Refugio Altiplano has been in operation since 1996. We are proud to have provided over two decades of safely guided, excellent shamanic healing services to a global clientele.
We give each guest the support needed to process and assimilate their own experience at refugio altiplano. A first class center offers private residences, housekeeping and laundry services. Our talented kitchen crew can also accommodate the dietary needs of each guest during your stay.
Considered the most effective retreat experience, as well as the best value when compared to other Amazon jungle ayahuasca retreats. This program suits all types of healing and exploration needs. The 12 day retreat experience offers 7 traditional ayahuasca ceremonies, personal communication with the shaman, and individualized shamanic work. The retreat is offered at $1,800.
The Refugio Altiplano Healing Center was founded on the philosophy that there needed to be a special place where guests could come and heal in a supportive environment, whenever they needed to do so. This retreat is offered at $1,400.
The Refugio Altiplano Healing Center was founded on the philosophy that there needed to be a special place where guests could come and heal in a supportive environment, whenever they needed to do so. Begins on Saturday at the beginning of each program and ends on Fridays. As we run 5 ayahuasca ceremonies per week, you will have the opportunity to experience several ceremonies even during a short stay. This retreat is offered at $1,080.
Some guests require longer stays at our retreat to meet their specific needs. Whether addressing physical, emotional, or spiritual concerns, desiring to study more about shamanism and ayahuasca medicine, or participating in plant or shaman diets. The immersion program lasts for 26 days and offers 15 traditional ayahuasca ceremonies. This retreat is offered at $3,000.
We are proud to announce that we have received a five star rating and the Trip Advisor certificate of Excellence for 3 years in a row.
There are many choices when looking for the perfect Ayahuasca retreat center. Look no further. We are committed to excellence and you can see the results from reading what our past guests have to say.
We offer only traditional Shipibo Ayahuasca ceremonies and employ some of the very best shamans in Peru.
Our expansive center and large private houses offer you the perfect comfort and peace to fully experience the rainforest in its glory.
We provide morning tea and fruit delivery right to your doorstep. Daily maid service and laundry services are also included. There is no more wonderful place you could choose for the experience of a lifetime.
"I went to paradise on earth and met people that care deeply for my wellbeing!


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ABOUT TRUEHOPE
Truehope EMP Advanced
Truehope Freeminos
BMD with K2
Truehope Nascent Iodine Advanced
Truehope Inositol
Truehope OLE (Olive Leaf Extract)
"My world is once again stable and whole. My future seems bright and I love life again!"
"Today, after 17 months on Truehope's EMPowerplus Advanced*, I feel incredible, fortunate and blessed to have found a natural way to heal my emotional and physical life. I have regained my sense of humor. I feel calm and centered."
* EMPowerplus Advanced and EMP Advanced are the same formula
- Anne K.
Truehope Participant Since 2007
"I have such a feeling of joy in me that I realize this is what it is like to actually live!"
"I am now living happier than ever and have nothing but excitement for my future. Things just get better every month on the EMPowerplus Advanced* program. I would never have been in this place in my life had it not been for Truehope and all the very special people there who have nothing but love in their heart and a relentless desire to see me get well. They never gave up on me. How do you thank someone for such a selfless act? I guess beyond a sincere thank you, the best way is to make my life count and be the best person I can be. Thank you so much Truehope. Thank you for giving me the chance to pull my life out of the darkness. God bless you!"
- Andy C.
Truehope Participant
"There are so many ways in which EMPowerplus Advanced* has helped our son. We now tell anyone and everyone about our success!"
"First and foremost, our son is HAPPY. It has been so long since we've seen him happy. This truly is one of the many great benefits of EMPowerplus Advanced. We have seen so much improvement in our son over the last six months that it is hard to tell of each and every success. But you should know that [our son] was picked as Student of the Month for May for the student that demonstrated the most improvement."
* EMP Advanced and EMPowerplus Advanced are the same Formula.
- Al and Lynda P.
Truehope Participant Parent Since 2003
"I am so grateful my mother learned about Truehope and took a natural approach to her illness."
"Doctors warned [my mother] never to get pregnant as she would make her illness not only unmanageable but put her baby at risk of severe deformation or even death, due to all the drugs she was taking. No matter how many drugs they tried nothing worked. Then she found Truehope. She has been on EMPowerplus Advanced* ever since. It has allowed her to learn and grow as an individual, making positive changes in her life not to mention allowing her to give birth to 2 healthy children. My brother who is now 2 and a half, was born healthy just one year after my mom started EMPowerplus Advanced.*"
- Baby Anna
"Empowerplus Advanced* has given me back my health and life and has allowed me to become a wife and mother!"
"My life was not a life. For many of those years I have little or no memory other than pain, both mental and physical – no memory of time with my three children or time with my husband. I began taking Empowerplus Advanced* vitamin and mineral supplement. With supervision, I weaned off of the drug-cocktail over several months and by continuing with the Empowerplus supplement my mental and physical health improved rapidly and beyond belief."
- Sabine
"For the first time in my life I feel in control of my mind."
"I am so thankful that the developers took the time and effort to make this available after it showed promise within their family."
- Nichole
"Life without EMPowerplus Advanced* is unimaginable!"
"The darkness of depression and chronic illness took [me] to a state of utter desperation. Within weeks [of starting EMPowerplus Advanced*] I was almost cured! I could concentrate again...I quit cutting myself and I could hold a job again!" Joleen's moods stabilized and she is now working towards finishing her education. Joleen hasn't missed a day of work in over a year and now lives on her own. "These were things I only prayed and dreamed about doing a year and a half ago!"
- Joleen
"The Truehope program was my last hope for wellness, and wow – did it ever deliver!"
"It has been six years since I started taking the micronutrient treatment and I have only been hospitalized once briefly, during an exceptionally stressful period of time. I work hard to keep my life balanced, to take good care of myself, to take my EMPowerplus Advanced* every day. There is no miracle cure – staying well requires consistent effort, and self awareness – but the Truehope program is as close as you can get to a miracle!"
- Kristy R.
"Within one month I noticed a difference in my thinking and how I felt."
"I have now been taking the vitamins for about a year and nine months, and I feel awesome. The second best thing that could happen to me, besides Truehope, is to know that my story could help someone that is going through what I went through. Please don't waste any more valuable time, like I did, thinking this will not work for you, because trust me it does. And the best part is, I am able to take care of my family and myself. I am enjoying life, my life and the people in it, once again. I am blessed to be here with my loved ones and I am thankful for that everyday."
"The violent rages are no longer. The defiant behavior is gone. The mood swings are a thing of the past. The depression has been lifted. The anxiety has been forgotten. The bizarre behavior is no more. He's no longer this hyper, manic child that bounces from wall to wall. And the absolute best part: HE SLEEPS! It's a miracle straight from God!"
"Since the day my six-year-old son started the EMPowerplus Advanced* vitamins from Truehope, our lives have changed in ways that are unimaginable. He has been 100 percent mainstreamed with a general education first grade class. As of November 2006 he no longer qualifies for Behavioral Services. The Emotionally Disturbed coding has been deleted. And he has made the A Honor Roll all year. He is on grade level or above grade level in every subject. This to me is amazing considering the chaos he was dealing with his first two years of school."
"EMPowerplus Advanced* was a true gift from God for me."
"To be able to walk, to sleep all night. To be calm and without anger. To communicate my needs. To be able to hold my wife's hand. To be able to accept a hug from my grandson and love him in return. We take so much for granted. EMPowerplus Advanced* has performed a true miracle for me."
- Chuck S.
"True hope! The name is not a false one. Our family has been blessed with a hope that has turned our lives around!"
"We ordered the EMPowerplus Advanced* and started talking with the wonderful people that would be not only Allicia's life-line back to sanity, but a wonderful support to her father and I as well. Allicia is taking EMPowerplus Advanced* and knows that she can now function without the excruciating effects of the other drugs. We thank God that you exist."
- Jean R.
Truehope Participant Parent
"My journey toward mental wellness began February 12, 2003 with three EMPowerplus Advanced* capsules. The next day I woke with a feeling of calm I have never before known."
"After four months on the program I was able to get and keep a part-time job and after a year started my own business. The micronutrients {in EMPowerplus Advanced*}have literally given me a new life."
- Deborah F.
"I used to wonder what it felt like to be truly happy. Now I know. Thank-you Truehope."
"I began taking the EMPowerplus*... and gradually got better and better. It was exciting to me, as I started to really enjoy being a mom for the first time."
- Cara R.
"Joe and I were both bipolar once. We consider Stefanie to be our miracle baby."
"To have such a well and healthy child when both parents have a history of mental illness is a rare thing. Vitamins and minerals are small and simple things, but they work. While pregnant, I took EMPowerplus Advanced* capsules, Truehope BMD tablets (which also eased morning sickness), and fish oils every day. I am taking full doses while nursing. The micronutrient treatment will then be added to the baby's soft foods. When keeping to the full dose on a regular basis, there are no signs of postpartum depression."
- Bronwyn S.
"I would have been another statistic without EMPowerplus Advanced*."
