I just wanted to let those who care know that I updated the forum topics and they are totally good to go now. Feel free to sign in and start sayin' stuff. So far there are only two actual users (including myself) so its not gonna be hard to get a first post if you're into that sort of thing. Also there are forums set up in there so that you can plug your own stuff if you feel so inclined.

      Lataz.

      Alas I return after a few days of wicked disappearance. Aside from running completely out of creativity I also kind of fried my brain. Couldn't think straight about much so I figured I needed some time to recharge. I've spent the past couple of days sleeping and playing Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. It has been good times, but I need to get back to work on the tunes.

      The first thing I'm going to do is finish up the beat for Vinnie so I can get that out of the way. After that's done I've come up with a new way to do the song I burnt out on. The old version I'm just gonna get rid of completely. I may use this new blend of writing that I've devised for a couple of the final battles if it turns out okay on this one (The song I burnt out on is like the first of the last songs. Its like this: major battle, battle, major battle, major battle, bonus battle, closing ceremonies, yada yada).

      In completely other unrelated news, I've discovered that using dishwashing liquid as hand soap dries out my skin so badly that it actually leaves tiny cute little gashes around my wrists. So, no more of that.

      And in more relative news I figured I'd outline my plans after I finish up The Championship Battles so that everyone kinda knows what's going on. Aside from finding some source of income, my next project is to work on and outline for a book I want to write. I originally had a great idea for a story but since then I've noticed a lot of movie trailers and things pretty much coming up with the same things though significantly different than I would've done it, it is kind of discouraging when you think you have an original idea then alluvasudden everyone else is all over it. So the basic principle is gonna have to be remixed a bit, but I still really want to get that story out. So the outline is going to be my next major project which will give me some time off from the whole music thing.

      And yet after the outline is finished my next project is going to be to finish my album +255 which I have been working on for like four years or something. I started it back in the ass end of 2003 and it didn't go that far. Over the next few summers (I was going to college so I could only really work on it during the summers) I kept working on it but never really got anything solidly accomplished aside from laying out all the songs and getting some live drum tracks to use for recording. Then I got the stuff setup in my apartment to record and since then I've been wanting to finish it but I never have the drive to work on the songs anymore because for one, they are a challenge to record (I wrote these songs back when I wanted to impress people so they are a bit above my skill level), for two they just aren't the kind of music I like to work on anymore, and for three I think I still needed to write a few more songs to make a full album. Which, writing in that style again is not really something I'm looking forward to. But I do really need to get that album done so that is what I'll be devoting all my time to after the outline is writing the new songs and getting the old ones finished and whatknot. Sid and I have a pact that we'll get +255 and the final version of his book finished by December 12th which is going to be the anniversary of March Of The Zombies In December. Though we already had Lucky March Of The Zombies In September this year, we're gonna celebrate it again because its our favorite holiday and we can do shit like that because we made it up. Essentially the goal is to watch one zombie movie, and eat dead cow for every meal that day (something entirely awkward for me because I'm a vegetarian, but nonetheless I made up the rules so I have to abide by them or risk being a major hypocrite). Doing other zombie related things accrues more points, which don't actually account for anything but everyone loves points so go for the gold. Eventually Sid and I would like to have the day be some type of major zombie contest in which prizes would be awarded to the three most zombie-minded people of the day which would be judged via pictures sent in through email or something. It'd be good times. Anyway. That's a dream for the future I guess... And I think I'm done. Huge rant. Hope you enjoyed.

      Lataz.

      I'm afraid its over. I can't finish it. I'm 10 songs in with 7 to go, my deadline is less than 20 hours away and as of last night I completely lost all creativity. Couldn't even come up with a good guitar riff for the next song. I spent hours working on it and by the time I got the drums finished, and the guitar and bass recorded I realized that the song sucked ass and I just couldn't finish it. I've literally run absolutely dry. Sorry to let everyone down but I am confident that I gave it a good shot. It just wasn't meant to be this time.

