tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16677784238864616502024-03-13T11:41:33.369-07:00Greg Pratt's Freelance WorkGreg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-1132546908127985842014-05-01T11:21:00.002-07:002014-05-01T11:21:40.608-07:00Vivascene: Forgiving Metallica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my favourite stories I've ever written: Forgiving Metallica.<br />
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<a href="http://www.vivascene.com/featured-articles/forgiving-metallica/">http://www.vivascene.com/featured-articles/forgiving-metallica/</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-9896346659744420782014-05-01T10:46:00.003-07:002014-05-01T10:46:56.119-07:00Business Class: Lili Xu cover story<br />
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I wrote the cover story for the spring/summer 2013 issue of Business Class, the University of Victoria's school of business magazine. This one profiled Lili Xu, a UVic grad with a very unique tale. Head to page 14 on the PDF link below to read my story.<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvic.ca/gustavson/assets/docs/BClass%20SprSum2013.pdf">http://www.uvic.ca/gustavson/assets/docs/BClass%20SprSum2013.pdf</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-21802403578644785902014-05-01T10:42:00.001-07:002014-05-01T10:42:08.705-07:00Douglas: Victoria's harbour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hands down, one of the most confusing stories I've ever written. I remember having pages and pages of maps, historical info, and for-my-eyes-only government documents spread out in front of me trying to piece together exactly who owns what pieces of land in Victoria's harbour. Since the story was published, there has been some movement in a positive direction but I suspect it'll be a while before anyone really has a firm grasp on who owns what in the harbour. For now, hope this story helps.<br />
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The link is to the whole issue's PDF; my story is on page 26.<br />
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<a href="http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DJJ13/index.html">http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DJJ13/index.html</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-4528988336606451582014-05-01T10:38:00.002-07:002014-05-01T10:38:45.038-07:00Douglas: The Great Amalgamation Debate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Few things get Victoria residents as riled up as talk about amalgamation (although the words "blue" and "bridge" work wonders, too). I caught up with one of the big pro-amalgamation voices and one of the big anti-amalgamation voices and let them speak their minds in this fun and interesting Q&A-style piece from Douglas magazine's August/September 2013 issue.<br />
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The link is for the full PDF; my story is on page 18.<br />
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<a href="http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DAS13/index.html">http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DAS13/index.html</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-64802418125336266422014-05-01T10:30:00.000-07:002014-05-01T10:30:54.908-07:00Alternative Press: The Lawrence Arms "Metropole" album review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I started writing for Alternative Press in 2013 and one of my earlier assignment was reviewing the new album from pop-punkers the Lawrence Arms. I fell in love with the album, and my only complaint was the outrageous amount of swearing on it. Humorously, I was interviewing someone from the band not long after this ran and he brought up this review not knowing I wrote it. What could have been horribly awkward turned into a great conversation and just made me love the band, and the album, even more.<br />
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<a href="http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/the_lawrence_arms_metropole">http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/the_lawrence_arms_metropole</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-78892605982265618652014-05-01T10:25:00.001-07:002014-05-01T10:25:17.828-07:00Nexus: Paul Stanley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh, boy. This one was written as a slightly tongue-in-cheek letter to KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley. I forgot what KISS fans are like. I was torn apart over this one. It also became the #1 most-read story in the history of Nexus' website. I still think it's kinda funny, and I still want to interview Stanley. Next time, Paul?<br />
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<a href="http://www.nexusnewspaper.com/2013/07/06/kiss-hit-victoria-journalist-eyes-paul-stanley-from-audience/">http://www.nexusnewspaper.com/2013/07/06/kiss-hit-victoria-journalist-eyes-paul-stanley-from-audience/</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-88456391599447106252014-05-01T10:22:00.002-07:002014-05-01T10:22:32.085-07:00Island Parent - The Deafening Silence of an Empty House<br />
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With a headline that chirpy, how could you not want to read it? This opinion piece for Island Parent magazine talks about how the noise that kids make can drive you to the edge of sanity but, really, you should just sit back and enjoy it. And, clearly, this is written as a reminder to myself more than anything.<br />
