Rick von D

This more or less turned into a reboot station for #irontherapy microreviews. Real writing will reappear eventually

[romeodeltabravo]

Taking a break from #livesessionsunday for a bit, so this week’s belated #newrelease is Lime Cordiale’s new album 14 Steps To A Better You, which is a low key chilled disc that that really fits my recent personal vibe. This kind of beachy surf rock (that doesn’t take a lazy route by playing as boneless white boy reggae) is calming, but not in a patronising way, and it really speaks to the current social mood. We all need to chill and ride this thing out. Highlight tracks include That’s Life, No Plans To Make Plans, On Our Own, and Screw Loose. Available on iTunes and Spotify. I’ve been keeping up with the gym activity, but spending less time doing reviews. In a weird headspace, mostly just tired. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #sunday #legday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #limecordiale #14stepstoabetteryou #2020 #thatslife #noplanstomakeplans #onourown #screwloose #rock #alternative #softrock #indie #surfrock #itunes #spotify #australia https://www.instagram.com/p/CC0RCZ0AZk1/?igshid=18m4hb9f25tgx

[romeodeltabravo]

DMA’S new album The Glow carries the positive energy that’s quite frankly needed right now, so I’m glad it came out when it did. Not gonna lie, feeling a little out of wack today after very little sleep and exposure to an allergen last night (no regrets) but this was an excellent pick me up after all of the goings on. Hopefully we don’t get slammed with another lockdown because the sooner I can get to see this love the better. Highlight tracks include Never Before, the title track, Life Is A Game Of Changing, and Criminals. Available on iTunes and Spotify now. Gonna sleep well tonight, all the right conditions. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #tuesday #armday #chestday #shoulderday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #dmas #theglow #2020 #newrelease #neverbefore #lifeisagameofchanging #criminals #rock #alternative #indie #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CCntCQ0g6z_/?igshid=14dtc4x3wbzah

[romeodeltabravo]

Black Sabbath’s final album, 13, seesaw Ozzy Osbourne reunite with the band that propelled him into the limelight and I have to say... it’s passable. Tommy Iommi and Geezer Butler complete the core lineup (as complete as it can be) and this is a very competent metal album, really leaning into the doom again, but it feels ten years too late and considerably more tired than anything else they released, and that’s almost entirely on the tonal change in Ozzy in the three decades between albums with the band. Dio would have done it better, is what I’m saying. Highlight tracks include End Of The Beginning, God Is Dead?, Damaged Soul, and Peace Of Mind. Available on iTunes and Spotify. Solid cardio day, haven’t really taken days off just haven’t been in the right mind space for reviews etc. should be back on track for the rest of the week, I think. Not going into personal stuff regarding today. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #monday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #blacksabbath #13 #2013 #endofthebeginning #godisdead? #damagedsoul #peaceofmind #rock #metal #heavymetal #doommetal #ozzyosbourne #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CClWSHqg5Xo/?igshid=12x0l50im901l

[romeodeltabravo]

Making Mirrors is that one Gotye album that everyone knows, and it’s far and away the most commercially friendly, but placing it in the context of what came before in this project adds so much more depth to it, pushing it far beyond what could be written off as (and admittedly expertly crafted) a simple breakup album. Take the time and experience it for yourself if you haven’t already, whether it’s your sole exploration into the artist’s project or the end (for now) of the road. Highlight tracks include Easy Way Out, Somebody That I Used To Know, Eyes Wide Open, and In Your Light. Available on iTunes and Spotify. Arm/chest/shoulder session was alright today, gonna keep with the cycling for a while because I’m getting some good results. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #tuesday #armday #chestday #shoulderday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #gotye #makingmirrors #2012 #easywayout #somebodythatiusedtoknow #eyeswideopen #inyourlight #rock #alternative #indie #jazz #blues #itunes #spotify #australia https://www.instagram.com/p/CCV7KcBghaP/?igshid=tbg9s3848hsg

[romeodeltabravo]

