Septicflesh is one of the most versatile extreme metal bands around the world. The Greek quartet started as death metal band, evolved into progressive gothic metal and now plays symphonic extreme metal. This compilation is intended to trace the way back to the band's origins with one track chosen from each of the ten studio records and the group's first extended play, covering twenty-six years of existence in total. The memorable cover artwork is inspired by the band's latest release Codex Omega which was one of the most creative extreme metal albums in recent memory.

Depending on which genre you prefer, you will like or dislike different parts of this compilation that is a beautiful collector's item, perfect introduction to the band and wonderful summary of what the Greek genre veterans have accomplished thus far. Personally, I have always had close ties to the gothic scene and like the band's atmospheric middle years. The chaotic, dystopian and eerie ''Chaostar'' is certainly a highlight on this release for me while the appeasing, floating and mysterious ''The Eldest Cosmonaut'' deals with a similar topic in a completely different instrumental approach.

You certainly need an open mind to appreciate everything Septicflesh has been releasing throughout the past three decades. However, there is surely something great to find for every taste on this output for a fair price. If you come across this compilation, don't hesitate to pick it up.

Final rating: 80%

Just when you thought you had seen it all in a globalized metal scene, you come around a power metal sextet with five Tunisian musicians and a Serbian singer with a doctor's degree in civil engineering. This band is called Persona and has released a new song to celebrate Halloween earlier this year.

''Skeleton Dance'' is a quite dynamic and melodic power metal track with engaging riffs, melodic guitar solos, decently employed keyboard layers, decently paced rhythm section and enthusiastic vocals. The song finds the right balance between catchy vocals and technically impressive musicianship. The only downside to the song is that its atmosphere doesn't really have anything to do with Halloween but at least the lyrics are somewhat spooky.

If you like power metal that isn't too saccharine but rather performed with actual energy, you should give this unusual band a chance and might as well start with its most recent release. Persona's ''Skeleton Dance'' is entertaining, stunning and uplifting and should find its righteous place in numerous future Halloween metal play lists as a lighthearted take on the topic.

Final rating: 80%

The Possession of Hannah Grace certainly doesn't reinvent the horror movie genre but is a quite creepy genre flick without any lengths. The story is centered around a former female cop who tragically lost her colleague and job and got addicted to alcohol and medication. She gets a new job as night security guard at a morgue that should prevent her from strolling around in bars and worsening her condition. Things take a turn for the worse when the body of Hannah Grace is brought to the morgue one night. The girl got killed during a controversial exorcism three months earlier and somebody was found trying to cut her dead body into pieces. As soon as her body arrives, strange things start to happen at the morgue. Lights suddenly start to flicker, doors open mysteriously and an intruder tries to get inside the morgue for ghastly reasons. The former cop wants to prove herself and those around her that she has the strength of dealing with the situation but realizes too late that she becomes the pawn in a deadly game of chess planned by an evil spirit.

The movie convinces on several levels. The film has a gloomy atmopshere from start to finish. It has a few quite scary scenes. The claustrophobic, dark and morbid locations work perfectly for an intense horror movie. The film has solid pace and doesn't waste much time with an introduction or conclusion. The characters are interesting enough to care about their fates and especially lead actress Shay Mitchell does an excellent job playing a tough woman with inner demons. The movie's conclusion isn't too stereotypical and leaves room for interpretation.

On the negative side, some scenes of the movie felt somewhat rushed. Characters speak to each other in one room and are suddenly in a completely different place after the cut. This occured on two or three occasions and was slightly confusing. The story could have been a little bit more creative and especially the fact that nobody believes the security guard because of her addiction is a tired old trope.

Still, you will get exactly what you can expect from The Possession of Hannah Grace . It's gloomy, haunting and scary. It's thoroughly entertaining. The movie feels fresher than most tired old horror franchises. It's best enjoyed at your local cinema with a couple of friends.

Mesdames et Messieurs!

Certains entraîneurs de hockey offrent le conseil précieux de bouger les pieds à leurs joueurs. L'exemple le plus populaire de ce conseil innovateur est Michel Therrien. Ce conseil s'inscrit dans la tradition d'autres conseils tels que ''garder les choses simples'' et ''jouer notre jeu'' sur la patinoire. Malheureusement, les joueurs des Canadiens de Montréal ont dû penser à autre chose en entendant ce conseil: à la chanson suivante. Voilà pourquoi Michel Therrien fut congédié. Le message ne passait plus. La Coupe Stanley ne bouge pas ses pieds à Montréal par les temps qui courent. On devra attendre la semaine des quatre jeudis pour que ça arrive. Sur cela, bonne écoute: olé, olé, olé, olé!

Meine Damen und Herren!

Rammsteins Sanger Till Lindemann ist hinlanglich fur seine Provokationen bekannt, aber selbst hartgesottene Verehrer des poetischen Genies werden von dessen neuer Single wohl sehr uberrascht gewesen sein. Verkleidet als Prostituierte im japanischen Schulmadchenkostum, das in dreckigen Kellern Xylophon spielt, singt er in diesem brandneuen Lied mit dem deutsch-turkischen Rapper Haftbefehl uber Mathematik. Anstatt des erwarteten Industrial Rocks gibt es Trip Hop auf die Ohren. Der Text erinnert mich an ein eigenes Erleben aus meiner Schulzeit, als die Hauptschule saniert werden musste und die Schuler daher in Containern auf dem Gelande meines Gymnasiums einquartiert wurden. Als ich eines Nachmittags den Bus mit einigen Hauptschulern nahm, erzahlte ein etwa vierzehnjahriger Hauptschuler von seinen Karriereplanen: ''Alter, wofur brauche ich Mathematik, wenn ich Zuhalter werden will?'' Das ist eine gute Frage. Vielleicht braucht man in der Branche Mathematik um seine Prostituierten zu zahlen. Man sollte auch deren Einkommen berechnen konnen. Man musste seine Ausgaben in der Wirtschaftsbranche sorgfaltig planen. Je mehr ich daruber denke, desto mehr realisiere ich, dass man als Zuhalter ganz besonders mathematisch begabt sein muss. Aber das hatte der ambitionierte Karrieremann damals wohl nicht verstanden. Herr Lindemann hilft ihm und anderen geistigen Tieffliegern mit diesem besinnlichen Lied zum Weihnachtsfest. In dem Sinne: Ein Hoch auf die Mathematik!