Top 5 Best Christmas Themed Games For The Holidays (No. 2)

Seasons Greetings fellow Otaku & Metalheads?

To be honest, I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit as much this year as I have prior years. With you-know-who getting elected, not to mention how 2024 has been for me, things aren’t as rosy or bright in my life right now. None the less, I need to get out one last post for this year, and what better subject matter to tackle than Christmas games! I did this lists last year for the first time, and I thought it would be nice to journey back into that realm & see what could be brought up to show off. The choices I picked out for this year are certainly a more interesting bunch, but they’ll all make you go ho-ho-ho by the end. With that out of the way, here are the top 5 best Christmas themed games for the holidays.....no. 2!

5) Jazz Jackrabbit: Holiday Hare 1995 (Video)

Unlike the original Holiday Hare I talked about last year, I didn’t grow up with Jazz’s second travels into the seasonal snow. It wasn’t until 2009 when I downloaded it to play using a DOS emulator, and for whatever reason I wasn’t as big of a fan of it as I was the first Holiday Hare. That’s not to say it isn’t fun, cause it is! Candion & Bloxonius are cute little world that are just brimming with Christmas cheer, with the former having candy be the building blocks of the place itself, and the latter being made completely out of Lego. The music for both planets was great as well, as it makes your cheeks very rosy, and you just feel so warm inside as they play. For whatever reason though, Holiday Hare 1995 didn’t grip me as hard as it’s predecessor, yet I still had fun regardless. If you were a big fan of Holiday Hare 1994, then you’re going to like this.

4) Tattletale (Video)

Underrated! That’s what I think of one of my gaming honorable mentions from 2017. It came to my attention around the middle of January of that year, when Markiplier played through the whole thing. Either not long after his playthrough, or during the Black Friday sale on Steam in 2017 (Might have been during the sale), I decided to pick it up, and I was pleasantly surprised as just how genuinely scary it was. Sure, the idea of killer Furby knock-offs set against the lead-up to Christmas day is incredibly absurd, and only one of said knock-offs is actually trying to kill you, but there’s a surprising amount of tension as the game progresses. Christmas Eve is perhaps the most intense of the levels, as the lone killer knock-off is on top of their killing game. In a twist, if you have been collected all of the little pick-ups throughout each level, then you’ll get a nice ending. If not, then.....I think you know. It even had free DLC, which expanded upon the slim story in interesting ways, and added some unique scares of it’s own. Despite it’s sadly obscured nature nowadays, Tattletale is genuinely a fun time. It doesn’t cost much ($4.99 on Steam), goes by rather quick, and you might not play through it a bunch of times, but it’s a neat little experience to go through at least once.

3) A Very Postal Christmas (Video)

So, true story. This second list was a little tougher to make when compared to last year, as I found it harder to find Christmas themed games to put on this list. This Postal 2 mod was one I knew of since 2018 when I first discovered Civvie 11, and it’s one I’ve never played. Hell, I never played the base Postal 2 to be honest, as it’s rather janky nature leaves a bit desired. Still, this mod is just a goofy treat, and while you could say that it’s connections to the holiday season is surface level in many places, it does know when to use it. Set against the backdrop of the over-the-top violence & political satire that would come to define the rest of the franchise, A Very Postal Christmas is the digital equivalent of seasonal fluff. If you like your Christmas tree splattered with blood, A Very Postal Christmas will slathered it in the stuff!

2) Alone In The Dark 2 (Video)

If the previous title bent the rules when it comes to what could be considered a Christmas game, then the second adventure of Edward Carnby almost shatters it. We kind of got a preview of this with Jack In The Dark, but AITD2 definitely uses the Christmas season more.....barely. Taking place on Christmas Eve 1924, it’s up to the private investigator to rescue Grace Saunders from a band of mobsters that aren’t quite what they seem to be. Once you get inside their hideout, there’s traces of the holiday season in many places. At one point, you even don a Santa Claus outfit to sneak past some mobsters, and use a bulb from a tree to solve a simple puzzle! Again, Alone In The Dark 2 almost breaks the definition of what a Christmas Game is, but it’s hard to say that it’s not trying!

1) Elf Bowling (Video)

Talk about a nostalgia blast!

I think even people who aren’t really gamers sure as hell know about this release at the dawn of the new millennium. It had gotten so popular that even the various news outlets at the time talked about it, and it had spread to so many different handheld consoles as well. It’s ironic that Elf Bowling got as popular as it did, when at the end of the day it’s a pretty simple flash bowling game. Coupled with a goofy story (The elves just wanted to be treated fairly, and Santa has set them up as pins to punish them), the gameplay is uncomplicated to the 10th degree, yet it’s incredibly addicting as well. Alongside the base bowling, there’s occasional hazards that will screw up your shots, and other little things you might miss if you’re not paying attention. Even though it’s not the most amazing game by any means, it’s hard not to see why it got as incredibly popular as it did so quickly. A relic of a forgotten time everyone should play.

And those were 5 more Christmas themed games for the Holidays. Perhaps a more interesting bunch of titles when compared to last year, they’re certainly a lot of fun. So with that, 2024 closes here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, and we have 4 years of incoming hell to slog through. See you all on the first of next year, when I have a special announcement to make. Until then, have a great Christmas or whatever seasonal holiday you celebrate! Take care.



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If you’re curious about last year’s list, click on the link below:

Top 5 Best Christmas Themed Games For The Holidays

The Top 5 Games Of 2024

From film, to my second look at Battle Network, we go to games fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

2024 had an absolute bevy of titles this year. I ran into a bunch of interesting games & magic releases across the many months, so some choices are going to be rather predictable. A few others, however, will be rather surprising. So with that said, here are my top 5 games of 2024. Let’s begin!

5) Quake: Episode Enyo/Slave Zero X (Trailer)

Quake: Remastered continues to surprise me!

Release at the very beginning of 2024 (16th or 17th of January), this mod acts as a prequel to the mech game Slave Zero (and as advertisement for the remaster coming from Nightdive Studio), as well as an advertisement for Slave Zero X. Everything about Enyo is crafted with incredible love & care: from the visuals, to the animation, to the music, it’s incredibly obvious that the developers cared very much for what they were making, as well as respecting the IP’s they were working with. If there were more than 6 levels I might have put this a point or two higher on the list, but even with that one fault it would be a crime to ignore this mod! If you are a fan of classic FPS titles & Cyberpunk, you absolutely have to play Episode Enyo!

4) Wrath: Aeon Of Ruin (Trailer) 

About.....damn.....time.

