I/I/MMX - XXXI/MII/MMX

few things you will never forget in 2010.
the main thing I will remember are the many bands I’ve seen. besides that I don’t think many exciting things happened in my life. the day I got dumped the second time will stick to me forever though. in 2010 I’ve done a lot of thinking concerning my school, what I’m gonna study, if it’s better if I got a job … still not 100% sure where that is going.

Relationship(s).
I was together with 2 girls this year, they both dumped me. only one of those 2 made it horribly painful. I’m not going to dribble about the details but it really broke me.

The best day.
August 15th.

The worst day.
as I said, the day I got dumped. it was supposed to be a nice day, I hadn’t seen my girlfriend in 2 weeks and then … well, you know the rest of the story. I still remember the time, what I was wearing, how it all went. thinking of it really brings me down again.

Your best friend(s).
even though I don’t hear him as much as I used to, Jonathan will always be my best friend, ever. he has a job, he’s married and he plays in a band, so it’s pretty understandable he doesn’t have much time. the thing is, he practically raised me. he got me into punkrock and all that. he took me to shows. he’s been my friend for 9 or so. so yeah, I still consider him as my best friend.

Your birthday.
December 25th. yes, Christmas. no, I didn’t do anything. no, I’m not stoked on the fact I’m not a teenager anymore.

The funniest getaway.
that has to be Ieperfest. Ieperfest is always fun. a lot of people I know, cool bands, awesome afterparty.

The end of last school year/the beginning of this one.
last school year ended not very well, I had to redo my first year in college. that kinda lead to the fact I wanna quit. that, and because the course I’m taking doesn’t interest me anymore.

New years resolutions.
figure out what I’m going to do with my life.

MMX is coming to an end

yes, there is still an entire month to go.
no, there are no more shows planned for me, neither are there albums I'm waiting on to come out.

best Belgian releases:
Midnight Souls - Colder
Vogue - Pompshit

best releases abroad:
Abigail Williams - In the absence of light
The acacia strain - Wormwood
Basement - Songs about the weather
Beneath the massacre - Marée noire
Brutality will prevail - Root of all evil
Carpathian - Wanderlust
Ceremony - Rohnert park
Continuance - Carry ourselves
Cruel hand - Lock and key
Daughters - Daughters
Dead end path - Death walks besides us
Dear tick - The black dirt sessions
The devil wears prada - Zombie
The dillinger escape plan - Option paralysis
Duck duck goose - Off yourself
Early graves - Goner
Ellie Goulding - Lights
Four year strong - Enemy of the world
The gaslight anthem - American slang
The ghost inside - Returners
Hang the bastard - Hellfire reign
I declare war - Malevolence
Impending doom - There will be violence
Integrity - The blackest curse
Kanye west - My beautiful dark twisted fantasy
Killing the dream - Lucky me
Last witness - Give up
Martyr defiled - Collusion
More than life - Love let me go
Punch - Push pull
Red sparowes - The fear is excruciating, but therein lies the answer
The rival mob - Hardcore for hardcore
Rolo tomassi - Cosmology
Terror - Keepers of the faith
Throats - Throats
Trash talk - Eyes & nines
Trigger the bloodshed - Degenerate
Whitechapel - A new era of corruption
Your demise - The kids we used to be
108 - 18:61

best Belgian bands:
Midnight souls
Vogue

best bands abroad:
Carpathian
Almost home
Hang the bastard
...

best live shows:
Dropkick murphys // Lotto Arena
Throats - Worms feed // De Rots
Shai hulud - To kill // Metteko
Defeater - Dead swans - More than life - Midnight souls // Metteko
Otto Von Schirach Vs Gabe Serbian // Kavka
Countdown - Mind trap // Backstage (Egelantier)
Perspective fest (Lasting traces - Almost home - Cold snap - Hang the bastard - Miles away - Another breath - Cruel hand) // Sojo
Ieperfest (Brutality will prevail - The black dahlia murder - Carpathian - Ruiner - Converge - Amen ra - Hang the bastard) // Ieper
Blacklisted // Frontline
Urban blight - Vogue // Kavka
Hell on earth (The acacia strain - All shall perish - Every time I die - Terror) // Hof ter loo
Ceremony - Sabertooth zombie // De Rots
The gaslight anthem - Chuck Ragan // Ancienne Belgique
Touché Amoré - Midnight souls // Metteko
Dead swans - Mother of mercy - Brutality- will prevail // Metteko

