Escapism is Wonderland

Just the other day, I was sitting in a train, after a long, long time. It felt good actually. Anyway, I was sitting in a train, and I think you should know, that in 2 hour train journeys, there is absolutely NOTHING to do except look out the window. So while I was, I was listening to music, and it so happened that my MP3 player was on shuffle. So while I was tasting variety, I was thinking to myself that there was no other place that I wanted to be, except on a stage, with a guitar. And I kept dreaming about what I would do, and how I would walk into an airport with a leather jacket and two-three guitar cases slung across my shoulders, signing autographs, with these real coo sunglasses on, and my long hair framing my face. It felt good, that I could go there, that I could be there. And I smiled to myself, this big cheesy grin, and I looked up to the sky and realized that God's given us the will to take us where we want to go.

You know, we have a gift, and it can take us anywhere we want to go. Some people don't know it, some people don't use it. But I'm telling you, fascination, living in an unreal world, it's the best thing to do to pass time.

Why do dreams happen? How do pictures automatically float across our minds during our sleep?

PS: Dear commenters, I know it's a short post, I know I haven't updated it in a long time, but it's the truth now. I don't really care about the comments. This post was just what I feel, and what I feel won't change because of you.
Sorry.

DDRF 2007 - March 9th and 10th

I will never forget those two days. I really don't know what to say either. I'll just take you down memory lane, insufficient as it may be, compared to captured scenes. But wow, what an awesome weekend it was. This weekend was the best one of my entire life. I'm sure those of you who were there (SK, Udai, Vinay, Vihaan, Jithin) would wholly comply with me for the simple fact that disagreeing would be home to a host of lies. How? I'll give you a detailed run-through of Desert Rock later. This is a more personal post.

How can music bring such a wide smile across your face? How can music discard all the worries that used to reside in your soul? I guess that's a mystery, but I'm so glad it is. I mean, over the weekend, I was standing less than 10 metres away from the members of my favourite bands, and I got to take a good look of them and realize they are only human. I got to exchange glances with them. Steve Harris, Lauren Harris, Maxim, Brandon Boyd, Bjorn, Peter, Jim Root, Corey. I have memorabilia from all of them, be it picks or autographs or glances.

I was waiting in patient anticipation for SO LONG, and those two days got over in what seemed like minutes. I seriously couldn't get enough. It's all we ever talk about these days. Desert Rock. It's such a, such a different thing.

I mean it was yesterday I was staring at the posters of Maiden on my wall, and then I'm so close to them.

This is where the cliche 'So close yet so far away' comes in.

They're only human! But they've performed inhuman feats.

I thought I'd only see them as pixels on a computer screen, or pixels on a tv screen. But I got to see them in person. Live. And since I was in the first row, I got to make eye contact with so many of them. I guess that's what a concert is all about.

But this was WAY more than just a concert. It was the miracle God works. God CAN make your dreams come true, and on those two days, I was living my dream.

How does it feel? How does it feel to see the band you loved so much live? To see them, to look into their eyes, to watch them walk and run in front of you, to see them do what you love them for. And that's what music does to people.

"Music brings us all together." - Corey Taylor, Stone Sour, Dubai Desert Rock - Dubai Country Club - 2007.

Records were set. Quotes were spoken.

Music was made.

Inspiration.

Inspiration is a fountain, a well from where you draw your imagination. It is a spring from where you relish yourself. It is the shallow pool where you bathe to relax yourself. It is the the minerals that you drink to quench your thirst.

It is the nutrients you obtain from your food to sustain yourself. It is the ground on which you trod to balance yourself. It is the trees under which you sit to shade yourself. It is the coal of the fire of your dreams.

Inspiration is the blanket you draw across yourself to shield yourself from the bitter, cold reality of dawn.

The Mars Volta

Finally, after exams, a lack of music, a and lack of sleep, I walk into my house, weary at first. I change into my house-clothes (something I call the clothes I wear at home) and gobble down a plateful of nourishing-things.

And then, I sit on the computer for a half-hour, completely lost in the music I needed for so long, diving into the harmony, the dissonancy, the crazy drum fills. Limewire, lying somewhere on the taskbar, with only a few songs in it, and the few, the only songs I listen to, for refugee from going study-crazy.

The Mars Volta.



They are everything I love. Brilliant music, just like that of Norma Jean, except they're rock, they don't scream; awesome lyrics, cryptic and vocabulary-filled, and traces of a foregin language; constructive guitar, exhilirating drums, and at the risk of sounding preachy, I must say these guys have really done what a band should do.

The Mars Volta.

