5 Greatest Anime Chests (For Breast Cancer Awareness) No. 9

Taking a jiggly break for a moment fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

As you all know, October is not just the month of tricks & treats, but it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness month as well. A time where people with a heart spread awareness about one of the worst diseases known to humanity, it’s perhaps even more important now to notify people what with our system going to hell in a handbasket. I may have said this before, but I don’t think these lists truly do change how people look at the sickness in question. Originally, I kinda started doing these more for fun than anything else, but if these help the cause even a little, then I’m more than happy to do them. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the 9th edition of my top 5 greatest anime chests for Breast Cancer Awareness list. Let’s begin!

(One other thing: gonna finally add clips to these)

5) BananaJuju (Clip)

I begin this list with a special little monkey. One of many vtubers that actually played by an older person (Not massively old), there’s a nice mix between younger energy & wisdom in her streams. I don’t watch her very often, outside of clips on her Youtube channel, but I definitely love the vibes she puts out. Also, the monkey aspects are nice, as her ears are noticeable but not big, her blonde hair that’s a mix of dreadlocks & such and her tail is oddly cute. And her chest, while on the more humble side of things, is still pleasantly plump & bouncy. That’s a-okay in my book!

4) Trickywi (Clip)

Another vtuber I haven’t watched often (but more that the lovely lady above), this bundle of chaotic energy just recently had a re-debut. Her model has more of a cyberpunk look to it, but keeps many of the harpy dragon elements her character embodies since she first started streaming. Regardless of the model in question, she’s bouncy, bubbly, cute, and just the right amount of horny when the situation requires it. She’s also genuinely entertaining in whatever she’s doing, and it’s genuinely hard to not like her. Puts a smile on my face no matter what!

3) Lucahjin (Clip)

Oddly the most wholesome of the vtubers I picked for this year’s list, this horsegirl (Not a Centaur) will make you laugh while also being oddly wholesome. Even when she dirty in some way (Which is either totally adorkable, or strangely cute), there’s this charm you can’t quite describe. Even her model, as curvy & fan-servicey as it is, looks and feels genuinely motherly. She really tries to have her streams be these nice little clouds that you can rest on, while she talks, plays a game, or collabs with another vtuber she’s friends with. She’s never really over the top, often taking a more comforting personality that really feels motherly & warm. Even if it’s not one of her stream, please give this lovely horse a look at when one of her clips crosses you path.

2) Milla Noire (Clip)

I’m not going to lie, but I was almost going to put this black hole vtuber at the no. 1 spot for this year’s list. As you can tell by her model, her chest is......exceptionally gifted. According to her, she actually has them pretty big in real life as well, on account of surgery (I believe they are trans). Even taking out how big they are, Milla is just a charm fest. Sure, your eyes are going to gravitate towards her chest pretty quick, but even if that happens you’re going to stay for just how much of a sweetheart she genuinely is. She does a bunch of stuff over on her channel, not to mention collaborating with a bunch of her vtuber friends. Not only that, but if one happens to find her.....risque Fansly page, you find a nice mix of cute & spicy material that’s also oddly heartwarming as well. Again, Milla Noire almost made it to number 1, but a familiar mom makes a triumphant return.

1) Vexoria (Clip) ***

Yes, this is the 3rd time our grape snake mommy has graced these lists. No, I don’t care!

To be honest, there’s always a time to heap praise upon one of the genuinely best vtubers to ever pick up the mantle. A mother of two wonderful children (A Daughter & A Son), an incredibly devoted and caring husband (That sometimes takes a hit for her), and extended family that has her back (And givers her material for her streams), a survivor of Breast Cancer, and has begun branching out into voice acting & singing. On top of that, she’s also one of the best adult entertainers out their in both her vtuber model & real life body, and while I don’t like everything she does, the stuff I do enjoy I definitely do. Yet, even if I never found that side of her material, her normal work is some of the most fun things I’ve ever watched. She can definitely be sexy during her normal streams, but what warms my heart the most is when she talks about what she’s doing at the moment, what her family is doing, and what she’s feeling about on something at that time. I may have said this in either of the last two times I spoke about our goddess, but Vexoria is genuinely a blast to watch regardless of what she’s doing, and everybody.....should take a little time out of their day to watch. 

