I missed the showdown last night thanks to the fact that I have to be up early for work. Missed the match, but thanks to footytube.com, I'm guaranteed of not missing any highlights with footages uploaded as early as two hours after the match. Footytube owns over youtube when it comes to football highlights!
From the highlights it's obvious I was an idiot to miss such a thrilling match. I support neither team, but I'm always up for a good high spirited match. Barca was the better team, but United's defence were as solid as the rocks that built the Alcatraz. Even when it was penetrated, Warden Van der Sar was always there to deny Barca a goal. He has proven that his presence is a major stronghold in United's strength. They do have a potent strike force with Ronaldo and Nani, a solid midfield comprising Scholes and Park and a crushing defence with error prone Ferdinand and Brown, but it's Van der Sar who keeps saving their asses most of the time. For a guy who is a beanstalk for a goalie, he's capable of making impossible saves, even the low balls (which is every 'big' keeper's nightmare).
Scholes once again (and most of the time) proved why Man Utd still need their oldies. Yeah, everyone else is scoring goals, getting points for the team, but they aren't crucial enough. How many times have you seen the youngsters squander a chance that could win them a match? Countless. But that's where Man Utd stand above the other teams. Their veterans are still venomous despite age sucking out their pace and agility. Nevertheless they are still competent. Giggs can still run sixes and sevens around world class defenders while Ronaldo messes up his step-overs against a relegation destined defender. And last night's performance from Scholes was just simply fabulous. The goal was unstoppable but what was amazing was his technique in taking the shot, something he's an expert at for the past 13 years (maybe more).
So Man Utd will be in Moscow three weeks from now, against who? I really hope Liverpool buck up their game against Chelsea. Chelsea are a desperate team at the moment. Grant wants to prove he's as capable as Mourinho in winning the league and he wants to be better, by winning the Champions League. Liverpool have only the Champions League to play for since they're fourth place in the league is more than just guaranteed.
Thank God it's Labour day tomorrow! A day off, and a perfect day to recover from a footy hangover (regardless who wins it).
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
BEHEMOTH: At the Left Hand ov God video
Finally, after much anticipation, the video is already up on youtube. MTV has been strict on the release of this video by deleting one of the uploaded ones from youtube. However, if you search properly, you'll realise they missed this one.
The video fits the band name, no doubts about that. Production quality is top notch. Best metal video.Period.
The video fits the band name, no doubts about that. Production quality is top notch. Best metal video.Period.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
BEHEMOTH: At the Left Hand ov God video posted online
But unfortunately it can't be viewed by viewers outside the U.S. So I wouldn't bother putting up the blabbermouth link. Total bollocks! Why the hell would they restrict viewing to non Americans? I've checked youtube and even Behemoth's official website but it's just a waste of time. I guess we just have to wait. How long? Beats me. But with the invention of youtube, it shouldn't take long.
My take on Behemoth? Best band at the moment. Period. They've evolved a lot through the years, from a typical noise-invaded Black Metal to a very polished Blackened Death Metal band. And the catalyst of this evolution is no other that the grinder himself, Inferno. Since his inception in 1997 (for the Pandemonic Incantations album), Behemoth took music extremity to a higher level. Blasts beats have never sounded so (erotically?) good since his coming.
My first Behemoth experience was in 1999 when a friend of mine passed me a 'Pandemonic Incantation' cassette. I've not heard of Behemoth prior to that and I was inquisitive on how Black Metal sounded. I already had a few Rotting Christ albums back then and it scared the shit out of me. But from what I heard, Behemoth played a more extreme version of Black Metal ala Scandinavian style, which slightly differed from Rotting Christ's (creepy) melodic style.
My first listen made me remove the cassette from the player and chuck it into the unknown (that's exactly under my bed). It was something I couldn't swallow. Very messy guitars, drums and a crapfest of a production value made that album inaudible. I've kept away from Behemoth ever since thinking they're just one of those noisy bands until the year 2004. Behemoth released 'Demigod' back then and frankly I was skeptical about listening to it after the horror show 5 years before. But by 2004 I was already into Black Metal and the messy sounds/production had already become something I was used to and enjoyed. I like my coffee black and without sugar, and the same for Black Metal. But of course, I still can't digest Mayhem's 'Pure Fucking Armageddon' till today. Rotten (coffee) beans from the start.
'Demigod' blew me away and gave me an erection at the same time. They've switched their direction and they're probably one of the few bands to successfully do it. Dutch blasphemers God Dethroned were one of the pioneers of this new sub-genre but they still sound more Death Metal than Black. Many Black Metal bands have experimented with Death Metal influences including Marduk and Gorgoroth on their 'World Funeral' and 'Ad Majorem Sathannas Gloriam' respectively. So it's no wonder why a very young band (remember, Behemoth recorded their demo when Nergal was 15, by 19 he recorded their first full length 'Sventevith' and was a superstar by then) like Behemoth decided to change their direction. Behemoth injected a new kick with their heavy guitars coupled with Eastern melodies. Only then I learned that they had already adopted this direction since the 'Satanica' album which I missed. With this new sound, Behemoth have rebranded themselves with an image of intellectual rebels. Drawing influences from eastern myths, legends and beliefs (which they were already experimenting since the early Black Metal years) their new sound gives these influences a more profound presence.