"With my Truehope Success Coach and the strength of the vitamins I was able to become totally medication free. I am now med-free and am feeling more and more like my old self. I cannot ever thank Truehope and their wonderful success coaches enough for all that they have done for me."
- Ms. T
"When... I found EMPowerplus Advanced* I couldn't believe the amazing transformation in my life."
"The quality of life that EMPowerplus has granted my family cannot be adequately expressed in words. I am grateful for my children, but more so I am grateful that I can care for them and be a healthy, happy, functioning mom."
- Meredith S.
"So if you want a change for the better and control of your life again, then get in touch with Truehope and just be ready to write your success story soon thereafter!"
"This is a little story, a true story, about someone who is back on track, and you could be too. After running out of meds and no insurance to cover the cost, I called Truehope. One of the best decisions I have ever made! Ever! I have my life back with, get this, no side effects. Now with a clear mind I'm able to make better decisions and make better choices. I have a more positive attitude towards life and a lot more patience."
- Jose D.
"I am now nearly symptom free!"
"About 2 and a 1/2 years ago [after starting EMPowerplus Advanced*] I felt whole, happy and complete for the first time in 23 years. I feel I am full of energy and vitality and I feel I can take on the world where I once hid from life. I feel that nutritional support has not changed my life, but saved my life. About 10 months ago I started taking Coenzyme Q10 which really finely tuned me, and Omega 3s which I know are essential for mental health. I now sleep eight hours a night and eat regularly and I function through the day."
- Kim N.
"Within days, I started to notice a change – mood, attitude, energy."
"Now, with EMPowerplus Advanced* [my wife] is focused, clear headed, goal oriented, and on most days vivacious and energetic – for the most part loving, living, and enjoying life again. Shannon is finally enjoying life, having fun, getting out and doing things."
- Damon
Truehope Participant Spouse and Parent
"It is no exaggeration to say that I have rediscovered myself and my life. Thank you Truehope for restoring my life!"
"The symptoms of the illness are gone, there are no side-effects to deal with, and I feel physically healthy and strong."
- Kim R.
"I have an extensive background in mental health, with graduate degrees from Harvard and U.C. Berkeley. I spent 25 years as a clinical social worker and never saw any results with bipolar clients like the results I have had from EMPowerplus Advanced*."
"I've been taking EMPowerplus Advanced* for a little over a year. Since then I have had no manic and no depressive episodes, and have discontinued all psychiatric medication including lithium and sleeping medications. And I keep feeling better and better, particularly more and more relaxed."
- Peter S.
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Truehope Nutritional Support Ltd. © 2020

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Lovers and Secrets
This week's Tiny Pages Made of Ashes for Comics Bulletin
LOVERS IN THE GARDEN
By Anya Davidson
Published by Retrofit/Big Planet
There's a profound sense of longing at the heart of Anya Davidson's Lovers in the Garden, one that's coupled with an endearing self-defeating optimism. Characters find themselves stuck in a nebulous state of existence, either pining for that next, higher plateau, or aspiring to break free of their circumstance altogether. Utilizing a tandem narrative, Davidson is able to explore the perspectives and desires of multiple protagonists that culminate in a shared climax that tacitly examines both kismet and tragedy.
It's this structure, this multi-faceted reflection of the same longing to either climb the ladder or jump off the ladder, which prevented me from ever putting the book down. Lovers in the Garden feels like a sort of rotating peep show into the vulnerabilities of its cast, and the sense of voyeurism is addictive. While reading, I was less interested in seeing how its disparate parts would form a whole than I was in continuing each individual perspective to their natural conclusions, and yet Davidson supplies both with ease. It's intimate and honest, yes, but it's surprisingly light in tone. It's…funny. Or at least, it's funny in that awkward way of seeing reflections of yourself so clearly presented in fictional characters for you to both laugh and cringe at. There's an irreverent tone in Davidson's work, a bluntness to the relevant and familiar truths as we chuckle at the comically poor choices made by Shephard and as we empathize with the devastatingly poor choices made by Elyse.
The 1975 New York City setting is indispensable to informing the motivations of the myriad cast. I was born nine years after this specific era, but growing up a New Yorker you become aware of a shared history that lingers in its denizens and in its streets. That time is still visible despite the temporal distance, and Davidson's combination of markers and colored pencils, reinforce that 70's grit and psychedelia to a tee, while also mirroring the narrative structure in how they blend in and out of each other. It was an era of rising expectations where women, including women of color, could see advancement in the workplace as something actually achievable against the backdrop of cultural revolution and the end of a deeply unpopular war.
We have a trio of women each motivated to move upwards: Rosa to earn a promotion, Elyse to nail the big break, and Mystic Blue to screw over her boss. With the male characters - who delightfully turn out to be the titular lovers (not romantically, but equally intimate as brothers in arms) - we have Flashback and Shephard looking to escape the gradually boiling pot in which they're trapped. For Flashback that means returning to the freedom of who he was before the war forever changed him, to be the free loving roadie that saw only possibilities ahead. For Shephard, well, it's the microcosm desire that every character here has: to be able to control one's own destiny and define one's own identity.
Through it all, Lovers in the Garden takes these longings and doles out various perspectives on the means and motivations to achieve them. Davidson constantly pushes the edges of her characters' lives inward, so that the question of what is tangential and what is significant becomes hazier. What are the big moments in our lives that shape the future? Are they as mundane as changing your usual lunch order? Are they about realizing how ephemeral the relationships we thought we needed truly are? It's like the fortune in the cookie we all laugh at for its ambiguity at the table, but then gets secretly put in your wallet with the hopes that perhaps there's some great wisdom, some truth in fate, that will sneak its way into your life. Lovers in the Garden tells you that it's not likely, but there's just as much harm in hoping as there is not.
-- Alex Mansfield @Focusedtotality
SECRETS OF THE GOAT PEOPLE #1
Edited by Megan Purdy, Ardo Omer, and Amanda Vail
Published by Bleating Hearts Press
What does it mean to "have a voice"? The idea of "voice" is different than the idea of " words". We understand the power words can have, but when powerful words are used by the voiceless, they often go unheard. To have a voice means to have influence and the ability to exert it — to not just be heard, but to be listened to.
When those in power take away someone's voice, that person becomes discounted. When the marginalized find their voice once more, the powerful try to silence them, spewing madness like, "Don't raise your voice to me!"
Is "voice" then the sound of confidence?
I ask all this because I recently got a review copy of the new literary zine from Bleating Hearts Press, Secrets of the Goat People #1. Bleating Hearts Press is the publishing arm of Women Write About Comics, one of the great comics criticism sites on the web right now. Stretching out into the world of publishing is a way of bringing further awareness of the many amazing critical and creative perspectives that have found a home at WWAC and to amplify their reach.
As WWAC and Bleating Hearts Press Editor in Chief Megan Purdy writes in her introduction to Secrets of the Goat People #1, "For the first issue of our first print project ... we decided to go back to the start, to state firmly, again, that we're here. That's why the theme we've chosen for Goat People #1 is simply: voice."
This inaugural issue is a declaration, a shot across the bow, a statement of purpose that is saying, in effect, "This is Us." The 40 plus pages of original comics, illustrations, and prose from 17 international creators that make up this zine all point to giving power to intent, to demonstrate that here are individuals that have something to say, that here are voices that will be heard.
Sometimes the voices here are loud or messy or painfully young in development, but each is earnest, each speaks a truth, each deserves to be heard. Whether it's the beautiful artwork of Zed Alexandra in "L A G", the profound exploration of "My Russian Voice" by Masha Zhdanova, or innovative prose of Coral Moore's "Most AIs are Jerks", there is a breadth of expression here, a cornucopia of voices.
Secrets of the Goat People #1 is mostly about opportunity and amplification. It's not perfect and some of the pieces it contains seem amateurish and awkward. But what Bleating Hearts Press is doing is providing a platform for voices that may otherwise have no other venue.
And sometimes when you amplify voices that have been quiet for so long, they come out seemingly too loud at first, maybe too rough around the edges, unrefined, immature, sloppy, or "unprofessional". This happens a few times in this first issue of Secrets of the Goat People. Some of the pieces suffer from the poor execution of a powerful idea. Some of the pieces falter just as they start becoming something more. A couple of the pieces simply are just not good, really. But each piece creates a spectrum; what works well helps point to the possibilities of what doesn't, what doesn't, in turn, adds strength to what does in comparison.
Secrets of the Goat People #1 all adds up to something important: an assertion that this is a zine that will have power, will have something to say, will be worth listening to, and will not be silenced.
It only stands to reason that the theme of issue #2 is "Resistance" -- they are accepting submissions until March 31st.
-- Daniel Elkin @DanielElkin
Labels: Alex Mansfield, Anya Davidson, Big Planet, Bleating Hearts Press, Comics, Retrofit, Reviews
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With the Web going mobile and so many of us using tablets and smartphones, website design is changing. Responsive design is one of the latest trends. If you're unfamiliar with it, it's a good idea to do some research into it. Here are the Top 15 Responsive Designs on the Web.