Being in development for about 5 years, players were understandably kind of annoyed by 2024. Due to a mix of COVID, occasional lack of communication with early access users (I wasn’t one of those people), one of the original developers leaving (Though he still provided some help), and working with a highly advanced version of a nearly 30-year old game engine, you could see why many gamers were angry by the end. Thankfully, on the 27th of February of 2024, it was finally released, and regardless of whether you were in early access or not.....it was worth the wait.

That’s not to say it’s got some dents in the armor, because unfortunately it does. There’s an imbalance of power with some of the enemies, the amount of enemies in some levels is insane, and some levels are a bit too big. Despite those issues, I thought that Wrath was a fun throwback shooter! Yes, some levels might be too big, but they’re all well made & jam packed with a lot of detail and atmosphere. The enemies, while not a big roster, all look great and are animated really well. The weapons are all meaty & useful, and the various items you find throughout the game are all helpful in some way. Even the secrets were well done, with an even mix between hard to reach & easy to get to. Yeah it’s got some blemishes, but Wrath: Aeon Of Ruin is another example of how old school FPS-style games can not only succeed in this modern time, but thrive.

3) Universes Beyond: Fallout (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery) & Outlaws Of Thunder Junction (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery) & Bloomburrow (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery)

So this was a surprise!

To be perfectly honest, the Universes Beyond releases this year didn’t excite me as much when compared to the previous releases in this MTG sub-series. Assassin’s Creed is a game franchise I’ve never touched in it’s near 2 decades of existence (AC bombed, btw), but I do have some small attachment to the nuclear world of Fallout (New Vegas more specifically). So colored me surprised when back in March of this year, MTG players walked into the nuclear wasteland of the United States, and I must confess.....the decks were surprisingly fun! I’m not quite as attached to these as much as Warhammer 40K, Lord Of The Rings, and Doctor Who (Especially that last one), but I love all of the effort put into these. From the artwork, to the mechanics, and all of the Fallout flavor, it’s obvious that care was once again used to great effect in all 4 of these decks. While I don’t think that the Fallout entry into Universes Beyond is as vital as the three I mentioned, I still find it to be a lot of fun....just as long as I have some Rad-Away!

And then there’s Magic The Gathering’s first foray into the Wild West with Outlaws Of Thunder Junction. Excluding the Universes Beyond output, Ravnica Remastered at the very start of this year, Modern Horizons 3, and Foundations from just last month, 2024 might very well be MTG’s most gimmicky year in recent memory. From a murder mystery back in February (Murders At Karlov Manor, which also bombed btw), we made our way along the dusty trail to a brand new world with a theme that’s very familiar to a lot of us, and it was a genuinely fun time. It may seem a little goofy having a bunch of the multiverse’s villains in cowboy getup on a new plane, but there’s some odd charm to it as well. Even if you didn’t factor in the flavor, this was one of the best designed sets of this year, and considering some of the releases that came after it.....that’s saying something!

Finally, there’s the Redwall inspired world of Bloomburrow! Far in a way one of the cutest & most wholesome MTG sets that’s ever been released, this warm and fuzzy world was a massive breath of spiritual air for me on account of how awful 2024 was for me. Inhabited by 10 animal races, along with some small representation from a few others, it’s a world that practically free from conflict outside of encountering the elemental forces known as the Calamity Beasts & those that would try to use their power for evil. Despite the cuteness of the setting, the card design is actually pretty damn good. Sure, there are some duds & ridiculously overpowered pieces of cardboard, but the whole experience is quirky in all the right ways.....and it just barely missed getting to no. 1.  

2) Gloomwood (Trailer) & Fallen Aces: Vol 1 (Trailer) ***

So glad that the city of Gloomwood is still open to us!

I was tempted for a brief moment to put it back at the no. 1 spot this year, but I felt that it would have been way to easy to do so. Despite that, the guys over at New Blood Interactive continue to prove to the world that they are a small company with big effort, lots of quality, and high ambition. The additions to the early access in 2024 have been absolutely insane, so let’s talk about them!

For starters, there was the Mirror World right at the very end of December 2023, and on the surface there isn’t much here. We’ve kind of been alluded to this since the early access first came out back in 2022, but along a seasonal coat of paint that covered the game, we gained the ability to enter a hub like area. Fragments of various places we’ve visited, and each contain a mirror that leads to a prior area you explored, all of which floats in a strange void. There’s obviously been supernatural elements shown before, but now it’s obvious that something from the beyond is at work in the city of Gloomwood.....and the Countess is behind it somehow.

Secondly, we’ve finally made our way into the Underport! More specifically, the Power Plant, and it’s this update that really gives the game depth.  It’s far more expansive than the Market District upon that release’s launch last year: You’ve got a waterworks building, a shipping warehouse, and finally the Lampfire Power Plant that you can see in the distance upon stepping into the area. In addition to those 3 big places, you’ve got tons of nooks, crannies, tunnels, and side areas that are just begging you to explore them. The atmosphere is so thick here, with the gentle rain coming down, the equally gentle piano playing while you’re outside, and the various sewer tunnels that are caked with rust and filth, alongside the Crowmen, who are the most alien enemies so far (And one we saw in the Alpha back in 2020). The work that the company put in has been wonderful in prior updates, and this one is no different!

Next up was the second half of the Underport known as The Hive, and here’s where things get creepy. In addition to the tweaks of the various game systems (The lighting got a huge boost), you have what is quite possibly the most detailed & complex area added to the game thus far, and considering what we had the Market District & the 1st part of the Underport, that’s saying something. The Hive is a place that is perhaps the most ancient & alien to the player character: old sewer systems, ancient ruins, signs of an archaeologist’s excavation, and it’s all corroded & infested with crow-like creatures (Some of which are wearing scraps of clothes) & their hideous. This update marked the first time that Dillon Rogers & the rest of the crew from New Blood Interactive that are working on this gave gamers a pretty solid challenge. Granted, I jumped into The Hive without buying much ammo of health, but even if I did I think it wouldn’t have lasted long, as the Crowmen & their spawn are practically everywhere, and require somewhat different tactics for defeating & evading them when compared to the Huntsman. At the time of me typing this up, there were a few things I did miss on my first trip, and I plan on going back in to see if I can find them. Even if I don’t, The Hive was an absolutely wonderful update at the end of 2024, and I already look forward to The rooftops of Hightowne and the vaults of The Bank. I just hope I don’t run into these guys!

