Dog Blog

Koloss,(Released March 23^rd through Nuclear Blast Records) by the masters of Math Metal, Meshuggah, lives up to its title.  Koloss is a juggernaut of power with everything you love about the Meshuggah sound.  I will admit to a bit of trepidation on first listen.  The slow moving and sludgy sound of opening track “I Am Colossus,” put me in a mindset for their album Nothing.  While a fantastic album, Nothing was an experiment for Meshuggah testing whether they could take one song and expand it into roughly one hour to create an album out of that one song.

I was happy to hear the album had so much aggressive depth that, no it was not just another expanded song but a cornucopia of angry complex, machine-like death grooves that all sound incredibly organic.  The haunting guitar solos interspersed with the churning expertly executed bass and drum synchronicity  What “I am Colossus,” does for the album is set the tone of a larger lumbering bringer of destruction so when faster songs “The Demon’s Name is Surveillance,” and “Swarm,” do hit one fully appreciates their intensity.  And then there’re songs like “Behind the Sun,” which mixes both beauty and intensity almost seamlessly.

Like all Meshuggah albums it can be a bit harder to listen to if you’re not used to the Meshuggah sound but on the second or third listen one generally not only understands their sound they truly appreciate the artistry that goes into a Meshuggah album.  Give Koloss a listen, and if it doesn’t grip you at first give “Swarm,” “The Demon’s Name is Surveillance,” or “Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave it Motion,” and give the album another chance!  You will not be disappointed.

Video for “Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave it Motion,”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1J00l_BEts&list=UUxLbFcGicScOE07gwngd18g&feature=plcp

Meshuggah’s official website:

http://www.meshuggah.net/

“Requiem for the Indifferent” by Epica

Nuclear Blast Records

A Review by Ashley Lauren Rogers

As a band progresses they can sometimes experiment with new formulas, sounds, and influences that can fundamentally reinvent their sound.  Bands like Corrosion of Conformity have done this so well, one often forgets that they had their beginnings as an aggressive punk band.  The other direction a band can go in is an almost devout following to the formula they set up.  This works for a band like Lamb of God who experiment occasionally with their style but rarely leave their comfort zone.  Both have their risks but both can equally pay off as well.

The latter method seems to be the preference of female-fronted Dutch Gothic Metal band Epica and their latest offering “Requiem for the Indifferent” (Nuclear Blast Records).  It’s the same album structure Epica will always produce, but that is by no means a bad thing.  It still has all the power, emotion and nuisance we heard from “Design Your Universe” and “The Divine Conspiracy.” The album progresses similar to the previously stated albums and fluctuates between symphonic, epic orchestrations and choirs, hard hitting power and death growls courtesy of Marc Jansen, and the siren’s voice produced by Simone Simons.

The band stated that the album’s title:

“…refers to the end of an era. Mankind can no longer stick their head in the sand for the things that are happening around us. We are facing many challenges. There is an enormous tension between different religions and cultures, wars, natural disasters and a huge financial crisis, which is getting out of control. More than ever we will need each other to overcome these problems. As we are all connected; the universe, earth, nature, animals and human beings, this period in time will be the prelude to the end for those who still don’t want to, or simply won’t see it. A Requiem for the Indifferent but also a possibility for a new beginning with great new chances!”

It’s always interesting to see a band that can put out the same basic album over and over again but consistently do it BETTER, and improve on it’s own systems and formulas.  They are fine tuning and honing their sound so that each time Epica puts out an album, you know you will always get a visceral feeling and become excited to see what they do.  Epica are keeping true to their concept from beginning to end and using that album structure as a tool instead of a crutch.  There is something to be said about a band that knows how to write good music and can constantly reinvent and re-imagine their own sound without losing the identity they have built.

For more information about Epica, check out their website here: www.epica.nl

Give them a listen with this video for their song: “Storm the Sorrow”

We have some exciting news here at Dogtoon! Our very talented friend Wyck will be attempting a world record that no one has ever set before, and Dogtoon’s got front row seats! Wyck has graciously asked us to film his attempt under the supervision of the Guinness Book of World Records judges as he attempts to set the world record for: the most 18 gauge surgical steel needles pierced through a human body in one hour! This show is definitely not for the faint of heart, as Wyck has set a goal of 1,000 needles. He will be assisted by a 3 person piercing team made up of Amanda Adams, his friend Thain, and head piercer John “Boots” Flerchinger. He will also be accompanied by Daniel GreenWolf for prep, who is also a well-known entertainer. Luckily for Wyck, there is currently no record set for such an attempt so he is guaranteed a spot in the book as World Record holder no matter what happens. This main stage event will take place at Wicked Faire, which is being held in New Jersey from February 17th – 19th. Dogtoon would like to thank Wyck for letting us be a part of his special event, and we are honored that he would choose us to capture it on film. Best of luck, Wyck!

A 10-year-old Doug once sat at a kitchen table with a lump of clay and
some makeshift tools set out before me. I worked on this clay for an hour,
and when I was done I had a sphinx head that was to be added to the body
my project partner was making. I have to say, I was pretty proud of
myself then. I feel the same way looking over the small clay pieces I have
been working on for our next convention. TempleCon is under a week away
and the Dogtoon office has been buzzing like a bee hive getting ready! New
characters, costume changes, schedules, panels, games… it’s all in the
works here and on top of that, prepping our merchandise.

For this year’s TempleCon, I wanted to do something special and something
that I think the crowd would really dig. I thought about some of the
games, stories, and LARPs I have seen and enjoyed and I came to one
unique passion I share with many of the patrons of this particular event:
LOVECRAFT! I have been reading through my anthology of Lovecraft and while
I can strangely say it affected my dreams, those dreams may have affected
my art! (Not a bad affect in my opinion.) So what does all this have to
do with 10-year-old me molding clay? Artistic development. My father still
has the first clay statue I made of “Doug the Dog” in 9th grade. I really
enjoy it and I think it’s time to re-visit that art form again. Starting
small with simple knick-knack items, I am really happy to be pouring over
a table with clay molding tools that were tragically underutilized ’til
now! And not only that, but I’m inspired by Lovecraft and the things I
create reflect that. I’m really pleased with the way things are looking so
far. For me, It’s a great coming home feeling to be sculpting again, and
I can’t wait to see what people think of them!

See you at TempleCon!

~ Doug

Hello All,

This holiday season, Dogtoon Media shot and produced a fantastic holiday special called: “The Dogtoon Media Holiday Variety Show Spectacular!” We had a blast filming it and it showcased many of our wonderful stars all coming together to wish our viewers and fans a Merry Christmas! This show was shot for local cable stations and will be airing in the following towns on the listed dates and times. Please, if you are in one of these fine communities, tune in and show your support.

Reading:

12/23/11-  8pm

12/24/11- 5:30am / 8:30am / 12:30pm / 8:30pm

12/25/11- 5:30am / 8:30am / 12:30pm / 8:30pm

Brookline:

12/24/11 – 12pm

12/26/11 – 10am

12/27/11 – 5pm

12/28/11 – 12pm

12/30/11 – 12pm

Watertown:

Every Wednesday for the next 3 weeks at 3pm

Every Saturday for the next 3 weeks at 2pm

Salem:

TBA

Saugus:

12/25/11- 8:30pm

12/27/11 – 9pm

We are so happy!!  Thank you to everyone who helped, preformed, and came to see this show. We appreciate your support!!