ARNION - FALL LIKE RAIN / 2008 / REVIEW AND BIOGRAPHY

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-INTRO
2-VISIONS FROM HELL
3-ZOMBIES
4-GET READY FOR THE WAR
5-FALL LIKE RAIN
6-RGREAT BE HEALED
7-MANIPULACAO S.A.
8-OBTENATRATION
9-HUMAN HOLOCAUST
10-RENASCITUR EX CINERIBUS
11-WHITENED GRAVE
ARNION - REFUGE - 2007/2008














THIS DEMO EP CONTAIN(5-TRACKS)
1-REFUGE
2-STEPS IN THE DARK
3-HUMAN HOLOCAUST
4-WHITENED GRAVES
5-WILL NOT SURRENDER
CREDITS:
Carlos "Carlão" Henrique - Vocals
Rinaldo Macedo - Guitar
Leonardo Araujo - Bass
Rogério Paulo - Drums
Rafael Teles - Guitar, Vocals
Former/past member
Pedro Neto - Vocals
Túlio Caetano - Guitar











BIOGRAPHY:
Brazilian masters of speed/thrash metal debut release that includes the bonus of the 2003 REFUGE ep (7 tracks.), and has been digitally remastered.As the revival of the 80's styled thrash metal rolls on, Arnion enters the scene as legitimate heavyweight contenders for the title. Hailing from Brazil, Arnion began in 2003 with their music straight out of the 80s and 90s thrash metal scene. Inspired by the metal titans of the past, the band showcases heavy, fast and fierce metal sounds. Arnion's full-length release, Fall Like Rain, features articulate riffs, gripping hooks and the muscular brute force that brings to mind Kreator, Ultimatum, Exodus, Tourniquet, Toxic Holocaust and Austrian Death Machine! Arnion (Greek for “lamb of God”) brings a full-on assault of metal attitude, but with an intelligent message. This all new Expanded Edition (available previously only as a 13 track import) is digitally remastered and includes the band's seven song 2006 Refuge EP as an added bonus for fans.Brazil has produced some quality metal band in the past. One of the best known is thrashers Sepultura. Arnion are another export of Brazil and these guys follow in the same aggressive footsteps. While the band labels themselves as thrash metal, this is not your typical thrash metal. Rather this is full throttle, unadulterated, coming at you like an out of control freight train, heavy metal. Over the years heavy metal has fragmented into hundreds of different sub-genres. Likewise, thrash too has become a bit more diverse. Many new bands such as The Haunted and Rumpelstiltskin Grinder are labeled thrash metal, but would probably be better labeled as neo-thrash metal since their sound is not a carbon copy of bands like Exodus, Testament and Kreator. Such is the case with Arnion. Sure, Arnion have some of those classic thrash metal influences. You'll probably even hear some Sepultura influences mixed in here, such as in "Manipulação S.A.", as well as a healthy helping of Bay Area thrash influence. However, there are also some of the Heavy, chugging, stop/start riffs and even some punk attitude scattered throughout. For the most part, the songs are all up-tempo to mid-paced, with plenty of distinction from song to song so that the overall album doesn't become one big blurr. Despite being an independent release, the production on "Fall Like Rain" is raw and heavy, with each instrument clearly heard. Basically, Arnion have successfully mixed modern production, articulate guitar riffs, smoking lead work, fast double bass, intelligent lyrics and grappling hooks to create an album that should impress most any metal fan. (It should also be noted that a few of the songs are sung in the band's native language, Portuguese.) .Brazil's Arnion (Latin for "Lamb of God") busts some Thrash-Metal chops withits debut chugger, Fall like Rain. For the most part, these dudes preferheaviness over speed, with tracks such as "Zombies" and "Regret be Healed"giving instruments much room to breathe. Thus the rhythm guitar gets to chugalong, sometimes on its own or with minimum contribution from the rhythmsection, a technique that really worked for me. Percussion is heavy, withthe snare banging away as the lead guitar goes into overdrive with somesmoking fret titillation. Guitars are kept to the rhythm/hook and leadroutine, with both rarely interacting, a bit of a weakness that does notinterfere with the ripping because of the heaviness and intensity of some of the stellar riffs. The bass also steps up when needed, giving the band aresounding low end on some of the harder-hitting songs, such as "Get Readyfor the War." Lyrically, these dudes are proponents of Christianity, so atrack like "Zombies" is really about those who have turned away from Jesusand God. In addition to the 11 tracks that make up Fall like Rain, the CDcontains seven tracks that make up the band's demo/EP Refuge. Thrashers who like their music to burn slow and heavy should definitely grab hold of thisone, as it will not disappoint(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