Dio returning for Dehumanizer was a best case scenario for Black Sabbath after series of forgettable albums in the mid-late 80s, injecting the energy and personality back into the disc that had been so conspicuously absent without him. The doom and the power are back on full display, with Dio bringing the musical growth from his self titled project and perfectly integrating back into the Sabbath style (eventually leading to this lineup reforming later as Heaven & Hell) and just making something worth listening to. This is exactly what Sabbath is supposed to sound like. Highlight tracks include Computer God, After All (The Dead), TV Crimes, and Time Machine. Available on iTunes and Spotify. A step closer towards some answers about the recurring headaches and migraines of the last few months, cardio has been helping keep them under control but we’re after solutions, not management. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #monday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #blacksabbath #1992 #dio #ronniejamesdio #computergod #afterallthedead #tvcrimes #timemachine #rock #metal #heavymetal #doommetal #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CCSxdwngs6b/?igshid=tr3bspuehjjb

[romeodeltabravo]

It’s been hard not to just pick favourites from the recent weeks of new releases, but hell, I can’t say no to Violent Soho and their new album Everything Is A-OK, this absolutely slaps. The gritty garage-like signature sound is displayed here in all its glory, with the ten tracks leaving no energy behind across the brief but enjoyable 34 minute runtime. Honestly one of the best new things I’ve listened to lately, and again can’t wait for these restrictions to ease so I can check this out love. Highlight tracks include Sleep Year, Vacation Forever, Pick It Up Again, and Lying On The Floor. Available on iTunes and Spotify now. Late post, the last couple of days have been massively draining both physically and emotionally, but Monday should see some of that put to ease. Or made a lot worse. I’ve made peace with either outcome. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #friday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #newrelease #violentsoho #everythingisaok #2020 #sleepyear #vacationforever #pickitupagain #lyingonthefloor #rock #punk #alternative #grunge #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CCN3fnWguKZ/?igshid=15luwxd25m5za

[romeodeltabravo]

With all the talk around Keaton returning to the role in the Flashpoint movie, and now that the OST is available, I’ve returned to Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. For a more in depth film review you’re best to check out the one I did around the Prince soundtrack, but moving onto Danny Elfman’s iconic neo gothic score there’s much more of the film’s tone captured, and there’s little wonder why the animated series that followed in the mid 90s borrowed so heavily from it thematically. Also, Nicholson’s more jovial Joker and Keaton’s less grimdark Batman are a nice cleanser after the last decade of DCEU. Film available on home media and streaming services, soundtrack available on iTunes and Spotify. Arm/back/core session was good, music kept cutting out because Castle Towers wifi is garbage and interferes with cellular signal, which was less good. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #thursday #armday #backday #coreday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #soundtrack #batman #1989 #timburton #dannyelfman #orchestra #gothic #michaelkeaton #jacknicholson #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CCIBSVTgW_D/?igshid=1ar63z0wsgqts

[romeodeltabravo]

Like Drawing Blood has a much more consistent thematic/aural line than Gotye’s previous album, but the 2006 album is still an avant garde exploration of sounds the really separates it from the pack. I have to say it does fall more into the indie pop/alternative jazz genres than anything else, but again it feels like there’s something for everyone here, especially considering how cleanly it has been produced. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and will endeavour to jump into @jez.br’s recommendations more often. Highlight tracks include Heart’s A Mess, Coming Back, and Night Drive. Available on iTunes and Spotify. Stationary recumbent cycles are designed around recovery, so maybe I should use this instead of the more intense cardio options. But eh. Solid arm/chest/shoulder session after that though. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #tuesday #armday #chestday #shoulderday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #gotye #likedrawingblood #2006 #heartsamess #comingback #nightdrive #alternative #indie #indiepop #jazz #altjazz #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CCDlPN2Arqz/?igshid=1qb3lk8lmpfaa

[romeodeltabravo]

If you’re a fan of generic background metal, thenBlack Sabbath’s 1983 effort The Eternal Idol is the disc for you. Rather than a melding of identity as seen with Dio and Hughes, all of the Sabbath signifying sounds have been stripped away. That’s not to say it isn’t a competent album, and it’s honestly better than a lot of its contemporaries in that regard, but I have no desire to ever return to this one. Highlight tracks include The Shining, Ancient Warrior, and Nightmare. Available on iTunes and Spotify. Getting the cardio time back up at moderate intensity, but testing the waters with some variety. See how that goes. Anyway, I have to go; my planet needs me. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #monday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #blaclsabbath #theeternalidol #1987 #theshining #ancientwarrior #nightmare #rock #metal #heavymetal #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CCA-ycOgCZK/?igshid=5ikwhp2pl7at

