Let Us Burn

Earlier this month, the wife and I made our first trip to Rock Hill, South Carolina, pretty much to just take a look at the area before we move up there in a couple of months.  I can honestly say, despite the cold weather, I was really digging it.  The fact that we ended up finding a place to live less than ten minutes away from my aunt and her family was an added bonus.  The wife has a new job lined up already, and I'm still looking, as well as there being a few good looking prospects for me when we get there.  She's been pretty stressed out a lot over everything having to do with the move, but as it turns out, it's all going to work out.  I knew it would, and I had a plan from the very beginning.  It just looks like pieces of this particular puzzle have begun fitting in place.  I almost feel like a mad scientist, come to think of it lol.  Needless to say, the excitement has really started to set in lately, and I love every minute of it.  I am, for once, not afraid of change, as I welcome it with open arms.  

As badly as I talk about things down here in Florida, I can still say that there are a few things, and a few people, that I will miss once we're gone.  As far as places and things to do, I will miss our occasional trips to one of the Disney parks.  I'll miss the trips to the Retro Room for their Karaoke nights, which I absolutely love doing.  I'll miss the fact that my first true place to live on my own was right here in this state, and memories were definitely made there.  I'll miss my trips to Universal Studios where they used to (and still occasionally) have TNA Wrestling events.  Sure, I'm a WWE guy from start to finish, but I've come to love other professional wrestling as well.  As far as people...I understand that I've rubbed some people the wrong way in my years here, but I also have met some great people down here as well.  Some of the people I've met and worked alongside at Publix, some friends outside the workplace too.  I also know that I have forged some great friendships down here as well.  One friendship that I hold to the highest regard is a man I met mere months after moving here in 2007.  That man's name being Chris Buzzo.  In the years I've known him, I've come to consider him my best friend, in a lifetime that hasn't really allowed me many of those.  We've laughed, we've argued, agreed, disagreed, and everything else under the sun.  My regret is that lately our schedules haven't really clicked, therefor not allowing a whole hell of a lot of time to hang out, throw back a couple beers, joke and shoot the shit like we used to.  My hope is that now, near the end of my run, that can be rectified somewhat.  Chris, if you ever get the chance to read this, I want you to know that you are one awesome son of a bitch.  I love how much happier you've been in the past few months, and I, for one, am rooting for you.  That's real talk right there.  Of all things I'm going to miss, I'll miss our occasional hangouts the most.

2nd Chance CD of the Week
Within Temptation
Hydra (2014)

Tracklist
Let Us Burn
Dangerous
And We Run
Paradise (What About Us)
Edge of the World
Silver Moonlight
Covered By Roses
Dog Days
Tell Me Why
Whole World is Watching

Radioactive
Summertime Sadness
Let Her Go
Dirty Dancer

     What can I really say about this album?  Well, I'm going to give it a shot here.  Three years ago, The Unforgiving hit shelves all over the world which was universally praised for its ambition, its bombasity, and diverseness.  Never before had this symphonic metal band from the Netherlands tried to put forth a concept album, but for me it just clicked.  I know that there are a lot of WT fans that didn't particularly care for The Unforgiving, but I absolutely adored it, and to this day I think that was their masterpiece.  But now the question arose...how does this band follow up such a masterpiece?  Simple...they strip back from the concept album formula, and proceed with a straightforward rock album for the ages.  And straightforward did they head, indeed.  The opening track Let Us Burn signals the return of Within Temptation in a big way.  As an aside, almost half the album features a guest vocalist to accompany lead singer Sharon den Adel.  Some of said diverseness is retained here, as you'll hear singers such as Dave Pirner (from Soul Asylum), Howard Jones (no NOT that guy in the 80s, I mean the one formally of Killswitch Engage), Tarja (formerly of Nightwish), and Xzibit.  Yes, THAT Xzibit.  His song, "And We Run" was kind of a headscratcher for me, as I initially didn't care for the track.  It has since grown on me a bit, however, and I can honestly say the parts of this song where Xzibit raps are the highlight of the track itself.  You'll hear Jones on "Dangerous" and the song just works.  Not one of the band's best, but it will still kick your head off.  Hearing Tarja share vocal duties on "Paradise" was a breath of fresh air, in my opinion.  Tarja's operatic styling pairs up with Sharon's angelic voice any day of the week, and this song shows.  There IS a second disc to this album, mostly of covers from other bands, and Within Temptation proceed to make each cover tune hundreds of times better.  Case in point, they remake Lana Del Ray's "Summertime Sadness," and I hate Lana and the song.  But with WT reworking it into their own, I love the song now.  As long as the band performs it.  The only track I thought sucked was Enrique Iglesias' "Dirty Dancer." Yes...they even do one of his songs.  And I'm sorry, the spirit of Freddie Mercury himself could have come down from Heaven to sing this song, it's still gonna suck. But I won't let that one little blemish ruin it for me.  You know what I'm gonna say about this, as far as a recommendation goes right?  Is it any doubt.

Thumbs up. 
Miller