A website for those looking for automotive parts for Mustangs, this is a great example of responsive design. All of the main graphics look just as good as they do on the desktop on your smartphone. This one is unique because the search bar – an important part – is in the same place on both mobile and desktop.
A website promoting a system for patrons to pour their own beer, this is a great example of what works well online and on a smartphone. The design carries over to each screen size and looks good on each device. It's great because it keeps things simple on mobile, without losing its own look and feel.
From the same people behind The Verge, Polygon is a website for gaming enthusiasts and all things gaming. It launched with a responsive design. Polygon is different from others as the same menu-based category filter carries over from the full-size view on the desktop.
An online magazine for professionals in the Web Design business, this looks just as good on mobile as it does at your desk. What makes this responsive design such a good example is the position of comments for posts.
This site is a great example of design all around as it focuses on design before content. However, this same philosophy carries over to smartphones and tablets. These days, people expect to get the same sort of experience on the move and The Happiness Theory delivers.
Many people are already big readers of Fast Company, and for good reason. Covering all things of the digital age. Reading on your smartphone or tablet gives you a unique experience. You're given just titles to read, which is nice and clean. Also, as you scroll the menu bar will follow you.
A website for a dance studio isn't something you'd expect to see with great Web design but, Pennington Dance is a great-looking site. Images are important for something like this and they carry over from size-to-size.
Running your own website of your work is hard as an Artist. Images are obviously going to be your focus and on the Desktop you have a lot of space to work with. This site is unique because it makes the best use of smartphone's display to show off content.
With a website like this, you need to show off your work and your info at the same time. That's easy to do on the desktop, but how they've done it with a responsive design on mobile is genius.
Gourmet coffee is big business right now and it comes with a certain clientele. They expect design web design and boy, is this beautiful! On mobile it looks better than the desktop version.
A website specializing in touch design has to have a good-looking site on mobile and this really delivers. For mobile developers, this is a great example.
As the name suggests, this is all about looking your best. Whether it's mobile or desktop this site, does look it's best. Unique because the specific design of the site is the same on all displays.
This is a website for tech enthusiasts that stands out in design and content. With lots of mobile-focused content it needs to look good on the go, and it really does.
Striving to make the web a less complicated place, Splendid looks great on mobiles, tablets and your laptop. It's brilliant.
Looking to sell custom design to customers, this website has to have it all going on and it really does. Whether you're on the road looking to buy a custom design, or at home, this works and looks great.
Shane Patrick Jones is a CRO and Conversion Design expert who loves to share his inspirations and opinions on all design related matters. Follow Shane on Google+ and Twitter.


We'll have NEW items from our Fall Collection with great transitional pieces and cute basics. AND we'll also have a sale rack so that you can snag those end of season deals while you can.
Come say Hi the Calgary Woman's Show!
Don't miss us at The Calgary Women's Show, which is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary this year by giving you FREE admission!
Oh, and did we mention that Pink Liberty will be walking the catwalk? Check us out at the Main Stage Fashion Show!
My first year running Pink Liberty was absolutely amazing. As a small business, I continually want to grow, learn where I've fallen and what can be done better. Celebrating our one year anniversary brings self-reflection, and I'm taking you behind the scenes of what really went down in the first year.
Get 40% OFF your entire order during Boxing Week from Pink Liberty with CODE: 40OFF - including SALE items!
Last minute shoppers—raise your hands! Christmas is our favourite time of year and we couldn't let the holidays pass us by without our roundup of must-have gifts any woman would adore!


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Here Are 5 Great Spooky Podcasts!
If you've read my blog for a while, it should come as no surprise that I listen to hundreds of podcasts a week. Yes, hundreds. I always have a podcast going while I'm cooking, cleaning, working, writing, or just sitting around. I always am listening to something because I get easily bored.
I've written two posts about my favorite podcasts which you can read here and here.
For this blogtober, I wanted to share 5 of the spookiest, scariest podcasts I listen to. Some of these are historical, some of them are designed to be spooky, and some are just haunting.
I've written about Lore before, but it goes without saying: Lore is super popular because it is so good. It's one of those podcasts that is short enough for those who like short podcasts and good enough for those who don't care. Each episode is meticulously researched and performed; you'll learn something and be delightfully creeped out.
No Sleep is an anthology-style podcast that sources it's material from the subreddit, NoSleep. Basically: creepy stories written by random people around the internet, trying to write the most convincingly "real" scary story. NoSleep is one of my favorite subreddits to read and the No Sleep Podcast somehow makes them scarier. Definitely don't listen to these right before bed.
Stranglers isn't a scary podcast. But it's a scary podcast. In the early 1960s, the Boston Strangler terrorized women and communities. But worse than that: the wrong person might have been arrested. This podcast does a deep dive into the lives of the victims, the women who survived, the women who were afraid, and the culture that allowed the Boston Strangler to thrive.
Unexplained is a podcast that does exactly what it says: details unexplained events. The first episodes I listened to were the season 2 episodes about the Dyatlov party deaths in the Ural Mountains. There was so much information I had never read previously. Meticulous research and spooky circumstances make this the perfect podcast to enjoy alongside a cup of coffee and all the lights on.
Haunted Places is a podcast that visits, you guessed it, haunted places and details the histories behind them. I love podcasts that include the real history as well as the legends and this podcast combines both excellently. I also am fascinated by everything haunted (shout out to 12-year-old Michelle watched "Most Haunted" specials on the Travel Channel) and this feeds that love excellently.
I recently started listening to podcasts at work and at home. Here's why: usually when I'm home with Forrest, I watch a lot of TV to fill the time. This is very much a Bad Thing. As Forrest gets older, I'm trying to turn the TV off more and more--which means I need some way to entertain my brain while he plays in the living room. Enter podcasts. They're absolutely perfect for road trips, working long hours writing, and, of course, filling the kitchen with sound as I clean and cook and make sure Forrest don't hit his head too hard.
I thought I'd share my favorites. I'm not super discerning when I listen to podcasts, but here's a brief disclaimer: right now, I primarily listen to true crime podcasts. They're just my favorite kind. What can I say? I love TLC specials and the ID channel, and the new American Horror Story season is right up my alley.
When I started writing this list, I knew exactly which podcast would be number one--after that it's a grab bag. I love My Favorite Murder. It's hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, two totally funny ladies with anxiety issues and a love for true crime stories. Sometimes, the idea of a "murder comedy" podcast can sound, um, gross. However, they aren't making fun of victims, but they do try to find humor in what is an interesting subject. They tell great stories, show compassion to victims, and make fun of murderers. What's not to love? They also donate proceeds of their t-shirt sales to End the Backlog, which is a cause I feel insanely passionate about.
Lore took me a long time to get into, but once I started getting through episodes, I was hooked. Lore is hosted by Aaron Mahnke, who is a storyteller, ultimately. Some episodes of Lore have started and I've immediately thought, "This is such an old story! So boring!" But then at the end, he introduced a story about a legend I had never heard of. For example, in an episode about vampires, he told the story of the "first American vampire."
This is another true crime podcast, but it's very different from My Favorite Murder. It's hosted by two women, Ally and Charlie: Charlie is American and Ally is Australian. They discuss unsolved crimes and mysteries and provide their own insight (get it?), research, and theories. It sounds dull when written out like that, but episodes about the Jamison Family disappearance and murder, Talia Head, and the Villisca Ax Murders disappearance have me hooked.


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Band: MAJESTIC DOWNFALL
Title: The Blood Dance
Label: My Kingdom Music
Style: Doom Death Metal
Majestic Downfall has been bringing the depressing punch of Doom/Death Metal since 2006. We all know that Mexico is home to some of the most horrific brutality in metal for several years, as well as many other things! The style of Doom/Death that spews from Majestic Downfall is very heavy, depressing, and at times can be emotional when you really get into the record. Anyway, with the most recent opus, "The Blood Dance", the band has stayed to their roots. From the ashes comes an album of old school mentality added with the elements of today's more modern style of metal. Either way this is a great Doom/Death record and being a one man project doesn't hinder the potential at all. Tracks like "From Black to Dead" and "Dimension Plague" really deliver the goods as far as the technical depression goes. This is great for the hardcore fans of Doom/Death Metal and Majestic Downfall keeps to the tradition that is for sure. There a total of 8 songs giving over an hour of playing time, plenty of heaviness for the metalheads!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
www.myspace.com/majesticdownfall
www.mykingdommusic.net
Band: MESSENGER
Title: See You in Hell
Label: Massacre Records
Style: Heavy Metal
Germany's Messenger has been around since 1990, 22 years already since their formation. In that time Messenger has released their brand of metal in a classy yet Folk sounding in certain areas like the title track "See You in Hell". I feel a lot of influence from the early 80's, but I also feel the more modern, almost Black Metal Folk Style element in the music. Maybe its the bud I smoke or something, but either way I like what the band can do. The old school Heavy Metal touch is nostalgic at times. All the tracks carry that old school feeling. I believe that "Dr. Stein" is a bonus track with the digipack release. Tracks like "See You in Hell" and "Alien Autopsy" bring out the 16 year old guy in me and the music is balls out man! this may not be my first choice of genre in metal, but good is good and I respect the talent of this band all the way through. Messenger will certainly appeal to the majority of metalheads in the world and with "See You in Hell" there is no telling where this band can go in the future.
