The future of Cryptic Inscriptions

 Due to wanting to pursue other things this will be the end of Cryptic Inscriptions. I've kept this going since 2009 starting this with my brother and my then girlfriend at the time. Both of them would fizzle out but I decided to keep going forward with it. At this point though I want to focus on the podcast I'm doing now called "Into the Rabbit Hole" as well as my current musical projects "Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate" and "Sea of Apparitions". My decision comes from just being super busy, not having enough time, and not wanting to settle for less. I will probably still write and put stuff on here ever once in a while or when time allows. I do want to thank everyone who's supported the zine throughout its nine year existence. Thank you for your support:

I will continue to post on here but just updates on the podcast and my bands.

R.I.P. 2009-2018

Check out my podcast at Whooshkaa.com and Podcasts.com


https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/into-the-rabbit-hole

http://www.podcasts.com/into-the-rabbit-hole--c18f04eeb

Check out my musical projects @

Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate-https://apocalypticnoisesyndicate.bandcamp.com/

Sea of Apparitions- https://abstractorchestrations.bandcamp.com/

June 2018 Issue

I wanted to let all the readers know that the Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate/Cryptic Void tour went well! I want to thank everyone who helped us out along the way. Whether it was giving us a place to stay, feeding us, or setting up the show. Also major kudos to anyone who bought merch and supported us in any way! Now without further a do here is the June Issue of Cryptic Inscriptions.

                                     "And Yet" Essays by Christopher Hitchens.



   Love him or hate him, it goes without saying that Christopher Hitchens is one of the greatest orators of our time. I found myself captivated by his writings, even though I didn't agree with all the subject matter. I felt like his cynicism towards the holidays was a bit much at times. Yes, I agree that commercialism has taken over, and the real meaning of things have been swept aside,but sometimes you have to look past that in order to be a better person.I definitely enjoyed his piece on Ayann Hirsi Ali and her struggles of escaping from her radical Islamic upbringing. His pieces on Orwell were also very well written, and I enjoyed them very much. It definitely opened up my understandings of the origins of Orwell's thought process and his beliefs. I don't agree with him as far as Marxism and Che Guevara are concerned, but looking past that I can definitely appreciate his other works and respect his opinions.. I'm actually looking forward to picking up "God is not great" when I get the chance. It's a shame that he's not around anymore, but his writings will continue to live on.

May Issue and Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate/Cryptic Void West Coast/Gulf Coast Tour Update

To all the readers:

I've been busy preparing for the upcoming tour with Cryptic Void with my band Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate. So I will not be posting up a new issue this month,but will be posting one up next month instead. Here are my thoughts before we hit the road in two weeks.

 It took many years and a lot of trial and error,so to finally get this off the ground feels like an accomplishment to me. All the previous bands and all the bullshit that led up to this was worth it.I'm also thankful that I get to work with three of the most amazing and dedicated musicians I've ever met.So much appreciation to Frank Faerman, Carlos Villareal, and Ed Martinez. You guys rule and I'm glad that we're getting to do this together!

 Our first show will be kicking off in Houston with all of our friends in DDA, God Fearing Fuck and Ullatec. Then will be hitting up a few more cities in Texas, Arizona,New Mexico,California, and ending everything off at the 719 Grind festival in Colorado Springs.We will have a ton of merch CDs, 7 inches, Shirts, and stickers at these shows too.So buy something and help us get to the next city your support will definitely help and be appreciated!

See you grinders and punks soon!

March and April Issue Pt 2

Here is the April issue enjoy...

                                Henry Rollins "The First Five" book review

The first five is a collection of poems and essays by Black Flag front man, Henry Rollins. They are written more like a diary combining various experiences that happened over the course of time. The cynicism and anger is definitely felt after every turn of the page. Some of the feelings I can relate to,such as not being understood, or feeling alone and angry at the world. Other times, I almost wish I could of pulled young Henry aside and told him everything is going to be ok. It's astonishing that someone who has inspired others, whether in music, or through some of his quotes and writing, could be so hard on himself and think that he was just a grain of sand on the beach that will never be noticed. I'm sure age has changed Rollins in a way that he has gone above and beyond success, for someone who started as a young punk rock musician.I will say age hasn't slowed him down, even when I saw him live a few years ago. You could still see the intensity in his eyes. The car is going 100 miles per hr and its not stopping for anything or anyone. If you want to get a glimpse of the life of Rollins, I definitely recommend checking this book out.