The band is an extensive one, and they make use of many instruments, and implement them in their music. Here's the current lineup :

Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Composer, Guitar, synthesizers, production (2001 - Current)
Cedric Bixler Zavala - Lyrics, Vocals (2001 - Current)
Isaiah "Ikey" Owens - Keyboards (2001 - Current)
Juan Alderete - Bass (2003 - Current)
Thomas Pridgen - Drums (2007 - Current)
Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez - Percussion, synthesizers (2004 - Current)
Adrian Terrazas-Gonzales - Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet and additional wind & percussion instruments (2004 in studio, 2005 in show - Current)
Paul Hinojos - Guitar, Sound Manipulation (On Stage 2003-2004, Joined Officially 2005 - Current)

As you can see, with the involvement of so many different sounds, the band is really original. There is no other band I can compare them to. Under genre, I can't really classify them, but they do come under Progressive Rock, Neo-psychedelia and Experimental Rock. I would personally put them under Progressive.

Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez are the heart and soul of the band, respectively, interchangeably. They compose all the songs, which is indeed a very commendable task, because I don't know how they do it. In their album Amputechture , they state that "The partnership between Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Cedric Bixler-Zavala is The Mars Volta. These compositions are then performed by The Mars Volta Group"

Even their band name has a story to it.

Cedric Bixler-Zavala says that

" The Volta is taken from a Federico Fellini book about his films, what he characterizes as a changing of scene, or a turnaround; a new scene to him is called Volta. Y'know, changing of time and the changeover. And Mars, we're just fascinated by science-fiction so and it's something that ultimately looked as in anything I write, its meaning is always up to the listener. As the way we write songs and words, if it looks great on paper then to us it's like painting, so if it looks good meaning the second then people usually have a better interpretation than we ever would. "

In Roman mythology, Mars is the god of war, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez therefore says that The Mars Volta are the bringers of peace.

Here's an excerpt from one of their extensive range of lyrics :

Are they gone are they gone
Stung the slang of a gallows bird
Rationed a dead letter pure
Trackmarked amoeba lands craft
Cartwheel of scratches
Dress the tapeworm as pet
Tentacles smirk please
Flinched the cocooned meat
Infra-recon forgets
Now there are those who find
Comfort in the breathing
Wrong-is it wrong
It houses the watchful eyes
They're panting in a pattern in droves
Are they gone

Eriatarka - The Mars Volta

I don't know how they do that either.

The bottom line is, you have to hear these guys.

Eriatarka
Cut That City
The Widow
This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed
Televators
Tetragrammaton
Concertina
Drunkship of Lanterns

Download them right away, and be pleasantly surprised.

A Guide to Day 2 Of Dubai Desert Rock 2007.

Well, the much awaited anouncement of the final lineup of Day 2 of Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2007 is complete, and what a day its going to be. I mean, who'd have thought these bands would even have a remote chance of stepping upon Dubai soil. But they are, and I have the chance of seeing these bands play live. It's an honour, really.

Well, I'm not going to go into much detail, like I did in the previous guide, I'm just going to state the bands and a small description of them.

INCUBUS

My headliner of the day. These guys are currently my favorite band and I'm getting to see them play a concert at home, live. How amazing is that? They have the most original music I've come across till date. They stray from the traditional means of rainwater harvesting (joking). They stray from the traditional means of songwriting. Mike Einzeiger has the most original compositions ever in rock history. I was really shocked when I heard they were coming.

THE BRAVERY

I heard these guys on Channel [V] sometime back. A long time back. I fell in love with their debut single An Honest Mistake . It's a blend of indie and a genre which isn't very prominent in today's music industry. They are a very good band, perfect for rock day, and I wouldn't miss them.

PRIME CIRCLE

Well, I'm not a big fan of these guys as they are highly cliched, but I don't mind seeing them either. Their music is pleasing to the ears. Similar artists : Creed, Alterbridge. Although they refrain from innovative and inspiring songwriting, they stick to the more conventional methods. This isn't too bad, and they would be quite entertaining live.

JUNKYARD GROOVE

Refer to my previous guide for details on this highly talented band from India.

And the headliner:

ROBERT PLANT OF LED ZEPPELIN

You read the name.

Go figure.


Well, that's all I'm going to include in this post, because because of these exams, my joy cannot be expressed as it was in the last guide.

However, I am EXTREMELY happy and am EXTREMELY anticipating Desert Rock because boy, this is one festival I'm NOT going to miss.

Music is a friend.

Thank you CSM for organizing such a splendid DDRF 2007. Without you, this scene would be barren sand.

Thank you Phride for keeping us updated on DDRF and the local music scene.

