A Serbian Film

After Hostel ushered in the torture porn craze, you'd think we've seen it all by now. Not really.I think I've just seen one of the most disturbing movies of my life.  Seriously, I've seen some heavy duty stuff before, but I don't believe anything tops A Serbian Film.  In the vein (ha!) of "torture porn" films like Hostel, A Serbian Film aims for some dark places and makes you feel like you should shower afterwards.  This film is about a retired porn actor named Millos who is lured back into the industry for a one off film that will supposedly set him up for life.  The director, a very shady character, convinces Millos that this gig is all about art and will become a breakthrough film. Little does he know, he's just been cast for a snuff film. Going in blind, Millos takes the job and (naturally) chaos ensues.  This film is not for the faint of heart because it goes into some totally fucked up dark places.  

The film actually is Serbian with English subtitles.  And it will captivate you from start to finish.  There's not a boring moment in this picture with all of the messed up things going on throughout.  It sort of has a Memento feel to it, because for much of the movie the main character is desperately trying to remember what he has done.  This movie, though deliberately controversial in so many ways, was highly entertaining.  It's schlock chock full of action which will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time and easily one of the better horror films I have seen in a good while.

Bottom Line: Hostel meets Memento.  Fans of those two films will likely find this a must watch.  A film that will leave you feeling a bit unsettled - there are some huge lines that were crossed with this one - but it still made for a solid watch.

- Ragman is more than a little disturbed after seeing this one...

Issa - The Storm

While the singer isn't without talent, you'd swear she hitched a ride on a DeLorean to 2011.I don't know a lot about mononymous Norwegian singer Issa, but if you told me this CD was found in the glove compartment of an abandoned 1985 Mustang somewhere, I'd believe you.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that this album is bad in terms of production or songwriting provided you take it as a product of the classic 80s melodic rock its clearly modeled after. I'm telling you, had this album come out as is in 1985, you'd be seeing Issa's blonde tresses all over an episode of I Love The 80s. On a side note, even her videos have an 80s flavor [I don't think she planned].

As it is, however, it comes across as derivative ("retro", at best) in an era of 21st century rock music that's seen countless bands come and go that were built on this formula.  And while the guitar work fits nicely over the same old keyboard patches and echoey drum kit, it's hard to ignore the "been there, done that" feeling you get listening to an admittedly competent group of musicians.

The Bottom Line: One the one hand, it's the same old melodic rock sound from nearly 30 years ago, but on the other, it's catchy grooves and choruses that are just as listenable as they were so long ago.  So what's the harm?

- Genghis is remembering how hot he thought Jan Kuehnemund was back in the day...

Beyond The Bridge - The Old Man And The Spirit

If you like the idea of Dream Theater with the additional flavor of a female vocalist, you should check out Germany's Beyond The Bridge - like now.Like it or not, I'm most likely to compare any progressive metal band to Dream Theater the gold standard which you may judge as fair, lazy, short-sighted, or whatever.  The thing is, I often run across bands billed as such that sound certainly progressive, but have none of the crunchy guitar that goes with it.  But let that go.

German progmetal kids Beyond The Bridge tell a familiar tale of like-minded musicians meeting in school and reuniting again years after going their separate ways in pursuit of families and careers.  While their latest release, The Old Man And The Spirit, borrows heavily from the Dream Theater formula, they bring to the party a more complex vocal arrangement with the addition of a female vocalist in Dilenya Mar. Interestingly, however, it's this addition that confounds me. I'm so used to progmetal being a masculine sound, for lack of a better phrase, and the sound of a woman's voice (even one as mature and impressive as Dilenya's) causes my brain to say "Oh, this is a symphonic metal band, like Within Temptation". But to worry about that is to miss what the band is trying to achieve.

