Old Season's sophomore record Beyond the Black is clearly inspired by early epic rock, hard rock and heavy metal acts of the seventies and eighties like Thin Lizzy, Rainbow and Deep Purple. Mid-paced melodic guitar riffs and solos, a steady but unimpressive rhythm section and the occasional use of simple keyboard and piano patterns meet clean and at times high-pitched and theatrical vocals that are technically impressive but nerve-firing in the long run.

The songs have at times epic lengths with extensive instrumental passages such as the dynamic, diversified and atmospheric ''The Journeyman'' which can be considered as the highlight of this release.

While there isn't anything wrong with honouring the rock legends of yore, I'm missing an element that would make Old Season sound truly unique, memorable or interesting. The band would have gotten much recognition if this album had been released four decades earlier but the music simply sounds charming but dated by contemporary standards.

If you are an avid fan of seventies' hard rock and looking for a band honouring this innovative era, you are certainly going to enjoy Old Season's Beyond the Black that is executed with taste, passion and knowledge. If you expect a creative twist, surprising take or contemporary approach to this type of music, you are quickly going to feel somewhat bored. Old Season's Beyond the Black is very good for what it is but just not memorable enough to leave a lasting impression.

Final rating: 65%

 Ladies and gentlemen,

On the fourteenth day, I stayed in Newfoundland and Labrador's stunning capital Saint John's. Since several friends of mine have already visited this beautiful city, I had gotten some great advice for things and places to visit.

Highlights: Downtown Saint John's impresses with numerous small parks, little monuments and colourful houses. The views of the city from The Rooms are spectacular. The trails all around Signal Hill National Historic Site are among the most beautiful in the entire province.

Curiosities: I bought two quite unusual and particularly entertaining new records at Fred's Record store: Nine Inch Nails' new extended play Bad Witch which can be described as experimental industrial rock while Skinflint's self-titled full-length release is traditional heavy metal from Namibia. I have listened both records dozens of times in my car on the days following their purchase. 

Downtown Saint John's, capital of Newfoundland and Labrador 

 War memorial in downtown Saint John's

 Harboursite Park

 ''A Time'' statue by Morgan MacDonald

 One of the numerous stairs connecting different parts of Saint John's

Basilica Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist 

Cultural facility The Rooms 

 A view of Saint John's from The Rooms

 Quidi Vidi Harbour

The Queen's Battery Barracks 

 Signal Hill National Historic Site

 From left to right: The Narrows, downtown Saint John's and Georges Pond

 A former tavern for military personnel on Signal Hill

 Fort Amherst

 Deadman's Pond

 A view of Saint John's from Signal Hill Visitor Centre

 A monument at night in Saint John's

Ladies and gentlemen,

On the thirteenth day of my trip across Eastern Canada, I arrived in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador and drove all the way to the province's capital Saint John's. I immediately fell in love with the savage, isolated and colourful island and its charming inhabitants.

Highlights: Castle Hill National Histoiric Site was one of the most stunning sites I vistited on my trip and offered spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and the city of Placentia and its surroundings. Cape Saint Mary's Ecological Reserve with its numerous types of birds was also absolutely stunning. I bought a beautifuln shirt and three stuffed animals at its shop. Salmonier Nature Park was also a highlight with a one-hour boardwalk tour through beautiful natural landscapes and big enclosures for numerous local animals.

Curiosities: While visiting Salmonier Nature Park was a fascinating experience, the noisy local tourists were annoying both the animals and me. 

 Arriving in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador

 A view of Placentia as seen from Castle Hill National Historic Site

 One of the ruins of the main site on Castle Hill

 A different smaller section of Castle Hill on the other side of the hill after walking through a forest

A view of the Atlantic Ocean from yet another spot of Castle Hill National Historic Site 

 A viewe of downtown Placentia

 The south-east side of Cape Saint Mary's Ecological Reserve

 The north-west side of Cape Saint Mary's Ecological Reserve

 Northern gannets nesting on Bird Rock

 One of the numerous local animals at Salmonier Nature Park

Ladies and gentlemen!

On the twelft day of my trip through Eastern Canada, I discovered Cape Breton Island as I drove from Port Hastings to North Sydney where I took the ferry to Argentia on Newfoundland. I managed to get assigned to a cabin on the ship at the last minute. I slept while crossing the Atlantic Ocean between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland for about sixteen hours.

Highlights: The ship is spacious, comfortable and clean. I managed to taste an excellent cider called No Boats on Sunday as well as Newfoundland's famous Iceberg Beer which was particularly refreshing and smooth.

Curiosities: The receptionist who worked at the motel in Port Hasting didn't stop complaining about his job to the tourists and joked several times that he would quit his job as soon as possible. With that kind of attitude, I would be surprised if he still worked at the motel as we speak. Tourists aren't interested in your private and professional life and have a right to have an enjoyable stay. 

A look at Baddeck and Bras d'Or Lake in Nova Scotia 

Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site 

 A statue of Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel Gardiner Hubbard

 The Gaelic College on Cabot Trail

 A bridge across Bras d'Or Lake

 The ferry that took me from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Argentia, Newfound and Labrador

 Bobby Joe Ryan Memorial Park in North Sydney which is dedicated to a tragically deceased child who was a big sports fan

Ladies and gentlemen!

Dreamcatcher is a k-pop band I have only discovered very recently. The group was originally called MINX and featured five members. It changed its name to Dreamcatcher one and a half years ago and evolved into a septet. The band has released four extended plays so far, including this year's Escape the Era and the brand new Alone in the City which was released precisely one week ago.

What I like about the band is that it differs from other k-pop bands that use hip hop and rhythm and blues elements. Dreamcatcher rather incorporates rock elements, varying from hard rock over commercial punk rock to mellow heavy metal. The band still uses electronic pop elements though and also incorporates brief rap elements. This makes for a quite unusual mixture.

Stylistically, the band isn't too different from other k-pop bands, with all seven members wearing the same type of clothes in most of their music videos and performing almost robotic dance choreographies. However, the seven members all have great vocals and the musical style is distinctive enough to be noteworthy. Give them a chance.

''Fly High''

 ''What''