![[Riffs] #BSAS2024: Brady’s 2024 AOTY List, Part 3.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742096716527-2IDDJWYAO7JH4LOM31QX/apesuit.jpg)
[Riffs] #BSAS2024: Brady’s 2024 AOTY List, Part 3.
Continuing on with a better-late-than-never endeavour to continue coverage of 2024’s Behind Screen and Speaker yearly wrap-up, your host Brady continues his exploration of favourite albums from the year just passed. Within you’ll find synopses/mini-reviews, artist/label links, full album streams and more for Gigan, Viscera Infest, Oranssi Pazuzu, Blood Incantation and Chat Pile!
![[Riff] Eulogy for Vizier](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742915115046-3QVKSKYERV60T6FIMSIM/vizier.jpg)
[Riff] Eulogy for Vizier
Ever one to be promoting the local talents of the underground music scene, particularly in Melbourne, resident post-rock/drumming expert Hamza provides us a funny, sentimental and sincere send-off to local institution Vizier, who unfortunately called it quits in 2019. There’s also reflections on the Melbourne post-rock scene, links to Vizier’s legacy, gig footage and more. Check it out!
![[RIFFS/TABLETOP]: Dice Pool versus D20+Modifier: who will steal my heart?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742474653503-PO6VEIDWTDP4DZXE8SBF/JeShields+d20+%2820%29.png)
[RIFFS/TABLETOP]: Dice Pool versus D20+Modifier: who will steal my heart?
Resident dice-roller Èlodie pines for polyhedrals… But which die will she choose? Indeed, the life of a tabletop gaming blogger is just like a trashy romance novel.
![[Music Mondays] St Patrick’s Day, 2025 Edition.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742212318809-D2GTJJWQCKJOAL3JG6BP/the-leprechaun--an-irish-legend.jpg)
[Music Mondays] St Patrick’s Day, 2025 Edition.
Whilst a lot of Australians utilise St Patrick’s Day as a cheap excuse to spend too much on Guinness we pretend to like on a weeknight, I thought I’d stay in and celebrate in a different way. Tonight, join me on a brief historical/cultural sojourn through the Emerald Isle, traipsing back from the Gaelic/Celtic folk-musical roots of the nation, through to some seriously heavy Irish contenders. Good craic for your ears.
![[Riff] My Time with The Lord of the Rings, or Why I Struggle with Tolkien](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742134756030-NEVMKR9XA00TRL041LAG/image_2025-03-17_011916552.png)
[Riff] My Time with The Lord of the Rings, or Why I Struggle with Tolkien
In exploring his own thoughts and feelings with the universe of all thinks Tolkein/Lord of the Rings, Hamza takes us on his own developmental journey through the world of literary and media analysis of the LOTR-verse. From audiobooks, the original Hobbit and three-part series trilogy, through to gaming titles, Peter Jackson’s films and more, this is a comprehensive and fun run through the lore, series and canon.
![[Archive - Riffs] #BsaS2024: Brady's Top 20 Albums of 2024, Pt II + More Honourable Mentions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741348056045-G5JKO9CQ80Q1EJ86RJK9/slow2.jpg)
[Archive - Riffs] #BsaS2024: Brady's Top 20 Albums of 2024, Pt II + More Honourable Mentions
… and here we have Part 2 of Brady’s Top 20 Albums of 2024! Originally posted to our previous website, unfortunately on the same day the entire thing crashed (NYE 2024). Fortunately, it’s back and loaded with a stack of full album links and reviews for: Veilburner, Ulcerate, Crypt Sermon, Mitochondrion, Dissimulator and more! Part of our Behind Screen and Speaker series for 2024.
![[Riff] #BSAS2024 - Brady's Top 20 Albums of, Part I + Honourable Mentions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741342783890-D1VUKU1G6TW8G77RUJK1/cover1.jpg)
[Riff] #BSAS2024 - Brady's Top 20 Albums of, Part I + Honourable Mentions
Originally posted on our now-defunct website on 27.12.24, with the site going down a few days later (RIP). Check out, as part of the Behind Screen and Speaker series, Part 1 of my Top 20 Albums Of The Year list, plus some Honourable Mentions, plenty of artist and album links and more from a wide spread of bands and genres! Part 2 coming soon. - Brady
![[Heavy News] Finnish Old-School Death-Metallers MESSIAH PARATROOPS Release Second Single + Music Video 'Out of Reality' From Upcoming Debut LP!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741228185619-P3SOJB2CQG3MR6C0XSHC/MESSIAH+PARATROOPS%281%29.jpg)
[Heavy News] Finnish Old-School Death-Metallers MESSIAH PARATROOPS Release Second Single + Music Video 'Out of Reality' From Upcoming Debut LP!
