Matt Van Stone

Sylosis - Transcendence

Matt — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:05:27 +0000

Sylosis is without a doubt the best metal band of 2008. I challenge anyone to show me a band with better riffs, drums, vocals, and song composition. I can name a handful of bands that excel in one or two of these areas, but Sylosis is the full package. The main verse and chorus riffs for this song are pretty simple technically, but the melody is ridiculous. Anyone can write a metal riff with a little practice, but that melodic rhythm is where the true writing happens. It’s ironic that I love this band so much considering their song composition talent makes me feel like less of a man.

Vocals are really important as well. You can have a band that is instrumentally awesome, but has a really lame vocalist. Vocals can take as much away from a song as they can give it. Mikael Stanne from Dark Tranquillity still holds the number one place in my books for metal vocals. But Jamie from Sylosis is giving him a run for his money. Jamie’s ability to go from a deep long growl to a high pitched scream within a single line and make it sound so amazing is brilliant. His singing voice is just as insane, as you can hear in the chorus of Transcendence.

I usually post music videos, but this is off of a brand new album. Check after the break for my second favorite song from the album Conclusion of an Age.

All That Remains - All Alone

Matt — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:00:17 +0000

Here’s another video from the same band I posted last week. This is the second song from their latest album. The opening riff in this song is pretty wicked as well as is the pre-chorus riff. Again, this song has the perfect mix of singing and screaming.

Best Scene From Tropic Thunder

Matt — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:01:14 +0000

With Ben Stiller movies its always a hit and miss right? Zoolander was a hit, Along Came Polly was a miss as was basically everything since Zoolander. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the best Stiller movie since Zoolander is Tropic Thunder. I can’t say I was laughing my ass off through the whole thing, but there are some seriously funny parts. Zoolander.

Sadly, the funniest part of the whole movie doesn’t even have Stiller in it. I know everyone already knows about the Tom Cruise part. If you don’t then watch the video below. It wouldn’t be as funny if it were any other actor. It’s really only funny cause you know it is Tom in there. Zoolander. It’s the best scene from the movie in my opinion.

Super Easy Fruit Smoothie

Matt — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:48:22 +0000

T and I have been eating a lot of fruit smoothies lately. I found a recipe on Men’s Health and made it my own. If you have a blender you can make this, its really easy. Here is the ingredients list:

6 ice cubes (or double it if your tray makes smaller cubes like mine does)
1/2 cup of frozen berries
1 cup milk
1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1 banana
1 tbsp peanut butter
2 tbsp ground flax seed

So start off by putting the ice cubes and the frozen berries in your blender and use the ice breaker or pulse feature to break the ice. I usually like blueberries or raspberries. You want to add at least half a cup, but you can add a little more to make it sweeter and more flavourful. Then add the cup of milk and the 1/2 cup of yogurt and break up a banana into chunks and add that too. I like to use Silhouette 0+ because it has no sugar and low calories, but it is still sweet because it has Splenda. Also you can add a dallup of peanut butter if you like, and for an omega 3 boost add two scoops of ground flax seed. The flax wont change the flavor, just the texture. Once all that is in put it on blend for a minute or so. Depending on your blender you may need to use a spatula to mix it a bit. Once it all looks consistent pour and serve!

This should fill two large glasses or make four smaller servings. Trust me, its delicious.

All That Remains - This Calling

Matt — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:21:10 +0000

I just got into this band a few weeks ago, but I’m hooked. They have some pretty sweet riffs and the vocalist has hit the sweet spot with his mix between singing and screaming.

Entourage Season 4 Episode 2

Matt — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:26:48 +0000

I really expected to be gripped by this episode, but I wasn’t. I can see how this episode is building the story, but not much happened that made me anxious to see the next piece. Vince once again renewed his dedication to the business and E seems to be distancing himself from the Entourage more and more.

Drama was acting like a baby the whole episode and I hope to see that story line end, or at least change a bit. And what is the deal with Turtle getting the chick? I mean that’s awesome, but he didn’t even have to work that hard or drop Vince’s name. That is pretty out of character.

I still see the conflict of interest brewing with E working on his other clients and Vince going direct to Ari with career talk, but how will it pan out? Any predictions from anyone?

Matt Damon Rips Sarah Palin

Matt — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:38:17 +0000

I can’t say I have been paying too much attention to the American election, but I stumbled upon this video of Matt Damon today. As we all know this election is going to make history no matter who wins. We will either see America’s first black President or America’s first female Vice President. Watch the video to see what Damon says. I really admire celebrities who aren’t afraid to speak their mind. It’s pretty obvious that Damon really doesn’t care what anybody thinks.

