#aka having to keep track of everything i do my entire day in 15 min increments 😐

[ilostyou]

everyone send good vibes for today at work i have no clue how it’s gonna go

[asgardian--angels]

Recommend some good folk metal music please

:D i never thought i’d see the day when someone actually wants to know more about the music i listen to *cracks knuckles* my time has come

I apologize in advance for this novel. Feel free to skip to the recommended tracks lol.

Most folk metal comes out of northern Europe (Finland, heavily) though you can find it all over the world (Hu Band comes to mind but I mean, it’s on every continent). I am one of those people with like, a small handful of favorite bands that I listen to mercilessly so I am sure that I am only representing a miniscule percentage of what’s available out there. What’s great is that folk metal is much more versatile than many other genres in its sound; the essence of folk metal is simply to 1) utilize traditional (or rather, in the sense of a metal band, non-traditional) instruments such as violin, accordion, brass ensemble, bagpipes, what have you, and 2) have lyrical themes which revolve around regional folklore, mythology, cultural heritage, or place (what I particularly like is a frequent reverence and respect for nature). Other genres of metal (death, black) have the second element but not the first, and tend to incorporate darker overall tones and consistently harsher or lo-fi vocal styles and sounds. Folk metal can be a gateway genre into metal and can often be quite hopepunk (if you will). Because of these criteria, the actual sound of folk metal can range from sea shanties to ‘spooky walk in the midnight woods’ to scathing social commentary to SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SH

Basically you can find a range of styles within the genre that fit what you’re looking for, from those that have an orchestral, ballad feel, to things that border on death metal but have a hurdy-gurdy in there. There’s also a much higher percentage of female-led folk metal bands than other metal genres.

I’ll go through my top picks.

Turisas. These motherfuckers. My boys.

Turisas is based in Finland, but sing primarily in English (with occasional Finnish, a smidge of Greek and Swedish too). Four albums out to date, fifth in progress. Sound is absolutely fucking bonkers god tier shit, if I may say so myself. Every single song sounds like you’ve been transported into an Iliad metal musical. Heavy use of a full orchestra and choir, along with sick violin and accordion solos. Their lyrical themes focus heavily on ancient Greco-Roman and Viking military history - but before you raise any red flags, rest assured they’re liberal as fuck and trust me the tea is scalding when Mathias feels like making a Point about Then and Now. No seriously, I don’t know how to express the beauty and depth of his songwriting - Mathias Nygård is an incredibly talented composer, musician, and songwriter (nay, POET), and an extremely intelligent and down to earth guy. There are plenty of bands that are happy to write Viking songs about pillaging and glorious death in battle and all that (Alestorm comes to mind), those are a dime a dozen. Turisas makes history come to life in a way that transports you back in time and thrusts you into the living breathing world of the past. They deal with the horrors and tragedy of war from both sides, consequences and motivations, fears and pride and loss, home and family, despair and hope. They write songs about people, big and small, and their role in weaving the great tapestry of history. And the best part is that it’s informed - Mathias does his damn research and the tales he tells are rooted in fact. He brings them to life so we can experience what it must have been like for those real living people, with the goal of forcing us to confront our own selves in them. He’s a modern Homer, I shit you not. 

Did I mention there’s a song about pirates that’s actually really complex and nuanced, about how the hypocrisy and vile colonialist deeds of emperors makes them no different than the criminals they persecute?

Or that they do a badass cover of Rasputin?? yeah?????

Anyway enough gushing. Their second and third albums (The Varangian Way, Stand Up And Fight) are consecutive concept albums that follow the story of the Varangian Guard (the legendary Viking battalion that defended Alexander the Great) so the songs are actually chronologically linked to tell this epic tale. It’s a fucking listen, lads. The Varangian Way is probably my favorite album. But all their albums are top notch. 

My favorite songs: End of An Empire (this one comes for 2020 hard), Piece by Piece (AKA die fascists 2k20), Cursed Be Iron, Among Ancestors, Greek Fire, Miklagard Overture (you gotta earn this song tho, it’s the finale)

Good first listen picks/hits: Battle Metal, To Holmgard and Beyond, March of the Varangian Guard, Ten More Miles, One More

Finntroll. These other motherfuckers. My other boys.

