the hardest ones to love

Introduction Post!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:44:45 GMT

So I've done loads of friending memes recently so I can use LJ as more than a forum for complaining about things and can make some fandom friends.

I figured it was about time I did an introduction post which I can direct people to rather than having to repeat myself all the time about things. So under the cut is a rather big post about who I am, my family, fandoms and suchlike. Sorry about the size, I tend to ramble a little. No, seriously, this is HUGE. So I've put it in sections, so you can pick and choose what you'd like to hear about. Followed by a brief summary at the end, heh.

Let's start of with the basics. My name is Vanessa but I go by Vee most of the time. This is partly because nobody in the North of England seems to be able to spell my name (Vinesser was the most interesting spelling I've seen) and also because my nana used to get mine and my sisters names mixed up. I live with my dad, my younger sister, Mel/Melly (Melissa) and our two cats, Dandy and Gandalf in a tiny village in North Yorkshire.

I'm an Aries, sharing my birthday with Nathan Fillion and Quentin Tarantino and I was born in '87. I'll let you figure out the age at the time you're directed to this post. I currently work for GAME as a sales assistant and I actually really enjoy it. I also do volunteer work at my local theatre, behind the bar and as an usher. Met a lot of interesting people there, most impressive probably being John Cleese.

I've been known to abuse sarcasm. Just a warning there. Also, when I'm trying to be sincere, I can come off as sarcastic. This is due to the fact that many years ago, myself and a friend watched 48 straight hours of Friends. Chandler rubbed off on me and it's just never gone away.

I don't want to be a downer but I feel I need to mention this as it can explain a lot of my actions/comments/thoughts. I am a recovering depressive. I was bullied ever since my first day of school due to the way I looked, the way I acted and all the reasons kids tease other kids, which has left me with a lot of self-esteem issues. I had a few friends in RL but due to differing reasons, they all abandoned me so I find it very hard to trust people. My sister really is my best friend and was basically my rock through the years, pulling me from rock bottom and giving me a kick in the ass when I needed it. Also, as it may be mentioned over the coming months, due to impending 'anniversaries' and the time of year this was written, I lost my mother in January '08 and my grandpa a few weeks later. I'm dealing, I'm okay but I do have bad days as everyone does. Just a heads up there. Most of my comments about this will be hidden behind a cut, I don't want you to feel obliged to read or comment, it's usually just written down to make me feel better. But sometimes things in my shows or whatever will intertwine with these issues and I'll make a passing reference and I figure the explanation may make my comments seem less obscure or odd.

Right, sad time is over, let's move onto the good stuff.

I'm a slash shipper. I'm not remotely ashamed of it, damnit. I find slash ships more enjoyable than het ships, although I do make a few exceptions and they're usually canon already. (Jordan/Cox from Scrubs, Rogue/Gambit from X-Men TAS, Mellie/Paul from Dollhouse). I write a fair bit of slash and all of my work is housed here (and yep, the name is a reference to a certain controversial British comedian, who I LOVE).

I'm relatively new to the whole TV fandom thing if I'm honest, only really getting properly into it since late '08. I've always been a passionate fan of the things I've enjoyed and read the odd bit of fic, but I'd never really got as involved as I have now. Bandom however, I've been around for years.

My primary fandom/bandom is Avenged Sevenfold. They're my favourite band, the first place I've felt really comfortable and my fellow fans are some of the best damn people in the world. I've seen them live five times, have their logo tattooed on my lower back and basically owe them everything. My favourite song is Second Heartbeat, favourite album is Waking The Fallen and Synyster Gates (Brian) is my favourite member/one of my idols. My OTP is Synyster Gates/M. Shadows (Matt). I tend to refer to them members by their real names, jsyk. Synyster Gates/Zacky V was the pairing I cut my teeth in but after reading one too many fic with Zacky crying, I just couldn't deal with it anymore. Plus, I find it pretty damn hard to not ship a pairing when one member genuinely came out with "I love that horsecock". Come on, now. I love writing in this fandom and you'll find they make up most of my fic journals entries. I also co-mod the main A7X slash community on LJ, a7x_slashness. I started out posting there years ago and now I'm in charge, kinda spooky.

I've also written in the My Chemical Romance bandom and while I still listen to the music, I don't write or read for them anymore.

TV fandoms now, as that's how I've met most of you.

My main TV fandom is Chuck. I got into it late, only the end of 2008 but I fell in love pretty much straight away. My favourite character is Captain Awesome, I've started fearing for his safety these days though. But more on that at another time. Or somewhere in my tags, I can't remember. Just ask if curious. My favourite episode is 'Vs. The Truth' from season one, although I do love them all. My OTP is probably Chuck/Casey, although I do love some Chuck/Bryce and Captain Awesome/Anyone (seriously, is there anyone he hasn't hit on?). I've basically adopted Zachary Levi, although he doesn't know it yet. I met him and Adam Baldwin at the T1 event in April '09 and he was just the sweetest, most excitable man I've ever encountered. He rubbed my back and called me darlin', I was wobbly legged all night after that, heh. I've written a little Chuck/Casey but I find it strangely hard to write for this, so I read more than anything.

Supernatural is my secondary TV fandom. I am very new to the show, having only started watching it in August... and finishing all four seasons in two weeks. (It would have been faster but I was on holiday and expected to go places. Fun fact about that, I watched Phantom Traveller on a plane... and I am terrified of flying). I'm a Dean girl, Sam fell out of my favour when he mocked Metallica in the pilot. You don't mock Metallica. No, I love them both really but I'm definitely more of a Dean girl - as is my dad. My favourite episode is probably On The Head Of A Pin, although there are a fuckload of others I love as well. It's hard to choose. My OTP is, like so many, Dean/Castiel. I've written a couple and spend a good while reading it all too. I'm working on more but I'm not sure whether any of it will see the light of day. Other pairing wise, I've got a bit of a thing for Castiel/Crowley as well. Dunno where that came from but I love it, all one fic of it, heh. I personally can't read Wincest, it squicks me out as my sister and I are also stupidly close. However, if you enjoy it, I'm not about to judge. I will read J2 quite happily, but I prefer Jensen/Misha and Jensen/JDM. In addition to all this, I'm a proud minion/wife, how can you not be?

I watch both of these shows on the US timeline, acquiring them as they appear online.

Then of course, there's a the Jossverse. I could go on forever about this. I'm still not really involved in the Jossverse fandom, short of discussions with other fans about the shows. I don't read the fic, don't really ship. But I do love it all more than anything, so it really needs mentioning here. If I had to order the shows, Firefly would probably be top, with Buffy/Angel joint second, then Dollhouse. Dr. Horrible doesn't count as a show but damnit, I love that too.

And finally, X-Men. This is where it gets complicated. I do read the comics/graphic novels when I can get my hands on them but if I'm perfectly honest, I'm more savvy with the TV series' and movies. However I do know my X-Men lore and can engage in conversations about a number of the comic arcs. Just don't judge me if I balls up my canon. I hate Evolution but I love the 90's animated series and Wolverine & The X-Men. I grew up on the former from the age of about 7 onwards. My favourite of the X-Men - as in the character I have partially tattooed on my arm favourite - is Gambit. I believe he's the reason I usually go for the cocky, charming, morally challenged, handsome men in my fandoms. Because as a Gambit fan, I need an opinion on this, I didn't hate the movie portrayal of him. It wasn't perfect but that wasn't Taylor Kitsch's fault, like so many have made it out to be, he did a good job with what he had, the accent notwithstanding. However, the character was clearly thrown in as an afterthought and didn't have enough time to really wow audiences. I would happily watch a Gambit origins film with the same actor, just give him a better dialogue coach and work from canon plzkthx. Seeing as I've mentioned the films now, X2 was the best, then X1, Origins, then X3 was the worst.

Other shows I enjoy but am not really fandom active in are Friday Night Lights, Nip/Tuck (Sean/Christian is just... ick), How I Met Your Mother and others which may be mentioned but more in passing than anything.

As previously mentioned, my favourite band is Avenged Sevenfold. Along with them I'm also a big fan of Metallica (seen twice), Machine Head (seen four times), Papa Roach (seen twice), Trivium (seen once), Dream Theater, My Chemical Romance (seen four times) and Lady Gaga. They're the bands I tend to buy music from but I will listen to almost anything. From classic rock in the car with my dad, to cheesy pop when I'm in the mood for something silly, to the soundtrack for The Fountain when I'm feeling sombre. There's some music I can't listen to though, bands in the vein of Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco and Paramore tend to annoy me... as does most female fronted rock with the exception of Lacuna Coil. But usually I gravitate more towards anything with heavy/intricate guitar work. I play guitar myself, not very well but I do play. Which reminds me. If you hear me talking about my baby, it is not an actual child, it's the petname (since I got him in September '08, so pre-SPN watching before there's assumptions made) for my favourite guitar. The Synyster Gates Schecter. Do love very muchly.