AMASEFFER - SLAVES FOR LIFE / 2008 BIOGRAPHY/REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-SORROW
2-SLAVE FOR LIFE
3-BIRTH OF DELIVERANCE
4-MIDIAN
5-ZIPPORAH
6-BURNING BUSH
7-THE WOODEN STAFF
8-RETURN TO EGYPT
9-TEN PLAGUES
10-LAND OF THE DEAD
CREDITS:
Erez Yohanan - Drums,
Yuval Kramer - Guitars
Hanan Avramovich - Guitars
Guest members:
Mats Leven - All lead And Backing Vocals
Angela Gossow - Vocals
Kobi Farhi - Vocals
Maya Avraham - Vocals
Avni - Vocals
Amir Gvirtzman - Flutes
Yatziv Caspi - Tablas
Yair Yona - Bass
Amaseffer is the first Israeli band signed by Inside Out Music. “Slaves For Life” is the opening volume of a planned trilogy about the history of the Israeli people as portrayed in the Old Testament. Hanan Avramovich (guitar), Yuval Kramer (guitar) and Erez Yohanan (drums, percussion and narrator) have delivered a unique and high class mixture of Progressive Metal with an orchestral style of an epic film score, influenced by Middle Eastern culture, I have always been a Lover of progressive bands, band just FORGET that their aim should be to make good music and not write a staff notation of a solution to Schrodinger's equation. With Amaseffer' Slaves For Life however, I felt blessed to have stumbled upon such a work of art.Firstly, I would like to acknowledge this band's sheer songwriting prowess. It was truly unlike anything I had heard before, or even expected from this album. Right from the start, one can tell that the aim of this band was to present a story to the listener through their music, not how the drummer can beat Mike Potnoy at complex time signatures. Their use of folk instruments, the Mid-Eastern tunes and symphonies and of course,their use of sounds from everyday life and the dialogues in Hebrew; all of them made it seem as if it one was watching a movie and not listening to an album. The vocals by Mats Levin of Therion are perfect.Not too whiny, nor too cheesy. Sometimes, they even remind you of Roy Khan's (Kamelot) singing. The lyrics are very to-the-point. Amaseffer have not tried to be excessively poetic and use verses that could mean ANYTHING, which is something I really appreciate. If a story has to be told, the events within it should unfold with ease.Now, the fact that this band is a progressive metal band, could mean that people will expect a high level of technique. Unfortunately (for such people), that is not the case. But its not a problem either. Their rhythms are pretty simple and straightforward powerchords, notes and chords and their solos are not very fast or technical; but they all add to the overall mood of the album. There's not a single moment where the mood of the song becomes casual due to a rhythm that may be technically sound, but that's all it is. Every song generates its own mood because each song talks about different phases of the Moses story. And all the dialogues and sound effects make sure that even if you're not very knowledgeable about that story (like me),you WILL know what events unfold (even though the dialogues are in Hebrew) Symphony X. I don’t have a personal favourite song as every song is great and paramount to the album. But yes, I enjoyed ‘The Wooden Staff’ And "Slave For Life" That Is A Number One Hit On my radiostation (HOLYMETAL)The most for its Digitized Hebrew Voice in the beginning and that section in the middle where the Guitar, Bass And xlophone are playing this catchy Mid-Eastern tune. All in all, this is one of the best concept album I have heard In This Style till date. Once again, I’d like to congratulate the band. To be able to come up with such brilliance on debut itself is nothing short of a world record. In fact, if the band continues to write music like this, and improve, they could easily dethrone even veterans in this genre like Opeth and Symphony X. A brilliant collection of music. Something that every fan of good music should possess.( http://www.amaseffer.com/ )

When “Orphaned Land”, released their masterpiece of an album 3 years back (Mabool) that lent them worldwide recognition, people thought Israeli music couldn’t get much better. How wrong they were! . This band, “Amaseffer” is as good as “Orphaned Land” if not better.The band released their debut album “Slaves For Life” this year, a few weeks back. This is a concept album and is the first of the trilogy that will deal with the story starting from Moses’ birth and his leading the oppressed Hebrews to the Promised Land. As the title of the album suggest, Amaseffer (which “means People Of The Holy Water” in Hebrew) starts this album right from the beginning i.e. the slavery period. Which song encompasses which part of the story I’ll mention later in the review.The band’s site says they had a problem of finding a vocalist for the band right from the starts. Even after hiring Andy Kuntz of well-known progressive band “Vanden Plas”, the vocals remained a problem, as he could not commit to the band because of personal problems and previous commitments. After a string of auditions the band decided to keep Tony Levens from Orchestral/Symphonic band “Therion” as the New Vocalist. This persistence for the perfect vocalist is my choice for the turning point of the band’s success because I have heard Tony’s work in Therion and this guy not only sounds good, but has an amazing range as well.The album consists of 10 tracks with the lengths of tracks varying from a little over two-and-a-half minutes to almost twelve minutes. As expected the band’s lyrics consist of a lot of Hebrew and consist mainly of storytelling that is handled by the band’s percussionist, Erez Yohannan. The lead vocals are as expected something straight out of Therion’s books and sound like something from Therion’s album, “Lemuria”.The first two tracks (Sorrow and Slaves For Life) speak about the oppression of the Hebrew slaves by the Pharaoh, their “sorrow” and their lack of hope which makes them believe that they will remain “slaves for life” and die slaves. The next few tracks narrate the birth of Moses (Birth Of Deliverance), his killing of a guard and escape to the city of Midian (Midian) and his marrying the daughter of the ruler of Midian (Zipporah). This track onwards starts his quest to overthrow the ruler and free his fellow natives. This starts from Moses talking to God (The Burning Bush) to his carrying a wooden staff that carried the power of God (The Wooden Staff and The Return To Egypt) and finally ending with the tracks (Ten Plagues and Land Of The Dead) that describe the freedom of his people after Moses famously summoned the ten deadly plagues.The album apart from the obvious Guitars and Drums uses Folk Instruments like the oud, saz, flutes, tablas and bouzouki to give the album a unique sound and touch. Apart from these the band uses majestic orchestration and background sound effects to create the perfect movie like atmosphere for telling a story dealing with a sensitive topic like the Exodus. What is better than this is the plethora of guest vocalists the band managed to pull in. The album has “Kobi Farhi” of Orphaned Land itself taking care of the oriental vocals (who could do it better?) and Arch Enemy vocalist “Angela Gossow” growling on tracks like “Midian”. Unheard of Bassist “Yair Yona” does a magnificent job.This brilliantly produced, structured and atmospheric album is a must hear for any fan of oriental music or Orphaned Land. No doubt this album will arouse comparisons between this band and fellow band “Orphaned Land” because of the similarity of their music. If I had to choose I would choose none as the better because each of them are great in their own ways. Orphaned Land had better guitar solos and song structures, but Amaseffer has way better production, background effects and atmosphere, which are the essential requirements for telling a story. This album is a masterpiece and it is difficult to believe that it is a debut album. Do not miss it under any circumstances, as this may well be one of the releases of 2008(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

