Rudo's 8 Cent Marvels!!!

Review: NEIL YOUNG - Fork In The Road

2009-04-26T20:38:00.004-04:00

PIECE OF CRAP
by Neil Young

Tried to save the trees
Bought a platsic bag
The bottom fell out
It was a piece of crap

Saw it on the tube
Bought it on the phone
Now you're home alone
It's a piece of crap

I tried to plug in it
I tried to turn it on
When I got it home
It was a piece of crap

Got it from a friend
On him you can depend
I found out in the end
It was a piece of crap

I'm trying to save the trees
I saw it on TV
They cut the forest down
To build a piece of crap

I went back to the store
They gave me four more
The guy told me at the door
It's a piece of crap

HA-HA! HO-HO! Yeah, I get it! Right on, Neil! Uh yeah... I Get It! HA-HA! HO-HO!!!

Prog Mix CD: The Pass To...

2009-02-08T11:26:00.009-05:00

HI STAIEVE!!!

Hey man, I got a new Prog disc for you! Yep, I cooked this up over the weekend, and it is a dandy! Great symph sh*t that will tickle your toes! More obscure bands for sure, all from back in the great day when Men were Men, Prog was Prog, and Synths were Real Analog Meaty Sweaty VVVVZZZZZSSSSSing humbuckers that would make any Grandma proud! I know you will dig this. In fact, I think you had a hand in it yourself.

Here is the track listing, with the band name linked to a web page where you can learn more about 'em, and possibly hear some more songs. The download links are after the track list.

Band/Song/Time/Album/Year/Country

1. Morse Code - La Marche Des Hommes 11:14 - "La Marche Des Hommes" <1975> (Canada)
2. Pollen - La Femme Ailee 10:26 - "Pollen" <1976> (Canada)
3. Grobschnitt - Ernie's Reise 11:04 - "Rockpommel's Land" <1977> (Germany)
4. Eloy - Poseidon's Creation 11:40 - "Ocean" <1977> (Germany)
5. Anyone's Daughter - Anyone's Daughter 9:10 - "Adonis" <1979> (Germany)
6. Crack - Descenso En El Mahellstrong 5:28 - "Si Todo Hiciera Crack" <1979> (Spain)
7. Fruupp - Old Tyme Future 5:41 - "Future Legends" <1973> (Ireland)
8. Kaipa - Korstag 5:23 - "Inget Nytt Under Solen" <1976> (Sweden)
9. Tantra - Partir Sempre 9:21 - "Misterios E Maravilhas" <1977> (Portugal)

Download Part One

Download Part Two

So STAIEVO, here's the rundown... The disc kicks off with two great Symphonic tracks from Canadian bands, Morse Code and Pollen. And no, Geddy Lee is nowhere to be found! These guys had a nice Genesis influence, but no Petey Gabrieley vox. Then we get three wonderful German mini-Epics, in true Germanic style. No it ain't Krautrock, but good stuff with real strong German accents for extra spice. I am now a huge Grobschnitt fan (try and say Grobschnitt 15 times real fast!), and I love their humour. It is much more desirable than "trailer park pathos!" Eloy are legends, we all know that. Ultimate Space/Psych stuff! Anyone's Daughter materialized late in the game, but their Prog is pure. They are now one of my favorite "little" bands, although I have no idea how tall they actually were!

We then move out of this Canada/Germany thingy to get some more European variety. Crack are from Spain, made one great album, and POOF! And their name is not a drug reference! The almighty Fruupp from Ireland are here as well, and no STAIEVE, it is not a band of mutant Robert Fripp's! Kaipa give the disc a bit of Scandanavian flavor, and also possess the most 8 cent progger of all-time, the ridiculous Roine Stolt who is a MO-FO of a guitar player. Lastly, we have Tantra from Portugal, who know how to play their instruments real well, but also know how to craft a good song. Enjoy the drummer, STAIEVE, because I know you love drummers! BANG, BOOM, CRASH!

An interesting thing to note is that most of the music was created and released in the mid to late 70's, which was when Prog started to slack, and the stupid little punkheads got so self-important (how indulgent!). The key thing to remember is that outside of the U.K. and Italy, the rest of the world ran a but behind in their creation of Prog masterpieces, and it took a while for some of these bands to get off the ground. Still, the late 70's factor of this disc is kind of hard to fathom. But trust me STAIEVE, it is the goods! It would sound great out back this summer, and we can shake our Prog stix at it!

Give Me 8 Cents,
STAIEVE (aka Rudo)

P.S. I post this disc for two reasons: 1) to share the listening experience 2) to expose you to these bands, and their music, which is far, far, far from the mainstream. SUPPORT THE BANDS! BUY THEIR MUSIC! Follow the links to their web sites! They deserve your attention! Here’s a link to the great online "Synphonic" Prog store where you can buy their music!

http://www.synphonic.8m.com/

So Long, ASTRONOMO! :-(

2009-02-04T20:22:00.008-05:00

One of the reasons this blog has been so quiet is that my best friend since high school just passed away this past January 15th. His name was Astronomo (aka STAIEVE), and we were friends since 1974 when we met on the high school bus. Music was one of the major life bloods between us, and he introduced me to so many great bands (and I in turn did the same to him). Astronomo introduced me to Neil Young and Yes, both of which have been two of my absolute favorites since 1974. I remember the first time he came over to my house. He brought his copy of "Close To The Edge" by Yes, and my life was forever changed. I didn't get it at first, but I was definitely intrigued, and was quickly drawn in. Sigh... that was a long time ago. But we listened to "Close To The Edge" within the last year! In fact, this past summer both of us were on a huge Yes kick. It just goes to show that good things can go on for a very long time!

But unfortunately, Astronomo came down with the evil bastard cancer in late 2007, and life was a real struggle after that. His illness did bring us a lot closer together as friends, and we shared many a good moment talking serious sh*t, laughing about old sh*t, and experiencing new sh*t. I kept sending him humongous amounts of Prog to listen to. I did that anyway, but when he got sick, the Prog would help take him to different places, landscapes, and realities. It was a good thing!

In regular life, Astronomo was pretty much a quiet, kinda shy guy. Those of us who knew him well could all tell you he was one pretty wild f*cker! He could be crazy. He was known for jumping off apartment balconies, ripping down people's gutters, dancing on the roof, and driving really f*cking fast on the country roads of Michigan, back when we were kids. We smoked many a grit, drank many a jug, puffed many a bong, and looked at girly magazines. We also really enjoyed becoming dads, talking about our kids with big smiles on our faces. We shared life, fun, sadness, and our worlds. He will be missed by not only me, but his family, friends. and co-workers. He has now gone to the great Prog Heaven, where eternity is one giant synthesizer solo on a vintage Moog!!! ROCK ON, OH GREAT FRIEND!!!

Give me anything but 8 Cents,
Rudo

P.S. When he was younger, people said he kinda looked like Jackson Browne. When he was older, and his hair turned grey, I thought he looked more like Richard Wright!!! To lose both of those grey haired gods within a couple of months is hard. But Shine On You Crazy STAIEVE-HEAD!!!

Astronomo (doing his best Richard Wright impression)

Canadian Music Marvels!!!

2008-12-07T19:08:00.028-05:00

Ever since I was a little kid, I have always been fascinated with Canada. While I haven't been north of the border that many times, I feel very much at home in the land of the Canucks. In late September of this year, my darling wife (the immortal Angusette) and I went on an excellent vacation to Maine, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. I have already waxed on about that in previous posts, so I will spare you any more. However, I do want to talk about Canadian music, another passion of mine.

Of course, I love Canadian Music of all types! Here is who I have been groovin' on lately...

METAL: SIG:AR:TYR and Woods Of Ypres!!! These two have been real big favorites. Both have excellent new albums. Plus, a special thumbs up to Dark Forest, who I have just started listening to. Also way back in the old Suck daze, there was the immortal Sacred Blade, a true classic one album band, if there ever was one. And then there was some ridiculous 8 cent sh*t, like THOR, ANVIL and LEE AARON!!! Whoo-Hoo!

Woods of Ypres

PROG: Oh yeah, I have been digging into some rare stuff here, for sure! Harmonium have been a fave for several years. But I have been chewing into real obscure bands like Maneige, Morse Code, Pollen, Opus 5, Cano, and Sloche. I probably will be posting a homemade compilation of stuff to the blog very soon!

And then there is this.... thing... that I have to confess.... I have become a big Rush fan!!! For 32 years, I *HATED* Rush!!! (Just like coffee and beer, both of which I changed my mind about) And then... and then... thanks to the influence of Astronomo, my curiousity was aroused. Sometimes, sometimes... you just have to FACE YOUR DEMONS!!! And Geddy, Alex, and Neil certainly were DEMONS! I would have rather stuck hot-burning knitting needles in my eyes & ears than listen to Rush! But now I own all of Rush's albums, and I think they are extremely 8 cents! What I like best about them is their sense of humor (and they jam!). More on this phenomena later... someday later!

Rush (at their most hideous!!!)

FOLK: Back when I turned 14 years old, my best friend Sam gave me a Gordon Lightfoot album, "Old Dan's Records." I became a huge fan of the Gord, and collected a couple of his albums from the early 70's. "Don Quixote" is one of the greatest albums I have ever heard, and is duly enshrined in my personal Hall of Fame. I've gone back to these albums over the years, and always cherished them. BUT... I never really dug into his earlier 60's stuff, back when he was primarily a Canadian artist, and even more of a folkie. I picked up one of his early albums, "The Way I Feel," in Halifax in September, and Holy Sh*t! This early stuff is fantastic!!! Way to go the Gord! Now I have been scrambling for all of the albums I didn't have, or actually I already had bought some time ago, but never had listened to yet! (yes, the burden of a MASSIVE music collection)

The Gord (at a young age)

COUNTRY: Hank "F*&KIN'" Snow (who has already gotten some ink here at R8CM), and the incredible Wilf Carter (aka Montana Slim)! If you want to read about an incredible career, click this link, and read about Wilf!!!

Wilf

ROCK: Well, I am a huge-i-listic Neil Young fan, have been so for 34 years, what more can I say. I also dig the Cowboy Junkies, Leonard Cohen, the Band, and eeekkkk!!! ... somebody I am almost just as scared to admit as Rush.... and that is Joni Mitchell!

