Bad thing on guitar gear cravings... My dirt pedal GAS has been cured by the MarkV Shredhead, probably the best distortion pedal I've tried since I became conscious of my tone. Months ago I was being attacked by GAS for modulation pedals due to desire of imitating Paul Gilbert, but good thing I realized that I have to find my own tone. ...I guess I'm really satisfied just using a dirt pedal and a wah-wah pedal since I'm a straight up rock player. However, GAS attacked me again when I started to appreciate potted wahs over optical wahs (yes, I'm a fuckin late bloomer). I sold my Morley Power Wah to my bassist along with my old distortion pedal, while obtaining myself a Vox V847 wah. The Vox sounded great, but I found it a bit too treble and needed a, yes, True Bypass. :) I'm going to have it modded soon by a fellow Philmusic member who does lots of mods for potted wahs. What causes GAS attacks? Desire for finding your tone? Desire to own a certain piece of gear? Or just plain bragging rights? We all have our reasons! I guess it's up to the person on why he needs to purchase ALL that gear. On the other hand, wouldn't it be nice to play a variety of guitars, effect pedals and amplifiers right in the comfort of your own home? That's fun when you got the moolah to hoard a music store, but when you're a middle to lower class musician, you gotta make hard choices on what equipment you need, which will be answered by what genre(s) you are playing. The choice is yours. I guess GAS attacks will NEVER EVER end. Right now I'm GAS-sing for a Fernando Unique Series Les Paul, or a customized Stratocaster, or a Customized Telecaster. My tip? Know what you want, because really, I'm contented with my equipment. ...it's easy to be a musician, the hard thing is just it's costly if you give in to temptation. I guess I need to be a more stronger musician LOL.

Death Magnetic

1. This Was Just Your Life
2. The End of the Line
3. Broken, Deat and Scarred
4. The Day That Never COmes
5. All Nightmare Long
6. Cyanide
7. The Unforgiven III
8. The Judas Kiss
9. Suicide & Redemption
10. My Apocalypse

Metallica is the sole reason why I started listening to metal, and why I started playing the guitar seriously. 1983 marked the start of their pro careers in the release of "Kill em All", followed by the epic trilogy of 1984's "Ride The Lightning", 1986 "Master of Puppets" and the prog-metal album "...And Justice for All". But by 1990's "Metallica", the band were losing a chunk of their fanbase due to their change to commercialized metal, followed by 1996's "Load, 1997's "ReLoad" and the 2003 flop "St. Anger".

fast-forward to 2008, 25 years since "Kill em All", Metallica with producer Rick Rubin, is now ready to bring the old 'Tallica crunch and thump that cemented their legacy. "Death Magnetic" is the name of the epic that is the 'comeback' of Metallica.

10 tracks of metal that may sounds like a mix of the combination of the Justice until Anger era of the band. The first track "My Apocalypse" instantly punches you in the face, really heavy riffs. The song also mentions the title of the album. 3 tracks that stand out for me are "The Day That Never Comes" which is reminiscent of the song "One" from " ...And Justice For All", "Cyanide" which is probably the most straightforward song in the album for me (and my favorite!) and "Suicide and Redemption", an instrumental.

The sound? The first spin of the album might make you think "Are they making this just to win back their old fans???!", but after a few more times of listening to the album, you will realize that THIS IS METALLICA! This is the Metallica that we've known! They're out of the Load/ReLoad hard rock-ish tunes and grooves, they're back doing the heavy stuff that defines Metallica as Metallica. St. Anger was heavy (could have been good i they mixed the album properly), probably a pre-requisite for Death Magnetic. But the fact of the matter is: Metallica is back, Metallica is back, METALLICA IS BACK!

I give this album a 5 out 5 STARZZ-AHH! (James Hetfield voice)

rare times I'm going to post an all-English entry. here it goes. I went back to watching pro wrestling last year during WWE SmackDown's 10th anniversary since I knew that The Rock will cut a promo there. The Rock appeared on the Titantron and cut a classic (but strangely seemed like scripted) promo. Then there was a tribute to Eddie Guerrero video... I watched some of the matches, seen the in-ring promos and backstage skits during that episode, and I just realized how watered-down televised pro wrestling has become since I stopped watching around 2007.

What's the reason for the watered down product? Some say John Cena suggested to Vinnie Mac that he wants to cater to a younger crowd since there were more kids who are watching WWE again. Or probably something to do with Chris Benoit's double murder-suicide case? Or Linda McMahon's run for Senate? We really don't know. Or as any mainstream media, the more audience you have, the more money you get.

As a kid who grew up in the Attitude Era, it was the era where I think was untouchable when it comes to televised wrestling (but hey, 80s-backwards pro wrestling are legendary, don't get me wrong). However, at the back of my head I was thinking why does the current pro wrestling product doesn't possess the magic and passion it used to have? Where are the enthusiastic crowds? The charisma that the wrestlers used to have? The over the top matches that pushed the athletes to their limit that entertained us? The intensity of rivalries and feuds? WHERE ART THOU??

