Dav Dralleon – #synthwave

Synthwave

Slickster

-

December 9, 2017

Dav Dralleon

12/9/2017 – Recently, we had a stellar discussion with Parisian musician Jack Maniak. Once again, we visit the world of French electronic music. Dav Dralleon is gaining a following online with his signature mixture of dark synth, or what he dubs, ‘cyberpunk’. There is no reticence about the growing fanbase for synthwave. The 2017 Marvel summer blockbuster, Thor: Ragnarok proved that synthwave is becoming more mainstream, utilizing a 80’s synth-eque OST drenched in more sawtooth sounds than you can swing a hammer at. Mjölnir to be exact.

Slickster Magazine: Dav, we’ve scoured the web and can’t find much about you. Who exactly is Dav Dralleon?

Dav Dralleon: I’m Dav Dralleon, I’m 33 years old and I live in France. I’ve composed music for about ten years. I had a metalcore band before “PANGORA” that split and then I became interested in electro, epic and synthwave music for video games and movies. Afterwards, I made some chiptune / hardcore 8 bit and then I composed my last EP “DEPTHS” which is more in the darksynth / darkwave / synthwave style.

SM: You describe you music as ‘cyberpunk‘. What, in your opinion, does that term refer too? How do you define it?

Dav: In my opinion, Cyberpunk is a futuristic term that refers to a time when everything will be cybernetic. Where computers, robots and artificial intelligence will be an integral part of our humanity.

I imagine gigantic megacities as far as the eye can see with its inhabitants slaves of their least desire and technology. Gangs of hackers that could be described as “Cyberpunk” surviving in a toxic desert of waste, consequence of human ignorance.

It is this very dark future that I wanted to represent in my EP “D E P T H S”.

SM: In the liner notes for the new album, D E P T H S, one of the descriptions you wrote was ,“Dav Dralleon is summoning the enigmatic Vulkan Witch” . Who or what is VULKAN WITCH?

Dav: In the world of my EP “D E P T H S”, anarchy and chaos have always reigned. Following the cyborg sacrifices that took place through occult rituals, a mad scientist, expert in robotics and esotericism, created the “V U L K A N W I T C H” to clean up and repress any robotic, cyborg or human opponent against the existing tyrannical domination.

They are true witches with devastating powers, but unlike human witches, they can not be burned, this is why I call them “V U L K A N W I T C H”.

SM: Who did the artwork for your new album?

Dav: He is a friend, a member of my former band, Romain Carret, also known as Romain Asenion, graphic artist and musician in “ASENION” deathcore prog band.

SM: One main 1980’s icons you reference in your work is Mr. John Carpenter. Specifically, you have Escape from New York on your page. You may not know this, but Snake Plissken is actually on the staff at Slickster Magazine. After escaping both from New York and L.A. he relocated to San Diego and began working nights around the office as a security guard. What is it about Mr. Carpenter’s work that continues to develop and thrive nearly 30 years after it’s release? Why does each generation discover it and embrace it?

Dav: Oh yeah, say hello to Snake Plissken from me!

John Carpenter is a genius. I love his job… I’m a big fan! Each generation adopts him because he really has very original ideas, which stand out and I think it will continue this way for a long time!

SM: Will you be performing any live concerts in support of your album ‘Depths’?

Dav: No live concerts for now. I prefer working on my compositions.

SM: Who would you like to thank for help along the way in your career?

Dav: Yes, I thank my family, my wife, my friends, and Josh Hoft who taught me a lot. I also thank Romain Carret for the artwork of this EP.

SM: What advice would you like to share with young electronic musical artists to help them get on their feet?

Dav: I would advise them to work tirelessly, never dashing things off and always look for the details. Although sometimes things might seem difficult, we must remember that everything is always possible. The most important is to go all the way until you are really satisfied with your work.

SM: Thanks for talking with Slickster Magazine and best of luck on your career. Any thing else you’d like to say?

Dav: Thanks to you too! I thank all my followers for their support.

SM: Bonus round: Name your fav hottest 80’s swimsuit model.

Dav: I would say Cindy Crawford.

D E P T H S

EP ” D E P T H S ” on bandcamp

Soundcloud

Bandcamp

Facebook

Twitter

Mutant Football League Review

Tanner Banks

-

December 7, 2017

0

Mutant Football League Review

It’s a Showdown here on Monday night Mutant Footbal League !

Who’s ready to spill some blood and guts on the gridiron? Because one of the defining classic sports titles from the Sega Genesis has returned!

That is correct, Mutant Football League has returned as a spiritual successor to the original series. By Digital Dreams Entertainment, Mutant Football League brings the seven-on-seven arcade action back to the home gamers. Littered with blood, guts, vulgarity, and plenty of dirty tricks, MFL certainly looks the part, but does it reach the same heights as what its original could do?

Presentation

If there’s one thing that this game absolutely nails it on the zombie head its presentation. Whether it’s the commentators keeping things light and hilarious while doing play by play, special characters adding extra visual flair, or the big bloody chunks that happen from big hits, this game nails it. Mutant Football League is really able to capture the gross and gory fun of the original incarnation while giving it a modern update. It’s definitely football, but it ain’t your daddy’s football! All of the character models are really interesting to look at and you can tell where their influences come from. The aliens look like padded up versions of Xenomorphs, Orcs look like they came straight out of WoW, and the humans looks like Mad Max residents.

Fields of Gory

Mutant Football League Hazards can be a bit… hazardous.