Neil (at his most handsome)

Oh God, there has got to be so many more... So many Canadian Gods & Godesses, and so little time! Canadian music people I am *NOT* into: Aldo Nova, Celine Dion, Triumph (only just a matter of time, I guess), Shania Twain, April Wine, Nickelback, etc....

Guy Lombardo (in drag)

Canadian artists that I haven't gotten into yet, but sure to will at some point: Godspeed You! Black Emperor & Guy Lombardo.

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

The Coolest Picture On Earth!!!

2008-12-03T19:06:00.007-05:00

Sigh... I wish I had more time to devote to my blog! I promise to get to it more often. I know, I know, these things come in 8 cent waves....

Anyhow, posted above is the "Coolest Picture On Earth!" I bought this at a really great antique store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on our recent trip to Canada and Maine (the same place that I got Hank Snow's "Tales of the Yukon" on vinyl!). I don't know... This pic just captures everything I find cool. I really dig the car... I hope you like it!

Back From Truro, Nova Scotia!!!

2008-10-25T21:34:00.015-04:00

If you thought I was dead, if you thought this blog was dead, neeeyahhh, phooey on you-ey, hug Baby Huey, sync or swym, HE AIN'T DEAD, JIM!!! Rudo Anvilmeister went underground for 21 years (1987-2008), and now you are giving me sh*t for being gone for 5 weeks? Give me an 8 Cent Break!!!

Yeah, me and the wifeee-poo Angusette celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and went on an amazing trip to the Northern Land of Canada, and a pilgrimage to Truro, Nova Scotia, to visit the site of the legendary TOTAL DEATH TETHERBALL match of 1985! I reported on the match back-in-the-day for our old fanzine Suck City. It was a glorious day when Mr. 8 Squared, the infamous #64 for the original axe-murderers, BEN F*&KING UTT, former starting left guard for the Indianapolis Colts (nee Baltimore Colts), squashed Nasty Ronnie 8 matches to 0!!!

Well, bust my buttons, when we got there, the old Tetherball Pit was gone. But in it's place was a giant, humongous statue of a Mespachte Indian!!! Wow, I had forgotten that the Tetherball Pit was built on the site of an ancient Mespachte burial ground. You wouldn't believe how gi-huge-ic this statue was. LOOK!!!

In Nova Scotia, we also went to the Hank Snow Country Music Centre, in the sweet little city of Liverpool. A native of Liverpool, Hank Snow is one of my ultimate Gods (may his toupee rest in pieces). His EPIC Country Music, his majestic sequined suits, his impecable rug, his beguiling nasal vox, his astronomical 8 Cent factor, and his love for his Nova Scotia home (although he did move to Nashville, TN - the traitor!), makes Hank Snow muy masculino, and the Co-King of Canadian Country Music, an honor he shares with the amazing Wilf Carter! Check Hank out!!!

We also met some real nice guys in Halifax, down by the fishermen docks. Luckily for us, they posed for a picture. Would you believe that the guy on the far left was one of the original members of Anvil? No sh*t! He played bass. Canadian Metal!!! UNK!

Well, I don't want Rudo's Eight Cent Mavels to turn into too much of a travelogue vista site, but it is fun to share where you have been (kinda like trapping the kids and making them look at old family vacation pix!). Thanx for looking! I promise the next post will be back to the music.

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

P.S. Here is the original Suck City "Total Death Tetherball" article, along with a ridiculously 8 Cent article on professional wrestling, by none other than Defect Removal.

R.I.P. Richard Wright (1943-2008)

2008-09-18T11:20:00.016-04:00

This past Monday (9/15), one of my all-time, all-time favorite musicians passed away, the great Richard Wright of Pink Floyd. Richard played keyboards, and sang some occasional vocals. While Pink Floyd is one the most popular and well-known bands in Rock History, the band members themselves were far from rock celebrities, with only the real fans knowing their names, recognizing their pictures, etc. In the early days of Floyd, original leader Syd Barrett got most of the spotlight. When Pink Floyd fractured in the early 80's, the two opposing forces of Roger Waters and David Gilmour got their share of ink for their very acrimonious feud. Richard Wright never got any special kind of recognition, nor did he seek it. He played a more supporting role, but his contribution musically to the band was huge. In many ways, Wright's textured keyboards were the foundation of Pink Floyd's sound.

Pink Floyd in the early days (Wright on the far right)

Richard Wright was a musician's musician. His style was known for restraint, musicality, atmosphere, and lots and lots of emotion. Although his playing was steeped in jazz, blues, and other musical styles, it is amazing to learn that he was self-taught. But then again, that probably isn't surprising. He played straight from the soul.

I also loved his voice, and the occasional songs he sang or wrote for the Floyd, as well as his two solo albums. In the days after Syd left the band, Wright was the most accomplished songwriter in the group. He helped fill that void until Gilmour and Waters' skills were further honed. Gilmour had the amazing voice in the band, but when Richard and David sang together, like on the monumental classic "Echoes," their blend was even more magical. As Roger Waters took creative control of the band as they evolved in the late 70's, Richard's unique contribution was minimized and squeezed out of their sound. This is why I rejoiced when his first solo album, "Wet Dream," was released in 1978!

When the post-Waters version of the band came together in the late 80's, Wright came back into the fold, and by the time they released their "The Division Bell" album in 1994, Wright was a major contributor again, helping write the music for a number of songs, and even taking lead vocals on another. This creative spark continued with the release of his second and final solo album, "Broken China." This was a very serious work, one thematically based around the serious depression that his wife suffered from. Although it was hardly known to even the more dedicated Pink Floyd fans, it is often considered the *BEST* solo album put out by any of the Floyd members. This diehard fan is one who agrees!!!

I tell you, it is a great joy to see Richard in David Gilmour's band on his live DVD "Night After Night," which came out in 2007. Seeing the two of them sing "Echoes" again is purely awe inspiring. Plus David had the kindness to include a number of other Wright lead vocal spots in some of the extras included on the disc. Check it out!

Performing with David Gilmour's band in 2006

I have always been one to champion the underdog, or the unsung hero. Richard Wright was one of these. God, how much I loved his playing and singing! I even put together my own Richard Wright best of mix-CD, entitled "Richard Wright Is God." I made this about 2 years ago when I was in a major Floyd renaissance. He will definitely be missed by this fan. But how blessed I think I am, and we all are for his great contribution to our musical lives.

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

Review: ICY STEEL (self-titled debut)

2008-09-10T17:35:00.028-04:00

In the vast space and time continuum of Metal, through out centuries, epochs, ages, and dynasties, there are albums that just kick your 8 Cent ass so hard you bolt upright, grab a sword, slay some f*&king dragons, eat a motorcycle, or whatever. When that album and band turns out to be very obscure and unknown, you feel like you've just discovered a great hidden gem buried deep in the Mines Of Moria. It may not be perfect, but even its imperfection adds to its perfection, if you know what I mean! You feel lucky and privileged to have discovered the band, and you are filled with desire to spread the word that this is *NOT* just another insignificant album, lost in the oceanic wave of discs released each year. It is the proverbial Eight Cent diamond in the rough, the kind of discovery that collectors and true fans go ape sh*t over!

Such is the self-titled debut of Italian EPIC Metal band Icy Steel, which was released last year. I have heard a billion Metal albums in my day, but this one goes down into the Rudo Anvilmeister 8 Cent Metal Hall of Fame, enshrined in its own special spot in that vast museum of Metallic Art. Being from Italy, Icy Steel belong to the burgeoning EPIC Metal scene coming out of "The Boot" and Greece. I wrote an introductory piece on this scene a while ago on R8CM (which can be found here). While Icy Steel have a lot in common with these bands, all of which I love, they have something special that sets them apart. I've tried to figure out what is their "Ingredient XXX," the hidden voodoo that makes their debut album so great. I can't help but think it is their "restraint" that makes the big difference.

So holy f*&king sh*t, RESTRAINT??? Give me 8 Cents! How in the world can restraint be a virtue in a Metallic genre that emphasizes OVER THE TOP (OTT) bombastic glory??? Well, all things are relative, and in proportion, my dear readers. Since this is EPIC F*&KING METAL, of course, it is by nature OTT and BOMBASTIC, and those are really good things! But the constructive criticism I have for this new scene, is that sometimes it goes just a tad overboard, especially the vocals. They seem "over ripe." So in your face, so over done, and sometimes so off-key, it makes you split in half (and believe me, I love excess!)! For example, take the vocals of Sacred Blood, a wonderful band that I really like. At times the vocals detract from the overall quality of otherwise an excellent band and a very good debut album. Icy Steel' s singer, Stefano Galeano does goes flat on occasion, but generally has much better command of his strong vox, and also uses a softer voice for more nuance.

You see, I like nuance. And I like tension. If you do it right, restraint can yield lots of tension, the tension of knowing things could explode all over the place, and you keep kinda expecting it to, but it doesn't, and keeps you engaged and on the edge. Then when it does explode, its like an orgasm! That is what Icy Steel does, particularly in their guitar playing (props to Stefano Galeano & Alberto Eretta). Melody is very important in Icy Steel. The melodies seem a 100,000 years old, and they probably are. There isn't too much original in their music, but that isn't the point. It is finding the perfect mix of classic EPIC Metal ingredients, simmered slowly in a broth of 8 Cents, with the stew acquiring incredible taste and boadacious body as it cooks.

Icy Steel's album is very much rooted in the classic Traditional and EPIC Metal from the 1980's. What is funny and odd, aside from their obvious nods to Judas Priest (definitely utilizing some well-placed Halfordian yelps), the twin Maiden guitar sound, and the obligitato reverence of Manilla Road, what comes to mind is some *VERY* obscure 80's Metal bands, like Oxenkiller, Exxplorer, the mighty GRIFFIN, and a tiny bit of Fates Warning's "Night On Brocken." Icy Steel utilize those ingredients, along with melody and restraint, in a very POWERFUL way to reach maximum IMPACT of Strong Songs by Strong Men!!! Say Yeah!

This is mighty stuff. There are 9 epics, as well as the prerequisite short intro song, that conjure up a time past when Men were Men, and Metal was Metal. The guitar playing is pretty f*&king exquisite, especially for some guys who are not the most technical players, or the fastest, but play with an infinite amount of heart. It is very, very moving... Moving me close to tears on many an occasion (oh!). There are dual leads, there are solo leads, there is powerful riffing, all of it of an incredible righteous nature. What a joy! What an orgasm! The vocals as I said are powerful, but not over ripe and stinky like a mushy pear. I love the vocal harmonies used in most songs, and there are some really cool chant like things in the classic track "Corrupted King." These chants sound almost Gregorian in nature, and certainly appeal to my old Catholic indentured servitude (Give Me a Holy 8 Cents!).