When it comes to favourite films, one stands above all others and will be recommended on a semi-regular basis. I'm completely in love with The Fountain. I think it is the most beautiful, moving love story ever and it simultaneously manages to uplift me and break my heart every time I watch it. The soundtrack is as beautiful as the film itself, always gives me goosebumps. When it comes to films, I tend to prefer big weepies, horror movies and comic book films. Horror movie-wise, the shittier and cheesier the better. I don't like bad horror films which are just boring, they have to be so bad they're good. Like The Covenant or Devour. Just OTT, so agonizingly bad, they're utterly fantastic. Although, I do appreciate a good genuinely scary movie, such as The Descent or Wolf Creek - both of which scared the living shit out of me. Comic book wise, I've already listed my favourite as X2, although I also love Iron Man (who doesn't?), Watchmen and Sin City. I don't really like romantic comedies (except one week out of every month) at all, in fact I'm not keen on a lot of comedies. I prefer the 'bloke' comedies (The Hangover etc) as they're billed nowadays as they tend to be actually funny, rather than a load of hackneyed cliches.

On a similar topic, I'll get favourite actors out there as well. I will watch anything featuring Antonio Banderas (Spanish and English, Law Of Desire FTW), Robert Downey Jr (pre-Iron Man, tyvm, I was one of two people who saw Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang in my local cinema on it's opening weekend!), Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Jason Statham and Taylor Kitsch (who I got into completely by accident after watching all of Friday Night Lights to see if he could handle Gambit). They don't even have to be good films. I own Buying The Cow for fucks sake.

- Vee (short for Vanessa).
- Aries, 22.
- Lives with dad, little sister and two cats in Yorkshire.
- Works in a computer game shop and a theatre.
- Faced a lot of emotional shit.
- Loves Chuck, Supernatural, A7X and boisex within these things but no incest!
- Loves Jossverse but never really got into the boisex within these things.
- Wants to do despicable things to Gambit, papercuts be damned.
- Likes 80's style heavy metal performed by 'modern' band and crazy lady pop singers.
- Has a stripy guitar considered her child.
- Favourite film is The Fountain, loves shit horror.
- Likes most of the cast of X-Men Origins, men who drive cars stupidly, men who pretend to be cats and Robert Downey Jr.

If I missed anything in that, I'll be amazed but yeah, just ask.

Collectormania 2009 Report!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:06:10 GMT

This is basically copy/pasted from Gaia but if I forget anything, I'll probably add it later, heh.

After Melly and I got separated and COMPLETELY freakin' lost, we finally made it to the event about 10.45-ish. (And when I say completely lost, I mean, she ended up in Kensington while I was stuck in Earl's Court trying to find her, stupid phones not working on the underground!). We went straight for the autograph session and were stood waiting for Misha for a while, so we explored the stalls... and I ended up with a Dean amulet. I also got an Independents badge for my jacket. Do like. I also picked up a photo of Sam and Dean to go on my wall at some point, tis rather awesome.

Then I went and got my autograph with Misha, I was so nervous but that kinda faded away when I got to him. He asked how I was and I said "Not too bad." so he goes "You're bad then? But not too bad. That's okay, I like that.", cue inward squeeing. He then spotted the Bangers & Mash written along my arms and was smiling. I just go "Well how else are you going to know I'm one of the minions willing to help you overthrow the monarchy?", cue him grinning and going "Well I wouldn't be talking to you if you weren't, I'd make you go all the way back there.", cue more inward squeeing because smiling and silliness? Gah, adorable.

Then came more wandering and then the photo session. Melly went first, complete with toy lion, she tells him that the lion's his biggest fan and he decides to set him in the crook of his elbow while they get a picture. Then the photographer calls me forward and calls me Sir. Misha just shakes my hand (oh my God, SOFT HANDS!) and goes "Hello sir!" and we're giggling. The photographer realizes his mistake and takes another picture for me for free as an apology, so I got two for one! And I don't like them, I look so evil! One of them I look like I'm going to push him over, the other I just look super evil. But I'll post when I can scan them, so you can see how lovely he looked on the day. My sister's picture is so nice, damnit.

I didn't get a photo or autograph from Julie and I feel really bad about that now as she's so lovely!

Right, now for the talk, I'll have to see what I can remember, I'm sure more will come to me.

- If he or Julie could play any other character, it'd be young Mary, this caused Misha to become obsessed with her for the rest of the talk. For example:
- When asked what the strangest thing he'd had in his mouth was, his first response was "Young Mary.", he then told us a story about how as a kid, he used to try and impress other kids by eating weird shit and how his mum - who was there too! - ha said if you eat a little dirt it helps build your immune system, so he used to eat tons of the stuff. He then told us he'd put a garden snake in his mouth - shudder - and told us a charming story about how to impress kids in school, he licked a sick bat. Apparently, it didn't impress them.
- He and Julie decided that angels don't have sex in the usual way, they use staring. He didn't seem to realize this is exactly how the Dean/Cas slash got started with the eyesex. He liked to pretend that Cas and Anna had a hot, steamy eyesex love affair which they demonstrated.
- Apparently Julie gets paid extra to make out with Misha in his trailer. This made Misha feel cheap.
- Cutest thing EVER award has to go to this little kid who was dressed as Cas, the kid asked him why he'd wanted to be in SPN. Misha - the big sap - comes out with "Because I knew one day I'd get to meet you!", n'awwwww. (Who I figured out just before was with captainpixie, he was so sweet!)
- Like I said I didn't get to ask my question but my sister did get in the obligatory slash question. scarletshimmer was offering whoever would ask him for a slash fic prompt a tenner. So Melly did. And he scarred himself for life. He insists he doesn't read it - which we all know is LIES - and then for the prompt? Asked for Bobby/Impala with tail pipe action. After this he screwed his eyes shut held his hand up and goes "Oh God, I need to work through the mental imageeeeee!"
- When he interned at the Whitehouse, apparently he went in every few weeks and told them that the amount of days he was working just wasn't working for him like a cheeky little bugger, then had the nerve to as for a letter of recommendation.
- Anna will be kicking some ass when she returns! She will also be interacting with Cas and apparently at one point she felt like he was breaking up with her. Intriiiiigued!
- Misha also said he wanted change everything about England WHEN (we have to think positively apparently) he takes us over.
- OH! He also said if he as Misha met Sam and Dean, he'd tell Dean to tone up and ask Sam why he's so toned. Julie doesn't think she'd like like Dean but reckons she'd like Sammy.

Like I said, sure I will remember more but right now, I'm so tired, I can't remember anything else! I know there was definitely another Young Mary comment which had us all in stitches.

But basically, he is AWESOME. And cuddly. Such an awesome day! Hope you get some LuLz out of this.

OH MY GOD, I forgot to mention! My sister and I - and this made me laugh as well as flail - got mistaken for a couple. When we were at a con basically for the SPN guests. THE IRONY.

Yeah, the shared giggling over him calling me Sir? So cute, I may have glomped him. *facepalm*

I do have other pictures from the day as well, me being held hostage by some Klingons, meeting some Alien's, R2D2 and Spidey but I can't be fucked uploading them now. Too tired. Will do that tomorrow.

And I would just like to say a big thanks to hils for putting up with me and Melly for an hour or so as well! It was nice to meet my first minions in the flesh! :D

Now I'm so tired, I just have to sleep. G'night all!

Melly and I are batshit.

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:46:04 GMT

We figured we needed to get some protection should any evil demons come to our door tonight, so we've taken precautions.

A devils trap, drawn outside the house to stop any demons in their tracks. Of course, there's always a chance they'll hop over it or walk round it, so...

A line of salt at the door to keep demons and spirits away.

We've got tests set up in case any of the trick or treaters might be demons. Or in this case, evil Melly.

Of course, things went very wrong when Melly got her hands on some demon blood.

She went crazy!

And then when I saw this happen?

I knew I had to end her...

Yes, we're both fuckin' insane. But hey, we had crazy amounts of fun doing it. The kids got a kick out of the 'holy water' as well. Except that evil child who just went "THAT'S VINEGAR!" - which we all know is lies.

RE: Avenged Sevenfold on Sonisphere.

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:01:28 GMT

Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries regarding SONISPHERE FESTIVAL 2009.

Unfortunately, there was a change in the running order after we had gone to press with the Festival details. The bands to be featured were publicised in all good faith, we are sorry you were disappointed not to see Avenged Sevenfold but this was a situation outside our control.

Please be assured your comments have been logged for the information of those responsible for our programming.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

I'm not going to say anything here. My stomach's already a mess, I don't want to get myself worked up even more. (However, at least they got the name right).

But seriously, in those two weeks, they couldn't have changed the Sky Guide? It's changed up to an hour before the programmes are when something's happened. Yet they couldn't sort it out then? Ugh.

Just a quick pimp for some buddies of mine...

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:22:06 GMT

A Selection Of Scrubs Favourites..., as selected by dametokillfor.

This is a great little Scrubs fansite, definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the show. They've got all the latest news on the new series and are a good bunch of folks.

Also for anyone wondering which my favourite of the favourites is? The fourth one. By far. "I am Jesus H Cox... MD." ♥

Anyway, now I really am going to go collapse in a heap... or watch the Sonisphere highlights. Haven't decided which yet.

See you in two weeks! :)

To quote Dr. Cox:

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:27:55 GMT

"But... when will I have time to kill myself?"

Christ, I'm ridiculously busy at the moment, so I figure I'll post this now so I can get things in order.

My sister's dealing with a crisis over stupid boys, my dad's sick with stress, my grandma appears to have forgotten my existence once again, I'm being hassled by the Job Centre because I haven't looked for work this week, I have to get on a plane tomorrow and I am petrified of flying, my clothes seem to have all gone missing, the house is a mess, I'm the one expected to deal with everything and I'm about ready to explode.