most disappointing shows:
/

biggest promise 2010:
/

coolest bands you've discovered this year:
Red sparowes
Ellie Goulding
Almost home
Hang the bastard
Basement
Martyr defiled

coolest purchases:
record-player

biggest waste of cash:
/

what did you do in '10/ you should've done earlier?:


coolest bandshirt 2010:
Converge - Wretched world
Carpathian - Monochrome
More than life - Love let me go
Throats - Cat
Brutality will prevail - "Rip off" shirts

best lay out 2010 (album wise):
Brutality will prevail - Root of all evil 12"
BAsement - Songs about the weather 7"

Winter overture

this was going to be my last show of 2010. and yes, it was snowing. it wasn’t as cold though as I expected. the snow didn’t bother me as well. I arrived at the venue 30 minutes before Brutality will prevail was on. so I waited patiently. I was hoping to see some familiar faces but that was some disappointment. Brutality will prevail started of their set with a song from Forgotten soul. the rest of the set was basically a mixture of Root of all evil and Forgotten soul. I really enjoyed it. I missed half of their set at Ieperfest in august and before that it was nearly 3 years since the last time I was them. needless to say they really evolved. somehow disappointed though, that they didn’t play Secrets of the truth. but hey, they were excellent. when I went outside to cool off I finally saw some people I knew, cool! I went to check the merch and I bought myself a Brutality will prevail bobble hat. when I came downstairs again I saw Robin (marshalltown @ tumblr), cool that we finally had chat! in meanwhile While she sleeps started. I’m not going talk a lot about them. they were one of the two bands that didn’t had to play. wise move from the promoter though, they attracted a few couple more people. after While she sleeps I probably went outside again. it was getting really warm inside. Mother of mercy was up next. they were really cool as well. in my opinion they’re better live than on CD. I don’t know much of their songs, but they played a decent set. some old songs, a new one of their oncoming record. when they were done, I stayed on my spot. not really waiting for Shadows casting ghosts though. I’m going to refer to While she sleeps why. I took the time to go get a longsleeve from Mother of mercy instead. then it was finally time for Dead swans. they get better every time I see them. although they played a smaller set, or was that just me? anyhow, they were really awesome. played mostly tracks of Sleepwalkers. at the end of their set they played a No warning cover. when I thought it was over, there were some guys on stage. I don’t know who they were but it was kinda cool to see.

History reshits itself

the first band of the bill tonight was Deadender, a new band from Belgium. I missed them though. I arrived during the soundcheck of Midnight souls. did some catching up with my best friend in the meantime. Midnight souls opened their set with Black days, very cool. they basically played a mix of old and new songs. after a few songs, there were some troubles with the mic. while they were fixing that, their vocalist took the time to thank everybody who came to the shows and how cool it was to see people who he'd never met, shout along with the songs. after Midnight souls we went outside again, where we actually stayed until Touché amoré. Lighthouse was up and they were pretty cool from what I've heard. right before Touché amoré I went to take a look at the merch. damn Reflections records had a distro standing. luckily I only had 20 euros, so I bought the ... To the beat of a dead horse 10" (unfortunately not the black/white color-way) and the Hardcore for hardcore 7". then Touché amoré were finally on. they opened with And now it's happening in mine, like on the rest of the tour. after a couple songs though, I think there was a problem with one of the guitars or the amp. I couldn't see it clearly since I was standing at the back of the crowd. it took around 10 minutes, in that time their vocalist announced that they've signed to Deathwish and like Midnight souls, how cool it is to see that many people shout along with their songs. he also complimented the venue, which was pretty awesome. when that was fixed, they finished their set. the rest of the songs came from ... To the beat of a dead horse. they finished with Honest sleep. that was time to release every ounce of energy I had. I ended up on stage, shouting the words directly to the vocalist. cool night.