'The Apostasy' is their latest release (2007) and it is concrete proof that they have grown stronger since the previous album. From the intro Rome 64 C.E. to the last track, Christgrinding Avenue, it boasts an album that is flawless by my ears. All songs are equally good, which gives me a hard time to even pick the best three tracks. And as I mentioned earlier, it reasons out my point in claiming them as the best band at the moment, regardless of genres.
I'm really looking forward to watching the video, cos the 'making of' and the trailer have already got me drooling.
The making of 'The Left hand of god'
The trailer
My take on Behemoth? Best band at the moment. Period. They've evolved a lot through the years, from a typical noise-invaded Black Metal to a very polished Blackened Death Metal band. And the catalyst of this evolution is no other that the grinder himself, Inferno. Since his inception in 1997 (for the Pandemonic Incantations album), Behemoth took music extremity to a higher level. Blasts beats have never sounded so (erotically?) good since his coming.
My first Behemoth experience was in 1999 when a friend of mine passed me a 'Pandemonic Incantation' cassette. I've not heard of Behemoth prior to that and I was inquisitive on how Black Metal sounded. I already had a few Rotting Christ albums back then and it scared the shit out of me. But from what I heard, Behemoth played a more extreme version of Black Metal ala Scandinavian style, which slightly differed from Rotting Christ's (creepy) melodic style.
My first listen made me remove the cassette from the player and chuck it into the unknown (that's exactly under my bed). It was something I couldn't swallow. Very messy guitars, drums and a crapfest of a production value made that album inaudible. I've kept away from Behemoth ever since thinking they're just one of those noisy bands until the year 2004. Behemoth released 'Demigod' back then and frankly I was skeptical about listening to it after the horror show 5 years before. But by 2004 I was already into Black Metal and the messy sounds/production had already become something I was used to and enjoyed. I like my coffee black and without sugar, and the same for Black Metal. But of course, I still can't digest Mayhem's 'Pure Fucking Armageddon' till today. Rotten (coffee) beans from the start.
'Demigod' blew me away and gave me an erection at the same time. They've switched their direction and they're probably one of the few bands to successfully do it. Dutch blasphemers God Dethroned were one of the pioneers of this new sub-genre but they still sound more Death Metal than Black. Many Black Metal bands have experimented with Death Metal influences including Marduk and Gorgoroth on their 'World Funeral' and 'Ad Majorem Sathannas Gloriam' respectively. So it's no wonder why a very young band (remember, Behemoth recorded their demo when Nergal was 15, by 19 he recorded their first full length 'Sventevith' and was a superstar by then) like Behemoth decided to change their direction. Behemoth injected a new kick with their heavy guitars coupled with Eastern melodies. Only then I learned that they had already adopted this direction since the 'Satanica' album which I missed. With this new sound, Behemoth have rebranded themselves with an image of intellectual rebels. Drawing influences from eastern myths, legends and beliefs (which they were already experimenting since the early Black Metal years) their new sound gives these influences a more profound presence.
'The Apostasy' is their latest release (2007) and it is concrete proof that they have grown stronger since the previous album. From the intro Rome 64 C.E. to the last track, Christgrinding Avenue, it boasts an album that is flawless by my ears. All songs are equally good, which gives me a hard time to even pick the best three tracks. And as I mentioned earlier, it reasons out my point in claiming them as the best band at the moment, regardless of genres.
I'm really looking forward to watching the video, cos the 'making of' and the trailer have already got me drooling.
The making of 'The Left hand of god'
The trailer
We took a tumble, but we came out unscratched
It's the 18th of April now. Our second gig is just tomorrow and we haven't practiced for over two weeks. But still at 10pm we walked into the studio to sharpen whatever that is still blunt. It's gonna be 4 long hours of intense rehearsals till we rip it apart tomorrow. As every round of our set-list were played, we just got better and better. But despite that we knew we need another round for fine tuning. Those 'another' rounds ended up being God-knows-how-many-rounds till Dave told that we've reached the end of our session. And so everyone packed, but I still felt one more round would do good. But nevermind, it's good to go anyway.
So then came the 19th, the day we've been anticipating. Not only it was our second gig, it was a gig where we would be sharing the stage with two bands who are our close acquaintances. Cul De Sec, comprising of our good stoner friends Zul, and Akie, and Dark Revo, who are the people we still thank till today for giving us our debut.
They skies threatened menacingly. Well it fucking did in the end. The rain poured heavily without pity, postponing the start of the gig till an hour later. We were scheduled to be the sixth band, right after Furion Escalada.
Well before I go further let me remind you that this blog reflects my personal views and I won't give pittance in order to keep relationships in good terms.
From the start we knew it was a metalcore gig. Out of 8 bands performing, 5 of them were metalcore. Now, to get fists clenched, I'm not a fan of metalcore at all. But I admit, I was impressed by performances by Deumuseth, Oracle and Furion.