Something else that cannot be gushed about enough are the fields. (And the blood coming from the bodies.) Every team has their own special field has its own special hazards to avoid. If you play against Tokyo you better be on the lookout for mines everywhere. Playing against the Cardinal Sin means you have to watch out for giant worms that could eat half your team in a single play. And the buzz saw in Nuked London makes you say your prayers at every kickoff. There’s a real level of identity in every team.

The Sound of Violence

In terms of sound design it does its job really well. From the opening theme in the menus you get a sense that the game really takes the football part seriously. If I was listening to the game’s main theme during an NFL game I would think it was completely normal. Adding team specific songs for scores and introductions was a really nice touch as well. Mutant Football League definitely knows what it’s doing when it comes to showing you the game.

The teams themselves are comprised of half thematic, and half art meets real life. Certain teams like the Nuked London Hatriots are clearly plays on certain teams in the NFL. Other teams like the Galaxy Chaos or Tokyo Terminators have a little bit more fun with playing on the idea of certain character types. So you get to try some of your favorite NFL teams, while also having the chance to just get fully engrossed in the mutant part of Mutant Football League.

Gameplay

The game itself is a lot of fun. When you play at the right way. On offense the passing works fine, and the running game is passable across the board. However even on harder difficulties I found myself going to the exact same plays every time. It seemed like there were just certain plays that were meant to succeed on each team and it was your job to find it. I didn’t get as much of a chance to try it out against other people because it was extremely hard to ever find someone in multiplayer. However when I played with my friends on the couch we had an absolute blast. And a lot of that came from one special portion: The dirty plays.

Orcs Must Die

There’s something about whipping out a chainsaw with your running back and slicing the entire defensive line into Swiss cheese. Or would it be provolone? Either way it’s extremely satisfying to get off a good dirty play that leaves half the enemy team dead, and you with an extra six points on the board. Each team has their own assortment of illicit plays as well. And once the enemy has bribed the ref and you catch on, there’s something really therapeutic about finally getting to kill a referee. Whether that’s says more about the game, or the state of officiating in professional sports is its own conversation.

Doesn’t quite have the guts

Mutant Football League gets tackled for a loss for some lacking features.

However, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed at times. Aside from playing with friends you don’t get as much out of the game as you’d expect from it’s $25 price tag. It’s not that it’s a bad game or even broken in any way shape or form. I haven’t run into any bugs at all. But the thing is, after going undefeated in season mode and winning a championship I had no desire to pick the game up afterwards.

It felt like I was just going to wind up grinding to get those last couple teams that more or less played the same. Having those star players definitely adds a level of depth to everything, but unless you turn off dying they’re going to wind up dead before half-time anyways. And even when I wound up playing with my 3rd and 4th string guys it felt like I was playing the same game. Just a little bit slower. I feel like if Mutant Football League wants to really tap into its potential it needs to expand its content.

Adding something like a franchise mode where we get there really design our teams would be awesome. I would love to build up a new stadium in Tokyo. Draft new up-and-coming bruiser Bots to add to our depleted defensive line. Because at the end of the day if you can improve your team, what’s the point? When you go to play other people you might as well just pick the teams that actually have offensive/defensive lineman that can do their job.

Final thoughts

There’s not a lot that’s to be sad about Mutant Football League in the negative. It recreates the magic of the original. It’s not buggie. It doesn’t try to shove. You are microtransactions down our throat out. It just feels like there isn’t enough there. The teams don’t play feel that different outside of the character models. The season mode is shallow and doesn’t feel very fulfilling. The multiplayer is fine when you’ve actually got somebody to play with, but that’s easier said than done in my experience.

It’s a good game no doubt about it. It’s just, for as much as this game costs compared to other independently produced titles I can’t say I got as much out of it as I would have from other games. If they could deepen the team management system, improve multiplayer, and try to make the teams feel really different they could have something extremely special on their hands. Until then this game is only good but not great.

Final Score: 7.75/10

Siberian Prog Metal explodes on to the RADAR

J. G. Bennett

-

December 7, 2017

0

Siberian Prog Metal

12/7/2017 – Tomsk, Siberia doesn’t seem like a hotbed of guitar hero activity. But one man is working to change that. Evgen Tsibulin is an up and coming prog metal virtuoso with something to prove. On his latest single, Disquieting Time, he aims to to do just and plant his flag on top of the instrumental metal scene. Alongside his band mates, Alexander Logvinov (Bass), Vladislav Titov (Drums) and guest guitarist Sergey Golovin, Tsibulin crafts together a masterpiece of metal. Consisting of odd meters, B.F.G. (big fucking guitars) and whole truckload of well honed song writing, Disquieting Time is worthy of a listen and a purchase.

https://evgentsibulin.bandcamp.com/track/disquieting-time

Slickster Mag: Your new video, Disquieting Time, is listed as a single. Will it be part of any larger project or is this a stand alone release?

Evgen Tsibulin: My goal with that song was to show to the world what music I want to write now, in this moment, and what my new album is supposed to sound like. Of course, I’ve got a plan to record a full album next year and this song definitely will be added into the whole album. Maybe some things will be changed at that time, but currently I don’t know exactly what that might be. The thing that I’m sure about is, that people will hear this song in the complete record in the future.

SM: Disquieting Time utilizes plenty of mixed meters. There are some very odd time signatures in the track. Can you walk us through some of the sections that use odd meter and describe what time signatures you used?