However, Gloomwood wasn’t the only early access title worked on by New Blood Interactive. Around mid-June of 2024, we finally got the first episode of Fallen Aces released into early access! A love letter to old-school superhero comics, film noir, and gangster movies, this stylized FPS has been around for a few years, but in 2024 does it truly come out to be played (It had a demo beforehand). Not only is blasting mooks a fun time, but so is punching them in the faces or bashing their heads in with a variety of melee weapons. While you can definitely run & gun, there’s also a degree of smarts involved, as you gotta know when to shoot somebody & when you have to save ammo and throw down physically. It’s a nice mix that’s actually pretty balanced for the most part, as the only dent in the armor at this point is that some of the fights come across as ever so slightly in the enemy’s favor. If that is the only bad thing I could find, then I’m definitely looking forward to episodes 2 & 3!

Before we get to my no. 1, it’s time to talk about 2024's honorable mentions. This year was oddly easy, as 2 candidates popped into my head fairly often. One of which was one of the most anticipated pieces of DLC to one of this decade’s most iconic releases, and the other is an Early Access title that’s just gorgeous. With that said, here are 2024's honorable mentions.

HM1) Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree (Trailer)

Where the first image was revealed back in early 2023, I was immediately hyped up. Elden Ring was pretty damn close to being the no. 1 game for 2022 for me, so seeing as we were getting some DLC for it, I was excited. Then, on the 20th/21st of June in 2024 (All depended on what platform you played it on) Shadow Of The Erdtree was released, and I gotta say.....I was pretty satisfied. Outside of the stuttering on the PC edition, not to mention the insane difficulty on many of the bosses (Even some of the side bosses) & the boosting system that’s practically mandatory to beat the DLC, I was pretty satisfied with the experience. Take the base game, condense it into a smaller area, and somehow make it feel just as awe-inspiring as when we all entered Limgrave for the very first time is an incredible feat that From Software accomplished easily. It is sad that this is the only expansion we’re getting for Elden Ring, but as a way to close this chapter of FromSoft’s history, it was a damn good way to do so.

HM2) Witchfire (Trailer)

Originally releasing on the Epic Game Store in early access in 2023, this combination of FPS, Souls-Like, and hints of Rogue-Like, Witchfire started out fine but left a tiny bit to be desired. Over time more & more was added to the early access, and has since become a really fun title. So when the early access finally came to Steam back in October if I recall correctly, my Dad grabbed it for me, and I couldn’t be happier. There are some issues with it to be sure: As you up the difficulty in game, some fights (Especially in Irongate Castle) become rather one sided, ammunition can be tight, and things in general can be very much against your favor. Even with those issues, Witchfire is just a fun & incredibly addicting time, as you’ll be playing for a while everytime you log into the game. I hope overtime the difficulty is smoothed out, but even if it’s not, then I look forward to the full release in the future.

1) Botany Manor (Trailer) & Nightmare Kart (Trailer) & Warhammer 40K: Speed Freaks (Trailer) & Duskmourn: House Of Horror (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery)

2024 sucked for me, and probably for a lot of you as well. With all of the negativity swirling around, it feels like practically nothing matters anymore. But every once in a while, there’s a game out there that gives back just a little bit of positivity. There’s a game out there that puts a little light back into a dimming bulb, and that game for me.....was Botany Manor.

Released back in April of this year, Botany Manor is one of the warmest, fuzziest, cosiest, feel-good video games I’ve played in a very long time. Taking place at the titular manor in Somerset, England, in 1890, you play a lady botanist who’s desire it is to write a book on some of the most remarkable plants (That sadly aren’t real) that have ever grown. As you grow these incredible pieces of foliage, you unlock newer parts of the mansion, and in turn find out a little more about the botanist’s past, as well as the others that frequented the place. There’s never a moment where you don’t feel warm & happy, as the visuals & atmosphere are so gorgeous, and the sounds you hear throughout the entire place all feel so life-like. While it can go fast in places, and some of the puzzles do require a little more brainpower than others, you never feel pressured in any way to finish the game. As the rest of this decade goes on, I think it’s important to for all of us to have some kind of light in our life, and if that light for me is growing flowers at one of the nicest places in the virtual world.....then so be it.

But there’s also the baffling yet equally wholesome Nightmare Kart. Originally known as Bloodborne Kart, the creator scrubbed any branding of Bloodborne from earlier this year (Sony contacted them about it), but still managed to release the game for free back at the end of May, and to say it made me laugh was an understatement! Just the idea of taking Bloodborne, and turning it into a kart racing game is plain silly, but the gameplay is nothing short of fantastic! You’ve got a small selection of items & karts, but they’re all well designed and look great in the lo-fi graphics that ooze PS1 nostalgia. The raceways are all well designed & full of character, and the music is just fantastic! I don’t know how many times I’ll replay through it, but Nightmare Kart got a few chuckles & smiles out of me. As far as free games are concerned so far this decade, this is at the top of the list!

Another funny racing gaming, and one that came out in early access a few months ago, was Warhammer 40K: Speed Freaks. A game centered around the best race of the franchise, and the love of going really fast, the fact that this was free to get into was one of the obvious pluses. Another plus is that the game looks great graphically, and really captures the fun & wild nature of the Orks. Perhaps the most obvious plus is the gameplay, which is fantastic! Outside of occasional crashes that boot you out of the game, you have an assortment of right proper killy vehicles to choose from (Some of which you have to unlock, but that’s not too difficult), and you have 2 simple but ridiculously fun game modes to pick to go in & give the other boyz a right proper krumpin! While there hasn’t been too many fixes or additions since it first came out, I can only suspect that anything else that gets put in will be lots of fun. WAAAAAGH!

Finally, we’ve got the 1980s horror stylings of Duskmourn: House Of Horror. Out of all the MTG sets of 2024, this might have been the one I was excited for the most. More excited than following a murder mystery, more excited than the Wild West, and even more excited than a children’s storybook from just a few months ago. Once again, take 80s horror (With some sprinkles of 70s, 90s, and early 2000s), mix it in with a big spooky mansion, and then you turn it on it’s head with some genuinely freaky twists. Having the default manor be the prison of a demon, have said demon take advantage of a young girl’s pain, and then expand the mansion so much that it becomes the plane itself, & you have a world that is legitimately kind of scary. Every aspect of Duskmourn is just perfect: The 80s visuals & horror references are fun, the artwork looks amazing, and the mechanics introduced in this set seemingly fit with what was trying to be accomplished in this freaky home. If Foundations wasn’t the last release for 2024, then this house of horrors would have rightfully ended this year on a scary note. Even so, for showing 80s horror a surprising degree of respect, as well as having a little fun with it as well, Duskmourn: House Of Horror is a spooky classic!