Another big name in the Finnish folk metal scene. As you can see, their band revolves both aesthetically and musically around Scandinavian troll folklore. Yall weird elf-fuckers who like the really big ears? Here you go. Look at those ears. They’re good friends with Turisas. Both love their facepaint.

Musical style leans much more towards black and death metal influenced, with a heavier, fuller sound and growling vocals. But it’s an incredibly rich and creative aural tapestry, with layers of masterfully executed sound that’s a real delight to lose yourself in. Use of fiddle, brass, keyboard, accordion, and banjo, and strong folk melodies make their sound unmistakable and unique. They are known for their ‘black humppa’ beat, which basically gives the effect of feeling the primal need to stomp around loudly to their music. It’s great cardio. They also utilize orchestra in some great intro tracks. They know their stuff.

The majority of their songs are sung in Swedish (they do some English cover songs which are FANTASTIC holy SHIT), but don’t let that stop you. The mood and power and emotion of their music transcend language, and you can be sure the lyrics are about either trolls, witches, the dark woods, spirits, or something of that ilk. I think Swedish as a language works very well with this kind of music, and honestly having it in English would lose something. 

They have been around a long time and so have many albums, but I personally have only listened to the last three which feature their current singer, Mathias Lillmåns, whom I adore. Those albums are Nifelvind, Blodsvept, and their recent release Vredesvävd (that i’ve had on repeat since I got it three weeks ago). I’m sure their other ones are great too, I just can’t make a personal recommendation since I haven’t heard them. 

My favorite songs: Galgasång, Tiden Utan Tid, Ylaren, Skogsdotter, Två Ormar, Ett Norrskensdåd, Skövlarens Död

Good first listen picks/hits: Forsen, Under Bergets Rot, Häxbrygd, Trollhammaren (older song), Solsagan

I’ll go through these other ones a little faster, I haven’t heard quite as much from them but I do love them.

Korpiklaani. 

Great, full folk sound, utilizes a lot of folk instruments including some less commonly seen ones like hurdy gurdy. Songs are mostly in Finnish but plenty in English too. Jonne Järvelä has a really unique voice that grows on you, but it’s not for everyone. The band started as Sami folk, and Jonne is trained in Sami yoik singing, which makes an appearance in a few songs. I prefer the Finnish tracks, as a lot of the English ones are drinking songs lmao. But again, really well-executed music with layers of sound that keeps you hooked. I haven’t heard enough of their discography to really recommend enough to cover everything. 

Song picks: Minä Näin Vedessä Neidon, Metsälle, Ämmänhauta, Lempo

Moonsorrow.

Definitely a darker, black-folk band. Probably not a great pick if you aren’t accustomed to black metal - very long tracks (8-15 mins is standard), growling/shrieking vocals, a ‘thinner’ but encompassing wall of sound usual of black metal, but with the benefit of wonderfully entrancing dark folk elements and chants. It’s done really really well. Sung almost entirely in Finnish (apart from cover tracks). Lyrically, focuses on themes of Norse mythology, man vs nature and similar elements. Definitely one of those bands whose music gets you into a zone. I can lose serious time just putting a whole album on and letting my mind wander elsewhere. My favorite album is Jumalten Aika. 

Song picks: Ruttolehto Sis. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa (my fucking FAVORITE), Suden Tunti (well known hit), and also uhh check out their cover of Non Serviam cause it’s a fucking banger

Other bands that I like what I’ve heard but really can’t say much about them, whoops - Tyr (from the Faroe Islands, great stuff, Faroese is a baller language), Ensiferum, Nightwish (female-led).... I’m open to suggestions. Like I said, there are folk metal bands all over the world, and each is intrinsically linked to a sense of place and cultural identity that makes them unique. I’d love to hear about more tbh. 

[myinconnelly1]

feeling kinda salty

feel free to ignore this if it’s not your thing, but i saw a post explaining how things worked in a hospital, and it made me salty.  This is marked as 18+

So without further ado:  What it’s like when your pregnant!

Unless you are tracking your cycle you probably don’t know when you conceived.

You don’t need to have full penetration to get pregnant.

Having an irregular cycle is probably the only reason that you didn’t notice you were late. (As a person who could set a clock to the minute based their cycle) You will probably at least suspect it with in the first 2 months.

There really aren’t any other symptoms until week 7-9 (aka 2-3 months)  

Morning sickness can hit at any time.  Literally any time of day, and day of the week, through your entire pregnancy.

