon of last year! Everybody had over a year to make something that would be badass, and by god the badassery was in full gear! However, there was also cosplay of a more simple and humble nature. Costumes that weren’t as complex, but still showed off the artistry & skill of the individuals that made them. Regardless of which style, everyone were themselves when portraying whatever character they summoned. I look forward to whatever 2022 brings!

Okay Points
Possibly the only thing I can think of in this category would be the lack of social distancing. There really wasn’t much of it going on in anyway, save for I think the lines for autographs if I recall correctly. To play a little bit of Devil’s Advocate, they had the strict entry requirements like I talked about in the above section, and have you ever tried to get a horde of geeks/nerds/otaku to follow along (Outside of being quiet when calling upon The Drunks during the deathmatch)? Still, this is the only point I’m putting here.

Bad Points
In all honesty, there isn’t a really bad thing I can say about Connecticon this year. The staff hit it out of the park this year with practically everything they did. From the guests, to the panels & other bits of entertainment, to the COVID regulations, they hit the ball out of the park with incredible skill. About the only thing I could say was bad was the vendors. Now, I’m not complaining about what I could purchase, because I was able to get a bunch of things. I’m commenting more on how many vendors were there. Normally every booth would be filled. This year, I’d guess only two-thirds of the stalls had occupants. This made the Dealer’s Room feel a little smaller than in prior years, but for another case of Devil’s Advocate, some were probably scared off by the plague, which is fair.

Final Thoughts & Rating
Connecticon 2021 was a slice of Heaven in a sea of Plague-Ridden hell. There were some small things that prevented this convention from getting a perfect score, but they in no way ruined how damn good this was. After being away from Hartford for over 2 years, it was great to be back among some of the finest geeks/nerds/otaku in all of the United States! Hopefully, things will be a little more clean by next year, and we won’t have to worry about disease threatening a good time!

Connecticon 2021 gets a 9 out of 10.

And that’s my review. Again, it feels absolutely weird doing one of these, but refreshing at the same time. Hopefully next year, I can get a review up for 2022! Well, join me towards the end of the month, when.....I got something serious to say. See you then!

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If you’re curious about the last time I came to Hartford, then click on the link below:

Convention Review: Connecticon 2018

Also, and I don’t know if this is possible, I’d like to get in contact with John St. Jon’s handler from this year. They did a good job, and I’d like to complement them on it.

Album Review: Battle Beast's Steel

Happy birthday Steel!

That’s right fellow Otaku & Metalheads, we got an album’s birthday today. Okay, this one is rather belated, as the subject of today’s review turned a decade old this year back in April (The 13th of April, to be exact). If anything, today’s review has a tinge of sadness to it , as the band in question has fallen far from grace in recent years. Once a potential Power Metal titan, they have become something of a joke thanks to really bad decisions. However, this isn’t about their present today, but about their past instead. Today’s review covers the very first record that they ever put out. This release shows off the potential of what these guys were capable, and what they could have been. Let’s not waste anymore time, and take a look at the very first album that Battle Beast ever released, and see what this potential was. Let the review begin!

Background
Our story begins in 2010. Before they gained a record contract, Nitte Valo (Lead Vocals), Juuso Soinio (Guitars), Anton Kabanen (Guitars, Backing Vocals, Lyricist), Eero Sipilä (Bass, Narrator, Backing Vocals), Pyry Vikki (Drums), and Janne Björkroth (Keyboards, Orchestral Arrangements, Backing Vocals) were known for winning two major band competitions: the international Wacken Metal Battle 2010, participated by thousands of bands from all around the world, whose final stage was held at the famed German metal festival Wacken Open Air. Soon after that, the band was announced the winner of Radio Rock Starba, a band competition held by the major Finnish radio station Radio Rock. With their victory in RRS, they had received intense exposure by the Finnish media, and before the end of 2010 they signed a deal with Hype Records.

Released in the spring of 2011, Steel was released. Supported by the singles Show Me How to Die and Enter the Metal World, not to mention heavy airplay on Radio Rock, would propel the album to no. 7 on the Finnish charts. Initially released only in Finland, it caught the attention of international metal label Nuclear Blast, with whom the band signed a licensing deal in late 2011. A reissue of the record, which included a bonus track, was released to the European market in January of 2012.

Basic Description
Nerd Metal.

Power Metal by it’s very nature, has always been a little geeky. With many albums often taking on a Fantasy and/or Science Fiction nature, it’s not necessarily hard to see why it’s sometimes called “Nerd Metal”, and there were definitely plenty of bands that incorporated other nerdy things into the fold. However, in my personal opinion, Battle Beast were the first band in the genre to really let the geek fly! The Fantasy & Science Fiction knobs have been turned up to 11 and broken off, and there’s some threads of anime sewn into the music as well. There’s even a dash or two of 80s nostalgia as well, thanks in part to some of the vibes generated. I do have one huge gripe with the album (More on that below), but that gripe doesn’t ruin how awesome this early 2010s entry into the realm of Power Metal can be.