So:

IN FRANCE
AUGUST 15th - AUGUST 29th

I will have the internet during this time but I'm not promising any updates.
I just want to relax and get ~~very~~ drunk.

As ever, any good fandom/bandom related news is much appreciated.
Iron Man 2 trailers, FNL/Chuck/Marvel casting news, A7X tour dates/album news.
This kind of thing I want.

However anything depressing about them can wait.
Because as sad as it is, it will put a dampener on my holiday.

I probably won't get chance to update before I go, if I'm lucky I might just get some time to myself around midnight to watch the Sonisphere footage/smash someone's face into a wall.

I'm breaking out the Cox because I feel a rant coming on...

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:27:26 GMT

I'm watching Channel 4 and an advert comes on for Benefit Busters. In it they're looking at unemployment problems and the benefit culture in the UK.

Now I'm currently on umemployment benefits because I am genuinely having trouble finding work. You guys will have seen my comments on here, right? I'm looking, I'm applying, I'm going to interviews, I'm just not getting anything.

Anywho, this fuckin' woman has the goddamn nerve to yell at someone for not "lining up outside McDonalds and KFC" to try and get work and that really fucked me off.

IT IS NOT THAT FUCKIN' SIMPLE!

I have applied for KFC, Burger King and everything and I haven't even got an interview because I'm not suitable. I have experience, I have people skills, I have what they're looking for but I'm not suitable for the positions advertised. However everyone who is 'above' working there seems to think it's a piece of piss to get in there.

Shit, it's the same with any job. If you go for an interview and you don't get the position, you obviously didn't try hard enough, regardless of the issue being a lack of experience or whatever. You should have got the job over every single person being interviewed. The last interview I went to, the employer told me there were 35 other candidates going for the same job and he'd had to remove the listing from the Job Centre not more than a few hours after it went in there as he was completely swamped. I was lucky to make it onto that shortlist because he only chose the best of the goddamn best. But that means nothing to these people. Because I didn't get the job, I'm obviously a screw up.

These people will say to me that I should dress up, smile, shower. For fucks sake, what do they think I do at interviews? Walk in there in fuckin' rags, smelling like a fuckin' gutter, cussing the employers out?

Now, I know there are people out there who are just coasting through on benefits because it's easy. However in the media that's how we're all portrayed. None of us are just folk who are down on our luck, we're all lazy fuckin' slobs who don't want to contribute to society.

This goddamn TV show highlighting the fuckin' advisors as angels which is a load of bollocks. I have dealt with many advisors and there has probably been one of them who hasn't looked down on me as if I was scum. Shit, these advisors are the ones who would have stopped my money coming in if I hadn't turned up to a fuckin' signing appointment on the day my mum died because I had no physical ailment to stop me going to their appointment.

You think I'm joking.

The last advisor I saw actually said: "As far as we're concerned, you are all screw ups, nobody cares about you anymore, this is a last ditch attempt to make you into half decent members of society". That sound like the kind of person who deserves applauding? Tough love is fine but that was fuckin' cruel.

Anyway, with this fuckin' show making them out to be fuckin' saints who are put in an awkward position, it's only going to get fuckin' worse for those of us who are just in a shitty place at the moment. People assuming they know exactly how everything works for us because they've seen some biased bollocks.

GAH! I fuckin' hate this media bullshit. They don't know us and what the hell can we do about it? It's not like even an eloquently worded letter to one of the publications will get our voices heard because nobody wants to hear about those of us who are genuinely trying. Nobody wants to accept that some people are just having trouble because there aren't any fuckin' jobs rather than because they're lazy fuckin' slobs.

FUCK!

I apologize for any incoherency in that, I've had rage bubbling all day, that just tipped me over the edge.

HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:36:51 GMT

@ SONISPHERE FESTIVAL
JULY 31ST - AUGUST 3RD
During this period, comments won't be responded to, friends requests will go unanswered and my general awesomeness will be absent from LJ.
I will have e-mail, so I will see any comments left.
However, all comments and requests will be looked at as soon as possible once I arrive home and regain the use of my limbs.
You can still find me on Twitter, which will be updated excessively.

Things I'd Appreciate Being Informed Of

- Chuck/Captain America casting announcements.
- Iron Man 2 trailer (I have mobile YouTube, so links will work).

Because my nerdiness never sleeps.

I shall see you all when I get back!
♥

Something to think about...

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:18:29 GMT

There are times that remind us of just how important every tiny little detail is in our lives. As reported by The OC Register, Pixar was able to grant a little girl the one last little thing that in her eyes was everything. After being diagnosed with vascular cancer three years ago, it became apparent that 10-year-old Colby Curtin would not live long enough to catch Up in the theater, a movie she had been excited to see since she saw the preview. When Colby became too ill to be moved to a cinema, a family friend made calls to Pixar. A representative of the company then flew out with a DVD copy of the movie to show to Colby. When asked if she enjoyed the movie, she nodded.

Colby died just seven hours after the viewing.

Sometimes we all forget just how important, how truly life-changing art can be, especially film. Words can have a lasting effect on us. Images can make us change our ways. And I’m not sure that there aren’t many things that me more happy and sad, simultaneously, than a little girl’s dying wish to see a movie. To think, that’s all she needed to be happy, to make her life whole at that moment. I could write about the symbolism forever, but nothing sums it up like her own words to her mother: “I’m ready (to die), but I’m going to wait for the movie.” - CinemaBlend

I don't even know what to say about this, it's all said there in the article. I will point out that the story made both me and my dad cry and I'm pretty sure we won't be the only ones.

A random Taylor Kitsch picspam to cheer myself up.

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:51:17 GMT

...
Wait, remove the jacket...

Tay's a Nerd Herder!
:D

That's better. :)

The eyes, the arms, the mouth... guhhhhhh. *is mush*

This will be long, so I warn you.

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:39:03 GMT

It's bulleted though, so it looks shorter. :)

FRIDAY

- Zac stroked my back as I told him that I was really thankful for Chuck helping me to crack a smile through the tough times this year, he went on a long gush about how happy he was over that and how he thinks that we've forgotten to use TV like that.
- Also doesn't mind if you download Chuck if you can't get it in your country but says it's a little naughty.
- RE: Kissing Adam "[The kiss was] tender. He has very soft lips. It was a milestone as an actor and a man."
- Adam thinks everything goes with beer, especially these weird Norwegian chocolate covered bugles.
- RE: End of Chuck "Chuck dies. They have to find someone new to download all the information to. So they change the show around and make it about Casey... hmmm, Casey." *taps beer* "Casey... Caseyyy."
- Adam approves of my positive attitude towards a third season pick up but I think my very strong "WHEN!" to replace his if freaked him out.
- Summer's really quiet.
- Mark likes toffees.
- Jonathan doesn't like worms or monkeys, especially not the amazing animatronic monkey that one of our new pals had.
- He also kept sneaking back to our table to steal toffees from Norway.
- He also doesn't stop drinking.
- Ever.
- I don't think I saw him sober all weekend.
- Georges loves my Gambit tattoo, we chatted about the new movie.
- Dichen and Miracle are both really interested in hearing what everyone has to say about Dollhouse.
- Dichen also is taking all suggestions back to Joss!
- Miracle worried that Mellie was annoying.
- I remember nothing of Dominic.
- Tom and Felicia came together, I never saw them apart!

SATURDAY

- Miracle and her fiance's band are awesome! Ukebox Heroes, playing ukalalis, totally awesome! :)
- Dichen shared what her special talent was. She makes bubbles under her arm in the shower. She informed us we should all see it. Mark got overexcited over all this. When Miracle asked to join her, Mark got even more excited.
- Mark also insisted on being called Mr. President.
- Mark also says he wants Joss to go on cable, so he can keep his shows on for longer.
- He also likes being able to 'swear' repeatedly in BSG.

- Melly asked for a kiss reenactment but they politely declined, haha.
- Adam did say that Zac was kind in the kiss.
- Adam did blow a kiss to Zac which he 'ate', Adam also tried to stroke Zac's face before he tried to get away.
- Apparently Zac had asked if Chuck could just spit on Casey but they said it wouldn't be funny enough.
- They also started wiggling their tongues at each other.
- Zac's a little thick, bless him. I asked about guest stars and he mentioned Captain Dale Dye from the pilot who played the General. He then asked Adam if the guy was military, like a General or something, before Adam pointed out the CAPTAIN part of his name. Cue Zac spending a good few moments with a serious 'DOH' face.
- Zac also pointed out that in Murder, She Wrote, everywhere Jessica Fletcher went, there were murders and that if she said she was visiting him, he'd run. I have been saying this for years.
- He also basically gave word for word my speech about how you shouldn't just pigeonhole your music taste to seem cool, picking up on - funnily enough, country and rap which tend to be the ones I defend on the forums as well.
- Zac doesn't shut up.
- Ever.
- Seriously, it's not me fangirling here just mentioning him, Adam just barely got a word in when Zac got going.
- Zac informed us that he and Josh Gomez leaving 'presents' in the others toilets and don't flush.
- He then spent ages gushing about how much he loved Adam before announcing this was our kiss, haha.
- If they were Bond villains taking over the world, Adam would use a virus and Zac would use, and I quote, "Frickin' sharks with frickin' lasers.", I wonder what the Austin Powers hidden away in the audience thought.
- Zac again addressed the 'piracy' issue, calling BitTorrent 'magickal wings', complete with hummingbird action.
- ZAC CAN SING! It just added to the fangirling. He sang a little Avenue Q for us, Adam joined in but Zac was awesome!

