Top 5 films of 2012

For film, 2012 was a year for anticipating sequels.  The Dark Knight Rises, The Expandables, etc.  I was also looking forward to films that got a good buzz at Sundance.  These five flicks have been films that I've been playing on my dvd player more than twice.

#5. Chained

This was a really good flick that I was kind of afraid to check out.  As I've mentioned on the "Chained" review, I'm not a fan of films with rape.  Jennifer Lynch made a really great film with a lot of atmosphere, psychology, and suspense.

#4. The Cabin in the Woods

Most Hollywood horror flicks suck balls.  It was nice to see a Hollywood horror film like The Cabin in the Wood.  A lot of my friends told me what a really good flick this was.  It was a pretty smart flick with some good laughs and some good blood flow.  Of course this was from the director of The Avengers.  Maybe that's why I enjoyed this flick.

#3. Excision 

One of many films that got great buzz at this years Sundance Film Festival.  A very dark film with a lot of great cameos.  Not since Fred Vogel's character in August Underground, have I hated the main character.  Anna Lynn McCord did an amazing job playing the delusional/sad fuck, Pauline.

#2 Rec 3: Genesis

When Rue Morgue did the story on Rec 2, I was excited to read when they were doing two more.  But when I read the reviews about Rec 3, about how in the 2nd half, I wasn't sure.  But being a fan of the first two, I still wanted to check it out.  Rec 3 was shot very well.  And even though they added some humor, it was still one of my favorite horror flicks in 2012.

#1. The Raid: Redemption

This got a huge buzz at this year's Sundance Film Festival.  I'll admit, this flick isn't horror, but there are a bunch of violence.  The action is amazing.  There's a reason why people have been raving about this.  It told a really good story.  But wow!  The main character was bad arse.  If their was a film I would recommend this year, it will be The Raid: Redemption.

Top 5 Albums of 2012

Well, I hope everyone is going to have a awesome NYE.  2012 was a great year for music.  Found some new bands that I now love.  And enjoyed some new music from my favorite bands.  Hope 2013 brings us some more great music.

#5. Pig Destroyer- Book Burner

I have been waiting for Pig Destroyer to make a new album forever.  After listening to this album so many times, it gets more intense.  The deluxe version made my day with the bonus disc of punk covers.  And J.R. Hayes short story, The Atheist, was a good read.

#4. Evoken- Altra Mors

Oh how I heart death/doom.  And Evoken continue to make that sub-genre awesome.  Very dark and brutal.  These guys never disappoint.  If you're a fan of doom and it's many micro-genres, you have to pick this up.  A great listen when reading The Walking Dead.

#3. Author & Punisher- Ursus Americanus 

This album was also very intense.  Harsh and brutal.  Tristan Shone is one of the few pioneers of this generation.  His shows are even much intense.  A lot of my co-workers who are into dub-step became really huge fans of Ursus Americanus.  More bands/artist should be very creative like Mr. Shone.

#2. Royal Thunder- CVI

My favorite new band of 2012.  CVI, Royal Thunder's first album is one rocking album.  "Whispering World" is my favorite song of 2012.  It was nice seeing these kids get some great reaction.  It was really refreshing to see a more hard rock band (compared to the more extreme).

#1. Unsane- Wreck

I've been a huge fan of these guys since I saw the video for "Scrape".  And since then I've been a fan of noise rock.  Chris Spencer and Co. have made another great album for me to rock out.  Got see them withe Melvins, which was awesome.  Their cover of Flipper's "Ha Ha Ha" was the greatest cover I've heard in a while.  This is the album I recommend people to pick up.

August Underground

Probably one of the most talked about horror in the past decade.  Fred Vogel's August Underground has started a buzz in the horror community as "The Sickest Film Ever Made".  Some horror fans love this film because it's sick and demented.  Others hate it because it's sick and demented.  And then there are the folks who think this film is all hype.  It's shot terrible.  And that it doesn't have a plot.  I have to say first off, it's a found footage/psuedo-snuff film.  When going into this film, you have to pretend that you found this video on the floor when you were taking a walk.  Out of curiosity, you pick up the video and take it back home and put it in your VCR.  You then find out that this isn't any ordinary home video.  This is a video diary of two deranged fellas.   