You will have to pee a lot during the first couple month and toward the end.  Usually not too bad in the middle.

you don’t normally start to ‘show’ until 5-6 months.

there is nothing that looks like a baby to see in an ultra sound before 12 weeks really. (just a tadpole)

You won’t hear the heart beat until 12 weeks via handheld Doppler.   

That jelly stuff is either cold AF or kinda warm in that way that makes you want to pee yourself.

You might pee yourself.  Especially if you are laughing really hard or you sneeze.  There are exercises to help with this.

You may develop bruising around your eyes that looks like little speckles after you throw up.  This is caused from the strain and lack of oxygen.  Its really common.

Cream is not a guarantee that you will not get stretch marks.

Your belly button may not pop out like a timer.

You may not ever really look like your pregnant.

You will be tired as shit

Ultrasounds are not comfortable.  there is a lot of pressure no matter what kind you have.

Everyone will start to irritate you.

Then you will cry for hating everyone.  And then rage cry because no one gives af about you, only when you are finally gonna have that baby (even when you only 5mos pregnant.)

Your husband/SO may try to do everything that he can to be sympathetic or helpful; he may do nothing.  Regardless of which it is, you will at some point be mad at him for what he is doing.

You will be ready for it to be over.

You will probably forget something from your hospital bag. 

Having a c-section is not easier.

your water may not break.  

you also may not notice that it has broken.

it is more likely that you will go to the hospital several times and not need to be there, than you are to be too late getting there.

there is no paper work to file out while you are trying to have your baby for insurance.  normally you have filled it out months in advance.

There will be an IV. (and they hurt like a bitch) 

There will be a lot of blood, from all kinds of places.  

getting an epidural doesn’t hurt.  (for me it was one of the only times i ever felt in control of my contractions.

Contractions hurt like FUCK (when they are being done right and when they are done wrong.)

You will need to drink a lot of water.

If you are have a c-section you will not ingest anything.  And this will cause you to feel even more like shit.

if you need a c-section after you’ve started labor, they will make you drink this awful tasting drink (about a shot glass)  it neutralizes your stomach acid, in case you vomit during surgery.  50/50 chance it makes you puke.

if you have an epidural you will still have minimal feeling.  It’s like that state just after a limb falls asleep and starts to go numb.  Kind of buzzy.

The Doctor won’t be there until you need to push.  And if you have a midwife, they won’t be there at all unless there is a problem.

An OB will deliver you if you need a c-section.

Anesthesiologists are sweet AF and actually care if you are still in pain.

If you are already numb and need a c-section, they will pick you up and move you from your bed to an operating table.  The nurses will tell you that you need to keep your eyes open.  This is to keep you from getting motion sickness and projectile vomiting (whistles innocently) seriously don’t even blink.

Pushing a baby out is hard work.  and can take a long time.  I pushed unsuccessfully for 2 hours with first babe.  and then half hour-45 min with second.

 Those maternity nurses can be pretty fucking creative.  (i played tug a war to try and push correctly)

There are a lot of people that come in and out of your room, between doctors, nurses, nurses in training.  Dietitians, insurance workers.  And half of them or more will touch you in some uncomfortable fashion.

 there is no dignified way to go to the bathroom once you are hooked up to an IV.

Once your baby is born you will need to push more.  Then they might need to do some stitch work.  Then you will finally be alone for a little while.  Maybe an hour.  Then you will be moved to another room in another part of the hospital.

if you had a c-section, you will be moved from the Operation theater, to a recovery room.  This is for a pretty short time, maybe 20-40 minutes.  In which you are alone for a bit.  Some times completely alone.  (if this is the case, it is the shortest 20 minutes, followed by the longest 15 minutes of your life)

You might not be lactating yet.  And therefore breast feeding will be next to impossible, as well as painful.

If you had a c-section, it’s like getting hit by a bus, and you won’t want to do anything for days.  Including laying down on a full incline.  (it’s like there are no muscles restrictions and all of your insides can just slosh where ever they want.)

You will probably look like hell.  Especially if you have any kind of complications.

there will be lots of bleeding.

a nurse will come in an press on your stomach to help get the swelling back to where it should be. (this is possible the most painful thing in the entire process)

The first shower after the baby is born is the most amazing feeling in the world.