Dubai Desert Rock Festival Official Site

Insignia

To whom it may concern,

My official brother blog has just been born.
Poetry.

Insignia

Yours truly,
Nishant.

The Hyperly Overly Screwed Up Performance (H.O.S.U.P.)

Okay.

a) This is not a joke.
b) Don't laugh.
c) I don't expect sympathy, but neither do I expect rashness.

I'm sure all of you witnessed the horrific performance in school, aka H.O.S.U.P.
Let me describe what happened.

Before that, let me apologise. To the band, I'm sorry I started at double the tempo. I really am, trust me, and I warned you that I would screw up. I don't even know why. But I did. I'm sorry I misled all of you into a HUGE H.O.S.U.P. I really didn't mean to.

To Mr.Rodericks, I'm sorry for wasting your time, if I did. Thank you for your guidance. Thank you for your AMAZING guidance.

To Mr.Anthony Joseph, I'm sorry for raising your hopes. I know you conted on us, and I know we messed up, but we didn't mean to, I didn't mean to. I would NEVER want to mess up a song.

To the crowd, sorry for hurting your ears.

To John Frusciante, sorry for screwing up your amazing song. Thank you. And I'm very VERY sorry.

Well then, this is what happened.

I start. I mess up. I play at 500 times the tempo. I mess up. I mute notes. I mess up. I skip notes. I mess up.

Throughout the song, I mess up.

The cable of the bass on the drum got loose. I mess up.

Darien's mic was off. I mess up.

I was shaking. I mess up.

It hurt. I mean HOW could we get it right EVERY practice, and on stage, the most important part, HOW could we mess up? WHY did we mess up?

It's unthinkable. And as much as I don't want to think about it, I have to.
It's unbelievable, and as much as I don't want to think about it, I have to.

I don't know what to say or do anymore. Maybe I'll just keep my guitar away in some cupboard ot some lonely corner for sometime, maybe even for good. Who knows.

PS. Thanks yous Radhii!!!!!! That was really awesome :) I am really really grateful.

I hope you find the meaning.

To all my friends, thank you.

Inspirational, Gifted, Talented and Moving.

Guitar players. Guitar players like never before. No, I'm not talking about random shredding and playing fast and whatnot, I am talking about skill, about people who make music. People who make the most inspiring music you could ever listen to. And all this comes from ten finger tips, sometimes less.

Music you can NEVER get tired of listening to. <- Not exaggerating.

This is music.

Andy McKee
Don Ross
Antoine Defour

Names to never be forgotten. Names that should be engraved in the necks of your guitars, because they define what a guitar can do, what music really is.

It's so hard to tell their influences, it's a blend of EVERYTHING. Most being classical.

THIS is the music I want to play.

And I shall strive till I achieve it.
Because it's worth it.

Oh and it's more than worth it.

Don Ross


Don Ross


Andy McKee


Andy McKee's cover of Toto's 'Africa'


Antoine Dufour


These men deserve the guitar.

Schmizel

We, Schmizel are very disappinted. In our vocalist, in our fans. But, at the same time, we are glad, glad that we played, at the very least.

Who is "Schmizel"? What did they "play"? Why are we disappointed?

Schmizel, is a band, a band that played their very first gig at Mazaya Centre on the 5th of January, 2007. And it would've been a better show, if we had a few more people to support us, Mr. Vocalist - that also includes you. Yes, we played vocalistless, and it didn't sound that bad actually. What did we play?

Well, after we were informed that Mr. Vocalist wouldn't be able to make it, which was halfway through our 5-hour practice, we had to get Mr. Fat-now-thin. Who actually, saved the day. Thank you Mr. Fat-now-thin, if it wasn't for you, we'd have to play bassistless too, which wouldn't have been pretty at all.

Schmizel is Kapil Mehra, Shaun D'Mello, Amrit Sharma, Vinay Nagaraj and Nishant Mehrotra.

And a whole load of music.

And we performed live at Mazaya Centre, with a medley of the songs "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by The Scorpions and "Blood Brothers" by Iron Maiden. And we played them instrumental, though they are ANYTHING but instrumental songs. With amazing vocal lines, which were performable by our lead singer, who didn't make it for our FIRST gig, the songs were quite boring compared to how they could've been.

But nonetheless, satisfaction overcomes regret, and very efficiently this time.

We expected to see at least a few friends there to support us, but unforunately, found none. This disappointed us a tad bit, but whatever, satisfaction overcomes the regret. I hope to see at least one of you at our next gig, that is, if, we have a next gig.