The film opens up with the camera man pouring some beer on the ground when he is approach by his friend, who invites him down to the basement.  In the basement, he finds a naked girl, strapped to a chair, covered in blood, sweat, and shit.  The camera man gets a total kick out of it and then his friend shows him the victim's boyfriend, dead in the tub, with his cock cut off.  We then see footage of the two psychopath doing normal things that everyday people do.  Like fooling around in a farm, visiting places, going to a concert, and getting a tattoo.  Then back to the chaos in which they killed a hitch hiker, a old lady, staring a fight at a gig, terrorizing a convenience store, killing two brothers, and a pair of hookers.

One of the reasons why Fred Vogel made August Underground was to show the true and ugly side of violence.  As great as the special effects are, there is nothing glamorous about the violence portrayed in August Underground.  This film was meant for you to feel sick.  In a generation where horror fans root for the psychos and monsters, you just feel disgusted by the actions of the two men.

Most mainstream horror fans aren't gonna enjoy this.  They've complained about the quality.  That there's no plot.  And worse of all, they complain that the women in the film "aren't hot".  Uh, yeah.  Unlike in the real world where there are a lot of hot big booby women, who enjoy getting naked.  Goddamn, I hate those fans.  But anyhoo, this was a great first effort by Fred Vogel, who has now started his own company (Toe Tag Inc.) and has made six other films.  And despite the mix reactions, August Underground, to me, is a cult classic with a really dedicated following.

If interested, you can purchase the dvd at www.toetag.biz.  There, you can find other dvds and ToeTag gear.  Spread the sickness.  -Mikey O)))

Code 415 Podcast Episode 3 (Femme Fatales)

To make up for last month's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I've put out a play list only consisting of All-Girl bands and Female Fronted bands.

destitute- "I Don't Wanna Play With You Anymore" (Left For Dead ep)

Deerhoof- "The Tears and Music of Love" (Offend Maggie!)
Purchase "Offend Maggie" Here

Bikini Kill- "Rebel Girl" (Pussy Whipped)

Made Out of Babies- "Cooker" (The Ruiner)
Purchase "The Ruiner" Here

Civet- "Alibis" (Hell Hath No Fury)
Purchase "Hell Hath No Fury" Here

The Creepshow- "The Garden" (Sell Your Soul)

destitute fb

Deerhoof fb

Civet fb

The Creepshow fb

Pig Destroyer- "Book Burner" Deluxe Edition (2012)

Probably one of the most anticipated albums of this year.  Mostly because this album was hyped to be a "back to basics" album.  On the last Pig Destroyer albums, PD dabbled on a lot of experimental stuff.  With "Book Burner", they wanted to make a killer grind album.  

"Book Burner" may not sound like "Prowler in the Yard" or "38 Count of Battery", but it's still a intense album.  And with the loss of drummer Brian Harvey, Pig Destroyer were able to get Misery Index's Adam Jarvis to play the skins.  "Book Burner" also has guest vocals by Jason Netherton (Misery Index), Richard Johnson (Agoraphobic Nosebleed), and Katherine Katz (Salome, Agoraphobic Nosebleed).  Most of the songs I enjoy are with Katz,  Her and Hayes sounded great on "The Bug".  But of course I'm a huge on female vocalist in extreme music.  Scott Hull also has some great riffs on "Booker Burner".  Especially on "Valley of the Geysers"  and "Kamikaze Heart".

