tag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:/blogs/kitty-s-blog?p=2Kitty's Blog2019-04-15T12:46:08+01:00Novacrowfalsetag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/59488482019-11-04T14:25:34+00:002022-05-30T10:47:35+01:00Halloween film ranking!<p>Halloweeny film ranking 2019.? </p>
<p>I forced myself to watch tonnes of ‘Halloween appropriate’ films and rank them. </p>
<p>As well as choosing films I had never seen, or hadn’t seen in at least around 10 years, I tried to get a wide spread of years and sub-genres (comedy/horror/thriller etc). I highly recommend trying this because I found the ranking SO DIFFICULT. I tried to remain objective, though sometimes factored in the age of the film.</p>
<p><u><strong>Halloween Films (33) </strong></u></p>
<p><strong>The Thing (1982) </strong></p>
<p>-Absolutely awesome. The story was gripping and the sfx were phenomenal. LOVED IT. </p>
<p><strong>Get Out (2016) </strong></p>
<p>- Great acting and premise. Pacing was great and I was gripped to the end. </p>
<p><strong>Psycho (1960) </strong></p>
<p>Stands up incredibly well and still leaves you guessing. So impressed. </p>
<p><strong>Joker (2019) </strong></p>
<p> -Dark and gripping. Incredible lead performance. </p>
<p><strong>Shaun of the Dead (2004) </strong></p>
<p>-We take the brilliance of this film for granted. The story, characters, comedy and horror elements are all amazing. </p>
<p><strong>What we do in the Shadows (2014) </strong></p>
<p>-Absolute gem. I already want to watch it again. Brilliant comedy. </p>
<p><strong>Cargo (1970) </strong></p>
<p>-My heart is still aching. Manages to do something new with a typical premise. Fantastic film and Martin Freeman is glorious. </p>
<p><strong>It chapter 2 (2019) </strong></p>
<p>-Adore the book and thought this was an excellent homage. The changes worked fantastically and the adult parallels to the children were perfectly cast. </p>
<p><strong>Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) </strong></p>
<p>-Still holds up and such a great premise for a villain. </p>
<p><strong>Cabin in the Woods (2012) </strong></p>
<p>-Enjoyed this a lot more than expected. Nice play on the classic tropes. </p>
<p><strong>Elvira Mistress of The Dark (1988) </strong></p>
<p>-Basically ‘Carry on spooking’- very enjoyable. Love her. </p>
<p><strong>Trick r Treat (2007) </strong></p>
<p>-CUTEST HORROR CHARACTER EVER. Love the storybook aesthetic and great music. </p>
<p><strong>The Craft (1996) </strong></p>
<p>-Makes me want immediately buy chunky boots. Still stands up well and remains iconic. </p>
<p><strong>The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1921) </strong></p>
<p>-Eerie and intriguing. An interesting watch and lovely visuals. </p>
<p><strong>Mom and Dad (2017) </strong></p>
<p>Unexpectedly entertaining. Awesome violence and unique premise. </p>
<p><strong>Little Evil (2017) </strong></p>
<p> -Decent Omen parody. My love of Parks and Recreations makes me like it solely for Adam Scott (classic Icetown). </p>
<p><strong>Ju On - The Grudge (2002) </strong></p>
<p> -Hit and miss effects, but spooky and iconic. </p>
<p><strong>The Ring (2002) </strong></p>
<p>-Better than expected with a surprisingly coherent storyline. Really liked the ending. </p>
<p><strong>-The 6th Sense (1999)</strong></p>
<p>Quite a sweet film upon re-watching. The SFX look hilarious now, but the story is alright. </p>
<p><strong>Open House (2018) </strong></p>
<p>-Ignoring the absolutely crap ending, this doesn’t deserve the level of negativity in reviews, because the rest of the film builds intrigue and suspense pretty well. </p>
<p><strong>Alien- Director’s Cut- (1979) </strong></p>
<p>Seriously slow and the effects haven’t aged well, but Giger aesthetic is gorgeous. Ripley is awesome though, obviously. </p>
<p><strong>The ABCs of Death (2012) </strong></p>
<p>-More miss than hit, but an interesting watch. Some true gems hidden in there. </p>
<p><strong>In the Tall Grass (2019) </strong></p>
<p>-Gripping at the start, but a very disappointing execution that loses momentum. </p>
<p><strong>Children of the Corn (1984) </strong></p>
<p>Slow and clunky, but still an enjoyable watch. </p>
