#Monsters & Mayhem

[dustedmagazine]

Tropical Fu*k Storm — Fairyland Codex (Fire)

Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski

The asterisk is new. This whacko Aussie apocalpytic dance party on wheels used to just put the f-word right out there, and at least one music writer decided to interview them partly on the strength of how much fun it was to repeatedly write down Tropical Fuck Storm. But despite this slight concession to proprietry, and notwithstanding a sobering onslaught of troubles, geopolitical, environmental and personal, the wildest, weirdest poets of the end times remain more of less unbowed. Their fourth album comes screaming round the bend, trailing caterwauling guitars, pounding drums, ecstatic choruses and the most twisted, nihilist, evocative lyrics ever to emerge from a man-sized stack of amps.

The short version is that Tropical Fuck Storm began when Australian garage punk Drones ended, the two principals — Gareth Liddiard and Fiona Kitschin — unearthing a load of drum machines and synthesizers at thrift shops to radically reimagine their sound. Erica Dunn (guitars/keys/vox) and Lauren Hammel joined soon after, and the explosive, shambolic, laceratingly smart Tropical Fuck Storm was born. Album four arrives on a bit of a delayed schedule, four years after Deep State, on account of Kitschin’s intervening battle with breast cancer; she is reportedly doing okay now.

The TFS songs I like the best pulse with a slow stomping beat, a blackened volcanic landscape through which flares of fiery guitar play, arias of female-sung choruses, sporadically burst. They’re heavy, visceral, but shot through with space, and that’s where the lyrics set up knotty, intricately referential, scornful shop. “Goon Show” is one such, lurching and grinding, billowing with exuberant backing vocals and voicing unfathomable scorn. “It’s the golden age of arseholes and the triumph of disgrace,” growls Liddiard, casually nailing the zeitgeist. “Howling winds turn cornfields into rags/I’ve seen the cellphone footage and its raining cats and dogma.” “Irukandji Syndrome” is also luridly brilliant, a sea shanty full of monsters, including an overgrown version of the jellyfish namechecked in the title. “And then late one night we cranked the winch/And I hoisted it in the air/A giant Irukandji, lit up by a signal flare/It had seven eyes and seven tails/Laced with cyanide and DMT/The colour of a swimming pool/So heavy that the boat was leaning,” Liddiard narrates, and holy cow, what an image.

These songs bristle and rage; the Kitschin-led tunes lean into softer, island-syncopated sounds infused with dub and psychedelia. “Teeth Marché” and “Bye Bye Snake” are easier but still uneasy, lyrical but still faintly disturbing. Tropical Fu*k Storm mostly keeps its personal travails veiled, but you can intuit a few years of anxiety and heartache from “Stepping on a Rake,” a twisty declaration of love sung by Liddiard. He lists all the things not worry about—from money to weather—and ends in the lovely couplet, “Nothing has changed/I’m still your island when you’re washed away.”

And that’s it, rage and contempt, poetry and guitar mayhem, and a surprising romantic commitment to lasting love. It’s another album from Tropical Fu*k Storm, a good one edging into great, and if the band can’t quite spell out the offending word, we all know what they mean.

Jennifer Kelly

[a-monster-hunter]

Check out "Monster Attack Mayhem: Chill & Thrill Edition 🎮👾? https://www.twitch.tv/skeletonwithacontroller

[enigmaincrimson]

Gradually restructuring the branches... (Still incomplete, but it should offer a glimpse of what I'm doing...)

(Image here)

Going home wasn’t at all what I thought it would be!

Generally, while Aveline really thought trying to go back to her old life before all of the terrible things had happened was a bright idea, her reincarnated self soon finds out that it really isn’t all green back where she came from like she had thought it would be.

Juggling a part-time job as well as whatever mess she finds herself dragged into, the young heiress finds herself tangled in a complex web of magic, mad science, and a conspiracy at every corner.

After all, childhood nostalgia tends to be funny thing.

Lancaster Group Faction

Carill’s Traveling Store

AMP SYSTEM

SOUL SYSTEM

Troublesome Inheritance

Disgaea

Ducktales

Fate Series

Kill La Kill

Percy Jackson Series

Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

Shinobi School Life

Ninjas, high school, and a whole lot of kicks.

Ranma ½

Senran Kagura

Magical School Life

Magic, mayhem, why is the teacher’s hair on fire?

Harry Potter

Little Witch Academia

School Life

There goes the neighborhood.

Persona series

A Certain Scientific Railgun/Magical Index

Spy X Family

Medaka Box (Under construction and a bit of a mess)

Highschool DxD

RWBY

Shimoneta

To Love Ru

Friday Night Funkin

Explorer

I don’t think this is what mom meant by getting out of the house.

Long story short, special circumstances, adventure awaits, and maybe too much free time on their hands?

HomeStuck

Pokemon

Janus Rising

Who know being an evil overlord was going to be so much… fun?

Generally, one meddling heiress, the dark side of a bigger picture, a mystery to solve, and maybe a little too much special access for one girl to handle.

Crash Bandicoot

Sonic the Hedgehog, (Human version)

Kim Possible

Superhero

Dangerous when bored...

Long story short, take a bored girl with too much free time on her hands, add superpowers into the mix, and what did you think is going to happen?

Overwatch

Marvel

DC Comics

My Hero Academia

Artificial Magical Girl Project

I want to start a volunteer magical girl service, what could possibly go wrong?

The idea seemed innocent enough. Create a setup that could recruit people and create volunteer superheroes on a contract. One little issue… How do these superheroes work?

So long story short, she used her prototype of the system to hide her identity and infiltrated their ranks in order to study them better.

1. Kampfer

2. Miraculous Ladybug

3. Pretty Cure

4. Puella Magi

Isolation

It’ll be just a five minute nap they said, it’ll be fine they said, so where is everyone and why am I some sort of slime monster?

Long story short, a conflict between the heiress and her relatives over the application of some of her projects results in her being shoved into a stasis chamber meant for an experiment involving long-term isolation inside a simulated environment.