www.messengerband.de
www.massacre-records.com
Band: MOLOKEN
Title: Rural
Label: Discouraged Records
Style: Atmospheric Sludge Metal
In 2007 Moloken was born into the underground as a side project from a member of The Pookie Syndrome. Their first release garnered some damn good reviews, the same will happen for "Rural" which is the band's second full-length offering. I have to admit that I like the term "Atmospheric Sludge" describing the band's supposed genre of music. This goes along great with the darkened fantasy worlds and tales of the bizarre! Depression, darkness, death, freak thoughts and much more add so well with the almost gloomy approach Moloken has turned towards. 7 tracks of doom, sludge, and power with a playing time of 52 minutes. I am reminded of the old days of Carnage or even Entombed with the feelings of dark and groove laden metal. Sludge? Awesome description. Old school feelings of metal added with modern content and influence, Moloken is a killer band with so many directions to go through. I love the depressing tunnel that I go through when "Rural" is playing on my stereo. For fans of darkness, no empathy, and beautiful slow sickness will love Moloken's release. Check out tracks like "Waltz of Despair" or the 16 minute track entitled "ULV", a song that has every element of metal mixed in! One of many tracks that do not get boring as time goes on, so fans of this great heavy stuff should check out Moloken's release "Rural. Well worth the time for hardcore fans of the genre...
www.myspace.com/moloken
www.discouragedrecords.com
Band: MORBID ANGEL
Title: Illud Divinum Insanus – The Remixes
Label: Season of Mist
Style: Dark Electro Industrial Death Metal
Morbid Angel got for remixed his the worst album for Season of Mist That was in summary good idea, controversal – but, as I told, good. We can hear "I'm morbid" (and not only) in different versions. This stuff is a collection of 2 CDs (01:16:58 and 01:15:09) of dark electro, techno and industrial metal, EBM and other untypical electronic sounds. Sth like as e.g. Scorngrain, Depeche Mode and The Prodigy with darkwave soup with metal mushrooms. Some stricte death metal pieces was little polish by electro "accesories" some is absolutely new stuff with old tittle... However "Illud Divinum Insanus – The Remixes" is really interesting experiment, original album was ugly and bad, after remixed we can hear more better stuff. In my opinion the best are the stricte electronic remixes as electro/darkwave tracks than industrial metal versions. I suppose, orthodox fan of Morbid Angel and old school death metal willn't like this album, but we will see. Artists who remixed Morbid Angel of this album: Laibach, Cevin Key/Hiwatt Marchall, Brain Leisure, The Toxic Avenger, Malakwa, Synapscape, Punish Yourself Vs. Sonic Area, Hiv+, Micropoint, John Lord Fonda, Evil Activities, Mixhell, Black Lung, Mondkopf, Xytras, Toxic Engine, Ahnst Anders, Nachtmahr, Tim Skold, Black Strobe, Chris Pohl, Project Pitchfork, Treponem Pal, Fixhead, DJ Ruffneck, Igorrr, Tamtrum, Tek-One, Adrian, The Horrorist.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Band: MURMUR
Title: Mainlining the Lugubrious
Label: Inferna Profundus Records
I like this band's name mostly because it reminds me of Disastrous Murmur, a band I still like a lot from their '90's days. US based Murmur's music have nothing in common with the Austrian's work, they are focusing on the Experimental side of Black Metal mostly playing with twisted, horror-filled atmospheres. Their sound could also be named as necro, meaning raw, organic, almost rehearsal like type of sound. Fast Black Metal riffs are being mixed with slow Dark Ambient atmospheres and I'd say the whole album is a bit hard to follow so I'd recommend it only to the ones of you into underground, brutal Black Metal but who are also open to some twisted Dark sounds as well. This is definitely not the usual Black Metal release we're used to nowadays, so thumbs up for these 2 guys for trying something else.
Reviewed by Adrian
www.myspace.com/murmurbm
www.myspace.com/infernaprofundusrecords
Band: MY BLACK LIGHT
Title: Human Maze
Style: Gothic Metal
My Black Light comes from the land of Italy and they have a style similar to the Gothic metal that the underground has these days. The soaring beautiful voice of Monica Primo really adds to the atmosphere of the classy metal they make...A mixture of solid grooves and elements of Death Metal and also some other, almost, thrashy influences as well. The other added Keyboards/Piano and Gothic trends adds well to the music. My Black Light delivers the mainstream possibilities of metal and their most recent release "Human Maze" will add to the shining star. There a total of 11 tracks with a playing time of 44:54. I also have an extra track titled "Unbreak My Heart" which is a cover of Toni Braxton's original song which she recorded for her second album entitled "Secrets" in 1996. Something I didn't expect considering the heaviness of the band, but either way the cover track and the rest of the album are awesome. Fans of bands such as Sirenia and others like them will certainly enjoy this release. Check out tracks like "Inner World" and "A Lie for Eternity" these tracks, and others show how powerful the vocals can really get with this woman! Let us not forget the brutal but also powerful vocals of Rodolfo Coda Bertetto.
www.myblacklight.com
Band: MY HIDDEN PHOBIA
Title: My Hidden Phobia
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Metalcore, absolutely not my fave type of music, i get bored by it in an instant, but still I won't blame it for anything, evolution is what anyone and everything needs. Since I think I can only count about a dozen Metalcore bands I've listened carefully I cannot comment objectively about this release so I'll just stick to what I like about these guys' music: the guitars, it seems the guitarists are both fans of Heavy Metal and American Power Metal a la Pantera which in my books is a great thing. Also I like the vocalist's tone, but I'd better fit him in a Glam Metal band, he would do well. That's about it, I don't think that many kids into Metalcore are reading Pest Webzine anyway.
Reviewed (?) by Adrian
Rating: - / 10
www.facebook.com/pages/MY-HIDDEN-PHOBIA/106302656128667
www.wormholedeath.com
Band: MYSTIC PROPHECY
Title: Ravenlord
Style: Power Speed Thrash Metal
Mystic Prophecy has been around awhile, since 2000 I believe...During this time Mystic Prophecy has garnered attention throughout the Metal Underground with six previous full-length releases and a compilation as well, now number seven has come to light. 10 tracks equaling 40 minutes of Power Metal mixed with thrash Metal and a bit of influence from the Death Metal genre in certain parts of the release. "RavenLord" is a good, strong release with polished production and a clean sound that gives off the anger and passion that comes from Mystic Prophecy's earlier records. From the start this release is heavy and in your face. As time goes on the album gets better and heavier with each track! Songs that caught my attention are "Die Now" and "Damned Tonight". All the songs are heavy and powerful with every lyric and note that is played. I really enjoyed the hammer on the head from this album and hopefully so will the rest of the Metal World. 10 songs that have a playing time of just over 40 minutes, plenty of metal to bang your fucking head to that is for sure...
www.mysticprophecy.net
Band: NAPALM DEATH
Title: Utilitarian
Label: Century Media Records
Style: Death Metal
I was a big fan of Napalm Death when I was young... New album is still old, good Napalm Death, I'm so glad. "Utilitarian" include: short tracks (two minuts and some seconds), some old school sounds crossed with doom, grind core and crust-punk influences, known and characteristic Barney's vocal, involved lyrics and parody of battle and ns-black metal in "Fall of Their Swords", cover stylized on "Scum" and "From Enslavement to Obliteration" albums... "Utilitarian" stuff is a kind of continuation these first LPs – but in XXI century reality. Good material.
Band: OBSEQUIAE
Title: Suspended in the Brume of Eos
Label: Bindrune Recordings
Style: Melodic Dark Metal
From Minneapolis, Minnesota comes a Melodically Darkened Metal band Obsequiae, and darkness is where it is at with this band. August 4, 2011 "Suspended in the Brume of Eos" was given to the metal fans and I must say this is some really cool stuff here. Right from the start the vocalist is angry, but settled throughout the release. I can hear, and feel the aggressiveness in the music. Music is great when you can feel the band's passion in their styleof playing you know? Anyway, Obsequiae gives us everything that a dark album should have - atmosphere, darkened melody, and harsh vocals that can bring it all together. Obsequiae does exactly that...Brings the element of Dark Metal insde the mind along with the Atmosphere going on around me when I listen to the album. Maybe this sounds crazy but it is what it is and I like this record. Obsequiae has 12 tracks adding up to 41 minutes of pure classy dark metal. This is great stuff for those that can appreciate this sort of style. Tracks like "In the White Fields" and the title tracks itself, "Suspended in the Brume of Eos" show what the band is made of. This release reminds me of Cathedral's first release "Forest of Equilibrium" in some uncanny way, oh well. Check them out people, Obsequiae is worth the time!
www.bindrunerecordings.com
Band: OVERKILL
Title: The Electric Age
Label: Nuclear Blast
Style: Thrash Groove Metal
Overkill is a good "metal vine" – the older the better. ."The Electric Age" kick ass very succesfully !!! Powerfully american, melodic old school thrash with groove and heavy metal influences with a lot of good and very good guitar solos. This material is puted just between Hirax, old Metallica from "Kill'em All" times and Judas Priest (higher, characteristic vocal) – so old school fan will be satisfacted. Me too. Absolutely GREAT material !!!