<p><strong>Hereditary (2018) </strong></p>
<p>-AMAZING stat, but the absolute trashy ending ruined it. What a waste of a build up. </p>
<p><strong>The Omen (1976) </strong></p>
<p>Needs way more Damian. Genuinely creepy in parts, but waaaay too much lore. More spooky kid, less latin please. </p>
<p><strong>Suspiria (1977) </strong></p>
<p>-Incredibly bad pacing and the music is horrible. Looks gorgeous in parts. </p>
<p><strong>Goosebumps (2015) </strong></p>
<p>-Obviously going to suck, but disappointed at the lack of Goosebump related content. There is a cameo from RL Stine, which was exciting, but do not bother. </p>
<p><strong>Black Sheep (2006) </strong></p>
<p>-Crap acting, hate-worthy characters, but great sfx. </p>
<p><strong>Friday the 13th (1980) </strong></p>
<p>-Unbearably slow. The ending moment is hilarious though! </p>
<p><strong>Slumberparty Massacre (1982) </strong></p>
<p>-Forgettable and barely even gory. </p>
<p><strong>The Change (2002) </strong></p>
<p>- Amateur and cringey. Grateful it was so short. </p>
<p><strong>Halloween Jack (2018) </strong></p>
<p>-Unwatchably shit</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/53516072018-07-18T11:30:48+01:002022-04-04T17:22:20+01:00Women in the music industry interview<p>Kitty was recently interviewed by Cross Skull media</p>
<p>1. Who got you into playing guitar? </p>
<p><em>Hearing Joan Jett and thinking, damn, I want to form a band. I was a big fan of Nirvana (most of their discography being the first songs I learnt to play) and then discovering the riot grrrl movement just spurred me on even more. I had just always wanted to make music and guitar just seemed like the perfect tool for songwriting. </em></p>
<p>2. What is it like being a female in the rock and metal music industry? </p>
<p><em>There is a lot of casual sexism. I know my male bandmates have never received patronizing explanations about their own gear, or received comments like “you shouldn’t play guitar, because it hides too much of that beautiful body” (yep, that is a real quote). We joke about it in-band a lot because it is just so preposterous. Luckily, I would say that the vast majority people are nothing like this. Ultimately, making music and performing is what I love to do- my sex doesn’t factor into that. As a band, we all put on a flamboyant show, with silly outfits and loud music, dong or no dong. </em></p>
<p>3. Do you think people have a more accepting attitude towards female guitarists in recent times? </p>
<p><em>Absolutely. There are plenty of people rooting for more female musicians. </em></p>
<p>4. What's 3 struggles of being a guitarist? </p>
<ul> <li><em>1) Dropping a guitar pick and it disappearing forever into the abyss. </em></li> <li><em>2) Having to cut your nails constantly. </em></li> <li><em>3) Lugging around my hard case, which is almost the same size and weight as me. </em></li>
</ul>
<p>5. How long did it take you to learn how to play guitar? </p>
<p><em>I taught myself when I was about 14 and I would say it probably took a couple of years to reach a comfortable level of skill for songwriting. Guitar playing just takes a bit of perseverance through the really tedious early stages, but it’s totally worth it. </em></p>
<p> </p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/51415452018-03-22T10:48:00+00:002023-12-10T16:33:03+00:00Jonyx vs chillis... chillis win.<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="hHOH4-ztHX4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/hHOH4-ztHX4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hHOH4-ztHX4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>We made John (the man who thinks that 'rocket' is 'spicy') endure endless mounds of Scotch Bonnet chillis :P.</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/51138382018-03-06T16:59:01+00:002022-05-19T10:35:12+01:00Video Game fans! Check out our streams!Jonyx and I have recently been part of setting up a video game streaming group, so if you enjoy watching us recieve horrible punishments and forfeits, please tune in! We will be thoroughly enjoying ourselves and often raising money for charity :) So get involved and let us know what you would like us to play!