Unsurprisingly, they rebranded the setup as an AI managed super computer, and loaned out it’s vast processing power to the highest bidder… and eventually lost track of it’s existence.

Disaster strikes, and soon… the sleeper begins to wake… but the world had changed and so had they.

1. Honkai Impact 3rd

2. Murder Drones

3. Arknights

4. Splatoon

[pooka-dragon]

I want to do Switch Games, but I’m unsure of how to set it all up on Twitch, otherwise I would have Legends Arceus or Loz: Tears of the Kingdom on the survey.

[theriffreportuk]

🎶 Epic Destinations. Pure Metal. Floating Chaos. 🎶 🤘 “No other festival gives you this—a metal journey through volcanic islands, crushing riffs, and epic sunsets.” And you know what? THEY MEAN IT. Forget muddy fields and soggy tents – this is your chance to mosh in a hot tub and scream into the wind with your horns up high. 🌊🔥 🥁 What Is It? It’s not just a festival. It’s a full-blown floating riff warship. The Mediterranea Metal Cruise sets sail through stunning volcanic isles and Mediterranean ports while serving up unrelenting metal madness across multiple decks. Live shows, meet-and-greets, karaoke chaos, and more riffs than the entire Bay Area thrash scene combined. And yes – there’s beer. LOTS of beer 🍺🤘 🎤 FULL LINEUP – WHO’S ON BOARD? Ready to unleash mayhem on the high seas? Here’s who’s blasting through the PA while dolphins flee in fear: 🎸 Main Bands: - 🐉 BULLET – Swedish heavy metal monsters with riffs sharper than Poseidon's trident - 🎸 MINOROAR – Raw, riff-packed energy and crowd-friendly chaos - 💀 LEGION OF THE DAMNED – Thrash inferno from the Netherlands; bring earplugs or die trying - 🏹 ENFORCER – Speed metal maniacs in full NWOTHM style - ⚔️ DREAM EVIL – Pure power metal anthems. You WILL raise your fists. - 🔥 SERIOUS BLACK – Melodic Euro metal with ex-Blind Guardian and Helloween DNA - 😈 BROKEN BY THE SCREAM – Japanese scream queens bringing full-body whiplash energy - ❄️ VERSATILE – Swiss industrial black metal with hypnotic grooves and gothic drama 🎹 Bonus On-Board Chaos: - 🎤 HEAVY METAL BARPIANO – Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. And yes, it’s glorious. - 🦅 RUN TO THE BEAST – Iron Maiden tribute band from Ireland. You better believe they’re playing Hallowed Be Thy Name on a boat. 🎙️ Special Guests: - Kevin Quilligan – Vocal coach of growling legends. Want to scream properly? Get schooled here. - DJ Gustav – Metal party commander from Gothenburg spinning late-night bangers on Deck Ragnarok 💰 Cabin Prices – Choose Your Den of Riffs 🤘 All prices below are per person, based on double occupancy, and include meals, port fees, €115 drink credit, and general chaos. Cabin TypeDeckPrice in €Approx. Price in £GBPStandard Interior IA (Interior, decks 4–5)4–5€1,259£1,070Spacious Ocean View (XC) (Decks 4–6)4–6€1,759£1,495Spacious Suite Ocean View (XD) (Decks 5 & 7)5 & 7€2,349£1,997 (SOLD OUT)Panoramic Balcony Suite (BA) (Deck 7)7€2,929£2,490 (Almost gone!) 🔥 Other options (Interior IB/IC, Obstructed Views etc.) exist but are selling out fast! 🧾 What’s Included: - 3 nights of face-melting metal shows - 3 daily meals + selected drinks (beer, wine, coffee, teas) - €115 (£98) drink/food credit per person - Access to all shows, events, DJ sets, karaoke, etc. - Port taxes, fees, and gratuities = no hidden nasties 🍹 Extras (Optional Add��Ons): - Premium All‑Inclusive Drinks Package – €168 / £143 pp (unlimited cocktails, beer, Wi-Fi & more) - Onboard Credit Upgrades – €200 → €300+ / £170 → £255+ (extra drinks & swag) - Solo travellers get £170 off the double occupancy price - Hold your cabin for just £9 for 48 hrs - 8% booking fee added on checkout - NO REFUNDS – get travel insurance, butt! 🧳 🧠 TL;DR – Should You Go? - Cheapest cabin? £1,070 - Want a sea view and more leg room? £1,495–£1,997 - Balcony suite like a rock god? £2,490 - All meals, drinks, gigs, taxes INCLUDED - Metal bands, karaoke, parties, and port stops to die for If this cruise was any more metal, it’d sink under the weight of its own amps. 🌋 Final Thought This is the Ragnarök of Rock Cruises.This is Moshstock on the Mediterranean.This is… THE MEDITERRANEA METAL CRUISE. 🎸🌊🍻 Go on, you glorious headbanging lunatic. Book it.And when you return sunburnt and hoarse, we’ll be here to hear your tales from the ship of riffs. Read the full article

[bookstattoosandtea]

Release Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: M.M. Scrooge by Lee Colgin

Release Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: M.M. Scrooge by Lee Colgin

RELEASE BLITZ Book Title: M.M. Scrooge (An MM retelling of A Christmas Carol) Author and Publisher: Lee Colgin Cover Artist: Natasha Snow Release Date: November 4, 2022 Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance Heat Rating: 5 flames Length: 47 000 words/200 pages It’s part of a multi-author series. Monster & Mayhem #11 It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Goodreads Buy Links –…

[repentantsky]

Top Games I’m Looking Forward To in 2021 (Part 1)

2020 was a horrible year, but the thing that kept me and many other sane were the slue of great games that came out, or in my case, a combination of that and buying older games for my handheld consoles. However 2021, has a lot more games that are my style, so I’m much more excited for it than I was for most of this year. Allow me to have my longest list yet in celebration of this fact, and do so in parts as there is a lot to talk about, as I look at 8 upcoming games in 2021, that I can’t wait to play. To make things fair, and hopefully to keep this list as accurate as possible, I will only be counting games that have a release date as of my writing this. Also, my lists aren’t usually ranked by how much I want to play a game, as much as they are how much I want to talk about a game, so my most anticipated game for next year could easily be the first entry. With those explanations out of the way, let’s talk about games. 

