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- LION'S EYE -
October 29, 1999
By Al Stavola
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
The Battle of Los Angeles is the
new, long-awaited release by Rage
Against The Machine. Having seen huge
success with their previous two releases,
Rage is sure to make a fortune from this
album. The new single “Guerilla Radio”
is catchy and already receiving lots of
play on MTV and WYSP.
However, after listening to Battle of
Los Angeles several times, this reviewer
would rate it as mediocre at best. This is
due to two main factors: a lack of
originality on the part of guitarist Tom
Morello and irritating vocals by singer
Zack De LaRocha. Morello seems to use
the same riffs album after album. He’s a
very talented musician and shouldn’t
limit himself. Zack’s vocals have always
been somewhat choppy and nasal.
However, on this album they seem more
so than ever before.
Another factor, which could un-
What’s All The Rage’?
doubtedly detract from Rage’s overall
popularity, is their seemingly endless
struggle to be as controversial as
possible. Battle of Los Angeles brings
this problem to a new level. While Rage
has been known to rabidly support
convicted Philly cop killer Mumia Abu
Jamal, this album takes that support up a
notch. The song “Voice of the Voiceless”
applauds Abu Jamal and demands his
release from prison. This issue may
cause problems for Rage in Philly. With
groups protesting Rage concerts and
threats of potential violence, the
publicity surrounding Rage’s arguments
comes into question. Is it wise to take
such a controversial stance if it might be
harmful to one’s sales and/or popularity?
Overall, Battle of Los Angeles is a
fairly decent album. However, Rage’s
previous two albums were much better.
If anything, this new release seems like a
watered-down version of their previous
work.
Conrad’s Rollercoaster
By Regis Fields
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
The novella Heart of Darkness by
Joseph Conrad blends the primal fear of
the human soul with the uncertainty of
unknown Central Africa and comes up
with a commentary on human nature that
some would like to believe does not
exist. The story occurs retrospectively
form as the narrator, a proper and
analytical boat captain, recalls the events
of his trip down the Congo river towards
a fate named Mr. Kurtz.
The story stands as two kinds of
journeys’: the frst down the river
physically towards the ivory hunter
Kurtz. The other a journey into the
human psyche, a trip that due to an often
“Best Couple”
hostile and unpleasant environment
evoked emotions out of the characters
such as paranoia, panic, impulsion, and
subtle forms of barbarism guised in
colonial good intent.
The story, told in the first person nar-
rative, gives the constant insight and
opinion of the captain Marlow, and it is
through his turbulent inner emotions and
refined outward attitude that the author
attempts to involve the reader from river
station to station on their quest.
This novella is good for those with
the time and patience to develop a
thought process that can be shared with
the characters in the story. This novella
will have no effect on a reader that does
(Continued on page 8)
ENTERTAINMENT
Book Review:
Native American Hero
By Regis Fields
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
In the biographical work of Crazy
Horse put out by Penguin Publishing, the
author paints for the reader what it may
have been like to be the Native American
warrior legend, Crazy Horse. In this
work the reader journeys along with the
legendary figure through his life in the
turn of the twentieth century in the
American southwest.
The events are factual and accurately
provide the reader with a historical
context of Crazy Horse’s life. What
makes this a most interesting work is
that the background of his life is done
with such historical accuracy that the
reader not only can learn of Crazy Horse
but can understand why he did what he
did. The author goes into detail
describing the areas in which he lived,
the people he interacted with, the
conditions of society pertaining to Native
Americans, even insight is given into the
Heavy Metal
By Al Stavola
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
Looking for a unique blend of noise,
aggression, and pure insanity? Then
look no further because Slipknot fits
that description perfectly. The nine-
member Iowa act’s self-titled debut
seems to be doing well with the mall-rat
set and many heavy metal fans. This
album can immediately be compared to
Korn’s own self-titled debut album. Due
to the intensity and ferociousness of the
music. Kerrang!, a magazine which
focuses on heavy metal music,
described Slipinot as “...The most
venomous, veinpoppingly furious
album since Korn’s 1994 and easily the
best metal debut of the year.”
Perhaps the major distinguishing
factor of Slipknot is the band’s unique
makeup and act. All nine members
wear masks and red jumpsuits onstage.
In most cases, the band takes up the
entire stage. With their many members:
a lead singer, three drummers, two
guitarists, a bassist, a sampler, and a
DJ, this band has a strange makeup.
With this unusual lineup and stage
presence, it is obvious why Slipknot is
such a popular live act. Also
contributing to the band’s popularity are
their Ozziest appearances and a tour
with Coal Chamber and Machine Head.
— WINNERS AT THE SGA COSTUME BALL —
relationships he had with other Native
American women.
The biography obviously is written
from the third person viewpoint, but the
omniscience of the author into every
little detail of Crazy Horse’s life does
extreme justice to bringing a legend to
life. Crazy Horse, the individual, vividly
comes to life in this work, rarely does a
work based in history give the audience
such an immediate connection into the
character make-up of a figure.
Ultimately that is what makes this a
great biographical work, because even
something like warfare is expressed to
the reader in terms that morally can be
understood due to the character analysis
and descriptors used to familiarize the
audience. By the end of the work, the
audience has no choice but to view the
late Native American hero as a man with
just as much character and decency as is
ascribed to those labeled as mainstream
American heroes.
Never Dies
For anyone who misses the
aggressive, bludgeoning music of
Korn’s first album, or who simply likes
loud noise, Slipknot is the perfect
album.
Static-X is another band that is
seeing rising popularity. Their debut,
Wisconsin Death Trip, immediately
reminds the listener of some sort of
White Zombie/Coal Chamber hybrid.
With loud guitars, aggressive vocals,
and catchy techno beats, Static-X is a
welcome addition to the hard/metal
music scene. The album’s first single
“Push It” has become big with ravers
and has received radio play. The video
uses some sort of stop-motion anima-
tion and is reminiscent of a Tool video.
Static-X is an excellent live act as
well. Having appeared on the Ozzfest
tour and as an opening act for such
metal greats as Fear Factory and
Megadeth, Static-X is well-traveled.
Singer/guitarist Wayne Static is
immediately recognizable with foot-
long hair standing straight up over his
head and a long braided beard.
Static-X is a unique entry into the
music world. Their high-energy
performances and catchy songs should
propel them to fame. If you are a fan of
White Zombie and other techno/metal
acts,then this Midwestern quartet is
definitely a band you should check out.