- I mentioned Adam in my first post.
- Zac, oh Zac!
- I told him about the 3D glasses that Mel and I made for the 3D episode and he pretty much fanboy screamed and got excited about them working.
- He told us that the intersect flashes looked amazing in the original 3D monitors because the looked really layered.
- Also told him I might not make the Subway walk and he - at a similar volume to his scream over the glasses - was all "OH NO! WHY NOT?!", it got reorganized, I was chuffed.
- I told Miracle that I was all excited and squealy when Mellie and Paul first hooked up in 1x6.
- She said she was exactly the same.
- I told her that I loved Mellie as she was so sweet and just normal.
- She was all paranoid that she was annoying.
- When Melly met her, she mentioned sharing a name with the character which resulted in her bouncing and squealing because she'd never met a real Mellie/Melly.
- Didn't get much chance to chat to Dichen but I told her I enjoyed her as Sierra.
- We met Summer then and got a picture signed for my dad, I told her that was the only reason my dad was letting us come. She then wrote 'Wish you were here!' on the picture. My dad loves it!

- Mentioned Mark earlier and Georges.
- Felicia decided to sign Tom's crotch because she had no room on her.
- Jonathan, Dominic and Tom were all extra again - too broke.

- Briefly chatted to Zac at the disco that night, said thanks for making this whole weekend really memorable because he was the one who stuck out.
- Babbled a bit, blamed the non-existent booze.
- Got a nice hug before deciding I'd stop stalking him.

SUNDAY

- The funniest hour of my LIFE!
- Jonathan spent ages rambling drunkenly about naked men on aeroplanes, dirty Australian women and barf tasting like whiskey.
- As Sly Stallone: "Cup the balls, stroke the shaft, say my name."
- He made Pope hats for him, Dominic and Georges out of the Independent.
- And decided the Queen Mum was a bitch.
- There was 'WhiskeyVision 9000' which was basically a bottle of whiskey inside a hollowed out horse hoof with a camera attached to it, so you could see yourself drinking.
- The whole hall got to drink from this hoof bottle, then was given a whiskey cross by Dominic and a biscuit by Georges.
- YOU HAVE TO DO COMMUNION IF YOU'RE AT A STARFURY EVENT WITH JONATHAN!

- Zac genuinely helped with all of the sandwiches.
- Told him I managed to make it and he again fanboy screamed "YAY!"
- Told him I was getting one for Mel because she skipped out to see Adam. He was all "So that's how it is!" I said she didn't deserve a photo of him with that sandwich, he agreed, so I got him holding mine. Photos and videos to come.
- He wants a Bartowski sub, someone said it'd be saucy and cheesy, which he agreed with.
- Someone also asked for pineapple, took him a second but he got it.
- If it doesn't get us a third season, I will be seriously shocked.

- Jayne getting his ass kicked by girls all the time is because it's Joss's fantasy as he's a geek who lives in a little room.
- According to Adam.
- Apparently there's a gun which was actually designed for Casey in Chuck which - because of it's featuring in the show - was actually made real.
- Mark and Adam spent ages just yammering about weapons.
- Mark apparently gets stopped going into airports because he's played a terrorist.
- Adam considers Summer one of the most beautiful women in the world.
- He also randomly informed us that he thought Anna Woo was sexy.
- After my sister asked a question about the weapons.
- He's kept Binky and is apparently going to auction him off soon.

And that... that was my weekend!

And now as I didn't sleep until 1 on Friday/Saturday and woke up at 6AM Saturday morning, then 8 this morning, I AM GOING TO SLEEP!

I've already booked my tickets for T2 next year, in the first 150 so we get the meet and greet again. I'm hoping desperately for Awesome. And Zac and Adam to return. I know we have Thomas Dekker coming - he was supposed to be our surprise guest this time but a few days before the event, the Nightmare On Elm Street filming was moved so he couldn't come. :(

Now, the pictures! :)

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:06:47 GMT

I can't get my pictures and video of Zac at Subway up yet, I have to use the shitty computer and that's way too much effort for my lazy ass right now. But these are the ones of me and guests, along with the awesome Gold Ticket shot.

I'd have had to pay an extra £30 for Dominic, Tom and Jonathan to sign it, so they're blank. I pointed out to Zac that he looked like a poser in the photo and he insisted he was being Horatio Cane. I'm sticking with my earlier opinion. Mark didn't sign it to me because he decided I knew my own name - which was a fair point. Zac didn't as I got a seperate photo of him signed to me. And literally seconds after I'd said to Mel that everyone spelt my name right, Georges didn't. *headdesk*

Me and Zac. This was the second one we took - I was told about five minutes after my photo with Adam (who was shooting at the same time) that I'd blinked so needed a second shot with Zac. The first shot looked like I'd just creamed. I have that photo too for some reason, so hey! He was SO lovely. That morning he greeted me with "Hello darling!" which made me all fangirly - everyone else got a simple hello. I won. :D

Me and Adam, who is disgusting. Haha, no, my sister pretty much glomped him in a hug and he just made a whole "Mmmm!" of approval. Disgraceful. But does anyone else think this looks like an engagement picture? He has his hand at my ring and is holding me all lovingly, haha. That is greatly amusing to me.

Me and Tom. Again, I didn't get to say much to him but I wanted to get a photo with him because he's freakin' Andrew, the king of geeks!

Me and Summer. She's so sweet and bubbly! Nobody had slept much but she was still all smiley and "HIIII!" and lovely! I cannot express how adorable she really is!

I'M HOME!

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:32:36 GMT

AND I HAD THE BEST FUCKIN' TIME EVER! I'm going to write up everything I can remember in a bit but I'll summarize so you don't have to go through all the crazy posts later. They will be long but SO much happened.

Anyways, the guests.

(I've cut this because it's rather big and gushy. But can you all do me a favour and play the video? You don't have to watch or listen. Just leave it playing and do something else, the more views, the more people take note and the plan wasn't in vain!)

Zachary Levi is the nicest man I have ever met. Everytime I met him he was so hyper and enthusiastic and excitable about everything I was saying and always seemed genuinely pleased to be talking to me (and everyone else obviously). Here's an idea of how nice he is. I don't know if you heard but there was a 600+ group of Chuck fans who went to the Subway in the NEC with him this afternoon so we could film it and get it on YouTube to show the international support for the show.

Anyway, not only did he go to the Subway with us (it was his idea actually), he also actually got behind the counter and made the subs for everyone. Seriously, everyone that was waiting in the queue got a sub made/finished off by Zac. I was right at the back, there were about twenty people behind me and he made everyones as soon as he'd ordered his - and had photos taken with them so we can blanket the web to show support.

I have more yays about him but I'll save them for my even longer posts.

Adam Baldwin is just... he is absolutely amazing. I have a similar story about myself and Zac but I'll share the one about my sister and Adam. We had our only real chat with him at the autograph session on Saturday. My sister basically said that she's a big fan, loves him as Casey and he keeps her giggling through this shitty year (which is what I told Zac as I'm a Chuck girl - weird as I was a Jayne girl with Firefly, well and Mal and Wash), she then explained my mum and grandpa and how she's stressed with college work but the show makes her smile. Adam then starts having a proper chat with her about her college work and what she does, then holds her hand and tels her to hang in there, all smiley and everything. She's mad smiley over this and moves on to the next queue. He then turns to me, grinning and goes "She's a sweetheart!" before telling me to look after her and be a good sister. So seriously lovely, LOVELY man.

Summer Glau is so sweet and effervescent! She's also really, really tiny and I was terrified of breaking her during the photoshoot so I had my arm really lightly around her. She's so dainty!

Miracle Laurie is possibly my new big girl crush. She is so beautiful and so bright and outgoing! I don't think I ever saw her without a grin on her face the whole time. She and her fiance also sang for us, which was awesome.

Felicia Day is also really lovely! She liked signing over one of our surprise guests crotches. They were really close which was lovely! But I shall reveal him in a mo (I squealed!).

Mark Sheppard has a filthy mind but it's fantastic. He also loved the tattoos and reckond the best one to get would be the Chinese for ass on your ass. I agree actually!

Dominic Keating & Jonathan Woodward are just... well seriously there are no words. I recieved my first communion into the Church of the Eleventh Finger and it was probably the most crazy situation I have ever been in. There was drinking whiskey from a horses hoof - with a camera attached so we could see ourselves on 'WhiskeyCam 9000', anointing with Bell's and biscuits from Georges Jeanty who can't spell my name but loves my tattoo.

Dichen Lechman was the first surprise guest. She was really badly hidden away though, everyone knew she was there. But she was so sweet. I didn't know what to say to her though, I hadn't seen enough Dollhouse to comment on the show.

The other surprise guest was Tom Lenk! As in Andrew from Buffy! That was so awesome! :D I didn't get to talk to him much at all really, he shared the meet and greet with Felicia and the guys at our table took all the time - but it was okay, we all shared the guests fairly with the guys.

You think you can handle more of this? Heehee.

RE: Underoath vs. Avenged Sevenfold

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:13:18 GMT

Well, I need to have an opinion...