We ARE dedicated to the music we make, and we ARE firm in the decision to play on, until the whatever catastrophe disbands us. But as long as we ARE a band, we will be making music.

AND WE EXPECT SUPPORT =P

This show was organized by Glenn Perry, who has made quite a name of himself in Dubai, and you can visit him at http://www.glennperry.com . Thanks, sir, for the opportunity you gave us. We really appreciate it.

Well, in case you're looking for a video of us, there is one up on Youtube, but the audio and visual quality isn't good. I'll post it up here, so you can view it and give us your feedback.

Left Front: Vinay - Lead Guitar, Left Back: Kapil - Rhythm Guitar

Centre: Amrit - Drums

Right Front: Shaun - Bass Guitar, Right Back: Nishant - Lead Guitar

It was taken with a cellphone, but we might get a camcorder-quality version soon.

Well, that's it for now, and I hope all of you like it and give us your support.

Unconfictional.

That's a word I made up.

Do I know what it means?

Analyze it. Unconditional. Fictional.

That means unconditional love doesn't really exist. Does it?

'Tis the last day of 2006

And all I can say is I'm sorry.

A few memories:

BurJuman
DrumBass
Band
Beach
I wanna go to the airport
Breakups
Makeups
Confusion
Missing Desert Rock :(
Insportz :D
Mr. Commerce :D :D
Mr. Istory-teller and Listener :D :D :D
MUSIC :D :D :D :D
Music Mess-Ups
Mr. Music
Mrs. Music
Irritating (sp?) both of them
Birthdays
Missing Birthdays
Rest In Peace
The CrocHunter
Pete :(
The two Childrens' Days
The two Music Competitions
The wind blew me away
The "Diskardens" :S
SCHMIZEL!
Rock you like a hurricane
Are you going to be my girl?
Out of Control :D :D :D
Blood Brothers
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Airplanes and Broken Hearts
Roleplays
The ZeeTV Pen Stealing Chronicles
The 12th Graders :(
GuitarBoy :D
A Gradual Decline of Talent
BREADTALK!
GUILD WARS!!!
CHRISTMAS!!
Natasha :C
Mr. Myers :C :(
MR. CHUBBY-ENVIRONMENTAL-GUY
MR. MUSCLE-BOY-PE-ATHLETIC-TEACHER-THING-GUY
MR. DR. K-han
KAPIL! SUNNY! AMRIT! VINAY! VIHAAN! SHAUNATHAN! DARIEN AND HIS REASON FOR DITCHING US! WEGGID! ANDREW! DELZEEN! RADHIKA! RHEA! JUHI! TRISHA! SHALAKA! RAYNA! RESHMA! SONIA! TEJAS! ANISH! ALI! AND EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS YEAR COMPLETE! Oh, that includes you too, Ryan and Kirk.
And yes, dearest, you.
^ That made all of this worthwile.

I Forget.

How far would you go to redeem yourself? How far would you go to earn that love once banished? How far would you look to find the reasons you had, and never consider them again?

Welcome to another rant.

It's been one of the most eventful years of my life, and I don't know how or why, but I learnt quite a few things. And I'd share them with you if I knew how to.

There are things I would have taken back, or some that I would wish could be taken back. I wish I could take back things for other people, because their suffering reveals the ugliness in me.

How much better would it have been if I could help, if I could assist someone through their hurt. Does change affect people that much? Can we stop change from affecting us? Can we change the results of change?

Doves with twisted wings. Love with twisted promises. Misery with twisted outcomes; usually change.

Have you ever wondered about this thing called regret? No, neither have I, and I regret not grabbing the opportunities I had, not accepting things I could have.

Can we get those chances back? Can we try and ask for one more answer, just one, and question ourselves?

Would we dare to?

Love is a great maze. The people in it are lost. And their only exit is the entrance.

But some stay in the maze. Not quitting. Braving the pain of despair. And their exit, is the exit.

Love until forever.

A promise thats promised. Half of them are lies.

All lies.

And inconsideration to the hurt. Pain wearing a mask of depression. Pain and depression.

But no-one notices the joy. The short-lived joy that comes so often, and yet, it's not enough. And when you begged time to fly, in anticipation of a great event, you would never notice the regret you would have in the future.

And still, no-one notices the joy. The little verbal errors people make in everyday conversation, the little words that make someone's day, the fun you have when you fall down when you play football, when you trip over your own tricks, when you dance away your misery, when you laugh when no-one hears you.

No-one notices the joy.

When depressions come, they come at once, they hit you in the chest. But never should you allow them to change you.

Which is my biggest regret this year.

