Execute My Evil Plan

I like "I'm Destroying the World" just because it's a nice blend between blue grass and punk. I'm not too familiar with Guttermouth's catalog but I definitely fell in love with this song and think the bango and violin perfectly work with the band's sound.

If You See Kaye

I don't think there are enough bands/groups out there that don't take themselves seriously enough. Especially in a genre like metal (which is understandable because everyone wants to look and sound heavy and badass). The Black Dahlia Murder is the only group on here that doesn't have ridiculous music, but rather are know for the ridiculous on stage antics. With Between the Buried and Me, I have them on here because even in between their hour long songs (I'm just a tad bit exaggerating), they put random little bits that are always fun to hear.

A Turn of Events

I don't think I've written a serious post in a while

My sister didn't graduate middle school. It came as a shock to all of us. My sister got really lucky we still have the No Child Left Behind program in place put in by President Bush that prevents children from K-8 from being held back. But at its very core, I messed up and forgot that what she's going through is really hard, especially more now than ever. My sister was/is a lot closer to my parents than I will ever be. They share a different bond than I did, which is probably more related to the time spent together growing up. (Maybe I'll talk about this in a later post)

Anyways the point I bring this up is just because my sister tried committing suicide a few weeks ago as her own personal reaction to the news of not graduating middle school. She knew the disappointment that there would be from this just because both of my parents highly value getting an education as so do I, but I understand sometimes higher education/schooling system just doesn't work for everyone. To be honest, we were all disappointed. We all went out of our way to accommodate her culmination ceremony. My mom even took my sister to a restaurant she had always wanted to go to as a gift.

On the day that would have been her culmination, my mom headed out to my sister's middle school to see her grades and discovered that she was no where close to graduating. The blame goes all around between everyone. My dad doesn't really intervene in her schooling. Doesn't ask for grades, doesn't ask how she's doing in school. My mom is too busy balancing time to spend with my sister and work. And me? Just being a shitty brother that pays barely any attention.

My sister is psychologically scarred. She's stuck in a situation worse than I am in between parents that always want to be right. She has all these bottled up feelings inside and no where to release them. Today my mom told me she's trying to take my sister to psychologist through her health care provider and I believe (I could be completely wrong) that this will benefit my sister just because no one really knows how to listen to her without inserting their own biased opinion. (I'm pretty sure even I do this)

My sister is scared I don't love her just because we rarely spend time together. She's scared of my mom because she likes to shout when things aren't done immediately and throws large tantrums. And lastly she hates being alone since my dad leaves her home alone to just watch tv all the time. 

I don't really know what I would do if I lost my sister. Obviously I would keep living, breath and going through everyday life, but since I'm home all the time by myself, I'm pretty sure I would have danced close to depression and my would have been in an even worse situation, losing a mother and daughter in less than month. Even though I have a terrible way of demonstrating it, she does mean a lot to me.

She's bright but just hasn't found her calling just yet, which is ok because she still has three years to decided if she wants to go to college or not (after that would mean taking her time deciding what she wants to do). I do have to say that I'm glad she's slowly taken up reading books. Hopefully it helps expand her imagination and takes her mind off stressful stuff. Keep your head up sis, better things will come.

DevilDriver have a new song out. I like it but it just doesn't feel like I'm smashing someone's face, which is what their usual first released songs/singles sound like. Still, I'm very much looking forward to Winterkills. Going to be awesome

When Hell Freezes Over

On As Blood Runs Black's Allegiance, a lot of their songs had that punch you in the face feel to them. But then there was "The Brighter Side of Suffering" which is just one of those songs that you want to walk around to and just bang your head. I like to tell people that they're one of a few bands that really get breakdowns and are able to mix it really well with the guitary stuff and solos. This is just one of the songs that gets it right and also has that "I'm going to kick ass" feeling to it.

Trivium also do this. Their song "Anthem (We Are The Fire)" is just all about taking names and kicking ass. This song also stands out a bit for just because I don't really think The Crusader was that good of an album especially since they've been incorporating a lot of singing into their songs over the last couple albums. But anyways, here's "Anthem (We Are The Fire)" so just sit back and bang your head. Ciao

Movies

I've seen Monsters University twice now and I do believe it was just as funny the second time as it was the first. I have to get that movie when it's released on Blu-Ray.

Now yesterday while on a date with my gf, we decided to go watch Pacific Rim and holy shit was that movie insanely awesome. It's Guillermo Del Toro so you know there's quality to it. (We both recently rented and watched The Devil's Backbone from my local record store and talk about good stuff from him.) The movie has awesome action packed sequences, the futuristic look just kicks ass and the humor written into the movie is perfectly timed. Charlie Day is fucking hilarious as a crazy scientist. It was really cool that the movie didn't have a forced romantic relationship and the way the movie starts with a kick in the gut (in a good way) is a great twist to setting up the film.