1989 - that’s 35 years. Thirty-five years in the making, through a number of lineup changes, significant periods of hiatus. And finally, with a sigh of relief I’m sure, old-school death metal outfit Messiah Paratroops bring you the release of second single and music video for ‘Out of Reality’, ahead of long-time-coming LP Legions of Tomorrow on April 4th, 2025, via Inverse Records. Check link for preorder, single, tracklist, artist statement/bio/links and more!
![[Riff] On Mangini-Era Dream Theater](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741147580350-TBGUNPN6ZXEKQBLHO186/mangini.jpg)
[Riff] On Mangini-Era Dream Theater
Being proficient in the hitting of things with sticks to rhythmic tempos himself, drummer and ISC staffer Hamza has elected for this Riff (article) to perform a Dream Theater-drummer’s-deep-dive! In this article, Hamza explores the overarching discourse as well as his own thoughts regarding both the Mike Mangini and Mike Portnoy (Or A Tale of Two Mikes, as coined by the author). Read on for an interesting tale of musicianship and discography, prog-style!
![[Archive - Riffs]: #BehindScreenandSpeaker2024 - A Primer/Explainer For A Whole Bunch-a C O N T E N T. [27.12.24]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741076383163-6FV332R3MRKZOUJMJMSP/ISC+loading.png)
[Archive - Riffs]: #BehindScreenandSpeaker2024 - A Primer/Explainer For A Whole Bunch-a C O N T E N T. [27.12.24]
Originally posted to our prior and, as of NYE 2024, now suddenly/sadly defunct old site (RIP). This is a primer/introduction to a year-in-review/sporadic round-up series dubbed Behind Screen and Speaker. This series aims to corral a number of our Riffs (articles) into retrospective and prospective thoughts alike into an omnibus style series. Music, hobbies, riffs, art, gaming, TV, shows, it’ll all be here!
![[ARCHIVE - Riffs] #TabletopThursdays 19.12.24 - Feature Article: 'A Love Letter to The GMPC'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741072223349-AABV7IJHICPUDLN3NQE8/unsplash-image-LgByuyAkdcQ.jpg)
[ARCHIVE - Riffs] #TabletopThursdays 19.12.24 - Feature Article: 'A Love Letter to The GMPC'
Originally posted on our sadly as-of-NYE-2024-now-defunct old website (RIP), we’re lucky enough to have access to the old site back-end and thus can repost another Elodie-derived Tabletop Thursdays classic in ‘A Love Letter to The GMPC’. Check out our resident RPG-design whiz’s thoughts on NPC’s walking alongside dungeonmasters right here!
![[Review] Homeward, a Zinequest solo RPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740396149266-UZUU0EZCVQAG9AY0FLGY/IMG_4641.JPG)
[Review] Homeward, a Zinequest solo RPG
This week, resident dork Élodie finally tries the dorkiest hobby of all, solo roleplaying. Read on to find out how her chosen game, Homeward by Robert Jamison, holds up. Peep the link for the review, as well as links to Jamison’s Kickstarter!
![[Riff] Don’t give up, there’s hope on the horizon.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1738332367562-S5HTUEQ8MM4HR27IFT2F/473556627_591868246964309_83424344857037123_n.jpg)
[Riff] Don’t give up, there’s hope on the horizon.
In this Riff (article), Mal provides a nice little playlist broaching both alternative and pop-music titles from across a wide palette. (Plus, we get a playlist which is linked inside this post!). Most importantly, Mal provides some lovely, strengths-based reflections that are prompted/drawn from said songs. In these confusing, uncertain and chaotic times, it’s important to lean into this little nuggets of hope from our creative muses.