March and April Issues Pt 1

To all the readers, I want to apologize for these last two issues being late. I have had a lot of personal stuff going on and have been busy with my band Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate as well. First off here is the March issue, a long awaited review that I didn't get the chance to get to but finally put it together!

Enjoy....

 

  Captain Three Leg vs DSM split review

This split release features two of the Midwest's finest in the current scene of heavy music. First up, is long time running band Captain Three Leg, who delivers nineteen tracks of catchy hardcore punk/noise-core. The lyrics  are tainted with sarcasm and humor, which is definitely apparent in the song titles such as: "Suburban Satanists", "Lyric Sheet Included",  and "White Girls with Ukuleles". I enjoyed the catchy riffs that groove and complement the bursts of noise-core that follow. The instruments and vocals are blended well in the recording, but the bass tone hands down is my favorite as far as the recording quality goes.I like that C3L incorporates instrumental tracks along with their vocal laden tracks. It adds a different dynamic that I think a lot of other bands should take note of.

DSM serves up ten tracks of angry sludge/grind-violence that crushes you like a bulldozer with the angry driver going on a rant. I like the grittiness of the recording, and the mixed back and forth vocal assault between the duo. The slow parts crush and add a dark heavy aspect that's followed by bursts of fast paced mayhem. There's even a bit of a black metal feel that is definitely apparent on tracks like "Ape Hive". It gives off a feeling of isolation and anger that can erupt at any second without warning.  The noise track "Cud" is dark and adds a haunting apocalyptic feel to close off the release.

You can listen to or get the digital download @ bandcamp-https://captainthreeleg.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-dsm

Feb Issue and S.B.Fuller

To all the readers I apologize for the lack of a February issue.I've had some personal stuff that I was going through this month that I need to get through,but I will definitely be on track for March. In honor and to close on Black History Month here's a story on a famous American you probably haven't heard of named S.B. Fuller.

 http://www.freedomworks.org/content/profiles-liberty-sb-fuller-0

Read this book if you haven't already:https://www.amazon.com/Questions-About-American-History-Supposed/dp/0307346692

First Issue of 2018

To all the readers,

  I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year. Here is the first and newest issue of Cryptic Inscriptions for 2018.

                                    Mortiferum "Altar of Decay" demo 2017

  I recently went to a local death metal show here in Houston and got the chance to check out two old school inspired death metal bands Fetid and Mortiferum. I enjoyed Mortiferum a little bit more so I went and checked out their demo "Altar of Decay" that's up on their band camp page. Hailing from Olympia,Washington Mortiferum has been described as having influences that range from American to Finnish old school death metal. I can definitely agree with the comparison, but the first thing I thought of was Dismemberment, who are one of my favorite death/doom metal bands. I like the old school feel of the recording and the songwriting. I couldn't help but bang my head while listening to this the heavy grooves, soul crushing riffs, and  blast beats all make perfect bedfellows. The synth intros and outros definitely added a darker atmosphere to the tracks as well; this demo kills and I can't wait for the full length.

band camp link-https://mortiferum.bandcamp.com/releases

Final issue of 2017

Hello readers here is the final issue of 2017. This has been a crazy year,but I'm definitely looking forward to the new year! I will have updates concerning the web zine and other endeavors that I'll be involved with. So without further a do here is the December issue.

                                 Beyond Sensory Experience "The End of it All"

 I have reviewed Beyond Sensory Experience in the past and when I found out they were still active and created another album back in 2016 I decided to jump on the opportunity to review it! Beyond Sensory Experience continues to carry the torch as dark ambient masterminds with their latest album "The end of it all". This sonic landscape of dark atmospheres, sampled voices, and creepy undertones (courtesy of composers K.Meizter and M.Drakh) taking the listener on a dark journey through the rabbit hole and into the dark realm of existence. I love how these guys take the time to make sure every beat, sound, and nuance is just right. These guys would be perfect as far as composing for anything science fiction, horror, or anything generally in the abstract genres. Every album is a progression and I can tell these guys have grown not only as musicians, but as composers as well. If dark ambient is considered the new age of classical these guys are definitely in the high ranks.


Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas,Happy Holiday, and a Happy New Year. See you guys next year.

November 2017 Issue

Hello again readers here is the newest issue of the zine. I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy...

                     Nov 2017- "Evil is Evil: A brief look into Fascism and Communism"

  I wanted to dive into an issue that needs to be address. Which of the two is the greater evil, is it the Communist Regime or the Fascist Regime? If I was going to give a proper assessment on the issue I would say both are responsible for horrible deeds and are evil. Fascism provided one of the biggest known atrocities in the world "The Holocaust" that was advocated by Adolf Hitler. Most believe this event caused the death of 6 million Jews along with many other deaths that included: gypsies, homosexuals, anyone who opposed the Nazi regime, Russians, Slavs, the physically and mentally handicapped, as well as all the war time casualties that cause the soils to be soaked with blood. While this event was tragic and one of the worst events in history why does the atrocities of Communism seem to get a pass? Even though there is an ample amount of evidence of the atrocities that were done under this regime. It's thought that between all the Communist regimes that 100 million people have been killed due to the rhetoric of one Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels and their "Communist  Manifesto". How can one look the other way with all the deaths caused by the mass genocides of firing squads, gulags, and famine? It seems that throughout time the idea of Cultural Marxism has been soaked into the pores of mainstream media and throughout the education system.Thus basically covering over the evils that were done by these Totalitarian regimes and giving them a popular face in the mainstream.One might look at the "Frankfurt School" for being the first to bring this into college classrooms (see Andrew Breitbart's book "Righteous Indignation" on this issue). The propaganda machine just keeps going by painting these villains as heroes. For example Che Guevara is said to be a revolutionary hero on the shirts worn by trendy hipsters and punks. Yet most don't seem to realize that he was responsible for the deaths of many innocent men, women, children, and the elderly. The same man who had plans to bomb buildings in New York was welcomed with open arms except by Gladys Perez ,who had a knife intended to end the murderous assassin."The knife was meant for the assassin" she said as she was taken away by police. Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello considers Che to be a fifth member of the band without realizing that Che considered rock music to be bourgeoisie and that he would have locked him and the rest of his band up in re education camps. The press also love to jump on the Communist bandwagon making men like Joseph Staling out to be saints even calling him "Uncle Joe". One of those reporters was Walter Duranty who pretty much covered up the mass famine that was going on in the Ukraine and Soviet Union along with all the deaths in the gulags and the seven million killed by the Soviet Death Squads. Others like Pol Pot and Mao Zedong led genocides that would also wipe out millions of their own people for the greater good? The scary thing is the term politically correct, that a lot of Social Justice Warriors parade around saying, was coined by the murderous Mao. The quote being "Not to have a correct political point of view is like having no soul." I guess that's why Mao had an easy time killing millions of his own people if they didn't share his view. To sum everything up I think people need to go out and research all of these things. I'm not against people having opposing view points,but parading around spewing the rhetoric of evil dictators whether its Fascist or Marxist in nature can be dangerous. Stalin referred to these people as useful idiots, tip of advice don't be a useful idiot question everything.Don't trust everything that is said at face value look into it!  Otherwise you might be pissing away your liberties without even knowing it. As Mao Zedong would say "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." Lets not let evil leaders point their guns at us.

For more info on some of the things I mentioned and for further information read the following books:

"Exposing the Real Che Guevara and the useful idiots who idolize him" by Humberto Fontova
"Righteous Indignation" Andrew Breitbart
"Gulag" by Ann Applebaum
"Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich"  William L. Shirer
"Surviving the Killing Fields" Haing S. Ngor and Roger Warner
"Mao: The Unknown Story" by Jung Chang

Links to 10 books about the Holocaust that you've never read:
http://airshipdaily.com/blog/01272014-holocaust-books

Halloween Issue 2017

We are approaching the fall season my favorite time of year.I decided to review one of my favorite albums,and one I usually like listening to during the fall/Halloween season. So here it is enjoy readers:

                               Oct Issue-Type o Negative "Bloody Kisses" LP

   As fall approaches I decided to review this classic album from Type O Negative,that fits perfectly with the Halloween and fall season. Type O Negative's third album brought the band out of the metal underground and into the mainstream. This album is a brilliant mix of Gothic metal, doom and hardcore punk that has lyrics ranging from depression, suicide and blatant sarcasm. "Christian Women" and "Black No 1" have the perfect amount of catchiness to sing along with and the perfect amount of heaviness to bang your head to. "Kill all the White People" and "We Hate Everyone" are more along the lines of the late Peter Steele's former band "Carnivore"that have more of a fast paced hardcore/punk sound .The band's cover of Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze" was ingeniously done taking a more happier sounding song and transforming it into a much darker sounding orchestration. "Sets me on Fire" is definitely "Beatles" worship done well with it's late 60s/70s vibe and wah driven guitar sound in the breaks. My two favorite tracks are the title track which is dark goth doom metal masterpiece.This is also the first song I ever heard from the band in general. The dark organ intro, the distorted bass, screaming sustain of the guitar solo, and the primitive, powerful, yet somber pace of the drums that keep it all together make for a winning combination.My other favorite track "I Can't Lose You" is a more melancholy composition with an emotionally driven sitar piece that flows well with the music and Steele's baritone voice crooning throughout the song. This album is a win all the way and the musicians themselves prove to be the perfect match. There will never be another band like it and I want to take the time to thank them for their influence and for creating this timeless masterpiece
.
Thank you: Kenny Hickey, Josh Silver, Sal Abruscato, Johnny Kelly and the green man Pete Steele-R.I.P. 1962-2010.

Want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween/Samhain.

Sept 2017 Issue

Sorry for the delay readers! September has been a busy month for me,but here is the Sept and Oct issues of the web zine:

                      Sept Issue- The Alex Jones Prison Planet "Crush the Parasites" EP

  The man, the myth, the legend, and now the vocalist for the "Alex Jones Prison Planet"... Well not exactly the vocalist, but close enough. The legend Alex Jones has been known in the conspiracy world for years now. The creator and driving force behind the "Info Wars" brand Jones has tackled issues such as 9/11, Sandy Hook, The Illuminati, and many more. Now his famous rants have been sampled and used in places of vocals for the Alex Jones Prison Planet. The Waterbury Connecticut brutal death project actually supplies killer tunes alongside the crazed rants of Jones. The drum programming and guitars sound tight and on point with decent production. My favorite moment is on the guitar break after Jones yells on the "Gloves Are off" followed by Jones going off fits perfectly! The demon noises he makes on "Goblet of Death" works well and definitely made me laugh. While some might just brush this aside as some gimmick I actually think this is quite ingenious. This is one of the more original projects I've heard all year in my honest opinion. "Excuse Me".

Check them out at- https://thealexjonesprisonplanet.bandcamp.com/

Aug 2017 Issue

Hello to all the readers I hope everything has been well. I decided to actually get it together and release this issue on time for once. I will begin working on the September-December issues very soon, but here is the August 2017 issue of the zine.

                       Aug Issue  "Observation of Richi Jones playing Baker Street"

  I recently stumbled upon this video while I was listening to the original version that was recorded by "Gerry Rafferty". The scenario in this video is of a young man named Richi Jones playing this song at what looks like a corporate awards dinner. I wanted to point out a few things I noticed in this video. One: the kid plays his heart out to an audience who could care less. Two: the soullessness of the crowd can be depicted right off bat. It's just another company dinner with corporate cronies who probably hate each other and are making mindless small talk, having nothing in common except using each other for their own greedy gains. I could be just digging deep on that one and jumping to conclusions, but I've worked company dinner events and that scenario isn't far from the truth. Third: Richi stops in between to take a drink and no even realizes that he's stopped. The look on his face is that of someone who can tell no one is even bothering to listen maybe with the exception of whoever filmed this. Lastly: after he finishes playing the last note not one person claps, cheers, or even boos. It's gives you the distinction that they don't even realize he exists or that he's talented. The video fits with the sadness of the original song's message and shows talent and genius falling on the deaf ears of the masses. I hope Richi gets to play to an audience who actually appreciates him. A few fun facts about the song that are almost as crazy. The original musician who played the memorable sax solo on the original recording "Raphael Ravenscroft" was paid a mere £27( 34 us dollars). He never received any other royalties for the song and the check he originally received bounced. While "Gerry Rafferty" literally made a million a year on the songs royalties even until his death. While both Rafferty and Ravenscroft have passed away since the legacy of this song continues to live to this day.