We did it when we were young

I waited for this show for months. probably since the day they announced it. by the time I got the the venue, Sharks were almost done playing. I saw 3 songs, which included a cover from I fought the law. when they were done I took a look around. I think I never been to a show where I was this out of place. no familiar faces, I was completely different from everyone else. not that it really matters, I just noticed it. after 15 minutes Chuck Ragan came on. after a few songs he told he was going to Louisiana after the tour. to see his grandfather before he died. he told about him, how he learned almost everything from his grandfather. very touching moment. he played a nice set. even played a new song, which sounded very cool! after another 15minute break, it was time for The Gaslight Anthem. they opened up with The spirit of jazz. from then on it was just one hour and a half singing along. after a few songs though, Brain told something about us Belgians speaking 2, or more, languages and that he only knew English and a bit Italian. he mentioned how in Canada they speak French and they only know English, and that the Canadians kill the Americans in hockey. “it’s like when the Americans try to play soccer. we have baseball though … which nobody cares about except us. so, when I’m a millionaire someday, I’m gonna take everyone here to a baseball-game, hot-dogs included.” fun! they played a neat set as well. they played almost everything on American Slang, and a few from The ‘59 Sound/Sink Or Swim. I left with a few more songs remaining but I had to catch a train. before I went, I picked up the American Slang 12”.

Closure

a good month ago Almost home called it a quits. they played their last show on the Root of all evil release-show. this a small documentary/music video for Closure, containing footage of that last show. needless to say, this band surely will be missed. if it isn't for the music, then let it be for the passion you find in their lyrics. I'm now glad I picked up their 12" when I saw them.

This has been my chapter,
This has been my closure.
My truths, my trials.

welcome fuckers

welcome fuckers, its the end as you know.
welcome fuckers, time to reap what you've sowed.
welcome fuckers, with your face so cold.

since a couple of weeks I'm really into The banner. quite a shame, they played in Belgium 4 years ago and I missed them. they make me wish I had a band like this. there's something about them that I can't put my finger on. all I know is that they're not like any other hardcore band I know.

it's going to be a cold winter

so I managed to get a ticket to go see Sabertooth zombie/Ceremony. the friend who arranged it, is my hero of the day. first band on the bill was Millions of them. I missed them because I had to wait outside for the guy who had my reservation. second up was Sabertooth zombie. I knew them by name but I never really listened to them. they came out as a nice surprise. at times they reminded me of Hang the bastard. the same sludge-fueled hardcore riffs. heavy show though, the guitar-player had to switch guitars during the first song and the singer broke the mic. “if I get 2 mics, I’ll break 2. if I get 3 mics, I’ll break 3. if I get 17 mics, I’ll break 17.” hardcore. then it was finally time for Ceremony. they opened up with Sick, which was … pretty sick. I was thrown from one side of the stage to the other. after that I had to lay low for a while. then they played a variation of old and new songs. when they were about to play It rained today inside my head, Ross said something which really caught my attention: “depression … when suffering from depression and when you feel there’s no light, just close your eyes and look into the sun. everybody feels sad sometimes. this next song is about depression.” then I just went crazy one more time. they played a few more songs after that before ending. I got myself a nice new shirt as well. California filled with the ceremony roses.

Black lung disease

I'm digging deep in the pitch black dark.
breaking pieces of my black coal heart.

last week Midnight souls released their debut 7" for Reflection records. today I finally got my copy of it. I first admired the artwork for a while, before placing the record in my recordplayer. expectations were high, and they did not disappoint. so glad I bought this.

you can listen to two tracks on their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/midnightsoulsneversleep) and there's also a link to there merchstore, if you want to order your copy of Colder (or a T-shirt).

Penmanship sailed

my penmanship is sinking but these words float on notes of folded binder paper. light blue lines guide the sentence I gave myself, written in repetition: "I want to disappear, I don't belong here"

sometimes I wish I could disappear. or at least just go away for a while. tired of seeing the same old places, same old faces. the only problem is I don't have the money ... and I kinda have to attend class. maybe the right transportation would be necessary as well, so I don't always have to depend on trains and/or buses.

