Killswitch Engage is a hardcore metal band from Massachusetts. Formed in 1998 - 1999, this band started out after the break ups of their previous bands, Overcast and Aftershock. There are two different stories on how they came up with the name Killswitch Engage and one of them was while they were watching the X-Files back in the 90s.

Discography

2000: Killswitch Engage
2002: Alive or Just Breathing
2004: The End of Heartache
2006: As Daylight Dies

Band Members

Joel Stroetzel - guitars (1999 - present)
Adam Dutkiewicz - drums, percussion (1999 - 2001), guitars, backing vocals (2002 - present)
Mike D’Antonio - bass (1999 - present)
Howard Jones - lead vocals (2002 - present)
Justin Foley - drums, percussion (2003 - present)



Style
Truth to be told, I am their biggest fan in the world! So personally, I believe that if you like heavy metal music, you would like KsE. They music sounds like a mixture of Metallica blends in with Slipknot and Soulfly. Some say that they are categorized as death metal from the vocal of Howard Jones and some says that they plays heavy metal. The debate still goes on around the world.
As for the conclusion, KsE is a band that brings a lot of power in their songs and performances. Unique drumwork, powerful vocals and insane guitar riffs. Before I end this, I will leave you guys with one of my favourite song from KsE and it is called My Last Serenade. Enjoy!

My Last Serenade

Regards,
Angel “H” Lucifer

Posted in: Music | Comments(3)

Ok, let me explain the theory of PTC to you guys just in case you might be wondering..
First of all, PTC sites have 3 main characters - The owners, The buyers, and The sellers..
I’ll explain the role of each of this characters..

The owners
These guys are responsible in getting business for the PTC site, maintaining it, make sure it is attractive all the time, and perform all managerial tasks. They have to make sure their PTC site is always achieving the target and goals set by a PTC site. Keeping the sellers and the buyers busy is the prime objective. They have to work their way out to make the site smooth and always active. Support and payment is usually the major concern which makes a PTC site alive.

The buyers
These are the advertisers. Why they use PTC sites, I will explain in the later part.

The sellers
The clickers. Their prime objective - money! None of the clickers are in a PTC site for the ads. They are there for one sole reason - money! In most cases, users will click the ads and proceed with their job until they click the next ad and do the same thing again.

Then how does this PTC work at all?

Each of the characters have their own goals to achieve and being on a PTC site, everyone will achieve it. And every character is reciprocal and interconnected. The seller gets their money, the buyers get their site advertised, and the owner gets the site running. The good thing about PTC is, it delivers a huge amount of traffic to your site in an instant and for as long as you are advertising with them. However, once the advertising stops, the traffic rate drops. Though it does, eventually there will be a slight daily increase in traffic with interested users who finally recieve the message accurately. There is little or no possibility that your site will not be visited again in the future.

The advertisements displayed on a PTC plays a big role for all characters. If you want to advertise your site on a PTC, there are several rules you should apply. First, your site must be catchy. Something that will attract people to read what is it about. This role is performed by the design, the structure and he management of the PTC site. It’s a quick way to promote your product with immediate unique visitors per day. Second, your site must be fast loading. This counts in a good webhosting which provide powerful connection to the server. You must remember, average PTC sites view the ads for just 30 seconds and if your site doesnt load completely in that period of time, its a loss for you. Though new scripts have implemented scripts that will wait till the site is totally loaded before the timer begins, there is a slight hack for slow sites over this matter and in most cases, users will just quit waiting and move on to the next site. So its a downside for you to have a slow loading time for your website. Third, your site must be straightforward! Your message must be clear and your product must be immediately advertised. This is the most important fact for advertising on PTC sites. Almost all users will NOT click the links within an advertised site. As I said earlier, they wont even bother to look at the site sometimes. So if your site has too much information, the message will not be delivered successfully and this is a downside for you.

What is the benefit to The owners?
Simple - Money! How they make the bucks? Usually, there will be a price for a certain amount of hits. Lets say, for 1000 hits, they price the traffic at $50. They will give 1 cent per view to the seller and if there are premium services, it might go up as high as 1.5 cents or maybe even 2 cents. So, doing the maths, 1000 hits for 2 cents (we take the bigger figure for maximum approach) will make them pay 2000 cents to The sellers. This is $20. Where does the $30 go? You are right! The owners! 1000 clicks are easily achieved in a day for solid PTC sites. So if 30 ads achieve 1000 hits in a day, you do the maths

That, is the fundamental of a PTC site! Any questions, you may ask me in the comments section.

