Iceni

Dunno, probably these. "Paleopneumatic" by Dissona A prog/power masterpiece and AOTY 2016 in my book. It's the kind of album I was hoping for a long time would be made and thus it was. Bassy vocals, strong atmosphere built on a towering melodic progressive foundation "Tales from the Sleepless Empire" by Unexpect It's Unexpect, I rarely get tired of them. If you're playing something different every 20 seconds the songs will stay relatively fresh. "V" by Voyager I would need something relentlessly fun so it'd be either this or something from Amaranthe. Voyager is a little better in my book and this is their best work so far. "Gloria" by Disillusion Bafflingly clever bit of work despite being superficially off the mark. It's oddly catchy and very energetic. Could just as easily go for "Back to Times of Splendor" though. "The Great Cold Distance" by Katatonia My favorite from these guys, a perfect mix of intellect, emotion and damn good hooks to boot.

Blackberry ginger ale. Good stuff, caffeine free.

In terms of really broad genres, I'd rank them thusly from best to worst: Prog Power Death Doom Black Folk Gothic Trad Thrash Industrial Sludge/stoner (I think I have liked maybe one band from this genre) If I can be more specific: Prog Prog/power Tech-death Prog death Prog black metal Power Dissonant death/black Melodic doom Traditional power Doom/death

One of my buddies introduced me to them, really enjoyed that release.

Studying for the GRE at the moment. Really hope I can get good enough financial aid to do a Masters. I'm reasonably hopeful since I do think I'm well-qualified, but I'm also impatient since I know the application process will be glacial.

Really? Time I had plenty of big hooks. Digital is fine with me, I think I just have a higher tolerance for squeaky-clean production than most. Hey, deathstorm, good to be back. Have you been well? Good to see you too, Gorbo! You avatar is less weird than normal, did something happen?

Awesome, more Trees of Eternity fans. "My Requiem" was actually my favorite from that album too.

"At The Edge of Time" by Blind Guardian. Finally coming around to these guys. Still like "Night At The Opera" the best so far.

Man this album was such a disappointment after Time I. It was decent enough, on the level of your average Russian atmospheric BM bands on the Nihil Arts label, but nowhere hear the quality I expected given the previous album. Maenpaa set himself a goal and failed it because aside from the Winter track none of the songs really evoked the seasons. Occupational hazard of being a black metal artist? I wouldn't think so, Wintersun's not pure black metal by a long shot. It should have been relatively easy to do it on a basic level but harder to execute masterfully - and I figured it was well within Maenpaa's reach. Still think it is. Looking forward to Time II, if/when it's ever made.

I'm back bitches. Still a Christian prog head and a pedant, and now with my degree I am equipped to be more verbose than ever before. Believe it!

Dude, he's managed pretty well considering the crap year he's been handed. Sorry I've been away for ages, I've been caught up on Facebook and finals. Heading home tomorrow!

Me neither. I'll try out Serpent's Venom, though. @FatherAlabaster 'Litourgiya' by Batushka. Solid black metal with (allegedly) mostly medieval chant vocals. Also beings of Poland. Seems like it'd be exactly your sort of thing. I'm certainly loving it so far.

This termagant reminds me of the mom in Arrested Development if she were phenomenally stupid in addition to all of her other serious shortcomings.

'Descent' by Bongripper. I'd heard this band was ridiculously heavy. Seems to be that way. A little more monotonous than I'd like, though.

'Married to the Cause' by Zierler. Picking up a little. Sundowner really does sing his heart out on everything I've ever heard him do, but he's really enthusiastic on here. This chorus is great too.

Attended a speech by my best friend, and makes me kinda wish I'd been attending the meetings of the society. I might still be able to speak occasionally even though I was never part of the group. He did really well at the end in particular.

Making my way through 'ESC' by Zierler. It's not bad though I do hope it picks up. So far it sounds a little like Epysode apologizing for Phantasmagoria.

I listened to 'The Hourglass' by Atten Ash just today for that purpose and it worked really well. It's also excellent doom besides.

I'll also plug the 1966 AC Cobra 289, a wonderful machine that had an excellent 0-60 time (5.1 seconds) and unlike the 427 also handled really well. A surprisingly reserved and sadly overlooked vehicle.

Thanks! Technically just finished and I'm pretty tired. Presentation could have been a lot better but my friend said it went well and my professors seemed happy enough. Only 5 people showed up, though - the two professors, the coordinator of the African Studies Program, my best friend, and my dad over Skype. A little unnerving, I think it threw me off.

I'm really hoping my Amiensus shirt arrives before the university post office closes or I'm gunna have a pretty hard time getting it. I dunno, maybe the main post office can hold it and I can just come back and get it next year.

@Yobo I've been away for a while just because I got a Facebook account so I kinda moved over to that network for a while. Anyhow, things are going pretty well for me. I got a job for the spring working at USCIRF, so I'm quite happy about that. Presenting my thesis tomorrow so hopefully that goes well. I expect to be tired though. If I could do groceries and sign onto the apartment my friends are renting, tomorrow will be a pretty nicely productive day.

Amranthe are more like chocolate milk that's about 30% chocolate, but sure. Speaking of which, mixing Hershey's chocolate syrup with orange juice is a phenomenal combination.

One of the many reasons I just drink soda.

'A Maze of Recycled Creeds' by Gorod. New Gorod! and just as awesome as they ever were. Vocals aren't as good but with riffs and rhythm this sharp it doesn't bug me that much.