Category Archives: Reviews

(review) Al-Namrood – Worship The Degenerate

Al-Namrood are hailing from land not known for the appreciation of extreme music, namely Saudi Arabia. These guys have been in the scene since 2008 and this is their brand new e.p. containing 6 songs of thrash metal influenced black/death with many oriental music folk parts thrown in the song structures thus bringing a superb vibe of desert, relentless nature, ancient times and demons. Songs are in English language so my personal favorites are Guerillas and Sun of Liberation. Vocals dwell more in the black metal oriented screaming, with guitars and drums at times delivering real groove metal parts besides already natural blast beats and fast thrash metal drumming. I listen to this band for couple of years now and I am fascinated how good they sound and how mighty their message is, also music is something that can cross any border, any so called state and hierarchy, connect true underground creatures into a network. Good one.

8/10

(review) Booze & Glory – Raising The Roof e.p.

Booze & Glory are back with their new e.p. This band was based in London and they declare themselves still to be from London, I think, but they are international crew that plays great melodic oi street punk with a touch of skate punk and hardcore in the songs. Some older fans don´t like the band´s turn to more melodic side of things in their last two full length albums, but I love it, especially the last album from 2019. Anyway, here are the four new songs. The title song is my personal favorite being a generic and hard hitting hardcore anthem in the lyrics and great melodic oi street punk song in the music. I listened to this one every day when they released it as a single prior to this e.p. Betrayed is a fast song about defiance, showing middle finger against the odds and living your way and never stop believing, reminding me why I love this not music, but lifestyle so much. C’est la vie is a slower, more punk rock oriented song about how life is short and how me must learn to live it the best we can. Great lyrics, guitar melody and singing along chorus for this one too. The Streets I Call My Own is a strong finisher and who is not touched by the lyrics of this band and songs is not into hardcore. I have been in this for thirty years now and still enjoy and get goosebumps with songs like this e.p. Can´t wait for the new full length.

(tv series) Obi-Wan Kenobi: Star Wars series just never disappoint me!

When Disney took over Star Wars movies and other projects I was a sceptic and turned out that I was right. First, they just wiped out the book story line turning it into name Star Wars Legends and the new books they called New Canon and since I am an avid collector and fan of SW expanded universe books, the newer books that I read until now are just inferior compared to the older SW novels and storyline.

Then came the movies. Episode VII was decent and I enjoyed it wishing to see how the story will evolve further. Rogue One is excellent, dark war movie which is just fantastic for me, Solo sucked big time and episode VIII was okay, but finale, Episode IX was just a thing that made me want to cry what they did to my beloved SW. When Solo failed big time, fortunately they turned more to tv, Mandalorian was just fantastic, both seasons, also Book of Boba Fett was a rollercoaster of happiness for me.

I was eager to see what will they do with Obi-Wan Kenobi, six episode series which was supposed to bring back Ewan McGregor to the role of Obi-Wan and how they will connect it to story in Episode IV. Well, they did a fantastic job.

The story happens ten years after Order 66 and events of Jedi Purge and rise of Empire led by Darth Sidious and tragic events that led to end of brotherhood between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, two of best Jedi in the galaxy. Obi-Wan now lives as a recluse on Tattooine, watching from afar over young Luke, his uncle Owen and aunt Beru. He is bittered, disillusioned and doesn´t want to mix in the fight anymore. But, then Empire´s Inquisitor Reva kidnaps young Leia from Alderaan and Bail Organa(Jimmy Smits from the movies) convinces Obi to return to one last fight and help save Leia, not knowing it is a trap for him.

Well, then the action and rollercoaster ride starts. New bad guys, Grand Inquisitor whom we also saw in cartoon SW Rebels series, Reva and others are spooky and eerie, but you imagine, the main bad guy and star of this series besides Obi is Darth Vader with none other than Hayden Christensen repeating the role, a bit older without mask as Anakin, but imposing as never before seen brutal and killing machine, Vader similar to the one portrayed in Rogue One. There are couple of epic fights between Obi and Vader, but we all know their destinies, so we are not so worried for them both, but we learn some great written details that were missing link between the past and movies. Actors and characters are superb, especially little Vivien Lyra Blair as ten year old Leia reminding so much of Carrie Fisher that my eyes became wet remembering her. Also, Moses Ingram as Inquisitor Reva is a great character, I heard that maybe she will get her own series. Scenes of SW fights, worlds, story, everything in this one is enough to make old SW heart beat faster with joy and your eyes wet at some moments wishing for more and more. Thank you sir, thank you Mr Lucas for bringing this fantasy to us, we will never be able to say to you how much we owe you for creating this world and universe to us legions of fans.

10/10