Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning

...is temporarily being held out of stock on Amazon until we get the 2nd edition of the book up in a matter of weeks.

I will post a notice when it is back up.

Postmodern Apocalypse

2012 is a meme on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days.

An an example, Daniel Pinchbeck just launched the site “Postmodern Times,” which is:

"…a series of short animated films presenting new ideas about global consciousness and techniques for social and ecological transformation. Our first episode, “Toward 2012″, introduces the project, explaining concepts from the best-selling book, 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl (Tarcher/Penguin, 2006) by Daniel Pinchbeck, in the author’s own voice. Future segments will focus on shamanism, sustainability, alternative energy systems, the Mayan Calendar, quantum physics and synchronicity, human sexuality, and a host of other subjects."

This explosion, of course, is not restricted merely to Pinchbeck, though he seems to have positioned himself well atop the wave. For better or worse, it is a cultural movement, and it is happening now.

(Alterati.com article.)

Back To The Folk (Post-Genre Blues)

When J.R.R. Tolkien "created" the fantastic world of Lord of the Rings, he built it upon the linguistic and mythic foundations of ancient pre-Britain. This is how most myths are built, as a palimpsest, one layer built over the next, whether we are talking about the early mythological personification of Jesus from earlier male Gods of death & resurrection (Osiris, Tammuz, etc), or more modern inventions- such as black metal.

For hardcore fans of this genre, this comes as no surprise, but for those who have only glanced at it's murky surface, I suggest you take a deeper drink before spitting it out. Though its first wave was retroactively named thanks to thrash metal bands
like Venom, it grew new legs in Norway. The real pioneers of this ear splitting genre take as much from the ancient folk music and traditions of the surrounding cultures as they do from thrash metal. Like any genre, this road is littered with garbage and half-wits trying to jump on a bandwagon they don't even completely understand, so with the curatorial assistance of P. Emerson Williams, who is something of a veteran in the genre, I would like to introduce you to some of the stuff worth listening to.

(Alterati.com article.)

iTunes picks up initial Mythos Media albums.

subQtaneous: Some Still Despair In A Prozac Nation and Veil Of Thorns: Cognitive Dissonance are now available through the iTunes store.

An initial group of fifteen companies have picked the albums up for digital distribution, and we will provide the information as we recieve it. We start at the top with the trend setter for digital content delivery.

subQtaneous: Some Still Despair In A Prozac Nation downloads can be purchased here, and Veil Of Thorns: Cognitive Dissonance here.

You can purchase songs a la carte or the full albums for the complete experience.

Drawing Outside The Lines: Interview With David Mack

I still remember the first time I encountered Kabuki. I was just browsing around a Barnes & Noble, buzzing on caffeine, and this beautifully illustrated hardcover book found its way into my hands. It's not hard to be taken with the art, really, but I actually laughed out loud when I started reading it- there was a section where the characters were talking
to one another, and then moving through a building. Now most sequential artists would draw panel after panel of them walking and talking, West Wing style, maybe breaking it up with different angles and whatnot so it's not just a bunch of talking heads. But you just give us a top down view of the building, and little talk bubbles as they wind their way around the maze. I just thought that was completely brilliant... I never would have thought of that, but then looking at it, it's just like "of course!" This is something I've seen continuing through these books, that you are
really good at finding the straightest line, the best means of telling the story rather than just adhering to whatever storytelling conventions people might be used to.


David Mack: I like how you described that. I think you described it very astutely. That is how I approach the art. As a tool of the writing. I try to consider what pace, or rhythm, or medium or visual personality of style of art will best and most effectively communicate that particular story or scene of the story.

Full interview

Black Osiris

Aside from the conceptual side of this project, which I'm not going to inflict upon you just yet, the name is fitting based on how the production process seems to be an endless series of deaths & resurrections. Nothing shocking, I just haven't had time most of this summer to do music.

So it's been refreshing to get back at it. This track (working title- Ministry of Cliches) isn't finished yet, but it's starting to 'set up.' Yes, like a cake.

More soon. Maybe.

Drunk For Your Amusement

Freedom.