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This link takes you to the whole issue; my story is on page 52.<br />
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<a href="http://issuu.com/islandparent/docs/april2014">http://issuu.com/islandparent/docs/april2014</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-21102716948575631702014-05-01T10:17:00.002-07:002014-05-01T10:32:46.141-07:00Revolver - Gridlink "Longhena" album review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love the thought of something this extreme getting in a magazine that's so widely read. Some person goes into the convenience store in the middle of the night to buy some Aspirin or something, and next thing you know, they're reading about extreme grindcore in a glossy magazine. I really like this review and am proud that I got to write about Gridlink's last album: "If this is goodbye, let our lives be filled with parting."<br />
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<a href="http://www.revolvermag.com/news/review-gridlink-longhena.html">http://www.revolvermag.com/news/review-gridlink-longhena.html</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-38708236359296394402014-05-01T10:12:00.002-07:002014-05-01T10:12:45.154-07:00BraveWords: Sam Dunn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Filmmaker Sam Dunn has made a handful of excellent documentaries about heavy metal, plus he's from the same town as me, so it's always fun to catch up and talk shop. This time around, we talked about extreme metal, as he was in the midst of putting together a documentary on death metal and grindcore. This was for BraveWords in September of 2013.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bravewords.com/features/1001497">http://www.bravewords.com/features/1001497</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-37450963720644672482014-05-01T10:10:00.001-07:002014-05-01T10:10:17.764-07:00Exclaim!: Phil Anselmo - Flying the Metal Flag High<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In August of 2013 I got on the phone with Phil Anselmo to talk with the famous metal vocalist about his new tunes. What ended up transpiring was a fun back-and-forth between two serious heavy metal fans. It worked great as a Q&A-style piece.<br />
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<a href="http://exclaim.ca/Interviews/WebExclusive/phil_anselmo-flying_metal_flag_high">http://exclaim.ca/Interviews/WebExclusive/phil_anselmo-flying_metal_flag_high</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-52073024532246165922014-05-01T10:07:00.002-07:002014-05-01T10:07:43.959-07:00BraveWords: Gridlink - "I Need To Get Out Of This"<br />
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When grindcore legend Jon Chang announced that it was time for him to retire from grindcore with one last album, I knew I had to get him on the phone to talk about it. When it was announced that Paul Pavlovich (ex-Assuck) was doing some guest vocals on the album, I knew I had to get him on the phone to talk as well. Two grindcore heroes in one story, this one was really an honour to put together. This was for BraveWords in February of 2014.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bravewords.com/news/218351">http://www.bravewords.com/news/218351</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-29681504910033770692014-05-01T10:03:00.002-07:002014-05-01T10:03:19.371-07:00Exclaim!: Against Me! - This Room Feels Like It's Going to Explode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a story I wrote detailing the history of punk band Against Me! for Exclaim! magazine's March 2014 issue. Not only is that a lot of exclamation points, it's a fascinating story, one that took a ton of time to research and put together but was worth every minute (I'm a big fan of the band).<br />
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<a href="http://exclaim.ca/Features/Timeline/against_me-this_room_feels_like_its_going_to_explode">http://exclaim.ca/Features/Timeline/against_me-this_room_feels_like_its_going_to_explode</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-7112070196979309442013-02-12T21:56:00.002-08:002013-02-12T21:56:15.535-08:00Douglas: Cruise ships<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wrote this story on the love/hate relationship between Victoria and the cruise ship industry for Douglas. It's been a lot of fun diving into these stories that have some pretty polarized opinions and talking to people on both sides. This was certainly no exception.<br />
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<a href="http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DFM13/#/44/">http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DFM13/#/44/</a><br />
<br />Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-22158564890673788472013-02-12T21:54:00.000-08:002013-02-12T21:54:00.268-08:00Today's Parent: Video games replace sports for boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A story I wrote for Today's Parent about the constantly increasing numbers of boys hitting the consoles instead of the fields.<br />
