Favourite albums of 2017

Yes, it's another list! How surprising.

Here's a bunch of my favourite albums from 2017, and favourite tracks off them too.

10. Ensiferum - Two Paths

• Favourite Tracks: For Those About to Fight for Metal

9. Kobra and the Lotus - Prevail I

• Favourite Tracks: Light Me Up, You Don't Know

8. Projected - Ignite My Insanity

• Favourite Tracks: Reload

7. Threshold - Legends of the Shires

• Favourite Tracks: The Man Who Saw Through TIme

6. Adagio - Life

• Favourite Tracks: Subrahmanya

5. Orden Ogan - Gunmen

• Favourite Tracks: Down Here, Forlorn and Forsaken

4. Almanac - Kingslayer

• Favourite Tracks: Children of the Sacred Path

3. Anthriel - Transcendence

• Favourite Tracks: Under Burning Skies, Rhapsody of Fire

2. Dragonforce - Reaching Into Infinity

• Favourite Tracks: The Edge of the World, Ashes of the Dawn

1. Ayreon - The Source

• Favourite Tracks: Everybody Dies, Run! Apocalypse! Run! 

Runner Up mentions (in no particular order):

Alestorm - No Grave Bu the Sea
Eluveitie - Evocation II: Pantheon
Wintersun - The Forest Seasons
Voyager - The Ghost Mile
Elvenking - Secrets of the Magick Grimoire

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Rewatch & Review Part 4

02.07 Lie To Me

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Buffy: “You’re going to die, and the only hope you have of surviving this is to get out of this pit fright now, and my god, could you have a dorkier outfit?!”

Review:

This one is a bit meh, but there’s some deeper motivations at the end that make the whole episode mean a whole lot more, so it gets a bit of a bonus for that. Also for Drusilla.

02.08 The Dark Age

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Xander: “Ooh, gang, did you hear that? A bonus day of class, plus Cordelia! Mix in a little rectal surgery & it’s my best day ever!”

Review:

A great concept for a demon, a great look at some of Giles’ past. The Giles/Calendar thing is kind of sweet too. But on the whole not a perfect episode and perhaps could have explored this particular creature a little more before the happy ending.

02.09 What's My Line? (Part 1)

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Principal Snyder: “Where is she?”

Willow: “Who?”

Snyder: “You know who.”

Willow: “You mean Buffy? I just saw her-”

Snyder: “And don’t give me that ‘I just saw her a minute ago, she’s around here somewhere’ story.”

Willow: “But… I did just see her a minute ago and… she is around here somewhere!”

Review:

I shall review this 2-parter as a whole, see next eps review!

02.10 What's My Line? (Part 2)

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Kendra: “She died?”

Buffy: “Just a little!”

Cordelia: “You’ve probably been planning this for months!”

Xander: “Right, I hired a Latvian bug man to kill Buffy so that I could kiss you.”

Review:

The first half of this double episode has a few great moments but a much slower pace. Though a lovely Bangel scene and some cliffhangery moments.

Second episode is basically ahh the strangeness of Kendra! I never did like her much as a character, but I liked what it did for Buffy. Also, Oz! Oz-and-Willow! My gosh the ramping up thing is huge for them.

And then those ridiculously awkward Xander-Cordelia moments which I still don’t really understand.

02.11 Ted

Rating: 2.5/5

Quote:

Cordelia: “Feel like home… If it’s the fifties, and you’re a psycho.”

Review:

Such a very strange episode. An unfortunately high creep factor of the (mostly) regular kind as opposed to the usual supernatural kind that Buffy usually encounters. A bit uncomfortable and eugh.

02.12 Bad Eggs

Rating: 2/5

Quote:

Joyce: “Don’t you ever think about anything besides boys & clothes?”

Buffy: “Saving the world from vampires?”

Joyce: “I swear, sometimes I don’t know what goes on in your head.”

Review:

MORE EUGH, and this time it gets worse than eugh, or even gyeurgh. Okay I rate eps lower when I get grossed out, but also there wasn’t exactly much storyline except gyeurgh & then kill them all.

02.13 Surprise (Part 1)

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Oz: “I’m gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I’m kinda nervous about it, actually. It’s interesting.”
Willow: “Oh… well, if it helps at all, I’m gonna say yes.”
Oz: “Yeah, it helps. It creates a comfort zone. ...Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?”
Willow: “Oh! I can’t!”
Oz: “Well, see, I like that you’re unpredictable.”