ET: To be honest, I have not been thinking to awe people with odd meters, but my bass player suggested the riff in the middle of the song which contains the odd meter. Actually, my drummer and bass player have been arguing for a long time during rehearsals what that time signature is! When I created a demo version of the track I taught myself that we can name that like… 4/4 with the transition to 6/4.

Basically, when I work with odd meters, or trying to create interesting rhythmical structure, I use a very interesting ancient rhythmical pattern called ‘Konnakol’. This comes from India and I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn to play music better.

SM: What about guitar tunings? Was everything done in standard tuning, and tuned down?

ET: I created this song in a nonstandard tuning. This is ‘drop D’.

SM: Your guitar playing is extremely precise. With near mechanic accuracy, you shred! Can you describe in detail your guitar practice routine, transcription, what tools you use to help you, etc….

ET: Thank you for kind words about my playing. In these latter days, during my practice routine, I mostly focus on songwriting. Sometime ago, I learned some techniques of other guitar players and that helped me to improve my technical and other skills. Also, in these latter days, I’m practicing a lot on classical guitar. That’s helps me to grow as a composer and even impacts to my technical abilities as well. Of course, I’ve got some exercises for different kinds of techniques, but I don’t play them very often. When I’m creating a guitar solo, first and foremost I’m trying to make it more musical. But, of course, I’m a metal guitar player and sometimes I want to shred! If I do it, I try to make a challenge for myself with creating a new and quite difficult lick, work on it and then move forward till I reach the result which I hear in my mind.

When I’m practicing, I mostly practice on classical guitar. I’m also playing jazz music and making my own arrangements for my favorite rock and even metal songs. That’s more fun than playing classical music sometimes.

SM: It’s not frequent that we get to interview someone from Tomsk, Siberia. Can you tell us about Siberia and what is happening there at the moment?

ET: Siberia is a vast and mysterious place. In my hometown, we’ve have lots of students and other people from around the world. I’m glad to know that they are satisfied to be here. Despite the fact that the weather is pretty cold people really enjoy it. We also have a music community, bands, festivals, gigs, social media and talented musicians. Yes, we’ve got bears, but they aren’t walking around the city with vodka and a balalaika! ☺

SM: Thanks for talking with Slickster Magazine. Do you have any final tips for young guitarist who are trying to learn how to play music?

ET: Thank you so much for your interesting questions. I would recommend to young guitar players and musicians, work hard with love and passion. Try to learn something new every time. Be patient, and try to put a powerful feeling into music and… of course, believe in yourself.

https://www.instagram.com/evgen.tsibulin/

Top 10 Things We Are Most Excited for in The Doomsday Clock

Staff Report

-

December 6, 2017

0

Written by Cleveland Oakes, December 6th, 2017, at 1:33 p.m. Tweet to @Oakes945

It only took 30 years, but fans have finally been given a proper follow up to Alan Moore’s and Dave Gibbons classic comic book Watchmen. I will be the first to admit I have been very hesitant about DC’s efforts to return to the world of Watchmen without the assistance or the approval of Moore and Gibbons. Most readers would agree that DC’s 2012 Before Watchmen series was a gigantic misfire.

Therefore when we heard DC was going back to well and now crossing the classic Watchmen characters into the modern post Rebirth DC Universe, it was with a great deal of trepidation. Superman vs. Doctor Manhattan? For real? Is that something readers were even clamoring for? Well after years of build up Doomsday Clock #1 hit the stands, and it exceeded our expectations here at Slickster’s Nerd Department.

After some internal discussions and debates, we have picked our Top Ten expectations for this event.

10. The Three Jokers

In Justice League #42, during his time as the God of Knowledge Batman learned the true identity of the Joker from the Moebius Chair. However, readers found out later on that the answer wasn’t so clearcut. In Justice League #50, we found out there are actually 3 Jokers. Who are they? How do they fit in Dr. Manhattan’s plans for the DCU? What does it mean for Batman?

9.The Button

During the Event’s of Rebirth #1, Batman found the Comedian’s bloodstained button embedded in the walls of the Batcave. How did it get there? Was this a warning? A cry for help? A threat? We can only hope answers will be forthcoming!

8. The Reverse Flash

During the second part of The Button crossover event, the Pre Crisis Reverse Flash returned to seemingly die once more at that hands of some great unseen god. Who was this god? What did the Reverse Flash learn? And how did he continue to appear after his supposed death? Time will tell!

7. Jay Garrick

Speaking of Flashes, the original Flash Jay Garrick has seemingly been erased from history. Yet during the events of The Button, we caught of brief glimpse of him. Where has he been? Why did Dr. Manhattan remove him the playing field? What will his return mean?

6. The Justice Society

Speaking of Jay Garrick, where is the rest of the Justice Society? We caught a glimpse of aged Johnny Thunderbolt in Rebirth #1 as Wally West crisscrossed the DCU hoping to escape the Speed Force prison. Will we finally learn what happened to the JSA? Why does no one remember the original world’s greatest heroes?

5. Mr. Oz

We totally fell for the misdirect that Mr. Oz was actually Andran Veidt Ozymandias. In the pages of Superman’s The Oz Effect, we learned the truth that he indeed was Superman’s biological father Jor-El. Dr. Manhattan obviously has intentions for Superman. But why did he displace his father in space and time and bring from him Krypton’s past to Earth’s present?

