Game Review: Brütal legend

Yes I know this is a music blog, but anybody who enjoys metal music will be interested in the new game from Tim Schafer. The game is essentially heavy metal compressed into one world, and you control Eddie Riggs (named after Iron Maiden's mascot, Eddie, and the artist who created him, Derek Rigs) voiced by Jack Black, and you have been transported to this world to save them from the dark powers taking control.

It is a sandbox game (like GTA but...) and you can travel round the huge map and embark on a whole array of side quests, gaining points to buy upgrades. The soundtrack is pure heavy metal, with a huge soundtrack to keep any metal head pleased. There are cameos from Lemmy (off of Motorhead), Rob Halford (off of Judas Priest) and Ozzy Osbourne (Off of Ozzy Osbourne...and Black Sabbath) just to name a few.

All of this should be enough to make any metal fan's mouth water, but I will issue one warning, if you don't like RTS games, you may have issues with this. The game turns into an action RTS about an hour in, and the gameplay changes for many of the main quests. It's still the same fighting gameplay, but you can fly around and command your troops to destroy enemy merch booths and stages. It sort of comes out of the blue for people not expecting it, especially as this aspect is barely mentioned in the previews and interviews.

If you enjoy heavy metal, open world action, and RTS type games, then this game is very much worth your money. If you enjoy any 2 out of those 3, then buy all means get this game. It is alot of fun and the soundtrack leaves little to be desired. I just feel the game could be improved by a more action based style rather than an RTS.

Rating: 8/10

Album Review: Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

As many of you may agree, there are in fact 2 Biffy Clyros. The first is old school Biffy as heard on Blackened Sky, The Vertigo of Bliss and Infinity Land. The other is Puzzle Biffy (as heard on the album Puzzle if my naming doesn't point that out).

I say this because Puzzle had a very different sound to the first 3 albums. Many old-school fans have stated that Puzzle is far too mainstream. They have a fair point, as Puzzle has a very radio friendly sound with songs such as Folding Stars earning them mainstream fame. Many Biffy Clyro fans felt alienated by this change in direction (I personally love the album, as well as older Biffy).

This has left the band with a bit of a dilemma in which direction to go. Do they stick with the mainstream sound and continue their mainstream success, or do they go back to the old sound and please their longer standing fan base.

In there new album, Only Revolutions, they seem to have decided to try and please both sets of fans. There are very Puzzle-esque songs such as The Captain, That Golden Rule and Mountains, but the album is also full of albums that would fit very well into their older albums, such as Bubbles, Born On A Horse, and God & Satan.

This approach works on the level that every Biffy fan will have songs on this album which they will enjoy (and they will, this is both Biffys at their best). However the album only works as a whole if you like both the mainstream and non-mainstream sounds. I personally do, and think that this is a very good album, although it's hard to shake the feeling that Biffy have sat on the fence a little bit. If you like everything Biffy Clyro have done up to this point, then buy this album, you won't be disappointed. However, it's hard to recommend the album to anyone else. Maybe get the songs that suit you from itunes.

I love this album and feel it has many great tracks, but I feel that I am unable to recommend it to everyone, so that damages the overall score

Rating: 8/10
Stand out songs: The Captain, That Golden Rule, Mountains, Born On A Horse, Many of Horror