The (not so) tragic break up of Span (not Spam)

Norwegian teen idols and rockers Span announced their retirement today. After 6 years, 2 albums, a gold record and hundreds of gigs, they had enough.

The members of the band previously known as Explicit Lyrics, including Norwegian (in)famous children Television and TV commercials star Jarle Bernhoft, proclaims

"...If a band is going to function properly, everybody in the band needs to share the same dream and have the same level of ambitions. We felt that it was time to move on and do something new. We wan keep our friendships intact, therefore it seems like a good idea to give in before we start to quarrel..."

according to the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.

Like Span, I always thought they needed higher musical ambitions. The break up of the band is more than fine with me. Sweet!

Pick of the day: Metalliville.com

This dedicated underground metal webzine has been around for some years now, and I had not visited lately, until today.

However, I noticed this bizzarre looking illustration on their homepage. Well, actually not on their homepage, because their first page, www.metalliville.com/index.htm, says "The UK's Finest 4ever Rock & Metal Webzine!..." You have to click the link to actually enter the page.

Then, this "art work" takes up half of my screen... There's no logo, no navigation, no nothing. I'm pretty sure this page brakes every usability rule ever made by mankind.

OK, I get it, Amityville, Metaliville. But seriously guys? That house aint that good looking.

Well, it certainly seems like a nice page, or what? I visited Metalliville while looking for a review of the latest El Caco album - "The Search". I did not find it, but I found a review of their second album, "Solid Rest".

"Their debut 'Viva' was promising but their second release 'Solid rest' simply comes across like a handful of other albums in the stoner world. All in all, the truth is, is that it is rather depressing and miserable and won't really be appreciated unless you are new to the scene.

It's just chuggy guitars and has no originality to it whatsoever. This band can do better. The only song that really stands out is 'Mrs. Coma' - a quieter number that's like a different band altogether. 4/10 By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS"

Is it possible to rewrite this review and make it about the "art" on website?

"Your art work was perhaps promising at first, but now it simmply comes across like a handful of drawings in the stoned world. All in all, the truth is, is that it is rather depressing and miserable and won't really be appreciated unless you are new to the scene.

It's just chuggy and has no originality to it whatsoever. You must do better. The only thing that really stands out is...uhm. ".

Just a thought.

As I Lay Dying - Shadows Are Security

You might wanna check out the latest album from American metalcore-bashers As I Lay Dying: Shadows Are Security (Metal Blade 2005) - if you're into metal goes emo-hardcore. Nice riffs, tight drums, singing and screaming. Their debut album "Frail Words Collapse" blew me away at first, but as time went by my passion kinda chilled. Now they're back, they're christian - and they are g(o)od.

You want this: fans of Killswitch Engage, Gothenburg-metal, Unearth, The Agony Scene, Trivium

Why you don't want this: If you really hate this kind of "trend-metal", or if you're just plain tired of the genre... then you really don't need this.

Now, I'm gonna get me Miasma - the new Black Dahlia Murder album...

PS. The Dahlias should put some more money into their ISP, as the "Bandwidth Limit Exceeded message" is now what meets the surfers...