Asian Cup 2011

I am half Japanese and not really a fan of Japanese national team (I am half English and born in London so obviously my 1st choice is Three Lions!) but I do follow their results. I didn't see most of their matches but I want to congratulate Japan for winning the Asian Cup in Qatar for the record 4th time. Asian Cup is not most people's cup of tea because of poor football standard but it does matter to people from this parts of the world so don't diss it! lol

I did watch the highlights of semis against South Korea and the final against Australia. Apparently Aussies dominated the shots but Japan took the only chance with stunning volley from Tadanari Lee. It was a beautiful goal and great cross from Yuto Nagatomo on the left. With just that goal scene alone I think they deserve to win.

Well done!!

Lamb to the Slaughter

Okay another music review. It's less known band... teN. teN is formed in mid 90's in Manchester by Gary Hughes. This Gary Hughes guy started his career with his own solo more like soft AOR ish rock music which I'm not so keen of. Then he gathered Dare (Thin Lizzy's keyboardist Darren Wharton's band) musicians like Vinny Burns and Greg Morgan. Then more people were added like guitarist, bass player and keyboardist.
I found this band on Classic Rock magazine. When I lived in Cambridge I started to buy this mag because they have coverage and articles about my sort of music. Old rock music. Review says they've got some influences from Whitesnake, Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden etc. That can't go wrong!! I thought their music was great and hooked. I like Vinny Burns play. His play reminds me a lot of Gary Moore. Their music has lot's of contrast like hard rockin' songs and ballads mixed. I don't really like ballads so I often skip 'em and never listen but harder stuff they are really good and I like it a lot. I decided to review because just recently they released new album called "Stormwaning". Most of members are gone but still no different to older stuff cos it's all written by Gary Hughes. His hair is now receded and hair line has gone up. Like Alan Shearer!! lol

If I'm going to let people listen to teN then it's got to be "The Robe" and "Babylon". These two are awesome and I always listen to it over and over. Other stuff has too much ballads and not so much killer rocker songs so I'll strongly recommend these two. I think you don't need to listen.

Notable note... Apparently they sold lot's of records in Japan.

Light and Space

Okay so it's nearly end of January... I've moved to a new home in Hackney from Stoke Newington since my 32nd birthday in 2nd of January 2011...

We all like the new home and like the area. We've been without a telephone and internet but now back on line since 26th of Jan.

I am now working and earning some money as well but to be honest I want to change it ASAP because I am not happy with current work and move onto better things.

Anyways today I will resume review and going to review a band called Threshold from Surrey, UK. They are progressive metal band and just simply brilliant. In my opinion they are the best progressive metal band and better than Dream Theater. I don't know too much about Their earlier career from 1989 because I can't judge not owning any albums with Damian Wilson etc. I only have the compilation album called "The Ravages Of Time"and on this compilation very few songs from old albums.

So I'll write about Mac (Vocalist) era. So progressive rock is long, complexed and atmospheric rock music. And metal is just fast and furious heavy rock music. So if you combine these two you'll get Progressive Metal music. Let's say Emerson Lake & Palmer + Metallica = Threshold. If you know what I mean. This band's main leader is Karl Groom who plays guitars and also produce other bands albums not just his own Threshold. Mac is longest and most successful vocalist in this band and he has simple and plain vocal style but can stretch it well. Bit like Peter Gabriel from Genesis. Typical progressive rock singer. But it's clear. Guitars are very technical, heavy, tempo change, aggressiveness and lot of complex melody. Bass is bass you don't hear it much in metal!! lol Keyboards creates atmosphere and add colours to their music. Drums are played by this short black guy who is just brilliant. Well timed and does lot of double bass drumming.

Production is top notch. Crystal clear modern sound. No one do better jobs than Karl Groom. I would strongly recommend "Hypothetical" album and "Subsurface". "Clone" and "Critical Mass" are alright but it hasn't got much killer tunes. After "Dead Reckoning" Mac left and old vocalist Damian Wilson returned and they've been pretty quiet but I think they are still active. They should stay active because if they don't it'll be waste of talents. These guys makes me feel worth following metal and progressive music.

If you are going to listen to Progressive Metal then you better listen to Threshold first then maybe Queensrÿche, Dream Theater or Fates Warning or whoever.

Just before January ends...

Back online since this wednesday 26th! Before it's too late, belated happy new year 2011! And watch this space...