![[Podcast] A CONTENT-CHALLENGER Has Appeared! Please Welcome Newest ISC Team Member - Spiro ‘The Hype Guy’!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737869823177-TP60EYGJTJJ0QKSR9W1Q/449489258_1601451417368496_1316748943146880322_n.jpg)
[Podcast] A CONTENT-CHALLENGER Has Appeared! Please Welcome Newest ISC Team Member - Spiro ‘The Hype Guy’!
Please give a warm and heartfelt welcome to the fourth addition to this humble podcast/blog/streaming platform at Inner-Strength Check, in SPIRO, aka THE HYPE GUY! As you’ll see in the post, that warrants Caps Lock. Check out his various energetic content-happenings and a primer on his recent projects, including a very important drive for the currently-struggling JamPot Studios on the Sunshine Coast. Welcome, mate!
![[Riffs] Interview with Adelaide’s SUNDOWNER, Pre-Froth and Fury 2024.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737783213222-MV13J0FE4CD3P1V8UI1Q/sundowner.jpeg)
[Riffs] Interview with Adelaide’s SUNDOWNER, Pre-Froth and Fury 2024.
Originally posted on our unfortunately now-defunct old website in November 2024, prior to our coverage (and their fantastic set) of Froth and Fury Festival in Adelaide, SA. Since then, we’ve added in additional artist links, footage of their set from the festival and more! Doom on, enjoy some of SA’s most groovy and hostile blues.
![[Riffs] Quake Good.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737604083728-HWSL50QAUDPWPVX97BWA/quake+concept+art.jpg)
[Riffs] Quake Good.
Featured Image Credit: Blizzard-Activision Studios. Another archival repost unearthed from the bones of our as-of-NYE-unexpectedly-now-dead old website (RIP). Join Hamza on a journey through the valleys of all things Quake, one of the OG first-person shooters. In this Riff [article], Hamza also delves into community modding using the KEX Engine and discusses his thoughts around the still-active Quake scene! Gear up, buddy.
![[Riffs] Some Thoughts On: Info-Overload, Option-Paralysis, and Digital Chaos.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737364680985-ZUKYY0BXCGS7HCO5EICR/457036991_8115688801812036_3842076234784244127_n.jpg)
[Riffs] Some Thoughts On: Info-Overload, Option-Paralysis, and Digital Chaos.
Originally posted to our prior now-defunct website (RIP), this Riff (article) is an exploration of technology, information overload/overwhelm, digital minimalism and how this relates to both me personally, but also in the context of directing and managing the Inner-Strength Check Podcast/blog etc. Read on!
![[Riffs] I can't stop playing Doom.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737195264871-J48VBFRAR4PSYU6IL41S/image-4.png)
[Riffs] I can't stop playing Doom.
Originally posted to our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP) late 2024, authored by fellow contributor Hamza. It’s a great little retrospective on his experiences in the video gaming space, particularly with one of the OG greats in DOOM. Check out some interesting thoughts and custom content he’s discovered via the community in this article. We have plenty more gaming content coming where this one came from, too - old and new.
![[Archive / Riffs]: RIP Dreare, or have a nice hiatus; here’s a very late, very loose review of "Foregone".](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737167988285-DULOGQKNBOQKP5CSAJ3U/dreare-foregone.jpg)
[Archive / Riffs]: RIP Dreare, or have a nice hiatus; here’s a very late, very loose review of "Foregone".
Originally posted on our now-defunct old website (RIP), authored by the venerable Hamza in what I, as your host, feel is one of his best pieces! (They’re all great BTW). Check the link for a review and retrospective of both the album Forgone as well as general musings of related band,Dreare. Some great post-rock word-smithing here; do check it out.
![[Archive/Riffs]: Win: toe is coming.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1737096125771-AQXQLOPYY10MWIH7TQXM/toeband.jpg)
[Archive/Riffs]: Win: toe is coming.
Originally posted to our sadly now-defunct old website (RIP) by fellow author Hamza Siddiqi on June 12th, 2024. Hamza wrote a fantastic little retrospective/hype piece on critically lauded math/post-rockers toe ahead of their 2024 Australian tour with Dumbsaint. Be sure to check this one out; plenty more from my team’s older posts also incoming! Riff on.