Dead1

In many ways you are right. I do despise modern consumerism. I did even as a youth. But I have never felt Australian. I was raised a Yugoslav in a migrant suburb of Sydney where there was virtually no white kids in my school. The place was culturally about as Australian as Manilla or New Delhi or Beirut or Suva are. So my interaction with Anglo-Australians between 1982 and 1988 was 0 (1988 we move to Tasmania where I first really get to interact with Anglo-Australians). I then spent another 2 years in Yugoslavia between 1989 and 1991. So I was always the outsider here. I tried to integrate but I don't fit in. And as Australia changes into this plastic vapid consumer culture, I fit in less and less. The average Australian never talks anything meaningful. Aussie men communicate in either stats on sports or equipment like cars or power tools or in little jabs at each other. Most come across as moronic buffoons. Aussie women are more capable at interesting conversations than men but even here it does often come across talk about shopping. Come election time and they just repeat mindless clichés ("such and such minister made a mess of it") and robotically repeat whatever slogan they like. And the aspects of Australia I liked and could relate to (eg old egalitarianism, avoidance of gratuitous displays of consumption and quiet professionalism) are disappearing. Yes I understand Europe is not all silver lining. They have big issues there too. But Europe is still far more equal than Australian (https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm). Europeans certainly don't do the gigantic consumerist dick waving - no flashy utilities or large McMansions or multi-thousand dollar mountain bikes. In Australia everything is consumption - spend, spend, spend. I was actually in France and Croatia for Easter some years ago and there was no gluttony involving chocolate eggs. Instead it was respectful observance for those who are Christian (I'm an atheist by the way). Europe's doing far more to protect environment than Australia. Australians don't want to do anything to change their ways to be more sustainable and their government does not do anything to implement meaningful change. Europeans also care about politics and will take a stand for what they believe in unlike Australians. Australians generally quietly take whatever their government dishes out to them. It's why for example industrial action is now rare compared to 1970s and 1980s even when government is actively screwing workers over (eg reduction in penalties for hospitality workers). And when I talk to Europeans and Americans I can engage in intellectually stimulating discussions and wax lyrical in ways I can't with most Australians. And the history, culture and architecture of Europe is amazing. Here in Australia we demolish anything of value to put up more apartments (what Americans call condos). The art is generally shit. And what little real history exists in Australia is pissed on via revisionism to make it more woke or turned into a mindless cliché without meaning.

Goatmaster, I totally agree with your sentiment. I too have "walled " myself off from popular or mainstream music as much as I can since the early 2000s. I also hate effeminate soft pop vocals ala those used by Soilwork or Killswitch Engage in what is nominally extreme music. King Parrot - Bite Your Head Off Still buzzing on seeing these guys live again. Somehow managed to find myself in the pit!

So after 30+ years of being "only" an Australian after dissolution of Yugoslavia, I have decided to get my Croatian citizenship next year. Why? Because I am not Australian and because increasingly I hate what Australia has become and what Australia is. I hate the increasing tolerance for exploitation, inequality, laziness, entitlement, selfishness and corruption (yes I know Europe is corrupt but equality still matters there). It's ultra tolerant of alcohol and drug abuse and crime. Some of these things I see everyday at work or in daily interactions. I hate the mindless plastic consumerism and intellectual vapidity of the Australian people. I hate how plastic Australian society has become. They might not have ever been a philosophically intellectual culture, but Australians were once upon a time at least mainly honest, humble and had some sort of values. Now it's fuck your neighbour over as long as your house prices are going up. I hate how Australians have no sense of past or future. They live for today. I hate how oblivious and apathetic they are to everything. I hate how they wish to keep destroying the planet with absolute wanton abandon just so they can buy their next big ute, big house, expensive toys etc etc. I even hate that my Australian wife has pursued that line (eg we now have two cars and three TVs - we only need 1 of each!). I hate their perverse notion of art being merely something to shock or random garbage being applauded as self expression. Skill and artisanship are not appreciated in this country. I hate their modern architecture which at best is bland and at worst is disjointed garbage. But sadly I lack the skills (both technical and language) to move to Europe to start again (and am too old) and even more critically I have too many ties here (ie wife and daughter and everything else). So I will find solace in getting back into Europe at least in a legal fashion. Hopefully I will be able to retire there and leave my ashes on that once enlightened continent instead of this festering shithole.

