Blog Post // 2021-10-13

Fall Update 2021

September has come to an end, and for me personally, I don't mind.

The geese are leaving. I see many flocks each day heading to warmer places. I have had the guts to get out a few times in the bush, lately. The bears will be leaving in the next few weeks. They haven't been spotted recently. But October is rutting season, so there will be moose in the bush - also something you don't want to run into. I saw a deer and her baby, the other day. The falling leaves have a beauty to them.

During the summer, I went for walks on dirt roads instead of in the bush. I saw more butterflies than I have ever seen, along the road. And I was dive-bombed by red-winged blackbirds. They had nests all along the road. I spent as many days as I could in lakes, enjoying the warmth.

This has been such a weird summer. There were hardly any mosquitoes, but then the other day I was outside for only an hour, and got four bites. Usually they wouldn't be around in the Fall.  For some reasons there wasn't many frogs. I only saw 2. Usual you can hear them singing at night throughout the summer, but this year I only heard them early in the Spring and then they disappeared.

September is an extremely hard month for me. One that I don't mind saying goodbye to. I can't help but think of my last year of high school. During my first week, I had to find a moment to talk to every teacher and explain the fact that I might have to leave suddenly. My sister had taken a turn for the worse. She had leukemia - for the second time. She had fought it for five years, and just over a month prior, she was the recipient of my bone marrow. I was her match. And here she was, now on the brink of death, fighting for her life. She had acute respiratory distress syndrome, toxemia, she had a trach tube, and all because she caught pneumonia from a member of hospital staff. I was told she might not be able to respond to or remember me, but when she heard me, her eyes flew open and she mouthed the words, "my sister." She communicated with me during this time, even though she was on drugs to keep her sedated. For me, it was me dying with her the day she died. After all, it was my marrow that was sending out armies to fight, and it was my marrow that didn't save her. So, as September hit this year and things turned cold immediately, I couldn't help but think of this loss.

What does this have to do with music? Well, music has been a great distraction! So many new albums coming out, which I am finding so exciting! Feels like a bit of hope for some bands, after a season of lockdown. Some are even playing shows, which has to be really amazing for them! 

Here, in Canada, everyone is pinned against each other, and hatred is easily stirred up. Things are being set up very divisively. We are denying human rights. It doesn't sit right with me. We have now created a tiered system of how you are treated based on your vaccination status. People are turning against family, friends, and strangers alike. I know other places are experiencing somethng similar!

Things have been so unstable, I am sure other places and people are feeling that. I thankfully have a job, but I decided I needed to think of ways to make money outside of going to a job, just in case things got rocky again at work or at school for my son. And so, I started my own business. It still feels weird to say that, and I don't know if it will make it. But it is using my creative side; I am busy making designs almost daily. I am designing and making stickers and gift boxes, and selling them online and in a local store (or hopefully I will be, if I succeed). And I don't think I ever would have decided to do something like this, had I never had Every Song Sucks. That is because ESS has made me think of myself, and of my ability. It has given me the confidence to think of what I entail, who I am. And it is about time! Wish me luck...

I am trying really hard not to make changes to my reviews as I go along here, but I have to say, I really seriously misrated an album! And it is Devin, again! Alien, by Strapping Young Lad, is just a solid album - very powerful. There is nothing light about this album. Okay, there is one song... And it feels out of place, but I am sure it has a purpose to the band. It is weird, but in a curious kind of way. So, my lame rating of 5 is moving up to an 8! 

Also, I will be adding a song to my playlist from each band that I interview, going forward. It only makes sense to have a song to commemorate the interview from each one. They have been great bands!

And check out my playlists. They are a real thing and worth listening to (in my humble opinion).

I have an upcoming tattoo that was booked before the pandemic hit hard, and was cancelled because of it. So, I need to think of a playlist for the ride and during the tattoo. :)

I am really looking forward to hearing what people are thinking of the music I have been checking out! You can now like or dislike my blogs and interviews. You can also tell me what you would rate albums that I have reviewed, and whether songs that I check out would make it to your playlist or not. If there was something that stuck out that you loved or hated, or thought I was way off, make sure you go back and have your say! Or maybe you agree with me. :P You can also now listen to the songs and albums via Spotify directly on the review pages without leaving the site.

Looking at the songs that have been added to my playlist since my last update... Here are the standouts (not counting the bands I interviewed, since they are all standouts to me):

• In Flames - Stay With Me
• Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal
• Gojira - Into The Storm
• Woods of Ypres - Death Is Not An Exit
• Trivium - In The Court of the Dragon
• Psycroptic - The Watcher of All
• Fallujah - Scar Queen
• The Agonist - Remnants In Time

As usual, stay safe! And keep enjoying music!