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<a href="http://www.todaysparent.com/teen-boys-video-games-sports">http://www.todaysparent.com/teen-boys-video-games-sports</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-52036787131876941302013-01-11T11:24:00.000-08:002013-01-11T11:24:08.540-08:00Douglas: Hillside Centre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm very proud of this article I wrote for Douglas, Victoria's business magazine, about the changes going on over at the Hillside Centre. As I was researching, the story took me (and itself) in directions I had no idea were coming. Interesting.<br />
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Here's a link to the whole magazine, my story is on page 24.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DDJ13/#/24/zoomed">http://www.pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DDJ13/#/24/zoomed</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-12426860615799294942012-10-01T06:36:00.004-07:002012-10-01T06:36:43.861-07:00Bravewords.com: Necropolis Records<br />
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I started a regular feature over at bravewords.com where I explore in detail the history of a noted underground record label. The first one was about legendary and controversial extreme metal label Necropolis Records. The result was a story I'm really happy with, and one that certainly got some people talking.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bravewords.com/features/1001059">http://www.bravewords.com/features/1001059</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-41462493361974818462012-09-30T22:47:00.001-07:002012-09-30T22:50:05.411-07:00Douglas: Design matters<br />
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An article for Douglas (Victoria's business magazine) about the importance of design aesthetic in business. Douglas is really a good magazine on the rise right now, and I personally love reading good business writing, so it's a lot of fun being involved with them.<br />
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Here's a link to the whole issue; my story is on page 54.<br />
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<a href="http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DON12/index.html#/1/">http://pageonepublishing.ca/publications/DON12/index.html#/1/</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-48294765165483223712012-09-30T22:46:00.002-07:002012-09-30T22:46:42.615-07:00Todays Parent: The Debate<br />
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An opinion piece I wrote for Todays Parent magazine: I can be found arguing for the "con" side for this particular debate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.todaysparent.com/parenting/the-debate-should-big-kids-ride-strollers">http://www.todaysparent.com/parenting/the-debate-should-big-kids-ride-strollers</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-15013408818333077682012-09-30T22:43:00.002-07:002012-09-30T22:43:56.606-07:00Wired: Barfipelago<br />
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I was honoured to get to write a piece for Wired magazine's website about the use of social media during a viral outbreak here in Victoria. <br />
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<a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/norovirus-barfipelago/">http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/norovirus-barfipelago/</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-1746806199319150862012-09-30T22:38:00.001-07:002012-09-30T22:50:54.549-07:00History of Propagandhi<br />
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I put a lot of time into this one... And I think it paid off. A detailed history of one of my favourite bands of all time, Propagandhi, for Exclaim! magazine. I got to interview ex-members such as John Samson of the Weakerthans, who has never spoken at length about his time in the band before, as well as Fat Mike of Fat Wreck Chords/NOFX, who had a very public falling out with the band that I attempt to make sense of here.<br />
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Check it out at the link below.<br />
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<a href="http://exclaim.ca/Features/Timeline/propagandhi-nazi_baiting_hardcore_raging">http://exclaim.ca/Features/Timeline/propagandhi-nazi_baiting_hardcore_raging</a>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-25104643630824426362011-04-25T15:39:00.001-07:002011-04-25T15:48:30.997-07:00Metal Maniacs<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVQ3gh1TSqg/TbX5X8PKGkI/AAAAAAAAADQ/OiXgVj5_PpU/s1600/gpratt1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599655901407091266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVQ3gh1TSqg/TbX5X8PKGkI/AAAAAAAAADQ/OiXgVj5_PpU/s320/gpratt1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This is a blog posting I wrote for the online version of Metal Maniacs, a long-running American heavy metal magazine. I was sort of challenging myself to see how many new albums I could review in a month. It was not a healthy time. Hence, all the blue language.