And those were my top 5 games of 2024. A collection of virtual & MTG that’s all over the place in all of the right ways, it made going through this year a little easier. With this list getting put up, it’s time for a seasonal treat, so see you all in just a few short days for the final post of 2024, when I’ll be talking about some more holiday games of our past. Until then, stay warm!  



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If you’d like to see what I thought of last year’s games, then click on the link below:

Top 5 Games Of 2023

Also, this list was postponed due to waiting for The Hive update & getting a chance to play it. Sorry about that!

Game Review: MegaMan's Battle Network 2

Getting closer to Christmas fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Back in October, I took a look at the first of the 6 Megaman Battle Network games, and I liked it quite a bit. However, it was just the first in the series. We got 5 more titles in this franchise, and today’s review covers number two. Is it better than the one that came before it, and does it do more than it’s predecessor? Well, sit back, relax, and read my review for Battle Network No. 2. Let’s begin!

Story
Taken from The MegaMan wiki:

“The following summer after WWW's defeat, a new terrorist group called Gospel emerged. Their tactics differed considerably compared to WWW, as they appeared to have no set goal. Gospel's plan had seemingly consisted of only causing random destruction with their NetNavis. Lan and MegaMan battled every member and prevented the worst possible situations. However, Gospel's hidden plan was to re-create the ultimate NetNavi, Bass.EXE (Forte.EXE in Japan). Using bug fragments, they planned to make a large army of Bass Navis to take over the world. Unknown to Gospel, their method of creating Bass was imperfect, and his abilities were vastly below predictions. In an attempt to increase Bass's power, the leader of Gospel overloaded energy into Bass, and changed him into a giant multi-bug organism, who was named Gospel, same as the organization. Although the bug beast was stronger than before, Lan and MegaMan managed to eliminate it.”

Battle Network 2 is definitely a step up from the first one when it comes to it’s story. Though the blurb above is the game’s story in general, there are plenty of twists, turns, and surprises that make things rather unpredictable & shocking. On top of that, BN2 is more balanced in terms of black & white, to the point where there’s slivers of grey sewn in that don’t feel overwhelming or unnecessary. The stakes are higher, the battles are larger, and the world might not be the same afterwards.

Setting
Battle Network No. 2 has stayed somewhat the same for the most part when it comes to it’s world. You still have the Net, and you still have the real world. AC/DC Town is still the main hub, and you have a portion of your school to explore (A small portion though). It’s everywhere else in the real world that’s new for this game. There’s a peaceful woodland campground, an airport with a bunch of things to do and it’s accompanying jetliner, and the marine harbor & it’s accompanying Science Center (Where Lan’s Dad works). On top of that, there’s the distant land of Netopia, which comes across as more European when compared to the Japanese vibes of Electopia. Regardless of where you go in the real world, things come across as a little more detailed than the first Battle Network: there’s slightly better texture work, and the colors seem slightly brighter as well.

The Net, on the other hand, has gotten some big changes! Since the scale of the story is bigger in this second go-around, the areas of the Net are larger & more maze-like, and are more numerous as well. Even though you don’t travel to any other nations besides Netopia, you do get to go to the various internet areas of other countries, and they all have their own unique color pallette & textures. The Undernet makes a return as well, and it’s a little more darker & alien than in the first game. Set against a blacked grey background & platforms, the usage of neon-like colors given this place a rather alien vibe. Like a place that good NAVIs shouldn’t be in unless they had no choice, or a district of a city that an average joe/jane like you & I wouldn’t be caught in. The Undernet also has perhaps some of the best loot of the game.....along with a few secrets that I won’t spoil here.

Characters
Like the game’s setting, for the most part the cast of characters in Battle Network 2 remains largely unchanged. The main cast is still well accounted for: Lan & Megaman, Lan’s parents, Dex & Gutsman, Mayl & Roll, Yai & Glide, Chaud & Protoman, etc. We also have some other returning characters from the first game, but they don’t make quite as much of a splash as they did in the original Battle Network. There’s a few new side characters that pop up when needed, and they all provide something to the overall experience (Interacting with some moves the story along), but the biggest strength of this game when it comes to characters.....lies in the Gospel Netmafia.

Let’s get this out of the way: Gospel is a far bigger threat to the world than what WWW ever was. Not to say that WWW never caused harm, as they surely did, but their goals were rather simplistic. Gospel on the other hand has far more ambition behind their plans, and they have nowhere near as much comedic undertones to their actions. All of the various members of the group are all nihilistic in some way, and the leader of Gospel is not just nihilistic, but is a little misanthropic as well. I will not spoil anything else about them, save for the fact that there is a surprising reveal about their origins. Regardless, the organization poses a bigger threat to the world & The Net than WWW ever did, and there is no line that they won’t cross.
                                        
Gameplay
For the most part, Battle Network No. 2's gameplay remains largely unchanged from what the 1st one did (Like it’s setting & characters). You wander around, do side quests & progress the main story, search for items and such to upgrade your character, take part in fights, etc. The base components haven’t really been touched in this regard, but it's the little things that have changed.....and that’s where things get interesting.

For starters, there are now Subchips to acquire. These aren’t used in battles, but instead outside of them for a variety of purposes. You can now heal outside of battles (Something that didn’t happen in BN1, as you auto-healed), sneak past basic enemies, unlock special codes for items, and a few others I can’t recall as I’m typing this.  The Subchips add more variety to the main Chips, which the variety of such has expanded quite a bit, but still has many of the original ones as well. Like the original game, if you match 3 Chips of the exact same kind, you’ll get a special super chip that’ll do something absolutely crazy!

Enemies have also gotten a boost as well. Practically all of the viruses from the first Battle Network are accounted for, but now there’s a host of new ones as well. The new viruses are perhaps the more challenging, as many of their attacks either hit really hard sometimes, or they can altar the battlefield in ways that will be incredibly detrimental to you. Luckily, the armor system that was in the first Battle Network has come back to protect you, and has been improved also. You now can see what kind of armor you’re wearing, as they all come in a variety of colors. On top of that, each of them affect your stats in various ways, and they also have their own weakness as well. Be sure to switch armor sets whenever you can.....but we all know that Fire Armor is best!

Finally, there’s also the shortcut pads. On Lan’s home PC, there’s a shortcut system that’ll take you to various parts of the net, which in turn negates backtracking by a significant margin in certain areas. You can unlock it early, but you’ll only have one or two parts to go into. I got mine unlocked towards the end, where by that point I had just about all of the parts available (Think I had it all when I eventually got to it). This is super useful in so many ways, especially if you’re farming for a specific chip in a place that’s further away from some systems.

There are also a few secret things to do once the main story is completed, but I don’t want to spoil it for those that haven’t played yet. Suffice it to say.....it’ll be a pleasant surprise once you find them.