POWER - JUSTICE OF FIRE - 1996/ AND REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(9-TRACKS)
1-PRELUDE TO APOCALYPSE
2-HAND OVER TIME
3-FIRE WALK
4-RISING SON(Through The Eyes OF God)
5-AN EVIL PRESENCE(Instr.)
6-DECEIVER OF THRUTH
7-THE VISION
8-JUSTICE OF FIRE
9-ETERNALLY
10-ABOVE & BEYONG
11-BURNING DESIRE
CREDITS:
Alan Tecchio - Vocals
Daniel L. Dalley - Guitars
Daniel L. Dalley - Bass
Mike Watt - Drums
Last known Line-Up
Tom Ragusa - Vocals
Daniel L. Dalley - Guitars, Bass
Craig Buchman - Drums










REVIEW:
They Really Rock For The Lord!!,I Must Rank This Underrated Band Into those great bands of Metal/Power As (Faith Factor)(Amaseffer)(Sardonyx)(Titanic)And So On Among Others,My Favo Tracks are "Justice of Fire" "Eternally" And "Above & Beyond" They Make A Sonud OF Bomb OF Holymetal Radio,I Really Recommend it you won't be desapointed(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

HEAD - SAVE FROM MYSELF - 2008/REVIEW AND BIOGRAPHY

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-L.O.V.E
2-FLUSH
3-LOYALTY
4-RE-BEL
5-HOME
6-SAVE FROM MYSELF
7-DIE RELIGION DIE
8-ADONAI
9-MONEY
10-SHAKE
11-WASHED BY BLOOD
HEAD - BRAIN HEAD WELCH - 2006















THIS DEMO CONTAIN(6-TRACKS)
1-A CHEAP NAME
2-CONFUSED
3-CRY
4-DREAM
5-ILLUSION OF HAPPINESS
6-LETTER OF DIMEBAG
BIOGRAPHY:
Brian Welch better known by his nickname Head, is one of the founding members of KoRn, a multi-platinum, Grammy award winning metal band and a major influence in the rise of the heavy metal movement.While with KoRn, Head won two Grammy s and sold over 30 million albums to date. Head is a also a successful author and released a book in July 2007 through Harper Collins. The book, also titled Save Me From Myself , spent many weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers List.The Debut Album, Save Me From Myself , is a testimony to Head s life, as he battled with drug addiction and leaving KoRn. The album features renown musicians such as Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, David Bowie) and Josh Freese ( A Perfect Circle, Evanescence, Nine Inch Nails) and, was mixed by Ralph Patlan and Bob Clearmountain. Save Me From Myself is heavy, compelling and inspirational.I was worried about this project. I applauded Head's bravery in publicly announcing his salvation and quitting Korn and embarking on a solo career, but honestly how could his little ship compare to Korn's battlecruiser? I happily discovered not only were my fears unfounded, but this album out-Korn's Korn entire post-Issues catalog.The sound is decidedly nu-metal, which in this day of blastbeats and neo-shredders can sound a bit dated and bland.The lyrics are intensely personal and at time simplistic, but you can tell instantly that this is an album from the heart. Nearly half of the songs are written from God's perspective and while the rhymes can be juvenile, the message is clear and forceful. No complext metaphors, no conceptual tales, yet no condescending preaching either. Make no mistake, Head is clearly trying to steer people to Jesus but his words speak from painful experience rather than a lofty pulpit. If this album had been released by Korn, it would be praised in the same breath as "Life is Peachy" and "Follow the Leader." As it stands, "Save Me From Myself" is the best nu-metal album to come out in years and it is a breath of fresh air in the hard rock world (http://www.holymetalrob.com )

Lorna Sass' "Short-Cut Vegan: Great Taste in No Time" cookbook review

Quinoa-corn Salad With Basil © 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

When Lorna Sass offered to send me a cookbook to review, I was delighted, because I've always been a fan of her work. When she started publishing her cookbooks, "vegan" was still considered an fairly odd cooking style, so all the book titles used the word "vegetarian." When I first discovered "Lorna Sass' Complete Vegetarian Kitchen" was totally vegan, I snapped up a copy, and it's become a tried and true reference at our house. We've learned through experience that her recipes always work. This has been especially helpful to my husband, as he learns to cook. He's not an intuitive cook (he describes himself as a developing cook), but he can follow a recipe, so when recipes are good, his cooking is good. I like that! We actually own four of Lorna Sass' books.


