Tower of Pain

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Fit For a King dropped their new single “Tower of Pain” last night. Nothing officially announced yet however a new album seems imminent. They recently started playing it in their live set.

On the surface, its trademark heavy. This track channels more deathcore than usual for this band. There’s a tinge of more recent Whitechapel in tone. This helps adding more weigh to an already cumbersome sound. Interestingly there’s really only one breakdown and it’s not a memorable one, i.e. “Warpath” or “Disease” but that’s not a demerit.

“Tower of Pain” intentionally aims to wreak havoc at its conclusion, ending very much like “Deathgrip” but with choir backing. It’s equally satisfying as a contemporary breakdown letting the open notes hang and the high-hat keep the right pace in the empty spaces.

It’s hard to predict what kind of clue this gives for their fifth studio album. This track is nice as an appetizer, but not as the main course. In 2016 they took their place as my second favorite album of the year. Expectations are high.

Count It Up

Spin wrote a good take on J. Cole’s album of the moment KOD. They see the lack of solutions in his lyrics as an album weakness. Perhaps he doesn’t have the answers. The answer(s) vary for each personal situation. What may be good for you may not be for me. I don’t take issue with this album. I need to try hear again but there’s so much to listen to right now.

My friend Ryan made a post-Coachella list of strong performances but I haven’t finished those artists yet. Just heard great albums by J. Cole, Say Sue Me (great Japanese indie band), Polythia (I’m addicted), This Curse (great NJ metalcore with no spammy breakdowns), and the new Touché Amoré single.

A Perfect Circle’s album bored me. Listened to a few singles but didn’t want to hear the rest. TesseracT’s new album dulls me too but Sectioned’s, aka the new Dillinger Escape Plan, new album feels like the breaking moment for them. Father John Misty’s new album cycle just started as well. Kanye West and his projects with Nas and Kid Cudi will also demand attention. Last year was pretty great but 2018 already seems like loaded.

Podcasts have also taken their space and priorities with me. You have Round 1 of the NBA playoffs with Lebron struggling, Pelicans surprisingly sweeping The Blazers, Jazz and Thunder, and all the great storylines. This week you the NFL draft unfolds with all its drama. I don’t find this draft particularly strong but maybe the most unpredictable in a few years.

Unfortunately I’ll miss the first few rounds due to work but should be fun to catch up on that night.

Living Through

Living Through

If you don’t already know I’m transitioning into a new job. After 2 years at the old place I found a new home and opportunity to grow professionally. The last two years were so formative for me. I would not have been ready to take on this new challenge without these experiences. While simultaneously nervous and excited I’m reminiscing about where I’ve been and where I’m going now.

Funny that Pianos Become The Teeth put out Wait for Love on my last day. It’s a record about the wonderful people in our lives. I met so many wonderful people at the last job, some I hope to remain friends with forever. This new job will introduce me to whole new world of people I hope to connect with. I can take the lessons I’ve learned about working relationships and foster new and strong connections.

Over the last few years I’ve found more self happiness in redefining myself mentally and physically. Setting goals and making self agreements have become tools to attaining happiness. Learning the only person who can make you happy is yourself was life changing event. Since then I’ve achieved in so many areas I wanted to succeed in.

Where I’m still struggling however remains in romance. Ironically I should learn to Wait for Love but I’m a bit impatient. I’ve had moments of courtship and that’s done a lot for my self-esteem and confidence in myself, yet I haven’t found the connection I’m looking for.

Part of it, I think, has to do with my priorities. Building a career is the main focus and goal in my mind. I’m driven to ascend within an organization. Much like a romantic relationship I want recognition. Covet what I bring to the organization. Still it’s not enough to just be on my own. I can accept being alone but that doesn’t fulfill me.

Work, friends, family, and living my way is enough, but it doesn’t complete me.

I want a relationship to happen organically but I want it to happen so badly. Surely this is part of the problem. Wanting to meet someone now but unwilling to wait. “Dry Spells” from Wait for Love resonants with me. Kyle Durfey talks about infatuation with someone and wanting more than whatever he’s referencing.

I find myself in the same enigma. I’ve met a couple of people and wanted more of their time. More of their affection. I can’t tell if it was there or not but I wanted it.

As of this moment I’ve only met one person in the last two years who captured my attention away from work, my faults, and everything else on my mind. She took me. Sometimes I don’t have the words to fully describe my emotions so I use songs. “Love on Repeat” sounds in music and words how she made me feel for a moment. I’m still looking for that sensation again, and I haven’t it felt since.

Nothing’s to blame and maybe that’s the point. Wait for the right person at the precise moment. One of my greatest fears in life is missing that opportunity. Fail in the moment. Perhaps if I can learn to let go of those fears this will become easier and weigh less on my mind.

I wanna end this by just pointing out a conversation I heard about love. These women talked about wanting romance, intimacy, and courtship, not sex necessarily. I want all of those things too, especially courtship.

Maybe it’s just American society but in this culture it seems nothing’s going to happen unless I make a move and attempt to court someone. I’ve come to accept that despite having some reservations about it. In Denmark, where I’m from, woman seek men just the same as men. Criticize me if you wish but that’s exactly what I want.

It’s nothing to expect but if someone proved just how much they wanted me by their actions she’d have my heart. That’s what I want simply put. To be wanted as much and in the same way as I want them. Recognizing that is easy. What’s hard is having the patience to let that happen organically. Waiting for love to happen.