July 2017 Issue

                                           July Issue "Pure Moods" Soundtrack

  Pure Moods is a soundtrack which showcases various artists from the nineties new age, ambient , and electronic movements i.e: Enigma, Enya, Mike Oldfield, Dj Dabo, Mark Isham and more. The perfect collection to listen to when wanting to relax and needing to take a break from the chaotic world. There are definitely songs on here that people are more than  familiar with such as Enigma's "Return to Innocence" and "Sadness Pt 1", Enya's "Orinoco Flow" and "Tubular Bells Part 1" the classic piece used for the Exorcist. DJ Dabo does an excellent job at recreating the famous theme from "The X-Files" and I also enjoyed the Native American themed track entitled "Yeha-Noha (Wishes of Happiness & Prosperity)."This music is ageless and in my personal opinion can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you find a copy I suggest picking it up and absorbing the sounds of peace and harmony.

June 2017 Issue

To all the readers. I had a busy week and didn't get the chance to post this until now. So here is the June Issue and I'll post the July issue as well. Enjoy..

                                June Issue: Peter Sotos "Buyers Market" Review

  Peter Sotos the man who some call the modern day Marquis De Sade is a writer and musician. He is best known for his work in the band Whitehouse and was formerly a writer for the Pure magazine. This is the 1992 first album released under his own name and this is everything that vile nightmares are made of. Compiling a collage of samples from parents, law enforcement, and victims of sex crimes there is nothing musical about this album at all. This is more like an audio book per say and I  think adding some type of noise or sounds under the samples would have given it some more dynamic i.e. Nicole 12. What it doesn't provide in sound it does provide in mentally scaring the listener. I've read, watched and listened to a lot of extreme things, but this one definitely trumps over all of it, maybe with the exception of "The Serbian Film". From what I've read on Sotos himself his writings were a way for him to put himself in the shoes of serial killers and sexual predators more like a sick twisted fantasy. Sotos himself has a history of weird sexual fantasies and was convinced of possessing child pornography back in 1986. In one way I like how he points out the media's exploitation concerning victims of sexual abuse. As they basically are looking for a story and not concerned with the victims well being as well as exposing people who used the scenarios of sexual abuse to their advantage when they aren't actually victims. This just adds more emphasis to things that were and have been going on for far to long and need to stop. So while some might see this as sick, twisted, and perverse(I honestly can't blame them.) I think the truth behind it is something that shouldn't be ignored. Now this release is definitely not for everyone and if you don't have a strong constitution I recommend not  listening to it. I personally was almost in tears especially on the clip of a girl crying "Mommy Mommy I want my Mommy". I listened and wrote this review after recently discovering Sotos, but I'm honestly not sure if I'll ever listen to this again.

May 2017 Issue

Now here is the May issue:

UxDxSx "Too Fast for love" EP

  A lot of newer grind to me is not very impressive, but I recentely was introduced to Coopenhagen Denmark's UxDxSx through my friend Ed from Sparse. This four piece goregrind outfit knows how to make an impression with their debut "Too Fast For Love"(yes the same name as the Motley Crue debut, but on a whole other spectrum).  This album has all the makings of a good grind release punky grooves, merciless blasts, catchy guitar riffs, and various vocal types that dominate the nine original tracks on this album. The band takes a stab at some covers on this album as well. Their renditions of Rabid Dogs "Mangled" and Turbonegros "Denim Demon" are executed very well in my opinon. The biggest thing that caught my attention was the composition of the songs and the recording quality. I hate the attitude that a recording needs to have horrible sound quality to be consider true grind. I like being able to hear the instruments and vocals clearly  with being able to distinguish what's all happening. Definitely a release I recommend checking out.

https://uxdxs.bandcamp.com/

April 2017 Issue

 Hello readers I have been extensively busy the past few months,but I haven't forgotten you.