Adrian Grenier Can Grow One Badass Beard

Matt — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:10:27 +0000

It has always been pretty obvious to me that Vince (Adrian Grenier) can grow some mad facial hair, but I never really realized the true potential until I watched last night’s episode of Entourage. He looked so badass with his beard and aviators in Mexico. I now have some serious beard envy. The picture below illustrates pretty clearly what I’m talking about.

What’s the deal with the Internet hating on Adrian for having a beard anyway? A simple Google for Adrian Grenier beard comes up with a bunch of links to an array of different posts regarding Adrian’s shabby look. Maybe I’m misinformed? I have this preconceived notion that having a beard makes you more manly, and the more beard the more manly? If that’s not true then I’m going to have to reevaluate my entire belief system.

Naah, I still want one. I don’t care what anybody thinks and maybe if I wish very very hard one day it will happen.

Entourage Season 5 Opener

Matt — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:16:39 +0000

I have always liked how there is a gap between seasons of Entourage. It’s like even though we haven’t been able to watch them, their lives have continued to go on. They haven’t been stuck in some time warp for 6 (or 12 if you include the writers strike) months, like other shows. This season of Entourage starts off no different from others. Six months have passed since we last saw Vince and his posse and a lot has happened.

Click on to read more, but beware there will be spoilers.

!!! —- SPOILER ALERT —- !!!

Episode one starts off pretty quick. We see Roper from At The Movies rip Medellin to shreds and we soon find out that in the six months that have passed since season four ended things haven’t been all sunny with the guys. Medellin is going straight to DVD (BURN!). Drama and E are in LA working. E has started up his management company and has 3 clients now including Vince and Drama has been filming season two of Five Towns. Then we find out that Vince and Turtle have been living on the beach in Mexico with a handful of broads and there might be a bit of a strain on the relationship between E and Vince.

Ari gets a call from Carl Ertz a fictional producer who wants to put Vince in his new movie “Danger Beach” (working title) at Vince’s full quote, which is pretty amazing based on how badly Medellin bombed. The problem is he wants a lunch meet with Vince the next day. That isn’t so good considering Vince is in Mexico. Ari calls E who then calls Vince to try and get him to come back, but Vince doesn’t want to leave Mexico.

Then we go to Drama who is at a promo shoot for the new Five Towns season. The photographer wants to shoot his right side but Drama refuses claiming it’s his bad side. He makes such a big deal of it that the Chairman of the network has to come down. Just as Drama is going to get an ear full he gets a call from E who wants to know exactly where Vince is. E lets on that Vince might be in trouble. Drama gives in on the shoot so that he can run to his “Bro’s” rescue.

Cut to Mexico, E, Ari, and Drama fly in and crash Vince and Turtle’s party. They try to convince Vinny to come back for the meeting with Carl, but Vince doesn’t want to do a movie just because there is an offer. After E has a heart to heart and basically admits fault for the Medellin fiasco. Vince agrees to come back. By the way, as I mentioned in a previous post, Vince has the sweetest beard of all time in this Mexico scene. I’m sure it was hot as hell, but I would kill for that beard.

Back in LA Vince goes to the meeting. Meanwhile we find out from Adam Davies that Carl was just using Vince as leverage to try and low ball the guy he actually wanted for the part. So the guys are back to square one and this is where the episode ends. On the plus side, Vince has his ambition back and is ready to fight for his career.

In a side note that I didn’t mention above, Eric now has three clients. Vince is one, Charlie (played by Bow Wow) is a second, and we don’t meet the third in the first episode. I foresee some conflict between Vince and E over E’s priorities in this season. Also, on the topic of Medellin going straight to DVD, maybe it will become a cult classic. Scarface bombed at the box office, but today is considered a classic American masterpiece.

Overall, I thought it was a good season opener. I’m not used to having to wait a week in between episodes. I watched all of the previous seasons on DVD so I could watch as many in a row as I wanted. It makes you realize how short the episodes really are.

First Two Episodes of Californication Season 2 Leaked

Matt — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:27:52 +0000

Well hot on the tails of the Dexter leak, the first two episodes of Californication have also been leaked. I think its pretty obvious that we have an intentional leak here. Showtime would be stupid not to, these shows are awesome and its going to do nothing but drive more subscribers.

Season one ended with a freeze frame of a happy family, but how long will it last? My guess is not even through the first episode. But don’t take my word for it. Watch this sneak peak at Californication season 2.

Oh, also you can find the first two episodes in all of the normal BitTorrent places.