This was number 9 of my top 5 greatest anime chests for Breast Cancer Awareness list. Every candidate I picked for this year are all bountiful not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. All of these ladies have go through trouble in recent memory (Some waaay more than others), but they’ve all come out of their trials stronger than ever. So, I’m off for a little bit of a break, but I’ll be back on Halloween Day for my last tribute review for Ozzy. See you then!



***
Her real-life face is so adorkable!

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Down To Earth

It’s a little nippy out there fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

As Autumn continues onward, the air is getting colder, and the leaves are getting brighter before they fall. As we get closer & closer to Halloween itself, it seems that spirits from the distant past & most recent of times come back to either haunt the living, or remind them of special times now past. Last month, the spirit of Ozzy was hanging around, and I took at look at Blizzard Of Ozz & Ozzmosis. Two very different albums in many ways, and this month will be no different. To start October off, we reach the year 2001, and a seemingly invigorated Prince Of Darkness. Let’s not waste anymore time, and take a look at Down To Earth. BOO!

Background
Taken from part 3 of my overview: 

“The 90s was definitely interesting for Ozzy. He got out a great album with No More Tears, and another great record financially with Ozzmosis, but it would be more divided among music critics and some fans. However, the business venture that would perhaps be the most successful thing would be the iconic Heavy Metal festival known as Ozzfest. Created by and managed by Sharon, and assisted by his son Jack, Ozzfest was an immediate hit. It not only was awesome among fans, but it also helped many up & coming metal bands with exposure. Not only that, but in the inagural show they got to play alongside a newly reformed Black Sabbath. It is through Ozzfest that the Blizzard of Ozz would get the energy to get out an album of completely new material in the 6 years since the last time.

Released on the 16th of October in 2001, Osbourne explained in an interview with Classic Rock Magazine that “The Ozzfest was doing well. I just wanted to be like the Grateful Dead and keep it going by touring, but the record company said they'd like a new Ozzy album”. Down To Earth is interesting in the fact that it is the only time that future Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo would ever perform on an Ozzy release, the first time that former Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin, and it would be the last time that we would hear Zakk Wylde until 2007, but that’s for a little later.

Down To Earth would chart pretty high across the world. For example, in the UK it would chart at no. 19 on the UK Albums Chart, no. 4 on the Billboard 200 here in the United States, and weirdly enough no. 1 on the Sverigetopplistan over in Sweden. It would also be certified Silver & Platinum in the UK & U.S. respectively. On top of that, the album’s 2 singles (Gets Me Through & Dreamer) would reach the top 10 of the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart here in America, and at no. 18 on the UK Singles Chart. Not bad if you ask me!”

Basic Description
Ozzy in the modern era.

The Blizzard Of Ozz’s reign will always be withing the 1970s & 80s, with a brief stop in the last great decade in the 1990s. That being said, his first release of the 2000s was a damn good spearhead into the new millennium. You had (at the time) newer recording & production technology which resulted in a fresher sound and feeling album, but the heart & soul of it was still very much old school Ozzy. A lot of the beats, rhythms, and vibes were distinctly the Prince Of Darkness, but with (again, at the time) more modern resources. The end result is a record that’s quite modern (For the very early 2000s), but still has some roots in the past, and it’s damn good because of that.

Best Track
Long before I ever listened to this album, Gets Me Through was the song that finally made things click for me when it came to Ozzy. Like I said when I talked about this album back in 2022, the track is incredibly emotional. This is one of those songs of his where Ozzy is singing about despite all the fame & infamy he has, he’s kind of an average joe & is broken on the inside, and while he would do this kind of song before & after, something about it feels more genuine in this tune than others. It really tugs at the heartstrings quite a bit, what with the sorrowful piano playing at the beginning, followed by intense guitar & bass and drums. As I said in the overview, it’s kinda weird to describe it, so give it a listen to see what you think!

Gets Me Through

However, we got a little bit of a bonus in 2021, as not only did it get re-released for it’s 20th birthday, but it also included not just an acoustic version of Dreamer & the single version of Gets Me Through, but the Japanese bonus track No Place for Angels. This definitely feels like the most modern song on the entire record: the instrumentation feels very contemporary for the very early 2000s, Ozzy is singing like his usual self but is altered in certain places, and the recording & production feels the most modern when compared to other songs. It’s definitely not as good as the tune mentioned above (Almost comes across like a demo to be honest), but it’s still something nice to hear, and it’s welcome to have a bonus track from Japan on a western release when such a thing is rare.

