[duff138]

Got it today.  I'll give it a spin immediately.  music selection looks great.  
 
 And yes you can call Mercyful Fate a good band,  if fact I think they are one of the greatest metal bands of all time, one of my favorites.  "Don't Break the Oath "  is my favorite record my them!

[Brad]

Hey Rob,

You got me on that list somewhere?

Thanks!

[nathanm]

I've listened to the disc and  there's a noticeable 'generation gap' between my stuff and Rob's, if you wanna call it that, but I wouldn't necessarily call it "poppier",  just from a different time.  There's definitely stuff in my own collection on here as well. (Slayer, Mercyful Fate, Flots, Maiden, Fight (sold that one though).  I remember seeing a zine from, I can't remember Portugal or something, but one the cover in the list of bands interviewed they put an errant space in there so it said:

MERCY FULFATE

So everytime I think of them I think "Mercy Fulfate" instead of "Mercyful Fate".  Okay, not the funniest story in the world but there it is.  I picked that one up years ago in a used disc shop.  Of course, the cover was irresistable.  "A Dangerous Meeting" is my personal fave.  I prefer some of the King Diamond albums though.  King Diamond puts on a great theatrical show that's for sure.  I saw him a few years ago and it's amazing how far a little corny drama and stage effects can go, well especially when you've got 30 other bands just jamming with static lights.

Anyway, now random comments:

Helloween - mmm, can't say I care for that singer at all.  Give me Kai Hansen anyday. Heh!  (I don't actually own any Helloween per se though)  "Mr. Torture sells pain to the housewives in Spain"???  What the...  Rhythmic guitar chunks were pretty good sounding and the tune itself is okay.  Still, I prefer the guy who sings in the bat range!

Lynch Pilson - Crikey!  Get infinitdriver on that track ASAP!  He'll be busy for hours!  Ugh.  Almost as bad as a Bathory album in the clipping regard.

Metal Church - I have some familarity with them.  I do have a Reverend tape which is pretty good.  (World Won't Miss You) I always thought the singer was very Messiah Marcolinish, in appearance and approach to singing if not tone so much.  That snare in the beginning sounds like a drum machine.  Weird.  I dunno why the recording industry as a whole has such a desire to make the drumkit sound so phony and artificial sometimes.

Jason Hendricks - ahhhh...wanking!   This guy's on Shrapnel isn't he? GIT graduate?  Am I right?  Sorry, no offense meant! Ha!  

The Priest track was good, but disappointing.  At no time did I feel compelled to kill myself.  I think we've been cheated here.  Tipper once  promised me a good suicide now where is it?  I haven't even bought a gun yet, much less pointed it at anyone.  Sheesh!

Overall it's pretty good, Rob.  If I had to criticize anything it would just be the track order, but no biggie.  For example going from the Hendricks noodling to Slayer is rather jarring I must say, but hey I'm not complaining I know what a big project it is.

So are we going to be treated to a Duff138  compilation next perhaps?  (P.S. Good call on the Probot album man - I just got that.  Music's allright but that cover is gorgeous.  Spot varnished, even. Ooooh! )

[Rob Babcock]

You are now, Brad!   I'm running a bit behind, meant to get some in the mail today, but I went to Lord of the Rings:  Return of the King, and that took all day.  I was gonna print out some more last nite, but my printer's ink carts ran out in mid-page!   I have a refill kit, but it takes a little time to fill them.  I've now filled the carts & am ready to rock again.  I intend to let the coatings dry overnite this time (thanks for the heads up on the fumes, NathanM!).

I'm anxious for some feedback on the music (hope you all like "the precious!" ); there's some weird stuff, some really great stuff, and some guilty pleasure type stuff.  Something for everyone.

[Rob Babcock]

Yeah, I've never heard an album driven so hard into clipping as the LP one.  Not my doing, either, I can assure you!

The order took me almost a whole day!   There are compromises no matter what order, but I wanted to mix the harder stuff in with some stuff that's a bit slower just to vary the tempo a bit.  There are really no "ballads", so I tried to prevent it from getting monotonous.

Yeah, Hendricks just shreds, not an awful lot of subtlety.  But I'm into a lot of guys pretty much just like him.  What can I say, the noodling might be "musical masterbation" but I dig it!  Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, David T. Chastain, David Valdez, Ynwie...that's my idea of guitar.  He actually is on "MP3.com", which I imagine means basically unsigned.  The guy is basically self taught.

I agree wholeheartedly that Kind Diamond's solo stuff is more interesting.  But I think I included about as "commercial" or "palatable" song as he has!  I thought to include "The Oath", but that's perhaps too offensive to send to strangers.  Plus I wanted to keep the songs short to fit more songs.