8. The Medium. 

The Medium is a horror game made in a similar vain to Silent Hill’s Midwich Elementary, in that there are two realities existing at once, and you are constantly switching in between them. The idea is always one that has fascinated me as a horror fan, but the Medium really looks to amping up the scares by using the visuals that we can currently attain to increase the fear factor, instead of making everything pretty to try and sell people on that end of it. The gross, disgusting, and frightful looking world we are presented with in The Medium is one I cannot wait to explore, even if I don’t have an Xbox Series X to play it on. Regardless of anything, it looks like it might be my personal favorite horror game of 2021 when it comes out, barring no delay, on January 28th. 

7. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. 

The Ys series is honestly one of the more underrated long running series in JRPG history. If you need proof of that, just play Ys Origin, Memories of Celceta, or Ys VIII for confirmation. These games are incredible. YS IX looks to be taking the series in a darker direction than most, if not all the previous entries in the series, and not only is that super compelling, but it seeing YS in a darker light, might actually go a long way in helping it become the franchise it deserves to be in the eyes of fans everywhere. The combat looking more refined than ever, on top of the best visuals the franchise has seen to this point only add to the excitement, and the characters, from what we’ve seen so far, also look like they’ll stand out in a series full of fantastic characters throughout. YS IX, probably won’t be my JRPG of the Year, but darn if it won’t be up in the top 5.

6. Little Nightmares 2.    

Did I make it clear that I love horror yet? I hope so because this might not even be the last horror game on this list. The original Little Nightmares was honestly my favorite horror experience when it released, because no other game really did a better job of making you feel isolated, alone and weak, which is the prefect setting for horror. While Little Nightmares 2 won’t be doing the isolation aspect as much as the first because of a second playable character, with the danger ramped up enough, which the demo seems to show that it will be, it should be more than capable of bringing out the fear that made the first so memorable. There’s almost nothing scarier than being a small child in an adult world that seems to want you dead, and Little Nightmares 2 has all the vibes set up for freaking everyone out. I doubt many in the horror genre will be able to do it as well as this game will. 

5. Persona 5 Strikers. 

Finally we are out of horror and darker games and all that, for a bit, as Persona 5 Strikers is easily looking to be my favorite warriors games of 2021. Not only do I love the concept of Warriors titles, but the Persona universe is one that fits that genre well by default, having a near endless slue of famous enemies to turn into either fodder for the thousands of kills we’ll get, or bosses that will gave fans a sense of nostalgia, espeically if they are fans of Shin Megami Tensei and older games in the franchise. I’ll admit, I’m a little bummed it’s not Persona X Shin Megami Tensei, where characters from both the original franchise and the spinoff can get together to cause mayhem, but it’s the next best thing, and I am all here for it. The story promises to be incredible, and the gameplay fantastic, with that Atlus special touch added in. There’s no reason not be excited about what they put out there. 

4. NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139...

Gawd, that name though. Crazy name aside, NieR on the PS3 was a brilliant game, that was sadly underrated due to the time of it’s release, a lack of marketing, and people generally not knowing who Taro Yoko was at the time. His history speaks for itself though, with the brilliant yet weird Drankengard series, and NieR itself really being a shining example of what he can do. To see Replicant, a game that never made it to the West, be remade with combat done in the style of NieR Automata, is such an exciting prospect that I can hardly contain my hype. Not only does the title look better than the original by miles, which was visually fascinating to begin with, but the wonderful and odd music, and everything that can really be expected of Taro Yoko is there in full swing. We are looking at an upcoming masterpiece I am certain.

3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury

I’m not always the biggest fan of Mario mainline platformers, but seeing as I really found myself enjoying his most recent Switch and 3DS exploits, I cannot help being excited for the chance to play a Mario game I haven’t had the chance to previously, with some extra content to boot. Car Mario looks like a lot of fun to play, and the chance to play with up to four people is something I can’t pass the chance to play. I know very little of the game, other than it’s massive popularity and high praise upon release, and sometimes, it’s nice to go into a game as blind as possible, even if the story isn’t likely going to be anything to write home about. Whatever the title brings, it will be enjoyable to say the least, and possibly the most solid of platformers for 2021. 

2. Bravely Default II.

I won’t lie, I have a complicated history with Bravely Default as a series. While I did manage to power my way through the first game, it took some time to make it happen, and honestly, despite it’s great characters and even better story, the gameplay left me wanting. However, Bravely Default: End Layer was and still is one of my favorite JRPG’s on the 3DS, so here’s hoping enough of the good that came from that game, finds it’s way to Bravely Default II. Regardless of if it does or not, I always willing to give a format a second go, and I’ve already found myself completely in love with the playable characters, just from the two demos alone, so all signs point to a fantastic game that I cannot to wait to experience. 

1. Poison Control.

The best part of doing a list like this, is throwing something in there that no one expects, and may not have even heard of. Without a doubt, the most anime shit style game on my list, Poison Control is a game that might be more about the story, than the gameplay. The basis is you are stuck in another world, with two characters bound to one soul, and you’re goal is to remove the poison from people’s minds, by invading their brains and literally clearing it out. You might monsters and run over the poison in their heads, to hopefully make them better people. Despite the dark sounds setting, and even the slightly darker visuals, this is probably one of the most light hearted games on my list. I have to say though, there’s always something to these sorts of games despite their obvious lack in certain quality, that I enjoy. The game doesn’t actually have a Western release date either, so I’m cheating a bit, but with a catchphrase like “Purge Poison, Raise Hell” how can you not be at least a little bit excited for what’s to come of this game. 

And that’s my list. Did I miss anything you’re super excited for? Let me know in the notes below, and be ready, because part 1 of this list will be all about games without a release date, and that’s where the hype can really begin.  