Deumuseth had a certain kick in their music which outshone the other bands that played before them. They were a band who are musically tight and reveled in the individual skills the members possessed. From the growls, to the finger taps and bass kicks. Talented people. Oracle on the other hand proved every reason why the show must go on. They were very professional on stage, apologizing that two of the members couldn't make it. But they were also unprofessional in another way. Nobody blames his teammate for fuck-ups in public. Riise scored an own goal yesterday, Benitez didn't blame him in public. Maybe the vocalist was trying to be cheery and humourous, but I personally feel that isn't how it's done. Apart from that, they rocked. A three piece band without their bassist and second guitarist, they gave us a hell of a show. Furion Escalada proved why they're the top metalcore band in the country. If you want perfection, drop by their next gig. Words escape me, they're fuckin good is all I can say.
Cul De Sec (Zul's band) was the third band to play. And being very close friends we made our attendance by standing right in front to cheer them. This is where I got quite annoyed. Cul De Sec is a grunge band and they came up with a set-list of Nirvana covers. I was a Nirvana fan in my teens, and I still have a soft spot for them. Other's might not enjoy them as much, and probably dislike the presence of a grunge band at a metal gig. That's fine, but at the end of the day we're all trying to do something we love. From being fans of such music to putting our love to practice, on our gears at gigs. And all we need is support, nothing more. I don't like metalcore but I still cheered for the bands that played. But our friends in Cul De Sec got nothing more than our screams at the front. Everyone else seemed to dislike the band and didn't even bother to give a round of applause after each song. So now you're saying that Cul De Sec don't fit in? They're not heavy enough? Not brutal enough? Well maybe you guys should take a look at yourself. Metalcore is pure faggot wankery for people who think playin heavy is cool. It's the scum of the metal scene. At proper metal gigs metalcore bands get the middle finger and nothing more. But here, all of us are struggling. And that's why we tolerate pussy metal cos we don't want you guys to go back home running and venting your anger by doing ape walks and karate chops. Cos if you guys hurt yourself, who are we to laugh at in the future?
But hats off to the frontman of Deumuseth. I saw him cheering with us during Cul De Sec's set and he actually paid tribute to them by calling Zul the Malaysian Cobain. A noble act, and I salute him for that.
Apart from all this, there was still one thing that was bugging us. The organizer seemed to be very fickle minded and kept switching our turn. And to piss us off even more, we learned of our turns from the other bands, not him! That is totally silly and unprofessional if you ask me. You're the organizer, you set the schedule. If someone asks for a switch, it's YOUR duty to consult the band who's gonna be switched. If they disagree, you can not say anything. We heard that many bands wanted to leave after their set and we were NICE enough to take sixth. And while the second band is playing someone informs us we're up next (third). Jesus motherfuckin Christ! Is this how gigs are organized here? We've been to tonnes of TRUE metal gigs and played our only gig before this, but we've never seen such irresponsibility. Maybe we are a new band but it doesn't mean that newbies are free to be pushed around. Anyway we were promised sixth place but ended up playing seventh, before an unfortunate Dark Revo to close it. To be frank, Dark Revo was the best band that day, but just unlucky to have the crowd. Maybe they (the crowd) left in fear of being humiliated by the mesmerizing skills these people have.
We played our best, no doubts bout that. But deep down, I wasn't satisfied. We could have done better if the PA system were in proper condition. We hit a snitch with our first song due to inability to hear ourselves and the mates! So we had to be contempt with playing according to the rehearsed speed and timing. Easy? NOT! I made mistakes, Jai made mistakes, Wan made mistakes, Shan made mistakes! It's not that we're not good enough, hell we knew the songs inside out, like the back of our hands! But despite the glitches, we still charged like Spartans against the Persians. And the few people who remained to watch us, we knew they were feeling the heat. I still remember when we grinded the last song, Dev and Nookie of Furion were trying to rip heads off. Their presence meant a lot to us.
I really wanna thank all those who stayed back to catch us. Migo, Amir, the Furion guys, Shino, Aireen, and our loyal roadies Vishnu and Dinesh. I'm sorry guys, that things didn't turn out well. You guys took the trouble to travel only to be treated to rubbish from the start. But I'm sure you guys enjoyed Dark Revo. Who wouldn't?
On the whole, it wasn't a great a gig for us. We could have scared the shit out of people if everything was managed well. Too bad it didn't. We were left frustrated and depressed especially me. But I thought to myself it was pointless. We saw it coming when we learned that the gig was gonna be a METAL(core)fest. But whatever gig it is, we will give our best, just like last weekend. Even if it is an emo gig, we'll make those bastards tear blood and scream in fear!
I guess Blood Legion was like Humpty Dumpty last week. We fell down (or rather pushed down) hard, but we didn't break our shell. And even if we did, we'd have the king (Dave) and his men (roadies) to help us put ourselves together back again.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Deal of the Month
EMPEROR - Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath
So I was back home in my hometown last weekend when I decided to stop by Aunty's Shop (Swee Suat Music, Terminal One). I loathed the idea of stepping into Terminal One since it's been a hotspot for immigrants and village brutes. No offense meant but these people piss me off and I've made very few visits to this mall ever since I joined college. But anyhow, I was quite intrigued by what Mrs Lim (aunty) had on sale at that moment. For your information, she was my main supplier of records ever since school days. Being neighbours in the neighbourhood, she made it a point to update me of the latest releases that just arrived. So we go a long way back, ten years, I think. And the best part is, I always get discounts when others pay full for any of their purchases. Although I buy most of my stuff around KL now, I still make it a point to drop by her place whenever I'm back.
