Mastodon's "Blood and Thunder"

Lyric to "Blood and Thunder":

I think that someone is trying to kill me

Infecting my blood and destroying my mind

No man of the flesh could ever stop me

The fight for this fish is a fight to the death

White whale - holy grail

What remorseless emperor commands me

I no longer govern my soul

I am completely immersed in darkness

As I turn my body away from the sun



White whale - holy grail



Split your lungs with blood and thunder

When you see the white whale

Break your backs and crack your oars men

If you wish to prevail

This ivory leg is what propels me

Harpoons thrust in the sky

Aim directly for his crooked brow

And look him straight in the eye



White whale - holy grail



Link to Official Music Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=labytsb3gfI





If you have yet to read the book or didn't notice the lyric's relation, this song comes from an albulm entirely dedicated to "Moby Dick". The lyric holds vague imagery of Captain Ahab on his mission to hunt the white whale which took his leg (later replace by the ivory leg). Depicted in the lyric and book is Ahab's insatiable want for revenge. I assert that this extreme desire for revenge follows very closely to how human's treat animals in modern times. People who are mauled in hunting trips, safaries, and other outdoor adventures where wild life pose a serious threat, usually have a need to exact revenge on the beast that did so. While bloodlust is natural in humans and creatures, I believe that as humans we should have enough reason to void any want for revenge if we knowingly venture into an area with potentially lethal animals.

Left 4 Dead 2

Descripton by IGN:It's entirely possible you're someone who never played the first and have no idea what I'm talking about, so I'll take a step back for a moment. It's the zombie apocalypse, and you play as one of four human Survivors who attempt to shoot their way through hordes of fast-moving "infected" (which I'll refer to as zombies) to get to the end of a map. The sequel is set in the American southeast and the new cast of characters is more memorable this time around, as they seem more aware of their situation, chattering away and commenting on specific parts of the environment as they battle through.


Left 4 Dead 2 places you and three others within a post apocalyptic version of the American South. Running through swamps, dark carnivals, and empty streets you must fight your way through the worst imaginable version of mother nature's wrath, zombies.
While the video game might seem like just another bloody killing fest with absolutleyno point to it, Left 4 Dead 2 has a point. Using the survivors and encounters within the game, L4D2 shows constantly that humans are the enemy of nature. Take for example points in the game known as "alerting the horde". Starting up machinery and other forms of technology in the game create incredibly loud and annoying noises which in turn send a massive horde of zombies in your general direction to fight off with any means necessary. Other supporting examples that humans are the enemy of nature is writing on walls found in the game which explain horrific events by the military and even other survivors.
Looking at Left 4 Dead 2 I assert that past the blood and gore, that it holds an unseen message that modern culture thinks of humans as the enemy of nature on a massive scale.

Nick Baxter- Biomechanical Tattooing: Glowing Inspiration Sleeve

Glowing Inspiration Sleeve



Nick Baxter's Comments: Previous versions of this piece have already been posted, but here it is extended into a 3/4 sleeve. I originally titled it "Desire Armed" in reference to the glowing grenade-heart, but to compliment and enhance that theme a vision-mandala and brain lightbulb were added. Thanks to Matt (and sidekick Mike) for being Canadian and awesome, making the long drive from north of the border several times, and always bringing good spirits while enduring long sittings (and wearing American pride t-shirts--hilarious!).


I found the book, Juxtapoz Tattoo, in the Keneko Library and found Baxter listed in one of the interviews with the artists. Baxter, among others, have began to develope the new tattoo style, Biomechanical. This style embodies the idea of taking man-made objects and fusing them with nature. For example, some tattoos feature the human body with metal, moss, or ivy growing or replacing parts of the human body, usually bones and the heart. The use of vibrant colors and mixture of nature with humanity reflects the newly found respect and concern for the affects we have on nature.

Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" and Nature

Would you know my nameIf I saw you in heaven?Would it be the sameIf I saw you in heaven?
I must be strongAnd carry on,'Cause I know I don't belongHere in heaven.
Would you hold my handIf I saw you in heaven?Would you help me standIf I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my wayThrough night and day,'Cause I know I just can't stayHere in heaven.
Time can bring you down,Time can bend your knees.Time can break your heart,Have you begging please, begging please.
Beyond the door,There's peace I'm sure,And I know there'll be no moreTears in heaven.
Would you know my nameIf I saw you in heaven?Would it be the sameIf I saw you in heaven?
I must be strongAnd carry on,'Cause I know I don't belongHere in heaven.

Eric Clapton: “Tears in Heaven”
Eric Clapton’s, “Tears in Heaven” was written for his two year old son who fell off a balcony in an apartment complex. The song is about what Clapton himself would experience for himself if he was to go to Heaven and visit his son. Lines in the lyric describe the encounter in many ways. The verses “if I saw you in Heaven”, “would it be the same?”, “would you know my name?”, or “would you hold my hand?” Bring out the idea that none of us know what’s beyond our deaths and if there happens to be a heaven, will it be the serene Heaven that some believe in? In addition, the lines “Time can bring you down, Time can bend your knees. Time can break your heart” assert that time will always dominate us throughout our lives. In the end of the song Clapton sings how he must move on since he does not yet belong in Heaven, suggesting that transcendence can’t be reached in a rush.