My brother talked me into "Mr. Torture":  I do love the song, but it was my 2nd choice.  The newest disc, "Rabbit Don't Come Easy" definately shows a playful, humorous side to the band that I really like.  "Mr Torture" is definately meant to be tongue-in-cheek (by them & me).  I like their old singer too, and it was tough to decide between new and old.  But at the end of the day I guess I just like their new stuff more.  Go figure.

Did you like the Masterplan song that Kai sings on?

[nathanm]

Your notes say that it's Michael Kiske on that track.

[Rob Babcock]

Yeah, sorry.  It is Kiske- he's the original singer of Helloween.  At least he sang on "Keeper of the Seven Keys" and all the later ones, up til Andi Deris took over.  On "Heroes" he sings a duet with MP's singer.

Kai Hansen was one of the guitarists.

[nathanm]

This is what I had in mind when I wrote that.  This is Blind Guardian "Lost In The Twilight Hall" with Hansi Kursch swappin' lines with Kai.

http://my.execpc.com/~saruman/temporary_pics/KaiHansen-ButIcannotFIIIIIIIIIIIND!!!.mp3

That's really the only reason I like Kai Hansen!

P.S. file size = 666KB!

[Rob Babcock]

Did you care for the MP song or is it a bit to "poppy" for your tastes?  There are a lot of good ones on that disc, but as you well know picking just one is fraught with peril.

[nathanm]

I liked it.  I wouldn't say it was 'poppy' though.  Fifth Angel was good too - I seem to recall seeing that album cover in days of yore if I remember correctly.  (that guy's crown kinda looks like Sauron's in LOTR doesn't it? Heh!)

That reminds me - my Shanling deck had a lot of trouble reading track 19-21 for some reason. (the Redbook thing  maybe?)  It searched and searched and eventually played it, but it was confused or something.  Weird.

[bubba966]

That reminds me - my Shanling deck had a lot of trouble reading track 19-21 for some reason. (the Redbook thing  maybe?)  It searched and searched and eventually played it, but it was confused or something.  Weird.

Uh-oh, the disc doesn't conform to Redbook standards?

   

So Nathan, have you had any other problems with discs over the Redbook time restrictions?

[Rob Babcock]

A Shanling?!   The "Encyclopedia Metallicus" was never conceived with a player like that in mind!  I tested each one in an old CD carousel & in the Pioneer DVD player in my bedroom.  The time does push the Redbook standard out to the limit.  Plays fine on all my players, though.

[bubba966]

How long is it? If I recall properly, the time limit on Redbook discs is just over 74 minutes.

[nathanm]

It's 78:36!  For shame Rob!  

Actually I have had some "seeking" problems with other CD-Rs on the Shanling now that I think of it.  Maybe that is a non-Redbook format issue.

[Rob Babcock]

It clocks in around 78 minutes, give or take.  But I've personally never experienced any problems on any machine with discs under the 80 minute limit of a 750 MB disc.

[bubba966]

80 minutes is an Orangebook standard (I think).

But maybe Nathan's Shanling just doesn't like your disc Rob?...  

[Rob Babcock]

If not then there's no accounting for taste!   Seriously, though, I'm not sure I can endorse playing my disc in a machine like that.  I did coat the disc with an "experimental" sealer, and while I don't think it could harm a player I hate to see someone take a chance with a player that spendy.

[bubba966]

Seriously, though, I'm not sure I can endorse playing my disc in a machine like that.  I did coat the disc with an "experimental" sealer, and while I don't think it could harm a player I hate to see someone take a chance with a player that spendy.

Hmm, guess that leaves out my DV-AX10.   And I don't have any cheaper player, other than my 'box...

[Rob Babcock]

It makes bitchin' car stereo music- if your truck is in running condition nowadays...you must at least have a CD player there, right?  If only to play your DD soundtrack!

I doubt it'll harm any player, but I haven't yet tried it in my Denon universal player.  But once the coating is dry it should be just fine.

If your 'box is a newer one it should be quiet enough to still hear the music!

[bubba966]

It makes bitchin' car stereo music- if your truck is in running condition nowadays...you must at least have a CD player there, right?  If only to play your DD soundtrack!

Truck isn't running yet, and it doesn't have a CDP...

If your 'box is a newer one it should be quiet enough to still hear the music!

Yeah, my box isn't the old super noisy type. But it's still not as quiet as I'd like. And it's waaay noisier than my AX10. But that thing is the quietest optical player I've ever seen. And why would a $200 game machine be anywhere near as quiet as a $6,000 DVDP anyway?