Now if you have the deluxe edition, you get a short story that J.R. wrote called "The Atheist".  And also a second CD with some awesome hardcore punk covers by The Misfits, Minor Threat, and Circle Jerks.  If it's still available, I highly recommend getting the deluxe edition.  Evan though I would have like for PD to continue from "Phantom Limb", "Book Burner" is still a heavy album.  By itself, I will give it a 4/5.  But with the deluxe edition, I give it "5 Hitlers punched in the face"

To purchase "Book Burner", click on the links below

Book Burner at Amazon

http://www.relapse.com/book-burner-cd-deluxe-edition.html

The Code 415 Podcast ep. 2

Tonight's podcast will be short due to a cold.  So hopefully you enjoyed today's football game, tonight's episode of the Walking Dead, and if you bought the ppv, Hell in a Cell.  Now it's time for some awesome music.

Akem Manah- "The Black Flame" (The Devil is in All of You)
Purchase "The Devil Is In All Of You" Here

Lush- "Hypocrite" (Split)
Purchase "Split" Here

Flesh Parade- "Coping With It" (Kill Whitey)
Buy or Download "Kill Whitey" Here

Mike Patton- "A Perfect Twist (Vocal)" (A Perfect Place OST"
Purchase "A Perfect Place" Here

Blood Red Shoes- "You Bring Me Down" (Box of Secrets)
Purchase "Box Of Secrets" Here

"LIKE" these bands on Facebook:

Akem Manah fb

Blood Red Shoes fb

Mike Patton fb

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AKEM MANAH "THE DEVIL IS IN ALL OF YOU" (2010)

I figured until the new release comes out, I'll review Akem Manah's debut album, "The Devil is in All of You".  Hailing from the Northwest, Akem Manah is a death/doom band started by Dead Nedry.  "The Devil is in All of You" is a brutal and crushing album.  Has a very dark atmosphere surrounding it.  You can totally hear the Ramsesses and Electric Wizard influence (which Nedry has been very open about).  But I do have to say, I hear a little bit of Nile on opener "The Black Flame".  At least that's the first impression I got when hearing it.  All seven tracks are very punishing.  Other favorite tracks are "Apocalypse" and "The Haunting of Saint Luciferi".  Akem Manah seem like a band that can put on a very crushing show.  But until then, Akem Manah is only a studio band.  Highly recommend it if you're into doom or would like to support DIY doom.  And of coures, this album gets "5 Hitlers punched in the Face".  It's that intense.

Akem Manah CD Baby store

Akem Manah website

Akem Manah fb page

Excision (2012)

  

I've been waiting for this flick since it's Sundance screening.  The flick is about a teenage girl by the name of Pauline.  Pauline is a disturbed and delusional girl.  She's an outcast at school.  Her mother tends to be very controlling.  Her dad is very laid back.  And she has a sister suffering from crystic fibrosis.  Pauline has aspirations of becoming a surgeon to help her sister with a lung transplant.  And she also has sexual fantasies about blood and guts.  She also doesn't believe in God, but yet she prays to him.

Excision is a very smart and disturbing film.  It also stars people who are very well known for playing controversial roles like Traci Lords, John Waters, Malcolm McDowell, and Ray Wise.  The bloody sexual fantasies are very well done.  They are very arty, so kudos to that.  And AnnaLynne McCord plays the troubled Pauline very well.  For people who aren't into independent/underground films may hate the ending.  It's totally not "Hollywood".  There's also a very funny scene where she ask this bloke to go down on her, only to find out she's still on her period.  I really enjoyed this one and give it a 8/10.  So if you want to watch a crazy flick for Halloween, go check out Excision.

Purchase Excision Here

The Code 415 Podcast, Episode 1

Welcome to the very first episode of the Code 415 Podcast
Today's playlist includes:

Hellbeard- "Locomotive" (Scarecrow)
Purchase Scarecrow Here

Jucifer- "Lucky Ones Burn" (If Thine Enemy Hunger)
Purchase If Thine Enemy Hunger Here

Melt-Banana- "Free The Bee" (Teeny Shiny )
Purchase Teeny Shiny Here

The Gathering- "Broken Glass" (Souvenirs)
Download Souvenirs Here

Dial- "If You're Not Battling, You're Dead" (Dial ep)
Buy or Download "Dial EP" Here

Blut Aus Nord- "Procession of a Dead Clown" (The Work Which Transforms God)
Purchase "The Work Which Transforms God" Here

CHAINED (2012)

I'm not really that much into films that has rape and violence towards women. Now I have seen films like "I Spit On Your Grave", "Maniac", "New York Ripper", etc. But today's slasher/serial killer flicks seem like the same old bs. The killer lived a rough childhood. Believes that all women are evil sluts, so he takes it upon himself to rid off these "demons".