Graphics & Sounds
The only thing that’s not really different from this game when compared to the first Battle Network are the graphics & sound quality. There’s nothing really all that difference look wise, and all of the sounds come across like something you’d hear in BN No. 1. One difference when it comes to the audio is the music: for whatever reason I seemed to like No. 2's soundtrack just a little more when compared to what No. 1 offered (Even though that game had a nice OST in it’s own right). Another difference is the final area’s graphics. I won’t spoil what it looks like, as it would reveal some endgame spoilers, but I will say it’s the weirdest of the areas I’ve seen so far in these games, as the usage of odd colors & strange shapes gives it a very alien feel. More alien than the Undernet, btw.  

Overall & Rating
Battle Network No. 2 is definitely a step up from the first game. Though it still has some faults to it, they don’t impact the experience as much as they did in the inaugural one. Everything great that the 1st title did was improved here, and it would only get better from that later point. If you liked what the first Battle Network did, then No. 2 will have more of that!

Battle Network No. 2 gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was my review for the second Battle Network game. A small cut above what BN1 was, it still managed to provide a unique experience that was just different enough than what was before it. I began the 3rd game fairly recently, so I should have a review for that one eventually. In the meantime, I gotta get back to the top 5 lists of this year, so see you all this Friday for the top 5 games of 2024. Until then, take care!

The Top 5 Movies Of 2024

From music, we reach movies fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

2024 had an absolute bevy of film this year. Even though I’m not going to the movies anywhere near as much in recent years, I’m still managing to see enough films to make a end of year list. 2024's cinematic selection is interesting to say the least, since I shook things up with some alternate pieces of media that none the less could be seen as features by some. With that said, here are my top 5 movies of 2024. Get cozy for this one!

5) Wrestlemania 40 (Trailer)

Hard to believe that one of, if not the most iconic professional wrestling events in the world turned 40 years old back in April. Hard to believe that WWE has managed to still stay relevant after all this time, even with some of the most damning allegations towards the company’s former boss in recent memory. 40 years is a long time for a product to stick around as strongly as it does, much less deliver as well as it did. That’s not to say that the showcase of the immortals was perfect this year: Night 1 was definitely mixed in terms of quality and who won each match, but Night 2? Night 2 was far more consistent, far more grand, far more surprising, and the right person won in each bout (Especially the main event fight). Yes, the first night was rough in a lot of places, but you definitely can’t deny that Wrestlemania 40 will go down as one of the best.

4) The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Trailer)

And here comes a weird parallel with last year’s list, and that’s a WW2 movie!

I have to admit, I was a little surprised by this one. Having only seen the trailer once or twice, I confess I put it in the corner of my mind, as I didn’t think I would ever actually see it. Cut to about halfway through April this year, and a buddy of mine wanted to watch it for his birthday, so I went with him, and you know what? I had a fun time! I might not watch it a horde of times, on account of it’s humor being ever so slightly annoying in places, but I can say you’ll easily enjoy yourself watching this film. If you’re in the mood for a more light-hearted World War 2 movie, then The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a nice choice!

3) Space King (Trailer) & Disney: The Boy & The Octopus (Video)

Okay. Maybe it’s a little cheap to have what is essentially a 17-something minute animated shitpost on a movies of the year list, but given what 2024 was like for me.....I’m making a damn exception.

If I’m being honest, this legally-distinct Warhammer 40k animation is pretty damn funny. Made by the well known studio Flashgitz, it obvious that they put out Space King to avoid any copyright strikes from Games Workshop due to 40k animations, but even so it’s also obvious that a lot of work was put into this! The animation looks really good, and the usage of color is pretty great! Sure, the humor is a bit on the simple & crude side, but Flashgitz has pretty much used that style for a while. Even though it looks like this is the only time that we’re ever going to peer into this universe, it was nice to try to find Space King.....at least once.

And then there’s this little miracle. I don’t know if the stars were the right alignment, or if they decided to pull their head out of their ass, but Disney released this 4-minute little short just a few weeks ago on the 12th of November, and it just shines with their old-school vibes (Kinda like Once Upon A Studio from last year). There’s none of the pandering that they do nowadays, as there’s just pure genuine Disney magic that really tugs at the heartstrings. The 3d animation of the titular octopus is incredibly, and while it still comes across as cartooney, the fluidity of it’s movements make it seem oddly real as well. It barely takes any of your time, so please check it out when you can!

2) Sabaton: The Tour To End All Tours (Trailer)

True story: I originally had Space King here at the no. 2 spot for a little bit, as I needed to end this list on a bit of an upbeat note, which is ironic, given what’s at no. 1. It’s over the top nature, coupled with some great goofy humor, warmed my somewhat bitter heart here in 2024. However, just this past October on the 30th & 31st (I went on the 30th), some a bit more.....powerful, came my way.

Recorded in 2023 in Amsterdam, The Tour To End All Tours marks a massive step in the career of one of the world’s most iconic Power Metal bands. Sabaton went all out with this show, as this concert marks the first time that Heavy Metal & Cinema really combined into one, and it shows. From the theatrics on stage, to the production of the feature in general, it obvious that Joakim & the gang really wanted to make this special event really mean something. I really hope that this gets released on DVD, as it’s a really remarkable musical film that should be seen by everybody. If you managed to catch it over a month ago, I hope it was as much fun for you as it was for me, and if you didn’t....then I hope it comes back around somehow.

1) Deadpool & Wolverine (Trailer)

I spoke about this movie already back in September (Read Here), but a lot of what I said then can be applied here: Deadpool & Wolverine was an absolute breath of positive spiritual air for me. Small blemishes aside, this was perhaps the best Marvel movie since 2019 with Endgame, and while it doesn’t surpass that film, D&W definitely ties with it! The jokes are great, the storytelling was some of the best that Marvel has made in a while, the characters were awesome, and the action was nice. It’s given me & many other burned-out Marvel movie fans a faint glimmer of hope, and we’re all wishing that things get better. Even if they don’t, for one ridiculous moment....it was nice to laugh again.

And those were the top 5 movies of 2024. An odd bunch of titles for a rather dour year, none the less they are all incredibly entertaining. If you’re feeling like your soul is caught in a vice, why not try one of these? So, see you all in a few day, as I’ll be taking a brief break from these lists with a quick trip back to the virtual world, and then I’ll look at the best games of this year a few days after that. Until then, take care.