If this self-titled gem has a flaw, it is that sometimes the playing sounds too tentative. In some places, the band needs to gel a little better, with a more natural sound-like-you-are-playing-live vibe. Let's not confuse"tentative" with"restraint." They are very different things. Restraint is holding something back. Tentative sounds like something is holding you back. For one thing, the drums are pretty passive, and well... tentative. They could be more dynamic. If the whole thing "swung" a little more, this album would be even that much better (and by swing, I don't mean Benny Goodman!).

Another really 8 Cent thing about the album is that the lyrics and vocals are in English, and it is so incredibly obvious that Icy Steel and singer Stefano Galeano are far from fluent in it. The singing is very phonetic at times, and the pro-nun-ci-a-tion and syl-lab-ic accents are all over the place. Plus, some of the lyrics are way out there. It almost reminds of 80's French DEMO-FO monsters Mutha Corpse (new musics are rising out of the earths!). For example in "Corrupted King":

"There once was a noble commander,
to become blood has poured him
He has won over two hundred wars,
atrocious,
but his destiny changed is,
when his name became God..."

So I say, "GIVE ME 8 CENTS!" This does not bother me at all. In fact, it makes the whole album more endearing to me. I love all the Metal guys who go out there and try to learn English, and some times fracture it so bad it comes out better than if it was right! Meanwhile most of us stupid, fat, lazy, Americans only have a half-assed knowledge of our own language, and that is it! So hats off to you, Icy Steel, for trying. However, I do know that this kind of misuse of language will put off some of the more refined and cultured listeners out there.

So all in all, the tentative nature of the playing and the language issue smacks of a band making their first album. To be honest, I am not complaining, just trying to tell it as it is. I expect even better things on their next opus, which they have started work on. They also have a new drummer, so we'll see how that goes. The bottom line is, this is a classic P-I-E-C-E of Metal, worthy of anybody tracking down and purchasing, even if that might be a quest to the Mines of Moria, because it ain't that easy to find. However, I recently got a copy from The End Records in the States, so go for it!!!

Here at "Rudo's Eight Cent Marvels," I will write about big bands, because I love a lot of big bands. But I especially love to write about obscure, "little" bands, who are anything but little. Icy Steel's debut is MONSTROUS in terms of quality of gr8 songs, gr8 playing, and the Sacred Sacrament of 8 Cents! Buy it!!!

For more on Icy Steel, check out their Myspace page here, and listen to four of the ten tracks. You won't regret it!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

Missing!!! Guitar Solos!!!

2008-08-26T12:39:00.015-04:00

As a Metal fanatic, and one who came up through the old school in the 70's & 80's, I love guitar solos! It is something that I desire and cherish in Metal, a totally ripping, bodacious and meaningful guitar solo. On one hand, spraying a trillion notes a second in an attempt to impress just how shredilistic a guitar player is does not cut it with me. On the other hand, a Metal song without a guitar solo is missing something. In the old school, Metal *HAD* to have guitar solos. It was just a requirement. In some genres of modern Metal, guitar solos are not necessary, or desired, or a requirement. In all honesty, I respect that. Many times that means putting the song first over guitar heroics, which is admirable. But can't we find a common ground with a few more solos???

I could write a whole long analytical essay about all this, examining different Metal genres, expressing the pros and cons of guitar solos. However, I don't want to do that, at least not now. But I do want to speak about Folk Metal, which is my current big kick. In Folk Metal, the lead guitar is often non-existent, with the emphasis going into the vocals, and the expression of the song's melody with traditional folk instruments. Fiddle/violin and flute/recorders often get top billing, which is really cool. Electric guitar provides the crunchy rhythm and OOOMMPPHHH, which of course, is really cool. But man, there is such a missed opportunity when the guitars could go berserk for a few bars without sacrificing the song's folkish integrity!

When I think of Metal guitar solos, the first thing that pops into my head is Adrian Smith and Dave Murray of Iron Maiden. In retrospect, one major revelation I had about Metal was when I realized that a lot of the the melodies those guys use in their solos, and in their exceedingly amazingly intertwined twin dual leads, are of a folkish nature! Of course, they are ripped through their magic fingers and exploding amps. But their solos have such an ancient timeless quality to them, you could swear they are over 1000 years old. So why not incorporate more of that ancient Guitar Godliness in Folk Metal???

Well, there are some bands that do that. One that I would like to make note of is Menhir from Germany. They play a very righteous Folk Viking Metal that does NOT EXCLUDE beautiful Maidenesque solos. Click on the song link below for "Das Alte Lied Des Windes," and it will take you to Menhir's MySpace page. There you can hear this great song from their great album "Hildebrandslied," which came out last year. It is an amazing Folk Viking track, emphasizing the folk melodies and emotive vocals until about 4:21 into the song, when BLAM, gorgeous after gorgeous soaring guitar solo takes off, building on the one before it, settling into a twin lead that causes instant orgasm. The solos go on for about a full two minutes, which is great! I love it! I want more of it! Yeah, it's Maidenesque as hell. So what? I love it! I WANT IT, I NEED IT, I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!!

Das Alte Lied Des Windes by Menhir

The Eight Cent Guys in Menhir!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

08/08/08 Travelogue & Photo Essay!

2008-08-10T19:07:00.054-04:00

People who are not familiar with Suck City, the old Metal zine from the 80's that I was co-editor of, probably are not familiar with the Importance of 8 Cents, and the Power of the Number 8! Well, let me tell you, 8 is the question, 8 is the answer, and if it ain't 8, it ain't great! So when the once in a lifetime day of 08/08/08 came upon us, we had to show the world how to truly live 8 Cents in word and deed. Yes, on 08/08/08 my son Anvilhead Rudosson and I went on a holy pilgrimage to pay homage to 8 Cents, out there in the big world. We didn't have to look too hard, and were blown away with what we found. We're now ready to share that with you!

First off, we went to down to Indiana University's Bloomington campus to show Anvilhead the campus, and for me to relive some of the most 8 cent moments in my life. Here is a pic of the dorm room that Astronomo and I used to share back in 1976-77. Isn't this exciting?!?!?!?!

Here is the bowling alley in the Student Union building. I wonder if The Dude, Walter, and Donny ever bowled here?????

Also in the Union Building was the offices of WQAX, the old free-form alternative "CABLE" FM radio station that Defect Removal, Umlatta, Cosmo, Carmelita, Silas B. Clark, Swa Sticka and I used to do crazy radio shows at. Like all good things, it eventually went under, and now the space is being used by the "Multi-Cultural Greek Council & National Pan-Hellenic Council." I wonder if Paul Fisher still comes by and annoys people working in there, asking for money, or if he could crash out on their couch? OUCH, scary memories there.... :-)

We then strolled to the Chemistry Building, a place that inflicted great pain on Astronomo and I. We hated this place with a passion! I spat on it, and it made me feel better!

In the Chemistry Building, we went into a classroom, and they had this painting of some great 8 Cent God, who looks a lot like Henry Kissinger! Give Me 8 Cents!

In downtown Bloomington there is this ridiculously artsy-fartsy cafe health food restaurant named the "Runcible Spoon" that all the Beards used to hang out at. Remember, this was the 70's and early 80's, before cafes and and health food became "fashionable." Well, it is still there. I used to eat the table scraps left in the garbage bin! I would climb into their dumpster and eat maggot infested tofu! Say Yeah! And yes, it is nice to see that the Beards still hang out here.....

My last Bloomington pic is of the house at 2222 E. 5th St. that Defect Removal, Swa Sticka, and I used to live at. Man, did we have some PARTIES at this house! It had a great big living room with a hard wood floor that made a great dance floor. Some of the theme dance parties we held were the "Soul Train Dance Party" and the "Groove-A-Thon." This was before my big Metal era (obviously)... I think Anvilhead was getting a bit bored of my stroll down memory lane, so it was time to move on..............

Next we hit the road for Cincinnati to take in a Reds-Astros baseball game. Anvilhead and I love going to baseball games, especially our hometown minor league team, the Indianapolis Indians. But this time we saw a big league game, ate some 8 cent ballpark food (that cost wayyy more than 8 cents), and had an 8 cent gr8 time! Ironically, Ken Griffey Jr. just got traded to my Chicago White Sox the week before this game, so their humongous mural to him was a TAD bit outdated...

The earthy looking fellow to your left is a statue of Ted Kluszewski, a great first baseman who played for the Reds between 1947 and 1957. This was also the 88th picture we took so far on our 08/08/08 journey, and certainly worthy of inclusion for that distinction alone!

Right inside the gate was a classic, classic old dude who was selling game programs. This guy epitomizes everything great about baseball, and I really hope I can be just like him when I retire and start working at Victory Field in Indianapolis!

I am very proud of Anvilhead who took this great action shot from our seats up in the upper deck. You can see the ball flying out just to the right of the pitcher. Way to go, Anvilhead!!! When the game was over, we were treated to a fabulous fireworks show that was probably the best I've ever seen. It was quite amazing!

Now things really took an 8 Cent turn, as we spent the night in a SUPER 8 MOTEL in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky! It was every bit as great a 2.5 star hotel can be! The 8 Cent vibe was beyond belief. We also watched the Puppy Olympics on the Animal Planet cable station when we got back from the game. If you are are ever in Fort Mitchell, you gotta stay there!

We then had an incredibly 8 cent experience at "Phil's Music Books & More" in Covington, KY. I had been here before with my other son, Meister1200 Rudosson, when we went to Cincy to see Opeth in 2006. They have a GR8 METAL selection, so I was ready to stock up on some very 8 Cent sh*t. So on a 08/08/08 Pilgrimage, what more appropriate to buy than Manowar?!?!??! I picked up their new CD "Gods Of War," a SUPER 8 MO-FO from last year, with a ridiculous amount of SUPER 8 story narration (ala Rhapsody) all about Odin and the old Nordic Gods, and in a really 8 Cent booming narrative voice with ghastly effects. What really made me laugh was the fact the CD has two covers. For retail purposes, the below cover was facing out of the jewel case...

And there is the real cover below, that is actually part of the CD booklet! GIVE ME 8 CENTS!!! BODACIOUS, NO DOUBT!