Fuck yeah, we're gonna party tonight

cool, cool day. I went off to Antwerp, to meet with my best friend. we decided to get some Mcdonalds first. since I don’t eat meat, I just took two large fries. a decision I would regret later. after that we went to the venue. when we arrived we already missed Vera cruz, Thick as blood and Down to nothing. the first band we saw was The acacia strain. HOLY FUCK. couldn’t somebody remember me how hard they are? their singer got me even more pumped for Every time I die. next up was All shall perish. kinda disappointing set. don’t get me wrong, I love All shall perish, but they didn’t play a lot from The price of existence. they were, as usual, supercool. new drummer reals knows the deal, as well as the new guitarist. NEXT UP, EVERY TIME I FUCKING DIE. I was like an exploding bomb. when they played Floater I really went CRAZY. when the outro hit I was all over the place. a friend of mine even said he felt the ground shake from me stomping on it. right after that I had to get outside, I couldn’t do anymore. so I missed out half of the set, but I really really enjoyed myself. I saw/heard Terror from the back. they were still cool though, the new songs are amazing live!

bought a few new records (yes, again): Ceremony - Rohnert park 12” (white vinyl) // Carpathian - Wanderlust 7”.

Henry Rollins is always relevant

the video says it all.

No one deserves to be here more than me

I went to see Blacklisted tonight. at first I wasn't gonna see them on their European-tour, but they got a second show. anyhow, got there right on time. first band on was Joshua's Song, a punkrock band. they're quite new around. I enjoyed them though. I had to get used to the singer's voice, but after that they were pretty sweet. second band, Black Haven. saw those guys last year on Ieperfest. they really got better since then. then, Blacklisted, at last. I had to catch my train in the middle of their set but I least I saw 8 songs. they were cool. I got me their latest record on vinyl.

and oh yeah, Milkshake zine 4 "DC issue". it's a belgian fanzine, they often book shows. next one they have is Urban Blight and Vogue. in october, they have Coke Bust. pretty sweet if you ask me.

Keepers of the faith

keepers of the faith,
I will defend your name.
only true believers remain.

Terror brought out a new record. I had the chance to pick up their 7", which contains 2 songs of Keepers of the faith, 1 brand new song and a cover song from Subzero. they're also touring Europe in september, as headliner of the Hell on earth tour. some another bands that are playing are Every time I die, All shall perish and The acacia strain. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll probably have to spend the in Antwerp, but it'll be worth it.

Plans

the memories of me
will seem more like bad dreams.
just a series of blurs,
like I never occurred.

I hate it how the memory to a person can almost ruin something. like when you listen to a song, the only thing you think about, is that one person.

it's even more painful when the lyrics match reality.

Ieperfest

what a weekend!this was just what I needed: a couple of days away, with friends, having a great time.

Brutality will prevail: well, I missed half of their set due to a long line at the entrance. the songs I saw were cool, they’re still as hard as the last time I saw them.

Alarma man: awesome band, just too bad there weren’t really a lot of people. I know it’s not the music most people who go to Ieperfest listen to, but still.

SSS: cool on record, even cooler live! nobody who I was with liked them, but I’m glad I saw them. they even played a few new songs.

7 seconds: I wanted to see them, just to have seen them. I only saw a couple of songs though, just when they wanted to start it began to pour rain. I have to say, I enjoyed the few songs I heard.

Vitamin X: big surprise! I knew them by name but I never knew how hard they were! I saw the most awesome stagedives over there, with inflatable sharks!

Raised fist: not my kind of music, but they headlined, we wanted to go to the afterparty afterwards and we wanted to have some fun. they were quite good though.

Carpathian: easily best band I saw. they played everything on Isolation + a couple new songs. got some stagedivers on me but that was worth it!

Ruiner: last European Ruiner show in the rain, how fucking cool was that? 75% of the crowd went to the marquee or the merchtent, but I stayed. I was dripping wet afterwards.

Bitter end: so glad I finally saw them! they were cool. + a good set, I think they played 10 songs. 5 from Climate of fear & then 5 from Guilty as charged.

Reproach: same thing as SSS.

Despised icon: this was the band everybody I came with was looking forward to. I like them, I’m even one of the few who saw them back in ‘07 with Job for a cowboy. I just don’t like the hype around them. back in ‘07 nobody have heard of them and now everybody acts like their the best band ever. besides that I’m glad I saw their last Belgian show. I saw better shows of them but they were still cool.