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If you’re curious as to what I thought of last year’s movies, click on the link below:

Top 5 Movies Of 2023

Also, if you’d like to watch the glory that is Space King, then click on the link below:

Space King

The Top 5 Albums Of 2024

So.....didn’t expect that we’d end 2024 on such a rough note fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

Didn’t expect a certain cheeto to get back into power in my home country. Didn’t expect further reich-wing bullshit spreading all over the world in recent months, and I definitely didn’t expect just a degree of hopelessness & despair (I admit that I’m a little bit responsible for that). I don’t know what the next 4 year will be like, but I know that it’s not going to be good. None the less, I have my annual end of year lists to release, and some extra goodies as well. To start things off, it the top 5 albums of this year, and I have quite the assortment for 2024. The no. 1 one spot is jam-packed with some goodies this year, but no early spoilers. With that out of the way, here are my top 5 albums of 2024. Enjoy!

5) Ziggurath - True North (Song)

I’ve mentioned this since about 2022 or 2023, but I’ve been getting into a lot of Ambient music in recent years. Cyberpunk & Fantasy ambient mainly, with a few others on the side. It’s honestly been helping me sleep in the afternoon, and is a greater counter to how I was feeling this year, so color me surprised when I found this little number at the start of 2024 (The 15th of January, to be specific). I wasn’t necessarily sure if I wanted to put this here at first, but after listening to it once or twice, it was ultimately a done deal. Like the record that inspired the artist, True North is ethereal, atmospheric, beautiful, mesmerizing, and tells a surprisingly good story without the need for vocals. I can understand why some might find this release a little tedious in that regard, but if you’re willing to put that aside, you will find that this album is audio art of the highest degree. One of the best of 2024!

4) Turmion Katilot - Reset (Song)

At this point, one of Finland’s most notable Industrial Metal bands is practically a staple on these lists. Not since 2017/2018 have we had these guys release albums back to back, but 2023/2024 seems to be another go around in that regard.  A little more stacked than Omen X from last year, Reset simultaneously goes by just a little faster when it comes to song times (With the exception of the final track). Regardless of that, the music that these guys put out on this release is still just as intense as it usually is, and coming in on almost 20 years since their very first release, it’s a testament that Turmion Katilot still manages to be one of little Finland’s iconic exports. With more & more exposure in the United States, it is only a matter of time that they’re really big here. Despite it’s name, this is one reset button you should press!

3) Marilyn Manson - One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 (Song)

Welcome back Manson!

The last time we heard from one of the most infamous of Shock artists, it was back in the plagued year of 2020 with We Are Chaos. While it was a fine record, the up-in-the-air nature of it’s content & quality left a lot to be desired in the minds of many listeners. Coupled with the false allegations that practically destroyed him, along with some personal issues, it’s easy to see why he would never come back. Then, just a few weeks ago on the 22nd of November, he came roaring back into the spotlight (After cleaning himself up & other things) like a meteor with One Assassination Under God: Chapter 1. Unlike his output in 2020, One Assassination Under God is better produced, better recording, and the music on here is stronger than what came out 4 years prior. On top of that, but there’s a feeling of venting one’s negative emotions across many of the tracks on here, and shows that Manson is reinvigorated in a way that he probably hasn’t felt in a while. Time will tell whether he can be a behemoth like he once was, but if anything after this record is just as good as One Assassination Under God, then it’s a safe bet to say it’s likely.  

2) Myrath - Karma (Song) & Hammerfall - Avenge The Fallen (Song)

It’s been almost a decade since I took a look at one of the biggest acts of North Africa. Not since 2016 did I shed a spotlight on the Oriental Metal icons Myrath, and that year’s release Legacy. For whatever reason I didn’t listen to anything from Shehili, but the moment that singles for 2024's Karma began coming out, I definitely was paying attention. Karma is an incredibly powerful record: full of beautiful vibes, powerful emotions, triumphant sounds, and vocal work from Zaher Zorgati that shows he’s got it after being in the band for nearly 20 years. There’s a hint of politics in one or two tracks, and while it’s not offensive, it will catch you off guard if you’re not expecting it. Regardless, with the kind of year we’ve all had, I think we all need some Karma our way.

And then there’s the return of Hammerfall! Twice I have place them on this list: Dominion in 2019, and Hammer Of Dawn in 2022. Lo & behold, it seems that 2024 welcomes these Swedish legends back to my lists, and I’m thankful they came back! Where as Myrath had a little more realism when it came to their music, Joacim Cans & the rest of the band go for a fun route that still has a hint of seriousness to it, but still keeps quite a bit of Power Metal fluff in the forefront. The band really do feel like a group of crusading knights: fighting evil, obtaining glory, and rescuing the princess or whatever innocent soul that passes their way. While some Power Metal fans may be turned off by the complete lack of keyboard (Hammerfall is one of the few groups in the style that doesn’t use any, btw), only listeners who don’t like fun with their metal, or are just assholes, will be turned off by the band’s 13th release. With the kind of year I had, I was glad I could avenge the fallen.....if only in my mind.

Before we get to my no. 1 album of 2024, I wanted to go over some honorable mentions. This was weirdly hard to do this year, as I wasn’t exactly sure who was going here. One of the bands showed up out of nowhere, and the other I just randomly picked to be here. So with that said, here are 2024's honorable mentions.

HM1) Neon Nightmare - Faded Dream (Song)

April the 14th of 2025 is going to be a somber day for fans of Type-O Negative. On that day next year, it will be 15 years since legendary frontman Pete Steele passed away, and the hole where the wound was inflicted after his death is still bleeding in the hearts of his fans. In the near decade & a half since, there have been at least a handful of bands that have tried to bring the sound of the legendary Gothic Metal band back into the limelight, but only a small few have succeeded in any capacity (October Noir & Denis Pauna immediately come to mind, and A Pale Horse Named Death as well). It almost seems as if the legacy of the Drab Four would be kept on the shelf.....then this odd curiosity appeared out of nowhere.

Released on the 1st of November from a month ago, this highly mysterious Doom & Gothic Metal act has brought back the energy and vibes of Pete Steele in a massive way. I’m not kidding about the “Mysterious” descriptor, btw: there is practically nothing known about the musician (Assuming it’s just one guy) that’s behind the music on this release. Regardless, this is perhaps one of the most sincere homage to the Green Man my ears ever experienced! Not just a simple collection of cover songs, this inaugural release brings the sounds, vibes, and emotions of Type-O Negative to a modern audience that may not have listened to such a legend. Coupled with a personal symbol that harkens back to the Drab Four’s iconic glyph, and a pallet swap from green to blue shows that whoever is behind this music is doing his own thing, yet paying nothing but deep respect to the band that inspired them. If whoever made this can keep it up, they might just become a legend in their own right.

