Just watched all the Harry Potters for the first time. I'd seen the first two in the cinema at the time and thought they were crap so just checked out (I've read the books). Watched Azkaban the other day and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it so I finished the series over the next couple of weeks. I definitely checked out at the wrong time, they were pretty much all good from Azkaban onwards.

Discovering your next obsession. The band/film/book you get completely lost in. I'm discovering good new stuff all the time, but it feels like only a handful of times a year that something really blows your mind and you become obsessed with it. Even better when you recognize that moment when you're still in it and know you will look back on that little era fondly in future.

Finding a bunch of old Argos catalogues that have been scanned online and flicking through them. Late 80s/early 90s. Can relieve my childhood Christmases by seeing all the popular toys at that time. But also even flicking through the rest and seeing all the elctronics, furniture, light fixtures, telephones etc etc that everyone had. They're a pure time capsule. Nostalgia hits hard in middle age, but even moreso when you've been away from home for 10 years!

Quote from: Ducky on Today at 03:45:09 PM

Quote from: Barrytron on Today at 10:20:59 AMSomething about Harris' control freakery really rubs me the wrong way. But I guess it works. He reminds me of a chancer wedding band leader...getting his nephew in to cover the gigs. "Shouldn't we try him out, play a few tunes and have a pint? It was 42 years after all. What about feel and personality and..."
"He'll be fine, get in the van Adrian"

I don't think it works. Same noodly shite intro/outros that add 15 unwanted minutes per album, same shite idea that they're a prog band, same shite production on every single album since BNW. For one of the biggest heavy metal bands on the planet (that features three guitarists to boot), they've got one of the worst guitar tones going.

Maiden has been little more than a marketing platform since AMoLaD. Fuck Harris.

Spot on!

Quote from: moose on December 05, 2024, 10:41:30 AM

Quote from: Shardknife on December 03, 2024, 01:37:21 PMDon't really have a favourite drive pedal per se, generally I get my gain sound from my amp for heavier stuff. When I do cover gigs I use an Xotic BB preamp for my lower gain sound and a Joyo US Dream (suhr Riot Clone) for higher gain into a clean fender style amp sim pedal which goes direct to the PA. The BB has a nice character to the gain without being too drastic a change from the clean sound. I have used the Boss SD1 and Joyo Uzi for similar gain staging in the past and they worked well too.

I've tried the tubescreamer/Boss SD1 into the front of my 5150 for the volume boost/mid hump tightening thing but I still need a clean sound and it's one more pedal to turn off so I don't bother with it for live stuff but have used it for recording. I do sometimes use DOD Carcoza to hit the front of the amp to get a gnarly sound but it's more fuzz than drive. It's one of the few fuzzes I have that still sounds good into a heavy amp sound without getting too muddy.

For bass stuff I either use a sansamp and get a little bit of grit from that or a HX stomp with a driven SVT sound, that's what I use for most of the more classic sounding stuff. I like the HM2 and RAT sounds on bass for death metal but it's too thin and lacking in low end for me live. I keep meaning to pick up a loop blender so I can dial back some clean blend in with the distorted bass tone.

Or just pick up a Battlehammer or Sledgehammer from me.  The reason either exist is because Rats are too thin for me plus the Sledgehammer has some hints of HM-2 in there too.

That said my favourite drives (that I don't make) are the Boss SD-1 and Blues Driver (ideally modded for more low end) and then the Turbo Rat for really low gain edge of break up stuff.

I've a few friends with battlehammers and they all say good things, have seen them one boards at gigs and they definitely sound huge. I don't think I've actually tried one hands on yet with my gear but I must have played through one at some stage!

Quote from: Barrytron on Today at 10:20:59 AMSomething about Harris' control freakery really rubs me the wrong way. But I guess it works. He reminds me of a chancer wedding band leader...getting his nephew in to cover the gigs. "Shouldn't we try him out, play a few tunes and have a pint? It was 42 years after all. What about feel and personality and..."
"He'll be fine, get in the van Adrian"

I don't think it works. Same noodly shite intro/outros that add 15 unwanted minutes per album, same shite idea that they're a prog band, same shite production on every single album since BNW. For one of the biggest heavy metal bands on the planet (that features three guitarists to boot), they've got one of the worst guitar tones going.

Maiden has been little more than a marketing platform since AMoLaD. Fuck Harris.

Yeah sad to see Nicko done but it's the right time. I can't expect the band to be able to keep going for many more years in reality.

Also Maiden have always been known to be cold and harsh when it comes down to business. It definitely helped in the early days when they were making a name for themselves and establishing the band as a top act but there's no need for Harris to be so cut throat and involved in every little thing for the last 20 years. Smallwood is also to blame.

Quote from: jobrok1 on Today at 01:11:31 PMFinally nabbed myself a copy of Motorhead's 'Iron Fist'.

A 1982 Bronze label Irish press and all.
Spotted it in a pile of old LPs at a Christmas Market over the wekend and only cost €15, which I feel is a bit of a score seeing as the only two copies on Discogs are selling for €60 and €150.

It needs a good cleaning, but I've seen (and bought) far worse over the years.

Bar 'On Parole' which I have a re-issue copy in the works from Scobes recent sale, Iron Fist was the only one of their albums from the 70's - 80's that I was missing.
All I need now is 'March Or Die' and I have a complete set of all their studio albums.
Not going to get my hopes up though as copies go for absolutely stupid money these days.
It really needs to get a proper official re-issue again. It's the only one they seem to completely neglect.

That's a great find!

You've got some collection!
From wiki: "Motörhead released 23 studio albums, 10 live recordings, 12 compilation albums and five EPs over a career spanning 40 years."

I have 10, 8 studio & 2 live albums
I'm like a novice compared to ya! 

Got the Unholy demos 2xlp and Magus discography lp in the post today, two old favorites

Finally nabbed myself a copy of Motorhead's 'Iron Fist'.

A 1982 Bronze label Irish press and all.
Spotted it in a pile of old LPs at a Christmas Market over the wekend and only cost €15, which I feel is a bit of a score seeing as the only two copies on Discogs are selling for €60 and €150.

It needs a good cleaning, but I've seen (and bought) far worse over the years.

Bar 'On Parole' which I have a re-issue copy in the works from Scobes recent sale, Iron Fist was the only one of their albums from the 70's - 80's that I was missing.
All I need now is 'March Or Die' and I have a complete set of all their studio albums.
Not going to get my hopes up though as copies go for absolutely stupid money these days.
It really needs to get a proper official re-issue again. It's the only one they seem to completely neglect.