No Place for Angels

Worst Track
I kinda said this when I first look at the album, but some people might not like the more modern feel Down To Earth has when compared to prior releases. When I first listened to it, that feel was more obvious to me. Almost 3 years later, and I don’t think it’s as strong or obvious, but it is definitely there if your ears are observant enough. It doesn’t ruin the music for me, but it may for others that are picky with their vibes.

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

Down To Earth

Overall Impression & Rating
Down To Earth was a breath of fresh air for anyone that wasn’t a fan of Ozzy’s 90s output. While the modern(ish) vibes may have been a roadblock for some listeners, it was a sign that the Prince Of Darkness was adapting to the times in the music industry, and the end result was early 2000s magic. With the album being celebrated a few shorts years back on it’s 20th anniversary, it’s legacy is still apparent for all to listen to, and with it being 25 years old next year, said legacy is etched in stone. Down To Earth is essential Ozzy Osbourne. Plain & Simple.

Down To Earth gets an 8.5 out of 10.

And that was my review for Ozzy’s first album of the new Millennium. Down To Earth, though ages after it was released, was the album that finally got me to become a fan of the Blizzard of Ozz, and I will stay one until the day I die. With the 20 year re-release back in 2021, fans who didn’t get to experience it the first time get to do so now. So, join me next week for an annual tradition of mine that’s getting close to a decade old, then after that I’m taking a break until the 31st. See you all on Monday! 

Anime Review: Monster Girl Doctor (Revised)

Happy 1st of October fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

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

Story/Setup
Taken from Crunchyroll:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monster Girl Doctor gets an 8 out of 10.

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




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

Anime Review: Monster Girl Doctor (Original)

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzmosis

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

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

Background
Taken from part 2 of my Ozzy overview: 

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

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

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

Basic Description
Ozzy’s Still Not Black Enough. 

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

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

I Just Want You

My Little Man

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

Old L.A. Tonight

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

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

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

Ozzmosis (w Bonus Tracks)

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

Ozzmosis gets an 8 out of 10.

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

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard Of Ozz

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

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

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

Background
Taken from part 1 of my Ozzy overview: 

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

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

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

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

Basic Description
Metal Legend.

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

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

Crazy Train

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

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

Blizzard Of Ozz (Expanded Edition)

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

Blizzard Of Ozz gets a out of 10.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

MTG Set Review: Zendikar Rising

September is here fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

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

Story & Setting
Taken from the MTG Fandom wiki: 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Zendikar Rising gets a 9.5 out of 10. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Basic Description
Cyberdoom.

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

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

Danse De Noir

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

Between Despair and Ecstasy 

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

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

Danse De Noir

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

Danse De Noir gets a 9 out of 10.

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



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

Lord Vigo (Bandcamp)

Album Review: Majestica's A Christmas Carol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Joy Of Christmas

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

A Majestic Christmas Theme

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

A Christmas Carol

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

A Christmas Carol gets a 10 out of 10.

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



***
The description came from this: 

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

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

The Top Albums Of The 2020s (So Far)

So, this is going to be an interesting one fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

We’re now over halfway through 2025. As of this past June, we are halfway through a decade that seems to be getting worse and worse, and I’m not sure if it’s going to get better. Even so, the music of the 2020s has been incredible, and given that I’m a metal guy, I’ll die on the hill and say that Heavy Metal still has it’s claws in this time (Especially in 2020). Given we’re halfway through this time, I thought it would be fun to look at what I think are some of the best albums that have come out so far. The albums that show off the fact as dogshit as things are (And things are really dogshitty), there is still some slivers of light & positivity floating around. I won’t waste anymore of your time, so here are the top albums of the 2020s.....so far! 

2020) U.D.O. - We Are One (Song)

I reviewed this album just a few weeks ago in the middle of July, so I won’t repeat too much here. We Are One absolutely needed to come out in 2020, what with it’s upbeat nature & social messaging that was all too important during that time, and has only become more needed in the just over 5+ years since it’s release. If anything, with the political climate being what it is right now in not only the United States but all over the world it seems, maybe this album should have been released in 2025 instead. I said it in both reviews that the social messaging is a little goofy, and I still stand by that, but it’s still powerful more often than not. Definitely a great release to open up the decade!