4. Mr. Oz’s Prison

Speaking of Mr. Oz. Tim Drake was unceremoniously removed from the DCU in both present and the future and placed into Mr. Oz’s prison. Amongst some of those other lost souls were Mr. Mxyzptlk and Doomsday. Tim Drake escaped alongside his future self during the events of A Lonely Place of Living. But they left behind many of Oz’s other unwilling guests. Who are they? And how did Oz go from being a prisoner to a warden himself?

3. The Marionette and the Mime

Very rarely have new characters be introduced that become instant breakout stars.Based on the Charleston Comic Book Characters Punch and Jewlee, the Marionette and Mime will go do down as the “new hotness” for 2018. Mysterious and deadly, we are sure this pair will give the Joker and Harley Quinn a run for their money when they cross in the DCU proper.

2. Who is Rorschach?

Rorschach is possibly the most iconic of all the Watchmen characters. A mix of the Question and the Batman, Rorschach is a vigilante with no equals.But Rorschach clearly died at the hands of Dr. Manhattan. So who is this Rorschach who is not Rorschach? And why is even the great and mighty Ozymandias scared of him? We can’t wait until the World’s Greatest Detective meets the other the World’s Greatest Detective.

1. The Main Event

Dr. Manhattan vs. The Man of Steel. On the surface, it would appear that Superman is clearly outmatched by a man who can manipulate space and time. Nevertheless, Dr. Manhattan has gone to great pains to alter Superman’s life. It’s a pretty long laundry list. He kidnapped Jor El. Killed Ma and Pa Kent. Split Superman into two separate beings. Even rewrote much of Clark’s history. Dr. Manhattan has gone out of his way to profoundly change the life of the Man of Steel. However, we still don’t know why. And the even more important question is how can a man how can literally move planets ever defeat a man who can make them simply disappear with a blink of the eye?

The Doomsday Clock is a 12 issue maxiseries, presented by DC Comics. Run down to your local comic book store and grab your copy. This is the next classic.

Jaclyn Taylor porn interview

INTERVIEWS

Slickster

-

December 6, 2017

2

Jaclyn Taylor

12/4/2017 – Sex sells. Every attempt has been made to censure sex, ignore, regulate, legislate, and condemn. Yet, despite all of this, the simple fact remains. Sex sells.

One of the most popular porn stars currently is Jaclyn Taylor. She has appeared in top shelf pornographic films produced by the major players in the industry, i.e., Twistys, Brazzers, Elegant Angel. We caught up with Mrs. Taylor over the Thanksgiving weekend to talk about the business side of porn, sex tips for men and what it was like knowing Hugh Hefner.

#Porn

Adults only, duh…

Slickster: Jaclyn, thanks for talking with Slickster Magazine. Right off the bat, we want to set the record straight. Is there anything circulating about you online that is 100% FALSE? Is there something that REALLY needs to be corrected?

Jaclyn Taylor: To be honest, I’m sure there are rumors out there about me, Aren’t there rumors about everyone? Theres no such thing as “bad attention”, so I hope so.

Slickster: There is no shortage of FREE PORN on the internet. In fact, we checked your stats on pornhub.com just before this interview and found your videos alone have a staggering 41 MILLION+ views…. and that’s just one website. For a few years there was a major push from the adult film industry to go after free porn websites. Yet, apparently people and production companies, like Brazzers, are still producing porn despite the unlimited access to free porn online. Why do you think that is? Have you developed other revenue streams?

JT: Free tube sites are always going to exist, and there are people out there that will always watch and download free porn. Just like the music industry, there will always be people downloading music “illegally” but then theres that other demographic that will continue paying for their music because they are loyal fans. Either way musicians won’t stop producing music because of that percentage who go to free music sites, same goes for porn. The loyal fans will always pay for their porn. I do my best to put out exclusive content for my loyal fans, on Onlyfans.com/TheJaclynTaylor I also offer Private skype shows, and custom videos.

Slickster: Do you think with all the free porn online that porn can become addictive?

JT: Can porn become addictive? I think everything and anything can become addictive if you have an addictive personality… I would rather be addicted to porn, than heroin.

Slickster: You know, a lot of guys read Slickster, so enough with these tame questions. Lets get into the hardcore stuff. We’ve published articles about how to masturbate and how to shoot a big load in the past and know a lot of people check them out. Do you have any tips for guys on how to shoot a huge load?

JT: My fiancé is Jessy Jones. He works a lot, and being with him I’ve learned a thing or two.. He gets asked that question by fans pretty frequently. The thing about big loads is you have to give yourself time to regenerate. So, if you’re one of those guys who jerks off all day every day, well when its time to actually “perform” you won’t really have a lot to work with. Most of the time, if Jessy is working a lot we have to refrain from sex at home, so when he’s shooting, he shoots a big load. Its science.

Slickster: Ok! Bonus question: No doubt, you’ve swallowed a lot of massive loads and love taking facials. But not all women are the same, and some girls really don’t like it or maybe they are shy. How can a guy convince his wife or GF to take a big messy facial?

JT: I hate to say a guy should “convince” his girlfriend or wife to swallow his load or take a facial…If a woman is not comfortable with that, then thats, that. In my opinion, understanding what turns your partner on, and communicating that to one another, is what makes a relationship work successfully. If you’re in a committed relationship with someone, i think you should always try new things for each other and be open to experimenting. Think of it like this ladies, if he wants you to swallow his load, tell him to swallow it first, to show you how its done. 😛

Slickster: Jaclyn, thanks again for talking to Slickster Magazine and sharing some of your secrets. Last question: Can you share your favorite memory of Hugh Hefner?