Here is the April issue:

The Haxan Cloak "Excavation" LP Review

 I stumbled upon "The Haxan Cloak" by chance after hearing  the bands music on a you tube video. I decided to go further and checked out the album entitled "Excavation." Composer and sole performer Bobby Krlic does a great job of taking the listener away to the dark realms of the human mind. Ominous synth lines mixed with heavy bass drops gives the album a more hypnotic feel and you can't help but become lost within the sounds. The uneasy sound glitches and various samples give the album a dark uneasy feel too it. Like the killer waits in the shadows as you wander the dark corridors of the maze. Manipulated field recordings give the album a silent hill sort of feel as it creeps up on you when least expected. The sparse melody lines definitely help ease the tension of the more darker sections of the music.  I recommend listening to this one with the lights off to get the real dark feel for it.

https://thehaxancloak.bandcamp.com/

March Issue "Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate History"

I apologize for the March issue being late. This past month has been a very busy one for me. I decided for this issue to post the official history of my main musical endeavor "Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate". Enjoy readers..

March 2017 Issue:

  Since the beginning of this year I've been thinking a lot about the music.I've made in the past and the current music I'm currently working on. I've been involved in a lot of bands and projects over the years. Recently though, I haven't had the opportunity to give a lot of interviews or have band bios and pages like I did in the past. So I decided for this issue to go into brief detail on my main endeavor Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate, for anyone who is curious. Since there really isn't a lot of information about the band as a whole, I wanted to set things straight about the bands history. I formed the band in the winter of 2013 along with brothers Justin(drums) and Josh(guitar) Williams after the demise of Justin and I's other band Panspermia. We would play our first show at the Pre INC Fest in Jacksonville in January of 2014. The lineup would change several times.Josh left the band and I would take over the guitars and do vocals. Justin left after a time and I enlisted the help of my friend and former Panspermia band mate Dave Carrin(drums). I decided to move to Houston Texas in 2016 and would join forces with Frank(drums) and Seattle(vocals) of Cryptic Void and Turbokrieg. After jamming a few short months we would play our first gig with PLF,DOME, Battle Rifle, and Turbokrieg. Carlos(bass) formerly of Dethroned, would join the band later in the year making the first complete lineup. Seattle left the band in early 2017 and we have decided to stay a three piece for the time being. We've played a decent amount of shows and have a impressive collection of releases. Our music ranges from noisecore on the earlier material, grindcore for the middle and current period, and we've even done a few experimental electronic releases as well.

Most of these releases can be found and ordered from me directly at: 

abstractorchestrations.bandcamp.com

Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate in 2017 are:

Joe-guitar/vocals (2013-present)

Frank-drums (2016-present)

Carlos-bass(2016-present)

Seattle-vocals(2016-2017)

Justin-drums/vocals/samples( 2013-2015, 2016)

Dave-drums (2015-2016)

Josh-guitar(2013-2014)

Discography:

Gory Maiden (Comp Release)

Split with Gangrene DIscharge(net release)

Split with Bowel Rot(Regrugitated Stoma Stew Productions)

Death Orchestrations and Apocalyptic Hymns( Exalted Woe Records)

3 way split with Enterrohagia and Chamber of Tapeworms(Regrugitated Stoma Stew Productions)

Split with Guinea Pig(Regrugitated Stoma Stew Productions)

Split with Corvid Canine(Abstract Orchestrations)

Split with MDFL(Abstract Orchestrations)

Split with Los Reyesz Bong Death(Abstract Orchestrations)

4 way elecronic split with Undocumented Dweller, Garsnorkskish Vrendipular and Aesthetic Alien Agenda

Cute and Cuddly Kittens vs Apocalyptic Noise Syndicate split(net release)

Coming Soon:

Split with Nibiru

Split with Aputasos and Negative Graves (Kitchen Vomit Records)

To end this off I want to thank anyone who has supported us and anyone that has helped us along the way. It will never be forgotten and is much appreciated. See you guys soon.

Feb 2017 Issue

Hello readers,

Here is the newest issue of the zine. Enjoy!!