However, there have been many things I don't regret, and I'm very thankful for. My arms, my legs, my parents, my home.

But what never struck me was the loss I would have to face, in the loss of one of these things, and fear has overriden the hope, which is another regret I have this year.

The wind took me away.

Bounties of regret, bounties of pain, bounties of love, bounties of joy, condensing into memory.

How far would you go to redeem yourself? How far would you go to earn that love once banished? How far would you look to find the reasons you had, and never consider them again?

Another Conclusion

Well, I think I need constructive criticism on this one. I think I feel it sucks. So with your help, I can make it better. Please?

-------

I looked for meaning.
I found tragedy.
Behind these lines of ignorance
Lies the hate and malice you breed.

An incomplete sigh.

I arched in trust.
And I don't deplore.

Be steady,
And prepare yourself for war.

Contort your disbelief.
Soak the walls with your spite, not me.

A concealed storm.
Everyday.
We fight.

-------

Yes, it does suck. But whatever, I need your constructive criticism.

PLEASE.

EDITED: I have taken various criticisms, and turned the poem into what I think would fit the meaning I had in mind.

----

In shadowed iniquity.
An incandescent light.
Encompassed in menace.
A diffusion of white.

Seek a meaning.
A determined tragedy.
Behind these lines of ignorance
Lies the malice they breed.

Arch in trust.
But don't deplore.
Work with sincere truth.

Be steady,
Be firm,
And prepare yourself for war.

Contort your disbelief.
Soak the walls with your spite, not me.

And sheath your swords,
Dawn hasn't broken.

A concealed storm.
Everyday.
We fight.

An incomplete sigh.
Earthed in the mud of promise.

A Guide to Day 1 Of Dubai Desert Rock 2007

Ok. March 9th 2007. Dubai Country Club. Be there or be square. Or humanoid.

The greatest Desert Rock to be organized by CSM, I am NOT going to miss this one, unlike me, being the lazy fat-ass that I am, missing Megadeth. I feel like shooting myself =(

OKAY then, the point of this post. The bands? Be shocked. IRON MAIDEN are headlininginging. !!!!!!! . (Note the three 'ings') This post is just to guide you on the way to liking these bands, and I shall give you a list of songs by each band for you to download, which you better. :P

Oh wait, by the way, something the pilot-vocalist of Iron Maiden had to say about coming here. (From www.blabbermouth.net)

"This is certainly something new to us as I don't believe anyone from the band has ever played here at all, so we're all really looking forward to this. We all enjoy touring where we've always had fantastic support but there is something always a bit special about playing to new fans in a part of the world you'd never really expected to play. It certainly looks and sounds like a great festival and lineup and I'm already planning a special Bruce Air trip out for this one, which will be amazing I'm sure."

YAY! Okay, back to the topic (for the millionth time)

JUNKYARD GROOVE: A brilliant band from our very own India. Such a different genre, such a different touch to their music. A must for every music-lover. Now your p2p clients won't detect any sources with this band, so I must give you their websites. And what you must do, in turn, is listen to every song they have. Look out for "It's Okay" and "Folk You". Brilliant songs.

Their "Purevolume"
(www.purevolume.com) site.

Their MySpace (www.myspace.com),
with a few more songs.

LAUREN HARRIS: Iron Maiden has a bassist. Iron Maiden's bassist's name is Steve Harris. Steve Harris' daughter's name is Lauren Harris, and she's been opening all their shows. I didn't really take the time to listen to her, but I know you can on her myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/laurenharrisuk

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Oh, what a band. Fronted by none other than hyper-famous-Finnish-guitar-screamo-vocals-dude Alexi Laiho. And don't ask me what's so great about him, download one of Children of Bodom's songs, friendly to your p2p program. (Ares, Limewire, Kazaa, whatever you use) and listen to the guitar-work. Brilliant.

Here's a list of songs for you to download:

Hate Me!
Lake Bodom
Needled 24/7
Angels Don't Kill
Children of Bodom (Yes, it's a song)
Everytime I Die
Hatebreeder
Sixpounder
Downfall
Bed of Razors
Follow the Reaper
In Your Face
Trashed, Lost and Strungout

Have fun downloading. Each song is brilliant in their own way.

IN FLAMES: The main event for me, one of my all-time favourite bands. I love every song of theirs and what you should look out for are the captivating guitar melodies and solos. Brilliant band with brilliant songs. A must for any fan of metal. Not saying that you are, but they are amazing anyway.