JT: Hugh Hefner, I get asked about him quite often, and to be honest, he was truly such a sweet and gentle man, In my company. I used to work parties at the playboy mansion, and attend movie nights, I think those are my favorite memories. Simply having dinner there and watching movies, really showed his true character and it was nothing short of respectful, genuine, and kind.

Twitter

Lomachenko vs Rigondeaux, the Ultimate Showcase of the Fine Art

Staff Report

-

December 6, 2017

0

Lomachenko vs Rigondeaux, the Ultimate Showcase of the Fine Art

This Saturday two of the most accomplished Olympians in amateur boxing history are pitted against one another. Vasyl Lomachenko & Guillermo Rigondeaux represent the complete form of technical boxing skills, Roy Jones Jr. has called it “the best fight I ever seen made on paper”.

The type of fights that generally catch the imagination of the general public are the ones with the bad blood narrative or fights that involve the more recognized names who are considered superstars of the sport, which is why this fight is flying under the radar.

What these two men bring is a mastery of the sport, there’s a legitimate argument from a technical point of view you’re looking at the top two boxers in any era with the least amount of flaws.

Vasyl Lomachenko

Amateur Record: 396-1

Amateur Honours: 2x Olympic Games gold medalist, 2x Amateur World Championships gold medalist.

Professional Record: 9-1 (7 wins by KO)

Professional Titles: WBO Featherweight World Champion, WBO Super Featherweight World Champion.

Only 10 professional bouts already a two-weight world champion, it took a few fights for Lomachenko to fully transition from the amateur style which is the main culprit of the only loss on his record. That moment may have been the best thing for his career because following that loss to Orlando Salido the Ukranian has looked impeccable.

His dancing style of fluid footwork combined with volume punching is something to behold, the criticism aimed at him has been his lack of testing fights. That could be purely due to the fact that he’s miles ahead of his competition or maybe he’s just not had the chance to fight someone against whom he would receive a more thorough examination.

Rigondeaux although smaller in stature has the ability to give him the problems which if Lomachenko solves would earn him the acclaim he’s searching for.

At 29 years old Lomachenko has the brighter future of the two with his prime still ahead of him and plenty of years to do something significant with it.

Guillermo Rigondeaux

Amateur Record: 391-12

Amateur Honours: 2x Olympic Games gold medalist, 2x Amateur World Championships gold medalist.

Professional Record: 17-0 (11 by ko), 1 No Contest.

Professional Titles: WBO, WBA, & The Ring Super Bantamweight World Champion.

Every so often you get an athlete that divides opinion and Guillermo Rigondeaux is a classic example of that type of athlete. Fans and journalists either appreciate his genius or decide his style isn’t entertaining enough and largely ignore his fights.

Although opinion may be divided on Rigondeaux’s entertainment value, his boxing ability is something which isn’t up for dispute. To make a sport as dangerous as boxing look as easy as Rigondeaux does is almost a tougher task than the one Rigondeaux faces this weekend.

During his professional career, he’s made world champions look like they’ve never boxed a round in their life. In a sport which is somewhat associated with physical toughness and blood and guts battles, imagine a participant who is barely seen with a bruise or a bloody nose.

Rigondeaux is best defined as a poet who decided to use his fists to write sonnets.

Boxing is a wonderful but sometimes peculiar sport, you can get two athletes who do almost the same thing inside the ring and yet the opinion of them can be completely different.

Two fighters may both have styles that are based on taking few risks and use the path of least resistance in order to claim a victory. One man might be respectful to his opponents and behave in a responsible manner but he’s completely ignored, the other might launch verbal tirades towards opponents (including borderline racist comments), be convicted as a criminal for using violence outside of the ring, behave obnoxiously despite being in a fortunate position and he’s the PPV star of a generation.

If you’re someone who appreciates the fundamentals of the sweet science which are the true foundations of boxing and not just pantomime drama, then do yourself a favour and watch this fight.

Where to watch Lomachenko vs Rigondeaux

ESPN (USA)

Boxnation (UK)

Fox Sports (Australia)

Nintendo Switch’s Secret Is the Games Are Hard

Will Chandler

-

December 5, 2017

0

Nintendo Switch’s Secret Is the Games Are Hard

by nekoixa & all-about-villains.tumblr Trend Hunter

Nintendo’s Fun Can Be A Nightmare

Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has many secrets. It offers a bevy of challenges. I did not know a higher level of challenge now represents Nintendo’s standard over all of their games, at least in my opinion. Follow a pattern.

In Zelda, there is an event called the Blood Moon. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, time changes throughout the game. However, under the Blood Moon, a series of creatures erupt for a period, on a crimson night, from underground. They attempt to destroy your character, Link, and chase him over the countryside. As the moon disappears and the sun rises, the violent period ends. As Link gets closer to the end of the game, and a confrontation with the main villain Gannondorf, this Blood Moon process leaks out from under the red night. Creatures erupt and overrun the countryside, and you, day, night, or at any time. The game just has to recognize Link is getting stronger. A fluke? Right.

In January 2017, Nintendo announces the release of Neo Geo games on the Nintendo Switch. You can find this information at Destructoid. Neo Geo, issued currently by Hamster Corp, mastered the art of great graphics in games that challenge gamers’ every molecule, over a series of titles. It starts with King of Fighters ’98. I got this title. The game requires you learn most of the techniques for your specific fighters. If you do not, you get beat, a lot. The Neo Geo catalog is currently at close to 50 games on the Switch.