<iframe src="https://player.twitch.tv/?channel=level9raptors" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" height="378" width="620"></iframe><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/level9raptors?tt_content=text_link&tt_medium=live_embed" style="padding:2px 0px 4px; display:block; width:345px; font-weight:normal; font-size:10px; text-decoration:underline;">Watch live video from Level9Raptors on www.twitch.tv</a>
Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/50047552018-01-03T15:51:53+00:002023-12-10T18:05:08+00:002017: 50 (well...90) Book Challenge<p>HAPPY NEW YEAR! <br>Overshot my 50 book challenge this year and hit 90, but discovered some absolute crackers and enjoyed the re-reads. </p>
<p>Bronte, Charlotte- Jayne Eyre <br>Conrad, Joseph- Heart of Darkness <br>Dauxerre, Victoire- Size Zero <br>Dick, Philip K- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? <br>Dini, Paul- Batman: Harley Quinn Collection <br>Du Maurier, Daphne- Rebecca <br>Fowler, Karen Joy- We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves <br>Hesse, Herman- Siddhartha <br>Highsmith, Patricia- The Talented Mr Ripley <br>Hill, Joe- Heart Shaped Box <br>Hill, Joe- Horns <br>Hill, Joe- Locke and Key (1-6) <br>Hill, Joe- Strange Weather <br>Huxley, Aldous- Heaven and Hell <br>Huxley, Aldous- The Doors of Perception <br>King, Stephen- 11.22.63 <br>King, Stephen- Bag of Bones <br>King, Stephen- Dolores Claiborne <br>King, Stephen- Finders Keepers <br>King, Stephen- Joyland <br>King, Stephen- Mr Mercedes <br>King, Stephen- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon <br>King, Stephen and King, Owen- Sleeping Beauties <br>Kirkman, Robert and Bonansinga, Jay- The Road to Woodbury <br>Kirkman, Robert- The Walking Dead, volumes (18-23) <br>Levy, Deborah- Hot Milk <br>Lowry, Lois- Gathering Blue <br>Lowry, Lois- The Giver <br>Matar, Hisham- The Return <br>Manson, Mark- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck <br>McCarthy, Cormac- The Road <br>McGonigal, Jane- SuperBetter <br>Millar, Mark- Old Man Logan <br>Miller, Frank- Batman: Year One <br>Moore, Michael -Stupid White Men <br>Murakami, Haruki- Hear the Wind Sing <br>Murakami, Haruki- The Elephant Vanishes <br>Murakami, Haruki- The Strange Library <br>Murakami, Haruki- The Wind Up Bird Chronicle <br>Nakamura, Fuminori- Evil and the Mask <br>Nakamura, Fuminori- The Thief <br>Perry, Grayson- The Descent of Man <br>Pratchett, Terry- Equal Rites <br>Pratchett, Terry- Mort <br>Pratchett, Terry- Shaking Hands With Death <br>Pratchett, Terry- Sourcery <br>Pratchett, Terry- The Colour of Magic <br>Pratchett, Terry- The Light Fantastic <br>Rowling, J.K- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them <br>Rowling, J.K- Harry Potter (1-7) <br>Rowling, J.K- Quidditch Through the Ages <br>Saille, Alexi- Thatcher Stole My Trousers <br>Snicket, Lemony- A Series of Unfortunate Events (1-13) <br>Tóibín, Colm- The Testament of Mary <br>Wasserberg, Eleanor- Foxlowe <br>Webb, Robert- How Not to be a Boy <br>Wright, Eddie- Tyranny of the Muse (1 to 4)</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/47775932017-07-13T14:42:36+01:002022-01-05T02:24:52+00:00YouTube Cover: In Praise of Bacchus/Burnt Flowers Fallen, by Type O Negative<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="nqRGGDtmOU0" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/nqRGGDtmOU0/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqRGGDtmOU0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Two songs that I love from October Rust in one (they just seemed to fit together so well!) Such a great album!</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/47510642017-06-20T18:00:56+01:002017-06-20T18:00:56+01:00You Tube Cover: Green Man, by Type O Negative<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="WeVR-RxLQzU" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/WeVR-RxLQzU/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WeVR-RxLQzU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/47510632017-06-05T17:55:00+01:002021-05-08T03:43:12+01:00YouTube Cover: Where Did You Sleep Last Night<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="9-qtlIYHYHg" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/9-qtlIYHYHg/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9-qtlIYHYHg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/45367272017-01-04T16:21:12+00:002018-02-24T10:57:34+00:002016: 50 Book Challenge<p>I've followed on from last years 50 book challenge with another 50 books, graphic novels and short stories. Some great new discoveries for me this year! :) </p>