Pretty much the art of professional wrestling has lost its luster as years go by. The championships has lost their prestige, from being the most coveted titles, into being mere decorations; or maybe because people have moved on to MMA and thought that suspension of disbelief is downright stupid? To each his own, but for me I just appreciate pro wrestling as an art form.

Yes you can tell me to shut the fuck up and that WWE isn't the only wrestling promotion in the world. Yes I KNOW THAT. That's why I headed over to watching TNA and Ring of Honor occasionally. There are times where I want to watch Japanese pro wrestling just for a change because of the MMA feel due to the stiffer strikes and more brutal slams). The only thing I have about these alternatives... let me break it down for ya: TNA has more washed up ex-WWE/WCW/ECW wrestlers than the new fresh talent, ROH and Puroresu needs more mainstream exposure. Perhaps majority of the wrestling crowds will not look outside of WWE for wrestling, hence the underexposure of better alternatives to the product. Hey, it's mainstream, what can we do? The WWE still has some good blood in it (Jericho, Taker, Kane, Triple H, Daniel Bryan), but if I were to tell Vince McMahon something, he better fire his current creative team who writes like soap opera writers.

Looking back at the changes in the art of pro wrestling, seems like it gets more heat than pops, probably due to Vince McMahon destroying kayfabe, and the recent change of quality of mainstream wrestling (WWE). Is there still a chance that the art of professional wrestling return to its heyday?

I highly doubt it.

Kasalukuyan akong nasa opisina ngayon at ngayon lang uli ako nakapag-blog, pero di ko sasabihin kung saan nyahahahahaha!!!

Ok naman kahit night shift, masaya mga kateammates ko. Masarap pala makatikim ng unang sweldo, pero medyo masakit dahil nasa totoong buhay ka na, may mga babayaran ka nang mga bills, magko-contribute sa bahay, pagkain, pamasahe at iba pa. Pero ayos din kasi ako ang may hawak ng gastusin ko, pwede kong mabili ang kahit anung gusto ko, pero kelangan kontrolado kasi baka hindi umabot sa susunod na sahod.

ngayon alam ko na ang hirap ng maging isang working profesional/yuppie.

at malapit na pala ang birthday ko. LOL

Matagal tagal din akong hindi nakapagpost dito, huli yata is nung birthday ko. Nakalimutan kong mag update ng blog nung pasko tsaka bagong taon, masyado rin kasi akong busy sa thesis. Di ko nga akalain na end of the schoolyear na ngayon! Graduation ko na sa March 26! Ang bilis ng panahon, parang kelan lang nung 2002 highschool ako nun, tapos 2006 highschool graduation ko, tapos 2006 din ako naging first year college... Ngayon 2010 na! Graduation ko na! Ang bilis ng panahon, parang kelan lang na sobrang hirap ako maghanap ng kolehiyo na papasukan, ngayon ga-graduate na ako ng college! woohoo! Ramdam ko yung onting lungkot nung finals week, kasi alam kong yun ang pinakakahuli-hulihang exams na ite-take ko sa eskwela, mas maaga kasi ang finals ng mga graduating students. Bigla ko tuloy namiss ang mga oras na puyatan na nagsasabay sabay ang paperworks, thesis, quizzes, assignments atsaka long exams na magkanda-ugaga kami sa puyat at walang tulog pagpasok ng skwela at nagkakaubusan na ng kape sa supermarket. Bilis ng panahon... Nung mga nakaraang linggo parang gusto ko nang matapos ang buhay studyante ko, pero ngayon gusto ko agad balikan yung buhay studyante. Puyatan, mga times na absent ang prof, mga kaklaseng natutulog sa klase, kopyahan sa quizzes at exam, mga last minute na kopyahan sa homework, pagkasira ng ulo sa nage-error na program sa thesis... at siyempre.. mga crush ko!!! hahaha damn... gusto ko tuloy uminom haha

22 days na lang. malapit na ulit birthday ko.

walangya naman on, 20 years old na akO! Parang kelan lang na 15 years old ako nang ma-establish ko itong blog ko, 3rd yhear highschool pa ako nun. Ngayon graduating na ako ng college haha.

Andito ako sa klase ngayon ni Sir Samson, nakakatamad kaya magba0blog muna ako. Wala kasi akong magawa, kulang pa ako sa tulog. HAHA!

Medyo natigil din ak osa pangongolekta ng Transformers ngayon kasi medyo napadalas ang paglalalabas-labas namin ng mga kaklase ko twing sabado nights. kain sa McDO, Jollibee, tambay dito, inom dyan. Ok lang kahit di makaipon, at least busog naman, masaya pa kasama mga tropa, tamang break pagkatapos tapusin ang thesis documentations.

Tigil muna ako ngayon. Mag-aaral muna ako... kunwari

LOL

Matagal na akong follower ng Quake series, pero ewan ko kung anung pumasok sa utak ko nung panahon ng OJT at bigla akong na-convert sa pagiging isang UT player.

Nag-install kasi ako ng Unreal Tournament GOTY sa workstation ko nung OJT para makapaglaro ako kapag walang ginagawa, ok lang naman sa boss namin yun kasi puro gamers din mga bossing ko (mga adik sa DOTA). Ayun, na-adik uli ako sa Unreal Tournament.