Here's a list of songs for you to download:

Trigger
Artifacts of the Black Rain
Take This Life
Cloud Connected
Only For The Weak
The Quiet Place
My Sweet Shadow
Leeches
Gyroscope
Reroute to Remain
Come Clarity
Clad in Shadows
December Flower
The Hive

I hope you like them. I love them.

MASTODON: More of an underground band, meaning not many people know about them. But heck are they intense. I discovered this band off a poster I got in a poster book, and I got to downloading them. The drummer is one of the best I have EVER EVER heard. How does he play so damn well? Well, it's hearing is believing this time. I haven't heard many songs by them, only a good handfull, so this list won't be too long.

Here's a list of songs for you to download (Again) :

Blood and Thunder
March of the Fire Ants
Iron Tusk (According to me, their best song, and it's BRILLIANT!)
Where Strides The Behemoth
Elephant Man
Aqua Dementia
Naked Burn
Megalodon
Burning Man
Sleeping Giant
Seabeast
Trilobite
The Wolf is Loose
This Mortal Soil
Workhorse

Have fun :D

STONE SOUR: Another brilliant band. Though I like their newer stuff as compared to their older stuff, being not too old, and their slower stuff is definately better than their faster stuff. What's so great about them? Again, hearing is believing. Corey Taylor and Jim Root of Slipknot are in this band. I didn't believe it. Corey is the lead singer of both bands, and he shows such diversity. Good job.

Here's ANOTHER list of songs for you to download:

Through Glass
Bother
30/30 - 150 (Thanks Aparna)
Orchids
Blue Study
Inhale
Get Inside (Sorry Aparna :P)
Omega
Cold Reader

Not many, because I haven't heard much of their songs.

And last, but DEFINATELY, DEFINATELY, DEFINATELY, not the least..

IRON BLOODY MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN

MY DREAM COME TRUE!!!

MY EX-FAVORITE BAND (Now my 4th favorite)

IRON MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN

Who are they? They're a band who's been around for ages (since 1980) and theyre STILL alive and KICKING MAJOR METAL ASS. I started listening to them a year ago, and I'm still their #1 fan.

With 25 albums and thousands of epic songs, Iron Maiden is a role model for any aspiring metalhead. Known as the 'gods' of heavy metal, they have been producing brilliant songs after amazing songs after classic songs. Expect a huge list.

I have 3-4 of their albums, and when I listen to them, I make sure it's around 4-5 times. I've heard almost ALL their songs, which is a great feat :) and I love every single one of them. From the ancient Prowler to the 2006 The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, I could never stop loving them.

I can't forget their infamous mascot Eddie, who features on every album cover as the hero of the album's theme. From a cyborg to an army soldier to a pharaoh to a cloudhead, he is the trademark of Iron Maiden.

Iron Maiden has released a game called Ed Hunter, which I didn't miss, and it's a '92 shoot-'em-up type game with brilliant graphics for a game of its era.

They've changed lineups several times, but only lead guitarist Dave Murray and bassist Steve Harris have stayed loyal to the band, and I'm very thankful for that.

The lyrics are original, and many band follow in their footsteps. They've set the bar HIGH.

I don't mean to be a drag, but these guys are classic and I FINALLY get to see them. I love them.

A list?

Prepare to be shocked.

Run to the Hills
Blood Brothers
Different World
The Nomad
Out of the Silent Planet
Transylvania
The Number of the Beast
The Trooper (Charge of the Light Brigade - inspired)
Fear of the Dark
Running Free
The Phantom of the Opera
Prowler
22 Acacia Avenue
Charlotte the Harlot
Aces High
The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
Genghis Khan
The Flight of Icarus
The Clansman
The Fallen Angel
Dream of Mirrors
Wasted Years
The Mercenary
Afraid to Shoot Strangers
2 Minutes to Midnight
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Be Quick Or Be Dead
Iron Maiden (Yup, it's a song)
Remember Tomorrow
Strange World
Killers (Kick-ass song)
Prodigal Son
The Ides Of March
Wratchchild
The Murders in the Rue Morgue
Purgatory
Total Eclipse
Children of the Damned
Invaders
Sun and Steel
To Tame a Land
Where Eagles Dare
Revelations
Quest for Fire
Powerslave
Rime of the Ancient Mariner (14-minute song)
The Duellists
Flash of the Blade
Back in the Village
Alexander the Great
Deja Vu
Sea of Madness
Moonchild
Infinte Dreams
Can I Play With Madness
The Evil That Men Do
The Clairvoyant
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Only The Good Die Young
Tail Gunner
Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
Wasting Love
From Here To Eternity
Man on the Edge
The Unbeliever
The Wicker Man
Ghost of the Navigator
Brave New World
The Thin Line Between Love & Hate
Rainmaker
Paschendale

Yes, have fun, and I know none of you are going to sit and download all of these songs, but whenever you need something to download, come and visit here.