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Greg Pratt's Metal Heart Volume 7: See You In Hell, My Friends</div><br /><br /><br /><div>This will be the last instalment of Metal Heart for a while. Or forever. As real life gets more and more demanding, I realize I cannot listen to 60 new metal albums every month and pretend to give them a fair shake. And while the Metal Maniacs paychecks did afford me the opportunity for insane debauchery and ludicrous amounts of social status, I will have to say goodbye to you, awesome readers. But not before I quickly list off a bunch of shit I got for free this past month under the guise of “reviewing” it “for Metal Maniacs.” (And R.I.P. to EARLY GRAVES vocalist Makh Daniels – you rocked, dude.)<br /><br />It’s a good thing I like FUCK THE FACTS quite a bit. Because I do not like unedited live albums where I’m being told merch is available at the back of the room (what, on my pile of dirty laundry? Commiserating with the silverfish? Waking my kid up? IS THAT WHY MY KID WAKES UP CONSTANTLY? Because Fuck the Facts’ merch is at the back of my room? Jesus.) or that it’s really fucking awesome that I came out to support the band. Because I didn’t. I’m listening to the live album in my underwear, on my computer, totally alienated from the world. They might be playing down the street from me right now. Last time they played here I FORGOT to go see them. I got this release for free. I actually did not support this band in any way! But the singer thinks I did, so, fucking rights, sounds like it’s win-win for me. Anyway, despite the fact that their music is completely difficult to listen to, FTF are awesome, and this live album is actually really cool. “You guys are fucking awesome.” Is the singer talking to me? I’m half asleep, I’m almost naked, I’m pretty sure she does not think I’m awesome. And, man, I’ve been told “we have CDs at the back of the room” like, thousands of times in the flesh. It’s an underground music cliché. I don’t need to hear that when I’m trying to unwind. I do like that the singer is calling all the dudes in the audience “ladies,” though. Alright, joking around aside, I like this band and recommend anything they do, and this live album is actually really ass-kicking.<br /><br />BITTER END’s Guilty as Charged is hardcore. On Deathwish Inc. Who woulda thought? The meatheadness of it all kinda reminded me of Biohazard. Which I kinda really liked.<br /><br />Speaking of garbage that sounds really good (well, that sums up everything in this column, I guess), Montreal tech metallers BENEATH THE MASSACRE have a new EP out (Prosthetic Records). Shit’s got some French title I don’t feel like typing, but let me tell you, this is really, really good. Like, remember hearing Dillinger Escape Plan for the first time? This one made me enjoy technical metalcore again, and it’s been a long fucking time. Horns up, my Canuck brothers.<br /><br />WITHERED also have a new one on Prosthetic, and it has a Latin title I don’t feel like typing, and it’s also extremely good. And extremely difficult, combining as it does death, black and ambitiousness all into one crotchety package. And they’ve never sounded better. Cool band, cool album.<br /><br />Speaking of crotchety, ANAAL NATHRAKH’s The Codex Necro and When Fire Rains Down from the Sky Mankind Will Reap As It Has Sown (yup) have been reissued by Earache in a double-CD package in a nice little box, with bonus tracks to boot. I dig the shit out of this band, who are way noisy blackened grind. All their albums sound the same to me and, because I guess I’m not the toughest chap in the world to please, I like them all.<br /><br />GODFLESH have also gotten the Earache reissue treatment, with a double-CD version of the classic Streetcleaner still sounding as miserable as ever. The bonus disc of live and demo versions is even more misery. But, that’s just drags-on-who-the-fuck-really-enjoys-live-and-demo-versions (seriously, man: who the fuck REALLY HONESTLY enjoys listening to garbage sounding demos and live versions of songs?) misery. Disc one is classic life-is-misery-so-here’s-some-weirdo-proto-industrial-metal misery. Which sounds even better now than it did then.<br /><br />ACCEPT are always awesome, even when they have schmucks who aren’t fucking Udo behind the mic. (Uh, that’s “fucking” as an adjective, not a verb.) Blood of the Nations (Nuclear Blast) totally gave me a sweatpants boner, packed as it is of rad choruses, insanely solid guitar work and general awesomeness. Colour me surprised, but this one’s awesome. But, hey, I liked Russian Roulette too, so I suppose I’m a bit of an Accept apologist.<br /><br />MANIAC BUTCHER’s Masakr (Negative Existence) is the first release from the “legendary” Czech black metal band after a 10-year hiatus, so you can bet some freaks are gonna be leaving the basement to go buy this. Or, more likely, not leaving the basement while they download it and Maniac Butcher somehow make even less money than they ever did before off their raw, no-frills black metal. These dudes pride themselves on no keyboards and no female vox, and you know what? We at Metal Heart can get behind that. And six songs, 30 minutes, some kind of animal squawking in the intro? We can also get behind that.