Jump to content

Chicago Metalhead Here


Benni

Recommended Posts

Hi Everyone, I'm Benni

I'm a writer and artist. I've been a metalhead for as long as I can remember. I used to watch metal videos as a kid and my mom found this curious which i found funny. But over my lifetime I really never stopped liking metal.

I've been to a lot of metal shows over the years, more than I remember myself. 

I like a lot of bands, more than I could possibly ever name, but I do tend to really enjoy melodic death metal, black metal, and technical death metal. I'm a huge Nine Inch Nails fans, I think that bears mentioning. I like Industrial a lot.

But I don't really get into categorizing subgenres and bands very closely, because I like to focus on what makes things similar rather than what makes them different. Besides, it doesn't matter to me what something is called in words. If I like a song or a band's sound that's what matters to me.

I love horror movies, food, beer, concerts and festivals, books, sci fi, fantasy, and like I mentioned I like to draw. I typically draw and paint every day. My dream is to write and illustrate my own graphic novel and I'm working on that but it will probably take me a lifetime since it already took me 4 years just to learn how to paint and I'm not veryproud of that.

But I really like to see other peoples art every day, so I tend to nose around design and concept art sites and i like to read comics and graphic novels, especially the darker content. I love Dark Horse comics or anything by Ben Templesmith (I think his style is so beautiful, his people always look like they're glowing from the inside). But i really don't have a whole lot of time for comics like I used to. Too much time spent at the canvas these days. 

Anyway, I really look forward to getting to know everyone and to learning from you all. And if there's anything you want to know about me, I'm an open book. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome. Feel free to share some of your work in the "Your Artwork" thread if you're so inclined. Spending four years learning how to paint is nothing to be ashamed of. I've been painting for over twenty years and drawing for over thirty and I'm still playing catch-up.

I like a bunch of 90s melodeath and some tech death, although I haven't been in the mood recently. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, FatherAlabaster said:

Welcome. Feel free to share some of your work in the "Your Artwork" thread if you're so inclined. Spending four years learning how to paint is nothing to be ashamed of. I've been painting for over twenty years and drawing for over thirty and I'm still playing catch-up.

I like a bunch of 90s melodeath and some tech death, although I haven't been in the mood recently. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Thank you

I've been by there and seen some great stuff. Your work is fantastic! I'll definitely share some things there too. 

Well, I know that it could have been longer than 4 but honestly, I thought it would be 3 years less than that. I still literally lay awake at night thinking "Why is everything taking me so long?"

I can't believe you have that feeling too after doing this for 30 years. When I started drawing I thought it was going to be easy. It was a nightmare even just trying to grasp basics. I often would imagine what it would be like for me now if I had drawn throughout my entire life, and I always thought I'd be so competent and confident by now. But I guess even then I would still have this feeling of playing catchup. Maybe every artist always feels that way?

What have you been in the mood for recently?

Thanks! I think I will. I'm just trying to ease in slowly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Benni said:

Thank you

I've been by there and seen some great stuff. Your work is fantastic! I'll definitely share some things there too. 

Well, I know that it could have been longer than 4 but honestly, I thought it would be 3 years less than that. I still literally lay awake at night thinking "Why is everything taking me so long?"

I can't believe you have that feeling too after doing this for 30 years. When I started drawing I thought it was going to be easy. It was a nightmare even just trying to grasp basics. I often would imagine what it would be like for me now if I had drawn throughout my entire life, and I always thought I'd be so competent and confident by now. But I guess even then I would still have this feeling of playing catchup. Maybe every artist always feels that way?

What have you been in the mood for recently?

Thanks! I think I will. I'm just trying to ease in slowly

Thank you! I haven't been a professional artist for that whole 30 years - on and off for about 20 now. I've been drawing pretty seriously for most of my life, did some illustration and sold a few pieces as a teenager, decided to go to art school in my early 20s, and graduated 14 years ago. College was pretty great but it was definitely not a magic bullet. Art is a constant learning process and really that's the thing that keeps me interested. I don't feel like I "know how" to draw or paint, I just have more tools now to help me keep from screwing up too badly.

As far as music, for whatever reason I've been on a big kick with power metal and funeral doom recently. My usual listening is death and black metal, prog rock, and some odds and ends - goth rock, medieval chant, Georgian and Scandinavian folk music, Debussy solo piano...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, Benni said:

Hi Everyone, I'm Benni

I'm a writer and artist. I've been a metalhead for as long as I can remember. I used to watch metal videos as a kid and my mom found this curious which i found funny. But over my lifetime I really never stopped liking metal.

I've been to a lot of metal shows over the years, more than I remember myself. 

I like a lot of bands, more than I could possibly ever name, but I do tend to really enjoy melodic death metal, black metal, and technical death metal. I'm a huge Nine Inch Nails fans, I think that bears mentioning. I like Industrial a lot.

But I don't really get into categorizing subgenres and bands very closely, because I like to focus on what makes things similar rather than what makes them different. Besides, it doesn't matter to me what something is called in words. If I like a song or a band's sound that's what matters to me.

I love horror movies, food, beer, concerts and festivals, books, sci fi, fantasy, and like I mentioned I like to draw. I typically draw and paint every day. My dream is to write and illustrate my own graphic novel and I'm working on that but it will probably take me a lifetime since it already took me 4 years just to learn how to paint and I'm not veryproud of that.

But I really like to see other peoples art every day, so I tend to nose around design and concept art sites and i like to read comics and graphic novels, especially the darker content. I love Dark Horse comics or anything by Ben Templesmith (I think his style is so beautiful, his people always look like they're glowing from the inside). But i really don't have a whole lot of time for comics like I used to. Too much time spent at the canvas these days. 

Anyway, I really look forward to getting to know everyone and to learning from you all. And if there's anything you want to know about me, I'm an open book. 

Hey, welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the information - we're definitely into many of the same things, including black metal, melodic metal, food, beer, concerts, books, fantasy. I love art, and hang it on my walls, but I was a poor artist as a child and never learnt. Lately I've been drawing with my children and I'm actually a lot better than I thought I was, but deplore poor art and don't want to contribute to any more of it.

I do write, and I'm about halfway through a novel at the moment which is a lot of fun, but like you, it's a tediously slow process trying to fit it into the machinations of daily life! 

It's great to have you here! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...