[monkey-network]

WarioWare The Series: The Final Season Episodes

28 episodes. Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4

* = Episodes submitted by @doodlefox-beta ** = Episode submitted by @ichigo-milk

A Bottle of Soda: After the chaos that was the previous season, all Wario wants is a bottle of his favorite drink. Yet all of Diamond City has stopped selling it, so the big guy sets out to find some before he blows his stack.

Yellow and Black Beebop: Mona and Jimmy T work together to help the bee population, but they succeed too well. Now DC is stuck in a swarmaggeddon, and everyone tries to come up with a way to stop it without getting back to square one.

Dancing with the Demons: It’s Ashley’s first school dance, so she lets Red go in her place. Seems like a good idea as Red becomes the popular one at the hall, but things go sour when a witch child wants him as her servant.

WarioWare, The Anime: Ana becomes obsessed with this new book series and starts to imagine the world of Diamond City as the one in the book. Suddenly she’s thrusted into a quest to save the geisha Mona from the clutches of the Tengu mastermind Big Belly with the help of Cricket.

CatDogFish: Master Mantis and Dribble decide to hang out together by going fishing, which slowly causes a rift between the latter and Spitz. Though Spitz tries to redeem their friendship by catching the most vicious fish around.

Sand Turismo: 9 and 18-Volt wake up in a limo, alone, outside the city limits. There’s mystery afoot, and dinner to get back to, no time to lose!

The Word: Orbulon accidentally says the one word you must never say in public, and this forces the gang to shun him as does everyone in Diamond City. This forces Orbulon on a journey of self discovery to understand the rights and wrongs of speech.

Zine Machine: Lulu and Penny start making a magazine which becomes a huge hit. Such a big hit, that all of Diamond City start to rely on them for the latest of info. Then again, the stuff in this paper was imaginary from the start and the two can only make up so much before things get out of hand.

Michael Checks in: The Gang check in at a hotel where a dog show is taking place. Dr. Crygor wants in on the competition, but doesn’t have a dog. This is where Mike steps up to the plate… helping him build the perfect doggo.

How to Get Away with Dinner: 5-Volt turns detective when her special dinner for the gang turns out into a food fight and yet nobody knows who started it.

Wafted Dimensions (Part 1): Dr. Crygor’s new invention unfortunately creates a crack in space time, forcing each member to live through their most horrible moments of the series. This time, it’s up to an familiar outside force to save everyone.

Wafted Dimensions (Part 2): Wario turned out to be all by himself after the incident struck and has found the door back to the original dimension. Yet struggles to reach it when distractions hit him hard.

Prank Note: While hanging out at Ashley’s manor, Penny, Lulu and the Ninja twins find a journal with the ability to prank someone hardcore just by writing their name on it. Fun ensues until they hurt the wrong person at the wrong time, and this time it’s not Wario.

Lemon: Lemons have warped the fabric of reality to become the rulers of the world and it’s up to the gang to stop. That is, if they can overcome the catchy song by Lemon Demon.

Moonman Magic: A new alien stops by and is able to charm everyone except Orbulon. Is there an alterior motive behind it all? Or is he just a nice guy? Whatever may be, Crygor himself has devi- scientific plans for this new speci... creature.

Lethal Age: One of Crygor’s rejects sets off, making everyone age at a rapid rate. It’s up to the kids, now adults, to set things right. Or namely Penny, what can the others do really?

Automobile Training Video: Dribble and Spitz make a educational video on how to fix, improve, and tame your ride. Wait, tame?

Censored Love: A grumpy exec from the Bureau of Fun Cease & Desists finds Wario both crude, a vile being, and an apologetically attractive guy. He’s enamored with Wario’s “charm” and this makes Mona green with envy. So she tries to stop him while preventing Diamond City from turning into a pixelized graveyard.

Polterguts*: When a demon summoning goes horribly wrong and Ashley is possessed, Wario is forced to call upon a familiar green figure in order to help bring the entity out. The monster isn't content on leaving the physical plane, however, forcing Luigi and a few other members of the cast to think outside of the box...

Bass & 8-Bit: 13-Amp wants a change in her rhythmic style, but is having a hard time finding something original. So she turns to 18-Volt for guidance and he gives her the key place for a potential new sound: the arcade.

Minion Union: The Fronks decide to unionize when a new toy is sweeping the city to the point of annoyance. However, they don’t know how to run an actual union, so they speculate on what a union is.

Yep, This is Totally the Final Episode*: An extremely destructive hurricane is heading straight towards Diamond City and nearly everyone enters the "let's reminiscence about our lives before we get swept up" phase...except for the Crygor and Orbulon, who are trying to construct a device to block the hurricane from touching the city at all because this is definitely the final episode. Mmmhmm, the final one. The one episode that is truly final. That final episode.

Mike & the Bidding Tree: Mike turns from music to a luck machine when a lightning strikes grants him the ability to see probability and uses this to become the empirical king of gambling.

The Heroes Unite: Lulu, with the help of Kat & Ana, 9 & 18 Volt, Penny, and Red for one final heroic quest: finish her cho- I mean, CONQUER THE SEVEN TRIALS OF MOMADIA!

A Blossoming Story: Rejected from another job opportunity, a young woman comes across the gang and they each give her a dose of what it means to be determined.

Mario Party** (Part 1): An old rival of Wario comes to Diamond City for a parade celebration and everyone grows a liking to him, indirectly making Wario feel inferior and unwelcome to the point where he leaves town for good. (Un)fortunately he leaves at a convenient time when things go from good to bad.

Smash Party Ultimate Crusade (Part 2): Evil dopplegangers invade Diamond City and Mario calls upon the many characters of Nintendo to help stop the demonic lords responsible. The WarioWare gang however try to get out of dodge knowing most of them aren’t fit or interested in this massive fight. Meanwhile, Wario laments with his dopplegangers about how he’s acted throughout the series.