Oh, and something frontman Bruce Dickinson has said about visiting Dubai that has got me on edge. Again:

"Iron Maiden have announced that they will be headlining the DESERT ROCK
FESTIVAL in Dubai on Friday 9th March 2007. The supporting bill for this day is
currently The Prodigy as Special Guests plus Stone Sour, In Flames, Mastodon,
Children of Bodom, Lauren Harris and Junkyard Groove . This will be the fourth
Desert Rock Festival in Dubai since it started in 2004 and it will take place at
the Dubai Country Club. Tickets will be made available from the official Desert
Rock Festival website - desertrockfestival.com - where full details of the festival
and site can be found. Says manager Rod Smallwood 'Maiden have always enjoyed
and been prepared to visit and play in new parts of the World and this is
certainly no exception. We expect to take the full European stage Production and
as its our first time there. We will adjust the set to include more of the
favourites these fans wont have heard live before along with selected tracks
from our new album 'A Matter of Life and Death' which has been very successful
in Arabia with a Top 5 Chart entry. As this tour has been so much fun we may even add a couple more special shows in mid-March so watch this space' Adds
Bruce Dickinson 'This is certainly something new to us as I don't believe anyone
from the band has ever played here at all so we're all really looking forward to
this. We all enjoy touring where we've always had fantastic support but there is
something always a bit special about playing to new fans in a part of the world
you'd never really expected to play. It certainly looks and sounds like a great
festival and line up and I'm already planning a special BruceAir trip out for
this one which will be amazing I'm sure. We're just getting to the end of whats
been a brilliant year for all of us and we've had a fantastic reaction to the
tour throughout and we 'd like to thank all the fans for their support on the
album and the tour. It's been incredible.' Details of the Bruce Air three day
trip out to Dubai and the Desert Rock Festival will be posted tomorrow, Friday
22nd December on seegigs.co.uk"

Source: http://www.ironmaiden.com

I can't wait. And neither should you :P

Have fun downloading, and I hope to see as many of you at Dubai Desert Rock 2007 as possible.

Metal day, March 9th, 2007, is gonna be AWESOME! And I'm going to sit and learn EVERY song I've posted here on guitar, when I have the time, that's how obsessed I am.

UP THE IRONS!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank CSM for organizing such a greatly-anticipated day, so, THANK YOU CSM!!!!

And since I've taken about 3 hours doing research and typing out this post, you BETTER COMMENT!

-Nishant

Another Case of Writer's Block.

Firstly, I do not classify myself as a writer, but I do, nonetheless write, and am subject to this severe case of writer's block. And I'm telling you this. It's bad. Unable to draw inspiration from the most inspiring things, unable to express emotion in what I love, unable to do anything that comes even remotely close to writing, it just sucks.

Now all of you must be wondering why on this crap-society-writer's-block-infested earth I would be caring about writer's block when I don't classify myself as a writer. And the answer is this : I am a writer, even though a sucky one, but a writer nonetheless. And writer's block just gets on my nerves.

I wonder how many of you writers have been a victim of this merciless disease, and to those who were and are, I pity you. Yes, self-pity is a crime, but it's better than writer's block. Which is currently getting worse and worse and worse. And I'm telling you this. I HATE IT!

All those who DON'T have it, consider yourself lucky, and I'm going to end this post right here, right now, because writer's block is limiting my creativity and imagination.

Lucky you.

PS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I LOVE YOU AND GOD BLESS!!

Oh please don't leave.

And then there was the 12th grade batch of 2006-2007. And what a spectacular one.

This post is not a post.
This post isn't for the blog or for me.

It's a dedication, a tribute, to every single 12th grader.

Why? Why do good things always come to an end? This was probably the best thing thats EVER happened to the school....

And it's almost gone. What do we do? What do we say? We've learnt SO much from you, we've learnt SO MUCH from all of you, really, and as cliched as it may sound, I don't give a shit, words can't describe it.

Thank you, never say goodbye, hope to see you again... those words are all I can say, but I don't know if they mean anything. They do, to me, but what about you? And you? And you?

I suppose I will never be them but I can try to be like them.

And I will try.

How do you accept change? How do you accept things that you just don't want to accept?

It's a must. It's inevitable.
(Yes, I'm sorry for stealing this from you.)

How do you manage, when a major source of inspiration, isn't there anymore?

How?

Why?

It's a shame really.
How I wish things were different.
But those are just wishes.