Review:
It’s almost like either a lot of things happen in this episode or not very much does, but it’s all just the start leading up to the next few fantastic episodes to come. Oz & Willow! A bit of background behind Jenny Calendar. Some nice big bad lead up (on a few levels). And of course Bangel!

02.14 Innocence (Part 2)

Rating: 4.5/5

Quote:

Willow: “I knew it! I knew it! ...Well, not knew in the sense of having the slightest idea, but I knew there was something I didn’t know!”Review:
Part 2, even better than part 1. The reveal, the shock & horror, the endless epic bad guys, much creep factor, the freaking rocket launcher and just so much fun (dark, dramatic fun that is).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Rewatch & Review Part 3

Season 2!

02.01 When She Was Bad

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Giles: “I must consult my books.”

Xander: “Oh, 8 minutes and 33 seconds, pay up! ...I called 10 minutes before you’d consult your books about something.”

Xander: “Well we could grind our enemies into talcum powder with a sledge hammer, but… gosh we did that last night.”

Review:

The return of the Slayer to quiet Sunnydale after a nice long Summer break and complete traumatic stress on the part of Buffy means for some intense vampire bashing. Fun times.

02.02 Some Assembly Required

Rating: 3/5

Quote:

Xander: “So, this ‘chair woman’, we are talking about Miss Calendar, right?”

Giles: “What makes you say that?”

Xander: “Simple deduction. Miss Calendar is reasonably doll-some. Especially for someone in your age bracket. She already knows that you’re a school librarian, so you don’t have to worry about how to break that embarrassing news to her.”

Buffy: “And she’s the only woman we’ve actually ever seen speak to you. Add it up, it all spells ‘duh’.”

Xander: “Now, is it time to have a talk about the facts of life?”

Review:

Bit of an ew factor to this one (though nothing at all compared to, say, Game of Thrones season 7 so far). A fairly average episode in terms of storyline and not really any overarching/long term stuff going on, but it does have a fair amount of Whedonisms!

02.03 School Hard

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Spike: “How’s the annoying one?” [referring to the Anointed one]
Drusilla: “He doesn’t want to play.”

Review:

First half of this episode is a bit slow but then, yep, that’s right, it’s the first episode featuring Spike and Drusilla! Definitely fan favourites and some of the best characters on the show in the long run. Plus Spike’s introduction is badass!

02.04 Inca Mummy Girl

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Ampata: “...I like you too.”
Xander: “Really?”
Ampata: “Really.”
Xander: “That’s great. Really?”
Ampata: “Really!”
Xander: “That’s great! ...you’re not a praying mantis are you?”
*Awkward pause*
Xander: “Sorry. Someone else.”

Where do I know that face from?

Seth Green appears as Oz for the first time in this episode! A very small role here, but soon to become an ongoing character. You might know him from Austin Powers as Scott, Dr. Evil’s son, or from action movie The Italian Job, or you may recognize his voice because of Robot Chicken and, of course, Chris Griffin (and various other roles) in Family Guy!

Review:

A relatively simple, yet fun episode. Poor Xander’s dating life though, that’s all I can say without too much spoilerific detail. For a change, I’m fairly sure there was actually not a single vampire in this episode. It does happen!

02.05 Reptile Boy

Rating: 2.5/5

Quote:

Buffy: “Right! Who needs a social life when you’ve got your very own Hellmouth?”
Giles: “Yes! You have a duty, a purpose. You have a commitment in life. Now how many people your age can say that?”

Review:

Much like Season 1 Episode 8 I, Robot, You Jane, this episode also tries to teach us the dangers, in this case, of drinking alcohol, going to parties and joining frats. Oh also of worshiping ancient creatures and relying on them for wealth and power.

02.06 Halloween

Rating: 5/5

Quote:

Cordelia: “So what’s his story anyway, I mean, I never see him around.”
Willow: “Not during the day, anyway.”
Cordelia: “Oh, please. Don’t tell me he still lives at home, like he has to wait for his dad to get back before he can take the car?”
Buffy: “Cordelia, I think his parents have been dead for a couple hundred years…”
Cordelia: “Oh, good… I mean, what?”
Buffy: “Angel’s a vampire… I thought you knew.”
Cordelia (sarcastic): “Oh, he’s a vampire? Of course. But the cuddly kind, like a care bear with fangs?”