Here's the quote which started the controversy, from Underoath's guitarist, Tim McTague:

“People might associate us with Avenged Sevenfold because they’re pissed republicans and ‘so metal’, but they’re a gimmick, they’re a circus. They can’t play and they can’t write a song. What’s worse is the way they look. If you need to have make-up and crappy names like Synyster Gates to sell records, then you shouldn’t be here. That’s not rock’n’roll to me. Arena rock maybe, but not real rock’n’roll. If you’re basing yourself on how cool you are or how many girls you can trick into thinking your band is cool you can just… take that home. I’m not saying that’s what Avenged Sevenfold do, but they do a lot of crap that makes me think, ‘that’s why you and us will never be the same’. At the same time, we don’t write a really heavy record ‘just to show all those Avenged Sevenfold fans what real metal is like’

Tim McTague is talking bullshit.

Avenged Sevenfold are one of the few bands these days who really put everything they have into their music. They can’t be lumped into the same group as those pretty boy bands who learn how to play three chords and sing whiny songs about chicks hating them.

To say Avenged Sevenfold are talentless is an absolute joke. Avenged Sevenfold are some of the most talented musicians around today. Brian is one of the most talented guitarists in rock today and his teamwork with Zacky is an absolute sight to behold. Jimmy is the one of - nay the best modern drummer of the past ten years and his voice is so original and unique. Johnny is an incredible bassist. And what is there to say about the vocals of Matt, the lovechild of Phil Anselmo and Axl Rose, it's original and lends itself to anything perfectly.

They’re one of the few bands around today who have got real staying power and are going to be highly thought of in years to come. They’re well on the way to becoming legends in the rock world.

How many young bands these days have earned the same kind of status as A7X have? They’ve played with Slash, were personally chosen by James Hetfield for a Metallica tour, shit, have been credited by Metallica as inspiration for their latest album. Guns N' Roses' 'Better' is an Avenged Sevenfold inspired track (not confirmed but just listen to that chorus and that solo). And Underoath have done, what?

And then to give them shit because they have stagenames and wear make up? What is wrong with a bit of theatricality in music? Their look and names don't make them any less talented. And on the same subject to assume that girls got into them because they looked like that? That is the thing which has really fucked me off. You know what? Yeah, there are going to be girls out there who are into the band for the way they look but the majority of us are intelligent individuals with minds of our own who can see past looks and to the music itself. When I first got into A7X, I wasn't remotely attracted to anything, I was just so depressed that looks didn't matter shit to me. I fell in love with the music and my infatuations with members came later, even those were built more off how they made me feel than how they looked - despite the fact they are beautiful. You want to have a go at pretty boy rock acts, try fuckin' Bring Me The Horizon and people like that.

And finally, who the hell compared these guys to Avenged Sevenfold anyway? Looks to me like they're trying to ride on A7X's popularity, yes?

Jacoby Shaddix made me wet when he got on top of me and stuck his dick in my face.

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:30:21 GMT

True story.

I guess I should elaborate.

But not yet.

We queued in the rain for ages. gunslinger6661, I did see you but I was getting ushered all over the place so never got a chance to come and say hey. We also didn't stick around afterwards coz Chloe wasn't feeling very well. I will find you at Sonisphere!

We were basically barrier the whole night but along the side, under this balcony type thing were the seated people were - remember that. So we had an ace fuckin' view most of the time, although it also meant the speakers were

The first support act were shite but I can't remember who the fuck they were anyway so it doesn't matter. It's like "OHHAI WE WANT TO BE ATREYU BUT WE'RE SHIT!"

Filter were pretty cool, really enjoyed them. Kinda like if Janes Addiction mated with Velvet Revolver and hired Lee Mack as their singer. But they were pretty epic.

But Papa Roach were fuckin' AWESOME! They played a decent mix of music from the albums (short of 'lovehatetragedy', we got 'She Loves Me Not' though) so I was quite chuffed, I don't know the new album too well really. (I only remembered it had been properly released the other day, heh, got it today).

Jacoby is fuckin' insane. I mean, I know he's ADHD and everything but yikes! I loved it though, he was so damn cute! I would comment on the other guys but Jacoby kinda held my attention with his antics all night.

AND THEY PLAYED 'FOREVER' WHICH IS ONLY MY FAVOURITE FUCKIN' PAPA ROACH SONG EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EXISTENCE EVER EVER EVER! So I was pretty much wetting myself in delight over that one. Pathetic? Yes. But I don't care.

Also during the tracks from 'Infest', I didn't feel like this 22 year old woman who just wants life to stop being so awkward and hard, I felt like the 14 year old girl I was when I first heard these guys. The girl who had finally found music which actually sounded like she felt at that time and felt like a whole weight had been lifted through it. It was fuckin' epic.

AND 'DEAD CELL'! FUCKIN' 'DEAD CELL'! I LOOOOOOOVE 'DEAD CELL'!

Oh and Jacoby? Loved Chloe's hawk, I dunno if anyone spotted it but during one of the later tracks, he pointed off the right of the stage and put his hand on his head like a chickens ruff. Yeah, he was pointing at Chloe with her bright red mohawk.

Anyway, I guess I should explain the subject, yeah?

During 'Lifeline', Jacoby decided that he was going to climb up onto the balcony above our heads. So he jumps off the stage and runs across to where I'm stood and starts climbing up the barrier, then grabs my hands to balance himself before grabbing the railings and swinging his crotch into my face and pretty much climbing up me, kicking my water over me in the process. There were a ton of other girls all over him as well but I was the climbing frame, haha.

Oh and for any Jerry/Coby slashers out there, "I think we should get it on Jerry."

We ignore the fact he explained it afterwards and said that wasn't what he meant because that's what slashers do.

He also started talking about his cock at one point because he couldn't count. ("I love these four guys up here with me. I mean three. I could talk about my penis, I love him too.")

We ended up leaving during 'Last Resort' coz Chloe wasn't feeling too well so sadly I didn't get the chance to meet him properly but hey, I kinda did, right? And the show was fuckin' epic so I can't complain. Definitely one of the best bands I've seen live and I hope to see them again soon! Amazing!

And I'm home again now! So I can sleep in a real fuckin' bed! Hallelujaaaaahhhh!

Writer's Block: Opposites Attract

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:42:35 GMT

What celebrity would you consider changing your sexual identity for?

View 503 Answers

Now I'm one of those people who is a believer in people not parts. I'm not saying there aren't gay people because there are, I don't dispute that. However in my case, it's more like finding the right person for me and not limiting myself by gender. I don't consider it bisexual because that doesn't encompass everything really, does it? The third sex, transexuals and suchlike. While I do admire aesthetic beauty, I tend to be drawn more to what the person is like.

That said, let's say I'm predominantly straight. I don't tend to get on with many girls, other members of my gender piss me off sometimes.

I need Bratt.

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:07:31 GMT

I've been hunting everywhere this morning for good Bratt which I've not read and I keep coming up empty handed. Seriously, there's weeping going on. The RP I'm doing has taken THREE MONTHS - as in real life, physical months to get the pair so much as KISSING. Getting there has been fun, granted. But it's been so agonizingly PAINFUL, heh. All the goddamn fic I find on Fandom and stuff I've either read about 50 times or is fuckin'... well shit to be honest. It starts out good then Brian becomes a goddamn pansy ass and is weeping and crying and using the term 'sweetie' in a sincere fashion.

DO YOU SEE SWEETIE POTENTIAL THERE?! I don't fuckin' think so. ~~However I do giggle like a little scholgirl because of the way they've both got hands pointing to their dicks as if to say "Yeah, ride it."~~. Christ, just because Zacky's not involved, doesn't mean there has to be a whiny, girly bitch. No, I jest, but seriously, subpar Synacky fics always have whiny, girly bitch Zacky.

So I present to you Vee's Guide To Good Bratt...

Rule #1: BRIAN ISN'T A ~~ZACKY/~~MARY-SUE REPLACEMENT.
As I stated earlier, in pretty much every goddamn fic I read on Fandom, Brian turns into the girl in the relationship. This really pisses me off. Brian is fun, he's a cocky asshole who you just know likes to push peoples buttons. This is how we like to read him. Emo Brian is boring. Unless emo Brian has a genuine reason to be emo, we don't give a shit.

Handy Dandy List Of Overused Reasons
- Rape. Stop it. Please, PLEASE stop this one. If he was raped, I don't think he'd be better after a quick bit of Matt man love.
- Inability to accept being gay.
- Being kept away from his one twoo wuv.

Underused Reasons
- Penis envy.

If Brian must be emo, it must always be referred to as BMS. Or you lose internet points.

Rule #2: ZACKY DOES NOT NEED TO BE FUCKED BY EITHER MATT OR BRIAN.
If you want to write Synacky/Mattacky but have decided to write Bratt to please fans, STOP. If you can't make it through a fic without your actual OTP having a quick fuck, don't write the fic.

Rule #3: BRIAN IS THE OLDER ONE.
Not so much a rule as a fact. Brian is older by just over three weeks.

Handy Dandy List Of Birthdays
10th Feb 1981: Jimmy
7th July 1981: Brian
31st July 1981: Matt
18th November 1984: Johnny
11th December 1981: Zacky

Rule #4: BRIAN COULD KICK MATT'S ASS.

Don't ever forget it. Matt might be bigger but let's face it, Brian's muscles aren't going to be for show, are they? Brian could probably kick Matt's ass. So don't automatically make Matt win every single fight they have because Matt's a bit bigger. In fact, drag the fights on a bit, maybe involve sweat, clothes tearing, hair pulling, moaning...