Band: PERVERSITY
Title: Ablaze
Label: Lavadome Productions
Style: Brutal Death Metal
This is most probably one of the oldest Extreme Metal bands in Slovakia but I have to admit I'm not familiar with their music. From it's name you're right when you think this band is 100% Death Metal, and that's what they are, a combination of American style old-school Death Metal with quite a lot of elements from the nowadays Brutal Death Metal. At times their music is full-on raging fast, but at times they even throw in some doomy, slow parts still keeping their brutality. The compositions are tight, and seem to be curdled enough, and the band tries pretty much to be as technical as possible through lots of rhythm breaks that not all the time seem to fit the overall atmosphere, I mean some of these breaks don't bring anything good, they only stop the tracks' flow. But all in all Perversity is a band that can satisfy both the old-school followers and the new generation of Death Metallers. Unfortunately I didn't remain with anything after listening to this 4th album of Perversity...
www.perversityband.com
www.lavadome.org
Band: PTAHIL
Title: For His Satanic Majesty's Glory
Label: Wraith Productions
Style: Doom Black Metal
Putting Fort Wayne, Indiana on the map as far as Black Metal goes, Ptahil has done exactly that. What we have here is an angry, hateful, evil spewing element of metal being played in the style of almost an 80's feel of rock music or something to that effect. It all goes together well though, maybe my ears are just playing games with me. Ptahil has an odd, or original way of playing Black Metal. All of the evil is there for the taking - the screechy and mean vocals, the raw and primitive sounding saws for guitars, and blasting beats to add to the mayhem. Satanic Gnosticism is the lyrical content, something to the effect of religious practices and the early Christians (I think). Either way the music speaks for itself, evil and blackened metal. Ptahil has delivered a hell of a release here and the hardcore fanatics of Black Metal will enjoy the lack of symphonics and electric atmospheres! Nothing but primitive, raw, and Dark! Tracks like "The Great Satan" and the title track of the record show the definite potential for a sickening future Black Metal release from Ptahil!
www.strongholdrecords.net/ptahil
www.wraithproductions.net
Band: RAVENTALE
Country: Ukraine
Title: Bringer of Heartsore
Label: Solitude Productions
BadMoodMan Music brings about a band from the Ukraine, Raventale, a band of talented atmospheric blend and feel. "Bringer of Heartsore" delivers the goods in a Doom Metal way, let us also add the darkness and feelings of influential Black metal from Norway almost 20 years ago! What stands out is the doom and gloom of death metal without the blasting technical spots they have. Doom is coming from all directions and it stays throughout the release. Raventale seems to have taken a page from the early days of My Dying Bride and Cathedral mixed with a bit of Katatonia here and there. It all mixes well to give that unfounded darkness that metalheads always love to be in. There are a total of 8 tracks giving around 40 minutes of music. Plenty of time to get into the darkness, doom, and blackness coming from Raventale. With all of that comes a great band with full potential, Raventale gives us tracks like "Anything is Void", the first track on the record. Another one I like is "The Last Afterglow Burned"...This track has a bit of everything including some good Black Metal trimmings and some old school metal parts from various genres of metal! Awesome stuff here for the fans.
www.myspace.com/raventale
www.solitude-prod.com
Band: RHETRA
Title: Ego Sum mors vestra
Label: Heder Music
A new duo from Italy playing Black Metal, well, they are so many nowadays that it's rare to find something out of the ordinary about them. But Rethra has as highlight a girl doing the vocals, so after reading their line-up I became curious and honestly I was pleasantly surprised by Sophia's vocals. Normally you would expect a girl to do some melodic, soft kind of vocals, but not here, Sophia has one of the most aggressive type of vocals I've heard in Black Metal, she's really wicked. Unfortunately the sound on this CD is so chaotic that you will have a hard time distinguishing the instruments. Too bad because this band has a lot of potential. This sound is more suitable for a demo, not for an album, it's beyond chaotic and brings down their work, or at least it bored me to death. If you think you can handle such a sound give this band a try, I prefer waiting for a next release with hopefully a better recording. To sum it up, Rhetra is a fast, extremely aggressive Black Metal band that has potential but didn't succeed in proving anything with this album.
www.myspace.com/blackrhetra
Band: RISING DARK
Title: Apocalyptic
Label: SG Records
Style: Thrash Metal
In 2005 Italy unleashed, yet, another interesting metal band by the moniker of RISING DARK. Well, since that time Rising Dark has delivered a hell of a technical piece of work added with the brutality that they need to keep their style of metal happening. "Apocalyptic" is a cool and collected assembly of technical prowess with angry, but clean vocals and a feeling of Death/Thrashing mad talent! The love for Mythology just adds to the potential of where this band can go in the future. There are 8 songs that give everything to the metalheads - Brutality, technicality, anger, intelligence, and above all...A Melodic sense of touch. If that doesn't make any sense then the hell with you because Rising Dark are not a dime a dozen band. Now I am not saying that they are going to change the world or anything like that, but the music they do jam will certainly get the attention of any fan of Death/Thrash Metal genre. Take tracks like "This is War" and "The Bofoid" both of which show the diversity in the band's style of play. I like it and hopefully the rest of the metal world will like "Apocalyptic" as well. I bet the next material they record blows the shit out of the critics, I bet...
www.myspace.com/risingdarkband
www.sgrecords.it
Band: RITUAL NECROMANCY
Title: Oath of the Abyss
Label: Dark Descent Records
When I first heard Ritual Necromancy I thought I was listening to a band hailing from another part of the world like Australia or Norway. These fucking guys come from Portland, Oregon in the United States and you would never be able to tell by the sickness and darkness they spew forth! "Oath of the Abyss" is your brutal piece of sickness mixed with the Swedish buzz saws of yesteryear, and the permanent darkness of Black Metal from the old days! Holy Shit is what came from my mouth...Now maybe people agree, maybe not but who gives a fuck anyway...Ritual Necromancy has delivered one hell of a release with "Oath of the Abyss". Everything from old school is in this record. As time goes on the occult makes a show, the myth of time, and legends of death. All of this added with the musical sickness of this band makes for a great listen. Ritual Necromancy has only been around since 2009, I felt like I put on an album from 1990 or something like that! Whatever they do to make metal like this, I hope they never quit... Dark Descent Records are probably proud of these guys. The whole record is awesome, but to give a taste of potential check out tracks like "Cacophonic Dementia" and "Accretion", that is just to start with. The whole album jams and there is no way a person will not listen to this record a million times over. For fans of the old school way of Death Metal, and fans of the Black Metal days will fuck themselves silly while jamming "Oath of the Abyss". This guys are fucking awesome, well worth the support... 10/10 no matter what people think. Just getting that old school sound brings back a lot of fun memories. 8 tracks total with a little over 37 minutes of jam time. Take a hammer and crush your skull...
www.myspace.com/ritualnecromancy
www.darkdescentrecords.com
Band: SACRIMONY
Title: ...and Abyss he Created
Label: Le Crépuscule du Soir Productions
Style: Funeral Doom Metal
Sacrimony is a one-man Doom, well...Funeral Doom Metal project from Poland; This man's name is Marcin. While I respect and appreciate his talents as a musician I just can't seem to get myself into this style of Doom. Maybe its because I am completely old school in my "metal thinking" and enjoy the roar of buzz-saw guitars and guttural hatred rather than the ultimate method of psychological emotion from Funeral Doom! Or...Maybe I just don't get it...Far from that I believe this person is extremely talented and will make his fans very happy with his debut release of depressive Doom. Sacrimony delivers an orchestral sense and style throughout each track and the Doom and gloom is there, but it just doesn't make me want to keep hearing the record. There are a total of 5 songs with a playing time of 49 minutes. This brings the tracks to about 15 minutes in length, another is 12 minutes in length, and of course the remaining tracks are long as well. Boring is the word that comes to mind for me, but remember something...I have a taste for sickness, brutality, and extreme movements. I love certain Doom Metal bands like early Paradise Lost and Cathedral's first release, "Forest of Equilibrium", but unfortunately Sacrimony didn't take me to the same places as the above-mentioned bands. Doesn't matter though because for what this man does in his music makes him very talented and full of potential for his true fans. So for those into the hardcore deep of Funeral Doom Metal and others like it should enjoy the emotional mourning and depression this album will give.
www.myspace.com/sacrimony
www.lecrepusculedusoir.yolasite.com
Band: SEMARGL
Title: Satanic Pop Metal
Label: Twilight Vertrieb
Style: Extreme Melodic Metal
This is just nine inch nail for casket for only one and trv lackers, heh... Semargl from Ukraine is a humorous mix of gothic/electro, melodic black metal and disco. This band was founded in Kiev (Ukraine) in 1997. "Satanic Pop Metal" released this year was supported by single "Tak, Kurwa" in 2011 (means oficially "Yes, Bitch" and unoficially "Yes, yes of course !!!"). This is just great parody and alternative music for cars, for parties etc. Just "pink" metal in black fashions, heh... However if you have true-TRV colleagues you have to show them !!!!!! (and take them photo and send us for share, heh...). Bottoms up !!!
www.semargl.com.ua
Band: SUICIDAL MADNESS / SOMBRE CROISADE
Country: France / France
Title: Molasar Dream's
Label: Mortis Humanae Productions
Style: Depressive Black Metal / Black Metal
This is a conceptual split composed and released by a group of friends, common friends of Molasar, ex drummer of P.H.T.O., who commited suicide last year. I guess that's where the split title comes from , too. Alrinack and Malsain are members of all three bands: P.H.T.O., Suicidal Madness and Sombre Croisade, and I guess thay wanted to pay an homage to their lost friend. Nice of them.