WarioWare Forever (Part 3): Ashley merges with Galeem and Dharkon to become the ultimate demon sorceress and plans to sees the universe to her liking. And for this finale, it will be up to Wario to show her what she’s been burying deep down all this time. Mayhem, friendship, and tears are bound to this one last hurrah, so don’t miss out.

Monkey’s note: I’d like to thank the many who liked and shared these posts. Apologies for the long wait. A lot of thought and heart went into these for a game IP I honestly love. Especially love that I got requests for episodes to put in these posts, that was a surprise to me really. Above all, if you get a chance to read this, hope you have a good day.

Oh ye, and I’ll see to continue this with another series I’ve had in mind for a while. But I’ll cross that bridge at a later time.

[sweetdreamsjeff]

From A Rose Between Thorns: Jeff Buckley article

By Jacob Burkett

Let’s cast our minds back to the early 90s. A time where a guitar without distortion was rather a harp, an amp’s lowest volume level was 11 and a chorus that wasn’t belted out was a wasted opportunity. How’d this come to be? The Seattle grunge movement was spreading fast across America and already hitting pockets throughout Europe. In 1991 alone we saw the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind, Pearl Jam’s Ten and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger. It’s safe to say the trend of the 90s had been set, and was only further cemented with the arrival of Alice in Chains, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots. So how was it that during this time of post-punk mayhem, a singer-songwriter with a voice higher than most female opera leads was able to break the mould?

Growing up in Southern California, Jeff ‘Scottie’ Buckley caught the music bug early. His mother was a talented piano and cello player, while his stepfather would only let the likes of Pink Floyd, The Who and Led Zeppelin ‘grace’ his record player. Combine this with the fact he was given his first guitar at five and you would understand if he took a direct road to rock, but Buckley thrived on the influence of other genres. Joining his high school jazz band and later studying music in Hollywood, it was evident that his love for music was fast becoming a lifestyle rather than a passion. At 23, like many before him, he headed to New York with a guitar on his back and a loose plan to get signed.

This is where it all begun.

As the old saying goes, ‘if you can’t beat them – join them’. But Buckley wasn’t necessarily a modest folk-blues sailor competing with a grunge tidal wave – he was well a part of the culture. In 1991 (his first year in New York) he joined psychedelic rock group Gods and Monsters. Their sound was heavy, and despite still being able to explore a bit of his trademark range, Buckley’s vocals were raspy to match the band. So much so that his voice in this clip resembles Soundgarden’s frontman Chris Cornell.

Recorded in 1990, ‘Radio’ is a prime example of the atmosphere Buckley was making music in. Unlike his later years, here he was sharing a stage with two or three guitarists, a fuzzy bassist, and a frantic drummer. His guitar would be distorted, his amp would be turned up past 11 and the band’s tracks would be belted out with the aid of a wild mosh.

It wasn’t until he joined a café circuit as a solo act that he was able to hone in on the sound we now know him for. It was this intimate setting, this isolation and this opportunity that enabled a punk polluted Buckley to be reborn. The crowd would sit in silence, there was no ruthless headbanging and crowd interaction would be limited to a swaying lighter for atmosphere. It was the Sin-é café where he ultimately took permanent residency and got to explore lighter genres like folk, jazz and blues, covering the softer sounds of rock such as Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and recognisably Leonard Cohen.

When Gods and Monsters wanted to turn their commitment levels up a notch in March 1992, Buckley left the band. Needless to say the decision would turn out to be the right one as his weekly residency at Sin-é attracted the attention of Columbia Records. As early as next year he would release the Live at Sin-é EP and the following year put out his debut album, Grace. Read our Q&A with Steve Berkowitz, the producer of Grace and employee at Columbia Records who discovered Buckle at the Sin-e Cafe.

With the grunge movement continuing to grow, Grace initially wasn’t well received. But as we now know, the transition Buckley made and the timing in which he made it, proved to be pivotal for rock music. In an interview during October of 2015, Muse lead singer Matt Bellamy touches on the importance of Buckley’s music.

“When I started singing my voice was very high, I sang a lot of falsetto. For me I felt like this wasn’t suitable for rock because in the early 90s, groups had a very rough voice. Until I heard this album [Grace], it made me feel confident that a high pitch, softer voice can work with rock.”

As Columbia/Legacy Recordings prepare to release You & I on March 11th (a collection of recently discovered tracks from the Sony vaults) we’re again reminded of how influential Buckley’s style has been.

Adele: “I try to listen to music that might uplift me but I don’t really connect with it.  So mainly [I listen to] Jeff Buckley.  And that’s been my entire life I’ve done that. I remember falling out with my best friend when I was like seven and listening to Jeff Buckley, because my mom was a huge fan. Grace has always been around me.”

Jeff Beck: “The simplicity and beauty of Jeff Buckley’s voice sounded amazing to me. I felt that if I could do with my guitar what he can do with his voice then I could have something pretty special.”

Ben Harper: “Jeff is one of my favourite musicians and singers of all time. Never have I seen such infinite musical potential in anyone.”

Robert Plant: “I was playing with Jimmy in the mid-90’s, working with an Egyptian ensemble and we played at a festival in Switzerland. Jeff Buckley was playing and we went to see him, and it was mind altering – his voice. Spectacular singing. And, so much conviction.”

Jeff Buckley’s stripped back approach could be deemed a gamble at the time, and his untimely death meant he never really got to see the influence of his music first hand. Yet for a young man to ditch his grunge group for a raw residency at a cafe, Buckley clearly wasn’t doing it for the accolades.