      That's not to say I won't try it again sometime when there is less going on and I'm in a better overall situation. But as far as The Championship Battles I just can't do it. I'll finish the album asap. But I'm not going to worry about the time limit or trying to rush it anymore. Like I said, seven more songs so I'll probably be able to finish it in another week or so now that I'll be taking my time to do it.

      In other news, I ended up having to miss band practice today which sucked because I don't have the gas money to drive over there. So that was highly disappointing. Here's hoping the guys understand.

      And in supremely other news, I need a change of pace to recover my talents so I'm going to work on a rap beat as my next song before I jump back into the album. Vinnie Scullo advertised a blog recently that said he was looking for people to make him beats and I gotta get in on that. So, that's what I'm gonna work on today.

      I am sorry for letting everyone down that was counting on me. I just didn't have it in me this time.

      Lataz.

      The Championship Battles is just such a pain in my ass at the moment that I don't even want to work on the damn album anymore. But I am, and I will finish it. And I will NEVER do this time limit crap again. Ever.

      So its like 8:13 in the freaking morning man. I'm tired. So far I'm 114 hours into this. I've finished nine songs completely. I've even already went in and fixed one of them because it just didn't sound right in one part. I've also read through the storyline several times and revised it twice, cutting out two songs from the initial version which will save me some worry but not enough to put me in the clear yet. I've got about 53 hours left to finish 8 more songs and record the voice stuff for the storyline. Of the ones left, three of them are major epic battle songs that have to sound like major epic battle songs. I think I may be officially screwed, but I'm not giving up yet. Let's face it, if I can't do it no one else can and I'm one of those assholes that believes that nothing is impossible. So I'm going to try. Like, really fucking try to get all of these songs done and get the storyline finished before Monday at 2:00p.m. and have it on the website. The good news about all this is that the songs I've finished so far are really freaking awesome. I've been putting a lot of thought into them and making sure they sound more composed than The Nightmare Battles did. Let me talk about what I mean (I need a break before I start the next song).

      When I originally started this website I wanted to write some quick songs to put in the music player that were originals and essentially just fun stuff. So I made crappy SUPREMELY repetitive drum tracks and just improvised shit over top of them. I remember doing Funeral Of A Demon and then Aven-Jo and thinking... I should do an album like this. So I went for it. Three months later I was debuting The Nightmare Battles (version 1) to my friends in my living room via my PS2. Since then I think The Nightmare Battles is up to version 3 (there was a remastering, and then the recent remix/remastering for the new site design). That was all earlier this year. Now with the new album...

      The songs that are going to be on The Championship Battles still hold that improvisation premise. Wherein I'm just making stuff up literally right before I record it. I'm not really writing or composing this stuff, but like as I make the drum track I just start playing whatever sounds good and fits the mood (with this album the songs are being written for the storyline but with The Nightmare Battles the songs came first and then the storyline was written for the songs) then I start recording it before I forget it. And I just realized that one of the songs needs a quickie remix. Not enough bass. Anyway. The songs are more structured this time around though. Like instead of just finding a good beat and repeating it over and over I'm actually going through and putting change-ups in the songs and having different sections and thinking "I could put a solo or a melody here so the drums should sound like this" and its really impacted the way the songs sound. They are definitely different, and in my opinion they are better than The Nightmare Battles were. I'm really looking forward to having this album finished so I can take a break though and not feel guilty about it.

      And I think that's it for now. I'm gonna get something to eat and then get to work on the next song. It should be an easy one. I'm still tired...

      Lataz.

      Captain's log, stardate; your momma (2:00a.m.). I am attempting to create an album in a week. I have until Monday at 2pm to finish. Total songs needed=18 plus the storyline recordings. So far I've got 6 finished, almost 7. Via complex algebraic equasions I have deduced that including the one I am working on now, I have 12 left to go and approximately three days to make it happen. I WILL succeed. Going to knock a hole in that number 12 before tonight is over. This will happen. It has to. Sid is counting on me and goddamnit so are you. I'm gettin' back to work.

