My Equipment: This is my current drum kit

Here are a few pictures of my current set up.  It is a Mapex ProM Maple kit.  I have 10", 12" and 14" toms with a 22"x 18" bass drum.  I am trying out Remo's Black Suede heads and I love them so far!  Hopefully, I'll be upgrading my bass pedal and hi-hat stand in the near future.  

Handshake/Clasped Hands-Symbolism

For the most part, the images of hands clasped or a handshake represent farewells or goodbyes expressed at the close of mortality.  The image may also be interpreted as a symbol of unity, friendship or partnership.  

From time to time I will see images like the ones included here, where it appears that one or two fingers are intentionally extended.  In the first picture, the index finger is clearly extended where in the second, both the index  and middle fingers are extended.  Does anybody know what this is meant to represent?  If so, please comment!  

Opeth: Hidden Treasures

I know that some of you will automatically tune-out the second you read the words: Death Metal... DON'T. If you are at all familiar with heavy/death/dark/progressive metal, you know who Opeth is. If have never heard them, you have probably heard of them. If you have never heard of them, it's probably because you tend to steer clear of anything and everything that may possibly fall into the category of metal death, progressive or otherwise. I don't blame you! I myself do NOT tend to gravitate to the genre either. This post is for YOU. Please, for your own benefit, read on.

First and foremost, let me say: Opeth is metal. That is what they are and so it is not my intention to pretend otherwise. But, for the benefit of those whose ears don't favor the blast beats, raging guitars and throaty death vocals commonly associated with this type of music, Opeth offers an EXTENSIVE collection of tracks that are not only thoughtful, beautiful and haunting, but are also extremely user-friendly.

This post serves as a road map through the complex network of albums and tracks that makes Opeth one the the most respected and innovative Modern Metal projects around, and leads you straight to some of the most mellow, smooth, dark and melodic music available. Hopefully this will help you skip some of the time and money involved with trying to search them out yourself. Here, you will find: intellectual instrumentals, cool and smooth vocals, acoustic guitars, piano, fluid bass lines and distinct jazz, blues and even latin influences. They are as follows:

1. Den Standiga Resan-Watershed

2. Bridge of Sighs-Watershed

3. Burden-Watershed

4. Coil-Watershed (favorite)

5. Benighted-Still Life

6. Hours of Wealth-Ghost Reveries

7. Atonement-Ghost Reveries (#1 favorite)

8. Patterns in the Ivy-Blackwater Park

9. Harvest-Blackwater Park (#2 favorite)

***Basically the entire Damnation album***

10. Closure-Damnation (favorite)

11. Windowpane-Damnation

12. Ending Credits-Damnation

13. Hope Leaves-Damnation

14. To Rid the Disease-Damnation

15. Hex Omega-Watershed (heavy w/ smooth vocals)

16. Porcelain Heart-Watershed (heavy w/ smooth vocals-favorite)

Opeth was formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990. They have undergone numerous personnel changes, but singer/songwriter/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt is considered the group's primary driving force. - Dave Boyd

The Russian/Greek Orthodox Cross

This is a picture that I took of a stone featuring the Russian or Greek Orthodox Cross that you see to the right and left of the surname Zambos.  What is cool about this cross is that it is relatively uncommon on stones (despite the fact that the ROC is one of the largest eastern orthodox churches).  

The first thing that catches most people's eyes it the third crossbar at the bottom that is on a sloping angle down to the right.  This one specifically is interesting because it also has the cluster of 3 knobs at the end of each arm that is mainly found on the "Botonnee" Latin Cross.  

On the Russian/Greek Orthodox Cross, there are 3 different crossbars instead of just one.  The first or top crossbar represents the plaque that was hung above Jesus' head.  The second, or middle crossbar is the traditional bar to which Jesus' hands and wrists were nailed.   The third slanted crossbar at the bottom represents the footrest to which the feet of Christ were nailed.  

This stone is also unique because of the surname Zambos itself.  My initial impression is that Zambos is a Greek name which matches the Greek cross.  Not to mention there are quite a few Greek family plots in this cemetery.  It is difficult to find much information on the name's origin, but it appears that Zambo is closely tied to a parish of the church in a small place named Oberwart (population about 7,000).  Oberwart is a town in Austria and serves as the capital of a small region of Hungarian ethnicity.  That region was initiated by the 11th century guard that was posted there to patrol the Hungarian frontier!  I could be WAY off on this one but, it's a start.  Needless to say, it's pretty cool that this name has made its way to Utah!  

Dave Mustaine-Megadeth Frontman

"Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you would yourself, family is the most important thing in this life, without your fans you are nothing, and its easier to understand than to be understood." - Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

Apparently, David was once medically dead for 15 seconds!  It doesn't get any more metal than that!!! 

Welcome Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by!!!  This blog is not so much about how much I may or may not know about the subjects that are presented and discussed here.  It is more about how much I hope to learn about things I find fascinating.  I not only welcome, but encourage an open discourse regarding the subject matter that you will find here.  Bring your ideas... bring your comments... bring your knowledge... bring your questions.  Only 1 rule:  Be Respectful.  Faith, Religion, Culture and Philosophy can be touchy and very personal subjects.