I also picked up Iced Earth's "Days Of Purgatory" for $8, a cool vinyl copy of Hawkwind's rare "The Chronicle Of The Black Sword" album from 1985, and the mighty Stonewall Jackson LP featured on the left for 50 cents! You gotta love Stonewall Jackson. His old traditional country is so EPIC, so masculine, so lonely, and so 8!

Anvilhead was really stoked about this comic book find. He loves Spiderman, and he loves Frogs even more. The combination was ridiculous! This really was one of the highlights of our whole trip. When we were ready to leave Covington, we chose White Castle as the place to make a bathroom stop. Man, it stunk in there!

Our last stop on the voyage was Big Bone Lick state park in Union, KY. But en route to the park , we saw a bunch of 8 cent yard sales and flea bag market type stuff outside along the highway. So we had to stop. We got two brand new Cincinnati Reds baseball hats for $5. But what was even BETTER, was I bought a WORKING 8-TRACK PLAYER!!! And what is even more amazing, it is an 8-TRACK recorder! It only cost 5 bucks!!! Hell, I would have paid $8 for it! Here's a pic of it at home, after I got it hooked up, playing my KISS "Destroyer" 8-Track that my lovely wife Angusette bought me. Yeah, it really works, and it sounds like SH*T! I love it! I almost got the pic taken at 8:08 pm, but I was a little too slow. However, since the date was actually 08/09/08 at this time, it was OK.

Now for Big Bone Lick. Here is a lovely pic of the lake at the park. Appropriately, Big Bone Lick is located very closely to the city of Beaver Lick, Kentucky. Geeeee.... I wonder what was up with that naming convention????

Well, maybe the names are for real because if you walk around in Big Bone Lick park, you see a zillion trees like the ones to the left that have been gnawed by beavers. Yep, there is a lot of beaver at Big Bone Lick! Anvilhead and I realized that we better not stumble and fall on our hike, because if we did, we would likely be impaled by all the sharp tree stumps protruding out of the ground! This would make a great Middle Ages battlefield!

And what is a "Celebration of 8" without playing Miniature Golf??? On 08/08/88, Umlatta and I celebrated the day by playing Putt-Putt. Anvilhead and I had the glorious opportunity to play miniature golf at Big Bone Lick State Park, one of the most boring but picturesque Putt-Putt courses I have ever played. What shocked us was they had a genuine real life Mespacte Indian standing on the course at the 18th hole! He was very still. It was a very inspiring way to end our day. Anvilhead had 5 holes in one, and I had 3, to total 8, so we knew it was time to go home.

We bid adieu to Big Bone Lick, drove through Beaver Lick, and went back home, blasting Manowar and Iced Earth the whole way. HAPPY 08/08/08 EVERYBODY!!!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

HAPPY 08/08/08 EVERYBODY!!!

2008-08-07T23:01:00.010-04:00

(POST DATE: A thousand sincere pardons to "Nugey Z Q" for forgetfully forgetting that August 8th was her 88th birthday! Please, no wet noodle, please!)

What a day! What a celebration! Everywhere around the world, people are rejoicing and partying on the most universal and 8 cents of Holidays, 08/08/08!!! Man, I am stoked! To celebrate in style, my son Anvilhead Rudosson and I are heading to Bloomington, IN, then to Cincinnati to see the 8 cent Cincinnati Reds and the 8 cents Houston Astros, and then SPENDING THE NIGHT IN A SUPER 8 MOTEL! On Saturday, we''ll be recovering by going to Big Bone Lick park in Kentucky!

I hope everybody has a safe and happy holiday! Kiss your loved ones. Hug your hated ones! Piss on a tractor! Chew gum off of the sidewalk! Eat a Pot Pie and say a prayer to St. Nasty Ronnie! And remember, IF IT AIN'T 8, IT AIN'T GREAT!!!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

Metal Mix CD: Odin's Frozen Basketball Court!

2008-08-04T12:30:00.031-04:00

(mix CD links below all of the 8 cent babble ramble by Rudo)

Ah yes, Viking/Folk Metal, one of my all-time favorites! For those uninitiated, one may ask, what in the F*&K is "Viking Metal?" Good question, my little 8 cent grasshopper... Simply, it is Metal music about Vikings! (doh!) Viking Metal transcends Metal genres, as long as it has something to do with Odin, long ships, the old Gods, burning & pillaging, drinking mead, freezing climates, mountains and fjords, the Gods who are old, pillaging & burning, mead, Odin, even longer ships, even older Gods, the freezing ass cold, Odin, and a lot more mead! For example, Swedish Viking band Amon Amarth play Melodic Death Metal, while the great Enslaved from Norway, who were one of the progenitors of the Viking genre, play extreme Avant-Garde Black Metal. Tyr from the Faroe Islands actually play a more Power Metal based Folk Metal, but are considered Viking Metal because of their Viking themes. Got it?

One thing that just about all Viking Metal bands have is a folkish element to their music (however, this is not an absolute requirement). So what the F*&K is Folk Metal? It is Metal music that incorporates traditional European folk elements and instruments, such as fiddles, flutes, lutes, whistles, accordions, harps, that weird sounding instrument that goes "boing, boing, boing" (can't remember, arg!), beautiful folkish melodies, and occasionally, beautiful female vocals sung by beautiful females, heavy, heavy guitars, brutish GRIM blackish growls, and soaring clean vocals, with some songs very fast and aggressive (great skanking music, BTW), and gorgeous ballads evoking a time long past when Gods were really Gods, and not some Televangelized Abomination.

Viking Folk Metal was one of the great evolutions of traditional EPIC Heavy Metal, born in the 1980's. Yes, there were songs about Vikings back in the Days of Yore (the 80's) by such bands as Iron Maiden, Manowar, Manilla Road, Faithful Breath, Blitzkrieg, etc. However, it took the GREAT Quorthon from Bathory to really get the movement started with their landmark release "Hammerheart" in 1990, which was all about Vikings, Vikings, Vikings (and not the Minnesota kind). Viking themes were quickly picked up Enslaved, who were one of the revolutionary Norwegian Black Metal bands in the early to mid-1990's. All of this started a musical movement, a most righteous one, as Viking themes fit this very intense and gnarly Metal most excellently. The incubation and birth of Folk Metal also came to pass in roughly the same time frame, and all of it cross pollinated together by a a handful of bands that became the quintessential "mast" of the Viking Folk long ship, say yeah!

So here is my latest mix CD to share with you, the very aptly titled "Odin's Frozen Basketball Court." Here in Indiana, it ain't exactly Scandinavia, so I had to find some reference point to bring my environment into the fjord. Basketball is the main sport around here, although it is far from my favorite. I set this basketball goal up in my driveway so Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya, and all could shoot some hoops when they come to visit! This disc is a weird bastard son, if ever there was one. I rarely, rarely go back and re-do my disc months after they were made. However, I made the original OFBC back in November 2007, while I also made another Viking Folk Metal disc called "Beard Of Storm" in March of the same year. To be honest, neither disc really played that well, and I was unhappy with both. So... I decided to crush them together into a better version of OFBC, which I am proud to share with you now.

Here is the track listing, with the band name linked to a web page where you can learn more about 'em, and possibly hear some more songs. The download links are after the track list.

Band/Song/Time/Album/Year/Country

1. Manegarm - Dodens Strand 5:04 - "Vredens Tid" <2005> (Sweden)
2. Solefald - Necrodyssey 3:47 - "Black For Death" <2006> (Norway)
3. Myrkgrav - De To Spellemenn 2:49 - "Trollskau, Skromt Og Kolabrenning" <2006> (Norway)
4. Heidevolk - Het Gelders Volkslied 3:42 - "De Strijdlust Is Geboren" <2005> Netherlands
5. Fjoergyn - Der Tag Der Wolfe 7:40 - "Ernte Im Herbst" <2005> (Germany)
6. Vintersorg - Dopt I En Jokelsjo 5:42 - "Solens Roetter" <2007> (Sweden)
7. Manegarm - Vaggvisa 3:34 - "Urmines Havd: The Forest Sessions" <2006> (Sweden)
8. Menhir - Das Hildebrandslied 8:58 - "Hildebrandslied" <2007> (Germany)
9. Wintersun - Beautiful Death 8:17 - "Wintersun" <2004> (Finland)
10. Moonsorrow - Jaasta Syntynyt / Varjojen Virta 30:10 - "V: Havitetty" <2007> (Finland)

Download Part One

Download Part Two

Things get off to a rippin' start with Manegarm, arguably the best Viking Folk band in the biz. This uptempo scorcher tipples the mead cart with searing fiddle, crunchy ass guitars, growly growls, soaring clean vox, and the inimitable drunken Viking choirs! Solefald, the resident futuristic Avant-Garde wunderkind spins backwards in time to an Icelandic saga, complete with a "Necroddyssey." When Lars "I play a Hammond B-3" Nedland sings, and Cornelius croaks, you know you got the good stuff goin' down. Myrkgrav is a one-man-band miracle, soaking up as much Viking Folk as humanly allowed in their succinct 2:49 Folk Metal Fest. Heidevolk are marvelously righteous, flute intro a sparkin', simple guitar melody quite straightforward, baritone harmonies swinging the alehorns side-to-side, and even some twin harmonic guitars (a rarity in Viking Folk)!

Fjoergyn's track begins with a famous symphonic melody borrowed from somewhere, but I can't place this piece of classical jazz, before a crunchy guitar interrupts and vocal harmonies are backed by some growled and whispered secrets. Very good symphonic Viking Folk sh*t this is! It is followed by the legend himself, Mr. V and Vintersorg, one of the founding fathers of the Folk Metal genre, even though they have Progressed far along the Avant-Garde path. On their recent "Solens Roetter" album, they step backwards and forwards at the same time to revisit some of their folkish roots. This song is so catchy it should be on the Top Viking 40, hosted by Casey "Thorstein" Kasem! I love the acoustic guitar intro!

All of a sudden things get very quiet, pretty, and somber with Manegarm's return, and the incredible "Vaggvisa," an all acoustic piece featuring the evocative vocals of guest Umer Mossige-Norheim (of Tva Fisk Och En Flask fame, and pictured above). She possesses one of the most incredible female folk voices in the history of this world (and most likely the next). She has worked with Manegarm on a number of their albums. On the all acoustic mini-CD "Urmines Havd: The Forest Sessions," she takes quite a few lead vox spots. Due props must be also be given to their main man vocalist Erik Grawsio, who's clean vocals keep getting better and better, making him one of the great male singers around. Then Menhir appear from Germany, and again we are treated with fantastic clean vocals, this time courtesy of Heiko Gerull, who's soaring baritone sends shivers up and down this spine. "Das Hildebrandslied" conjures up my Germanic Heathen heritage, and I smile! Wintersun are one of the darlings of the Viking Folk genre, and you can hear why in their "Beautiful Death."