Asian slaw © 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

The book she sent me is a revised version of "Short-cut Vegetarian," now more appropriately titled "Short-cut Vegan: Great Taste in No Time." This is really more than just a collection of quick recipes, it's a guide to setting up your kitchen with the supplies you need to create fast, healthy and delicious vegan meals. She gives detailed information on how to efficiently stock the pantry — shelves, freezer and refrigerator — with basic essentials. There is also helpful information on kitchen tools, food storage and food prep. She gives recipes for preparing flavor-enhancing condiments to have on hand, but also recommends store-bought equivalents if you prefer to take the easiest route. The recipes are an assortment of inviting combinations such as "Orange-Scented Lentil Ragout, "Cabbage and Potatoes in Mustard Sauce," "Pasta With Broccoli Rabe and Olives,"and "Pineapple-Ginger Ice." Each recipe is accompanied by personal commentary that expands and enriches it.


Moroccan carrot slaw © 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Because it's been so horribly hot here in the Midwest, we decided to try a few recipes that needed as little cooking as possible. All were colorful, delicious, healthy and easy to prepare. We sampled "Asian Slaw," "Quinoa-Corn Salad With Basil," "Moroccan Carrot Slaw" and "White Bean Gazpacho." Three of them are pictured in this review.

The book does not contain food photographs, so you will have to use your imagination as to what the final dish looks like, but if you are looking for a collection of tasty and interesting vegan dishes that can be prepared in short order, you might consider "Short-Cut Vegan" by Lorna Sass.

© 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Nasoya Silken Style Creations / banana cream pie / FTC targets blogger freebies

©Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Several years ago I came across a recipe for vegan banana cream pie and was so excited I couldn't wait to try it. I didn't make a single change to the recipe - just followed the directions exactly. That pie was gorgeous, and it was with great anticipation that we waited until dessert to try it. Let me tell you, you could have bounced a ball off that pie. Couldn't crush it with a sledgehammer. Couldn't dent it with a crowbar. Couldn't eat it with a fork. That pie could have stopped a speeding bullet faster than Superman. And it didn't taste good, either. We stared at the pie in horror and disappointment for a brief moment, then collapsed in hysterical laughter. We laughed about it for days, and even now someone might occasionally say, "remember the banana cream pie?" Have you cooked something that brings back memories like this?


©Andrea's easy vegan cooking

So, it was with some trepidation that I decided to try again. The Nasoya company sent me coupons for free samples of three different varieties of Nasoya Silken Style Creations, a new dairy-free, lactose-free, low-fat, gluten-free pudding-like soy product that can be used as a base for creamy desserts. I meant to use the vanilla for a banana cream pie but Whole Foods was out of vanilla, so I made a chocolate banana cream pie instead. I couldn't find a recipe for banana cream pie on the Nasoya Website, so I followed their directions for similar pies and hoped for the best. The filling right from the container has a taste and texture similar to very sweet chocolate pudding, and you could layer it as is with fruit and ice cream for an easy parfait dessert. It was a little too sweet for me, but I imagine a "normal" person would find it quite delicious. And it tastes like "real" chocolate pudding. I doubt that anyone would think it was vegan.


Fill the raw crust with sliced bananas
©Andrea's easy vegan cooking

I made the pie with a pressed pastry crust, substituting agave syrup for the Sucanot and whole wheat pastry flour for the white whole wheat, but you could use a prepared crust or whatever crust you like to make. Oddly enough, once the pie was baked, it no longer tasted too sweet - it was really creamy and good. And it was unbelievably easy to prepare. The pie tasted richly of fresh banana with the chocolate taking a complimentary role. I definitely want to try this again with vanilla so I can compare the two. (fyi: I served it as a "birthday pie" for my husband's birthday and that's why it has a candle!)


Just out of the oven - still molten and bubbly
©Andrea's easy vegan cooking

All right then. I present you with a chocolate banana cream pie. But first I have to insert a little disclaimer.

The June 22 edition of our local morning paper had a front page headline blaring, "Bloggers' Freebies are Under Scrutiny." Subhead: "The Federal Trade Commission is expected to issue guidelines for online consumer reviews, which can be tainted by perks." Gasp. The article goes on to describe how bloggers accept "free laptops, trips to Europe, $500 gift cards or even thousands of dollars for a 200-word post." Then it describes how a blogger from New Hartford, N.Y. who earns up to $800 per month as well as assorted gifts from her five blogs, now worries that even an innocent review of a product she purchased herself could bring an inquiry if the FTC gets involved in bloggers' lives. Does this free product thing sound familiar? I have to admit I didn't realize some bloggers were cashing in to this extent.

Anyway, in anticipation of the proposed FTC scrutiny for every little review we bloggers do, I just want to come clean and say that although Nasoya gave me thousands of dollars, a free laptop, a free trip to Hawaii, a Vitamix and a new car, in addition to three coupons for their product, my review is totally honest and above board. I'm stating only what I truly believe to be truly true. And that's the truth.


©Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Chocolate banana cream pie

• Crust for an 8- or 9-inch pie
• 4 bananas, sliced (You may need more or less to fill the crust, depending on the size of the bananas.)
• 1 package of Nasoya Silken Creations chocolate flavor
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot (or cornstarch)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 banana for decorating (optional)
• lemon juice (if using banana for decorating)

1. Place the arrowroot in a bowl and add the water. Mix thoroughly until arrowroot is completely dissolved.
2. Add the Silken Creations to the bowl and mix until completely combined.
3. Slice the bananas and place in the crust.
4. Pour the Chocolate mixture over the bananas, covering them completely.
5. Bake in a preheated 325˚ oven for 45 minutes.
6. Cool on a rack for 30 minutes and then refrigerate until completely cold.
7. If desired, slice a banana just before serving, and toss with some lemon juice so it won't turn brown. Arrange the banana slices on the top of the pie.

Silken Creations Dark Chocolate ingredients: soymilk, dried cane juice, cocoa, rice starch, natural flavors, salt.
1/2 cup has 120 calories, 1.5g fat, 18g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g protein, 45mg salt.
The package contains approximately 5 servings. I used one container plus five bananas in the pie filling. The pie contains 6 to 8 servings, depending on the size of a serving.


©Andrea's easy vegan cooking

KREYSON - 20 YEARS OF KREYSON / 2009 / BIOGRAPHY/REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-JUDGEMENT DAY
2-CURSING AND CRYING
3-TEN CRY OUT
4-THE LORD WILL COME
5-MARY
6-PARABLE
7-STAY
8-ENDURE THE NIGHT
9-WARRIOR ANGEL
10-ENDURE THE NIGHT
BIOGRAPHY:
The group called "Kreyson" was founded in 1989. Their album "Andel na uteku" (Angel on the Run) was released in 1990. It was recorded in Hannover, where both Czech and English version emerged. The frontmen of the group were Ladislav Krizek and Jaroslav Barton who participated in music creation to a great extent. For the album „Andel na uteku“ the group was awarded a Gold Disc. The next Gold Disc was awarded to them for an album called „Krizaci“ (Crusaders). Kreyson was met with great success in Germany and Japan in the 1990s. Lada Krizek (Vocalist) was invited by Running Wild to record two CDs. Ladislav Krizek has been awarded 1 Diamond and 6 Gold Discs,As Founder of KREYSON, the first white (Christian) metal group from the heart of Europe.“Hailing from Czechoslovakia, Kreyson is a professional band, which could hold on its own in
the Hollywood circuit or anywhere else,(8 panel fold out digipak) The Czechoslovakian group, KREYSON, was founded by Ladislav Krizek (vocalist) in 1989, and became the first Christian metal group from the heart of Europe. The group released Czech and English versions of their first two releases Andel na Uteku (Angel On the Run - 1990) and the follow up Krizaci (Crusaders - 1991). For these classic releases the group was awarded Gold Records. Both Kreyson albums released in Germany (Flame Trader) and Japan (JVC) in the 1990s. With 20 Years of Kreyson, the band headed back into the studio and re-recorded 10 of their fan favorite classic tunes for their first ever North American release! Recent triumphs from the likes of Saxon, Ross the Boss and Impellitteri further the resurgence for true metal and, on 20 Years, KREYSON proves they can still strike the irons like the 90s never happened! This disc is a full on, fist in the air assault of power chords, polished guitar solos and searing vocal harmonies! In short, this is the type of release that not only gives 80's metal purists a reason to go out and buy new music, but allows the new breed of headbangers to march forward with pride! Let 20 Years serve as an important reminder that the majestic, melodic Classic Metal sound always prevails!!! (Enhanced disc with video of Saleeme) 10 tracks

Above the inscription and logo of KREYSON: there is the Hebrew letter “TAU”, which is the last word for a letter of the Hebrew alphabet and its shape resembles to the cross before the desk with Pilate’s inscription was nailed to it. He letter “TAU” is mentioned in the Old Testament already – when in a difficult time for the people of Israel the prophet Ezekiel accepts a command from God to cross Jerusalem and with the sign of “TAU” to mark foreheads of men who sigh and moan over all the falsities that are committed in it (Ezekiel 9,3-4). Thus, “TAU” is a sign of repentance, humility and turning to God for both an individual and people. Christians soon recognized a sign of the cross in it.
(http://www.holymetalrob.com)

HILASTHERION - TAKEN FROM DARKNESS / 2007/BIOGRAPHY AND REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-SICK AND ROTTEN WORLD
2-SEE THE PAIN IN HIS FACE
3-JESUS RULES
4-WHY(SONG OF DESPAIR)
5-A SINNER'S SONG OF DESPERATION)
6-BATTLE OF THE FLESH
7-SAVE MY SOUL
8-TAKEN FROM DARKNESS
9-JUDGEMENT DAY
10-A FALLEN ONE
11-STORY OF JOHN
CREDITS:
Henrik Fellman - Bass
William Rönn - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Niclas Buss - Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards
Jani Stefanovic - Drums
Guest Musichians
Emil Stenros - Growling Vocals
Simon Granlund - Clean Vocals
Egon Veevo - Bass
Randall Barres