Review:

I love this one! Halloween specials are great, and this is definitely among the best. Characters turning into whatever costumes they happen to be wearing? Hilarity follows! And Willow & Xander get to have some more badass moments too.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Rewatch & Review Part 2

The second half of the first season, aka when the show really starts ramping up. There are some real great ones in here.

01.06 The Pack

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Giles: “So, Xander’s taken to teasing the less fortunate?”

Buffy: “Uh huh”

Giles: “And there’s a noticeable change in both clothing and demeanor?”

Buffy: “Yes.”

Giles: “And otherwise, all his spare time is spent lounging about with imbeciles?”

Buffy: “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Giles: “It’s devastating. He’s turned into a 16 year old boy. Of course, you’ll have to kill him.”

Buffy: “Giles, I’m serious!”

Review:

Possessions, Hyenas (or are the African Wild Dogs?), Nicolas Brendon having an opportunity to show off some different acting skills, and some damn horrifying things I’m not going to mention specifically just in case of spoilers. Okay, screw it SPOILER ALERT the death of Sunnydale High’s first principal. d’awww.

01.07 Angel

Rating: 4.5/5

Quotes:

Buffy: “For us to have a conversation about a guy there’d have to be a guy for us to have a conversation about… was that a sentence?”

Buffy: “You read my diary?? You don’t even know what I was thinking about! Hunk can mean a lot of things. Bad things. And when I said your eyes are penetrating, I meant to write bulgy!”

Angel: “Buffy, I-”

Buffy: “-And A doesn’t even stand for Angel for that matter. It stands for Ahmed, a charming foreign exchange student. So that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you!”

Angel: “Your mother moved your diary when she came in to straighten up. I watched her from the closet. I didn’t read it, I swear!”

Buffy: “Oh. ….OH”

Review:

Such a big episode, revealing the truth about Angel and his past! The shock! The horror! The agony of Darla’s annoying voice!

01.08 I, Robot, You Jane

Rating: 2/5

Quote:

Buffy: “I get your point. This guy could be anybody. He could be weird or crazy or… he could be a circus freak! He’s probably a circus freak!”

Xander: “Yeah, I mean, we read about it all the time, you know. People meet on the net, they talk, they get together, have dinner, a show… horrible axe murder.”

Buffy: “Willow. Axe murdered by a circus freak… ok ok what do we do??”

Where do I know that face from?

The computer nerd Dave in this episode (seen above in orange) is played by Chad Lindberg who is also known for the character Ash in early seasons of Supernatural.

Review:

That one episode about the dangers of talking to strangers over the internet. Watching it today with all the ‘technology’ involved is somewhat hilarious.

01.09 The Puppet Show

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Giles: “Our new Fuhrer, Mr Snyder.”

Willow: “I think they call them principals now.”

Review:

I FORGOT ABOUT THE CREDITS-SCENE. Don’t miss it, it’s actually the funniest thing! I really liked the twist in this episode as well. Great fun, much weird, such insanity, a good creep factor, what’s not to like?

01.10 Nightmare

Rating: 4.5/5

Quote:

Not so much in the quotes department this episode, but there were a couple of hilarious scenes. Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately) you’ll need to watch the episode for those because I can’t put them all in words!

Review:

This is definitely one of my favourite episodes of first season. Starts off fairly strong and just gets stronger as it goes! Plus an interesting part of revealing characters’ nightmares is what it also reveals about the characters themselves.

01.11 Out of Mind, Out of Sight

Rating: 4.5/5

Quote:

Buffy: “So you’ve come to me for help?”

Cordelia: “Because, you’re always around when all this weird stuff is happening. And I know you’re very strong. And you’ve got all these weapons… I was kind of hoping you were in a gang.”

Where do I know that face from?

The Invisible Girl (in her few visible scenes) is played by Clea Duvall, who I knew from being Matt Parkman’s FBI buddy in Heroes, and also the movie Ten Inch Hero. Others may know her more recently from roles in American Horror Story Season 2, Better Call Saul and Veep.

Review:

Another great one, interesting concept, excellent ending of the episode, and we get to see a bit more into Cordelia’s life and her character development through this episode.

01.12 Prophecy Girl

Rating: 5/5

Quotes:

Buffy: “Fine! That’s okay, I can’t put it off any longer. I have to meet my terrible fate.”

Giles: “What?!”

Buffy: “...biology.”

*SPOILER WARNING*

The Master: “You were destined to die. It was written!”

Buffy: “What can I say? I flunked the written.”