Which brings me to my latest purchase, believe it or not, an Emperor Best of compilation, imported on top of that. The price? A slashed RM 29.90. I got it cheaper but hell no I'm not tellin you guys how much I got it for.
Let's start of with 'WHO is Emperor?' For a start, they were the pioneers of the second wave of Black Metal that kicked off in Norway and her Scandinavian neighbours. This new wave of satanic anthems differs from it's predecessor (typical heavy metal with anti-christian/satanic lyrics ie Mercyful Fate, Satan etc) in terms of song structure. The second wave took a more extreme outlook started off by Death Metal pioneers Possessed, with heavy blast beats, tremolo picking and raspy/screeching/inhuman vocals. With that template, dozens of bands pioneered the movement among those, Emperor, Darkthrone, Satyricon and Mayhem. Dimmu Borgir and Covenant came a few years later but they were already branded the third wave, Melodic Black Metal. Till today the debate on who's the best Black Metal band still continues. Many opt for Mayhem. Some have their bets on Dimmu Borgir since they've risen to become one of the most successful Black Metal bands known in the scene. But what is my opinion? Take a wild guess.
Emperor wins in many ways. But I'll just focus on one, which is the reason why they are my favourite, and the best. Song structure. Take any Emperor song and you'll see that they are pretty diverse. Not one of them are the same. Tremolo picking bands tend to bore me but Emperor doesn't. They were one of the few who tremolo picked melodies which later became a template for the melodic bands like Dimmu and also inspired the Swedish Black Metal scene. The Swedish guys played Black Metal with melodies but without keyboards, that's the difference. A little bit of Dark Funeral and Dissection should enlighten you.
Emperor's songs differed from the rest of the scene. Most of them back then had very simple song sructures, Intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus. Emperor pushed the limits to become (in my opinion) the FIRST Progressive Black Metal band. They have extended song structures, defying the norm that was being followed by the rest. Most of their songs boast non-repetitive riffs, PROPER solos and slow parts, making them stand out from the rest of the bands who were in the scene. They also have simple structured songs as well, like Inno a Satanna, for those who prefer a more straight-forward approach in song listening (boring!). As years went by Ihsan (vocals) experimented his on his vocals which gave the songs more width.
This CD, released in 2003, boasts all the masterpieces they've carved throughout their reign as emperor.. I really disagree with anyone who thinks the play/played second fiddle to any other band. Emperor were and still is the Iron Maiden of Black Metal. And it was an honour for the many bands who opened for them during their reign. Among which was a very young, little known English band called Cradle of Filth, back in '94. After the opening, the rest was history. Everyone knows what dizzying heights they've (CoF) achieved since.
Track list
Disc 1
1.Curse You All Men! 04:41
2.The Tongue of Fire 07:11
3.The Majesty of the Nightsky 04:48
4.Cosmic Keys to My Creations and Times 06:21
5.Wrath of the Tyrant 04:13
6.The Loss and Curse of Reverence 06:10
7.An Elegy of Icaros 06:39
8.I Am the Black Wizards 06:01
9.Thus Spake the Nightspirit (Live) 04:20
10.Ye Entrancemperium 05:14
11.In the Wordless Chamber 05:13
12.With Strength I Burn 08:13
13.Inno a Satana 04:51
Disc 2
1.A Fine Day to Die (Bathory cover) 08:26
2.Ærie Descent (Thorns cover) 05:59
3.Cromlech (Darkthrone cover) 04:14
4.Gypsy (Mercyful Fate cover) 02:55
5.Funeral Fog (Mayhem cover) 05:12
6.I Am 05:06
7.Sworn (Ulver Remix) 05:40
8.Lord of the Storms 02:08
9.My Empire's Doom 04:31
10.Moon Over Kara-Shehr (Rehearsal) 05:11
11.The Ancient Queen 03:41
12.Witches Sabbath 05:57
13.In Longing Spirit 05:56
14.Opus a Satana 04:19
Total playing time 02:23:10
The cover art is an illustration by Doré®
Includes two of the three songs from the "As the Shadows Rise" EP (Tracks 11 &
12).
Best of/Compilation, Candlelight Records
January 27th, 2003
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Dead Babies
An article I read on www.metalreviews.com.
Full article: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/24513
Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement.
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.
The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body. But her project has already provoked more than just debate, inciting, for instance, outcry at a forum for fellow senior art majors held last week. And when told about Shvarts' project, students on both ends of the abortion debate have expressed shock . saying the project does everything from violate moral code to trivialize abortion.
But Shvarts insists her concept was not designed for "shock value."
"I hope it inspires some sort of discourse," Shvarts said. "Sure, some people will be upset with the message and will not agree with it, but it's not the intention of the piece to scandalize anyone."
The "fabricators," or donors, of the sperm were not paid for their services, but Shvarts required them to periodically take tests for sexually transmitted diseases. She said she was not concerned about any medical effects the forced miscarriages may have had on her body. The abortifacient drugs she took were legal and herbal, she said, and she did not feel the need to consult a doctor about her repeated miscarriages.
Shvarts declined to specify the number of sperm donors she used, as well as the number of times she inseminated herself.
