My top 3 favorite metal bands of all time..

This is not hard for me.. Truth is, my favorites haven't really changed much in over a decade. I'm kinda stubborn that way..My tastes haven't changed really, maybe just evolved...

Opeth - Opeth has been one of my favorites since the Mainstream metal shop days. Raven introduced them to me and one listen and there has been no looking back.. In my opinion Opeth is the definition of progressive. They seem to have a lot of naysayers lately due to there extreme transition from what we all have come to expect from them, to what they are doing these days. So there's no more death metal vocals, their music is slower, etc.. People are calling them sellouts. Being successful is by no means selling out(this is a whole new blog). They've done their time, they've gone through the hardships.. Give credit where credit is due people. This isn't some label made super band who rose to stardom over night. They deserve the recognition they're getting and I commend them. And whatever your opinions are on the latest album, we will always have Black Water Park, We will always have the killer assault that is Deliverance. Opeth's music, each and every album they've put out, is thought provoking, dark and beautiful.

Enslaved - Enslaved is a band I always knew about, but wasn't fully into until I met Craig(the man). He played them for me and I was like, HELL YES!! I can't get enough of them. From their crushing early more black metal albums to current day, they are always pulling out some wickedly dynamic new material. Music should inspire, and Enslaved definitely does that for me.. I listen to Ruun a lot lately.. The song Essence, EPIC.. If you haven't heard Enslaved I would say to get the full spectrum check out Blodhemn, Frost, Ruun and Axioma Ethica Odini..

Nevermore - I honestly can't remember how I started listening to Nevermore. I just know that out of all the bands I love, for some reason they inspire me the most. I can have the worst case of No motivation ever and I can pop on Dead Heart in a Dead World and spring back to life and create for hours (or just thrash about madly with my bff till the crack of dawn) Bands like Nevermore are the reason I live this metal lifestyle. The music lifts me up and lights a fire under my ass. I get things done, and I can do it with a smile(a crooked smile, of course).. Despite the recent departure of Jeff and Van, I will forever be a fan and their music will always be on the soundtrack to my life.

                                                                Who's your top 3?? 

A New outlook...

So I just published some old notes from facebook because I thought it would be interesting to see the difference in my point of view and outlook from the past year to now. I have been though a lot in these past few years and all and all my suffering has dramatically changed me. It has opened my eyes and made me truely realize that we only have this one life and it should be lived to the fullest. Don't walk in someone else's shadow. Be what you dream to be, don't hold back and don't be afraid to show everyone who you really are. I know that I will probably offend and anger some people with the posts I will be writing, but these words, though I'm hoping will provoke thought or at the very least entertain,  are my honesty. So that being said I will no longer apologize for my opinions or beliefs. I am on a crusade, a heavy metal crusade and what other people might see as failures, I see as stepping stones, lessons, chapters in my book.. Hopefully you all will enjoy what's to come here and feel free to be brutally honest in your comments.. Horns High!!

There was a day when I knew silence...

Written  January 10, 2012 

So this morning I felt like writing, getting some things out, strictly for my own benefit.  This is not a justification for anything, just my way of releasing..

Let me start this with telling you all a little something about my bff. There is no one like her, as well as there is no one who will ever take her place in my heart. I don't know what I would do without this woman. She is the one who holds me together when I'm down, who makes me laugh when I feel like I have nothing left. She is one of the few people on this earth who truly understand me and is always on my side whether she agrees with my position or not. She inspires me to continue living my dream, which is her dream as well. Unfortunately she is very misunderstood. She is a beautiful person and if people would only give her a chance, they would realize this. She has a lot of  haters lately and it makes no sense. We are both trying to do the same thing, get the metal out to the masses and instead of hating on her, I just really wish people would see her for who she is, a dedicated metalhead who's just trying to help.. That being said I love you Leah, and I always will, no matter what..

Now on to FireWalk. We started FireWalk out of a pure, unbridled passion for metal, nothing more, nothing less. We wanted to help bands get heard. When you are a true metalhead, it's not just a hobby, it's a way of life. The music never stops.. We have tried numerous things throughout the years, some things worked, some didn't. The FireWalk Girls was started as a way to build up funds to open our shop as well as to have a unique street team. There has been so much drama surrounding this group it is rediculous! When girls would join, it would be because they are into the music and enjoyed going to shows, hosting events, etc.. There have been girls that have come and gone, some decided it wasnt for them, some we had to remove for various reasons, but all of them knew from the start it was strictly a volunteer thing,  it was supposed to be fun. Now some that have been removed are acting like they were doing FireWalk such a big favor. Just to put it out there, we don't need anyone to do us any favors. You should want to be involved and not feel like it's a chore. The FireWalk Girls is not the main component of FireWalk, the shop is. We're putting the FireWalk Girls on the back burner for now and trying to focus on the success of our store. 

We have people boycotting our shop, people who refuse to come in for one reason or another. People who hate and talk shit even though they've never step foot in the place. For me this new shop was a clean slate. A way to start fresh in a new place. I am not one to hold a grudge, I am hoping soon I start to see some faces through the doors that I didnt expect, because quite frankly, we need to be in this together, we need to help each other out.  If you are a passionate musician or promoter or fan I would be honored to help you out in any way I can. I have been trying to get out to more shows, but no one can go to them all. I do what I can when I can. We are going to do whatever we can to keep our shop going and keep in growing. We are also now working with Dread Records. With Leah, Miguel, myself and all of the other people we consider family, we bring a lot of knowledge to the table. We can help support your metal lifestyle in whatever form that takes. 

I just want to end this by saying FireWalk will be around for a long time, regardless of what people say or do to try to bring us down. We are a strong metal family and no matter what we go through, illness, crew changes, drama, failed projects, etc.. We are sticking to our true passion. \m/ METAL\m/

Hypocrisy, and I'm not talkin about the band..

Written August 36, 2011


I am tired.. I feel the need to get some shit off my chest at the moment. I have learned to try to not let peoples bs get to me, but right now I am angry. Sick to death of the hypocrisy thrown my way. Tired of getting blamed for shit that isn't my fault, tired of watching other "groups" or "cliques" of people being assholes and not getting called out for it, but the minute I or FireWalk do something that doesn't please people I get called out by everyone and their mommas. And the funny thing about this is that  no one ever comes to me personally, everyone in FireWalk except me. Tired of people never acknowledging the help Ive given them and only focusing on small incidences that 9 out of 10 times I had nothing to do with or whatever happened was beyond my control. People love to talk shit without knowing the full extent of things. I'm finding out so many people I thought were my friends are actually just constantly standing behind me with double fisted blades. Please, tell me if you have a problem with me. I'm a pretty laid back person, I don't bite.. Anyone who knows me knows this. 

I guess I have to much faith in people still.. Even though numerous people have shown me I shouldn't lately. Even people Ive known for years and thought they would always have my back. So I'm just going to move forward with what I set out to do. If you have a problem with it, STOP FUCKING PAYING ATTENTION to what I and FireWalk are doing if you don't plan on bringing it to my attention.