Best Track
The Band of the Hawk is probably the song that’s most often recognized off of Steel. A mid-paced track, this one also is the least obvious when it comes to the Berserk references that Anton Kabanen was known for. It never goes for bleak or depressing however, as the band make out the titular mercenary company to be much more noble & good-hearted than their interpretation in the anime & manga. I do gotta love the lute-like sound that’s used in the semi-softer portions, as it makes the fantasy vibes that much stronger. Definitely the standout track of the album!

The Band of the Hawk

Worst Track
I made a mention of this back in 2019, and I’m repeating myself here. Steel, as fantastic as the instrumentation is. As great as the atmosphere is. As awesome as the 80s vibes are, and as cool as the Berserk & various other anime/fantasy references are.....is a bizarrely restrained album. As all out as the band is going with the instrumentation & keyboarding, Nitte Valo’s vocals aren’t quite what I expected from these guys. She’s not bad by any means, as she can really lay it on & crank up the volume, but there’s something not quite there for me. As such, I think the band reign themselves in because of this. Once Noora Louhimo joined Battle Beast, that’s when they were able to throw off the collar and go nuts on the next two albums (3 if you count Bringer of Pain).

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

Steel

Overall Impression & Rating
Steel is certainly a good album to start a career on. The intensity & passion is evident, and everybody in the band knows their roll and runs with it! Sadly, the restraint that’s shown from the vocals, and by extension the rest of the group because of said vocals, gives the album a massive dent in it’s metallic frame. Still, this is a nice slab of early 2010s Power Metal, and Battle Beast really show off a lot of potential. If you want to wonder how this band got big before their fall, then start right at Steel.

Steel gets a 7.5 out of 10. I was tempted to give it a 7 out of 10, but it’s a much stronger album than that.

And that was my review for the almighty Steel. A great if restrained first album, it was the birth of Battle Beast, and for nearly a decade they raised a lot of nerdy hell. It such a shame that they would throw it all away in an effort to wipe away what made them so good in the first place, and replaced it with.....something. Anyways, I got 1 last post for this month, so stay tuned!

The Top 10 Albums Of The 2000s

Happy 7th Anniversary fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The Heavy Metal Otaku, as you can tell from just above, turns 7 years old here in 2021. 7 years of a buttload of content. Some of it is great, some is just good and/or okay, and I confess there are some posts that are bad. However, we’re not hear for the bad things.....we’re here to celebrate! To kick the celebration off, I wanna talk about the 2000s. More specifically, I want to talk about what I think the best metal albums of that decade were. Like my list at the end of 2019 about the best albums of the 2010s, these releases are the ones that I think represented the decade the best, but feel free to leave comments if you disagree or not. With that out of the way, here are the top 10 albums of the 2000s. Enjoy!

2000) At Vance - Heart of Steel (Song)

Much like Iron Savior’s The Landing from 2011, At Vance’s 2nd album isn’t necessarily much. The lyrics are rather typical of Power Metal (Fantasy, Life, Medieval Themes), and the instrumentation are typical of the style (Typical of late 90s/early 2000s to be specific) as well. However, Heart of Steel doesn’t need to veer away from the norm. Sometimes, it fun to just listen to a warm & fuzzy record. Sometimes, it’s nice to hear about fantastical romance, storming the castle, and much less depressing topics in metal. If you like your Power Metal more on the stereotypical side, you can’t go wrong with this!

2001) Rammstein - Mutter (Song)

I said it back in 2015, and I’m saying it again here: Rammstein’s inaugural releases have not aged well. If you don’t count Live Aus Berlin, their first 3 releases have not necessarily weathered the passage of time all that well. That being said, Mutter is by far the CD that’s aged the best out of the 3. The production & recording technology come across as more modern when compared to what they used in the 90s, and the band feel much more confident when it comes to their lyrics & musicianship. In a weird way I consider this release to be a great gateway album to get into the band: whether forward or backward into their career, Mutter is a nice anchor into Rammstein’s career. Almost 20 years later, I still find this to be a juggernaut of Industrial Metal, and if any of you who haven’t listened to this & are a bit curious.....give it a go!

2002) Korn - Untouchables (Song)

It is through pure nostalgia that Korn’s first release of the new Millenium makes it onto the list. Despite it being released in 2002, I actually got it 3 years later after my folks (Mainly my Mom) finally caved in. As the first album in my collection with the warning label in the corner, it felt like being transition into a new period of my life. Years later, I still dig this album, but I now understand it’s faults that some fans & critics have said for nearly 2 decades. It’s not quite as Nu Metal as their 90s material, they may have been experimenting a little too much, and the band doesn’t seem as connected as they were in the prior decade. Still, Untouchables does stand out from the rest of their material at that point in their career, but it’s still worth your time if you’re curious.