<br /><br />ADVERSARIAL’s All Idols Fall Before the Hammer HeH(Dark Descent Records) is a good example of Canadians playing metal that doesn’t sound overproduced or have melodic choruses. See, told ya we could do it! The demo-level production is a touch distracting, yes, but I dig the snare in a I-used-to-think-Chokehold-were-amazing kinda way. And the black/death tunes are totally acceptable, and way noisy. Especially with that jackhammer piccolo snare sound, which is somewhere between Lars St. Anger-era and some crap forgotten Struggle 7” or something. But, make that snare sound do blast beats and I’m stoked. So, I’m stoked. And, I’m stoked on our song title of the month: “In a Night of Endless Pain, War Came to Flood His Heart…”<br /><br />THE CROWN’s Doomsday King (Century Media) blows my mind, mainly because I can not believe no metal band has used that album title before. Or maybe they have and both The Crown and myself are too lazy to check. Either way, hey, remember The Crown? Man, they used to be great. And, man, they still are. This album shows that these guys really were one of the trailblazers for death ‘n’ roll, and they can still lay down the goods. I kinda thought their last couple were stuck in the doldrums, but this one has some life to its death.</div>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-91983949871348623682009-05-31T23:43:00.000-07:002009-05-31T23:52:30.987-07:00Sam Dunn<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/SiN47_44O_I/AAAAAAAAAC4/sgSELf8I3uA/s1600-h/04H-Feature-Anthropometal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342246555149155314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/SiN47_44O_I/AAAAAAAAAC4/sgSELf8I3uA/s320/04H-Feature-Anthropometal.jpg" border="0" /></a> I profiled Sam Dunn, who directed the successful Metal: A Headbanger's Journey movie, for the Torch, the University of Victoria's alumni magazine. It was a battle of metal nerds for the ages...<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Anthropometal</div><div><br />By GREG PRATT </div><div><br />Sam Dunn looks at heavy metal through an anthropological lens.</div><div><br />SAM DUNN MAKES A LIVING BANGING HIS HEAD. And it’s exactly what he wants to be doing. Because not only is he immersed in the heavy metal music he loves, he’s taking his background in anthropology and using it to question why he—and countless others across the world—have such a love for this often-maligned aural assault.<br />The 32-year-old Dunn and his partner in filmmaking, Scot McFadyen were behind 2006’s breakthrough documentary, Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey. In an ambitious look at the history of heavy metal, and a study of its social and anthropological aspects, the duo filmed in locales world-wide, interviewing many of metal’s biggest names.<br />“We wanted to make a film that would bring in both the metal fan and the curious outsider, that person who had a friend growing up who liked metal but they couldn’t understand why the hell they loved this music,” Dunn, BA ’98, explains over the din of a wildly loud coffee shop. “If you grew up in the ’80s, you had one of those friends. And, of course, we made the film for the curious, or furious, mothers out there who want to understand why their little Johnny listens to Slayer 24/7 in their bedroom.”<br />After it opened in 2005 at the Toronto International Film Festival, the good reviews started rolling in from metal fans (a notoriously tough crowd when it comes to people documenting their culture) and mainstream media outlets alike. The DVD has sold roughly 35,000 copies in Canada alone.<br />Combining what Dunn learned about anthropology at UVic and his passion for the music, the film guides viewers through the huge Wacken metal festival in Germany, explores the dark side of Norwegian metal, and features interviews with most of the metal’s key figures, including Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. Dunn and McFadyen explore the metal community’s unique sense of style, its language, and the fans who are attracted by a sense of rebellious unity.Martin Popoff, BA ’84, a noted hard rock and heavy metal journalist and author, says Dunn’s movie “got an astonishing amount of mainstream press. It made metalheads proud on a number of levels, because, even if it likely didn’t convince tens of thousands of outsiders to take up the cause, it possibly intensified or reinforced the beliefs of those already on the inside.”<br />And why should the non-metal fan care about Dunn’s work?<br />“I think people should care about music, period,” says Dunn. “Music is a hugely influential part of everyone’s life. I think music is not just music; it’s a very powerful medium for shaping who we are as people, for giving us certain emotions or feelings we can’t get through any other experiences. It can be a very transcendental experience. Especially metal.”<br />The movie was such a success that Dunn now finds himself in the role of a full-time filmmaker. He and McFadyen are working on a follow-up, Global Metal, which they hope to release this fall. So far they’ve taken their camera to Japan, Indonesia, China, and Poland and they hope to get to India, Iran, and Brazil. They’re looking at the common bonds shared by metal fans around the world and what it is they experience differently because of economic, social and political conditions, or religious upbringing.<br />It should come as no surprise that Dunn, the narrator and public face of the first movie, has become a spokesman for the metal scene. He appreciates that, but the fame has taken him a bit by surprise and it’s something he’s not always comfortable with. “I don’t mind, but getting asked for autographs is a very bizarre experience. I have trouble dealing with it sometimes.