 TRACKLISTING

Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan cover)

Everyday People (Sly & The Family Stone cover)

Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’ (First recorded by Louis Jordan)

Grace (original)

Calling You (Jevetta Steele cover)

Dream Of You And I (original)

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (The Smiths cover)

Poor Boy Long Way From Home (traditional blues song, Bukka White cover)

Night Flight (Led Zeppelin cover)

I Know It’s Over (The Smiths cover)

[millennial-star-gazer]

The Draconic Demon Within(Reupload from cosmicdragonwizard accounts): Chapter:2

The Draconic Demon Within (Originally for Nalu Lovefest 2017 on previous celestialgeekmage accounts and Angst Week 2015 on Twishadowhunter/teamedwardjace2 in the past and Vera's April 2018 prompt challenge on cosmicdragonwizard account )

Genres: Drama/Angst, Hurt/Comfort,Romance, Friendship/Family New Adult Fanfiction

Vera's April 2018 Prompts: Soul, Empyrean, Savage, Memory, Trust, Fear, Unstoppable , Resilient, Supernatural (Implied) Lost (Implied) and Loathing.

Nalu Lovefest 2017 Prompts: Dreams

Pairing: Nalu/EndLu,( Natsu x Lucy/ E.N.D. x Lucy)

Rating: M for language, steamy and mature adult sexual content (all consensual) in these and future chapters. Reader Direction is advised.(You have been warned!)

Summary: Now faced with the reality of who he is truly is, the son of Igneel must come to terms  with the new  emerging, darker  instincts of his new demonic identity- all while navigating through his ever-growing, intense feelings for a particular celestial wizard. Originally a Submission (semi -au) for Nalu lovefest 2017 (on my previous celestialgeekmage account. (Also was on my earliest previous accounts of teamedwardjace/Twishadowhunter in the past. Also part of Vera's April 2018 prompt challenge from fic-writers appreciation on cosmicdragonwizard)

Chapter 2: Incinerate: A Demon's Protective Rage

A/N: Hey all, here's the next installment of The Draconic Demon Within! It was originally part of what was a longer first chapter, but has since been further revised and divided into more chapters (along with others)— enjoy and don't forget to let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: You know I unfortunately don't own Fairytail which belongs to the most Hiro-sensei instead!

Read More Here:

1. The Draconic Demon Within

A. Tumblr:

Prologue and Chapter: 1 (Click Here:)  or here: (https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/179816192273/the-draconic-demon-within-reupload-from/amp?)

    Chapter:2

Chapter: 3 (Click Here:) (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/185917542578/the-draconic-demon-within-chapter-3)

Chapter: 4 (Click Here:) (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/614628807073251328/the-draconic-demon-within-chapter-4-a-demons)

B. Fanfiction (Click Here:) (or here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13113898/1/The-Draconic-Demon-Within-Reupload-from-cosmicdragonwizardaccounts)

C. A03(Click Here:) (or here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17365061/chapters/40861472)

2. Tantric Flames  (To Be Added Later)

3. Grey Days

A. Tumblr  (Click Here:) (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/179767381833/grey-days-reuploadfrom-dragon-shield-maiden/amp?)

B. Fanfiction  (Click Here:) (or here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13112482/1/Grey-Days-Reupload-from-dragon-shield-maiden)

4. The Rest of My Writing

A. Master Fic Rec Post (Click Here): (or  here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/179665258923/master-fic-rec-post

Legend:

Italics: Mainly Flashbacks

Bold: First Person Thoughts

Bolded Italics (Within and Outside Bracket): A/N: (Author's Notes)

"And she's thinking of rage, like an ember or a burning acid swallowing up her knotted viscera. Blindness like the kind that leads men to perpetrate horrors, animal drunkenness, the jungles of the mind. "

(Alden Bell: The Reapers Are The Angels, Reaper Series)

"If you lay a hand on her, I will destroy you.  I will rip your head off with my bare hands and watch you burn in the sun ."

(Dimitri Belikov: Vampire Academy, Book 1)

(What'd you know? Found two quotes that really fit the overall tone of this chapter again)

" You okay Natsu?"

Lucy's gentle call of Natsu's name broke through his reverie bringing his attention back to the present."

"Yeah Luce, just trying to figure out how to wrap my head around all this" came Natsu's reply, sincere words nothing but reassuring. The dragonslayer knew he mostly wasn't one to lie, but also didn't wish to run the of risk alarming his best friend any further than she was .

Besides, I am actually okay—for the most part . Just gotta try and stay positive for Lucy's sake.

Natsu did notice however, that if he concentrated just enough, he could actually will the newly-sprouted leathery wings to retract just enough until they were gone completely— a tremendous relief if nothing to say the least .

"What about you? How are ya ' holding up?"

"Not entirely well, but a bit better with you here . "

"I know, it's a lot to take in right now—believe me. But I promise we're gonna be okay."

"There's not a doubt in my mind but what're we going to do?"

"We'll figure it—"

The sound of approaching footsteps echoing on stone broke through their conversation putting Natsu's senses on high alert. It was then to the realization dawned upon the fire demon that in all the mayhem, he'd forgotten they weren't alone; mentally cursing himself for having let such a critical fact slip his mind. Not to mention the sinking knot in settling the pit of his stomach when it was the demon Tempester, Natsu lifted his head to see striding towards them with a sinister expression; which raised his hackles enough for his lips to pull back revealing a flash of canines in a savage show of teeth.

"What do you think you're doing?!" He growled, a flare of stonecold fury ticking through scarlet eyes, The sound of his warning was downright ferocious, not to mention lethal with the threat of violence if the other etherious even so much as tried to lay a hand on Lucy. "Stay the hell away from us!"

Tempester merely raised a hand in response as if to silence him, clearly not deter any of Natsu's feral growls ripping from his chest.

"Easy there Lord E.N.D— no need to be so hostile" The etherious's voice was seemingly unruffled , a chillingly stark contrast to the malicious smile gracing his lips—so much so it sent off alarm bells off in Natsu's head. "I only wished to officially welcome you to our ranks as Master for which congratulations are in order. You've finally returned home to us, all while starting to realize your true potential in the process—though we didn't know it was you at first. Still, it's good to have you back after being away so long Now allow me to be of service by disposing of the celestial wizard for you as an act of good faith."

The thinly- veiled threat kicked Natsu's already fiercely protective instincts to keep Lucy safe into high-gear, manifesting in another guttural snarl of bestial proportions he let loose when his arms automatically tightened against her of their own accord at the same time.