HM2) Stryper - When We Were Kings (Song)

In all of the years that I’ve maintained this blog, I am shocked that I never put these clean cut Christian metalheads on one of my lists. I’ve been listening to them since 2017, and in the near decade that I’ve been listening to them (It’s 7 years in 2024, and exactly a decade in 2027), it’s surprised me that I never put the band on here. That ends this year, and what a hell of an album to pick for this list! When We Were Kings marks something of a significant milestone for Stryper, as it marks just over 40 years since the release of their EP, The Yellow And Black Attack. Like a fine wine, the band has aged quite well in the time since then, and WWWK shows off this aging process quite well. Not only that, but it also shows the band continuing to adds slivers of Power Metal to their music, and while they’re still not all the way into that subgenre, it has become more obvious since 2015 that they’re definitely walking down that path for sure. If you’re of the faith, you will like When We Were Kings for sure, and even if you don’t believe, it’s a musical experience you should feel at least once.

1) Ministry - Hopium For The Masses (Song) & Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (Song) & Devin Townsend - Powernerd (Song)

More so than 2018, and more so than 2021, we needed Al Jourgenson & his merry band of misfits over in Ministry. The political climate of 2024 wouldn’t feel just right without Uncle Al and his opinions on the politics of the day, and Hopium For The Masses has plenty to say. You’ve got the slamming of incels, the evisceration of far-right militias, and the impalement of the cult that is MAGA. However, to back up these statements is some of the best vocal work & instrumentation the band has done so far since after AmeriKKKant. So good in fact, that they actually managed to conjure their old selves in a song or two! In a year with so much political crap from both sides being flung, it felt only right that we all got a little Hopium.

However, it wasn’t just 1 legend that made it to no. 1. We had Judas Priest make a return! It’s been 6 years since the last time that one of their albums made it onto a top 5 list of mine, but in the year 2024, which is 50 years since their very first record, it would have be wrong to exclude them, and Invincible Shield was too good to ignore. Some minor fluctuations here and there, but the overall experience is fantastic. Rob Halford, despite being 73, still has an incredible voice on this release, and still knows how to screech once in a while. The rest of the band is putting in work as well, as the drumming, guitar work, and bass all sound exceptional. Coupled with some great recording & production quality, and you have quite a nice release. If Rob Halford passed away at any point in 2025 or beyond, then Invincible Shield would be a worthy final chapter to one of the best Heavy Metal bands in history.

And we got a 3rd legend in Devin Townsend! Not too long ago, I had Lightwork at no. 1, and for good reason (Read Here). It was well-made, it was varied, and it was highly unique. However, just because HevyDevy released such a nice album, didn’t mean that he would take a break, and Powernerd is proof of this! While it doesn’t do anything that much different than what his prior 2 releases did, and it goes by faster than Lightwork did, it’s biggest strength lies in it’s balance. All of the tracks on here aren’t too soft, but they’re not too hard either. Devin seemed to shift tracks to a more middle-of-the-road route when it comes to vibes, mood, and atmosphere, & the end result is great! If you found his last two records to be a bit extreme, then this Powernerd is a perfect alternative!

And those were my top 5 albums of 2024. A surprising bunch of records, and given how 2024 is ending, perhaps some yin & yang was needed again. So, I’ll see you all in a few days, when I’ll talk about the best movies of the year. Until next time, take care!

Album Review: Host's IX

Paradise Lost. For those within the Gothic Metal community, they are considered to be not just one of England’s best bands, but one of the most iconic pillars of the genre. Since 1990, they have been producing some classic records, and many of which are still talked about in high regard to this day. However, there’s one period of their career that is considered something of an eyesore in the minds of some fans. A period that’s only been looked at more positively by the band in fairly recent memory, and even among listeners. That period......is their electronic phase.

I’ve spoken about this before back in 2020 (See Here & Here), but when the boys from Halifax began putting in more keyboard & electronic elements in the late 90s, their sound & atmosphere had changed. Things weren’t as dark or gothic as they were before, and while there was still an obviously serious element to the music, the musical elements that they were bringing in were pushing many longtime fans who loved their metallic personality away. Coupled with their record company at the time pushing them to go further down that path, it’s easy to see why Paradise Lost didn’t exactly like that period of their career. However, time is a strange creature, and even sore spots can become something more pleasant over the ages.

Like I said above, it wasn’t until late last decade that the band decided to re-examine their electronic phase. 2018 to be exact. That year saw the band come more to terms with that period of their career. More specifically, they looked at the albums Host & Believe In Nothing in a much more positive light. To sum it up: they liked the music, but they didn’t like the editing or studio interference. So, they went into the studio to re-edit the records, and then re-released them for newer fans to experience them, and for older fans to reconnect with music they might not have liked the first time around. However, what they didn’t know was that they were planting the seeds of something special, and it would take just a few short years for things to grow.

Fast forward to October of 2022, and Greg Mackintosh & Nick Holmes announced that they were doing a side project. One that would invoke the sounds & vibes of their late 90s electronic period, but with none of the studio interference, and only their vision. The end result was the formation of Host (Ironic), and on the 24th of February in 2023, IX was released. IX practically blind-sided me when it came out: it sounded & felt like the record that the project is named after, yet there is none of the record company interference that was around a few decades prior. There’s slicker grooves, keyboarding, poppy sounds, and all sort of atypical Paradise Lost elements that just works here. Even Nick Holmes voice, which is perhaps the clearest & smoothest it’s ever been (None of his raspy vocals is in sight), works so well. Every single song from the beginning to the end is wonderful, and even with the serious aspects, made one of my number one albums of 2023 for a reason.

As for what I think the face & best song of this release should be, it is most easily Tomorrow’s Sky. The first single for IX, it was definitely the right choice from the first few notes. Showing off the keyboard & electronic elements quite obviously, and really harkens back to that One Second to Host (Maybe some Believe In Nothing thrown in for good measure) period of Paradise Lost. The biggest plus would be the lack of record label interference, and it shows in just how much more creative everything feels. Hell, even when PL redid both Host & Believe In Nothing back in 2018, that free feeling was definitely in effect, although maybe not as much here. Regardless, Tomorrow’s Sky was absolutely the right track to debut this side project of one of the world’s most iconic Gothic Metal bands, and is definitely something to press the repeat button once or twice.