BIOGRAPHY:
Finland produces yet another well rounded melodic metal band called Hilastherion. Hilastherion’s first full length release clocks in at over 65 minutes and is worth the listen to every second. Each track packs a punch that is quite delightful and yet heavy enough to call you back for more. Lyrically, there has not been a recent band that has produced such heartfelt and honest words into lyrical form, save Iron Maiden. Musically a full platter is delivered in melodic death form. True to form there are melodies, but not the type you are used to hearing. Each of the melodies is unique to Hilastherion’s work and not a recycled sound from other bands. Congratulations, a feat few bands achieve!(No Dark Message In!No Hidding Message In,Very Cleared of what they Stand for,Very Spiritualists,What Else Could you ask for being Blessed on this blast band and production,it's just my favo plato de Comida after from A Hungryday of Working,This is Just the kind of band I love! their love for Christ its very cleared and evidence in every Song.Wow, what an album! This albums stands out in all ways. Musically it's filled with bonecrushing Melodic Death Metal. Fans of secular band Children of Bodom will be knocked to the ground when they hear this excellent album. If you ever wanted a quality Christian Metal band in this genre Hilastherion is what you have been looking for. What really stands out is the heavy rhythms and the tasty guitar solos. If you enjoy the melodic harmonies of Schaliach you will also greatly enjoy this, although Hilastherion's sound is much faster. Lyrically, this is also one of my favourite albums, since the lyrics are both very honest and Christcentered, and you can really see that the band cares for people and wants their best. An outstanding album in all ways that you can't afford to miss if you are a fan of Heavy & Melodic Death Metal!(Finnish melodic death metal, ala Immortal Souls, astounding guitar work!)nice guitar leads and solos, keyboards laying down the lush carpet the other musicians work on, but everything nicely loosened up with some breaks.“Taken From Darkness” probably is its playing time of 70 minutes, which is simply too long for an album such as this one. Not that it really gets boring, as they are trying their best to bring some variety to the plate, but in the end the album still begins to drag once you get past half time (“Judgement Day” especially comes to mind), which clouds the overall impression a little Written By( http://radio.holymetal.org/ )

Speaking of the instrumental sounds: you have two guitars that flail melodic death rhythms all over the place, yet with control and accuracy; you have a bass guitar that somewhat lays under the twin guitars as somewhat of a third rhythm instrument mirroring guitar riffs; drums you have a 3-D effect of fast punchy hits and beats; vocally you have a caustic burning sound that adds weight to the final mix of the sound. Furthermore, you also have keyboards/synthesizers that enhance the atmosphere of each song without dominating the track’s overall sound. In summation, a priceless work of metal sounds palatable for anyone searching for the truth of melodic death metal genius!!! This release contains no filler, nor crap, just straight up metal. Hilastherion have something to say, and you should all listen. Hilastherion – the fearless wielder of the sword!!!!
Eleven of eleven songs come recommended to you metal fans:

Sick and Rotten World; a powerful intro with all strings pounding the daylights of the darkness. Not to mention, the drums are hard hitting and power-packed. The first taste of unique melodies, Hilastherion-style. Vocally you will be amazed of the brutal sense of bitterness.

See The Pain In His Face; All together separate sounding from Iron Maiden, the introductory melody brings to mind the pre-emptive genius Iron Maiden’s guitar duo introduced with their first release, specifically the song “Transylvania”. Don’t let the lyrics scare you it’s only light exposing the darkness of the world. The rapid pace of the instruments is just right.

Jesus Rules; a song laden with tremendous break downs and searing twin guitar leads. The bass guitar thunders and echoes the introduction; while the drums clap against the audio landscape. What’s really cool about this song is that although the vocals are in death metal style, they remain clearly comprehendible. It’s always nice to hear what they are saying.

Why; this song addresses the question of WHY! Many folks think that Christians have it easy and never suffer – this song addresses that topic and dispels the myth of “complete bliss on earth”. Yeah we all go through life, but Hilastherion sum it up in one word, “Why”. A low volume guitar riff hammers into a full sonic blast of simultaneous instrumental salvos.

A Sinner’s Song Of Desperation; high octane guitar runs punctuated with double bass drums and synthesizer highlights. This track showcases one of the stronger vocal performances on the disc, more of a mid-range tone with occasional grunts plus the flow well with the ineffable guitar tones.

Battle Of The Flesh; not for the faint of heart or those who refuse to hear the truth. The musical driven precision leads you to believe this is going to be a short song, because how can anyone play that long and steady without a break, other than NILE or RUSH. Clocking in at over 6 minutes the integrity of the metal sound remains and intact and intense as ever – as heard from the guitar solos.

Save My Soul; twin guitars plead for relief where the drums beat the rhythm in from all sides of the Dolby sound spectrum. Another track containing carefully planted guitar solos.

Taken From Darkness; title track has a lot of atmosphere with airy keys and dueling guitars in two different tones on two different sides, one left and one right channel. Excellent work, a movement started by Smith & Murray and enhanced by Extol! In the midst of all the speed lies the solid bass guitar foundation and harsh vocals.

Judgement Day; a work filled with guitar pinches, a soliloquy, unforeseen breakdowns, all wrapped up in a metalcore shell. For fans of As I Lay Dying and Imperial – this one is for you.