All of this leads up to Moonsorrow's incredibly EPIC 30 minute "Jaasta Syntynyt / Varjojen Virta." Nobody does EPIC Viking Folk Metal like Moonsorrow. Their approach is so broad, so vast, so incredibly rich, and so incredibly cinematic, you would almost swear Cecil B. DeMille was in the band! The 30 minutes roll by like waves pounding the shore, shifting and changing, subtle in many places, very forcible in others. How Ville Seponpoika Sorvali can capture over 1000 years of Nordic wrath and pain in his intensely emotional bloodcurdling shrieks is beyond me. He must be possessed, and that is a good thing!

I post this disc for two reasons: 1) to share the listening experience 2) to expose you to these bands, and their music, which is far, far, far from the mainstream. SUPPORT THE BANDS! BUY THEIR MUSIC! Follow the links to their web sites! They deserve your attention! Here are a couple of links to great online Metal stores where you can buy their music!

The End Records
http://news.theomegaorder.com/index.php

Abyss Records
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/

ENJOY!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

P.S. I apologize and feel incredibly sad and stupid that I did not include all of the umlauts in the song titles, band and musician names. That is bad, I will probably have a lousy seat at Odin's table in his Great Hall in the Sky!

Illustration by my son, Anvilhead Rudosson!

Tales From 8-Cent-O-Graphic Oceans

2008-07-26T22:54:00.014-04:00

"I am the Ocean, " said Larry, just a few minutes before we got busted...

Yeah, David Crosby, I'm gonna let my "freak flag fly," because I am here today to tell you Ladies and Gentlemen, that I don't give a flying f*&k what the hipsters say, Yes' "Tales From Topographic Oceans" is one of my absolute, absolute favorite records in the whole frickin' Universe! And this has been the truth since the summer of 1974 when I bought this totally awesome spectacle of 8 Cent Magick! (Remember that, Astronomo?) "Tales" is so vast, so spectacular, so mind-bendingly 8 and Gr-8, that is goes off the Richter Scale of Spectacularness into a vat of gooey oceanic Prog, led by 5 very wild guys who were laying it on the line, saying what they mean, playin' what they felt (who cares if that meant some ancient old Shastric scriptures), who never wore shiny black FBI shoes, who were into the pudding of topography, and took a ride on the Fish around the Pyramid of Enlightenment!

"Tales From Topographic Oceans" is *THE ALBUM* snarky hipsters love to rag on the most about pretentious Progressive Rock (snicker-snicker, yucky-yuck-yuck), light another cigarette, push up the Elvis "Hi, I'm Buddy Holly gone bad" Costello glasses up the nose, and suck it in, you weightless mass of contradictory basketball nets! According to Dictionary.com, the word pretentious means:

–adjective

1.	full of pretense or pretension.

2.	characterized by assumption of dignity or importance.

3.	making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.

IF THAT AIN'T ANOTHER WORD FOR JOHNNY (I secretly loved Van Der Graaf Generator and Can) ROTTEN, I'LL EAT MY TOFU HAT!!!

For those uninitiated, "Tales" is a little over 80 minutes of illustrative Prog Rock, a magnificent double album opus, graced by the most legendary of legendary album cover illustrators, Roger "These Ain't No Ham Hocks Around My Neck" Dean, one of the Godz of Gods. This is usually an album that people either love or tend to hate, even ardent Yes fans. If you can't tell, I LOVE IT!!! Some are inclined to think the four 20 minute album side songs or suites are a bit overblown, and a tad padded with fiddle-faddle. Well, at a moment or two, I can kinda see some people's point, but to me, "Tales" is absolutely perfect as it is, I wouldn't cut one moment. In fact, if there was any way that it could be twice as long, twice as epic, twice as monstrously awesome, I would even support a third term for Dubya, *if* he endorsed in his platform a 160 minute "Tales From Topographic Oceans 2!"

Here at "Rudo's 8 Cent Marvels," I will not post commercially released albums for free, because that is wrong. But I do post homemade mix compilations, because that is my art, and my gift (through the benefacting musical creators) to all of you, to share my musical heart, and my passion. However, on a rare occasion, I will post a "BOOTLEG" by some famous artist, 'cause as Keith Richards once said, "If you ain't bein' bootlegged, you ain't happenin'." Well my dear friends and taters, Yes was really happenin' in 1973-1974, and I would like to share that with you!

Below you will find two links to the famous "Yessongs 2" bootleg, recorded at Madison Square Garden on February 18th, 1974. The f*&kers had the *BALLS*, the *CAJONES* to play the whole album in its entirety, in a row, to a crowd of head scratchin' freaks who may not have even heard the whole damn thing yet! Yes, there is the occasional scream for "Roundabout," but these EPIC masters don't hold anything back, and let the crowd have it Topographic style right between the eyes! Unfortunately, the boot isn't totally complete, because while it contains all of "Tales," these 8 Cent MO-FO's played all of "Close To Edge" too! Talk about pure masculine EPIC madness! How totally perfect, how amazing. The boot of Tales sounds damn good, having gotten a recent remastering by the legendary Yes bootleg remastering legend, The Tooleman (whoever he was)! It's an audience recording, but it has very good sound, extremely listenable. "The Remembering" gets a couple of nice twists. Rick "Journey To The Centre Of the 8-Cent Earth" Wakeman stretches out the climatic atmospheric oceanic keys bit, and the thing builds to an orgasmic peak, say YEAH! Another thing of beauty is imagining Steve Howe's Adam's Apple bobbin' during his absolutely MANIACAL guitar workout in the insane "The Ancient." That used to be my least favorite side, now I can't stop playing this live one! As Gene Simmons would say, "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Links:

Download Disc One

Download Disc Two

Password (you NEED THIS to open the file): lagrimapsicodelica

Give Me 8 Cents!
Rudo

Belinda Carlisle and a Buffalo!

2008-07-15T12:10:00.005-04:00

One day, this Buffalo walked into a bar in Bareback Saddle, South Dakota.........

And there working behind the counter, was none other than Belinda Carlisle, lead vocalist of The Go-Go's, and solo recording artist extraordinaire.

The Buffalo was astonished. "My, just how far the mighty have fallen," he muttered to himself. He ponied up to the bar, and ordered a Bloody Mary, and some Buffalo Wings. He said to Belinda, "Hey, how about them Tampa Bay Rays?" Belinda just stared at him blankly. The Buffalo went to Plan B. "Do you think Obama will pick Mitt Romney as his running mate?" Belinda just made a noise that kinda sounded like a burp, but really wasn't. Finally, the Buffalo went for broke, and pulled out the heavy artillery. "Hey, what do you think of Jane Wiedlin's solo career?" Unexpectedly, Belinda ran over to the piano in the corner of the bar, and started banging out a rousing version of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." The Buffalo couldn't take it any more. He paid his bill, left an 8 cent tip, and wandered back out to the South Dakota plains.

The End.

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

Prog Mix CD: the green light

2008-06-30T12:40:00.010-04:00

“the green light” is a mix disc of dark, modern Scandinavian Prog, heralding from Sweden and Norway specifically. It is totally appropriate to serve as my first Prog mix disc posted at R8CM. Last fall and winter I lived, ate, and breathed this stuff on long nocturnal walks, and while I sat at night on my lawn chair recliner on the back deck, with the snow and magic all around me. The ancient trees of my back yard swayed as if the haunted chords of the mellotrons themselves were blowing through the massive boughs. This is Prog of a different kind. It is very dark, like long winter nights, with melodies and musical accents dancing in air like the Aurora Borealis. The ghost of Crimson can be found here, as well the space time continuum of Floyd, and a secret, darker take on old mellotronic Genesis. But the heart that beats on “the green light” is very Nordic, and is much older than the Prog Gods who influenced these mysterious, young musicians. To me, this music is pure genius, and pure melancholy bliss. Listen to this late at night, in the dark, and with the winter in your heart.

Here is the track listing, with the band name linked to a web page where you can learn more about 'em, and possibly hear some more songs. The download links are after the track list.

Band/Song/Time/Album/Year/Country

1. Paatos – Tea 5:50 – “Timeloss” <2002> (Sweden)
2. White Willow – Snowfall 6:31 – “Ignis Fatuus” <1995> (Norway)
3. Anekdoten – Longing 4:56 – “Vemod” <1993> (Sweden)
4. Opeth – Hours Of Wealth 5:20 – “Ghost Reveries” <2005> (Sweden)
5. Anekdoten – A Sky About To Rain 6:30 – “A Time Of Day” <2007> (Sweden)
6. Anekdoten – Every Step I Take 3:06 – “A Time Of Day” <2007> (Sweden)
7. Kvazar – Dream 9:49 – “Kvazar” <1999> (Norway)
8. Sinkadus - Ulv I Fårakläder 9:56 – “Cirkus” <1999> (Sweden)
9. Wobbler – Clair Obscur 15:34 – “Hinterland” <2005> (Norway)
10. Anglagard – Skogsranden 10:49 – “Epilog” <1994> (Sweden)

Download Part One

Download Part Two

The disc starts off with “Tea” by Paatos, a haunted, subtly propulsive number chilled by lead singer Petronella Nettermalm’s evocative vocals, along with sharp and jazzy drumming, and a blanketing wall of sad mellotrons. “Snowfall” by White Willow takes you to the northern climes of Norway, with antiquated folk melodies, and proggy synth and flute accents. The snow is not in your head. Anekdoten then further ices the landscape with the frightenly sad acoustic warmth of “Longing,” where tears and cello melt the bleakest of hearts. “Hours Of Wealth,” with its bluesy chill and regal keys, show just how perfectly Opeth fits in with these cool Nordic Prog cats. Anekdoten shows up again like a bookend, this time with vocals, and their perfect blend of cosmos, heavier riffs, melancholy, fat bass, and acres of mellotron. “A Sky About To Rain” slides right into its instrumental coda, “Every Step I Take.” The synth at 4:29 of “Sky” is to die for!