                                  Feb 2017 Issue "The Iron" by Henry Rollins:

  I decided for this month's issue to tackle an article that I read sometime last year by musician and writer Henry Rollins. I knew that Rollins was definitely into fitness by his impressive physique, but I didn't know much on the back story of it. I dived into the article and found out that in his youth through the help of his advisor Mr.Pepperman. Mr. Pepperman would show him the ropes on working out by showing him 10  different weight lifting exercises to help build his physique. These exercises didn't only help build his physical appearance, but also helped build his mental and emotional character as well. I became interested in working out in 2011, but honestly didn't take it seriously until about a year ago when I moved to Texas. I started to research and went full force into it. Learning a lot and still learning even now! The benefits and discipline the iron has taught me has helped shape me into a better person and taught me a lot about life as well. When something seems like it can't be done you have to get back up, try again, and work hard at it. When I first read the article tears almost came to my eyes because the scenario of Rollins' youth reminded me a lot like my own minus the fact that I wasn't as lucky to have an advisor like Mr.Pepperman to help me along the way. I had to carry my own and with my own dedication and drive I've taken myself to places I never thought I would be. For me it isn't about posing in the mirror and a social scene, fitness for me has helped me feel better as a person by achieving what I thought I could never even do. I often like to work out alone with no music just myself, the weights, and solitude. It helps me clear my mind and gets in me in the mode for the workout that awaits. I've applied the training and discipline to my everyday life and other obstacles and its definitely been the biggest benefit that I've ever known. I've been through both aspects: from not training to partying and not taking care of myself to training and taking care of myself through strengthening of the health, mind, body, and soul. I will take the latter always and continue to become, as Elliot Hulse says, "The Strongest Version of Yourself".

I'm going to attach a video that has the complete narration of the full article for you to hear.

                         

Jan 2017 Issue

Hello to all the readers, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that you guys all had a great holiday as well. I want to send positive vibes to all...

Now here is my first review of the new year. Positive vibes to all...

The Fartz "Because this world still fucking stinks" compilation

   Thanks to a post I saw, I recently discovered former Seattle punk/hardcore band "The Fartz.""The Fartz" were one of the first well known hardcore punk bands to emerge from the scene in the early 1980s. They would get label support through "Dead Kennedy's" front man Jello Biafra's label "Alternative Tentacles." I decided to tackle the anthology "Because this world still fucking stinks" since it basically showcased all  of the bands various 7 inches and eps in their short history. This also features appearances from all the members including "Acussed" vocalist Blaine Cook and "Guns and Roses" bassist Duff Mckagan. Dirty, raw, fast, and heavy music with politically charged lyrics tackling issues such as sexism, racism, and unjust political and religious ideals. The Fartz would make an impact in their short three year existence as a group. Catchy grooves, snotty bass lines, dirty sounding guitar, and  snotty vocals just makes everything about this release a great addition to any punk rock or hardcore fan's collection.The early stuff adopts to a more fast punk approach while later material still keeps the punk spirit. It trends on a bit more of a heavier and darker feel musically and vocally.  I love the raw emotion that I feel when I was listening to this collection. It reminded me of dirty basements reeking of the smell of beer and vomit while tons of punk rockers mosh to the chaos of the musical assault. I'm glad I got around to hearing about this band. I will definitely be jamming to this one for a bit!

Dec Issue last issue of 2016

Hope everyone had a great holiday! Its been a crazy and busy year for me, and I can't wait for the new things that await for next year! To close out the year here is the Dec issue of the zine:

Dec Issue Carcass "Necroticism"

  Carcass are known for being the purveyors of the goregrind genre. They would later abandoned it to focus on a more melodic death metal sound like on "Heartwork." While on "Swan Song" it was more of a death and roll recording.Their first break from the goregrind sound of the early works was on "Necroticism." Its crushing heaviness  amidst the melodies and the dual vocal assault of Jeff Walker and Bill Steer definitely make this a death metal classic. The one thing I like about Carcass is they add groove to a lot of their songs to break from the tension of the blasts. The harmonies interweave in the mix making it more dynamic!  I enjoyed the later albums as well as the early ones. For me"Necroticism's" song writing, production and the musical ability of all the members was done just perfect.  I enjoyed the album in my youth, but didn't appreciate it as much as I do now.  I was more into "Reek of Putrefaction" and "Symphonies of Sickness" at that time. After hearing the album  for the first time again in several years I enjoyed it from start to finish. If you haven't heard this record yet get out from under the rock that your living under and put this one on nice and loud. Tracks to check out from the album are "Corporal Jigsaw Quandary," "Inpropagation," "Lavaging Expectorate of Lysergide Composition," and "Incarnate Solvent Abuse." As I mentioned earlier in this review,  listening to this from start to finish gives it a more menacing effect!