Suicidal Madness opens this disc with the first 5 tracks, and I must say I am a bit disapointed of their side, there's nothing appealing about their music, it's dull, very simple and I think it was made in a hurry, or at least I cannot sense any emotions in it, except maybe for the vocal part, but that is also made only of pointless screams. Sorry but this has nothing appealing to me.
Sombre Croisade is made only of Alrinack and Malsain. At the moment I'm too lazy to search through the pile of CDs, but I'm pretty sure the first track on S.C.'s part, the intro, is also used on the Loup Noir's "L'âme de la steppe" CD. It is indeed one of the best and most macabre intros I've heard in a long time but that doesn't justify using it on two different releases, by two different projects... There are three other tracks here, none less than 6 minutes in length. Pretty good Black Metal but with a very poor sound. recorded in a proper studio these tracks would lead Sombre Croisade much further. If you like your Black Metal combining mid and fast tempo rhythms on a quite desperate and almost melodic layer, try this band too, you might have a good surprise.
Rating: 4/10 7/10
www.myspace.com/suicidalmadness666
www.myspace.com/sombrecroisade
Band: THE CONQUERING
Title: Far Beyond
It's always strange when you see a band with multiple albums released and all of them selfproduced. Are they not good enough or is this for choice? Well, this is the case of the US based The Conquering, too, they have 6 full-lengths out and none of them is produced by a label, with a small exception, this latest release, out on Mortis Humanae on tape format, I guess as an addition to the self-released CD. The band plays fast paced Black Metal with some Folk / Viking insertions here and there, but I got bored really fast, not because of the overall music, but because of the horrible drumming, if you skip the CD at any point given you will hear the same mincing rhythm with little or no variations at all. There might be some of you who like their drum parts this way, but I hate it. As hard I have tried to listen carefully to the guitar parts and vocals, at some point of each track my attention is kept by this monotone drumming. On the guitar parts of the track there is quite some variation, the Viking Metal parts are a good addition also, and the vocals are quite ok for this kind of music, but that's not enough to get a good score in my books, sorry.
www.facebook.com/TheConquering
www.myspace.com/mortishumanae
Band: THE GREAT OLD ONES
Title: Al Azif
Label: Ladlo Productions
Style: Post Black Metal
Black Metal has been developed so much and in so many directions lately that some parts of it detached completely from its core, and that's the case of this music The Great Old Ones plays also, a style that is topped at the moment by bands such as Wolves In The Throne Room or Altar Of Plagues or even Agalloch and Solstafir, a fine continuation of what once Arcturus started with their Avantgarde Black Metal. Now this style hase reached a point where its composers and followers should start thinking of getting their own brand and detach once and for all from the regular Black Metal, as the music has almost nothing in common with what Black Metal once was. This would also avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary disputes.
The Great Old Ones have all required advantages on becoming a major player in this new type of Metal, at least "Al Azif", their debut album recommends them as a band with massive potential: mesmerizing atmospheres, progressive, experimental approach on this art, and they also seem to work quite a lot on their music. It's awesome to listen to a debut band that tries to offer more than an album to its followers, tries to offer them a complete experience. So yes, if you're into this Avantgarde type of Metal flown leaked from Black Metal, maek sure you don;t miss this release. Horns up for Ladlo Productions for continuing to push such names in our scene.
www.thegreatoldonesband.com
www.lesacteursdelombre.net
Band: THE WAY OF PURITY
Title: Biteback
Style: Melodic Death Metal / Deathcore
Definitely a band that benefits from an aggressive and professional push by their label, The Way Of Purity seems to be everywhere during the last couple of years, I'm curious if they will have the ability to profit from this on the long term.
This EP contains only 3 tracks, but since the band sounds so mature and curdled, these tracks can help you build a perfect idea on what's the band all about. On one hand I'm impressed by their ability to combine the nowadays so popular Deathcore with traditional Melodic Death Metal elements and I'm sure this will appeal to both young metal lads and old-schoolers. The production on this EP is so tight that at some point it makes you feel you're in a small closed space being bitten by invisible, ferocius wolves (correlation with the cover artwork). Great guitar work on both aggressive and melodic parts, spot on brutal female vocals, a Swiss clock precise rhythm section, and above all very expressive when it comes to the emotions transmitted, this is what TWOP is all about. I don't like Deathcore that much, but this band is a blast!
www.thewayofpurity.com
Band: VALINOR
Title: Hidden Beauty
Label: Selfreleased
Style: Melodic Black Metal
Holy crap, this is a 6 years old release, why these guys sent it for a review it's out of my understanding, but why they never released anything new since then it's even stranger if the band is still active and seeks promotion. Anyway, talking about the music on it, "Hidden Beauty" is described as a Melodic Black Metal band, but I'd say they are rather a Heavy Power Metal band with Black Metal types of vocals, the instrumental part is too soft to be considered Black Metal. The rhythm section is a bit too liniar for my taste, but I like the guitar work (especially the leads) which although it brings nothing new to the scene, it has a nice flowing and it's catchy enough to make you interested in what's next. All in all this is a nice listening but I have no idea if you can still find the album anywhere or if the band is working on a followup.
www.valinor.com.pl
Band: VINTUNDRA
Title: Urnacht
Style: Viking Death Metal
It's not often nowadays to get across a new band that starts its career with an actual demo, it seems all bands are directly starting with EPs or even full-lengths nowadays. Vintundra released their first material as a demo and they did good as the sound is definitely not fit for an official EP or LP. 4 long tracks totaling almost 25 minutes present us a band that's trying to find its way, but so far this is only a vapid try. Strange Death Metal compositions that are not very appealing, mixed with quite long and boring acoustic parts, not much to be attracted by. But there's a good side of Vintundra also, the fact they recorded this at their rehearsal place (I think), means they are interested in showing their real potential and abilities, not cosmetize them with different softwares. The last track shows real guts and aggression, it's my fave on this demo and I hope they will keep experimenting in that direction, and also the vocalist shows he might be into some variation in tone which might prove a good result.
www.myspace.com/vintundra
Band: VOLTURE
Title: Shocking its Prey
Label: Heavy Artillery Records
From Richmond, Virginia Volture, a Power Metal outfit, delivers a six song release entitled "Shocking its Prey". There are definite influences from the early 80's Bay Area Thrash Metal scene and also some older Power Metal elements in throughout this as well. The vocals are clean and remind me of the band "Toxik" from the old days. I even heard an uncanny similarity to Iron Maiden or Judas Priest unless my hearing is fucked up. Either way Volture does a hell of a job knocking out these tracks and delivering the goods. This never gets boring to me, and while everyone knows I love sickness and brutality, I have to admit Volture will be playing in my stereo a few times before I decide to change the station if you know what I mean! Good technical moshing metal is what Volture delivers. Check out tracks like "Heavy Metal Machine" and "Heathens Revenge". This release has a lot going for it and I really hope something more starts coming out of the woodwork from Volture. So if you're a fan of old school metal with a modern edge and polished vocals then check out Volture, hopefully you will hear what I hear...Good fucking metal from start to finish.
www.volture.us
www.heavyartillery.us
Band: WOLFHOWL
Title: My Return to the Mountains
Label: Azermedoth Records
Wolfhowl is a one man band from Greece established in 2009, and this is its debut release, a 3 tracks EP totaling almost 20 minutes. As a debut release I have to say it disapointed me. First I would have named it a demo because the production is not that great. Than I don't like the synthetic sound used on guitars, at times it becomes really annoying, maybe because of the minimalist arrangements, meaning repetitive, very basic kind of riffs. Faethon's vocals are quite good on the other hand, too bad that's the only notable element in Wolfhowl's music. At least it doesn't have a dirty, uncomprehensive sound, so you can distinguish the instruments quite easily. If you're into very minimalist, simple played Black Metal, maybe Wolfhowl might be a good choice, but I wasn't able to understand this EP's purpose.
www.myspace.com/wolfhowlband


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Sgt George Arthur Amm (Ret'd)
We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant George Arthur Amm (Ret'd) on 16 March 2016 in Chilliwack, BC after a long and valiant battle with cancer at the age of 85 years.
Born in 1931 in New Liskeard, ON, George left home at the young age of 17 to join the Army. His first steps started when he arrived at Camp Chilliwack in February 1949 to begin his Sapper training with the Royal Canadian Engineers at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering.