Art major Juan Castillo '08 said that although he was intrigued by the creativity and beauty of her senior project, not everyone was as thrilled as he was by the concept and the means by which she attained the result.
"I really loved the idea of this project, but a lot other people didn't," Castillo said. "I think that most people were very resistant to thinking about what the project was really about. [The senior-art-project forum] stopped being a conversation on the work itself."
Although Shvarts said she does not remember the class being quite as hostile as Castillo described, she said she believes it is the nature of her piece to "provoke inquiry."
"I believe strongly that art should be a medium for politics and ideologies, not just a commodity," Shvarts said. "I think that I'm creating a project that lives up to the standard of what art is supposed to be."
The display of Schvarts' project will feature a large cube suspended from the ceiling of a room in the gallery of Green Hall. Schvarts will wrap hundreds of feet of plastic sheeting around this cube; lined between layers of the sheeting will be the blood from Schvarts' self-induced miscarriages mixed with Vaseline in order to prevent the blood from drying and to extend the blood throughout the plastic sheeting.
Schvarts will then project recorded videos onto the four sides of the cube. These videos, captured on a VHS camcorder, will show her experiencing miscarriages in her bathrooom tub, she said. Similar videos will be projected onto the walls of the room.
School of Art lecturer Pia Lindman, Schvarts' senior-project advisor, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Few people outside of Yale's undergraduate art department have heard about Shvarts' exhibition. Members of two campus abortion-activist groups . Choose Life at Yale, a pro-life group, and the Reproductive Rights Action League of Yale, a pro-choice group . said they were not previously aware of Schvarts' project.
Alice Buttrick '10, an officer of RALY, said the group was in no way involved with the art exhibition and had no official opinion on the matter.
Sara Rahman '09 said, in her opinion, Shvarts is abusing her constitutional right to do what she chooses with her body.
"[Shvarts' exhibit] turns what is a serious decision for women into an absurdism," Rahman said. "It discounts the gravity of the situation that is abortion."
CLAY member Jonathan Serrato '09 said he does not think CLAY has an official response to Schvarts' exhibition. But personally, Serrato said he found the concept of the senior art project "surprising" and unethical.
"I feel that she's manipulating life for the benefit of her art, and I definitely don't support it," Serrato said. "I think it's morally wrong."
Shvarts emphasized that she is not ashamed of her exhibition, and she has become increasingly comfortable discussing her miscarriage experiences with her peers.
"It was a private and personal endeavor, but also a transparent one for the most part," Shvarts said. "This isn't something I've been hiding."
The official reception for the Undergraduate Senior Art Show will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25. The exhibition will be on public display from April 22 to May 1. The art exhibition is set to premiere alongside the projects of other art seniors this Tuesday, April 22 at the gallery of Holcombe T. Green Jr. Hall on Chapel Street.
How would you consider this? Is it pushing the boundaries of art, or a plain lame act of seeking attention?
On the former
Art has always been known for creating controversies, often using elements like the human body, nature, religion etc to convey their messages. Of course art mediates in many forms like paintings, music, film etc and over the years more and more controversies have emerged thanks to the creative minds of the artists. Ethical boundaries have been pushed and stretched wide like an elastic band that seems to have infinite elasticity. But is it really infinite? To those who appreciate art as a form of expression and creativity this doesn't seem a problem at all. It's something no one has ever tried before and I'm sure there are people who are eagerly looking forward to the end product.
I understand the need (if it is actually one in the first place) to take things to greater heights, but I firmly believe there should be a limit to it. I consider this a form of mockery to nature. The human body was built to operate naturally without any 'external' intervention. Abortion is a heinous act against nature and law. Of course there are situations where an abortion is needed when the health of the mother is in jeopardy or the fetus is bound to be a disfigured/disabled child. These are the only two reasons for me to condone abortion, the rest is horse-shit. You're not ready to have a kid-you should have used a rubber. Your girlfriend is pregnant-you should have used a rubber. You can't afford another child-you should have used a rubber, it's only RM 12 for a pack of threes. Your mistake isn't the (should have been) child's to bear. And now making an art out of dead babies is officially the sickest thing to date since Mawi's win on Akademi Fantasia.
Apart from the argument over ethics on this issue, this lady clearly doesn't see the future consequences on her health. Aborting by the use of medications which is purely chemical spells a rotten womb in the near future.
On the latter
She obviously is trying to get famous the easy way since she probably doesn't possess any artistic talent AT ALL. The world has revolved around materialism since the start and it is just human to achieve it in ANY possible way. From singing off key on American Idol to prostituting one's self, just to gain a little recognition. And with that recognition comes the influx of green notes into your bank account, Swiss if you're big.
To me what this lady is doing is purely an abomination, be it for artistic values or attention. I hope she continues her work and I wish her the best in bleeding to death.
Full article: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/24513
Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement.
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.
The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body. But her project has already provoked more than just debate, inciting, for instance, outcry at a forum for fellow senior art majors held last week. And when told about Shvarts' project, students on both ends of the abortion debate have expressed shock . saying the project does everything from violate moral code to trivialize abortion.
But Shvarts insists her concept was not designed for "shock value."
"I hope it inspires some sort of discourse," Shvarts said. "Sure, some people will be upset with the message and will not agree with it, but it's not the intention of the piece to scandalize anyone."