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In 2006, the government of Malaysia launched a war against the Black Metal (considered as metal) music. Led by JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia) this war was believe to be one of the holy war against the metalist because they believe that the music that these genre creates, brings the youth towards damnation. So during that year, the war against the metalist fans begins.

The first wave of the war begins with the banning of all of the metal music and albums throughout the whole region. The media played a big role in this one since the audience are notified with the war through them. Cds, Cassettes and dvds were confiscated and none are out for the public. That led to the draught of doom. Metallist had to download their music instead of supporting their favourite band by purchasing the albums and sorts.

The second wave was a big one because they started to raid the local metal gigs and performances and sent those kids that went and perform to that performance to a rehabilitation center. In this center, kids are brainwashed and told that god exists and they are here to serve him. Big punishments awaits them if they disobey him. Those are the things that they did back then to the metal bands, medias (Cds, Dvds, cassetes and so forth) and also fans.

Ironic to what is happening right now because if you can see, the songs that they aired on the radio nowdays are as much filth as the metal music before! And yet, no action has been taken towards these kind of music scene, lifestyle and medias. This music that I am talking about is the rap and r&b. No explanation needed because I am going to copy and paste over what the lyrics are all about. Here is the lyrics from the song that is currently famous and aired on the radio almost everyday! Lil Wayne feat Static - Lollipop (click to listen)

Uh huh
I say he so sweet
Make her wanna lick the wrapper
So I let her lick the rapper
She she
Lick me like a lollipop
She she
Lick me like a lollipop
She she (yeah)
Lick like a lollipop
She lick (yeah)
Me Like a lollipop
Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Bottles in the club, club, club (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Shawty wanna hump (yeah)
You know I’d like to touch (yeah)
Your lovely lady lumps, lumps, lumps (she wanna lick the wrapper)
Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug (I like that)
Bottles in the club, club, club
Shawty wanna hump
You know I’d like to touch
Your lovely lady lumps (come on, yeah)

Ok Lil Mama Had A Swag Like Mine she
Even wear her hair down her back like mine
I make her feel right when it’s wrong like lying
Man, she ain’t never had a love like mine
But man, I ain’t never seen an ass like hers
That pussy in my mouth had me lost for words
I told her back it up like “urp, Urp”
Made that ass jump like “Jerk, Jerk”
And that’s when
She l
L-like like a lollipop (oh yeah, I like that)
She she
L-lck me like a lollipop (yeah, I like that)
She she she
L-lick me like a lollipop (yeah, I like that)
Shawty say I’ll (yeah)
Lick a lollipop

Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug (yeah)
Bottles in the club, club, club (yeah)
Shawty wanna hump
You know I’d like to touch (yeah)
Your lovely lady lumps, lumps, lumps (yeah)
Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug (I like that)
Bottles in the club, club, club (yeah, I like that)
Shawty wanna hump
You know I’d like to touch (I like that)
Your lovely lady lumps

Okay, after you, back it up, don’t stop
Drop it baby, just drop it like it’s hot
Drop, drop, drop it like it’s hot, do it shawty, don’t stop

Shawty say the nigga that she with ain’t shit
Shawty say the nigga that she with ain’t this
Shawty say the nigga that she with can’t hit
But shawty, I’m a hit it, hit it like I can’t miss
if he can’t do this and don’t do that
Shawty need a refund
Need to bring a nigga back
Just like a refund
I’ll make her bring that ass back
And she bring that ass back (Because I like that)

Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug (yeah, I like that)
Bottles in the club, club, club (yeah, I like that)
Shawty wanna hump
You know I’d like to touch
Your lovely lady lumps, lumps, lumps (yeah, yeah)
Shawty wanna…
L-l-l-l-l-lick me like a lollipop
Shawty wanna
L-l-l-l-l-lick me like a lollipop
Shawty wanna
L-l-l-l-l-lick me like a lollipop
Tell her to lick the rapper (like a lollipop)
Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug
Bottles in the club, club, club
Shawty wanna hump
You know I’d like to touch
Your lovely lady lumps

Call me, so I can make it juicy for you
Call, call me, s-so I can get it juicy for you
Call, c-call me, so, so I can make it juicy for you
Call, call me, s-so, so I can get it juicy for you
Call, call me, so I can make it juicy for you
Call, call me, s-so I can get it juicy for you
Call, c-call me, so, so I can make it juicy for you
Call, call me, so, so I can get it juicy for you

Shawty wanna thug, thug, thug
Bottles in the club, club, club
Shawty wanna hump
You know I’d like to touch
Your lovely lady lumps