Una akong naglaro ng Unreal Tournament eh grade 6 pa ako nun, nanghiram ako ng kopya ng installer sa teacher ko, ayun na-adik ako. Sabay sabay pa sa PC ko yung tatlong laro na Quake 3, UT tsaka Counterstrike! HAHA!

Tapos nawili din akong i-customize yung mga options sa UT. Nilagay ko sa turbo mode yung UT para mas mabilis at mas challenging, nilagyan ko na rin ng sangkatutak na mapa para mas masaya, naglaro ng CTF na naka Instagib para mas mabilis at kakaiba ang CTF experience ko, naglagay ng mods tulad ng jailbreak para magkaroon ng variety.

ngayon ko lang uli na-appreciate ang Unreal Tournament, dati kasi nababagalan ako. ngayon ko lang naisip na napakaganda pala ng laro na to. Maganda ang AI programming, level design, etc.

Ngayon naman doon naman ako sa sequel ng Unreal Tournament, ang Unreal TOurnament 2004.

masaya ang laro, maganda ang graphics para sa isang laro na ginawa 5 years ago. Ganda ng variety ng game modes, graphics, options atbp. Almost perfect siya.

Next time siguro pag malakas na PC ko Unreal Tournament 3 naman haha!

Masakit mang iwanan ang Quake 3, pero kelangan ko rin ng variety... UNREAL TOURNAMENT!

Quake 3, babalikan din kita, wag kang mag-alala.

ngayon lang uli ako nakapag-blog. mangilan-ngilang buwan na rin mula nung huli akong nagpost.

masyado nang nakain ng thesis ang buhay ko. Isang buwan na akong hindi naggigitara, onti na lang ang oras ko para makapaglaro at nawawalan na ako ng oras matulog. Take note documentation pa lang ito!

pero oks lang naman sa akin kasi patapos na rin kami ng mga kagrupo ko. Chapters 1-4 tapos na namin. chapters 5 and 6 na alng ang kulang para makumpleto, tse-tsekin pa namin ang consistency ng system para oks na para sa defense.

Ang hirap ng buhay 4th year... pero sana maka-graduate agad para COOL.

COOL

Wala akong internet nitong nakaraang isang linggo dahil sa putanginang PLDT na yan na natagalan sa pag-ayos ng aming linya. Pero ngayon ay oks na lahat... cool!

Kakatapos ko lang sa OJT ko actually lumampas pa nga ako ng 20 hours haha! Sobrang saya ng experience ko sa IT center. Marami akong natutunan na bagay... at kalokohan kasama ang aming mga Master sa IT center. Siyanga pala kuya Paul, yung souvenir namin ah!

Malapit na pala magpasukan, balik ang baon, pag-aaral, sight-seeing ng chiks, puyatan at tripping kasama mga tropa sa schoo. At siyempre sino bang hindi makakalimot sa tugtugan diba? Huling taon ko na sa kolehiyo, kelangan ko na lasapin bawat segundo para worthwhile ang kabuuan ng school experience ko. COOL

new schoolyear means...

MORE TOYS
MORE MUSIC
MORE METAL

ok ang battle of the bands kanina sa ATC. Masaya naman.

Sampung banda ang tumugtog, pang-pito kami. Ang nakakatawa eh sa meeting ng banda eh draw-lots kami kung pang-ilan kami sa mga tutugtog, nagkataon (at sobrang freak coincidence!) na ang banda nila Jason eh pang-anim, kami (Radio Free Sound Project) eh pang-walo at ang banda naman nila Mac ang pang-walo!! Walanghiya, kami-kaming magkaka-batch nung high school din ang nagkasunud-sunod sa mga tutugtog lolz!

Ok ang mga bandang tumugtog, halatang sinala talaga ng committee ang mga tutugtog. Wala ni isa ang sumablay (meron pero di gaanong halata) at talagang magagaling ang mga competitors. Para sa akin hindi siya nagmukhang battle of the bands, para siyang isang min-concert sa gitna ng ATC dahil sa higpit ng competition.

Announcement na kung sino ang makakasama sa finals. Hindi nakasama ang banda namin and banda nila jason, ang banda nila Mac ang pasok pero karapat-dapat naman talaga dahil magaling ang banda nila! hayup sa stage presence at projection, ok din ang song selection at maganda ang flow ng mga kanta. Ayos. Si JP mukhang medyo sineryoso ang pagkatalo, pero sa amin ok lang kasi nakatugtog naman kami ng maayos at andun ang mga HS friends namin at napanood nila kami.

Overall: SATISFIED

Masaya rin kasi kasama ko mga kabarkada at kaklase ko nung highschool, parang mini-reunion na nga eh! Masaya. Kaso may mga kulang, sina Martin D5, Ramon atbp para lalong masaya haha!

nakasabay ko pa si Gian umuwi lolz haha.

salamat sa lahat ng nanuod, sumuporta at naniwala sa Radio Free Sound Project at iba pang mga banda na nagdadala ng watawat ng SBCA.

MABUHAY ANG MGA KABATAANG MUSIKERO!!!