KUMA’S CORNER GETS THE REIGN IN BLONDE SEAL OF APPROVAL. OFFICIALLY.

In February I wrote about a little restaurant in Chicago called Kuma’s Corner and how brutal it seemed. Well, that time I was in the Windy City I didn’t have time to go. Fortunately for me and my taste buds when I was there this past weekend I ACTUALLY GOT TO GO AND EXPERIENCE THE AMAZEMENT THAT IS KUMA’S! 

(More pics and my full review after the jump!)

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IT’S MONDAY

I don’t know about you guys, but daylight savings time fucked me up hardcore this weekend and I could use a little Monday morning pick-me-up. Cute kids playing Pantera seems to do the trick.

Good luck making it through the week!

-Julia

DOMINATION

<3 RiB

POP/POP-ROCK STILL NOT METAL, PANTERA LIVES ON

Explaining the obvious is quickly becoming my style. Remember that Polish POP star Doda? The one who is/was dating Behemoth’s very own Nergal? Well, I may have offended some people by calling her “pop” instead of “pop-rock”, that she’s less of Poland’s Britney Spears and more of an Avril Lavigne type. I DON’T GIVE A PUCK. Let’s break it down, “pop” is sort for “popular.” What’s popular is played on the radio and (if you’re lucky) television. Therefore, rock and all other genres can be considered “pop” if they are popular with majority. Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Doda, Breaking Benjamin, fuck, NICKELBACK are all POP. Feel me?

I feel better now, so let’s talk about Pantera, yes? Metal Hammer just released the tracklisting for their Dimebag Darrell tribute disc. Overall, it looks pretty killer. A lot of good bands and a lot of stuff I’d be curious to hear, but there’s just one little dud on the list. Check it:

1) ZAKK WYLDE
SUICIDE NOTE, PT. 1

2) MACHINE HEAD
FUCKING HOSTILE

3) MALEFICE
I’M BROKEN

4) AVENGED SEVENFOLD
WALK

5) EVILE
CEMETERY GATES

6) FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
A NEW LEVEL

7) BIOHAZARD
MOUTH FOR WAR

8) SYLOSIS
STRENGTH BEYOND STRENGTH

9) CHIMAIRA
SLAUGHTERED

10) UNEARTH
SANDBLASTED SKIN

11) THROWDOWN
BECOMING

12) KIUAS
THIS LOVE

13) THIS IS HELL
RISE

The A7X track is actually one of the only one’s I’ve heard before, and it’s not that they butcher it… it’s that it’s just A7X doing “Walk” no more no less. It’s kinda like listening to Pantera if Pantera was lame. My take is to not give a pop/pop-rock (pop-metal? Is there really such a thing?) one of the greatest (and my personal favorite Pantera song) metal tracks of all time to record. On the plus side, Evile doing “Cemetary Gates”? Nice.

-Julia

GETTIN’ LUCKY IN KENTUCKY? EH…

Today I’m heading down South- Louisville, Kentucky to be exact. Big show? Interview? Something METAL related? Alas, no. SU FOOTBALL is to blame for this trip! (Don’t worry I’ll stop talking about football soon. Basketball is starting!)

Anyway, if I’m traveling, I may as well see if there’s some good Kentucky metal to check out. So I head over to Google to see what I can find, and uh… THIS IS IT.

I knew that Nashville has a surprisingly decent metal scene, and I had hoped that it would carry over to it’s neighbor to the north. Unfortunately, not so much. BUT, when I think of “Southern Metal” how could I not think of the almighty Pantera? Close enough, folks. See you when I get back to the Empire State.

-Julia

GAH! SEND THE BLONDE SEARCH PARTY

By now, you’ve probably heard all about the metalhead gone missing after the Metallica show in Charlottesville, VA. It IS sad, and I don’t mean to joke, but she is one of us. And by one of us, I mean a BLONDE and someone needs to find her ASAP. Look at her details:

• Blonde hair, blue eyes
• 20 years old
• 5’6”, 120lbs
• Last seen wearing a Pantera t-shirt, a black mini skirt, black tights, and knee-high black boots.

WHO ARE YOU, MY LONG LOST SISTER?!? Or perhaps my two-years younger twin? Or maybe just my Virginian double. Sad. From a couple blondes to another, I hope she’s found soon and that she’s ok :(

-Julia

MY METAL WORKOUT, PART DEUX

Not long ago, Elise posted about the best music to workout to. Since I too am a bit of a gym rat, I had to also throw in my two cents on the matter. I totally understand how people listen to hip hop to pump up their workout (that and the fact that my gym is in… Harlem), but I listen to two different genres to get me through my gym experience: Hair/Glam metal & New Wave of American Metal/Foreign Thrash and Death

I find that Hair/Glam is best for my free weights and ab exercises. Stuff like:

• Poison
• Van Halen
• Motley Crue
• Lita Ford

And for cardio, it’s definitely that harder heavier and faster, the BETTER- specifically:

• Lamb of God “Sacrament” & “Killadelphia”
• Walls of Jericho “With Devils Amongst Us All”
• Meshuggah “ObZen”
• In Flames “Come Clarity”
• Pantera “Official Live: 101 Proof”

And of course, Slayer “Reign in Blood” Maybe RiB should release our own series of workout videos… it’s a thought. And then at the end of every tape we just go out and booze. Sounds good to me! This could be the beginning of something great?

-Julia

HALLOWEEN HOEDOWN - “CEMETARY GATES”

Ah, Pantera. Never fails to make me smile. And how appropriate that Cemetary Gates be part of our Hoedown. Cause you know, cemetaries are SpOoKy. Dead people live there… Dime is in one?

Too soon? Ugh, RIP bro, we miss you.

-Julia

WUSSY WEDNESDAY - 9/30/09

This weekend I’ll be heading back to my alma mater (again) for homecoming. GO ORANGE :)

Therefore, this week for Wussy Wednesday I wanted to really delve into my college past- well, what I can remember of it. Ahhh, to be young and get away with binge drinking at noon on a Thursday…

For some reason, my roommate Jenny would often get her buzz on and blast Crossfade’s “Cold.” And first it was just another song, but it quickly became a house anthem if you will. I’ll never be quite sure as to why- it’s not really a party-starter and it was never that big of a hit song, but oddly enough it got our motors running.

I spose it’s not a bad song for football season anyway. I can get my tailgate on to it. It sure ain’t no “Walk” though…

-Julia