Review:

The epic finale to an overall fantastic first season, all the prophecies, storylines and bad guys come to an end (Just in case there couldn’t be a season 2), Cordelia almost *almost* starts acting like a real person and Buffy gets ultra badass.

Season 1 Sum-Up

Average Rating: 3.75/5
Best Episode: 12: Prophecy Girl, the season finale.
Worst Episode: 8: I, Robot, You Jane -the dangers of the internet.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Rewatch & Review Part 1

I have been inspired to rewatch Buffy (with the intention of rewatching Angel as well once I get to that stage) and giving each episode a short review, throwing in a favourite quote or two from each episode as well, because Whedon-speak is the best!
For simplicity I'll be rewatching in this order suggested by the Buffyverse Wiki.
So here's the first few episodes as watched over the last few days!

01.01 Welcome to the Hellmouth

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Willow: “But aren’t you hanging out with Cordelia?”

Buffy: “I can’t do both?”

Willow: “Not legally.”

Review:

Back to where it all started (forgetting about the weird movie that was technically the origins of Buffy). A great first-half-of-pilot, introduces everything while still also being exciting and entertaining and funny. Xander's character introduction is my favourite, it just about sums up his character for the entire first season.

01.02 The Harvest

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:
Buffy: “Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school.”
Xander: "Oh, yeah, that's a plan. Coz lots of schools aren't on hellmouths."
Willow: “Maybe you could blow something up! They’re really strict about that.”
Buffy: “I was thinking of a more subtle approach, you know, like excessive not-studying.”
Giles: “The Earth is doomed.”

Review: 

The pilot concludes, already a seemingly could-have-been main character has been killed! No one is safe! A bit slow for the first half of this episode but they did have to go through the lore and the research I suppose.

01.03 Witch

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Giles: “This is madness! What can you have been thinking? You are the slayer, lives depend upon you… and you enslave yourself to this… this cult?”

*Camera pan to Buffy wearing a cheerleader costume*

Buffy: “You don’t like the colour?”

Review:

An interesting introduction to Buffyverse witches (which, wouldn’t you know, becomes important later on!). Not exactly amongst my favourite storylines or characters though.

01.04 Teacher's Pet

Rating: 3/5

Quote:

Giles: “...this computer invasion that Willow is performing on the coroner’s office, one assumes that it is entirely legal?”

Buffy & Willow: “Of course.” “Entirely.”

Giles: “..right. Wasn’t here. Didn’t see it. Couldn’t have stopped you.”

Review: 

Ah the giant bug episode. A classic trope of grossness that must be killed. I will always think of Men in Black first though! An alright episode overall, but not great in Buffy standards.

01.05 Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

Rating: 3/5

Quote:

Willow: “It’s a big deal. Tell her!”
Giles: “I’m afraid it’s very big.”
Willow: “Thank you! ...wait, what are you talking about?”
Giles: “What are you talking about?”
Buffy & Willow: “Boys!”

Review:

Another basic baddie ep, leading up to the creation of “the anointed one” who may in fact free the Master. Ooohhh. A fairly average episode as Buffy goes though. Oh no one boyfriend down, so many more to come?

Favourite (and Least Favourite) Pokemon

My favourites here are chosen based on how much I liked using them in-game, whether I liked their look (yes I like cute pokes like cyndaquil sorry not sorry), how badass they are, and I attempted to not just load up on legendaries everywhere.
Least favourite chosen based on anything from being annoying as all hell in-game to ridiculously useless &/or stupid looking. That's about that.

Okay so I guess I have to admit I pretty much skipped the games for Gen 4 & 5. Also 3 is still my favourite, love the ORAS remakes!

Gen I

Favourites:
Charizard
Eevee
Aerodactyl
Least Favourite:
Zubat
Tentacool

Gen II

Favourites:
Cyndaquil
Houndoom
Umbreon
Least Favourite:
Pichu
Cleffa

Gen III

Favourites:
Blaziken
Gardevoir
Aron
Absol
Breloom
Kyogre
Rayquaza
Least Favourite:
Whismur
Loudred
Feebas

Gen IV

Favourites:
Darkrai
Empoleon
Least Favourite:
Bidoof
Budew

Gen V

Favourites:
Tirtouga
Zoroark
Darmanitan
Least Favourite:
Dwebble
Patrat

Gen VI

Favourites:
Delphox
Pangoro
Aegislash
Aurorus
Least Favourite:
Slurpuff
Dedenne

My Favourite Albums of 2015

Okay so I'm a little late with this one, but it's about the time of year for at least 1 best of 2015 list, so here's mine!

