When the infamous Iraq War started one and a half decades ago, I was still in high school but I remember many students of my age demonstrating against said war and the American President George W. Bush. I recall a classmate of mine who brought a poster to a local demonstration that asked ''Has Bush got a small penis?''. I also remember how the Rock Against Bush compilations were extremely popular among teenagers. I recall how famous artists and bands such as Eminem or Green Day were inspired by said war and wrote songs or even entire albums about it. Back then, everybody had an opinion on that war as even teenagers got interested in politics and history. Ministry released a whopping three albums dealing with the state of the United States of America and its President.

These days, many people would like to have George W. Bush back because an egocentric, populist and selfish businessman whose name isn't even worth mentioning has taken over a country, drastically reversed its development and become a danger to the world, his own country and even himself. Yet, people have become disillusioned by politics and it's surprising that the heroes of yore release a select track criticizing that opinionated madman but don't try to use their popularity more to demonstrate against that government. At least Ministry has decided to voice its opinion and release a conceptual record about the current state of the United States of America called AmeriKKKant. Some people might claim that this was predictable, that it wasn't necessary and that politics and arts shouldn't mix. However, I believe that it's more important now than ever to speak up against what's happening in the United States of America since last year, especially if you are unlucky enough to be a citizen of this country. Ministry's intention to try to change things through its music and lyrics is a very honorable position.

On the other side, an album isn't just about its concept and its lyrics trying to release anger, speak the truth and warn the world. It's obviously also about the music. And the music on this record is plain horrible. The lengthy tracks are filled with numerous distorted sound samples and seemingly infinite turntable sounds that make bands like Rob Zombie and Limp Bizkit go green with envy. The guitar riffs are simplistic and lackluster. The rhythm section is plodding along without any inspiration. There are very few vocals and the few passages that are actually sung always sound the same and consist of hoarse screaming of almost incomprehensible lyrics. The idea to hire a new guitarist, a new drummer and a professional disc jockey on the turntables isn't too bad and the initiative to another metal vocalist as well as a rapper sounds quite intriguing. However, none of these musicians is able to add anything relevant to the album and only the omnipresent disc jockey is audible but for for all the wrong reasons. There only a few minor passages that are even remotely interesting on the album such as the thrash metal stylistics of ''We're Tired of It'' or the few more melodic passages of ''Wargasm''.

Musically speaking, this album is one of the worst I have ever heard in my whole life. It's just one notch above projects like Sabazius and Sloth which means it's truly terrible. The only redeeming quality is the record's concept found in thought-provoking lyrics even though they are at times a little bit too rude and straight-forward as in the controversial ''Antifa''. In the end, the interesting album cover can be interpreted in two ways. First of all, the Statue of Liberty is face-palming because of the disastrous state of the United States of America. Secondly, it might be face-palming because Ministry's AmeriKKKant is wasting its potentially valuable lyrics with absolutely terrible music. If you want to hear a better album about the current state of affairs in the United States of America, you might try out the new record of American progressive metal band Leviathan called Can't be Seen by Looking: Blurring the Lines, Clouding the Truth.

Final rating: 17%

Nightwish has released a high number of compilations so far in its career but in the band's defense, these compilations were often released by former labels who tried to cash in. Now, Nightwish itself tries to cash in which doesn't make much difference to be honest. Decades is a compilation that covers all records this band has ever made and even goes back to the group's very first demo released twenty-two years ago. Those who haven't bought a Nightwish record yet or who haven't checked the band out have a competent compilation that retraces the band's career in anti-chronological order with twenty-two tracks celebrating twenty-two years of existence. That is also the only positive point of this release aside the fact that the cover artwork and booklet look very nice.

On the other side, are there really still any metal fans who haven't heard about the band and either purchased one or several records if they liked what they heard or not purchased any album if they didn't like what they heard? In the case of such a popular band, this case shouldn't be very common. 