Rule #5: MATT IS A NICE GUY!

~~He hugs the ugly.~~ Look at that face! How can you make that guy an asshole all the time? You watch the first DVD and Matt's the sweet one, Brian's the - as I've already mentioned - cocky little bastard. Matt doesn't have to be a dick in fics, he can be a nice guy. He's not a 'sweetie' guy but he's also not a complete unfeeling asshole.

Rule #1: ACCEPTABLE PAIRINGS.
I'm not going to bitch about Mary-Sue here coz that's your own choice, whatever. But seriously, think before you pair. The thought of M. Shadows and Pete Wentz (oh it exists, sadly) makes me feel homicidal. At least give them some kind of basis in fact. I see you now saying "But what about your A7X/Trivium crossover fic, Vee?", [x], ha and indeed ha. This also goes for friends of the band and past lovers. Would Matt really date Hayley Williams? Paedophilia is not hot, which leads me to my next point...

Rule #2: PAEDOPHILIA IS NOT HOT.
I'm 21. They're in their mid-late 20's. I get that a lot of A7X slash writers are in their teens but won't someone please think of the big people? We don't want teenage fics all the time, we don't want high school bullies/victims falling in love all the time. Write about the band at the age they are, plzkthx. Or if you have to go younger, head for 2006 VMA era.

obby
Besides, have you seen teenage A7X? They were not sexy. Brian looked like a lesbian, Jimmy looked like a beanpole, Matt looked pretty much the same but a foot narrower, Zacky, again, was pretty much the same and Johnny's secretly 14 as it is. But still, they're so much more pretty now, why not focus on that in your fics?

Rule #3: VAMPIRES, DEMONS, WEREWOLVES AND OTHER SUPERNATURAL FICS = FAIL.
Yes, I'll admit there are some fantastic ones out there, coughworkofgeniuscough. But they're really starting to be overdone. Vampirism does not automatically boost sexiness. The old Underworld story with half-vampires and other hybrids, also not sexy. If you want a horror fic, use serial killers. They're far more fun.

Rule #4: PLAGIRISM = MOAR FAIL.
Taking a well known book/movie and putting A7X's names into it does not make it your idea. You really want to be visited by a psycho from Mississipi with a big hat? Do you? No, didn't think so. This also goes for stealing other peoples fic ideas and just changing the pairing. Make up your own idea, mkay?

Rule #5: JOHNNY MUST NOT BE PAIRED WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN JIMMY.
It's just wrong.

I could throw out loads of others here (a song and three lines does not count as a songfic, guitars are not to be used as dildos etc) but I feel these are the main points to get out there.

Any MAJOR rules I've missed?

Iron Man - Lost For Most Of This Life

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:58:25 GMT

Series/Film: Iron Man (2008)
Song: Avenged Sevenfold - Lost
Pairing: Implied Tony/Pepper
Spoilers: Full movie
Summary: Tony's spent most of his life lost in a whirl of money, drink and girls. Fate has a funny way of changing these things.
Download Link: Here [21MB, WMV]

Writer's Block: Perfect Sandwich

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:40:43 GMT

Describe your perfect sandwich, layer by layer.

View 502 Answers

Oh GOD.

Right, thick sliced white bread, lots of butter. Then, we throw on some uncooked baked beans. Then we add the really strong cheddar, the stuff that's like a 5 rating. Then another buttered bit of bread. Then we bung it in the toastie maker - with the panini plates. And voila.

I looooooooove the taste of toasted buttered bread. Like, the stuff that's been buttered before it's been toasted... and the cheese and the beans and... oh God, it's a culinary orgasm.

Bored? Why yes, I am. And hungry now. I think I shall make one soon.

I despair sometimes, I really do...

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:08:58 GMT

So there's already a big debate over this on a7x but I'm going to continue my ranting over here.

Last night Kerrang TV played a countdown of the '100 Greatest Rock Bands Ever'. These were voted for by viewers of the TV channel, like my good self. Below the cut, I've posted the full list of the top 100, in order. Highlighted are the bands I voted for.

100. Ozzy Osbourne
99. Reel Big Fish
98. Terrorvision
97. Airbourne
96. The White Stripes.
95. Judas Priest
94. Meatloaf
93. Lamb Of God
92. Hole
91. Lacuna Coil
90. 36 Crazyfists
89. Apocalyptica
88. +44
87. The Killers
86. The Who
85. The Clash
84. Faith No More
83. HelloGoodbye
82. Limp Bizkit
81. The Bloodhound Gang
80. Papa Roach
79. Cradle Of Filth
78. Funeral For A Friend
77. Jimmy Eat World
76. Velvet Revolver
75. Queens Of The Stone Age
74. Sex Pistols
73. Coheed & Cambria
72. KISS
71. Megadeth
70. Killswitch Engage
69. Pink Floyd
68. Taking Back Sunday
67. Biffy Clyro
66. Alice In Chains
65. Pantera
64. Alice Cooper
63. Extreme
62. Stone Sour
61. Black Sabbath
60. Tool
59. Atreyu
58. Rage Against The Machine
57. Placebo
56. Motley Crue
55. New Found Glory
54. Sum 41
53. Billy Talent
52. Trivium
51. Smashing Pumpkins
50. Tenacious D
49. Nickelback
48. The Offspring
47. Fightstar
46. Machine Head
45. Korn
44. Rammstein
43. Angels And Airwaves
42. Aiden
41. Led Zeppelin
40. The Rasmus
39. Simple Plan
38. Pearl Jam
37. AC/DC
36. Good Charlotte
35. Enter Shitkari
34. Marylin Manson
33. Iron Maiden
32. AFI
31. Red Hot Chilli Peppers
30. Aerosmith
29. The Used
28. System Of A Down
27. Guns 'N Roses
26. Metallica
25. Nirvana
24. Incubus
23. Bullet For My Valentine
22. Foo Fighters
21. Slipknot
20. Bon Jovi
19. Fall Out Boy
18. Muse
17. Blink 182
16. Madina Lake
15. Lostprophets
14. Panic At The Disco
13. Stereophonics
12. Green Day
11. Linkin Park
10. Bowling For Soup
9. Queen
8. Avenged Sevenfold
7. Paramore
6. Evanescence
5. Elliot Minor
4. Nine Inch Nails
3. HIM
2. 30 Seconds To Mars
1. My Chemical Romance

Oh dear.

I don't think there are many other words I can say.

That is so unbelievably wrong in so many fucking ways. Now I'm not saying that the bands I voted for should have made up the top 10, far from it. I just believe the top ten should maybe have been made up of more bands who could be considered the greatest ever. Ever is a long fucking time. This takes into accounts the past 40/50 odd years of music. My Chemical Romance, while one of my favourites, are not the best musicians ever to walk the Earth.

Half of these bands will be forgotten about by the end of this year. Can any of us look into the future and see the sell out stadium tours for Elliot Minor? Or Paramore? In 30 years time, will we all be in massive crowds, swaying lighters to the sounds of 'From Yesterday'?

Of those top ten bands, A7X, MCR and maybe HIM are the only three I can see having a long career [I'm disregarding NIN and Queen because they're already legends]. This isn't just me talking as a squealing fangirl for the bands either. A7X are so innovative, they change their sound every album, they keep everything fresh and new and just keep growing and growing. MCR have the potential to become the next Green Day in terms of success. HIM have always been pretty popular, for them to be that high up still having done fuck all for months and without being overplayed is a testament to that.

I'd rant more but I'm sure my comments will help do that for me, heh. Bitch away, please, I love knowing I'm not the only one who doesn't approve.

My CD List

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:07:21 GMT

Seeing as CD-Tracker's closing, I'm going to post my CD list here. CD's from my list will be up for grabs on an irregular sort of basis. I'll inform you of when that will be.

TRADES ARE CURRENTLY:
OPEN/CLOSED

REQUESTS ARE CURRENTLY:
OPEN/CLOSED

Just a few rules:
1) When requesting, please don't ask for more than two without a trade.
2) I usually upload to Sendspace in WMA/MP3 format. I can't change the format but if needs be, I'll upload to another server, just let me know where.
3) When sending me a CD, WMA/MP3 is the only format I can accept. My computer won't let me convert.
4) I might take a while to get to you, please be patient, everything will be uploaded.
5) Feel free to suggest music you think I may like based on what I have here. :)

HAVE

#
30 Seconds To Mars - S/T
30 Seconds To Mars - A Beautiful Lie

A
Aiden - Conviction
Aiden - Nightmare Anatomy
Aiden - Our Gangs Dark Oath
Aiden - Rain In Hell [EP]
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine
Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant
Atreyu - A Deathgrip On Yesterday
Atreyu - Lead Sails Paper Anchor
Atreyu - Suicide Notes And Butterfly Kisses
Atreyu - The Curse
Avenged Sevenfold - S/T
Avenged Sevenfold - B Sides [currently only 1 track, Crossroads]
Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
Avenged Sevenfold - Sounding The Seventh Trumpet
Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen
Avenged Sevenfold - Warmness On The Soul [EP]

B
Bleeding Through - The Truth
Bullet For My Valentine - S/T [EP]
Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison
Bullet For My Valentine - Scream, Aim, Fire

C
Cradle Of Filth - Nymphetamine
Cradle Of Filth - Thornography

D
Damien Rice - 9
Damien Rice - O
Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage
Dragonforce - Sonic Firestorm

F
Franz Ferdinand - S/T
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better