In March 2017, along with five Neo Geo games, Nintendo releases titles like I Am Setsuna, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, Has-Been Heroes, and a number of other titles with rough challenges as part of a first wave .

April 2017 brings Puyo Puyo Tetris, Syberia 3, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Constructor HD to Nintendo Switch. May 2017 sees the release of the games Disgaea 5 Complete and Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers. I purchased the latter and NBA Playgrounds. Street Fighter makes you feel good about a newish Street Fighter title on a Nintendo home console. The controls are quick and respond simply. Online, or locally, the game requires a decent amount of strategy, but gives you a great game play experience throughout.

NBA Playgrounds is different. The game mimics NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC before an update. This update made the game much deeper and harder offensively. For example, the game never had a shot meter. It was up to the player to time the top of their jump, and release, to hit a shot. Now, each player in the game has a shot meter to either better perform, or fail in games. The addition actually makes the game longer, in my opinion. However, the gamers who are precise, and detailed, will find the game additions fantastic.

In June 2017, Nintendo dropped Mighty Gunvolt Burst, Cave Story +, Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, and more. Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas has a decent challenge. It mimics Zelda, in a minor way. June’s memorable title has been ARMS. The game’s variety of control options, but more advertised, motion controls make this Nintendo Switch’s unique fighter. It is ARMS’ climbing difficulty that takes you by surprise. A basic tutorial in this game prepares you to perform punches, blocks, and parries. The game’s artificial intelligence takes a different approach. You can practice, but the game puts you through the fire. It knows how to move, jab, and set up the player for a knockout, consistently.

The games like MXGP 3, from Milestone, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, from Nintendo, and Super Mario Odyssey, from Nintendo, I imagine carry a steep challenge, as well. In my experience, NBA 2K18 is not a reflection of its Nintendo Wii U counterpart, NBA2K13. NBA2K13 is a run and shoot title. The team with the most points wins. NBA2K18, on Nintendo Switch, will make you lose, in certain instances, no matter how hard you work. The game is difficult and can be a grind. Nintendo eShop games like Mister Shifty, The Mummy Demastered, Jydge, and Rive: Ultimate Edition carry familiar themes. The games have a unique mechanic. The controls are tight. The Nintendo Switch allows you to enjoy the atmosphere of each game, but there is a catch. It drops the hammer on you. All of them are hard. The games work well, but the game difficulty is ready to beat you down.

The Nintendo Switch has been the console to make me consider my age. Honestly, I am up there in age. It could be the games are the same, but the challenges seem harder because I am older. However, you see a video like this Let’s Play for Rive: Ultimate Edition. You get a basic idea of Jydge’s difficulty in this game play. Nintendo’s ARMS gets a question about its difficulty in a Nintendo Life video here.

This article is a warning.

The past has come to the present. Nintendo only applies what they know in any of their endeavors. Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, and Nintendo Gamecube all carried games that challenged players’ beyond their capabilities, along with games to soothe, or others to entertain in different ways. Nintendo Wii U was misstep. However, Nintendo Switch requires time and patience. It carries many difficult challenges. These challenges mimic many of the games they offered in the past. The only thing you get once your game ends are the end credits. You might get a pat on the back. And in the end, that is all you really need after an accomplishment.

For more on Nintendo Switch’s game information, please visit Metacritic.

Daily Fantasy Sports: Navigating the Muddy Waters

NEWS
SPORTS

Staff Report

-

December 4, 2017

0

Daily Fantasy Sports: Navigating the Muddy Waters

12/4/2017- Randy Dicker – For me it started with dreams of grandeur and riches. The commercials for Draft Kings pulled me in boasting how easy it was to make money and if you made a deposit they were going to give you a deposit bonus. Free money, glorious! With all my success in standard fantasy leagues, this will be my ticket out of the nine to five jobs and allow me to stay home and live the life I’ve always wanted.

Did any of you have the same disillusions about daily fantasy sports (DFS) as I did? Three years later, I am still trying to figure this game out and learning more and more every day. I have put in hundreds of hours of work to try and master this frustrating and unpredictable (well kind of predictable, but we will get into this later) newer form of gambling. My goal in writing these articles is to help the you, the normal everyday DFS player, or anyone who may have an interest in playing but haven’t pulled the trigger for whatever reason. I have made the mistakes and lived the ups and downs and I would like to help you have more ups and enjoy a hobby that is fun and can be financially rewarding.

Beware of gimmicks.

Let me start by saying this, DFS is not easy. “Professional’s” pop up daily claiming they can sell you winning line-ups or if you subscribe to their sites you will be rolling in the dough in no time. Most of these are a farce and worthless. I have been suckered in to some these and can help you avoid the mistakes I made and guide you towards sites and resources that really help.

DFS contests differ and you play each one differently. What’s a cash game or a GPP tournament (Guaranteed Prize Pool)? I had no knowledge of this when I started, and I lost money. I’ll go over the different types of contests, what strategies you should use, and help manage your expectations as you get started. This isn’t a get rich quick hobby for most people. Sure, a few people luck into a big payout when they start, but I compare that to winning the lottery. It’s going to take patience and work to become successful and profitable at DFS.