      Lataz.

      I officially started working on The Championship Battles at 2:00p.m. Monday, September 17th, 2007. It is currently 7:39p.m. the next day. So I've been officially on the job for twenty-nine hours and thirty nine minutes. So far I've completed the tentative storyline, the storyline's theme (titled: Intensity), and the Opening Ceremonies theme. Going to try to do three more songs before I go to sleep which probably won't be until around like 5:00a.m. I'm making good but slow progress. Here's how the album breaks down according to the tentative storyline:

      There are 34 total tracks. 19 tracks are music. 15 tracks are part of the storyline. Of the music tracks, two count as Opening and Closing Ceremonies, one of the storyline theme, the rest are songs on the album. So 19-3=16 full songs to write. Of the storyline two count as the Introduction and Farewell so 15-2=13 storyline bits to record and set to the storyline theme (Intensity). I've got a long ways to go, but I'm still confident that I can manage to finish the entire album in one week. We'll see though.

      Lataz.

      Okay, so just wanted to let everyone know what is gonna be going on with the next album; The Championship Battles. Vinnie Scullo recorded See You At The Gap in twenty-eight days. So with The Championship Battles I'm going to record it in one week. Starting tomorrow (Monday) I am going to being working on the album and keeping a log as I make my progress. By next Monday the album should be finished and uploaded to the site. Wish me luck on that! Oh, and get well soon Kevin. Being sick sucks.

      Lataz.

      So the first thing you should notice is that the website has a completely new design (save for the forums) and is much easier to navigate around now. I got rid of the triple-focus idea (Vinosec, Perfect 5th, Em. Fate) and just laid it all out right here.

      At the top you can still get to the equipment page to see the crap I use (even though some of it is in the pawn shop right now), you can still see the photo gallery (now with back and forward buttons for each pic) and the drawings section is where all the old Perfect 5th stuff ended up (it is laid out same as the gallery). The writings section is empty at the moment but before long I'll be putting up full descriptions of my albums and some poetry and short stories and things as they get done. I'll try to get the descriptions of the albums up tomorrow.
      Speaking of albums, there are now two full albums and one demo album that you can download completely free (and they even come with extra crap) on this page. Just look to the lower left and you'll find the "Full Album Downloads" section. Feel free to grab 'em and spread them around to everyone. Also feel free to give some feedback in the forums (the topic list will be updated in the next day or so to reflect the new site design).

      Now onto actual news... I finished Embracing Fate I. As you can tell its up for download now and every song from it is in the player to the left. I've completely remixed and remastered (and rerecorded parts of) The Nightmare Battles so that the quality is significantly higher now. Hope you guys enjoy it. Then there is the Taking Out Anger stuff. Taking Out Anger is a fake band that I made up and along with that I made up four songs in grunge/rock style (The Offspring, Rage Against The Machine, etc.) and even a myspace page (myspace.com/takingoutanger). I even did a cover song (Vinnie Scullo's 'Christine', myspace.com/vinnyscullo) in keeping with the T.O.A. style.

      Speaking of T.O.A. the four songs from my little fake band may actually be played by a real band that I have recently joined. Thanks to Myspace I have hooked up with Mike D. (not that Mike D.) and Kevin W. who are a singer and guitarist respectively. So far we've only had one practice but it is a lot of fun playing with those guys. The name of the band (at the moment) is Kain And Able. I feel kind of weird having my name in there but it wasn't my idea so I guess its okay. Heh. Hopefully we'll be able to do some Kain And Able related projects here on the website in the future.

      I think that's about it for now. Check back in the next few days and I'll try to have some new stuff kickin' around (and some debut information on my next album: The Championship Battles).

      Lataz.