I get on top
She drop it like it’s hot (yeah)
And when I’m at the bottom
She Hillary Rodum
The middle of the bed (yeah)
Givin Gettin Head
Givin Gettin head
Givin Gettin Head

I say, ooh (I like that)
I say, ooh (I like that)
I say, ooh (yeah, I like that)
Ooh

Call me, so I can come and do it for you
Call me, so I can come and prove it for you
Call me, so I can make it juicy for you
Call me, so I can get it juicy for you

Shawty wanna
L-l-l-l-l-lick me like a lollipop
She she
L-lick me like a lollipop
She she
L-l-l-l-l-lick me like a lollipop (I say he so sweet)
Make her wanna lick the wrapper (What’d you do?)
She she like me like a lollipop
So I let her lick the rapper

From the song lyrics above, all I can say is that the whole song is about sex. Which is worse something that our religion and beliefs are against. Why are they still on the radio? I am very confused. Shouldn’t they do anything? Like banning these type of music or something like that? Pretty bias I would say.

In this report, I would like to conclude that no matter what that music sounds like or means, it is always up to that individual. It is not about the music. Music is a source of entertainment. The banning of metal music shouldn’t been done in the first place. Be more liberal with it. Think outside of the box.

Regrads,
Angel “H” Lucifer

Posted in: General | Comments(1)

Google, Facebook, YouTube, Adidas, Nike, McDonalds - When I even mention about these names, you already have the picture in your mind. How? Trust me, if Google was not a brand, you would be laughing your way at the name. What about Facebook? It doesnt even mean anything. But what makes people remember them? The BRAND!

There are several core elements that drive the branding force in creating a super brand. However, combining all and coming out with something is still susceptible. Missing out any of them will make the brand weak.

Color
Color can definitely play a big role in branding. There have been researches conducted to understand the effect of color on a brand. One of the most famous example I have is for food outlets. Just like McDonalds as they use RED for the branding. It is researched that red color will eventually make a person feel hungry when there is such exposure. I was initially amused when I read about it sometime about 2 years ago. But that did not end it all. I tried to see the effect. Apparently, it really does work! One day, I was walking by in a complex for window shopping. I saw the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) emblem not far from where I was standing, and it really kicked my stomach. A random thought of “It would be nice to have KFC for lunch” came in my mind and I ended up at their restaurant. Though initially I wasnt hungry, I ended up eating the Snack plate easily! However, red may not be necessary for your brand. If you know how to manipulate and contrast the colors, you can make a nice brand for yourself. What is important, the colors must then be used everywhere you place your brand. Ask a kid about brands that use red color. I bet they will say either “Coca-Cola” or “McDonalds”.

Emblem / Logo
Emblem is what creates the “impression” of the brand. While it is not necessary to use something directly related to your brand, it must be something that others don’t use - which describes UNIQUE. Take Alienware as an example. Their logo is the head of an alien. It does not have anything to do with their products. But the power of its brand is, when geek see the glowing Alien head anywhere, they will immediately know that it is the Alienware’s brand. Emblem can be very powerful too. Just like Alienware, you dont have to tell your company name. Just show the emblem, and they will know what company it stands for. Its how it manipulates the impression of the company.

Name
Another core component is the NAME of the brand. There is no brand with no name. How do you select a name of the brand? This can be rather challenging. First, look at your product. Then start thinking out of the box. Often, companies pay hundreds of thousands of money just to get a nice name for the brand they make. Because if your brand holds a nice name, it will be remembered forever. One trick to do this is to name your brand with something that is easy to spell and pronounce. Brands like Sony, Apple, Google and Norton are spelled “as is” and sweet to pronounce. Which explains why they are very well-known successful brands. There are brands which people will tend to forget overtime due to their spellings. I wouldn’t specify any here as it would just degrade the brand.

These are the CORE components of branding of course. There are other aspects that boost up branding but combining these three, you can come out with a powerful enough brand for your company. If you need ideas, I might be able to give some on a designer’s perspective.

Cheers

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If unique is what you looking for then you should listen to this progressive rock band from New York. The name Coheed and Cambria is actually the name of the characters in the comic book that Claudio Sanchez (the lead singer of C&C) created. With about 4 albums since they began in the music industries, all of their albums are actually a concept album where by story plots from Sanchez’s comic The Armory War are told in each and everyone of them.