G
Good Charlotte - S/T
Good Charlotte - Good Morning Revival
Good Charlotte - The Chronicles Of Life And Death
Good Charlotte - The Young And The Hopeless

H
HIM - And Love Said No
HIM - Dark Light
HIM - Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights
HIM - Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666
HIM - Love Metal
HIM - Razorblade Romance
HIM - Uneasy Listening Vol. 1
HIM - Unplugged And More
HIM - Venus Doom
Hanzel Und Gretyl - Uber Alles

I
Iced Earth - Horror Show

J
Juliette And The Licks - Four On The Floor
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
Justin Timberlake - Justified

K
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob

L
Lacrimas Profundere - Ave End
Lacrimas Profundere - Filthy Notes For Frozen Hearts
Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
lostprophets - Liberation Transmission
lostprophets - Start Something
lostprophets - The Fake Sound Of Progress

M
Machine Head - The Blackening
Marylin Manson - Portrait Of An American Family
Marylin Manson - Mechanical Animals
Marylin Manson - Lest We Forget [The Best Of Marylin Manson]
Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Metallica - Garage, Inc
Metallica - Load
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Metallica - Ride The Lightning
Metallica - S&M
Metallica - St. Anger
Metallica - The Black Album
Mindless Self Indulgence - Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
Mindless Self Indulgence - You'll Rebel To Anything
Morrissey - Best Of Morrissey
Motley Crue - Classic Motley Crue [Universal Masters Collection]
Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood
Motley Crue - Loud as F@*k
Muse - Absolution
Muse - Black Holes And Revelations
Muse - Hullabaloo
Muse - Origin Of Symmetry
Muse - Showbiz
My Chemical Romance - AOL Sessions [2006]
My Chemical Romance - I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
My Chemical Romance - Life On The Murderscene
My Chemical Romance - Live At The KROQ Weenie Roast [2005]
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge

N
Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
*NSYNC - Celebrity
*NSYNC - No Strings Attached
*NSYNC - *NSYNC
*NSYNC - The Winter Album

O

P
Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
Pantera - Official Live 101 Proof
Pantera - Reinventing Hell [Best Of Pantera]
Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill
Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
Papa Roach - Getting Away With Murder
Papa Roach - Infest
Papa Roach - lovehatetragedy
Papa Roach - The Paramour Sessions
Pinkly Smooth - Unfortunate Snort
Placebo - Black Market Music
Placebo - Meds
Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts
Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing

Q

R
Roadrunner United - The All Stars Sessions

S
Sixx: A.M. - The Heroin Diaries
Slayer - Reign In Blood
Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May
String Quartet Tribute - The String Quartet Tribute To Evanescence
String Quartet Tribute - The String Quartet Tribute To My Chemical Romance
String Quartet Tribute - The String Quartet Tribute To Papa Roach

T
The Bloodhound Gang - Hooray For Boobies!
The Used - Berth
The Used - Demos From The Basement
The Used - In Love And Death
The Used - Lies For The Liars
The Used - Maybe Memories
The Used - S/T
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Trivium - Ascendancy
Trivium - Ember To Inferno
Trivium - The Crusade
Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses

U

V
Velvet Revolver - Contraband
Velvet Revolver - Libertad
Velvet Revolver - Melody And The Tyranny [EP]

W
Will Smith - Big Willie Style
Will Smith - Born To Reign
Will Smith - Lost And Found
Will Smith - Willenium
Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything
Within Temptation - The Silent Force

X

Y

Z

Beyond The Sea
Brokeback Mountain
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More With Feeling
Desperado
Evita
Fantastic Four
From Dusk Til Dawn
Hedwig And The Angry Inch
Interview With The Vampire
King Arthur
Music Of The Mighty Boosh [Series One]
Music Of The Mighty Boosh [Series Two]
Music Of The Mighty Boosh [Series Three]
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge Vol. 2
Nightmare Before Xmas
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck Season 2 [Fanmade]
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At Worlds End
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
Queen Of The Damned [Soundtrack, not score]
Serenity
Shrek II
Shrek The Third
Sin City
Take The Lead
The Crow
The Mambo Kings
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Underworld
Underworld: Evolution
Velvet Goldmine
X3

The Mighty Boosh [Full Series]

WANT

Antonio Banderas Soundtracks [Any I Don't Have]
Avenged Sevenfold - Any Bootlegs etc
HIM - Uneasy Listening Vol. 2
Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
Machine Head - Through The Ashes Of Empires
Metallica - Kill 'Em All
Metallica - Reload
Pantera - Far Beyond Driven
Pantera - Reinventing The Steel
Reverend And The Makers - The State Of Things
Steps - Step One
Steps - Steptacular
Steps - Buzz
Steps - Gold [Greatest Hits]
String Quartet Tribute - The String Quartet Tribute To Avenged Sevenfold
Throwdown - Venom And Tears
Trivium - Any Bootlegs etc
The Hoosiers - The Trick To Life
The Wombats - A Guide To Love, Loss And Desperation

-Updated Whenever I Think Of Something New-

[REVIEW] Saw IV

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:13:00 GMT

Trailer
Official Site

"Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead.

Now, upon the news of Detective Kerry's murder, two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm and Agent Perez, arrive in the terrified community to assist the veteran Detective Hoffman in sifting through Jigsaw's latest grizzly remains and piecing together the puzzle.

However, when SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences." - Synopsis from B-D.com.

I've seen all of the Saw films many times now and couldn't wait for this film. I was finally getting to see one of them on the big screen. I was 17 when the first film came out. I was 18 when II came out but it wasn't showing anywhere near me, 19 when III came out but I'd been having trouble watching horror films without feeling sick. Now at age 20 and with the film showing at my local cinema on Halloween, I was finally going to get the full Saw experience.

The first thing that struck me about this film was the change in the cuts and the general directing. In the other movies, the cuts have been very jumpy and quite flashy, which has caused problems for my friend with epilepsy. This one - while still retaining those at times - was a lot neater and a lot more grown up. The scene shifts were done with a jacket wafting over the screen or a face passing across a two-way mirror and it looked much better.

The second thing was how much this one actually explained. You actually really felt sorry for John Kramer and his wife, Jill. I really like the fact we've now got a real insight into the man behind the myth. Seeing how his methods have progressed, how he set everything up, the importance of Billy. I especially loved the scene with his first game. It makes Jigsaw even more of an enjoyable character. And with Tobin Bell signed on for another two films, I look forward to seeing more of the character's backstory.

But of course, this being a Saw film, the thing I was most excited about were the traps. And oh boy were there some good ones. Jigsaw's first ever trap was probably my favourite, consisting of a man with knives through his wrists and feet. He has a load of knives in front of his face which he has to push through in order to release himself. He does this, runs at Jigsaw and ends up in a box of razor wire. Loved it.

That said, I did also love the final trap - which was actually featured throughout the movie - Detective Matthews hung from a roof by a chain round his neck, stood on a block of ice, Detective Hoffman strapped to a chair rigged up to a circuit box by him. If Matthews fell, Hoffman would be dipped into the water from the melted ice and be electrocuted. However, the twist to the trap was if anyone tried to save them before 90 minutes had ticked down, two massive blocks of ice would fall from the roof and smash Detective Matthews head. Which it fucking well did. In glorious technicolor. Oh baby, that was incredible. I was all jaw on the floor, grinning like a fool at this point. Because I'm a sick, twisted person.

The traps are getting a lot more elaborate now and, while they're fun for us as an audience, they're very unbelievable. The first film's traps were simple - with the exception of the reverse bear trap. The second film's were also pretty basic. The third film's were quite out there, The Rack, Kerry's Angel Wing Chest Trap Thing. But the fourth's took them to a whole new level. However, despite this, the film was quite tame gorewise. Or maybe I'm just desensitized. I'd expected to feel at least a little disgusted but found I had no problems.

I love the story behind this one, the idea was fantastic. Rigg having to set up all these other games as part of his own, being forced to deal with some genuinely despicable characters. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Now, the twist. I won't reveal what it was but it is fucking genius. Seriously, it's very unexpected and will make you kinda rethink all the other films. I know a lot of people hate their horror with a twist but the Saw films have some of the best. Even if three's was a little shit. Fans of the first three will not be disappointed by this.

OVERALL?
This film was wicked. I know a lot of people will hate it and a lot of people will just be saying "STOP NOW! ENOUGH! WE HAVE FOUR, WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE!" but I for one can't wait to see the planned V and VI. I'm hoping there'll be plenty more of John's backstory and more of those brilliant traps. Roll on Halloween '08!

4/5

My slashbunnies!!!

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:02:38 GMT

Does anyone know where I can find Noel Fielding/Russell Brand slashfic? I've found one. That's right, one. And even that had no lovin' in it. I'm getting distraught. Is no-one taking advantage of the evidence?!

*pokes icon*

I demand Branding - as I believe it's called.
It's not often I find a new pairing to get hooked on and now I have no-one's done anything about it?
S'not on.

On the bright side, new Mighty Boosh in two weeks!

I'm 'cited.

Oh the jollity.

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:22:24 GMT

Ignore the pictures, they're just there so I could get the sound on a video, haha.
It also repeats a couple of times - it actually just stops after "It's your phone."

I've been a fan of Ross Noble's comedy for fucking ages now but have never had the chance to go see him until last night. So I was cramped into the tiniest bloody seats in the North East, one thigh rubbing against the guy next to me, the other stuck at some weird angle in an attempt to fit into the damn things. Anyway, minor discomfort in the knees and feet aside, we had pretty good seats.