The "fabricators," or donors, of the sperm were not paid for their services, but Shvarts required them to periodically take tests for sexually transmitted diseases. She said she was not concerned about any medical effects the forced miscarriages may have had on her body. The abortifacient drugs she took were legal and herbal, she said, and she did not feel the need to consult a doctor about her repeated miscarriages.
Shvarts declined to specify the number of sperm donors she used, as well as the number of times she inseminated herself.
Art major Juan Castillo '08 said that although he was intrigued by the creativity and beauty of her senior project, not everyone was as thrilled as he was by the concept and the means by which she attained the result.
"I really loved the idea of this project, but a lot other people didn't," Castillo said. "I think that most people were very resistant to thinking about what the project was really about. [The senior-art-project forum] stopped being a conversation on the work itself."
Although Shvarts said she does not remember the class being quite as hostile as Castillo described, she said she believes it is the nature of her piece to "provoke inquiry."
"I believe strongly that art should be a medium for politics and ideologies, not just a commodity," Shvarts said. "I think that I'm creating a project that lives up to the standard of what art is supposed to be."
The display of Schvarts' project will feature a large cube suspended from the ceiling of a room in the gallery of Green Hall. Schvarts will wrap hundreds of feet of plastic sheeting around this cube; lined between layers of the sheeting will be the blood from Schvarts' self-induced miscarriages mixed with Vaseline in order to prevent the blood from drying and to extend the blood throughout the plastic sheeting.
Schvarts will then project recorded videos onto the four sides of the cube. These videos, captured on a VHS camcorder, will show her experiencing miscarriages in her bathrooom tub, she said. Similar videos will be projected onto the walls of the room.
School of Art lecturer Pia Lindman, Schvarts' senior-project advisor, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Few people outside of Yale's undergraduate art department have heard about Shvarts' exhibition. Members of two campus abortion-activist groups . Choose Life at Yale, a pro-life group, and the Reproductive Rights Action League of Yale, a pro-choice group . said they were not previously aware of Schvarts' project.
Alice Buttrick '10, an officer of RALY, said the group was in no way involved with the art exhibition and had no official opinion on the matter.
Sara Rahman '09 said, in her opinion, Shvarts is abusing her constitutional right to do what she chooses with her body.
"[Shvarts' exhibit] turns what is a serious decision for women into an absurdism," Rahman said. "It discounts the gravity of the situation that is abortion."
CLAY member Jonathan Serrato '09 said he does not think CLAY has an official response to Schvarts' exhibition. But personally, Serrato said he found the concept of the senior art project "surprising" and unethical.
"I feel that she's manipulating life for the benefit of her art, and I definitely don't support it," Serrato said. "I think it's morally wrong."
Shvarts emphasized that she is not ashamed of her exhibition, and she has become increasingly comfortable discussing her miscarriage experiences with her peers.
"It was a private and personal endeavor, but also a transparent one for the most part," Shvarts said. "This isn't something I've been hiding."
The official reception for the Undergraduate Senior Art Show will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25. The exhibition will be on public display from April 22 to May 1. The art exhibition is set to premiere alongside the projects of other art seniors this Tuesday, April 22 at the gallery of Holcombe T. Green Jr. Hall on Chapel Street.
How would you consider this? Is it pushing the boundaries of art, or a plain lame act of seeking attention?
On the former
Art has always been known for creating controversies, often using elements like the human body, nature, religion etc to convey their messages. Of course art mediates in many forms like paintings, music, film etc and over the years more and more controversies have emerged thanks to the creative minds of the artists. Ethical boundaries have been pushed and stretched wide like an elastic band that seems to have infinite elasticity. But is it really infinite? To those who appreciate art as a form of expression and creativity this doesn't seem a problem at all. It's something no one has ever tried before and I'm sure there are people who are eagerly looking forward to the end product.
I understand the need (if it is actually one in the first place) to take things to greater heights, but I firmly believe there should be a limit to it. I consider this a form of mockery to nature. The human body was built to operate naturally without any 'external' intervention. Abortion is a heinous act against nature and law. Of course there are situations where an abortion is needed when the health of the mother is in jeopardy or the fetus is bound to be a disfigured/disabled child. These are the only two reasons for me to condone abortion, the rest is horse-shit. You're not ready to have a kid-you should have used a rubber. Your girlfriend is pregnant-you should have used a rubber. You can't afford another child-you should have used a rubber, it's only RM 12 for a pack of threes. Your mistake isn't the (should have been) child's to bear. And now making an art out of dead babies is officially the sickest thing to date since Mawi's win on Akademi Fantasia.
Apart from the argument over ethics on this issue, this lady clearly doesn't see the future consequences on her health. Aborting by the use of medications which is purely chemical spells a rotten womb in the near future.
On the latter
She obviously is trying to get famous the easy way since she probably doesn't possess any artistic talent AT ALL. The world has revolved around materialism since the start and it is just human to achieve it in ANY possible way. From singing off key on American Idol to prostituting one's self, just to gain a little recognition. And with that recognition comes the influx of green notes into your bank account, Swiss if you're big.