George was a Korean War veteran and later served with 1 Airborne Field Troop. Postings included such locations as Wainwright, AB, Whitehorse, YT Chilliwack, BC and Kingston, ON. George took his release from the Canadian Forces in 1965. After a brief stint at the Underwriters, he joined the Vancouver School Board in 1966 as a Contract Inspector and worked with them until his retirement in 1990.
George was a 50-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion and was a member of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada. He was a "Worshipful Master" of Trinity Lodge #98 in Vancouver in the late 1970's and more recently a member of Mt. Zion Lodge #120 in Chilliwack and the Gizeh Shrine of BC and the Yukon. He did a lot of volunteering… selling poppies for Remembrance Day…or selling tickets for the Shrine Club… or anything anyone else needed.
A Celebration of Life will be held in honour of George at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 at the Royal Canadian Legion Vedder Golden Branch 280, 5661 Vedder Road, Chilliwack, BC. Donations in lieu of flowers are welcomed by the Shriners of BC and Yukon, Gizeh Shrine Centre, Burnaby, BC or Canadian Cancer Agency.


Hoedown is such a bright star. Her constant positive and optimistic attitude is contagious. She's taken to her leadership role very well, and is always going to bat for this league.
Tara is the captain of this ship called TTRB! She is keeping us afloat in tough times and never gives up on our league of the skaters. From skater to coach to Executive Director and mentor, she pours her heart and soul into TTRB and banked track roller derby. We are lucky to have Tara!
Where to even begin? Tara is such a strong leader. She is such an amazing advocate for women, in general and in roller derby. Having to take on so many roles on our league at such a rough time has really shown her determination and leadership. Thank you for EVERYTHING you do, and keep on being a badass on and off the track!
The positivity, "you can't keep us down" attitude, love and fire she has to keep us going strong when things get rough constantly inspires me and leaves me in awe. She is the perfect mix of tough love, encouraging, honest, and true derby wisdom in a leader, a teammate, and a trainer.


Installation of a Viometaloumin retractable security gate, with an external aluminium coating and with an internal reinforcement from rotating steel bars, which do prevent the system to be cut. The gray colour matches the grilles of the balcony. Due to the height of the balcony door four rows of "scissors" were used.


Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
Here's the our members favorite photos of "Cities in Florida". Upload your photo of Avon Park!


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Sports Odds, Lines And Betting News
NFL Odds, Lines And Betting News
The Jaguars and the Rams won't win as many games in 2018
Things will be a little tougher this season for the Jags and the Rams, says retired NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz.
By Geoff Schwartz Jun 19, 2018, 12:00pm EDT
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Looking at upcoming schedules as we try to map out a season, we tend to default the previous season's record to infer strength of schedule heading into the new season. What we need to examine more closely are the quarterbacks on the schedules. That's a better way to determine the possible records for teams heading into the 2018 season.
Using that information, I'm taking the under for both the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Los Angeles skyrocketed to the NFC West title last season behind first year head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Jared Goff, their run game, and the defense. If we take a closer look at their 2017 schedule, we see it's littered with below average quarterbacks. The two best quarterbacks they beat were Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, with the Seahawks being a shell of themselves by the end of the season.
The Rams lost six total games (11-5 regular season) and the list of quarterbacks they were defeated by were some of the best they played all season — Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Case Keenum (based on his 2017 performance), and Carson Wentz. (I'm excluding Jimmy Garoppolo for the moment.)
If we look at their 2018 schedule, there's improvement among their opponents, especially those within the division. Jimmy G twice a season and either Sam Bradford or Josh Rosen in two games. They also face Derek Carr, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Brees, Matthew Stafford, Cousins, and Wentz. You can also include Pat Mahomes and Mitch Trubisky, who could be much improved by Week 11 and 14, respectively, when they play the Rams.
The Rams did add Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters to their defense, which should bolster Wade Phillips' unit. Also, Goff and company have another year in McVay's offense.
The Rams have potential to be excellent, but I don't like their schedule. I'm taking the under for Los Angeles Rams to reach 10 wins.
When I scan NFL win totals, I keep coming back to one as my most confident pick. That's the under on the Jacksonville Jaguars for nine wins.
I'm supposed to bet the over on Blake Bortles? Nope, not happening. The Jaguars often won last season in spite of him. In the last five road games of the season, Bortles was 1-4 with four touchdowns and six interceptions, and he only averaged 6.7 yards per attempt.
While teams are becoming more creative on offense, the Jaguars seem to want to ground and pound. It's hard for me to see this working as well in 2018 unless they are ahead in every game. That's possible with that defense, don't get me wrong. It's an outstanding group, but unless the Jaguars are ahead in every game, we've seen that the staff doesn't trust the quarterback to win it for them.
Bortles and his team had a 2017 season with very little bad luck. Everything went their way, including their schedule. They missed on Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson twice. They lost to a Titans team with Marcus Mariota not playing close to where his career trajectory points. This year, they get the NFC East and AFC East (which outside of Tom Brady isn't so great at the quarterback position). They also have to play the Chiefs and Steelers. Combine that with their much improved division, take the under on the Jaguars at nine wins.
6 NBA trade deadline predictions on Lakers, Raptors, Bulls, and best player dealt Let's make some predictions ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
The NHL's hit of the year popped a helmet, baited a penalty, and started a fight Jacob Trouba hit the defender trifecta.


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INTERNATIONAL GENERAL INSURANCE
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INTERNATIONAL GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY (UK) LIMITED
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Business Area Senior Management Staff
Product Line Upstream Energy Downstream Energy Renewable Energy Property Marine Construction and Engineering Financial Institutions General Aviation Ports and Terminals Political Violence Forestry Treaty Reinsurance Professional Indemnity Casualty Directors and Officers Legal Expenses
Location Amman Bermuda Casablanca Dubai International General Insurance Co. Ltd. London Malaysia
Person Abdulhameed Hadi Adam Safwat Ahmad Tarkhan Alaa Baqaeen Alaa Hantash Alasdair Lea Alia Marei Amer Arnaout Andreas Loucaides Andrew Wood Annie Hobbs Anthony Wellard Ashley Cliff Barry Marren Ben Cubitt Bertie Troughton Brian James Chloe Saunders Christina Freeman Christopher Moy Gabi Mussallam Gary Millen Graham Hensman Hatem Jabsheh Henri Labat Ian Edwards Ian Noble Jack Parnaby James Green Jamie Adams Joanna Cousins Joseph St John Layth Owies Lee Henry Linda Haddadin Majdy Abu Sondos Manal Hamadneh Manar Alnajjar Marc Sullivan Maria Fahy Mark Fielding Mark Trevitt Mark Sullivan Matthew Gosling Mays Sharaan Mazen El Dahleh Meryem Seffar Michael Farah Michael Norman Michael Burstin Mohamed Shakhatreh Mohamed Ali Nasser Zagha Nawras Wumar Nick Roberts Nick Garrity Nicole Zureikat Omar Al Mashni Osama Abed Oussama El Allaoui Pervez Rizvi Rachel Keane Rafiq Otaibi Rami Abbas Ramzi Qassis Rawan Alsulaiman Razan Alkhatib Razan Allouh Razan Masri Robert Rider Robin Sidders Saurabh Sharma Simon Levy Simon Mepham Simon Spurr Sophie Boulton Lea Souad Ghanemi Stephen Rix Sufian Al Salman Suleiman Tukan Tamara Al Sunna Tareq Rousan Terry Mason Tim Deardon Vickie Fox Waleed Jabsheh Wasef Jabsheh Youssef Alaoui Youssef Slimani Yuzri Bin Yusef Zein Karkar Zuhaniza Binti Jamil
Wasef Jabsheh
A key figure in the Middle East region and founder of IGI, Wasef Jabsheh has specialised in marine and energy insurance for more than 40 years in various prominent roles with Kuwait Insurance Co and with ADNIC from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s.
In 1989, Wasef established Middle East Insurance Brokers and two years later founded International Marine & General Insurance Co. He also served as a Board Director with HCC Insurance Holdings Inc until 1997.
E: WSJ@iginsure.com
Waleed Jabsheh
Waleed has over 22 years of experience in the (re) insurance industry. He began his career at Manulife Reinsurance in Toronto, Canada and later joined LDG Reinsurance Corporation, a subsidiary of Houston Casualty Co., in 1998 where he served as Senior Underwriter managing a US$ 30m book of treaty and facultative business.
Waleed joined International General Insurance Co. Ltd. at the time of its foundation in 2002. As President of the IGI group, he has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of IGI now writing approximately US$ 350m in Gross Written Premium worldwide across 17 classes of business within a network of 5 offices.
E: waleed.jabsheh@iginsure.com
Pervez Rizvi
Group Chief Financial Officer
Pervez has over 31 years of experience in Insurance and Banking. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce in Accounts and Management followed by CA (India) and CPA (USA) certifications.
Pervez is a fellow member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Pervez began his Insurance career with Life Insurance Corporation of India in 1989 and later joined Oman National Insurance Company in Oman.