For years now, I've wondered who the next Bill Hicks was going to be. As things grew more and more grim - I mean seriously, I think we've surpassed the Reagan era now on the cosmic WTF! scale - I wondered if maybe we would have no more ranting, fool messiahs because the meter was just fucking broke and we've all become too whitebread and insecure to recognize the rallying call if it comes. "COMEDY IS DEAD, GO HOME, GAME OVER."

There are times when being proven wrong is the best thing in the world. The other night I was stopped dead in my tracks by this man. He made me want to pick up three of the bad habits I'd managed to kick, and start up about twenty new ones. Most importantly, he made me laugh. A lot.

Full article.

Esovids

If you're looking for the first Altertube roundup of Esozone vids, look no further. Foolish People's Dead Language, I assume, is going to be up shortly.

Vignettes of Philly

Some of the scenic things I've seen so far in Philadelphia:

1. In center city, a dog with what looked like a bullet wound vomiting and shitting blood.

2. A crazy lady with a single tooth praying to a shopping cart. ("Dude, I've tried that. It doesn't work. You have to go in to the store.")

3. Adolescents on crotch rockets with sub-machine guns. (And I admit, that was at 50th and Lancaster, so I was pretty much begging to get buzzed by them simply for showing my gawky ass up in that.)

4. Some distractingly hot barristas.

See, I'd say that's not quite a good showing... but the incredible matcha green tea latte tipped the scales. And though I was buzzed, I was not shot- so the verdict: PHILLY IS A-OK. Just don't forget your kevlar fubu hoodie.

The Internet would not be nearly as fun if the real world actually made a bit of sense.

Esozone 2007

First-hand report of the recently completed Esozone 2007 occultural event in Portland, which featured the likes of Paul Laffoley, The Foolish People, Freeman, the Viking Youth, and many others. Includes video and audio from the event.

(Alterati article.)

Fallen Nation banners

For those of you who asked for a banner - here ya go.



That image url is: http://www.joinmycult.org/media/realitysand/fn_top_banner.jpg

Right now have the link direct to: http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Nation-Babylon-James-Curcio/
dp/1419672657/ref=sr_11_1/002-8194795-6556859?ie=UTF8&qid=1187182987&sr=11-1

Fallen Nation on Amazon

The first edition is finally on Amazon!

Esozone 2007

Esozone... Well, shit. What can I say? It was entertaining, a hell of a lot of fun, and even sometimes educational. You can color me surprised. Expect video coming through greylodge and possibly Alterati in coming weeks, and hopefully more video popping up elsewhere-- please, anyone who was there, send me media. A big thank you to everyone who helped organize, or who was there.

I'm sitting at the Portland airport now, preparing to head home. Still not sober so, yes. It was that kind of week.

Thoughts of moving to Portland in the future?

Yes. I'm sure more on that in time, as well.

Chins and Beards (part 1)

Rudy Rauben has lived and died a few lives, from the sound of it. In a previous incarnation he once served as art director, graphic designer or illustrator for a variety of magazines, including Dragon, Amazing Stories, and Reality Hackers. You may have seen some his of illustrations in collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering or the H.P. Lovercraft inspired Mythos.

This time around Rudy is back with a new graphic novel called The Medicine Show, and another one in the works.

He first contacted me out of interest for Mythos Media, we got to talking, and quickly realized we actually had quite a lot to discuss. I’m going to be sharing some of those conversations with you, wherein we touch on everything from the I Ching, internal Kung fu and the artistic process to bizarre times at Reality Hackers and experiences working for TSR and Wizards of the Coast.

Alterati.com article.

An Interview with Camella Grace

Ray Carney recently contacted the band Butcher and conducted an extensive interview with lead singer Camella Grace. There’s more coming up after this half hour audio as after discussing the Butcher album Auricle, Ray went on to discuss the photography work Camella has done with Robyn Breen as Spiraleyes. Transcript of that part of the discussion follows after the jump, but first, here’s the audio portion of the interview:

Alterati.com article.

(Just saw this got linked on Tool's frantpage.)