2021) Mastodon - Hushed And Grim (Song)

Hard to believe that one of the biggest icons were together for over 20 years, only for one of the founding members to leave just a few months ago & badmouth them pretty hard in the process. It’s a shame, because the final record they made together in 2021 will always be the pinnacle of their talent in my eyes. Hushed And Grim is a bit on the bloated side (Almost plays for an hour & a half), but even with that bloat, Mastodon created what forever be the best thing they’ve ever made. Taking all of the emotion from Emperor Of Sand & Cold Dark Place, turning it up to 11, and placing it within some of the strongest instrumentation & vocal work they’ve ever done, it’s easy to see why many fans showered it with nothing put praise. I was only listening to the band for over 4 years by the time Hushed And Grim came out, but it’s because of that record that I might just stick around until the end of their career.

2022) Ozzy Osbourne - Patient Number 9 (Song)

The funny irony about me selecting this record was that it was actually one of my no. 5 albums of 2022 instead of it being a number 1. Fundamentally sharing many issues with it’s predecessor, Patient Number 9 makes it onto this list for two reasons. First, the faults of this release were far more smoothed out than what came before. They’re still there, but it’s nowhere near as bad. Secondly, Ozzy’s increasing bad health kinda moved me to pick this release. Anyone who saw the Black Sabbath concert not too long ago will attest that, as badass as he was singing on the throne, it was also obvious that he was suffering in some way. We all thought he was going to go away when Ordinary Man came out back in 2020, and now.....Patient Number 9 is sadly his last.

2023) Waldgeflüster - Unter Bronzenen Kronen (Song)

The Paradise Lost side project Host gave us a look into their past unfettered by company interference with IX, while Alice Cooper’s tribute to touring and the open road with Road was a fun ride. With German Black Metal masters Waldgeflüster, and their mini-release Unter Bronzenen Kronen, we have what is perhaps one of if not the most emotional releases of 2023. Bite-sized for sure (Only 4 songs), but in just under a half-hour you’re treated to a record that truly tugs your heartstrings & shakes your soul so much that the aftershock come around for a bit of time after you’re done. It might take a few go-arounds for it to permanently stick, but the music is so good it’s not an issue!

2024) Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (Song)

With Ozzy having passed away not too long ago, I now have my fingers crossed for Rob Halford. Though not that much younger than Ozzy (Currently 73, but will turn 74 later this month), I definitely saw how old he looked when I saw him for the first time last year. Luckily, he’s been healthy & clean for quite some time, so I’m not too worried. Even if he does pass away, he’s leaving on a high note with 2024's Invincible Shield! Released roughly half a century since their very first record, there was a very good reason why it was one of my number 1 albums of last year. Though the songs fluctuate between great & good (Never bad or okay), the overall experience of the release is why so many people have stuck with them for so long. Again, I’m not too worried if Rob passes on into Heavy Metal Heaven, but if he does.....he left on a high note.

2025) Destruction -  Birth Of Malice (Song)

I’ll be repeating this in December, but there was no other choice to put here (With maybe one exception). On principle alone, 2025 needs one of the titans of German Thrash Metal to take the mantle. I’ve talked about Kreator and Sodom plenty of times, but I don’t think I’ve ever talked about their compatriot Destruction before. Formed around the same time as the previously mentioned bands, along with Tankard, Destruction certainly knew how to be brutal pretty much all the time, and Birth Of Malice continues this. Perfectly reflective of what this year has been like (We got these last few months incoming, so we’ll see if things improve), Birth Of Malice reminds me very much of Sodom’s 1992 near Death Metal experience Tapping The Vein: it’s dingy, dirty, bloody, gory, violent, and reflective of the world’s politics perhaps a little too well. Even if things do come back even a little in 2025, I still won’t change my opinion that Birth Of Malice is 2025's best album.

And these were what I thought the best albums of the 2020s were so far. The Heavy Metal that’s come out in this decade has been pretty intense, but if the rest of this era is anything to theorize, then things will probably get more intense. Not only that, but things might change by the time we get to 2029, and thus some light may come back into the world. So with that, this list is done, & I got the final review of 2020 coming.....it’ll be quite a bit jolly. See you in the middle of August!