<p>Bluebeard's Egg- Margaret Atwood <br>The Rise of the Governor- Jay Bonansinga and Robert Kirkman <br>The Halloween Tree- Ray Bradbury <br>The Diviners- Libby Bray <br>Lair of Dreams- Libby Bray <br>The Big Sleep- Raymond Chandler <br>The Mephisto Club- Tess Gerritsen <br>The Silence of the Lambs- Thomas Harris <br>Hannibal- Thomas Harris <br>A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini <br>The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini <br>Grotesque- Natsuo Kirino <br>Out- Natsuo Kirino <br>The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger- Stephen King <br>The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three- Stephen King <br>Gerald’s Game- Stephen King <br>Riding the Bullet- Stephen King <br>The Tommyknockers- Stephen King <br>The Walking Dead ( Volumes 1-17)- Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore <br>Fevre Dream- George RR Martin <br>The Bone Clocks- David Mitchell <br>1Q84 Books 1,2 and 3- Haruki Murakami <br>Hex- Thomas Olde Heuvelt <br>Burnt Tongues- Chuck Palahniuk, Dennis Widwyer and Richard Thomas <br>Damned- Chuck Palahniuk <br>Diary- Chuck Palahniuk <br>Grief is the Thing with Feathers- Max Porter <br>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- JK Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne <br>Palestine- Joe Sacco <br>Treasure Island- Robert Lewis Stephenson <br>Dracula- Bram Stoker <br>The Day of the Triffids- John Wyndam </p>
<p>(I've counted volumes for graphic novels, not issues.)</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/44715542016-11-17T15:31:43+00:002022-05-10T16:15:02+01:00You Tube Cover: September Sun, by Type O Negative<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="OV1VO_-_RVc" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/OV1VO_-_RVc/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OV1VO_-_RVc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br>Another Type O Negative cover for you! I wanted to keep September Sun nice and simplistic. Right up until recording it, I had been playing it in B, but I drastically changed tuning to fit the lower vocals. This is one of my only videos where I'm playing in standard tuning. Let me know what you think :)</div>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/44048782016-10-05T15:07:15+01:002023-12-10T16:32:16+00:00You Tube Cover: Wolf Moon, by Type O Negative<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="EOp8VmJT2mA" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/EOp8VmJT2mA/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EOp8VmJT2mA?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>
<div>October is here, so it's time to celebrate one of the greatest Type O Negative albums, October Rust. I ADORE Wolf Moon. It's majestically eerie and the 'hidden meaning' to the lyrics are hilarious. Let me know what you think!</div>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/44048822016-08-10T15:25:00+01:002017-01-16T14:04:37+00:00Metal Days 2015Myself, Jonyx and Freddy adventured all the way from Liverpool- England, to the beautiful Tolmin in Slovenia to attend the epic Metal Days festival. I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS BADASS FESTIVAL ENOUGH. I've been to loads of awesome festivals in UK (including Hammerfest, Bloodstock, Download, Sonisphere etc), which have had seriously great bands and a fun atmosphere, but Metal Days stood out by a mile. The location itself is reason enough to go. The festival grounds are surrounded by mountains, rivers and an adorable village.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/153827/99907326c0b594159f7f12ef438eb7727524b294/medium/13662274-10154553880819095-5776914749086224777-o.jpg?1475677218" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><br>There are two festival beaches and a huge (ICE COLD) river, where you can float majestically on the back of a inflatable animal, beer in hand, between the two. The bands were great (highlights for me were Septic Flesh, Skindred, Fleshgod Apocalypse and Gloryhammer) and the festival itself is so wonderfully well organised- as well as the usual nighttime entertainment you'd expect at a festival, there's loads more on offer (like metal workout sessions on the beach, yoga and an art tent). PLUS, the food is fucking amazing (LOADS on offer for people with dietry requirements, which is a wonderful change!)<br>It was totally worth the comically long journey (A flight from Manchester to Brussels, followed by an 18 drive through Austria, Germany and Italy) and I will DEFINITELY be going back again! ;)<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/153827/0ec8231973143ac1a70644df8c7417eca1cb3158/medium/13641120-10154553876884095-2628107397530236637-o.jpg?1475677217" class="size_m justify_center border_" />Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/39688742016-01-01T15:06:17+00:002016-01-01T15:15:34+00:00My Favourite Albums of 2015<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><strong>3. Seasick Steve- Sonic Soul Surfer </strong></span></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Gq0PmDhkb4c" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Gq0PmDhkb4c/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gq0PmDhkb4c?