Tomorrow’s Sky

On the more “metallic” side of IX, Divine Emotion easily shows that off. Not all the time though, as half of the track is dedicated to soft-ish drumwork, and beautiful gothic piano playing. When the “metal” kicks in, it’s not the traditional kind, as the pacing doesn’t actually change all that much. Everything gets a little louder, and you have the addition of orchestra-like cellos & violins (Which are played really well, btw). Yet, something about Divine Emotion just works so well for me, as I’ve always kinda been a sucker for this kind of stuff once I got into more Gothic things. Couple with a really interesting music video, and it’s easy to see why this track got popular among fans.

Divine Emotion

So, with all of the positivity I’ve said, is there anything negative? Not really. IX is an absolutely wonderful release, and really shows what Nick Holmes & Gregor Mackintosh can do outside the band that gave them a career. That being said, this release is definitely an absolute soulcrusher. Maybe not on the level of Obsidian, but IX grabs you by the neck, and throttles you really hard. You know that this album was going to be dark when Nick Holmes basically asked how to make these depressing songs catchy. Perhaps the one thing I could truly have an issue with, is that IX for all intent & purpose, is a Paradise Lost album. Yes it comes from a side project, but from top to bottom it’s basically a PL in form and function. It’s not surprising, since Nick & Greg wanted to recreate something from their late 90s to early 2000s period, but without a record company pushing them to go down a direction they didn’t necessarily want to completely go down. Still, I’m a little surprised that this wasn’t released under the Paradise Lost band label, since it screams that group so much to me when I listen IX.
    
Host gets a solid 10 out of 10. As much of a soul crusher as it can be, it’s a great side project that I hope puts out more records as time goes on, but I would still be happy if this is the only thing that comes from this Nick Holmes & Gregor Mackintosh side-gig.

And that was my look at IX from the Paradise Lost spinoff Host. The spirit of the band’s past, mixed in with modern recording & production, and none of the studio interference, it’s a testament to a group that’s been producing albums since 1990 that they are still capable of creating great releases 3+ decades later. So, December is just a few weeks away, and before hand I’ll be taking a break for Thanksgiving & other stuff. See you all on the 1st of next month!

Album Review (Obscurus Metalus): Lumnos/Abstract Void's A Glitching Reality

Glad to get most of that ranting out of the way fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

It’s nice to take a brief break from the political horrors of the United States, and focus on something more pleasant. I’ve reviewed essentially all of my other top 5 albums from 2023 earlier this year, and left the choice cuts for this month. Today’s review is of my remaining honorable mentions, and for a possible first for this blog, is a Split EP. An EP that mixes the infamous subgenre of Black Metal, with a musical style you think would absolutely mutilate it, but instead combines into a released that surprisingly unique. So, put on your finest Corpse Paint, plug in your finest machinery, and enjoy the collaboration of Lumnos & Abstract Void by the name.....of A Glitching Reality. Let’s begin!

Background
And this is where things get interesting, as I have not one, but two musicians to talk about here.

Let’s start off with Lumnos. Forming in 2015 in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia (Brazil), Lumnos started as a duo, but would dissolve into a one-man band in 2016, only for guest musician B.M. to come on in 2018 & helped make the 2018 release Ancient Shadows Of Saturn. Whether B.M. has stayed with Lumnos or not since then, I don’t know. Then there’s Abstract Void, and here is where things get harder, as I can find almost nothing. What little I’ve found is that Abstract Void comes from Italy, and according to the Bandcamp page:

“One-man project from the planet Earth. An experimental blend of blackgaze and synthwave.”

(I know this wasn’t a lot of information on both groups, but sadly there isn’t a lot out there)

Basic Description
Blackened Cyberpunk

In a move similar to when I first experienced Everfrost a little over 5 years ago, I wasn’t exactly sure that Black Metal & Electronic/Techno would work well together as partners. I had listened to some isolated examples of this mix, and I certainly liked it, but A Glitching Reality is where I would come to love the two coming together. Like I said above & when I said it last year, I consider this combination of musical styles to be what I call Blackened Cyberpunk: you’ve got the brutality of the Black Metal, and you have the futuristic vibes coming from the Electronica & Techno. Putting the two into one seems like an odd move, but much like Winterider in 2019, it’s a mix that just works wonderfully. Like you’re wandering a typical Cyberpunk city, but there’s an air of dark mysticism in the streets. Think like Shadowrun, or if you want to go down the 3rd Party D&D path, think Crystalpunk.

Best Track
On the Lumnos side of the EP, I have to give it to The Alchemist as the best song. The track that pulled me into the music, this take on Black Metal is really unique: it goes through the typical Black Metal movements, but it’s far more mesmerizing & Third Eye opening than anything I ever heard thanks to the Electronic elements. If anything, The Alchemist sounds & feels rather dreamlike, and even the lyrics seem to be different to what Black Metal normally is. Here’s the first big chorus of the song:

“Walking through the sand, through the sand
Blessed by the winds and the sky
Guiding my sheep through the mirage
Feeling the sun burning my skin

My golden horizon shines
Calming all my thoughts and fears
Daydreaming and blessed by God
I know I just have to hold on one day more”

The Alchemist

Then we have the Abstract Void side, and it’s hard to not get a kick out of Forever. Like I said above, Abstract Void has heavy 1980s flavorings with his music, and it’s readily apparent as you listen to this. I imagine having this play over the speakers of my car as I’m driving through 1980s Miami, but I got infernal beings chasing me at the same time. It is a little easier to hear the two styles, as the instrumentation & the electronica come across as slightly more separated when you compared it to Lumnos’s portion of the EP.

Forever

Worst Track
A Glitching Reality’s only real crime is it’s surprisingly short playtime. Composed of just 4 songs and clocking in at 24 minutes & 1 second, it goes by incredibly fast, which is weird because it doesn’t feel like it’s fast. Unter Bronzenen Kronen from Waldgefluster suffers from a similar issue (Read Here), but like that release nothing is ultimately impacted because of this.

However, if I wanted to be honest, perhaps another dent in this otherwise’s great armor would be it’s lack of physical availability. To play devil’s advocate I can understand why it’s not on a CD, because sometimes it’s a smart idea to save money, but at the same time it would be nice to see it in a jewel case, and have it among my collection of albums.

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

A Glitching Reality

Overall Impression & Rating
A Glitching Reality is just a funky little number. Definitely on the short side for sure, but that is compensated by being some really interesting sounds & vibes. Again, I was really surprised when two musical styles you’d think wouldn’t work together, come together to make something rather unique.

A Glitching Reality gets an 8 to 8.5 out of 10.

And that was my review for the first split EP I’ve ever covered, A Glitching Reality. An interesting take on Black Metal, it definitely satisfies the taste of those who like the style performed different. I’ll show off the last no. 1 album of 2023 later this week, and after that we have the holiday season incoming. Until then, take care.