[romeodeltabravo]

You know what? Fuck you, I make the rules for #livesessionsunday and if I want to do a live-streamed quarantine iso-concert like Powderfinger’s One Night Lonely then I will. This is one of the most competent and impassioned projects I’ve seen in some time, especially considering the covid related constraints around it, picking some of the iconic australian rock band’s best tracks from across their career and making them available to everyone with network access. Didn’t like it? That sounds like your problem. Available free on pretty much all streaming platforms, iTunes, and Spotify. Leg day was fine, pretty distracted right now. I need a massive change. That’s largely why I’m thinking of moving either interstate or at least a long distance from where I am now once all of this quarantine stuff settles down. I don’t know. Tired of feeling like an occasionally useful spectre here. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #sunday #legday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #powderfinger #onenightlonely #2020 #live #rock #alternative #folk #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-dYa1Ad1j/?igshid=6nuh2uc69f62

[romeodeltabravo]

After a... problematic period, I didn’t think I could get into New Found Glory again, but Forever And Ever X Infinity is just too solid of a pop punk album to just cast aside. This is exactly the kind of high energy, vivid punk jams I’ve been waiting to listen to for some time, and considering the absolute lack of energy the last couple of months have inspired, this is very welcome. Highlight tracks include Shook By Your Shaved Head, Greatest Of All Time, Nothing To Say, and Trophy. Available on iTunes and Spotify now. Morning cardio sessions before a long shift are harder to recover from, but good for fat burning I guess? Could smash an almond croissant right about now though. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #friday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #newfoundglory #foreverandeverxinfinity #2020 #newrelease #shookbyyourshavedhead #greatestofalltime #nothingtosay #trophy #rock #punk #poppunk #alternative #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5Zh-ZArif/?igshid=fd5pca0majcg

[romeodeltabravo]

Left this in drafts instead of posting yesterday, oops. Marvel’s Spider-Man, 2018’s big return to Sony for Insomniac Games, is probably the best use of a comic book license in video game history, including the Arkham games, so hats off to the development team for utterly nailing it. The story is better experiences than explained, but it utilises the platform to a better extent to convey each plot point than any film or TV series could, and the absolutely fluid gameplay (on PS4 Pro for me) makes you actually feel like you’re the character. Can’t wait for the Miles Morales entry out this year. John Paesano is the perfect choice to score the soundtrack as well, drawing from his extensive experience in both games and Marvel/Netflix to create what is again arguably the best Spider-Man score to date (sorry Elfman). Game of the year edition available instore and via digital now, soundtrack available on iTunes and Spotify. First full arm/back/core session, pretty high impact, but feeling good after the fact. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #thursday #armday #backday #coreday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #ps4 #soundtrack #gamesoundtrack #marvel #marvelsspiderman #spiderman #2018 #johnpaesano #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CB4ZUfhAl9o/?igshid=16xz4j0nf9cby

[romeodeltabravo]

Back on the Australian artists run with alternative/indie gem Gotye and his 2003 debut LP Boardface. This is an impressive cross genre journey, from folksy alt rock to jazzy noir to light RnB vibes, driven by collaboration with other artists, but maintaining a consistent musical identity throughout. My words honestly can’t do this one justice, you should really check it out for yourself. Highlight tracks include What Do You Want?, Out Of My Mind, Noir Excursion, and Baby. Available on iTunes and Spotify. Really lacking energy today, but got through a full arm/chest/shoulder session. Gonna sleep good tonight. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #tuesday #armday #chestday #shoulderday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #gotye #boardface #2003 #whatdoyouwant #outofmymind #noirexcursion #baby #alternative #indie #folk #noir #jazz #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxuGqpg-ce/?igshid=s6br1xpcvbxq

