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Best of 2011 – Eric’s Music Picks

The Best

Devin Townsend Project – Deconstruction (HevyDevy/InsideOut Music)

To describe Deconstruction in a nutshell is an impossible thing to do, as it is one of the most bizarre metal albums of the year, and likely the most avant-garde piece of music that Devin Townsend has released yet. Throwing together everything plus the kitchen sink, all forms of metal show their faces in this showing, from progressive to black to death and everything in between, not to mention the backing of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as guest vocals by some of the greatest vocalists in extreme metal. It’s not for everyone, but it more than proves that Townsend’s creative wellspring is far from run dry. (more…)

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Artist: Various

Album Title: Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The Album

Record Label: Reprise Records

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Just in time for the latest Michael Bay CGI/explosion extravaganza, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Reprise Records released Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The Album, or, as it would be title if being totally honest, Transformers: Songs Maybe Loosely Associated with the Movie. As the back of the case proudly proclaims/admits, “a number of tracks may not be contained in the film.” Either way, they are available now in three formats. (more…)

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Title: Splatterhouse

Platform: 360 (PS3)

ESRB: M

Publisher: Nacmo Bandai Games

Developer: BottleRocket, Namco Bandai

Rating:

Review by: Peter David

The name “Splatterhouse” may conjure a B-movie marathon, or an adrenalin-pumping hard-boiled death trap with no escape. The word takes me back to my childhood. I remember playing the original title on a friend’s console. It was one of the few times when you could play an almost-villain. Yeah, the player had to save a girl, but in the meantime relish pounding the living crap out of everything. It also helped that I had a “Friday the 13th” fetish, so when the protagonist put on a glowing hockey mask, I played him like Jason Vorhees.

That was many moons ago, and with my dark childhood aside, I grew and changed with the industry. But it was with great interest that “Splatterhouse 2010” arrived on my doorstep. After placing the disc inside my beloved 360, I came to the immediate conclusion that…this game is not for children. I cannot emphasize this enough. No one who cannot legally enter an “R” rated film should be allowed to even view this. (more…)

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