2003) King Diamond - The Puppet Master (Song)

Of course I had to put the king of all Horror Metal on this list! King started the new millenium off with the ambitious yet flawed House of God, then moved into 2002 with what is quite possibly the only bad album in his entire career. With that dumpster fire still raging, he knew he had to correct that wrong, and in 2003 we got the apology in the form of the glorious & brutal The Puppet Master. A more stripped down experience when compared to what came out in 2000, I spoke of at length about this release on Halloween Day back in 2019, so I won’t repeat too much here. Not only is this record the most bizarrely “seasonal” King Diamond has ever made, but it’s also the most emotional and tragic CD in his entire discography. I won’t spoil the story here, but let’s just say that you’ll be crying by the time you are done listening to this.

2004) Motörhead - Inferno (Song)

One of the biggest’s comebacks in metal back in the 2000s, Motörhead’s 2004 behemoth by the name of Inferno lit the world on fire. Though their 2000 & 2002 releases were definitely something, this flaming ball of badass will burn you in all the right ways! There’s a little bit of rock, there’s a little bit of blues, and there’s definitely a hell of a lot of metal. The band were always trying out a bunch of different things, and that is what got them the varied fans even over half a decade since the tragic passing of old-schooler Lemmy Kilmister. Inferno is heavy, hot, and scorching. By the time you’re done, your eardrums will be roasted!

2005) Sabaton - Primo Victoria (Song)

Over 15 years later, the first official release from Sweden’s historically-inclined Power Metal juggernauts still stands strong. It may just be beginning to get a grey hair or two, but their first album continues to hit hard to this very day. From the opening notes & vocals of the title & opening track, to Sabaton’s tribute to Heavy Metal & Hard Rock on the closing track, Primo Victoria definitely sent a statement to the metal landscape. I definitely got hooked to the music on this record back in 2016, and while I can understand why people may scratch their head at first when listening to this, it’s definitely worth listening to this until the very end.

2006) Ministry - Rio Grande Blood (Song)

As of the 27th last month, my Uncle Randy hasn’t been on this earth for 15 years. Though I’ve moved on from his passing for quite some time now, I find that Ministry’s tenth studio releases still conjures up a memory or two from that period of my life. Thanks to a former cheeto of a  president, I’ve rediscovered part 2 of the band’s Bush Bashing trilogy in a way. Amerikkkant from 2018 might have reflected said cheeto’s presidency better, but Rio Grande Blood has somehow ages 10 times better than the previously mentioned release. Much of the subject matter on RGB is still relevant to the political strife we experience today, and a lot of said subject matter people can still agree on in a sense. If for whatever reason Amerikkkant didn’t do it for you, then Rio Grande Blood might be a good alternative.

2007) Type-O Negative - Dead Again (Song)

It is somewhat hard to talk about this record. Type-O’s 2007 release was never truly meant to be the band’s last record, but when Pete Steel passed away at the age of 48, the album’s fate was sealed to be the release that would close out Type-O Negative’s career. As such, there’s an un-intentional tinge of sadness across the entire length of the album. It’s a shame, as Dead Again marked the time when the band’s beleaguered frontman finally overcame his issues, and became a new man. With his transformation, the band created perhaps their most insightful collection of songs, and acts as a gateway into the mind of the newly cleansed lead singer. There may be times where a tear might come out, but Dead Again is a reluctantly badass way to go out on!  

2008) Moonspell - Night Eternal (Song)

I’ve grown more accustomed to Moonspell’s time in the 2000s. Though I still consider some of it to be a little too experimental still, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a bit more metallic than I though. However, it’s their 2008 release that I still consider to be the best thing from that time, and for good reason. Night Eternal is the most metal of their 2000s output, as well as being the deepest and most gothic. From beginning to end, the band drapes the listener in shadow, a cool breeze, and maybe a leaf or two falling onto your head. Night Eternal hits all of the right places musically & atmospherically, so be sure to give it a go if you find it crossing your path!

2009) Stryper - Murder By Pride (Song)

And so we come to the end of the 2000s, and here might be the weirdest album on this list! Stryper definitely isn’t for everybody, as they’ve become perhaps a little too Christ-ey on their more recent records. However, there was a time where this side of the band wasn’t apparent, and 2009's Murder By Pride was proof positive of this. Tinged with a bit of sadness on account of Michael Sweet’s wife dying 2 months before the album was released, it luckily happens to be a far stronger CD than their comeback output in 2005. There’s more intensity, more confidence, a stronger frontman despite the previously mentioned tragedy, and none of that Nu Metal vibe that was on their previous release. Murder By Pride might still not be the full-blown return of Stryper, but it’s definitely more confident in what it wants to be, and that’s a plus in my book!

So there were the top 10 best albums of the 2000s. Like the last time I did one of these, there’s definitely an eclectic selection of releases here. If you missed any of records here, perhaps this list gave you some new stuff to listen to! With that said, I got a little more planned for the 7th anniversary of this blog’s release. See you soon!  




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If you’d like to see my list about the best albums of the 2010s, then click on the link below:

The Top 10 Albums Of The 2010s