<br />“It certainly wasn’t a goal of mine to become a figurehead. But if getting noticed on the street means people are seeing the film and enjoying it, that’s great and I’m really pleased.”</div>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-48540485401621543722009-05-26T08:21:00.001-07:002009-05-27T17:08:41.205-07:00Business Examiner<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/ShwJKflGd-I/AAAAAAAAACw/ESPyTqek9q0/s1600-h/logo.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340153334035019746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 85px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/ShwJKflGd-I/AAAAAAAAACw/ESPyTqek9q0/s320/logo.gif" border="0" /></a>I'm the Movers and Shakers editor and Calendar of events editor for the Business Examiner, a business newspaper and website based in Victoria, B.C. Below is a sampling of the Movers and Shakers column.<br /><br />Creation<br />Rob Reid is the new chair for the board of the Creating Homefulness Society. Dr. Janice Mason and Louise Carlow are new members to the board of directors.<br /><div></div><div><br />Synergistic<br />Jill Doucette, a fourth-year University of Victoria biology student, has won top honours at the national Nicol Entrepreneurship competition for her green business consulting practice, Synergy. Synergy focuses on implementing sustainable business practices within the coffee, restaurant and retail industries.</div><div></div><div><br />Raisers<br />The Vancouver Island Construction Association held its annual general meeting recently; close to $10,000 was raised for the United Way.</div><div></div><div><br />RRNews<br />J. Peter Meekison, O.C., Ph.D., is serving as Acting Vice-President Academic and Provost at Royal Roads University until a national search is concluded. In other RRU news, professor Audrey Dallimore has been awarded a $75,000 ($15,000 a year for five years) Natural Sciences Engineering and Research Council Discovery Grant to pursue the paleoclimatic, paleoceanographic and paleoseismic history of the northern Pacific coast of British Columbia.</div><div></div><div><br />AGOwner<br />Jim Harrington, owner of AGO Environmental Electronics, recently won the 2008 Premier Award for Technology. Harrington was also recently nominated by the Loyalist Collage Alumni to receive the Outstanding Alumni award for 2008/2009, to be presented in June at the college’s convocation ceremonies in Ontario.</div>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-81703880155222121652009-05-25T23:15:00.001-07:002009-05-25T23:26:00.626-07:00Bridges<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/ShuLLQGS7iI/AAAAAAAAACo/YORzkClf2Ag/s1600-h/img_sponsorLogo.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014808594050594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 46px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/ShuLLQGS7iI/AAAAAAAAACo/YORzkClf2Ag/s320/img_sponsorLogo.gif" border="0" /></a>One of my regular gigs is for bridges.com, a site for youth to check out to read about different career paths and industry trends. It provides me a chance to interview and write about people involved in everything from computer programming to hiking trail maintenance. It's also fun writing for a younger audience. Below are excerpts from a couple of articles I did for them.<br /><div></div><br /><div>[From an article about BMX freestyle:]</div><br /><div>Born as an offshoot of traditional BMX—which stands for bicycle motocross and involves riders racing each other around a dirt track—BMX freestyle involves doing tricks on a BMX bike.<br /><br />Not only does it look super cool, but it feels great to practice tricks enough that you get them “dialed,” as they say in the BMX scene. It’s good exercise, fresh air and gives you a great feeling of satisfaction!</div><br /><div></div><div>Canadian rider Jeff Favelle isn’t a pro, but he has the same passion for the sport that pros do. He’s been riding, on and off, for “the better part of 20 years.” He’s recently re-discovered his bike, and is riding harder—and better—than ever. For him, it’s a hobby that will never go away. So what does he get out of it?<br /><br />“Exercise, stress relief, fun, camaraderie and a sense of progression,” he says. “And it’s fun to visualize stuff and work towards it, like any other goals in life.”<br /><br />Favelle, who responds with a resounding “definitely!” when asked if people should get into BMX freestyle as a hobby, also points out that there are career paths in BMX freestyle, and not always doing the actual riding.<br /><br />“Like anything in life, you can take this sport to the extreme and become a professional,” he says. “Many try, and very few actually succeed—much like other organized, more traditional sports. But the process involved, the training, the exercise, the discipline, and the mental toughness acquired is all worth it and rewarding, even if the end result is not a full factory sponsorship and being paid to ride.”</div><br /><div></div><div>Brian Tunney is a professional BMX freestyle rider in New Jersey who also manages to work in the industry, being the Managing Editor of Dig BMX, a cool BMX freestyle magazine.<br /><br />“Personally, it’s changed my life,” he says of riding. “I’ve been around the world. I’ve learned that anything is possible and I’ll never back down from a challenge. I could go on for days about what I get out of BMX, but on the whole, it’s helped me to understand life a lot more than I ever thought possible. Plus, it gets me to the Bodega everyday for a 99-cent Arizona iced tea.”