To me what this lady is doing is purely an abomination, be it for artistic values or attention. I hope she continues her work and I wish her the best in bleeding to death.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Accidentally a father
With our second gig just around the corner, all of us are trying hard to make it an impressive one. Each of us are spending hours on our own practicing before we head for our final rehearsal this Friday.
That aside, I received some good news from Jai regarding Blood Legion which I'll mention it till it's all confirmed. Dave, our manager, has proven that he's not a mere skinny mal-nutritioned banker/band manager with all the wizardry he just performed. Like I said, tell you guys about it later. Anyway Dave has put a lot in the making of our band, not just financially, but moral and liquid support as well (bunch of Indians, you think milk is all we drink?). And the rest of us owe it to him big time, honestly. And so today during a conversation with Jai he mentioned that he hopes that we all pull this (the band) through for a long time. No back-outs midway whatsoever.
I assured Jai that nothing of that sort is gonna happen.Period. Unless one of us happens to become a father accidentally and is driven broke by the impending expenditure of raising a kid. Somehow, everyone is looking my way....WHY?
That aside, I received some good news from Jai regarding Blood Legion which I'll mention it till it's all confirmed. Dave, our manager, has proven that he's not a mere skinny mal-nutritioned banker/band manager with all the wizardry he just performed. Like I said, tell you guys about it later. Anyway Dave has put a lot in the making of our band, not just financially, but moral and liquid support as well (bunch of Indians, you think milk is all we drink?). And the rest of us owe it to him big time, honestly. And so today during a conversation with Jai he mentioned that he hopes that we all pull this (the band) through for a long time. No back-outs midway whatsoever.
I assured Jai that nothing of that sort is gonna happen.Period. Unless one of us happens to become a father accidentally and is driven broke by the impending expenditure of raising a kid. Somehow, everyone is looking my way....WHY?
From ANAL ABUSE to BLOOD LEGION
Anal Abuse, Malaysia's sickest death metal band, stretching lyrical boundaries over death, gore, politics and religion. But sadly as soon as Anal Abuse was formed, it met it's premature demise. We were a band of four good friends, Rajjiv, Jai, Shan and me. As soon as we told each other we're gonna nauseate people with our music, we heard the bad news that Rajjiv was leaving for Melbourne. As much as we were sad for his departure, we were happy for him on the other hand. He left to further his studies in a course we all knew he'd enjoy. ALL THE BEST, MATE!!
One year passed and everything remained as silent as your grandmother's grave (mine was cremated). The remaining three of us continued our weekly routines of attending gigs with our should-have-been manager of Anal Abuse. Week in, week out watching from the stands was something very routine for all of us. We itched to be up there like everyone else and to make a name of our own. But of course, work and studies kept us just plainly hoping. Never did it progress beyond that.
But as fate would have it, we finally did it. A friend of ours who still remembered the bunch of Indians who had a band named Anal Abuse gave us a call and asked "IS your band still on?" Without second thoughts we said yes and we were officially booked for our first gig. That's great, but a fuckin suicidal act on the other hand! We hadn't jammed together in a year and we lacked a drummer. This is where the out-of-job manager, Dave, proved his worth by making a few speedy phone calls, which lead to the recruitment of Helmi, the bass player for local legends, Langsuyr.
Rehearsals were intense, up to four hours a day every weekend until the day of our gig. Fingers blistered, and throats scalded but we marched on till the day of our gig.
And so, with the passing of Anal Abuse, Blood Legion was born. Right now, we're scheduled for our second gig on the 19th of April and another in June, where we hope to share the stage with the Malaysian godfathers of underground metal, SIL KHANNAZ and BRAIN DEAD. Keeping our fingers crossed. Tightly. VERY tightly.
Rajjiv is planning a comeback in late June. Anal Abusers reunited once again! We plan to perform with the full Abuse line-up during his return, and revert back to Blood Legion once he's deported to Melbourne for another six months in the can.
Friday, April 11, 2008
I'm starting to miss
Jon Nodtveidt.
What a waste. Such an accomplished musician he was. The first time I heard Dissection (Nodtveidt's band) was when I was 15. 'Where Dead Angels Lie' was on a compilation of black metal bands which I managed to purchase for a mere RM 5. That compilation opened my eyes to Black Metal and it was this very cassette (I was poor, you fool) that introduced me to the Satanic side of the music industry and also the greats that make up the scene including Dimmu Borgir, Therion, Moonspell, Graveworm, Marduk and others. That cassette is 9 years old now and is still in pristine condition.
That aside, I've been a Dissection fan ever since. I dug through online archives for his albums, which brought me to 'The Somberlain' and 'Storm of the Light's Bane'. Two incredibly melodic albums as far as Black Metal goes. I became a hardcore fan in an instant. This was in 1999, also the year that I found out Jon has been in jail since '97 for being convicted of helping in the murder of a homosexual man. This is when I knew all hopes for a new Dissection were dashed, bitterly. But then in 2006, Jon was released and the first thing he did was to head to the studio and record his third masterpiece, Reinkaos. It wasn't as strong as it's two predecessors but it has some strong songwritting here and there. My favourite song was and is still Maha Kali. I still play that song over and over again.
Then of course, Dissection recorded a live DVD which I managed to get hold of, don't ask how. Fuckin' insane!! Jon still rips the guitar on stage like how he used to do it back then. There wasn't the slightest inconsistency throughout the set. One of the best live concerts I've watched on DVD.