Anyhoo, this is a film directed by Jennifer Lynch and starring Vincent D'Onofrio (aka Gomer Pyle).  The movie is about a mother and her son, Tim, who just left watching a horror flick at their local theater, and  take a cab back home.  While on their way, the cab driver misses their exit and ends up taking them to a open field in the middle of nowhere.  Not knowing what's going on, the mother demands the driver to let them out.  The cab driver stops, gets off the cab and knocks the mother out.  The cab driver takes the mother and son to his home, which he then grabs the mother inside his house, while Tim is trapped in the cab, having to hear the screams of his mother.  After the cab driver raped and murdered Tim's mom, he takes Tim inside and makes him his slave and calls him Rabbit.  Tim has to clean up his house, make him food, bury the victims, and cut up newspaper articles about the victims going missing.  While the cab driver, Bob, leaves his house, Tim tries to escape and finds Bob waiting for him outside.  Because of this, Bob puts Tim in chains so he won't try to escape again.   Later, Bob decides to make Tim his protege and gives him books about the women anatomy. When Tim becomes a teenager, Bob tries to get Tim into his ways, but seeing how killing is wrong, Tim refuses and begins asking questions.  From there on we see Tim and Bob's relationship almost becoming like father and son.  Where the father wants his boy to be this, but the son develops a form of rebellion.

I have seen Jennifer Lynch's other flick Boxing Helena, and Chained is just as good.  To all the boys who are fans of rape/serial killer flicks, there are no boobies and no rape scenes.  The film focuses on Tim and all the horror he witnesses when Bob brings his victims back home .  We also see the relationship between Bob and Tim.  How Bob tries to teach Tim that it's ok to rape and kill women because "they asked for it".  There is a surprise ending that left me say "wow, really?"  But all-in-all, it's a really good flick and give it a 8/10.  A good effort by Jenny Lynch.  It may not be a gorehound's wet dream, but the story is really great.

To Purchase Chain on DVD/Blu-Ray:  Click Here

HELLBEARD "SCARECROW" (2010)

For a couple of years, I've been a huge fan of Oakland's Hellbeard. Their take on the sludge/post-metal sound almost has a very 80's Bay Area sound. In 2010, they released their debut album, Scarecrow, which I've been playing on rotation in my car for many years. The album starts off with "Locomotive" which is a awesome opener. Very Neurosis-esqe with a lot of steam. By the end of the song, you wish the song continues because that drum part was great. The title track is a also favorite of mine's. But the one that I enjoy the most is "Colloused", which also has a great ending that you don't want it to stop. As a matter of fact, I always press the repeat button. Usually while listening to a full album, I like to keep the flow going. But can't help myself but to hear that song one more time. So in conclusion, Hellbeard's "Scarecrow" gets "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face". Believe me, after listening to this album, you just want to punch 5 Hitlers in the damn face. -Mikey O)))-

  www.facebook.com/hellbeardband
  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hellbeard

Code 415 Podcast Promo

On Sunday, Oct. 21, I plan to launch the Code 415 Podcast.  I'll be playing a lot of underground and indie music.  And some very well known bands.  I'll also play some unsigned bands and artist.  Most of the music will be new to most people.  So tune in every Sunday night at here or at code415.podbean.com.

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Coming soon

Hi, the name is Mikey.  I'm a huge fan of underground/indie music and horror films.  I've created Code 415 as a platform to share all the bands and films that I love.  Hopefully people will check out my blog if they ever want to see what's new in music and film.  I also plan to host a podcast and a youtube show pretty soon.  So check back later.  By then, Code 415 will be up.