</div><br /><div>[From an article about business analysts:]</div><br /><div>If you want to become a private eye but can’t quite get into that line of work, perhaps you’ll find your calling with a jump over to the realm of suits and ties. Business analysts are the detectives of the business world. They solve business problems for companies.<br /><br />“A business analyst does something different every day,” says British Columbia-based business analyst Darryl Karleen. “It’s a job that combines investigation and detective-like work. Rather than solving a murder case like on CSI, I try to understand and solve business problems. Sometimes this involves changing the way some people do their jobs so that that they can do it faster or more efficiently. Other times, our solution includes the installation and setup of new computer programs to help the people do their jobs faster or better.”</div><br /><div></div><div>A business analyst needs to have an analytical mind and to be patient and thorough. They also need to be able to understand a variety of graphs, charts and internal documents so having good comprehension skills is also important.<br /><br />Dave Bieg is the chief operating officer of the International Institute of Business Analysts. He says getting a bachelor’s degree is a start on the road to becoming a business analyst. But as with many careers, getting more education is generally a good thing!<br /><br />Kathleen Barret, president of the International Institute of Business Analysis, adds that while there is no specific educational requirement, business analysts do need to have certain skills.<br /><br />“Business analysts should have a good understanding of how business works and IT [information technology] concepts,” she says. “Business analysts must be analytical and not intimidated by ambiguity. It is their job to clarify ambiguity.”</div>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1667778423886461650.post-89570982589663671032009-05-18T21:41:00.001-07:002009-05-18T21:45:42.269-07:00Strung Out<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/ShI5YhGKuKI/AAAAAAAAACg/o5uDrKaZ8P8/s1600-h/music-strungout.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337391601751341218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_972AxZqNDeE/ShI5YhGKuKI/AAAAAAAAACg/o5uDrKaZ8P8/s320/music-strungout.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Another one for Monday Magazine, where I wrote weekly and proofread every week until budget cuts and a tough economy found me and the paper saying goodbye. This one was a blast for me, and I think that comes through in the piece. My last few pieces for Monday were some of my favourites I ever did for them.</div><br /><div>Punk-Rock Carpet Cleaners</div><div>Strung Out change to stay the same</div><br /><div></div><div>Talking to Strung Out drummer Jordan Burns is a lot like talking to any number of dudes who play in California punk bands. He seems happy. Says “gnarly” more than the average person. Is content with where his band is at, some 17 years into their career, even if it hasn’t brought him to our city that often.<br />“We’ve only been to Victoria once,” he says while driving to the studio for day one of recording his band’s new album. “Do you remember the time? I do.”<br />I do too. It was around ’94 or ’95. It was at a venue long-since shut down; I was a young punk rocker and Strung Out was playing with one of my favourite bands, Lagwagon. I had the poster up on my wall for years; at some point I decided to throw it out, which was a mistake. But my memories—however foggy—remain.<br />Burns has memories of that night too; they involve Derrick Plourde, then-drummer of Lagwagon, who killed himself in 2005.<br />“We got to the club and they didn’t have a drum carpet for us. So me and Derrick created this plan where we went to a convenience store, walk in and tell the lady we’re here to clean the carpets. Then we grabbed a carpet and just walked out of there with it. We took the carpet back to the club and had a carpet to play on. That’s what I remember about our show in Victoria with Lagwagon,” says Burns, lost in the memory of Plourde. “It was so much fun touring with him; he was such a character.”<br />For a split second, my mind is elsewhere; it’s 1994 again. Long hair, cassettes, high school. I snap out of it, ask if they took the carpet with them; both Burns and I laugh, but it’s a bit too quick, too loud. We’re both elsewhere.<br />“Yeah. I got that in storage,” he says. “It says ‘Victoria’ on it.”<br />I ask about his band’s new B-sides and rarities collection, Prototypes and Painkillers, and get an update on their upcoming studio album almost as an afterthought. Because we’re really not talking about the present anymore; we’re talking about the past. But one thing about Strung Out is that they refuse to live in the past when it comes to their music.<br />“We’re always challenging ourselves to mix it up,” he says, now stuck in traffic, cursing, late to get to the studio. “This new album is doing that again, it’s completely different. We’ll keep making different sounds, but we always sound like Strung Out.”</div><br /><div>-Greg Pratt</div>Greg Pratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10879272551470980340noreply@blogger.com3