The Old Man And The Spirit is your basic concept album with all of the ambition such an artistic endeavor entails, with Ms. Mar providing the voice of The Spirit, while Herbie Langhans sings for The Old Man. Together, with the rest of BTB, they weave a tale of the "polarity of human sensuousness and awareness". I love this kind of stuff when it's done well, and that's exactly how Beyond The Bridge does it on their debut release. I can't vouch for the production, as the vocals and the instruments get obscured here and there in favor of one or another, but this is a solid first effort. Guitarist Peter Degenfeld is quite talented, displaying a very tasteful Petruccian phrasing while still having his own identifiable sound. I look forward to hearing it develop over the band's career.  One other nitpick is the sound of Christopher Tarnow: This is a man who's obviously classically trained on the piano, but he seems to have been shopping at the dollar store for his patches. I say we take up a collection so he can get the next Jordan Rudess Primo Pack at the Korg store.

The Bottom Line: Classic progmetal stylings with all the trimmings - I mean, a concept album for a debut, no less - with about the level of production you'd expect from a young band's first studio effort. Very Dream Theater-y, but the addition of a female vocalist adds a certain je nais cest qoi that makes their next effort quite ripe with possibilities.

Outstanding Tracks: The Apparition, Where The Earth And Sky Meet, The Struggle (some great Savatagesque vocal interchanges)

- Genghis was really cranking this stuff up at one point...

Podcast #132: Switch

We cannot say how sorry we were to hear that Mark Reale finally lost his battle with Crohn's Disease just days ago. Godspeed, brother.Seeing one of your favorite bands lose a key member always hurts, doesn't it? Join Genghis and Ragman as they discuss the recent departure of Howard Jones from Killswitch Engage and wonder who, if anyone, could fill his shoes. Next, the boys cornered Riot vocalist, Tony Moore, for a tête-à-tête. Tony discusses Riot's latest release, Immortal Soul, as well as what got the classic Thundersteel line up back together.

Note: This interview was taped before the passing of long time Riot guitarist and founding member, Mark Reale. We here at The Right to Rock want to express our sincerest condolences to the Reale family and friends. Rest in peace, Mark.

DVD of the Show: Killswitch Engage - Set This World Ablaze

Beer of the Show: Wytchmaker Rye IPA (Jester King)
	Presentation: 3.0 Alcohol: 3.0 Taste: 2.5 Drinkability: 2.5 Overall: 2.5	"Not the biggest fans of IPAs 'round these parts, but this little number is more on the farmhouse side of things, and ends up being all right for an Indian pale ale."

Featured Tracks: Myrath - Beyond the Stars; Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache; Times of Grace - Willing; All That Remains - Won't Go Quietly; Eagleheart - Creator of Time; Riot - Flight of the Warrior, Crawling, Whiskey Man, Immortal Soul, Fall Before Me and Maryanne

Classic Of the Show: Stratovarius - The Kiss of Judas

Genghis Pick of the Show: East of the Wall - The Apologist

Ragman Pick of the Show: D.R.U.G.S. - If you think this song is about you then it probably is.

- Ragman was truly saddened to hear that Mark Reale has passed...

Podcast #132: Switch

God Bless Ozzy Osbourne (Blu-Ray)

Ozzy is one crazy cat. Now to wait with bated breath for a Blu-Ray treatment of The Decline of Western Civilization: The Metal Years...You know I'm a sucker for a good documentary - especially if it has to do with something metal. The latest to catch my eye is a documentary on the self-proclaimed prince of darkness, Ozzy Osbourne.  The film had a brief stint at the theaters before making its way onto Blu-Ray.  The movie I speak of, of course, is God Bless Ozzy Osbourne which was put together by Osbourne's son, Jack. A retrospective of Ozzy's life and career, the movie touches on his childhood, musical career, and family.  GBOO is a fairly comprehensive film, touching on many glossed over areas of both his public and private life, and featuring interviews with Ozzy's family as well as his musical contemporaries.  

I really enjoyed this Blu-Ray, and thought did a good job of shedding some light on some of the man's personal demons.  My only complaint is that they didn't focus enough on the Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of a Madman period, which is easily the most compelling era of the man's career - though I still can't believe their wasn't more available footage of Oz with Randy Rhoads.  It is good to see that Ozzy has his shit together, which will hopefully lead to a killer new Sabbath record.  One of the better docs I've seen in a while.  Go get it!

Bottom Line: Ozzy undressed for the world to see who he really is.  Once you see this, you will better understand the stupidity behind their reality series.

- Ragman is thinking of making some sweet leaf tea...