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="220" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I can't explain how excited I was to finally see Seasick Steve live this year. He the definition of cool. I love his creativity and uniqueness. He is like a crinkly little Rock 'n Roll Yoda. Sonic Soul Surfer is a great album, very different to his previous releases. It's eclectic, with a wide variety of different styles across the album. Opener <em>Roy's Gang,</em> is a big fat stomper of a track, played on a one-string washboard. There's plenty of slide-guitar rock tracks, but Steve's vocals really stand out in the softer songs, such as I<em>n Peaceful Dreams.</em> His rasping and emotive vocals really compliment the melodies here. Cracking album that makes me want to sit in the sun with a beer, fuck you winter. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Favourite Tracks:</strong> Swamp Dog, In Peaceful Dreams, Roy's Gang.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong><span class="font_large">2. Clutch- Psychic Warfare </span><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="X8cmbmwFAl8" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/X8cmbmwFAl8/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8cmbmwFAl8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></strong><br>Psychic Warfare is just a kick-ass album from start to finish. Big fat riffs, snarling bluesy guitars and Neil Fallon's awesome vocals all compliment each other perfectly. But the thing that makes Psychic Warfare stand out is the songwriting. This is a set of really strong tracks, that work well as an album <em>and</em> as individual songs. <br><em>X-Ray Visions</em> is such an ear-worm and has been in my head constantly since first listen. I already liked Clutch, but this is a proper stand out album. <br><br><em><strong>Favourite Tracks:</strong> Sucker for the Witch, A Quick Death in Texas, X-Ray Visions.</em><br><br><strong><span class="font_large">1. Ghost- Meliora</span><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="4CSFkjPm0A0" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/4CSFkjPm0A0/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4CSFkjPm0A0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></strong><br><br>Meliora is just magnificent and <em>so addictive</em>. Weirdly, I wasn't won over on the first listen. It was only until a few days later, when I was trying to figure out what song I had been humming to myself constantly and realised it was opening track <em>Spirit. </em>Then I re-visited the album... then I re-visited it again... and again and again. I can't explain how many times I have binge-listened to it now. Every single track is good. Even my least favourite song on the album, (probably<em> Mummy Dust,)</em> is still great (even better live). Ghost are a refreshingly unique band anyway, with their infamous stage-shows, but this album brings out the best in them musically. There's such a mix of styles going on. It sounds like somebody put Abba, Alice in Chains, The Beatles and The Sisters of Mercy in a blender. <br><br>This is basically the world's scariest looking pop-band<strong> and I love it.</strong><br><br><em><strong>Favourite Tracks</strong>: He is, Absolution, From the Pinnacle to the Pit.</em><br><br><br><br>What were your favourite albums of 2015? <br><br> </p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/39690222016-01-01T13:26:00+00:002017-01-16T14:04:32+00:002015: 50 Book Challenge<p>Last January I set myself the challenge of reading 50 books in 2015. It was extremely inspiring and rewarding. I will be doing the same for 2016!</p>
<p><br><strong>Books, Graphic Novels & Short Stories, 2015:</strong></p>
<p>*Adams, Douglas- Life, The Universe & Everything <br>*Adams, Douglas- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/153827/d97a14b9d7cdc30df934b70756e60787a4d674e8/medium/20160101-132151.jpg?1451655007" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><br>*Adams, Douglas- The Restaurant at the End of the Universe <br>*Atwood, Margaret- The Handmaid’s Tale <br>*Bradbury, Ray- Fahrenheit 451 <br>*Ellis, Bret Easton- American Psycho <br>*Fitzgerald, F Scott- The Great Gatsby <br>*Fitzgerald, F Scott-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button <br>*Haig, Francesca- The Fire Sermon <br>*Hammett, Dashiell- The Glass Key <br>*Heller, Joseph- Catch 22 <br>*Hemingway, Ernest- The Old Man and the Sea <br>*Huxley, Aldous- Brave New World <br>*Kafka, Franz- Metamorphosis <br>*Kent, Hannah- Burial Rites <br>*Kesey, Ken- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest <br>*King, Stephen- Desperation <br>*King, Stephen- Doctor Sleep <br>*King, Stephen- The Shining <br>*Lee, Harper- To Kill a Mockingbird <br>*Loeb, Jeph & Sale, Tim- Batman: Dark Victory <br>*Loeb, Jeph & Sale, Tim- Batman: The Long Halloween <br>*Lovecraft, H.P- Call of Cthulhu <br>*Martin, George RR - A Dance With Dragons <br>*Miller, Frank- The