Discography

The Second Stage Turbine Blade (February 2002)
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (October 2003)
Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (September 2005)
Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (October 2007)

Band Members

Claudio Sanchez - lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synth (1995 - present)
Travis Stever - guitars, lap steel, vocals (1995, 1999 - present)
Michael Todd - bass, vocals (1996 - 2006, 2007 - present)
Chris Pennie - drums, percussion (2007 - present)

Style

Personally, I really think that the band has a unique flavour because some critics says that they are progressive metal and some aren’t. What is unique the most in this band would actually be Claudio’s voice itself. The first time when I heard the song Coming Home, I reall thought that the song was a male anf female duet song. Until I met a big ass Coheed fan in Australia who told me that it was actually a guy. Not just that, he also introduced me to another song of them that made me confused with the sexuality of the lead singer. The song called 21:13 and you should give it a listen if you want.

Anyways.. All and all, I really like this band. They are different from all of the Top 40 shit that you always listen to in the radio. Support local and international alternative and underground music. Before I go, here is a link to one of their famous song called Favor House Atlantic. Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y96koKa2PSE

Regards,
Angel Lucifer

Posted in: Music | Comments(1)

Hello boys and girls..

I know how it has been a very long time since the last post. No worries. The blog is not dead yet. We are still here and infact, better. Anyways, today I am going to blog about the trip that I made to Singapore recently. I am going to give you some tips and tricks on how to save money while travelling and being awesome at the same time!

First of all. How to get to Singapore? There are many options available for you. Since the price of petrol raised dramatically, most of the public transportation’s price has gone up too! Lucky for me, after all of the research that I’ve made, I hava found a loophole in the system. The train! Yes! The Keretapi Tanah Melayu. Imagine this. Busses cost you around RM70 to RM100 depending on the coach’s class and the train cost only RM38! No joke! The only cons is that the train takes ages to arrive to Singapore. Around 6 hours. Mine was 7 and a half hours because of the delay.

Once you get to the last station in Singapore and that is Tanjong Pagar, you have to do a little walk inorder for you to find MRT/Subway station. I couldnt find the MRT station at frist. I was so lost and lucky for me, there was one British bloke who looked as lost as me at that moment. I introduced myself to him and told him how lost I was and we became mates in the end and found the MRT station. One thing about Singapore that you need to know. You can literally get anywhere by the MRT. It is so damn convinient for those who wants to travel cheap. You might have to do a little of walk once you to your destination from the station but trust me, if you are into walking then here is the time to shine. Like I said, if you want to travel cheap you should choose to travel with the MRT because they provide the traveller daily pass. All you need to do is to bring along your passport and S$8 for the whole day MRT card. So basically you can literally go anywhere in Singapore that you want with that card as long as it is withing the day.

I stayed at this small backpackers hotel/cute cozy house named One Florence Close. It is run by couple of ladies and one of them was Cynthia. The place offers double rooms and dorms with the shower, kitchen, internet, laundry, airconditioning facilities. Whats cute about it was the house and the rooms! The whole house was pimped up, IKEA style. Awesome lamp shades and I really like the shower head. The room was small and cozy. It has television and straight out flat on the floor bed. And here is the best part, the coup de grace.. They have this two cute furry Persian cat. The staff and the people were friendly too! I really recomend you this place if you ever want to backpack or visit Singapore in low budget style. Situated near the Kovan MRT station and close to the heart of the food heaven, One Florence Close is really the place for backpackers. Check out their website for more info.

If you are into shopping, you should definately go to Orchard Road. For me, I am more into the sight seeing and expiriencing the surrounding. And if thats wat you into, here are some places that you should go. Clarke Quay for the Gmax ride (its some sorta bungee like ride that shoots you to the air), City Hall for the shopping mall and from there, go to Raffles hotel and drink the Singapore Sling cocktail there. The infamous Singapore Sling that has made the thirsty traveller came down and tasted that himself. It is a very fancy hotel so the price for the cocktail might be a little expensive but hey, money can never buy satisfaction right? Then if you up for the beach, go to Sentosa. For the night life and the bars, go to the bars near the place in City Hall. Trust me, they have all of this themed bars over there. Morrocoan themed, Balinese style, Japanese style and so forth!! It was crazy!!! And my personal favourite, I recomend you to go along one of this bar in Orchard Road, opposite the SMU (Singapore Management University) and try the Chilli Vodka if you dare! Sorry that I didn’t remember the name of that bar. And for food wise, go to the hawkers food court if you are low in budget. Or if you feel slightly fancy, ante up for the cafes around Singapore! Trust me, the food there are cheap! But not as dirt cheap as Malaysia of course!

So there you go. I have summarized my trip there and also gave you an idea on what to do and where to go when you are in Singapore. Just drop me a comment if you have anything else to add up ok?

Cheers,
Angel Lucifer

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