The second half of the disc starts to veer to slightly more traditional proggy landscapes, with Kvazar providing the all important bridge. “Dream,” is another night sky canvas, unfolding like a moonflower at dusk. Sinkadus and “Ulv I Fårakläder” takes us deep into the dark forest, where we can smell the moist, mulchy earth, and hear the wind howl through the upper limbs, inciting an incantation of dark Swedish fear. “Clair Obscur” by Wobbler, starts of somber with its stoney keys, bittersweet melody, and ghostly piano. It then evolves into a full Prog workout, a stew and slew of themes and sad bits, all bubbling to the top. “the green light” is then extinguished by the “Fathers” of the dark modern Scandinavian Prog scene, Anglagard, who’s precise and emotive musicianship seals the deal on any return of day, light, and the scent of spring. The nocturnal forest is victorious in its forlorn seclusion, and the listener can only hope that its inner “green light” burns as bright the next time you play the disc!

I post this disc for two reasons: 1) to share the listening experience 2) to expose you to these bands, and their music, which is far, far, far from the mainstream. SUPPORT THE BANDS! BUY THEIR MUSIC! Follow the links to their web sites! They deserve your attention! Here’s a link to the great online "Synphonic" Prog store where you can buy their music!

http://www.synphonic.8m.com/

ENJOY!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

P.S. The cover photo was taken by me with my 8 cent phone cam!

PROG, PROG, PROG and more PROG!!!

2008-06-25T12:24:00.015-04:00

Genesis (back in the day with Peter Gabriel, and when Phil Collins was cool and had hair)

So what’s the f*&king deal with Progressive Rock, or more commonly called “Prog?” Why is this wonderful form of music the “whipping boy” of snooty music critics and fans all over the place? Well, one reason is that the criticism is another form of “anti-intellectualism.” This of course makes the presumption that Prog is intellectual music, or music for intellectuals. This is true to some small degree, but it is also very UNTRUE in many other ways.

Since I have been following Prog for over 34 years (on and off), I can verify that there are Prog fans who are “elitist snotbags,” that think Prog is the only type of music of any worth, and that if people aren’t listening to it, they are idiots. Well…. This form of elitist snotbagism is quite popular in ALL types of music!!! There are zillions of elitist snotbags who only like punk, and put down other types of music, and think that everybody who isn't punk is an idiot. You can say the same for any type of music: jazz, classical, classic rock, hardcore, softcore, Black Metal, White Metal, Armenian bongo music, new wave, old new wave, new old new wave, etc.

I love Prog with all my heart and soul, and think it is one of the most enjoyable forms of music to listen to. However, I don’t take it toooooooo seriously. That would be a big mistake. I think it is a mistake to take any type of music too seriously. Right now in my life, I like challenging music, that does more than just affect my more visceral emotions through simplistic expression. Prog is challenging music that challenges me through aural landscapes, and more subliminal emotion. In good Prog, I find the emotion in the playing, the singing, the epic melodies, and the album covers with space dwarfs on them. While a lot of the lyrics are a bit daff, that is A-OK!!! Right now, I would much rather listen to a 20 minute epic song about squirrels (in five named subsections) than some downtrodden story about a shattered romantic relationship in a trailer park, or some snarky hipster rock 'n' roll about smack and cigarettes (by some sixth generation Velvet Underground/New York Dolls wannabee), or just how bad the Bush Administration really is. If a really cool synth part in an epic Prog track makes the hair on my arms stand up, by then, ALL F*&KING RIGHT!

The bottom line is, I think Prog is very, very 8 CENTS, just like Metal! If you can get that Metal is 8 cents, then I think you should get that Prog is 8 cents, because they aren’t that far apart in the 8 cents department! At the root core, 8 is 8, and if it ain’t 8, it ain’t great!

Anekdoten (a really cool modern Prog band from Sweden)

In the months I have had my blog going, I have been into Metal, Metal, Metal. However, the periodic and predicted change in tide is coming, and I am shifting towards Prog, Prog, Prog. In the last five years or so, it has been Metal and Prog, Prog and Metal, more Metal, more Prog, some cool European folk music (squared), some old time country, a dash of the old classic rock, a brief freak out on Miles Davis, and then back to Prog and Metal, Metal and Prog, etc, etc, etc. BEWARE! THE PROG CONTENT IS COMING to Rudo’s 8 Cent Marvels!!! There has been a lot of great Prog created in recent years, especially from Europe, in particular Scandinavia. I love the old Prog, I love the new Prog. I don’t love Prog that wanks on total excess and musicianship, and is devoid of emotion (yes, there is some of that too). But I love good 8 cent Prog, oh yes I do!

Give me 8 Cents,

Rudo

Mediterranean Traditional EPIC Metal from Greece & Italy

2008-06-18T21:17:00.019-04:00

Hey, I just wanted to spread the word that there is a very cool 8 Cent scene developing in the Mediterranean countries of Greece and Italy, where some newer bands are practicing the ancient art of Traditional EPIC Metal!!! Taking their cue from bands like Manilla Road and Manowar, these bands practice a righteous form of Battle Metal, often dripping in the history of these legendary countries. I am relatively new to the scene myself, but I have immersed myself deep enough to know something about the following bands and the albums below. If there are people out there who were sorely missing Traditional EPIC Metal, and all of its glorious righteousness, behold! There is a new dawn, with new warriors practiced in the art of Gladi-8-tor axe-slinging, and ripe, if not over-ripe vocals!!!

Click on the band's name to take you to either their MySpace page or home page where you can learn more about the bands, and probably listen to some of their classic 8 Cent Metal!

From GREECE we have:

BATTLEROAR - Age Of Chaos (2005)

SACRED BLOOD - The Battle Of Thermopylae: The Chronicle (2008)

MARAUDER - 1821 (2000)

AIRGED L'AHM - Ode To Salvation (2008)

ELWING - War (2005)

And now from ITALY!!!

ICY STEEL - "Icy Steel" (2007)

DOOMSWORD - "Let Battle Commence" (2003)

ASSEDIUM - Rise Of The Warlords (2006)

BERSERKER - Blood Of The Warriors (2007)

Out of all these very 8 and GR-8-TE bands and albums, my favorite is Icy Steel's self-titled debut!!! It mixes the epicness of Manilla Road, with some fine vocal harmonies and righteously chanted choruses to result in an 8 cent masterpiece, which belongs in every EPIC MetalHead's collection!!! Below are the happy chaps in ICY STEEL!!! WHOO-HOO!!! Expect to see more about them in "Rudo's 8 Cent Marvels" in the future!!!

I know there are more bands of this ilk from this part of the world. Write in and share a good word about them!!!

FLASH 'EM HIGH! Give me 8 Frickin' Cents!!!

Rudo

DEATH OF A GAS STATION

2008-06-11T17:35:00.017-04:00

Now for something totally different, a photo essay. These 8 cent photos were taken on July 4,2007 at the 1-75 exit for Monticello, TN. The bigger ones were taken with my 9 cent five year old Kodak digital camera. The smaller ones were taken with my 7 cent one year old Motorola phone cam... 9 cents + 7 cents = 16 cents, divided by 2, = you do the math! Enjoy. I am compelled to take photos of dilapidated buildings, houses, barns, cars, gas stations, humans, and other weird stuff.... You have been forewarned!

I was back this way on May 6, 2008, and it was still there. I took the following pic of it from a neighboring gas station that showed no outward signs of dilapidation, although its soul was very foul....
Give me 8 Cents,
Rudo

Metal Mix CD: The Iridescent Sky

2008-06-04T15:14:00.016-04:00

My latest Metal mix disc to share with you is quite different from the previous one. "Island Of The Silver Skull" was a loving tribute to my 80's Traditional Epic Metal roots, played by newer bands who are keeping that flame alive. However, "The Iridescent Sky" is a collection of new songs from many of the bands and artists that I have been passionate about in the last 6-7 years of my middle-aged Metal Renaissance. It is intense dark music, that pushes Metal's boundaries in broad progressive strokes. This is not Prog Metal, ala Dream Theater, with virtuostic wanking overwhelming what little emotional content is felt in that music. It is METAL first, with Progressive influences, that owes a debt of gratitude to the great 70's Prog era, nothing more. It is METAL, it is atmospheric, it is dark, it is bleak and sombre, it is intense, it is inventive and creative, it is EMOTIONAL, and it kicks ass. Most of these bands are far from obscure in the Metal community, but they certainly are not commonplace in the musical mainstream, especially in the US. They deserve your attention.

Here is the track listing, with the band name linked to a web page where you can learn more about 'em, and possibly hear some more songs. The download links are after the track list.

Band/Song/Time/Album/Year/Country

1. Agalloch - The Pantheist 7:17 - "The White" EP <2008> (USA)
2. Primordial - Empire Falls 8:03 - "To The Nameless Dead" <2007> (Ireland)
3. Dark Tranquillity - Icipher 4:38 - "Fiction" <2007> (Sweden)
4. Novembre - Iridescence 5:11 - "The Blue" <2007> (Italy)
5. Opeth - The Lotus Eater 8:50 - "Watershed" <2008> (Sweden)
6. Ihsahn - Monolith 6:25 - "AngL" <2008> (Norway)
7. Vintersorg - Perfektionisten 4:15 - "Solens Roetter" <2007> (Sweden)
8. Manegarm - I Underjorden 4:11 - "Vargstenen" <2007> (Sweden)
9. Moonsorrow - Tulimyrsky 29:36 - "Tulimyrsky" (EP) <2008> (Finland)

Download Part 1

Download Part 2

The journey begins with "Pantheist" by Agalloch, a majestic and atmospheric acoustic based track from their limited pressing "The White" EP. Agolloch always brings you close to nature, evoking a somber, reflective walk through a forest or snow storm. Musically, this is closer to the expansive, progressive experience of their album "The Mantle," than their most recent release, "Ashes Against The Grain." It is sublime.

This segue ways into "Empire Falls" by Primordial, who take their swirling thunderstorm of dire warnings to the heart of the human tornado, with searing emotional cries and prophecies. Musically it is very dense and frightening, largely in part to the intensity and passion of vocalist Naihmass Nemtheanga, and the apocalyptic thunder of the band. Metal *does* have a conscience, and nobody exemplifies it better than Nemtheanga, and this band of brooding Irish revolutionaries.

Things move on to Dark Tranquillity and "Icipher," a mid-tempo piece that emphasizes the musicality of this legendary band. It is not one of their barnstorming stompers. Rather it is a dense heartfelt piece, emphasizing the emotion in Mikael Stanne's growls. Here is a case of where keyboards effectively add texture and feeling, with the whole band working as an integrated unit, evoking dramatic emotion through their collective performance.