He worked with HSBC Bank in UAE and Malaysia and Zurich Financial Services in DIFC in a senior management role. Prior to joining IGI he was CFO with an Islamic Insurance Company in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
E: Pervez.Rizvi@iginsure.com
Hatem Jabsheh
Group Chief Operating Officer
Hatem has over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He began his career in 2001 with Spear, Leads, and Kellogg, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs. He managed several pits as a CBOE and CME primary market maker.
Hatem then moved to Amman, Jordan to set up Indemaj Brokerage, an asset management and brokerage company. After successfully selling it in 2009 to a publicly traded investment bank, Hatem joined IGI to head their investment department. In 2017 he became IGI's Group Chief Operating Officer.
He is a graduate of Marquette University.
E: Hatem.Jabsheh@iginsure.com
Andreas Loucaides
Chief Executive Officer - IGI UK
Andreas has over 48 years of experience in the insurance industry. He began his career in the insurance industry in 1971, joining syndicate 702 at Lloyd's which was sold to Markel in 2000.
He later founded a start-up insurance company, PRI Group Plc (an FSA licensed A- rated AIM listed with a cap of £120m) in 2002 as Chief Executive Officer. Following the profitable sale to Brit Holdings, Andreas joined Catlin UK in 2004 as the Chief Executive Officer.
In 2008, he joined Jubilee Group at Lloyd's as the CEO, overseeing the sale to Ryan Specialty Group in 2011.
In 2012, Andreas joined Lloyd's Syndicate 2526 assisting the sale to AmTrust and supporting AmTrust in the purchase of Sagicor at Lloyd's.
In 2015, Andreas joined IGI as CEO of IGI UK.
E: Andreas.Loucaides@iginsure.com
Tim Deardon
Senior Vice President, Group Head of Claims
Tim has over 36 years of experience in international insurance markets and claims management. He previously served as head of international claims for the energy business of Marsh Ltd and was also the international head of claims for its political risk business. Prior to that, Tim worked as a marine and energy claims manager at a major Lloyd's syndicate.
He has first-hand knowledge of the requirements of IGI's clients and business partners and has built up a network of professional service providers that understand the high servicing standards required by IGI's claims team and who support the strategy of IGI's pro-active and transparent approach to claims management.
E: Tim.Deardon@iginsure.com
Henri Labat
Senior Executive Officer – IGI Dubai
Henri has over 13 years of experience in P&C Insurance and Reinsurance for Large Corporations. He worked within AXA Group in different countries (France, Spain, Middle East) occupying different Underwriting and Management roles.
Before joining IGI, Henri headed up the AXA Corporate Solutions office in Dubai dedicated to the MENA Region. Henri holds a Master of Science in Engineering by INSA Lyon and a Master's in Management of International Business by Essec.
E: Henri.Labat@iginsure.com
Youssef Alaoui
Chief Executive Officer – IGI Casablanca
Youssef has over 18 years' experience in the reinsurance industry. He joined IGI – CFC operations from Aon Benfield where he worked for two years as an Executive Director for the MENA region.
Prior to this, he spent 11 years at Societe Centrale de Reassurance - Morocco where he held many underwriting and managerial positions in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
E: Youssef.Alaoui@iginsure.com
Nick Garrity
Chief Executive Officer - IGI Labuan
Nick has 30 years of experience in the international insurance and reinsurance industry and joined IGI from Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in Singapore, where he was Head of Sales, Asia Pacific.
Prior to that, Nick was Strategic Customer and Broker Relationship Director at Royal Sun Alliance, also in Singapore. Nick has also held Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer roles at Lockton Companies. Before then, he was at Marsh, starting his career at Willis.
E: Nick.Garrity@iginsure.com
Simon Levy
Senior Vice President - Reinsurance
Simon has over 34 years of experience in the (re) insurance industry. He worked within the reinsurance industry from 1985 with DG Durham and subsequently for EW Payne (London). In 1996, Simon left the UK and worked for Alliance Re (latterly Flagstone Re) as an Underwriter concentrating on a WWX USA/Canada Proportional and Non-Proportional inwards treaty portfolio.
Simon joined IGI in 2010 and is responsible for underwriting and managing the inwards treaty reinsurance portfolio of IGI, whilst also being a main member of the management team responsible for all group outwards reinsurance purchases.
E: Simon.Levy@iginsure.com
Adam Safwat
Vice President, Underwriting & Business Development
Adam has over 22 years of experience in the (re)insurance industry. He began his career as an accounts clerk for CE Heath before moving to QBE in London where he specialised as a Treaty Reinsurance Underwriter for 13 years, managing an international book of business.
Adam joined IGI in 2011 and oversaw the underwriting operations and exposure management in Amman for 6 years before relocating to IGI's UK office in 2017. Adam is now supporting senior executives in the day to day management of the underwriting department and responsible for global business development and establishing core strategic partners.
E: Adam.Safwat@iginsure.com
Rawan Alsulaiman
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Company Secretary
Rawan has over 16 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined IGI in December 2007 as head of its Legal Department and was promoted in 2014 to Chief Legal Officer, and in 2018 to Chief Legal and Compliance Officer.
Prior to joining IGI, Rawan was working for Abu Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP), a leading IP agent in the MENA region. She was the head of AGIP's Special Clients Department responsible for managing and protecting the IP portfolio of AGIP's multinational clients including Johnson and Johnson, SPI Group and Proctor and Gamble. She was responsible for the oversight of their intellectual property rights, anti-counterfeiting, infringement and IP enforcement actions across the MENA region.
Rawan obtained her master's degree in International and Comparative Public Law from the University of Exeter.
E: Rawan.Alsulaiman@iginsure.com
Michael Farah
Senior Vice President – Operations
Michael has over 21 years extensive experience of providing financial and operational control audit services to clients in Jordan and the Middle East.
Michael joined IGI in 2011 to lead the group's internal audit function after having worked with PWC and Ernst and Young, gaining a solid foundation in accounting and auditing particularly in the financial services industry. Due to his all-encompassing experience and knowledge within IGI's operations and financial accounts he was promoted to SVP Operations in January 2018.
Michael holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting, US Certified Public Accountant "CPA" license, and Certified Internal Auditor "CIA" license.
E: Michael.Farah@iginsure.com
Sufian Al Salman
Sufian has more than 27 years of solid HR experience in Multinational Corporations, managing both single and portfolios of countries with diverse cultures and business. Recently, he was as the CHRO for American Food and worked as CHRO for Royal Jordanian. Prior to that Sufian had spent over 16 years in PepsiCo in different HR leadership roles across Asia, Middle East & Africa regions.
Sufian holds M. SC. Degree in Political Science from the University of Jordan and B. SC. Degree in Political Science and Economics from University of Jordan. He also completed advanced HR Executives Education Programs from Michigan Business School and Henley Business School/ University of Reading.
E: Sufian.AlSalman@iginsure.com
Simon Spurr
Simon joined IGI during 2016 bringing over 8 years of risk and capital management experience and 19 years of broader experience across underwriting, pricing and portfolio management and change management. He is a Chartered Insurer with a BA (Hons) in Banking, Insurance and Finance.
Before joining IGI, Simon had spent 13 years as a self-employed consultant with his recent engagements including supporting the launch of Fidelis Insurance and implementing risk and capital frameworks in Liberty Mutual, Randall and Quilter (Lloyd's), Lancashire Insurance and Aspen.
E: Simon.Spurr@iginsure.com
Stephen Rix
Chief Actuary
A commercial, technical, and experienced Actuary, Stephen has held a broad range of executive roles including Chief Actuary (22 years), Underwriter (Structured Finite Insurance and Reinsurance) and Head of Analytics at a variety of Lloyd's and London Market Insurers. Stephen has an extensive, hands-on experience of a wide range of commercial insurance and reinsurance lines of business and utilizes IT and state of the art data management to develop pricing, reporting, analytical and business planning solutions.
Stephen qualified as a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in 1989 and is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland. Stephen obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the University of Manchester.
E: Stephen.Rix@iginsure.com
Robin Sidders
Robin joined IGI in 2020, prior to IGI becoming a public company and listing on Nasdaq. Robin has over 25 years' leadership experience in strategic financial communications and investor relations, most notably serving more than 14 years as Director, Investor Relations at PartnerRe, a leading global multi-line reinsurer previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of US$ 7b. She saw the company through significant business, regulatory, and leadership change, culminating in the sale and delisting of PartnerRe.
E: Robin.Sidders@iginsure.com
Saurabh Sharma
Vice President – Finance
Saurabh Sharma is a chartered accountant with more than 17 years of experience in the reinsurance industry and assurance services. He began his career in the Financial Services and Insurance Practice Department of Price Waterhouse Cooper India in 2004. He then moved to Ernst & Young in Dubai in 2006. He has independently handled audit assignments in multinational financial services, fund management and hospitality sectors during his time working with the 'Big Four' audit firms. In 2008, Saurabh moved from audit into the insurance industry and joined IGI. Currently he is working as Vice President of Finance, reporting to IGI's Group CFO, and overseeing the Group finance function.
He is a commerce graduate majoring in accounting and financial management. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a licentiate membership of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
E: Saurabh.Sharma@iginsure.com
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