At the end of it all, all we can do is accept it. And move on.
(Sorry again)

If words could describe what I want to say, there'd be no end to this dedication.

But they can't.

So I end, for fear of being "not worthy" (haha! sorry again), and that these words won't be fit.

So I end by saying thank you.

And I, we, love you.

Les Yamakasi et Parkour

Birds fly and so do Aeroplanes and now….....So do humans.
The Yamakasi are a group of practitioners of the sport of l'art du déplacement.....

Have you ever seen some really crazy stunts in certain movies and have you said “Dude,That’s like totally fake , How can a guy jump from building to building without getting hurt???etc.”.

Well if u did do so you’re wrong, you probably saw Les Yamakasi at work….Some of the coolest stunts on earth I have ever seen have been performed by the Yamakasi and I felt they had to be included in one of the posts in my blog / our blog (Kapil and I).
This is the Double post I was talking about......

Watch and learn. Actually, don't learn.



There, is genius. That is how the stunts you have seen are performed.
We shall take "James Bond: Casino Royale" as an example.
The beginning scene, the one with people jumping around from crane to building, from building to building...
THAT is what a Yamakasi does.

Spectacular isn't it?

But wait. This is reality. Reality, originated from dreams.

My point being: anything is possible, when you have Faith.




And that's where inspiration is drawn from. But still, I beg: NONE OF YOU TRY IT AT HOME!

Now, all of you people say, if man was born to fly, he would've been given wings. But here, wings are a state of mind.
THESE wings, are a state of self-confidence, self-assurance, and hope. And if you want to sprout wings,
just believe.

Look at it this way. Practice makes perfect, but thoughts lead to practice.

Practice what you preach, and you certainly will not be disappointed.
Courtesy Les Yamakasi et Parkour

NISHANT - Here
AND
KAPIL - Kapil

DOUBLE POST!!

Wings of Poesy

Okay. I found a poem that I deeply love. Deeply. It's so touching. Only because you can interpret it anyway you feel like. That's what I love best about poems. The abstractness. The power the words deliver, hitting you in the chest, and actually liking it. It belongs to a song called 'Disconnecktie' by my all-time second favorite band called Norma Jean. I don't know if you should give it a try though. It's hardcore metal, with such an emotional touch to it. Try it if you want. No harm done. You MUST read this lyric.

It's taken me 50,000 separate wrecks to get here,
And I've learned absolutely
nothing.
As I'm standing here alone, upright and motionless,
I'm drowning
in her sea.
The rising and sinking of every consciousness I've ever
known.
Now detached and disconnected.
The endless cycle of idea and
action,
Endless invention, endless experiment, endless hope and endless
disappointment.
And I thought all I needed was just one breath to stay
afloat.
For me it was like... like the breath, the last breath, the last
breath
that I never wanted.
Any of this.

I'm moving
forward.
I never thought that this would capsize,
But this isn't a boat,
it's a coffin!
And now I'm moving forward.

Into the sea... into
the great sea.
So I begin with the end in mind.
The cycles of heaven, 20
centuries gone by, come home.

I've fallen three miles now... and I
still can't shake this dragon,
But the end is coming like a flood.
It is
going to be a year for growing and the greatest amount of
forgetting.
My sea is dying, but death is a doorway.
And at the
very root of me I know this.
It's the greatest reminder.
What a broad
world to roam in, what a sea to swim in, so I begin with the
end in
mind.

"Disconnecktie : The Faithful Vampire"
-Norma Jean

How do you like it? Comment. Because I think it's brilliant. And you should too. Thank you.\

Nishant.

Thanking you.

A wonder. You capture my emotion so fluently. You allow me to pour my feelings into your essence. You hurt me, yet never emotionally, you let me be the cause of your change. Your being. You throw your comfort and safety into my hands. You throw your music, into my hands. Anger. Love. Distress. Despair. Anything I need to let out, you let me let it into you. Countless ballads, countless songs, all etched from the magic you give my fingertips.

Thank you for your permission. Thank you for your carefree ways. Thank you for giving me your being, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for letting me let out, thank you for ignoring my cliches. Thank you for the harmony, thank you for the melody, you selflessly let into the air. Just like the words we long to be heard, are your hopes for your music to be recognized. Through me.

Thank you for allowing me to dedicate this to you, I thank you for all the emotion I've poured into you. My only fan. Thank you for the time you've spent on me, thank you for forgetting my harms.

I don't know what to say anymore, so I guess I'll just pick you up. Hold you in my arms. I'll let you trust me, I hope I don't cause any damage to you. Ugly as I may be, I still thank you.

My guitar.