Letter to the SU

I am writing this letter to you with great concern,

As I am aware our Student Union in designed to support and aid its students in anyway it can, and I'm afraid in this situation, it has abandoned two of its own. The harsh reality of it all comes down to the simple fact that its a harmless satirical game. The media has urged the public almost to unite against them unfairly, and generalised all students as moronic, disrespectful and spoilt brats. It is entirely untrue that this game was created as some kind of salute or tribute to the genocide of the National Socialist Party, when it is in fact a prime example of british satire.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but when a certain respected british comedian named John Cleese mocked the nazi party and most of german culture in his 1980's television series "Fawtly Towers", it was met with joyous laughter and rigorous praise. The same can be said about Prince Harry, who is in line to be King of this country and empire one day, donned a nazi officer uniform in a halloween stunt. He barely received a telling off, where as two students who offered their own spin on things have been made out to be Neo-Nazi supporters who praised and believe in the efforts of the Nazi's genocidal menace.

We are a growing number of concerned students over the University, and now the SU's actions taken over the matter. We have dedicated a support page on facebook and twitter to show our enthusiasm for the outrageous attack in the national and now international press. In our opinion the university should be supporting the two students instead of outcasting them, jeopardizing their own futures and maybe even more others. I am myself a course representative and housemate of both parties, and am greatly considering resigning my post if the policy from university is to now involve itself in personal affairs. The original article posted in the Daily Star on wednesday was grossly unfair, and the author of the article even stated he would ignore the group disclaimer which i quote says"This game, group and its creators in no way support, encourage or promote Adolf Hitler or the ideologies of the Nazi party". He then deliberately attacked and belated the point that both parties are nazi sympathisers and led some other media outlets to believe that they are holocaust deniers.

To reiterate an earlier point, if the university is now taking matters outside of university hours into consideration, then surely it should look at the vast number of other problems in huddersfield, such as violence, racial abuse, binge drinking and crime. The only reason they, and now you have intervened is because the University's name has been printed in the national press, however bad it may look, the university should have first contacted the students and gathered information before taking a drastic measure and suspending both students.

All of my above argument's may be completely ignored, and the same information about "non-pc" and "offensive" will be barked at me, but you must understand that there have been far worse cases than this harmless drinking game. I urge you to support instead of chastise these individuals, as we have gathering support for them and i will say the matter will be taken further. As claimed by yourselves, this university is very Pro-student, so here i am as a student making a case and a chance for you too prove to a growing number of people that the SU understands this situation and the fact that two students have been made national criminals almost over a game.

Yours, Mark Hudson BA Popular Music Production

New Directions

One of the major topics in modern metal music is the changing generic content of a band. The prime example lately is Slayer, with their new album "World Painted Blood". Go back 20 years and you had a band on the forefront of thrash metal, setting the standard and crashing the system. Today however, they've gone a bit bland. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Slayer fan and have been for as long as i can remember, but the new album just doesn't do it for me.

It's lacking any originality, any clarity and most of all that classic Slayer feel from so long ago. The last 3 albums have been almost identical. Admittedly Slayer are about anti-religion, race and basically everything normal people stand for, but this time round its far too obvious and blunt. There's making a point and there's stating the obvious. Every album is based on the same theme, but this one just doesn't throw up any new ideas at all. So is this change by Slayer's hand, or by the modern music revolution?

Slayer will always be one of my defining thrash metal bands, but "World Painted Blood" just isn't good enough from the former titans. If you're not familiar with Slayer's better work, check out "Show No Mercy", "Hell Awaits", "Reign In Blood" and "South of Heaven". Thats what Slayer should sound like.

Keep Listening!

Do We Have The Time For Music?

Everyday music is in our lives. Whether through our personal headphones, on television, the radio, passing cars or just heard from afar. You can enjoy music almost anyway now, at any time of the day, but the real question is, are you actually listening?

I find myself listening too music about 75% throughout the day in varying mediums, mostly when I'm walking into uni with my ipod or when I'm sat at my computer. I've noticed though, that in doing this I'm not actually listening to the music as i normally would.

My point is that do we actually have time in the modern world to sit down and just listen to an album? Our parents and the likes grew up with far less than we have, back then you would go out and buy a Vinyl Record and listen too it for days up in your room. Such a simple time, which i sometimes envy. In a world which demands social interaction via the internet constantly, and mobile phones being a constant distraction i just can't find the time to sit down and listen to album from 1st to last.

This is only touching on my views, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who sees it this way

Tales From The Grave In Space - Summarised Thrash

So the new Gama Bomb album hit us last week, in a first for thrash music; a completely Free downloadable album, available through Earache.

Now normally bands of this calibre may struggle to shift copies as it is, but this release is actually ingenious of the Irish Thrashers! Part of experiment to promote, the album gives more people a chance to hear this great band and to then go out and pick up a copy of "Citizen Brain" and the cd release of TFTGIS when its release comes. A brilliant intervention indeed.

So i guess you're wondering what i think? Well it's fantastic! As if the first album wasn't satisfactory enough, 'Tales' takes it to a whole new level of madcap thrash/parody/nostalgic magic. The opening track "Slam Anthem" sets the tone, coming in all guns blazing like any good thrash record should.

Gama Bomb are famous for their love of pop-culture past, this album being no different. "Last Ninjas Unite", "Three Witches" and "Escape From Scarecrow Mountain" give the fans something to reminisce whilst satisfying any thrash fans need for speed. That typical tone, the plucky riffs, its all there for GB.

My Opinion? Download and listen then buy it when its released! Few complaints here for a solid performance.

A Quick Line...

Evening Listeners...

this is just a quick hello before i post some of my articles up.

should have one or two done over the weekend, so keep reading!!!