The black dahlia murder: wow, just … wow. how can you play this hard and fast, without making mistakes? they clearly became better since the last time I saw them.

No turning back: only saw a couple of songs, they were ok.

Madball: according to International superheroes of hardcore “the other international superheroes of hardcore”, now I know why. I almost never listen to them but I can really have a great time seeing them live!

Hang the bastard: another awesome show of them. saw them just 3 weeks ago at Perspective fest. too bad I can’t see them at Ziggypop though.

The end of all reason: I like a few metalbands, The end of all reason isn’t one of them.

Grave maker: they really blew me away. I listened to Bury me at sea almost non-stop, but I was just surprised how hard they were. looking forward to seeing them in Metteko in 2 weeks.

All out war: I saw them from a distance, I was too lazy to go on front. but they were awesome. glad I saw them, because I missed them at Groezrock a couple of years ago.

Dying fetus: same as All out war actually, only I saw Dying fetus before.

Amen ra: most people think they’re boring and their music sucks, but this was really an intense show. just close your eyes and let the music do its work. I caught myself having goosebumps a couple of times.

Trash talk: they were very late, so normally they weren’t allowed to play. Converge was kind enough to give them 15 minutes of their set to Trash talk. pretty cool if you ask me.

Converge: I finally saw them, yes! although, by giving Trash talk 15 minutes they mostly played old songs. but they were still cool, perfect headliner foor Ieperfest!

I also bought another shitload on records and tshirts:

Terror - Keepers of the faith 7” (green vinyl - limited, can’t find how many there are)
Brutality will prevail/Hang the bastard - split 7” (yellow w/ black splatter - gray w/ black splatter)
Ding dong dead - Nie wieder morgen! 10”
Panic - Circles 12” (translucent yellow w/ black splatter)
Descendents - Cool to be you 12”
Carpathian - Isolation 12” (gray w/ black splatter)
Carpathian longsleeve
Converge t-shirt

Ieperfest

tomorrow I'll be leaving for Ieperfest. seriously can't wait for that! although Lewd acts isn't coming anymore & Dead swans canceled as well, there are still a lot of great bands I want to see. maybe if I'll find the time I'm gonna write something about it.

MMX

well, it seems like I haven't updated in ages. I recently started at wordpress again (deathnaps.wordpress.com), but that's in dutch. I don't know I'll be posting here as much again. I'm gonna try though; just can't promise anything. maybe I should post random stuff over here, not just reviews and such.

Defeater/Dead swans/More than life

this got be one of the craziest shows in a long time. first up was Midnight souls. they destroyed. only the first band of the evening but like half the venue was going crazy. the singer jumped a few times in the audience. second band was A strength within. I didn't see their entire set, but what I saw was pretty ok. they're not completely my style, but they're good at what they do. then it was time for More than life (UK). awesome show they played. they played 2 new songs and there were some Dead swans guest-vocals. second to last band, Dead swans (UK). I gave every bit of energy I had left to this band. I had the feeling their setlist was a bit short but they were really superb! I didn't see Defeater (US) though, I wasn't feeling well so I took an early train.

+: organisation (big up for Crisis!), the bands, I saw a few people I know.
-: there weren't any downpoints actually.

I bought some new merch as well: More than life t-shirt/Midnight souls t-shirt.

Deathwish MMX sampler

yesterday Deathwish, in coöperation with Malfunction and Six Feet Under records, released their long-awaited, and above all free, spring sampler. some bands featured are: Converge, Narrows, Integrity, Blacklisted, Doomriders, Nails, Bitter End, Rise And Fall, Acid Tiger, Lewd Acts, Killing The Dream, Carpathian, 108, Rot In Hell, Trap Them, The Carrier, True Colors, End of a Year and Ceremony. the sampler contains a varation of old and unreleased tracks. the ceremony track is a special one. it's a sort of remix of Pressure's on, called Ceremony dance party. on the end of the compilation you can find 2 video's: Integrity "Invocation of the Blackest Curse" (Video trailer) For “The Blackest Curse” CD/LP and Converge "Thousands of Miles Between Us" (Video trailer) For their “Thousands of Miles Between Us” DVD. be sure to keep supporting these bands by going to their shows and buying their merch. you can find the downloadlinks right over here.