A Fallen One; this is reminiscent of Andy Laroque’s early 90s work in terms of palm mutings and topped with harpsichord sounding keys. An intense early 90s thrash sense of urgency while maintaining originality.

Story Of John; a truly epic musical adventure. It features highs and lows in the sound as well as the running lyrical themes. The guitar virtuosity shines through as Yngwie Malmsteen; but it’s not him! The foundation continues to be solid and dependable to create a wall of sound necessary for metal success.
Thanks to Hilastherion for sharing the superb work of art!(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

Cajun mac and cheese / splogging

© 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Yesterday was our youngest son's birthday and we took him out to dinner to celebrate. On the way home we passed the fire station near our house and all the firefighters were sitting outside, as they often do on summer evenings, and one of them was playing the cello for his lucky co-workers!

Fire stations, firefighters, fire, heat, spicy foods - you see the connection, right? While we don't want to burst into actual flames, we do want a little fiery food to perk up the summer. At least I do. Spicy food makes you sweat, which in theory, anyway, cools you off. In my last post I mentioned eating Cajun mac and cheese at Hillside Quickies in Seattle and said I was going to try to duplicate the flavor. That mac and cheese was HOT and delicious. My version is also hot and delicious, but not as delicious as I wanted. In fact, I wondered if I should even post a recipe since I didn't think it was as great as the restaurant version. But now I can't remember exactly what the restaurant stuff tasted like, and this tasted so good that I've decided to just go ahead and post it. (And my husband said it was at least as good, maybe better.) Remember that it's really spicy and adjust accordingly.


© 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Cajun mac and cheese

• 1 pound macaroni (I used Whole Foods whole wheat)
• water for cooking
• 1 large sweet red or yellow pepper, chopped small
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup cashews
• 2/3 cup yeast flakes
• 3 level tablespoons chick pea flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups water left from cooking macaroni
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 rounded teaspoon each: cayenne, crushed red pepper, fresh ground black pepper, granulated garlic, oregano
• 2 rounded teaspoons each: paprika, granulated onion

1. Cook the macaroni al dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving two cups of cooking water.
2. Place the drained noodles in a bowl and toss with two tablespoons of olive oil. Add the chopped sweet red pepper to the noodles and mix together.
3. Mix together the cayenne, crushed red pepper, black pepper, garlic, oregano, onion, paprika and oregano. Add to the noodles and mix.
4. In a blender, grind the cashews to a powder. Add the yeast, chick pea flour and salt, and blend together. Add the water and lemon juice and blend until creamy.
5. Add the blender mix to the noodles and mix well.
6. Place mixture in a large, oiled casserole dish (approx. 10 x 13 x 2). Mix together 3 tablespoons fine dry crumbs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, and sprinkle over the top of casserole. Spray lightly with oil.
7. Bake, covered, in a preheated 350˚ oven for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes more to brown. Let sit for several minutes before serving.

BTW, this tasted amazing cold the next day.

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Splogging?
Recently a number of bloggers, including me, had their blog content posted without permission or acknowledgement on duckducksoup.com. I found out about it because an alert blogger spotted Eat'n Veg'n posts on the site, and left Diann a message. I did some Internet checking and found that this sort of thing is fairly common and is done to attract hits to a site filled with ads in order to generate income. (google "splog" "splogging" "splogger") Following fellow-blogger Alisa's advice, I contacted the blog's owner and asked that the stolen posts be removed. She quickly complied. This sort of theft can have negative effects, which I won't go into here, on legitimate bloggers. I'm very happy to share my posts as long as it's clear that they are mine and there's a link back to my blog. The duckducksoup blog still exits with different content about how to get around various restrictions for posting ads and what to do about getting "flagged" etc. Interesting.

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Click here to enter for a chance to win a copy of "Sweet Freedom," Ricki's great cookbook.

© 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Kale, Hillside Quickie's Café, Seattle

©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Just got back from a quick four day visit to Seattle to see the house we will be living in next year. (Our kids had seen it but not us.) The whole way there and back the airline upgraded us to first class, and if I could always travel like this, I'd travel a lot more! There's a normal amount of space, so I didn't feel like I was pinned inside a high school locker, and they kept bringing things to eat and drink. It was great. But here's the catch to the "things to eat" part. We were flying on Northwest-Delta and were told we couldn't request special food on a domestic flight. So, we were offered a grilled chicken sandwich (an ENORMOUS grilled chicken sandwich) or a salad covered in ham and cheese. We got the fruit and the bread sticks that came with the salad — mealy apple wedges, good red grapes and a pineapple slice. We know enough to carry food, so on the way there we got Spa Salads from The French Meadow Bakery in the Minnesota airport, and on the way home we got sushi in Seattle's airport.

It was probably a good thing that we ate lightly on the way home anyway, because we ran into some turbulence that reminded me of the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios, but without the fun part. For about an hour I had to close my eyes and sleep (after checking to be sure I had a barf-bag available). When I reopened my eyes, there was a horrible crash, and a spear of intense light shot in front of me, as the plane got hit by lightening. Exciting.