Platforms to play DFS are important to understand. You probably have heard of Draft Kings and FanDuel as they are the most played and recognized brands of DFS. I have found other sites that are fun and offer a better chance of winning, and will go over each in detail in the coming articles. Whichever site, or sites, you decide to play on, it’s important to know that they all play different. Lineup structures and scoring differ from site to site, thus different strategies must be deployed to be a successful player. I will help you navigate the different sites to understand how they operate so you can make educated plays and maximize the chance of turning a profit.

Who are these articles for?

These articles will focus on the player who, like me, has a limited budget and can only play a few lineups per night. If you upload hundreds of lineups a night to hundreds of contests, this isn’t for you. I love sports and I love to play DFS. It’s fun, challenging, and very humbling. My goal is to help the everyday player avoid some of the mistakes I have made along the way. I see so many players start to play DFS, lose all their money, and give-up frustrated and hating the game. I understand that, as I almost did it myself. However, I liked the game and started researching and learned new strategies on how to play lineups and how to manage my bankroll. Now I want to be a resource to help you do the same.

I play NFL and NBA DFS, but the strategies I will cover work on any sport you like. There are so many sports offered: NHL, Soccer, Golf, NASCAR, and even video gaming. You don’t have to be a sports nut to be a successful DFS player, but you do need to put in research and have a general understanding of the sport and site you are playing on. If you’re like me, time is a valuable commodity. I will give you links to different websites, podcasts, and other resources that will cut your research time immensely. I am not affiliated with any of the recommendations I make. If I recommend a resource, it is because it made me a better player.

I hope I have piqued your interest and you will take this journey with me. Please ask any questions or give feedback in the comment section. My thought is to have this be a reader driven series meaning I will write about what you suggest and want to understand. As this series progresses, we have an opportunity to learn and help each other have fun and hopefully win some money along way.

Next Article: Vital information about DFS before you deposit any money

Jack Maniak

Slickster

-

December 3, 2017

0

Jack Maniak

12/3/2017 – It is widely accepted that France has consistently been a hotbed of electronic music innovation during the past century. Continuing along this trend, Paris is host to another backward looking, yet forward thinking electronic music artist. Jack Maniak is the alter-ego of Parisian Jean-Philippe. His newest album, Code 403, has strong melodies, top tier production values, and…. OMG, bass timbres that will knock you out (somewhere between a chainsaw and a cello). Firmly steeped in the traditions of 70’s and 80’s synth music, Maniak blends all of his musical upbringing to craft a palatable LP that’s worthy of a listen.. or three.

Zak Deligiannis over at Jet Set Trash Records was kind enough to set up an interview with Jack Maniak for us. Here is what we talked about. #SYNTHWAVE

Slickster: You are a native of France. For me, France, has always seemed to be at the forefront of electronic music. Why, in your opinion, do you feel that France has developed this stigma? What is it about the electronic music scene in Paris that drives and fosters such innovation?

*Jean Michel Jarre was a pioneering French electronic musician.*

JM: First of all they are several electronic genres. In each one of them French people really have as we say “the French touch” (synthwave, electro pop…). Jean Michel Jarre was one of the first and he gave us the love of sound design and more generally of keyboards and electronic stuff, we all listened to him when we were young. Daft Punk and David Guetta lead now the genre with great melodies and great drum sounds and it’s a contradiction because French people are known for the complexity of their music but they can also minimize it with a powerful melody impact.

Slickster: Some people make optimistic observations about musical limits, for example, “you are only limited by your own creativity“. However, in synthwave music there are some stylistic limitations that are inherited. For example, there isn’t a wide range of tempos that are utilized in synthwave music. Or key centers do not really shift that much, and largely all the music is in a 4/4 time. How do you stylistically challenge the limitations and still remain faithful to the genre?

JM: You are right, but I don’t think it’s really a problem, the only thing is to make good songs. Making 3 or 4 songs with the same chords is not necessarily bad and can be interesting because it can be a challenge to find different lead parts. It also depends on which way you are in synthwave; the old school is very limited because you have to keep all the codes of the past without changing anything except maybe a more powerful production; the new retrowave scene like Carpenter Brut or Perturbator is different; they take the codes but go somewhere else typically with the use of big distortion and electro/metal beats. If you take the example of The Algorithm, he’s not always in 4/4 because he uses the Metal codes which offer you more possibilities. I like synthwave in a way to merge memorable melodies and powerful breaks, this modern approach is the best for me, 4/4 is still the best way to keep the song in mind (who doesn’t like AC DC?). But retro songs like FM-84 are so nostalgic that it’s cool too, I think I can have both aspects in my music.

<a href="http://jstrecords.bandcamp.com/album/code-403-lp">“Code 403” LP by Jack Maniak</a>

Slickster: One of the most exciting things about your new album, when listening to it, is the huge bass sounds that you achieve on this album. They are nasty, meaty, phat, aggressive low ends! Can you take us through your development process for creating such a gargantuan foundation for the subwoofers?

JM: Well, I am really happy you noticed that. First of all, I am more a composer than a sound designer so tweaking sounds is not natural for me but I learned a lot. I have to read tutorials on youtube to learn how design some sounds and it takes me a lot of time. For the aggressive low ends I wanted something like Carpenter Brut, I tweaked my sound in a different way, closely from a chainsaw, it may be too much but it worked. I will probably continue to explore this sound to create what I have in mind.

For the basslines, I composed basic lines at the beginning and I found it too linear. So I decided to delete everything and compose it like an arpeggiator, it gives some rebund in the songs and I can then create a groovy beat on drums.