Album Review: Iron Savior's Skycrest

The end is near fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

A few weeks back, we looked at my 1st number one album of 2020 in the form of U.D.O.’s We Are One, and today we’re examining the second no. 1 from that year, and it’s quite a bit different. There’s no politics of the day or social issues, but instead is something much more lighthearted. There’s dragons, science fiction, and all other sorts of imaginative things that make the world far more bearable to go through. It came out very late that year, and it almost didn’t make my list that year if you recall, but I waited to see if it was needed to patch us up, and patched up we were. So, polish your armor, make sure your laser blaster is working, and take a look at my review of Iron Savior’s masterpiece Skycrest. Let’s begin!

Background
Instead of talking about what was going on with the band, I wanted to talk about more of my experience with listening to Iron Savior. It may not be amazing, but I think it bears something on this review.

I first came across Iron Savior sometime in 2019 completely by accident. I forget which album it was (Though I have a suspicion it was The Landing), not to mention I forget which song I first heard (Also having a suspicion, I think it was Heavy Metal Never Dies), but I do remember loving what I heard immediately. Over more time in that year, I listened to more & more of their records, and while some were more flawed than others, it was an entertaining time for me. Cut to 2020, and I kinda fell off the Iron Savior radar to an extent, and it wasn’t until I began hearing the singles for Skycrest that I got back on the radar, & I loved every single one of them. Hence, they were the main reasons I eventually loved this record, and made it one of my number one albums of that plague-ridden year. Ironically, I actually didn’t get a physical copy of it until April of 2021 as a birthday gift from my dearly departed friend Isabelle (Alongside We Are One & my final no. 1 album of 2020 if you can believe it), which further shows just how metal she was.

Basic Description
We needed this.

We Are One was (and is still) a beautiful album, but the social messaging might have been a bit too heavy for some, and by the end of 2020 we were all emotionally drained from all of the isolation & distancing (Not to mention all of the horrendous politics, death, and so much more). Skycrest, on the other hand, was very different. No social issues, no politics, and no seriousness (Despite the badassery). This record is nothing but a fun Power Metal release: full of Fantasy, some sprinkles of Science Fiction, and wrapped in a bow made of sugar & happy things. There is some heartfelt emotion for sure (More on that in a bit), but as you sit down to listen to this, a cozy blanket is wrapped all around you, and the biggest bowl of soul-warming chicken noodle soup is placed right in front of you. Sure, you might be storming a castle or flying a starship like a badass, but you’ll feel warm & safe as you do.

Best Track
Iron Savior has always been good with ballads, and the incredibly heart-breaking Ease Your Pain was the perfect choice to be the best track. The only song that was sung by bassist Jan Eckert (Who’s got a great set of pipes in his own right), it’s all the more tragic when you find out the track was about his battle with COVID, and the incredible pain he was in. By how it sounded in interviews he apparently was going through a lot of physical trouble, and this is reflected in the slow-paced and sorrowful yet somewhat triumphant instrumentation. Jan’s vocals also add to the vibes, as while he’s doing a great job singing, there is a slight roughness to it on account of catching the plague. If you got the European or American edition, it’s the second-to-last track. If you got a certain edition, however.....

Easy Your Pain

Worst Track
You won’t find a single awful song on Skycrest! Not on the European edition, or the American edition. The Japanese edition, however, contains one lone bad track in the form of Wingman. It’s actually not terrible, and not even horrible to be honest. It’s biggest problem is that it’s sandwiched between the emotional colossus of the previously mention tune, and the triumphant concluding song Ode To The Brave. As such, it feels somewhat lacking in energy, and the end result is a song that’s not truly nasty, but doesn’t quite have as much oomph when you compare it to what came before it and after it.  

Wingman (Spotify)

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

Skycrest

Overall Impression & Rating
Skycrest was what the doctor ordered by the end of the most diseased year of this decade. Weak bonus track not withstanding, from beginning to end you’re treated to a Power Metal feast that’s just perfect from the first note to the last note. 2020, for as absolutely abysmal as it was, had slivers of good......and this record was one of them. If you didn’t like the social messaging that We Are One had, then the marshmallowy fun of Skycrest is for you.

Skycrest gets a 10 out of 10.