Are you wondering about the food in Seattle? The first evening, after traveling all day, we went to a potluck barbecue with our kids. There was plenty of good stuff for the vegan minority including bean salad, kale-wild rice salad and vegan brats. My daughter-in-law made the kale salad and it was really good. The next day after visiting the farmers market in Capitol Hill we had a late lunch at Hillside Quickie's Café in Capitol Hill, with our other son and his gf. They were serving Sunday brunch, all day. The table was sticky and the prices seemed high but they really give you a lot to eat. I knew I couldn't eat a whole meal, so my husband and I shared a plate, and it was plenty for two.


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

We had a plate containing Cajun mac and cheese, biscuits with berries, grits and gravy, chicken-fried steak and seitan. At least that's what I think we had! I've never had mac and cheese that tasted this good. It was spicy and fabulous — and I don't even like mac and cheese. This is something I'll try to recreate and post a recipe when I get it right. The biscuits were fluffy, the grits creamy — everything tasted great.


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Our son and his gf had some kind of chipotlé yam-stuffed tortillas and fried okra. I think we liked our food more than they liked theirs but it was all pretty good.


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

The person at the table next to ours had a stack of waffles and seitan that looked so amazing, she let me take a picture. The person at the table next to her had a startlingly high stack of fluffy-looking pancakes and I took a picture of that, too, though without his permission and after he knocked the stack over. (You can see it at the top of the post. The orange drink is a mimosa ordered by the person at the table next to us.)


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

That afternoon and evening we attended another potluck barbecue at our son and daughter-in-law's house. As you can imagine, I wasn't too hungry, but still managed to eat some grilled potato, grilled tofu, grilled veggies and more kale salad. The recipe for the salad will be coming as soon as I have a chance to make it myself.


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

Monday afternoon I found myself alone with a sleeping baby and craving some simple, green food for lunch. I went into the garden and picked some tender, young Red Russian kale, swiss chard and lettuce. I cut them into small pieces, tossed them with a little olive oil and vinegar and topped them off with some leftover grilled veggies. This made a perfect, simple salad lunch.


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking

On our last morning in Seattle, our d-i-l made us a yummy banana bread for breakfast. The little munchkin of the house (my granddaughter) is an enthusiastic eater, and although she'd already had breakfast, she saw us eating, took a box of cereal from a cupboard she can reach and had a little snack.


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking


©2009Andrea's easy vegan cooking
http://cookeasyvegan.blogspot.com/2009/06/kale-hillside-quickies-cafe-seattle.html

LEGEND SEVEN - BLIND FAITH -1994 / DISCOGRAPHY / BIOGRAPHY / REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-REFUGE
2-BURNING DESYRE
3-BLIND FAITH
4-THE CALM(After The Storm)
5-CALL ON ME6-SHOOT STRAIGHT JOHNNY
7-HOLD OUT
8-FIRST LOVE
9-SOUL SURRENDER
10-BE STILL
CREDITS:
Andy Denton - Lead And Backing Vocals
Mike Jacobs - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Randy Ray - Bass, Backing Vocals
Billy Williams - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Same exact Band as Legend, They just added a 7 for whatever reason. very solid rock album, but I especially love the love songs to Jesus. those songs just get you right here( pointing to my heart)Or Maybe The Reason .they added seven because of so many other bands using Legend out there. Some great straight ahead rock that represents the era. This album rocks! Legend Seven uses heart-gripping words and bangin' music to describe their faith and experiences. If you love Hard Core Rock and sincere lyrics this cd is especially for you. Blind faith is a jazzy-rock combination that boasts of having confidence where you don't have to see what you're looking for to believe it's there. This song is pretty wild combining swing-like jazz and loud rock to make music where straight up rockers, punkers, and jazz/r&b fans can get out of their seats and bust a move for their faith. "Shoot Straight Johnny" is the story about a bad boy who once was wanted, has been converted, and mysteriously changed. It's a loud, wild song encouraging the guy to keep up the faith. Saddle up, put on yer cowboy hat and git ready to ride... "Be Still" and "First Love "are the most beautiful songs on this cd. "Be still" is a reminder that God will speak and He will always be there for you no matter what happens. This song has awesome lyrics (it's kind of like those ZoeGirl and OOE songs that have mountains falling, and stars colliding, it's pretty intense). "First Love" moved me to tears. It's so sweet. Deep, penetrating words and the singer's powerful voice describe how God tenderly touches the human heart and how faithful He is. The music is equally touching: the piano brings in a mix of class and raw emotion. After getting used to the crazy rock by tuning into the cool lyrics, I enjoyed this album very much. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to hear some geniune oldschool christian rock.American rockers Legend Seven can hardly be accused of breaking new ground - if Bon Jovi were to become Christians they would probably sound something like this - but what they do, they do well. 'Blind Faith', their second album, is catchy, competent, slick and sound like it was recorded in a studio with a New Jersey postcode. The Van Halen-esque opening of "Refuge", "Call On Me"'s plaintive cello solo and some powerful horn charts on the title track rescue 'Blind Faith' from being just another bland, mid-Atlantic, White Heart rehash. I liked it, but then again I've always been a Fan for a loud guitar. Either the sleevenote compilers had their tongues firmly in their cheeks when they included the information that "Andy Denton uses Biolage hair products", or endorsement deals have scaled new heights of idiocy, even in CCM. I hope it was the former. Play it loud(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)