[romeodeltabravo]

Not gonna lie, Seventh Star feels less like a Black Sabbath album and more like an Iron Maiden B-Side compilation, lacking even the fused Sabbath-Deep Purple identity that made the previous album with Glenn Hughes at least a curiosity. It’s generic heavy metal, with none of the face melting energy of the Dio era and a glaring absence of the Osbourne era doom metal trappings. Skipping over this one won’t be a major loss, quite frankly, competent an album though it may be. Highlight tracks include No Stranger To Love, Danger Zone, and Angry Heart. Available on iTunes and Spotify. More progress towards normality in the cardio/weight circuit, a few more sessions and we’ll be back on track. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #monday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #blacksabbath #seventhstar #1986 #glennhughes #nostrangertolove #dangerzone #angryheart #rock #metal #heavymetal #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CBujRk_AzN-/?igshid=1k6tt4pzr8psq

[romeodeltabravo]

In these difficult times for the arts it’s important to support good artists (but not mediocre inner-west indie/boneless reggae shitheads) so jumping into #livesessionsunday this week with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s live compilation, Chunky Shrapnel, is a good vibe. With recordings taken during numerous performances throughout 2019 this had the potential to be a disjointed mess of energies, but the way they’re cut together with little vignettes they transition from moment to moment quite comfortably, and the selection is a nice variety of songs stretching through several of their many albums dropped over the last couple of years. The highlights for me came from the Infest The Rats Nest selections, but the genre hopping really does leave something for everyone. Highly recommended. Available on iTunes and Spotify now. Fasted cardio and leg session today was much better than last week’s, recovery is closer to normal, and getting a lot closer to the circuit intensity I was on in March. Good times ahead. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #sunday #legday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #kinggizzardandthelizardwizard #chunkyshrapnel #2020 #live #rock #alternative #indie #metal #thrash #psychedelic #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CBsI7GMguVy/?igshid=1llakkb3g42g6

[romeodeltabravo]

Birds Of Tokyo recently dropped Human Design, which is a little bit of a side step to the aural direction I thought they were heading in, but I can still get behind it. I suppose a direct comparison could be made to peak Lumineers or early Coldplay, but with a little more australiana polish than the former and a lot more heart than the latter. Definitely an enjoyable offering, so worth checking out. Highlight tracks include The Greatest Mistakes, Two Of Us, Good Lord, and Unbreakable. Available on iTunes and Spotify now. Earlier cardio sessions are far more of a vibe than late ones, just have to get past the chill factor of this time of year. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #friday #cardio #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #newrelease #birdsoftokyo #humandesign #2020 #thegreatestmistakes #twoofus #goodlord #unbreakable #rock #alternative #perth #australia #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CBmKLakA9MO/?igshid=wjbdmsy6c8m5

[romeodeltabravo]

Considering the sequel is about to drop, now seemed as food a time as any to drop in a review for The Last Of Us, often cited as the game of the generation for 7th gen consoles, and after finally playing through I have to say I agree. Released in 2013, this Naughty Dog developed game pushed the PS3 to its absolute limits graphically, and in doing so delivered an affecting post-apocalyptic story that to this day hasn’t been surpassed in terms of depth or quality, with excellent voice performances from Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson that place it above a lot of purely cinematic offerings. The soundtrack from Gustavo Santoalalla is a work of minimalist brilliance driven by acoustic guitar, and explorations of sound that underscore each and every moment perfectly. This might be the best game soundtrack I’ve ever reviewed, but there’s another coming up that might just leapfrog it. Available on PSN, both the original and Remastered edition for PS3/4, soundtrack available on iTunes and Spotify. First arm/back/core day since March, and it actually wasn’t too bad. Still a while away from getting back to where I was, but whatever. #gym #health #fitness #fit #beard #ink #tattoos #thursday #armday #backday #coreday #comewithmeifyouwanttolift #irontherapy #soundtrack #thelastofus #2013 #ps3 #ps4 #naughtydog #sony #neildruckmann #troybaker #ashleyjohnson #gustavosantaolalla #itunes #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CBk_0xAA2wf/?igshid=1aydgek8gnp40