Dark Knight Returns <br>*Moore, Alan- The Killing Joke <br>*Moore, Alan- V for Vendetta <br>*Morrison, Grant & McKean, Dave- Arkham Asylum <br>*Murakami, Haruki- Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage <br>*Murakami, Haruki- Dance, Dance, Dance <br>*Murakami, Haruki- Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World. <br>*Murakami, Haruki- Kafka on The Shore <br>*Offerman, Nick- Paddle Your Own Canoe <br>*Orwell, George- Animal Farm <br>*Orwell, George- Nineteen Eighty-Four <br>*Poe, Edgar Allan- The Pit and the Pendulum <br>*Poe, Edgar Allan- The Tell-Tale Heart <br>*Ronson, Jon- Frank: The True Story That Inspired the Movie <br>*Ronson, Jon- The Men Who Stare At Goats <br>*Ronson, Jon- The Psychopath Test <br>*Salinger, J.D- The Catcher in the Rye <br>*Satrapi, Marjane- Persepolis I <br>*Satrapi, Marjane- Persepolis II <br>*Stevenson, Robert Louis- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde <br>*Vandermeer, Jeff- Acceptance <br>*Vandermeer, Jeff- Annihilation <br>*Vandermeer, Jeff- Authority <br>*Vonnegut, Kurt- Slaughterhouse 5 <br>*Wilde, Oscar- The Picture of Dorian Gray <br>*Wylde, Zakk- Bringing Metal to the Children </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">(also about 5 pages from the end of Preacher, but I didn't take it to a New Year party to finish...)</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/39688712015-12-31T14:26:38+00:002022-01-26T11:55:08+00:00You Tube Cover: Red Water- Type O Negative.<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="MJ-w92Tp7Ig" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/MJ-w92Tp7Ig/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MJ-w92Tp7Ig?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ-w92Tp7Ig<br>I recently re-recorded a version of one of my favourite Type O tracks. Red Water is hauntingly beautiful and I love so many of the different sections of this song. That main riff section is fantastic. I am not too pleased with this take, as I had a sore throat when recording and I think the strain comes across. However, I wanted to make sure I uploaded this before Xmas 2015! I'm pleased with the guitar melodies and love the tone. The Ibanez I'm using here is actually my first proper acoustic guitar, I've always borrowed the ones in my other videos! It's so nice and light. <br><br>This was my original upload! The audio cuts off midway through. <br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Ya3B_yYog_I" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Ya3B_yYog_I/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ya3B_yYog_I?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya3B_yYog_I</p>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/39523192015-12-06T17:59:19+00:002015-12-06T18:01:17+00:00You Tube Cover: Mad World<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="TKpcKM4GHJA" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/TKpcKM4GHJA/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TKpcKM4GHJA?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="300" width="420" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Been playing around with my new Ibanez acoustic and John's new microphone. Such a beautiful song!</div>Novacrowtag:novacrowofficial.com,2005:Post/39246412015-11-15T11:32:06+00:002022-05-11T18:51:27+01:00Fight The Horde!!!: Video Blog<meta charset="utf-8"><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fight The Horde!!! - Novacrow 2015. (Like the song? <a contents="Download it here" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music">Download it here</a>! Or <a contents="buy the cd!" data-link-label="Store" data-link-type="page" href="/store">buy the cd!</a> Support the crows!)</strong><br><strong><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="5iDOKrZ20YE" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/5iDOKrZ20YE/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5iDOKrZ20YE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="300" width="420" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">When we were initially brainstorming ideas for our perfect music video, we wanted something that combined the cheesiness of a Scooby Doo episode, with a lot of fake blood. (I cannot explain how badly we wanted to find a spooky looking corridor with loads of doors for a really really lame chase scene!) We started out planning with a series of storyboards that was turned into a shot-by-shot script, which really helped speed up the filming process. The entire video was recorded across two days; one for the band shots and another for the storyline.