Italy's Novembre are masters of melancholy, with the sad and plaintive clean vocals of Carmelo Orlando, who then shakes the roof tops with his intense dark growl. "Iridescence" is iridescent, with its colorful keyboard fills, and bright evocative drumming. Again, nothing is overplayed, by a band that could wank as virtuosos, but choose feeling over technical brilliance.

In most ways, Opeth need no introduction, the biggest band in Extreme Metal today. They have become polarizing in the Metal community, with those who unabashedly love their Progressive Death Metal, and those who are bored silly by them, loving to take potshots at the reigning kings. "The Lotus Eater" will change no one's opinion because it exemplifies what Opeth does best, playing a sophisticated Death Metal that is consumed by their love of old Progressive Rock. The trick is that they do it with so much emotion, and so many rich musical ideas. If people don't get the quick changes of music from one little trip into another, then they don't get Prog. Too bad. This track is inspired and evocative, and *nobody* growls like Mikael Akerfeldt, and nobody has such a beautiful clean voice. Opeth has always been about contrast. Here it is.

Ihsahn's "Monolith" segue ways in beautifully, with its proggy intro that then turns into a rich Black Metal riff with drum blasts, followed by Ihsahn's patented Black Metal rasp. What makes it different from old Emperor (his main band) and the legions of Black Metal hordes, is his totally inventive instrumentation, most evident being the colors and textures of keyboards, acoustic guitars, and clean vocals. This is very Prog too, but like Opeth, it carries the intensities of their Metallic roots. For Opeth it is Death Metal, for Ihashn it is Black Metal. And it kills!

On his "Solens Rotter" CD, Vintersorg coalesced his avant-garde Metal and Prog tendencies with his own brand of Scandinavian Folk Metal in a remarkably effective manner. The results are heard in "Perfektionsten," a tune that mixes his sharp growl with his searing and gorgeous clean vox, with a folkloric melody that is accented by avant-garde accompaniment. The programmed beats and keyboard accents remain supportive, and do not get in way of the amazingly catchy tune that should be played on the radio! HAH to that idea!

"I Underjorden" by Manegarm is Viking Folk Metal at its finest, harsh and intense, beautiful and melodic, precise and wonderful, propelled by blistering drum beats and soaring fiddle work. Scandinavia. Fjords. Nordic history. Runes. Stormy seas. What more can I say? And this leads perfectly into...

... the EPIC intensity of "Tulimyrsky" by Finland's Moonsorrow. Their music, and this track, is nothing short of cinematic. Their whole musical history and evolution is presented in this 29 MINUTE EPIC. Harsh Black Metal from their early days, sumptuous keyboard driven Viking Metal, very traditional acoustic Scandinavian folk complete with prominent accordion, drunken Viking choirs, warm 70's Prog leanings with analogue synths and long, evolutionary song structures, and their recent uncompromising turn towards harsh and grim EPIC songs that are never shorter than 14 minutes, and typically are 20 to 30 minute cinematic masterpieces. "Tulimyrsky" has more pronounced musical changes that the epics on their previous album, and brings back the accordion, keys, and blackened vocals of their past. And while it goes on for 29 minutes, I am never bored. I am immersed in a musical and cultural history that makes me just about jump out of my present skin and life, and back into a past I know I lived in... A secluded fjord, weathering storms on a Viking knarr, revering the old Gods, and clutching the ancient earth with my fingers. Yeah.

I post this disc for two reasons: 1) to share the listening experience 2) to expose you to these bands, and their music, which is far, far, far from the mainstream. SUPPORT THE BANDS! BUY THEIR MUSIC! Follow the links to their web sites! They deserve your attention!

ENJOY!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

P.S. The cover photo was taken by me with my 8 cent phone cam, and jazzed up with an ancient version of Adobe PhotoDeluxe editor.

Vintersorg Junior???

2008-06-04T14:21:00.003-04:00

What young, pensive Extreme Metal God is this???? Could it be Vintersorg Junior? Will the comos change overnight? Will the Old Ones rise and thrash our modern deities? Will it snow icy blasts tonight? How can I put out 4 new Metal projects out all at once, and still hold down my day job, and go to school? And what exactly is a Microscopical Macrocosm???? (Cheers, Andreas!)

Only the Abominog knows, and he ain't sayin'!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

Review: CRESCENT SHIELD - The Last Of My Kind

2008-05-26T10:03:00.019-04:00

Background: My musical voyage has taken me from one shore to another, exploring many different sounds and lands. While I have spent a lifetime discovering a multitude of different musical genres and styles, the initial focus of this blog will be Metal and Progressive Rock. After being a co-editor of the Suck City fanzine in the 80's, I drifted far from Metal, only to pick it back up in a huge way around the year 2000. Being an ultimate maniac, obsessive and completist, somehow I MISSED the genesis of the new Traditional Metal revival here in the United States. I guess this is because I was so incredibly focused on Metal and Prog in Europe and Scandinavia. I was bitterly disappointed in my home country's lack of contribution to the types of Metal I enjoyed most. Agalloch and Iced Earth were the great exceptions. But stupid me, I missed some incredible Metal being created by some new bands who have taken up the Traditional EPIC F*&king Metal banner. I am here now to help correct the errors of my ways, to promote and hopefully inform listeners about some great new bands, whether they come from the US, Greece, Italy, or wherever. One of the bands that has kicked my butt clear across the globe and to the moon and back (all in one piece) is CRESCENT SHIELD, with their debut album "The Last Of My Kind." Although this album came out in 2006, and they are hard at work recording their next opus, I wish to write about this great album, because I know there are people out there who have not heard it, but would f*&king LOVE it!!!!

The Meat Of The Matter: "The Last Of My Kind is Traditional Metal, pure and simple, the kind that morphed into being during the 1980's by such bands as Jag Panzer, Liege Lord, and Fates Warning, all being influenced by the ultimate masters, Maiden and Priest. Whenever I hear a new metal album or band, and the first song plays, and the guitars, tempo and melody is blasting my butt, my hopes go high, only leading to the terror of hearing the lead vocalist's voice for the first time. So many times I have been momentarily stoked about a band, only to be crushed amongst the rocks by a totally negative 8 cents singer who's obnoxious style and voice sends me to the shores of disappointment. I guess I am a bit picky about singers. So as the stomping intro to opener "Above Mere Mortals" came pulsating out of the speakers, my hopes were as high as the moon, and I braced for impact. When vocalist Michael Grant belted out the opening line of "Honor the dead that have fallen," I rejoiced, pissed my pants, and sighed, HE IS EIGHT and GREAT! Yes indeed, the dude's voice reminds me of the legendary "The Tyrant" (Harry Conklin) of Jag Panzer, legend of legends Brian Ross of Blitzkrieg & Satan, and to a lesser extent Andy Michaud of Liege Lord (their original vocalist)!!! Of course, the next to last thing you want is a clone singer, and I must say Grant has his own significant personality, but he definitely comes from the school of the aforementioned greats.

So I was off and cruisin' to this new disc, but unexpectedly was then saddened as I figured out that the first song was a Metal Anthem! Erckkk, stab me with a million toothpicks, but I NEVER have been a real fan of Metal Anthems. Testimonials to the great METAL LIFESTYLE and MOVEMENT have never really invoked passion within me. Call this incongruous, or sinful, I don't really care, I just never really liked them. The second song is entitled "Slave To The Metal Horde," and I thought, "Uh-oh, this is sinking fast... Please don't s(t)ink!" A quick look at the lyric sheet helped reduce my fears significantly, as I learned this song was inspired by H.G. Wells' "War Of The Worlds," and that the lyrics were intelligent and somewhat poetic. I felt greatly relieved.

When the third track, "Rise Of The Red Crescent Moon" arose from my speakers, I began a great dance of joy and fierce air guitar. Now this is the SHIT! A mid-tempo riff pounder, with a great chorus, tasteful and forceful lead guitar, and gorgeous imagery in the lyrics, this has all the earmarks of a classic! The swirling vortex of guitar leads and vocal enchantments at the conclusion of the song made the hairs on my arm stand up.

In this song, I was especially taken with the poetic lyrics (yes, I mean it, and I rarely call Metal lyrics truly poetic!). These are so cool, I have to share some of them with you...

A swollen tired sun will soon die
The stars will form above and below me
My moon it closely follows it's light
A razor thin reflection will humor
And crack the

Smile of the red crescent moon
Solace on the crimson horizon
Pride of the red crescent moon
Rule within the sky of forever

The city and high clouds remain blind
My eyes can be the only witness
Glisten to the atmospheres curse
And follow the fate of the light who creates you

Time of the red crescent moon
The night governor has fallen
Night of the red crescent moon
Slips into the sea of the fallen

Yay Michael Grant. Great job bud! You get a Shakespearian Abominogacious salute!

There are other classic songs all over this sucker. One that really makes me fly to the Cosmos and back is the phenomenal title track, the fantastic "The Last Of My Kind," written by guitarist Dan DeLucie. This stands toe-to-toe with any great 80's classic... Hell F*&K the decade comparisons!!! I am sick of that shit! This is as good as Traditional Metal gets!

I also freak out on "North For The Winter." Anybody who really knows me, knows that any song that has to do with Winter and the North is almost always golden in my book! "The Great Devoid" is another fantastic epic, "Unfinished Ash" is really cool, and the closer "The Passing" is another classic. The rest of the songs are really good too. One thing I can say is, Crescent Shield sure knows how to write a good chorus. For more info on all the songs, click here for notes on each one from vocalist Michael Grant.

There really is no dead weight on this album, and the musicians really wail. Although I call them "new," these are veteran Metal MO's, who have done their time in other bands. Michael Grant has sung in more bands than "Carter Has Pills," and the others have been a part of Destiny's End, New Eden, Engine, among many others, and bassist Melanie Sisneros used to be in the immortal Iron Maidens! None of the musicians are virtuosoes, but they are all extremely good. Guitarist DeLucie has lots of inspired solos that are melodic, but also sharp yet swirly, prickly and harmonic, pointed and blended, often referencing eastern melodies. Craig Anderson's drums are bashing, exact, and tribal, while Sisneros' bass is propulsive and on-the-money (hey, anybody who had to be Steve Harris in another life has to be good!).