These are my personal favourites from albums released in 2015 that I had the pleasure of enjoying this year in approximate order counting up to my favourite. Though I do suck at ordering and may or may not change my mind about 10 times in the process.

10. Symphony X - Underworld

• Favourite Tracks: Run with the Devil

9. Cain's Offering - Stormcrow

• Favourite Tracks: Stormcrow, I am Legion

8. Gloryhammer - Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards

• Favourite Tracks: Universe on Fire, Rise of the Chaos Wizards

7. Disturbed - Immortalized

• Favourite Tracks: Open Your Eyes, The Sound of Silence

6. Amorphis - Under the Red Cloud

• Favourite Tracks: Under the Red Cloud, Dark Path

5. Blind Guardian - Beyond the Red Mirror

• Favourite Tracks: The Ninth Wave, Miracle Machine

4. Apocalyptica - Shadowmaker

• Favourite Tracks: Riot Lights, Hole in my Soul

3. Powerwolf - Blessed And Possessed

• Favourite Tracks: Army of the Night, Higher Than Heaven, Blessed & Possessed

2. Orden Ogan - Ravenhead

• Favourite Tracks: The Lake, Ravenhead, A Reason to Give

1. Kamelot - Haven

• Favourite Tracks: Fallen Star, Veil of Elysium, Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy)

Runner Up mentions:

Five Finger Death Punch - Got Your Six,

Iron Maiden - Book of Souls,

Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful,

Soilwork - The Ride Majestic

Leprous - The Congregation

Music Quiz

I'm going to try my best not to repeat any bands!

1: A song you like with a color in the title

Violet Sky - Angra

2: A song you like with a number in the title

Two Weeks - All That Remains

3: A song with a season in the title

Winter is Coming - Hammerfall

4: A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about

I don't really have someone I'd rather forget?

5: A song that needs to be played LOUD

Highway to Hell - AC/DC

6: A song that makes you want to dance

Devil's Dance Floor - Flogging Molly

7: A song to drive to

Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi

8: A song about drugs or alcohol

Happy Little Boozer - Korpiklaani

9: A song that makes you happy

The Smoke - Amorphis

10: A song that makes you sad

Farewell - Apocalyptica

11: A song that you never get tired of

Come and Get Your Love - Redbone
(Thank you Guardians of the Galaxy!)

12: A song from your preteen years

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous - Good Charlotte
...or maybe that was early teens, I'm not sure.

13: One of your favorite 80’s songs

One - Metallica

14: A song that you would love played at your wedding

I Believe In a thing Called Love - The Darkness
So I have no idea and just chose a song with love in the title

15: A song that is a cover by another artist

any of Northern Kings songs -probably the most epic of all cover bands

16: One of your favorite classical songs

Hall of the Mountain King, Moonlight Sonata, Swan Lake
erm yes I have metal versions of each of the above songs, but hey the originals are nice too

17: A song that would sing a duet with on karaoke

So I'm just going to choose a song with 2 singers that I like?
Phase III: Entanglement - III. Collision from Ayreon's epic The Theory of Everything
and really you have to listen to the whole 2-disc album to get all the story and characters and such, but this part just happens to have 2 of my favourite singers -Tommy Karevik & Marco Hietala.

18: A song from the year that you were born

Roll the Fire - Conception

19: A song that makes you think about life

Blackbird - Alter Bridge

20: A song that has many meanings to you

Can I do a whole album instead?
Time (album) - Wintersun.
40 minutes of progressive/symphonic/melodic death metal heaven.

21: A favorite song with a person’s name in the title

Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin

22: A song that moves you forward

We're Gonna Make it to the End - H.E.A.T.

23: A song that you think everybody should listen to

Ravenhead - Orden Ogan
That whole album is amazing, and they're not a very well known band. So go listen! Now!

24: A song by a band you wish were still together

I can't even think of any o.o

25: A song by an artist no longer living

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

26: A song that makes you want to fall in love

...Kisses From You - Masterplan?
I don't really have anything that fits in this category either

27: A song that breaks your heart

Brother - Orphaned Land

28: A song by an artist with a voice that you love

EdenEcho - Kamelot

29: A song that you remember from your childhood

Not sure if childhood or just younger preteen years perhaps
In the Shadows - The Rasmus

30: A song that reminds you of yourself

Gimme Choko - Babymetal
because I like chocolate, and metal, and crazy weird things?