And that was my review for Skycrest. It doesn’t have the social messaging that We Are One did, but it makes up for it with it’s feel-good cheese factor. Given how we were all feeling by the end of 2020, I think anyone who needed an emotional pick-me-up definitely gravitated towards this album. So, I’ve got 1 more number one review in the works, and I’ll see you all in August for that, but before then I’ve got a special list to show off. Be there tomorrow!

Food For Thought/Though For Food No. 37: Ozzy Osbourne (December, 3, 1948 to July, 22, 2025 )

We....we lost him fellow Otaku & Metalheads. 

It's not exactly uncommon to anyone in the Heavy Metal community (Or music fans in general), but for those exceedingly few people who live under a rock, John Michael Osbourne, best known to the Metal community as Ozzy Osbourne, passed away yesterday on the 22nd of July, 2025. The cause of death was his Parkinson's, which I didn't know he actually had since 2003 (He revealed it in 2020, which is why I thought he had it that year). Only 17 days after the monumental Black Sabbath concert in the band's home town, the Prince Of Darkness passed away peacefully, surrounded by family & friends, and in a tragic moment that echoed the passing of legends like Michael Jackson & Pete Steele, fans cried and wailed at the loss of such an iconic cornerstone of Metal.

Upon hearing this awful news yesterday, I picked up my tablet, went to Youtube, and repeatedly listen to Patient Number 9 (The song) over and over for about I think a half-hour, but emotionally it felt for a lot longer than that. I'm still reeling from his death throes: I've been listening to the Blizzard Of Ozz for over 2 decades as I type this, but it feels like he's been there beside me since I was born. It's ironic I say that, as it took me quite a while to like his music, and the main culprit in that regard was his voice. Something about it was incredibly grating to me, but it wasn't until I was 14-something years old when I came across Gets Me Through completely by random, and much like when I first came across Burn from Septicflesh, something in my brain just clicked, but from then on I became an eternal devotee, and I have the rest of my life to devour everything this man has ever done.

With that said, after I review the final no. 1 albums of 2020 (Along with a bonus at the end of August), the rest of the music that I'll be covering will be devoted to Ozzy, as I feel that it's only right to do so. I conclude this post with only one last thing......ROCK ON OZZY!

See you all on the 31st.

 

 

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I hope this is how he comes back one day:

Ozzy Osbourne - Scene in 'Little Nicky 

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 36: Vshojo did what!?

Vexoria The Sun Eater's Husband

 

So.....I didn't expect to be making this today.

As of sometime yesterday, famed Vshojo star Ironmouse announced that she was leaving the company. After a few prior members of the company left before (Matara Kan & Zentreya), this certainly raised a horde of eyebrows, but the building was set ablaze when she announced that she left because she hasn't been paid in sometime.....and they didn't give out $500.000 in Charity money that she worked on. Now, Vshojo has had issues for a while: the security disruption back in 2021, and the leaving of Nyanners, Veibei, and Silvervale (this one especially hurt for me) in 2023 are just two examples. But withholding charity money? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!??

What the fuck are you thinking!? Ironmouse has been with you since the beginning! She became one of the faces (Maybe even the face) of your business, and you kept her alive! Now!? I'm under the full believe that you are nothing more than money sucking vampires, and you kept her alive just for the sake of bringing in the cash. It's fucking despicable! So not only have you fucked over our precious grem-o-lin, you've apparently been hurting the rest of your talent as well, as so many have left in droves after Ironmouse came out with her announcement. There are a few left, but so many others have left to the point where there is no way they survive without them unless they sacrificed a few goats to Satan. Somehow, this makes the Sinder drama from this past April (Something I didn't decide to talk about for reason) look tame in comparison, which I didn't even know was possible! Now, Vshojo is no better than some of the worst vtuber companies out there ("Cough" Nijisanji "Cough"), and now I'm just waiting for the rest to leave the sinking ship so it can finally collapse in the ocean.

My final words: Fuck Vshojo. There is nothing able to be saved from this ruin of a company. There isn't anything that can even be salvaged. If any of the remaining members of the corporation see this.....get out (Which has happened already). Save yourselves. This won't be the only bad new I'll be talking about, so join me tomorrow in tribute to a legend. Until then, fuck this once bright star of a company.

 

 

***

I'll leave a link below towards the charity that Ironmouse talked about: 

https://tiltify.com/@ironmouse/ironmouse 

Also, if you'd like to heard the full situation from her own lips (That doesn't include my anger & swearing), click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwLbGcUMy6g