</b></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/C9Mdy025vFOhQg-PJQue1IYyVnO6GbiGplyyd-prDouIbfR0FFtGx7TfkMftVNJnT3qQt6_DDIQT8-yRMZCkPr9-ZBEJbfwIggh_E44c54IBm15sYJIR7iWSDV0TuF6PcU1SHek8" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="211px;" width="211px;" /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4SLcUQUqSh81Fn-LBhLdzBE1vUzXPbWGoFELDnjsaV8xnwwORW1nDpFKeYkOFLCrbtcft5RuTkV1htDdi5v0dY0PGHggW6oz8fD0ORj9HslENI7LPL3Tt9USL1iSLGaUMGxzvLsQ" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="211px;" width="280px;" /></b></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">We used WARP Liverpool for all locations, which was absolutely perfect. It is an amazing warehouse/artist space near the Liverpool waterfront. It is absolutely massive, with loads of different rooms, with random exhibition pieces and abandoned pieces of artwork everywhere. Get in touch with them if you're interested: </b><a contents="www.facebook.com/warpliverpool" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/warpliverpool" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/warpliverpool</a></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">John and I did the zombie makeup, using a mixture of liquid latex, fake blood and various face paint palettes. We did a practice run on our housemate and I was really happy with the final results. I think the makeup was actually an improvement on both Beth and Jay’s natural faces. All of the costumes were carefully crafted by our wardrobe department (by that I mean, we just picked stuff up off ebay and from charity shops.) I think Torben suited his nerd costume so well, I wish he would wear it all the time. John looks far too tall to pass as a teenage boy and Freddy just looked as white trash as ever haha.</b></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JatqqhD8MW1MtFeUrPbdCqW4e2sy1Fbi_EhNYTaOAExGbPAihNSM-qMtLYgzXyL2YwXo4akbAz-1HsYOzQd25Jx3aZil98G-4r7I0JMvXGBNn5wfHtDSbVZt6Jt7enoQ_QgLButW" class="size_orig justify_center border_" height="193px;" style="text-align: center;" width="255px;" /></b></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">The story-line parts were extremely fun to film. Beth, my very dearest friend, was our (self-titled) Head Zombie. She’s a fantastic actress and this was the role she was born to play. We were all genuinely scared of her, because she took it so seriously. The first time she burst in through the barricaded door, everyone just yelled “WOAHHH” at how scary she was and all of her onscreen violence is real (we have the bruises as proof). Jay and Rich, John’s eldest brothers, served as our other wonderful (lesser) zombies. I love watching Jay’s parts, because he makes me laugh so much- especially zooming across the screen on the wheelie chair. Rich is a hero for helping out behind the scenes, with lighting, smoke and most importantly providing us with liquid acting skills (aka beer).</b></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">Nearly everyone got injured in some way during the filming. Torben sliced his arm on something sharp and mysterious and Beth and I had cartoon sized lumps on our heads from when we collided in mid-air. I also got spat on (twice) unnecessarily. When I push Torben to the zombies, a huge spurt of blood was supposed to hit me in the face after he disappeared off-screen. For some reason, the only possible way we could think of doing this at the time, was for Rich to fill his mouth with fake blood and spit it at me. Unfortunately it looked crap on both takes.</b></strong></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TDk6dNfsVfOWB2Uzywf-otxW4EXyxy2pdwde1GWzG7d7U7DtlW6M2isYROhQLarOhe7bWnIjeUrCzE84lX5ppaRbwbF241Vr-3NnyA8dCDt-6fmIG1--C0-p-puzydxrEBnHGDDS" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="185px;" width="248px;" /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ONN0_8i7jeNA_MWl-kHlrpciNgOARNr-uXR_vCeTtZKvcJ0Hms__k2COg9sIL78rE5FV8Ty0xmSSa93ZD-ogTVp4XBqPTwYXS1kJruPXVOtCcIQca4N3qrMPDmtZViPOpFaEM8B7" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="186px;" width="247px;" /></b></strong></div>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">Filming the band scenes were the most awkward part. It felt so weird singing and playing along to our own recording. The first ‘take’ of us playing as a band is hilarious- we’re as wooden as a primary school Christmas play. Editing these bits was even worse, as we had to watch ourselves back over and over. I’m really happy with the end result though, particularly as we ended up cutting out a REALLY cheesy bit with me singing on my own, with loads of dry ice and a hairdryer (for “wind…”)</b></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">The camerawork by Brittany Soldo is great; I love the hand-held shakiness and the random zooms. She is fantastic to work with and I’m so happy with the results. I am so grateful that we were able to put this project together with her and would highly recommend her for any projects. Give her an email at </b>brittany.soldo@gmail.com if you're interested. </strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-84cf26ca-017c-3524-1660-cd38a3843790">Let us know what you think! Hope you enjoyed watching the video as much as we enjoyed making it!</b></p>Novacrow