The show started with that massive testicle face talking to us about proper conduct in the theatre, same as most of Ross's informative films... except it was a blow up projected version of him. I'm trying to remember some of the things he told us to do. I remember one of them was telling us to kill ourselves if we were wearing a bluetooth headset and one was tattooing a chicken.

He really is a completely bonkers and random comedian. He talked about everything from Harold Shipman, chatlines, aubergines - seriously about ten minutes on this aubergine, emos, chavs, people from Blythe being stupid and inbred, things he does to his wife after sex, Princess Diana, bad heckles, troughs and everything in between. Absolutely fantastic show.

And hell, I even got involved and mocked a good few times.

When he was discussing the aubergine - which he spent about ten minutes on - he goes "Who calls them eggplants?", I yelled out "Americans!" and he took the piss out of me for that, before pretending to be a hitchhiker with a big purple thumb. He also mocked me for booing salad cream and asking if he'd indulged in any monkey lovin' lately. I'm not complaining, t'was all part of the fun.

We also met him after the show, chatted for a bit and got stuff signed.

Now, I've met a ton of people after shows but no-one had that many people waiting for them. Not even MCR or Good Charlotte had so many people. It was quite impressive really!

All in all, it was a wicked night and I'm definitely going to have to see him again... but make sure not to sit near someone with a stupid laugh.

[REVIEW] Avenged Sevenfold - The Fan's Point Of View.

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:44:27 GMT

Yes, I'm a terrible person. I gave into temptation and I got hold of a leak of the new Avenged Sevenfold album. So I figure I'd review it now, so at least I'm doing something constructive... well that isn't doodles based on tracks. So here is the fan's point of view.

01. Critical Acclaim
The gothic opening to the song is wonderful, the organs with the guitars winding in over the top. I can't think of a better start to the first song. It lets you know instantly that this album is going to be something pretty epic. The drumline in this song is also pretty immense, very heavy, very noticeable. The guitar riffs are just the way I like 'em, heavy and raw. Yummy. The vocals are incredible. The Rev's voice really adds a demonic sort of edge to this song in keeping with the semi-gothic style. However, the song lags a little in the middle when the instrumentals slow down and lose their edge in favour of a slow, chilled out breakdown. The first guitar solo is a big disappointment, especially to someone like myself who lives for new Syn solo's. The secondary dual harmony solos are a little better but still nothing to write home about. The song is very good but it would have been better if it had kept up the heavy guitars/drumming during the breakdown.

02. Almost Easy
How's this for unbiased? I fucking hated this song when I first heard a studio version. Swear down. The vocals sounded disconnected, the piano intro/solo pissed me off and I just really didn't like it. But it grew on me and now I like it. It's probably the most straight-forward track that A7X have ever done. It's a simple, catchy punk track with a tiny bit of A7X twist. The guitar riffs are pretty catchy when you get into it and the chorus will stick in your head for days. I like the bass-line on this too, when I can hear it. The drumming though is probably my favourite thing about this track. Thanks to a video from the band showing nothing but The Rev's drumming on this, I really learned to appreciate how great it is in this song. The guitar solo's pretty good however the piano playing over the top of it HAS TO GO. It's absolutely disgusting. This was probably the best choice for a first single but really doesn't reflect the rest of the album at all.

03. Scream
This song is like a fucking orgasm for me. I absolutely adore it. The guitar is heavy, nice old school rock and roll. The bassline is also dark and harsh. The drums sound great. The vocals are just brilliant. This song is definitely Shads' best song on the album. The lyrics are about a murderer chasing a woman who's getting off on the chase. You can really envision Shadows' in this role. He's a very intimidating guy and you can just imagine him as the murderer. He really brings the lyrics to life which makes the song even better. And the guitar solo is damn good, DAMN good. Not the best on the album but still very good. The winding, dual solos are very impressive too. This is one of my favourite tracks on the CD.

04. Afterlife.
This song's guitars remind me very much of Trivium, which - as a Trivium fan - is always cool to hear. The vocals in the verses are very agressive, almost hip-hoppy. The bassline is quite prominent at points during this track which is always fun to hear. Johnny Christ needs more recognition. He's damn good. I have one massive complaint about this song though. The chorus is just dire. It doesn't fit with the song. So I'm not a big fan of that at all which is a shame because it ruins a song which could have easily been one of the best. The breakdown is great - take note Critical Acclaim. The violins just add to the haunting idea of the song and the random appearance of The Rev's vocals again are a pleasant surprise. The solo is probably the best on the album though. We haven't heard something like this since Waking the Fallen's Second Heartbeat. The song's worth listening to for this solo alone.

05. Gunslinger
To listen to the beginning of this song, it'd probably surprise you to know that it's another of my favourites from the CD. A soft acoustic intro, Shadows' at a low, soft level - no growl. It's slow, simple and almost country in a way. But then it really kicks into gear and turns into a heavy rock/country ballad. The second it becomes heavier, it turns into Pantera, before shifting down a gear and becoming a good Bon Jovi song. It's one of the albums best surprises. The guitars are definitely the main focus of this one and they're fantastic as always. Shads' voice fits surprisingly well with the whole thing. It's simply a beautiful song.

06. Unbound [The Wild Ride]
Wild indeed! This track isn't as maniacal as the title would have you believe. That said, it's still really good fun. The drumming is back to the old-school A7X, The Rev going a mile a minute and doing it better than most young drummers out there. The guitars have a great, finger breaking chorus, up and down and up and down. I imagine a live version of this to be even harder on them. The verses have a wonderful little piano section them which I'm pretty certain will be done by Syn on guitar during live performances. If anything, I think the wildest ride in this song is that of the guitarists. They're all over the place and it's a joy to listen to. The lyrics and vocals remind me very much of the Tim Burton/Danny Elfman film collaborations. The best moment in the song comes at the end. A female vocalist singing over some winding guitars. It actually sounds as if they're dancing with one another which is just beautiful.

07. Brompton Cocktail
No, you aren't going mad. They are bongos. I think. I love this track. Like my favourite song on City Of Evil, this track is very sad in an upbeat way. About a man dying from a terminal illness who wants this cocktail of drugs before he dies to end his life in a happier way. It's lyrically very moving while being musically quite soft but frantic. Sort of like a man who knows death is near and is fighting but doesn't have the energy. Like the lyrics suggest. I think it's one of the better songs on the album but is also going to be one of the most overlooked tracks. I love the abrupt ending to it as well, as if the man has just died suddenly. It's morbid but it works and I love it.

08. Lost
Oh dear. I don't think there's any other way for me to describe this track. Out of all the songs on the album, this is the only one I can hear that really is that bad. Think Dragonforce crossed with Cher. That said, I can't bring myself to hate it. It's one of those songs that you know you should hate but you really can't. Like Europe's 'The Final Countdown'. You know it's awful but you can't hate it. I can't listen to this without picturing Dragonforce performing it to be honest. In fact, when I see Dragonforce in November, I'll probably be disappointed if they don't play this, heh. The chorus vocals are horrible! Shads' has used an auto-tuner to make his voice weird and electrical. It sounds vile. The guitars are probably this songs saving grace. They are very video game-esque and very high compared to normal A7X but Syn and Zacky have pulled it off very well. The final solo is much better, I can live with that. But on the whole, this is a song that you should hate but you just can't. It's a guilty pleasure.

09. Little Piece Of Heaven
This is fucking insane. Seriously. There is no way to describe this track short of The Corpse Bride and Pinkly Smooth's love child on crack. It's bonkers, it's so not A7X but fuck me sideways, it's fantastic. The story in the vocals is wonderful. A man who kills his girlfriend, screws around, then his dead girlfriend comes back to kill him and they get married in hell. Come on, how is that not genius? You'll be giggling throughout this from "I really always knew that my little crime would be cold/That's why I got a heater for your thighs" to Shads actually using the phrase bye-bye. Pure, maniacal brilliance. It really does sound like a Danny Elfman track, you can very rarely hear any of the band short of Shads and The Rev - who's vocals are perfect for this track. It's pretty much a full orchestra with occasional flashes of the rock band that A7X actually are. You'll either love this song or hate it. I'm firmly in the love camp. I think it's amazing.

10. Dear God
Awwwwww. That's probably the best way to describe 'Dear God'. It's just a sweet, little country song. Yes, country. It's a genuinely lovely little track. Again, it's very unlike the A7X that everyone knows and love but it's still a good song. It's not my favourite on the album but is probably the best way to end it. Nice, chilled out with a lovely acoustic-y feel. I love the final few minutes of this, the duelling guitar outro. It's got a bit more of an Avenged Sevenfold feel there but staying in keeping with the rest of the song. It's nice and soft and the kind of song you can listen to around your mum.

OVERALL?
I really like Avenged Sevenfold as an album. I know a lot of people won't and I know a lot of fans will leave them because of it. In the end, they're the ones who are going to miss out. These guys change with every album and that's something I'm personally very glad of. The sound is always fresh and it always opens your mind to new ideas. If you don't like this album, you basically don't like the band. This is their most personal album. This is Avenged Sevenfold. And I for one, bloody love them. The album isn't without it's faults as I have listed throughout the review but on the whole, this album is downright amazing. I look forward to where they go from here. <3
8/10