There are several obvious problems with such a release. First of all, it doesn't offer any new songs for fans of old date. The fact that the songs got remastered doesn't change anything about that. Secondly, the track list is quite debatable as someone needs to tell band leader Tuomas Holopainen that ''The Greatest Show on Earth'' isn't the pinnacle of his career but rather the opposite. Let's assume you're not familiar with this band and you check out this record that starts with that bloated and boring song that is twenty-four minutes long. I guess ninety-nine out of one hundred people wouldn't even make it through the song or feel like checking out any of the band's other songs. Opening a compilation with this song is commercial suicide.

Another thing needs to be addressed in relation to this release and its tour. Concert tickets cost between ninety and about two hundred Canadian dollars plus service fees which are usually between ten and twenty bucks. The tickets include a copy of this album but paying one hundred dollars for a compilation nobody needs plus a two-hour concert is over the top. Two years ago, I paid about half of the lowest price for this new tour to attend one of the band's concerts. Attending concerts of veteran legends like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest costs about half the price and you even get one or two opening acts to check out. One has to wonder whether Tuomas Holopainen has become delusional and megalomaniac at this point.

It's time for the band to slow down with unnecessary compilations, expensive concerts and bloated twenty-four minute epics. Nightwish has to get back to the basics and deliver value for money. Otherwise, the group won't survive for another decade.

Final rating: 15%

Zatoichi's Cane Sword is the fifteenth entry in the franchise about the clever gambler, blind masseur and skilled swordsman with a lowly yakuza background and I still can't get enough of this series with its authentic atmosphere bringing rural Japan of the mid-nineteenth century to life, with its unique lead character with a strong moral compass masterfully played by a credible Katsu Shintaro and the cool story lines involving conspiracies, greed, love, murder and redemption. As in many other films, Zatoichi comes across a dying boss who can only tell him his name. The blind masseur goes to the next town and stays in an old inn where he comes across the dead man's children. While the son is reluctant to take over his father's business, the daughter is determined to convince him and save their family's reputation. However, another boss named Iwagoro, supported by corrupt government official Inspector Kuwayama, wants to take over the dead man's business by any means necessary. Zatoichi tries to remain neutral in the conflict but when the dead man's son is brutally killed and the dead man's daughter lured away from the inn, Zatoichi decides to set things right. However, there is one big problem. The local blacksmith informs Zatoichi that his cane sword is about to break and that the blind masseur might only have one strike left before it snaps.

As usual, there are many positive elements about this film. First of all, the characters are very nicely developed in this film. The drunk blacksmith that rediscovers his art, the determined daughter who never gives up, the reluctant son who wants to avoid conflicts, the pervert government official and the wicked boss are all intriguing characters. The fact that Zatoichi has to fight without his usual cane sword at times adds some tension to the film. The movie has a few interesting twists that keep the viewers interested until the very end. The final fight sequence at night and in the snow when both Zatoichi and his opponents use numerous tricks to fight each other is particularly well-choreographed. In addition to this, the movie includes a few brief yet refreshing humorous scenes such as Zatoichi performing a chant and dance to make fun of the evil boss and Zatoichi playing a game of dice with an overtly self-confident loudmouth who challenges him to a duel.

However, the film also has a few flaws. The story is extremely similar to other movies and lacking some fresh originality. On the other side, the story is also more complex and at times a little bit hard to follow with its numerous characters, side stories and minor twists. It would have been better if the movie had been a few minutes longer to tell this complex story in greater detail.

Still, Zatoichi's Cane Sword is an above average entry in the franchise. The tense atmosphere in the inn where several key scenes take place is a very intriguing guiding line. The characters have depth and you either root for them or despise them quickly. The complex story is a little bit more challenging than usual which has positive and negative consequences. Collectors and fans of the franchise might appreciate this movie more than some of the weaker previous films but it's not strong enough in my book to be among the franchise's best entries. Those who aren't familiar with Zatoichi yet shouldn't start here and discover the series in chronological order.