"Touch her you bastard and I swear I'll burn ya' to a crisp!"

If he even tries anything... I swear to God...

Something strange seemed to stirring within Natsu just then, the infinite possibilities of all the unimaginable amount of the blood he could spill if the other demon didn't heed the warning ; appealing to a darker part of him that was once dormant. His words clearly seemed to fall on deaf ears however, when Tempester took another step forward—which only served to make the dragonslayer's blood boil.

"Hey! didn't you hear what I just said? stay back—don't come any closer!" Natsu hissed, baleful voice laced with venom that bordered on lethal. "Unless you want me to incinerate you you stand." One of his hands not pressed against Lucy's back was immediately engulfed in flames to empathize his point at the same time.

Pretty sure I could quite literally roast this guy if I have to. I'm not afraid to have little blood on my hands if it means protecting Lucy.

The ominous-sounding, residual, voice Natsu heard earlier seemed to stir again ; whispers echoing in the recesses his mind of just how easy it would be to set Tempester blaze, quite literally going up in flames without so much as being touched. Thoughts swimming, tempting Zeref's most powerful etheriouswith sadistic images of sizzling flesh melting off bone, blood vessels rupturing, liquified internal organs being broiled from the inside out until there was nothing left of the worthless lesser demon- scum known as Calamity but a charred pile of ashes. Oh the demon lord thirsted for this bastard's blood, how he's—-

Wait— just what the hell am I thinking?! Natsu railed against himself. I may be a demon, but I'm not some bloodthirsty monster! Butchering people like that ain't my style—not anymore anyway. God... what's wrong with me? Still , I'm gonna keep Lucy safe regardless of who or what I am.

"Master, if you just hand the girl over me I promise to make her death as swift and painless as possible."

Tempester's coldblooded voice snapped the fire wizard out of his reverrie.

"Not a chance ! There's no way in hell that I'm giving Lucy up to you!"

"Oh? Is that you already exercising your authority I hear?" Tempester praised, words pulling the corner of lips up into a smirk as if caught was between genuine amusement and pride. "I'm impressed."

"Yeah? Well that's just too damn bad, cuz I couldn't give a crap bout being your stupid master!"

" Yes, well, you might feel that way now but you'll change your mind— you'll see. It's only a matter of time before you realize who you're truly meant to be and help restore our guild. Not to mention remake this pathetic world in our image."

It was then that Lucy finally opted to speak up who no doubt probably had been watching the tense encounter with uneasy eyes up until this point.

"You're clearly out of your mind if that's what you think Natsu is all about!" She seethed , honey-brown eyes, alight with a obstinate fire. "Don't you dare you talk about Natsu as if you know him! He's not the monster you say he is—not anymore!"

"Oh really? That so, little girl?" Tempester's scoffed , disdain colouring his patronizing tone. " Now tell me— why should I listen to pointless chatter from a pathetic human like you ?

"Cuz she's right,"The son of Igneel's words rang with steely conviction when he chimed in response to the other etherious . "And definitely not pathetic. In fact, hearing you run your god damn rotten mouth about her like that makes me want to help her bash your ugly face in." Hearing Lucy's words of faith was honestly enough for his heart to trill, Tempester's of utter contempt in regards to his best friend for his blood to boil; All in all, steeling his nerves for combat.

"Yeah? I'd sure as hell like to see that!"

"Oh, you will— trust me."

His body automatically steeling himself for battle, Natsu pledged a vow to keep his the celestial mage safe from harm.

No matter what happens, I swear I'm gonna do whatever it takes to protect Lucy and to fight this darker part of me for everyone's sake . I will prove this Calamity bastard who think he knows me wrong, not to mention make everyone I love and care for proud— especially Igneel, Lucy and Happy.

To Be Continued 

Fic tag squad:  @writer-appreciation  @soprana-snap  @phoenix-before-the-flame     @nunnatheinsanegerbil @mautrino @rougescribe @goddesofimortality @phoenix-before-the-flame  @nalufever  @petri808 @thecelestialchick @nalu-natic  @superdomo360 @pyroandtheprincess  @rayhneatess  @nothingbutwordsstuff  @petri808  @thecelestialchick  @chiire  @nalufever @shootingstarssel  @chamilsanya  @rougescribe  @lover-of-the-light117

A/N: That's Chapter 2 folks-hope you all enjoyed and don't forget to leave a review ! The next chapter should be up ASAP once I'm able to begin work on it. In the meantime, feel free to check out my other works including Tantric Flames (with the writing process for Chapter 6 underway). (Respective links above along with the rest of my writing in tumblr post, side bars and bio of my blog of on tumblr . Also on Fanfiction profile of the same name except as MillenialStargazer ). All right y'all, that's all for now! Many thanks to all those who've been supporting me and my writing thus far—stay tuned for more! Peace out!

[steventrustrum]

Add some cryptid mayhem to your Mutants & Masterminds RPG with the mothfollk

[theliterateape]

The Scariest Movies of All Time (According to My 12-Year-Old Self)

By Don Hall

I’m not much of a Halloween kind of guy. In fact, I don’t care for it at all. The costumes—meh. The parties are just another excuse for adults to get hammered and dress up in racially and sexually insensitive garb, writing it off as a spoof. The candy—well, I like the candy but I like candy anytime of the year.

But scary movies? I love 'em. 

Growing up I was never bothered much by monster movies. I had all the great Universal monsters—Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolfman—as plastic models, meticulously put together with glue and painted within an inch of their campy lives. Slasher movies are always fun but rarely filled me any sense of dread.