Shai hulud

One hell of a show last night. Opening band was The jonah, a young band from Antwerp. First time I saw them. You couldn't imagine a better opener. They set the tone for the rest of the night. next up was Endwell (US). They played here a few months ago with Deez nuts (Aus) and Raised fist (Swe). I never heard anything of them before, but they really surprised me. Some could say they were 13 in a dozen, I on the other hand enjoyed them performing. Third band on the bill was To kill (IT). I saw them back in 2008 and I wasn't really impressed then. Now I started to listen to their latest cd, When blood turns into stone, a few weeks before the show. I was looking forward to see them. There were a few problems with 1 of the guitar-players and the sound was really good, except that they played very well. Time has come for the headlining band, Shai hulud (US). This was the band I came for. The venue was completely packed and from the moment they started, everybody went crazy. A lot of sing-a-longs and stage-dives. They normally would've played a short set, but they were asked 3 times for another songs. One of that songs was from our own Liar, truely amazing. Their vocalist was even so kind to answer a few questions about vinyl.

speaking of which: I bought the Misantrophy pure 12" (922/2000) from Shai hulud and the Maelström 7" from To kill.

Throats/Worms feed

Last night I finally went to a show again. The last one was The carrier/Dead swans. Cool line-up, with Worms feed, Throats, Your highness and The set-up.
First up were Worms feed. They're a pretty new band around, but they didn't really sounded like that. From the first note I knew this was going to be awesome. I was right, they blew me right away. Just enough to still let me enjoy the next band, Throats (UK). The first time I saw them. They normally were going to play in Belgium in '08, but they cancelled then. So, Throats. They were massive! Just like Worms feed, from the first note off I knew this was going to be hard. Their wall of sound blew me of my feet. They're coming back in april with Trash talk (US) and Rolo tomassi (UK), so I suggest you all go to check them out. Third band was Your highness. Only saw 2 songs 'cause I had to catch my train. They were cool as well.

+: cool show for not that much money
-: it started a hour too late

new things I bought: Throats T-shirt and Throats S/T 12"

Long goodnight

It almost seems the most of my posts come at night, maybe I am a bit nocturnal. Nothing much has happened since my last post. I got my results. I had 5 shorts, going to re-do only 3 of them. Other then that my life is still the same. I don't know if somebody is reading this is yet, but here's a list of some of the events I'll probably be (for the period february/march):
12/02 THROATS
27/02 FORGET TO FORGIVE RELEASE SHOW
27/02 HIP HIP HURRAVE
06/03 BLIND TO FAITH RELEASE SHOW
11/03 HOLY SHIT! RECORDS FAREWELL SHOW
16/03 SHAI HULUD
26/03 A TRAIL OF HORROR FAREWELL SHOW
27/03 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE FIRST SHOW
I'll probably write about them later.

Grim heart/Black rose

After a month of studying and 2 weeks of examination, my exams are finally over. I'm on a break since 2 days. Sleeping in, doing nothing all day long ... feels great! Next week thursday I'm getting my results so maybe I'll post them here. They shouldn't be that bad. Only 1 examen of the 6 felt like a complete disaster. I don't have any special plans for my 2-week break. Going shopping (I need a new pants, quite urgent), hanging with some friends ... all the rest I do will be rather impulsive. Also: in 2 days it will 2 years since I quit smoking, awesome!

Neon navajo

2010 already starts off very well, this with a freshly discovered band. Normally I don't bother listening to any of the bands who add me on myspace. There are simply too much and most of the times they aren't that special to be honest. This time I made an exception. I approved every request when I got new comment from Neon navajo. The comment just said "XO - NN", nothing more. Their default-picture attracted me so I went to their myspace. I put on the first song, "Two spirit" and it came immediately to me this wasn't any other band. In a way they're simmiliar to Rolo tomassi. High-pitch screams on dance-able beats. The guys from Neon navajo were cool enough to put all their music online, for their fans to download. You can find them on mediafire.com/neonnavajo.