I think one thing that really brings the 80's feel to the record (besides the song's themselves) is the production. It has that kind of distant, compressed feel that is only missing the occasional pop-and-crackle of vinyl. This is both a blessing and a curse (wellll, not a curse, but maybe not everybody's cup of tea). Whether this is from lack of budget, or a purposeful attempt to evoke that era, I am not sure. To me, it is *NOT* a problem. I like it. I think it adds to the atmosphere that conjures up 80's Jag Panzer or Satan. However, in the year 2008, some Metal fans might be looking for something more modern sounding. We'll see what things sound like on their new opus, "The Stars Of Never Seen," which is being produced the legendary Bill Metoyer (of old Fates Warning/Metal Blade fame).

In Closure: "The Last Of My Kind" is a great record, one that makes me proud to be an American Metal 8-Center again! I think it is the perfect choice for my first review on my new blog. In the future, I will certainly venture beyond Traditional Epic Metal, for I have many, many Metallic styles that I want to explore. But this goes back to my roots, and the earth from which my 8 Cent Egg was hatched. BUY THIS! It is very, very good. SAY YEAH, NO SCREAMING DOUBT!

One Last Question: But what exactly is an "Unfinished Ash?"

For more on Crescent Shield, click here, and here!

The Ol' "Brocas Helm" Ball!

2008-05-20T20:09:00.010-04:00

The Crafty Old Veteran, the relief pitcher from Hell, is widely known for his amazing "Brocas Helm" ball, that has baffled hitters for decades. The pitch is associated with Metal band Brocas Helm because it possesses the same qualities of a Brocas Helm song - meaning it goes in all directions at once, and just when you think it is going to split into a million pieces, it darts over the plate to kill you! STRIKE THREE!!! Now, the Crafty Old Veteran reveals his inner secret of how to throw the Brocas Helm ball. Just look!

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, the ball is dented! No wonder the Cirith Ungol softball team is undefeated! The aerodynamics of the pitch are scary, and puts batters into a starchy catatonic state. R8CM (Rudo's Eight Cent Marvels) learned that Baseball Hall of Fame relief pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm invented the pitch back in the 1950's, and gave it the apt 8 Cent name. R8CM recently asked Wilhem why he named it after Brocas Helm, especially since they wouldn't appear on the music scene until 30 years in the future. The relief ace replied "Snararoo! Kelpwashers! Brocas be Helm, how could it be called anything else?" What makes this all the more amazing is that Hoyt Wilhelm died in 2002.

For more on Brocas Helm, click here!

Mystery Woman Drinks Giant Can of OM

2008-05-16T19:51:00.006-04:00

Check it out here, this bizarre but true story of the Mystery Woman Who Was Gonna Drink A Giant Can Of OM (Old Milwaukee NA - non-alcoholic, you nerds). OM was originally brewed by Allen Ginsburg, who Bob Dylan once wrote a song about.

An 8 Cent Marvel if I ever saw One.

UNK,
Rudo

Metal Mix CD: Island Of The Silver Skull

2008-05-16T19:25:00.024-04:00

Ever since I got my first stereo tape recorder, a Sound Design 8-Track deck in 1974, I have been putting together my own mix tapes, or now mix CDs. It has been a non-stop part of my life, and I really can't think of anything more fun or creative to do. One of my goals for this blog was to inflict some of these homemade collections on you, much to my sadistic glee. Too bad... You deserve it, and I can finally get some of this off my chest and into the eardrums of folks who would like to hear 'em!

Even though I am an OLD MO and am prone to wax nostalgic at times, I do not live in the salad days of the past, forever stuck in old glorious musical eras. Sometimes I dread reliving certain scenes and sounds, and duly want to stay rooted in the Here and Now. So I do! But there are times I am attracted to an OLD SOUND being recreated and revitalized by YOUNG MO-FO's. Such is "Island Of The Silver Skull." An old sound being revived by newer bands.

I f*&king love Traditional Epic HEAVY METAL, and ate it, drank it, slept it, smoked it, and kissed it back in the glorious 80's, in the proverbial Days Of Yore. Ever so often, I get nostalgic and pull out the old classics, and revere them in all their ceremonious glory. But lately I've been GROOVING on 80's style Traditional Epic Heavy Metal, performed by a bunch of talented young'uns, who bring the bacon home when the bugle is called.

And it kicks my god-damn egg. Actually, I made this disc fast as hell. Once I heard this material, I just *HAD* to get something down on CD as fast as possible. And it had to be really well done, so I was up for the challenge!

Here is the track listing, with the band name linked to a web page where you can learn more about 'em, and possibly hear some more songs. The download links are after the track list.

Band/Song/Time/Album/Year/Country

1. Ironsword - Under The Flag of Rome 4:57 - "Ironsword" <2002> (Portugal)
2. Battleroar - Oceans Of Pain 10:23 - "To Death And Beyond" <2008> (Greece)
3. Crystal Viper - Island Of The Silver Skull 5:43 - "The Curse Of The Crystal Viper" <2007> (Poland)
4. Spirit Web - From A Prince To A Pauper 7:49 - "Far Beyond The Visual Mind" <2003> (USA)
5. Pharaoh - Buried At Sea 7:00 - "Be Gone" <2008> (USA)
6. Crescent Shield - The Last Of My Kind 7:20 - "The Last Of My Kind" <2006> (USA)
7. Rekuiem - Werewolf 8:24 - "Time Will Tell" <2006> (UK)
8. Overstep - Karrig An Ankou 8:04 - "Karrig An Ankou" <2001> (France)
9. Manilla Road - Totentanz (Dance Of Death) 7:56 - "Voyager" <2008> (USA)
10. Sacred Blood - Gates Of Fire 11:41 - "The Battle Of Thermopylae: The Chronicle" <2008> (Greece)

Download Part 1

Download Part 2

The disc starts of with the Neanderthalic Primal Poundations of Portugal's Ironsword, who beckon the listener with the age old proverb, "If you live by the sword, You will die by the sword!" UNK! This is followed by Greecian urns Battleroar, who perform a majestic epic, in three movements. The first is classic Epic Metal gesticulations, followed by a gorgeouoso electric violin interlude that is quite oceanic, all leading to the obligitato and perfectly executed searing majestic guitar solo, rooted in beauty and restraint. Crystal Viper sports a female vocalist that sounds like a much more TR00 Metal version of Lee Aaron, with a healthy dose of Doro thrown in for good measure. Spirit Web shoots this baby into the stratosphere with the righteous "From A Prince To A Pauper," which stands side-by-side with any ultimate 80's Vlassic Classic. Pharaoh then buries me at sea with their mob rules approach to harmony and integrated sounds. The Crescent Shield track sounds like a long lost song off of an old Blitzkrieg/Satan or Jag Panzer vinyl. I really freak out on their "The Last Of My Kind" CD!

Rekuiem turns up the 8 cent nodules with "Werewolf," sung by an old lead singer of Tredegar (Tredegar? Tredegar!). Overstep is from France, they sing in French, and it sounds weird and wonderful. They can crank. "Karrig An Ankou" is an 8 cent gas. And of course, MANILLA F*&KING ROAD do NOT need any INTRODUCTION... This is from their brand new album, and it belongs here to provide some much needed perspective (or too much f*&king perspective!). Mark St. Shelton is GOD! And lastly, things are capped off by the sacred Sacred Blood, who also are Greecian urns, and this is a mighty epic, a proper summative statement, and a place to hang your hat at the end of this glorious ride through the depths and slime of TR00 Epic Metal in the 21st Century!

I post this disc for two reasons: 1) to share the listening experience 2) to expose you to these bands, and their music, which is far, far, far from the mainstream, and quite removed from what is considered to be the hippest movements in the Metal scene. SUPPORT THE BANDS! BUY THEIR MUSIC! Follow the links to their web sites! They deserve your attention!

ENJOY!

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

CIRITH UNGOL!!!

2008-05-12T18:06:00.019-04:00

Long ago, a young man worshipped the ULTIMATE METAL band, Cirith Ungol!!! That young man was me, and now that I am old MO, I still worship at the altar of the ultimate Lovecraftian slime-mold chain gang, the original mutants of Chaos, Cirith F*@king Ungol! Never had there been a Metal band like them before, and never since. However, I am glad to learn that there are a host of young Metal bands who worship the mighty Ungol, as well as their Midwestern partners in Chaos, Manilla Road.

As I mentioned in my blog profile, I used to be a co-editor of an 80's Metal fanzine, the 8 cent "Suck City." Our modus operandi back then was to be known as "The Mag that Worshiped Cirith Ungol!" We worked hard at it, running numerous interviews, reviews, and the like. Below is a scan of an interview I did with the most resplendent and 8 cents singer of all-time, the AMAZING TIM BAKER! This was done back in 1986, when their "One Foot In Hell" opus was brand new.

Before things get too out-of-hand with this blog, with all sorts of goofy 8 cent stuff, I needed to put things in perspective first. Cirith Ungol, then everything else! (except a 1960 Studebaker Lark stationwagon).

For more on Cirith Ungol, check out:

http://www.truemetal.org/cirithungol/

Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

I Want a Studebaker Lark

2008-05-10T18:25:00.007-04:00

A couple of years ago, I almost bought this Studebaker Lark for $5 on Ebay. It was located in western North Dakota. It would have been a big job hauling it back to the Ancient Region of Indiana. But the main reason I didn't buy it was because it is a 1963, and I don't like the grill as much. However, the price was pretty good. Tough decision!

Here is a Lark that I would love to buy. Ain't it great?

In the Beginning....

2008-05-10T16:10:00.005-04:00

In the beginning, there was a small boy who lived in Northern Indiana. He went to this shopping center a lot with his Grandmother and Mother during the 1960's. Why? Nobody knows, except that it had a lot to do with fabric stores. Why is this important? Most people don't care except me. But it has a lot to do with Epic Heavy Metal and Squirrely Progressive Rock. You can tell by the cracks in the cement, that look into the scattered depths of eternity, and the static between TV and radio stations.

So come along for the ride, as I sift my way through the sands of the hourglass. I will post a lot of my own homemade music mix CD's. Many of them Metal, many of them Prog, and quite a few of other persuasions. I will also post my own 8 cent CD cover art, lo-fi as they are. I am a free-flowing, wild-wind blowing MO-FO, with a mind of his own. Now I get to impose it on you! But don't be afraid of the man behind the curtain - the Bob Dole of this joint, for I am benign, and a happy soul. This is a place to sit back, relax, take your shoes off, and y'all come back now, here! (Howdy Jed)