Years ago, when we had the theater on Halsted and Belmont, we decided to host a Scary Movie Night the week of Halloween. The idea was for everyone to pick a movie that scared the shit out of them when they were kids and revisit them as adults to see if they held up. My choice was Phantasm. (1979)

Set in a mortuary sprung straight from a nightmare, the film finds a trio of heroes, brothers Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) and Jody (Bill Thornburry) and their reliable companion Reggie (Reggie Bannister thrust into The Tall Man’s (the creepy as hell Angus Scrimm) domain where he greets them with logic-bending terrors and sends the souls of the dead to an afterlife of slavery.  Complete with the surreal murderball and inter-dimensional dwarves (reminiscent of Lucas’s Jawas) and a giant fly that bled yellow goo when put through a garbage disposal, this freaking thing haunted me for a long time.

Watching it decades later, in a theater full of comedians, the shoestring budget effects and bizarre Dadaist storytelling had most of my crew looking at me like I was an idiot. “THIS is what scared you as a kid?  Not Halloween or Friday the 13th?” 

In the same spirit, here’s a short list of the movies of my pre-teen years that gave me nightmares and how they fare today. 

SUSPIRIA (1977) 

A young American ballet dancer abroad at a prestigious German dance academy uncovers an ancient, sinister coven of witches. Suspiria is famous for its baroque violence, over-the-top technicolor look, and the intense prog rock score by Goblin. It single-handedly landed Dario Argento in the Greatest Horror Directors Club and left me creeped out for months after seeing it.

And it holds up. Sure, lots of directors have since imitated so many aspects of Suspiria that watching it today makes it more nostalgic than truly terrifying but if you haven’t seen it, crank up the volume, turn off the lights, and immerse yourself. This is one of those films that transcends horror and becomes like a dark red and blue saturated tone poem of dread and mayhem. 

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978)

A remake of the 1956 original, Philip Kaufman’s movie about an alien race slowly taking over humanity by replacing them with pod people who are identical to the people they’re replacing is a paranoid conspiracy theorist’s night terror. I remember spending some time after seeing this wondering, in a most serious way, if any of my teachers were really humans or pod people. To this day, the concept of plant-like tendrils growing out of my body completely gives me the whim-whams.

In 2017, the film holds up. The performances (especially by the young Donald Sutherland and a really young Jeff Goldblum) are solid, Kaufman amps up the dread, and it includes a non-Spock Leonard Nimoy.

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979)

Sure, The Exorcist was unsettling but according to the press surrounding this film (based on the 1977 book of the same title) this was flat-out, crap-your-pants scary because it was ALL TRUE!  IT REALLY HAPPENED! OK, turns out it didn’t really happen and was most likely just a tale the Lutz family came up with because they couldn’t afford the house they bought and this story of a horribly haunted house terrorizing them was the best story they could come up with.  

But, at the time, it was ALL TRUE! James Brolin and Margot Kidder really heard voices at 3:15AM every morning. Blood really poured from the walls. The priest was ACTUALLY attacked by forces of evil and a swarm of flies. The remake in 2005 makes less sense because a simple Google search could’ve warned the Lutz’s about the murders in the house before they even drove up the drive but in 1979, this thing gave me the willies.

Nearly forty years later, the movie doesn’t quite hold the thrills of my childhood viewing if only because the goddamned Amityville story has spawned 15 movies, most of them truly sucking in almost every way.

ERASERHEAD (1977)

What fucking business did an eleven-year old kid have watching this ungodly thing? Beats me but I saw it in a theater in Phoenix, AZ. And it fucked me up for life, I think. 

When Henry (John Nance) discovers that a past jump in the hay resulted in the birth of a wormy, lizard-like malformity whose hunger is as unending as its cries, his life is turned upside down in a series of visions and unsettling tangents where every indulgence sets a trap for further terrors. David Lynch somehow manages to wring sympathy for the pathetic, nasty thingazoid that lays there throughout the film like a raw nerve and constant source of agitation. Lynch directed, produced, wrote, edited, and acted as sound designer for this awful experience, this solidifying his remarkable indie genius and creating a movie that defies categorization. Not an art house film, not a horror movie, not a comedy (although some of it is ridiculously funny), Eraserhead is simply unlike anything that had come before or has come after.

Four decades later, it still makes me queasy and itchy. 

The movies that scared me when I was twelve are not the same types of movies that scare me now. In general, I enjoy horror movies a lot. But the truly terrifying films of my fifties tend to be documentaries about climate disaster, the horrors of the criminal justice system gone wrong, and things like The Big Short. That shit is ALL TRUE and IT REALLY HAPPENED. Terrifying.

[wawintoyz-blog]

Hot Wheels Monster Jam Brick Wall Breakdown

Hot Wheels Monster Jam Brick Wall Breakdown

[ad_1] Get ready for monster mayhem with the Hot Wheels Monster Jam Brick Wall Breakdown! Slam down on the kid-activated launcher to send your Monster Jam monster truck tearing down the track. Bust through the breakaway brick wall before flying off the “dirt” ramp and into the next full-throttle adventure. This track set is a real blast! Kids will love re-enacting all the amped up, fully charged…

[allcheatscodes]

monster mayhem build amp battle wii

http://allcheatscodes.com/monster-mayhem-build-amp-battle-wii/

monster mayhem build amp battle wii

Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle cheats & more for Wii (Wii)

Cheats

Unlockables

Hints

Easter Eggs

Glitches

Guides

Get the updated and latest Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle cheats, unlockables, codes, hints, Easter eggs, glitches, tricks, tips, hacks, downloads, guides, hints, FAQs, walkthroughs, and more for Wii (Wii). AllCheatsCodes.com has all the codes you need to win every game you play!

Use the links above or scroll down to see all the Wii cheats we have available for Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle.

Check Nintendo DS cheats for this game

Genre: Action, Adventure Developer: Unknown Publisher: Crave Entertainment ESRB Rating: Everyone-10 Release Date: May 31, 2009

Hints

Dodge TNT

When your monster is crushing something and your line goes over the green line then I would run away because if it does it will usually be TNT.

Cheats

Currently we have no cheats or codes for Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Unlockables

Currently we have no unlockables for Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Easter eggs

Currently we have no easter eggs for Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Glitches

Currently we have no glitches for Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Guides

Currently we have no guides or FAQs for Monster Mayhem: Build & Battle yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.