Review Of 'Never Again' & 'Awaken The Dreamers' from the forth-coming 'All Shall Perish' album

'Never Again' is a a consists of a complex set of technical riffs, piercing vocals and a concurrent breakdown. The song is broken up by slightly sub-dued sections i which only the vocals and guitars can be heard. This is not anything new, and is distinctly reminiscent of some Eternal Lord songs off the new album. The title track - 'Awaken the Dreamers' is slightly more of a head-banger than the previous one. Some extremely clever guitar work stand out, and All Shall Perish even manage to chuck in some supporting vocals in the background, which remind me slightly of As I Lay Dying's new album. The new tracks are distinctly quieter and less 'brutal'. And despite All Shall Perish heading in a new direction the drums are still as integral to the songs as before, the instruments are somewhat less predictable and feel fresher. This album doesn't sound like it will alienate any long-time fans or listeners, but it more subdued than their previous offerings. I can't wait until the album is released as I've been deeply impressed by what I've heard so far. It even makes me want to spin the previous album 'The Price Of Existence' in my iPod, sweet.

Pascal x

We've Sensed It. We've Seen The Signs. Now... It's Happening.

So I went to 'The Happening' at the cinema last night. I'm ashamed to say the trailers drew me in, and so did the amount of hype surrounding M. Night Shyamalan's latest offering. I won't spoil the plot but merely point out the many love/hate elements contained within the excruciatingly brief movie. The concept is nothing new, people running away from death - literally. The acting in this film is ridiculous. Whether it's simply nervousness in front of the camera or something else, the sense of fear just isn't believable. The strange dialogue doesn't help either - weird lines written into the film to break up the tension simply feel out of place. Some of stunts are barely believable, and main characters' wooden voice acting is simply disheartening. The film has potential but just isn't cohesive enough for what it promises. The plot is all over the place, nothing is ever really explained. I felt as if 'The Happening' was a late april fool's joke, a bad one. I would want to see this film again, but not because it's amazing - just to point out it's many flaws. I would certainly pick 'Signs' or 'The Village', as 'The Happening reflects badly on M. Night Shyamalan's talents as a script-writer and director. I hope he's on better form with his next film. The potential for greatness is undeniable.

Pascal x