Beethoven - 9th Symphony 9 - Movement IV - "Ode To Joy" - well sometimes even I listen to nonmetal! Candlemass - Nightfall Darkthrone - Astral Fortress Enforcer - From Beyond And for the metal part, yes I was in a Nordic mood!

Dystopia - Dystopia Crusty sludge or sludgy crust. 😁 Very good regardless. C

Nihilist Death Cult - Death To All Tyrants Nominally punked up death metal/grind. It's too metal for crustpunk, too slow for grind, too death for crossover, too pummeling for death n roll. Out now.

Appalling - Sacrilege Blackened death metal. Out now on Personal Records

Pantera - Official Live: 101 Proof I started watching the Mexico gig but the video quality was just too poor so I chucked on some actual live Pantera!

I have heard of that hotel and pics look amazing but it doesn't look comfortable!

I am originally from Zadar, though in Australia now! I would love to move back to Europe but family commitments and difficulty of getting work that offers same pay and conditions. How close is Vienna to where you are? Could be alternative place for gigs?

I agree but I think Lars is no longer the same guy he was in 1980s. He doesn't come across as self aware these days. Instead he very much comes across as a corporate marketing shill in interviews and what little we see of him personally is arrogance. Dave on the other hand hasn't changed, though that is a bad thing.

Cheers for the explanation. It's a great bit of innovation to enable people with visual impairment participate in a sport like this.

King Parrot - Dead Set Boys are gonna fucking tearing it up tonight!

Metallica - No Life Til Leather Man I wish this got a CD or vinyl release!

Dave did say there's 3 parts to any story - his version, the other guy's version and then the truth somewhere in the middle! He's a whiny arsehole but I do think he is on point many times unlike says Lars who just comes across as a try hard sycophant. As for James, he just comes across as tired of the whole thing...he even once admitted Metallica did albums out of obligation.

Exodus - 1982 Demo The songs and performances are really good. Production's shit but not bad enough to prevent one from enjoying the music. Shame how these guys were essentially derailed by labels and drugs.

That is really cool. How do you score runs? Do you still run up and down the pitch?

Here's an interesting interview with ex-Exodus guitarist, Rick Hunolt. He talks about why Metallica took Kirk on to replace Dave Mustaine but I found this bit the most interesting: https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-exodus-guitarist-rick-hunolt-why-metallica-chose-kirk-hammett-to-replace-dave-mustaine So James just sang and didn't play guitar live in early Metallica?!?

Forgive me for asking, but are you totally blind as in no vision at all? In which case how do you play cricket?

Krushammer - Blood, Violence and Blasphemy Blackened thrash - out now on Helldprod Records.

I think they've definitely got potential.

Playing Metallica with firearms for drums is now a thing.

Listening to this now. It's OK but nothing spectacular. I appreciate the dirgy guitar tone.

I think you've nailed it on the head. And travelling in Australia is expensive and far more expensive than Europe or even USA! Third time seeing King Parrot. Been great both times so hoping number 3 is good. They've got 3 supports too: - High as Hell - stoner metal - Mountains of Madness - stoner metal - Pulverised Cranial Matter - brutal death/goregrind - basically members of Intense Hammer Rage minus the drummer (drum job filled by Nosce Teipsum drummer)!

That's what I mean - rock/metal at that upper echelon is becoming a thing for either the ultra rich or the fiscally irresponsible. Local bands are still the way to go. I'm off to King Parrot tonight - $30 entry plus beer at pub prices ($9 a pint instead of $12 for a stubby like the bigger events). Just a shame most Aussie bands don't tour much.