I really want to watch Turbo so hopefully we'll get to see it soon. I'm just not looking forward to having Ryan Renolds do the voice acting but i think I can at least put up with not seeing his face. Until next time blog

3:30 Thoughts

Went to sleep early and ended up doing worse and woke up at 2:30 wide awake and hungry out of my mind for breakfast. I hate my body. Grayceon won't put me sleep even though that's all I want

Yesterday I got bored of the internet really early, I have no idea why today something would even pop up. None of the websites I check won't even update until at least 7 am and since I only check like 7 websites anyways, it takes less than five minutes to get bored all over again.

I hope you got home safely, I know it probably slipped your mind but I still have that small worry in the back of my head

Well and just like that, in a little over a month, I went from having to grandparents to none. Today my grandfather on my father's side died. I still feel lucky in a way that I was able to have met all of my grandparents (even though I never really knew my mom's dad since he died when I was a few years old). What can you really do? Everyone rolls the dice all life comes to an end at one point or another. Regardless of who you are, dying of cancer is pretty shitty and that's just what life had in store for him. Tonight my dad is flying out Mexico to be there for his funeral tomorrow. I wish him and all my aunts, uncles, cousins and family relatives the best. I'll have to pay my respects next time I'm there.

All Over The Place

Vibes:

It's a bit strange to think that I don't know the lyrics to my favorite DevilDriver song, "Grinfucked" but that's just kinda how it goes. The song itself has many things going for it: fast paced riffs, drums that get the timing right, a sick bass intro and lyrics that sound authoritative and to the point. The song has certain vibe which makes it stand out for me out of the entire catalog. "These Fighting Words," "Horn of Betrayal" and "Pray for Villains" also share that same feeling. I don't think many bands having that pure in-your-face sound. On Beast, only "Coldblooded," "Shitlist" and "Dead to Rights" had that full on DevilDriver sound. That's why I'm happy that this new album is returning to the The Fury of Our Maker's Hand and The Last Kind Words era sound. Just look at the lyrics to "Grinfucked." Amazing:

Lights on but no one's home
I should've left you alone
You can't stand the heat,you're all alone
YEEAAAA!!!
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
Coulda,woulda,shoulda your bed is made
Another man down & gone

Take advantage,manipulate
Take advantage,you piece of shit

Grinfuck
Debt paid in full!
You won't Grinfuck me!

This time the advantage is mine
This time vengeance is mine
Come seeking treasure
Without a map
It's in the journey & you'll never find your way back

Take advantage,manipulate
Take advantage,you piece of shit

Grinfuck
Debt paid in full!
You won't Grinfuck me!

Drop down!
Fool me once-shame on you
Fool me twice-shame on me
You've been Grinfucked

Even though Mastodon has been give or take more element influenced lyrics in their music, they also have that in your face feel to their songs. That's what makes Leviathan such an amazing album as well as Remission and to a certain extent Blood Mountain. That moment in "Blood and Thunder" where Brent just kicks off the song with "I think someone is trying to kill me..." is the moment you really know what you've gotten yourself into. "Island" has that too (which also comes out in Monsters University). I think of Mastodon as business first band. In more recent year (yes I'm calling you out Crack the Skye and The Hunter) they've lost a bit of edge but still show signs that they've got it thankfully. Their unreleased B-side for Crack the Skye, DeathBound, still easily can rate as one of their best songs. Keep on being classy guys, buisness first.

Lastly there is Lamb of God. I really wish they would sing like rednecks because that would be hilarious. They keep it adrenaline fueled all the time. "Laid to Rest" will always be the song I consider their best but with songs like "Redneck," "Beating on Death's Door," "Ruin," "Broken Hands" and "Ghost Walking," they're going full on metal every time.

Parents and Their Friend:

My mom and step-dad left to Mexico yesterday morning to go and celebrate my mom's birthday with the entire family. Thankfully they didn't really encounter any problems during their trip and made it safely. What is a bit weird though is that my step-dad's friend might go propose to my aunt even though they only met a few months ago. I guess the guy is a sweet talker or something but she's had the same sketchy (and I mean really sketchy, plus no one really liked him cause he always lied about everything, especially connections and how much money he has) boyfriend for the past two or three years, so this is a bit out of the blue. Congrats to him I guess, even though that would make him my uncle, but whatever.

Cycling:

Yesterday I rode from the northern part of the valley all the way to downtown as it has a been an itch of mine for a while. Riding over the Cahuenga pass next to the 101 is pretty cool and definitely has a nice view :)  There was show at the Hollywood Bowl so traffic was super packed and I got to just ride through everyone and leave them all behind in my dust. In recent weeks I've lowered the number of miles I cycle and hoping to use the summer to get that number back up.

Monsters University:

I saw Monsters University with America on Thursday as part of a date. The movie was definitely a change of tone from most Pixar films but I really loved it. They have a goth monster which was really cool (voiced by Aubry Plaza from Parks and Rec) and the cameos are pretty hilarious. I never really excepted seeing movie with whole 80s college tone to it, but it worked out perfectly and still has that same Pixar funniness to it. Squishy is an adorable character by far.

Next Gen Consoles:

Playstation 4 is way cooler than the Xbox One

Tomorrow is CicLAvia :) On the downside, I have not ridden a bicycle in about a week and a half so today and I'm going to ride and most likely get soar because it's an ambitious ride but I hope to end it off with treating myself to ice cream  hehe Going all out today