Then of course, came the horrible news that shattered whatever respect I had for him. Jon was selfish. Took the easy way out. He blew his brains out with a shotgun. Having idolised a person for who he is and what a great person/musician he was, I couldn't accept the fact he had committed the most heinous of actions a person could possibly commit.
Jon was a member of the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO), a Satanic cult/sect which practices Satanic/Luciferian philosophies in their everyday life. It isn't ritualistic Satanism, but philosophical Satanism. And according to this philosophy, one should take his own life once he has accomplished his ultimate goal. Jon's goal was to record that performance and release it on DVD once he's out of the can. And so he did. It was THE comeback for Dissection, reuniting old fans, and gaining newer ones. THAT was his goal. It's such a pity a man that great believed in something so shallow.
Despite his self-inflicted passing, I still have high regards for the chap. I know he believed in something really silly, but I still look up to his character, charisma and skill that made Jon Nodtveidt one of the most talented musicians in the scene. Goodbye, Jon. I'll see you soon, in Valhalla.
What a waste. Such an accomplished musician he was. The first time I heard Dissection (Nodtveidt's band) was when I was 15. 'Where Dead Angels Lie' was on a compilation of black metal bands which I managed to purchase for a mere RM 5. That compilation opened my eyes to Black Metal and it was this very cassette (I was poor, you fool) that introduced me to the Satanic side of the music industry and also the greats that make up the scene including Dimmu Borgir, Therion, Moonspell, Graveworm, Marduk and others. That cassette is 9 years old now and is still in pristine condition.
That aside, I've been a Dissection fan ever since. I dug through online archives for his albums, which brought me to 'The Somberlain' and 'Storm of the Light's Bane'. Two incredibly melodic albums as far as Black Metal goes. I became a hardcore fan in an instant. This was in 1999, also the year that I found out Jon has been in jail since '97 for being convicted of helping in the murder of a homosexual man. This is when I knew all hopes for a new Dissection were dashed, bitterly. But then in 2006, Jon was released and the first thing he did was to head to the studio and record his third masterpiece, Reinkaos. It wasn't as strong as it's two predecessors but it has some strong songwritting here and there. My favourite song was and is still Maha Kali. I still play that song over and over again.
Then of course, Dissection recorded a live DVD which I managed to get hold of, don't ask how. Fuckin' insane!! Jon still rips the guitar on stage like how he used to do it back then. There wasn't the slightest inconsistency throughout the set. One of the best live concerts I've watched on DVD.
Then of course, came the horrible news that shattered whatever respect I had for him. Jon was selfish. Took the easy way out. He blew his brains out with a shotgun. Having idolised a person for who he is and what a great person/musician he was, I couldn't accept the fact he had committed the most heinous of actions a person could possibly commit.
Jon was a member of the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO), a Satanic cult/sect which practices Satanic/Luciferian philosophies in their everyday life. It isn't ritualistic Satanism, but philosophical Satanism. And according to this philosophy, one should take his own life once he has accomplished his ultimate goal. Jon's goal was to record that performance and release it on DVD once he's out of the can. And so he did. It was THE comeback for Dissection, reuniting old fans, and gaining newer ones. THAT was his goal. It's such a pity a man that great believed in something so shallow.
Despite his self-inflicted passing, I still have high regards for the chap. I know he believed in something really silly, but I still look up to his character, charisma and skill that made Jon Nodtveidt one of the most talented musicians in the scene. Goodbye, Jon. I'll see you soon, in Valhalla.
Life so far..........
Has got me having mixed feelings. A jobless bum for a good three months but things are better now. Finally got a job (which I seem to enjoy despite working late on a few occasions) and that has taken a good load off my back. It's only been three weeks but something tells me I'm gonna like this job on the long run. Watching youtube has been mandatory, shooting darts in the pantry (is it even one?), and watching the designers race against time with their work trying very hard to meet the deadlines. Yes, working life is pretty fun I guess.
But along with the joy I'm having, I realised I'm losing out on several other things that made my life, MY LIFE. Evening soccer with the idiots every evening, hanging out at coffee shops into the wee hours of the morning, catching the latest movies without fail and making fun of the latest Chinaman trend (hairstyles, dressing etc) seems to be missing from my schedule for the past three weeks. I definitely would like to resume my daily routine but then again, sacrifices have to be made. I could go back to being a bum but then who's gonna pay the bills? You? Fuck off!
Working life is definitely a new phase for me. A step into proper manhood (yes I know all the hair on me are sufficient proof, but still?) I guess.
But along with the joy I'm having, I realised I'm losing out on several other things that made my life, MY LIFE. Evening soccer with the idiots every evening, hanging out at coffee shops into the wee hours of the morning, catching the latest movies without fail and making fun of the latest Chinaman trend (hairstyles, dressing etc) seems to be missing from my schedule for the past three weeks. I definitely would like to resume my daily routine but then again, sacrifices have to be made. I could go back to being a bum but then who's gonna pay the bills? You? Fuck off!
Working life is definitely a new phase for me. A step into proper manhood (yes I know all the hair on me are sufficient proof, but still?) I guess.
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