As I can’t mix and master my album I went on Lower Tones Place Studio in Paris, a professional studio where Edgard Chevalier helped me to mix all that stuff and it was some work to merge bass lines and distortion basses which are often playing at the same time. Some choices had to be done for the mix but the album contains a lot of details if you listen carefully…

Slickster: When we interviewed MEGAHAMMER about two of the top 1980s electronic musicians, Jan Hammer and Harold Faltermeyer, we asked him this question: Who would win in a keyboard duel between the composer of Miami Vice or the composer of Beverly Hills Cop?

JM: Ah ah, hard question, they both have a groovy beat (don’t need to be complex) and a memorable melody as I said before, that’s the key. If you speak literally of electronic I will choose Beverly Hills as for me Miami Vice has more guitars and drum impacts.

Slickster: Slickster Magazine is located in Colorado, USA. We have become known for our extremely progressive drug laws, notably legalizing recreational marijuana. The connection between artist and intoxicants is as old as time itself. Do you feel that drugs enhance the creative process or hinder the creative process? Can you explain why?

JM: Strange question, but I understand what you mean! I am not concerned; I prefer drinking a good bottle lol. But it’s true that in electronic music, drugs are present though I don’t really know if it’s more or less than another artistic domain. It is a chemical process which started with the shamans who opened their consciousness with plants and occidentals who lived these experience with them brought back these psychotropic. It gives some hallucinations which can open the mind of painters of example, but if you can only be creative in that way, there is a problem…

Slickster: Your new album, Code 403, is largely instrumental. While emotions can be abstractly conveyed instrumentally, not everyone may come to the same conclusion about your intent. What message would you like to communicate nonverbally through your music?

JM: I composed the lead parts as if it was vocal ones. Some are synthesizers, others are guitars, I wanted to do everything for this album. I think it fits to this one because I really wanted to find great melodies and I could express everything with instruments.

Code 403 is a story of a teenager who faced an alien invasion; each song has its own story, I will communicate later on this but the use of Theremin for example was perfect to express an alien invasion.

“Glory” was perfect to end the album with a more heroic melody and great guitar solos to show Jack victory. I really think we can express feelings only with instruments.

Slickster: Do you have a favorite track on your new record?

JM: I think I like the final duo “Code 403” and “Glory”

“Tribal mob” is different than the rest of the album as it was the first song I composed. I like the shamanic break in the middle (now I understand your question about drugs lol).

Slickster: Where can fans purchase your new LP?

JM: JST Records (Jet Set Trash) has handled the digital release so you should be able to find the album on all digital vendors/platforms (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Deezer, etc). Personally I always preferred Bandcamp so the label’s store is a good place to look for it: https://jstrecords.bandcamp.com/album/code-403-lp

And of course you can always find anything Jack Maniak related on my social media too. My Facebook page is a good place to keep an eye on: https://www.facebook.com/JackManiaK666

Slickster: Do you have any live shows coming up in France or elsewhere?

JM: Not for the moment but I have reflection about that, I also have 2 other bands (Idensity, OMRÅDE) and a work, if I play I want more to play live with a true band on stage.

Slickster: Jean-Philippe, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and talk with us over Slickster Magazine. We also appreciate the promo copy of the Code 403 and it has been playing very loudly in our offices this week. Is there anything else you would like to add, or mention, that we did not cover in our questions? Anything goes!

JM: Thanks for this interview you were very friendly. Ohm, and I am searching someone to help me do a video clip for one song of the album so if some readers are interested they can contact me on my Facebook page.

Girl of the Week Rebecca Bailee

GIRL OF THE WEEK

Slickster

-

December 3, 2017

0

Girl of the Week Rebecca Bailee

12/3/2017, 3:05 p.m.

Hometown: Seattle

Measurements (Bust, waist, hips): 32″ D, 26″, 24″

Favorite band or musical act: Give me tickets to see Alexandre Desplat’s orchestra from the Grand Budapest Hotel soundtrack, if you want to win my heart. The Mystical Union is so dreamy. I reccomend it for writing and/or eating out your girl.

Which movie that scared you the most or what is your favorite video game: When I am what they call “sensitive”. The first & only lasting movie to traumatize me was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You know the scene with the boat? NIGHTMARES.

Tell us about your hobbies or the worst date you ever went on: I am first and foremost a Princess. I require certain amounts of pampering, relaxation, & sexy times. Adult modeling has fit into my life really well because I can work part-time & still pursue my larger life goals, while gettibg my needs met. I suppose you could say that it’s the same idea as being a Sugar Baby, but I am my own Sugar Daddy.

Model Mayhem (NSFW)

Interview with YouTuber and Twitch Streamer EatMyDiction

Tanner Banks

-

November 29, 2017

0

Interview with YouTuber and Twitch Streamer EatMyDiction

11/28/2017 – By Tanner Banks, Nick Mead, better known by his handle on Twitch and YouTube as EatMyDiction keeps his hundreds of thousands of followers in stitches between his angry tirades and drunken escapades. He took the time out of his schedule to come and talk to us at Slickster Magazine to talk about his experiences and thoughts streaming and in the gaming world.

Slickster Mag – What first got you into producing videos on YouTube?

EatMyDiction – I had just graduated film school and aside from working odd jobs on sets as a grip I was essentially unemployed. So I buried myself into gaming and creating videos as an outlet now that I didn’t have school every day to explore that side of me.

How has the transition into Twitch been?

I honestly never really noticed any transition. Shortly after my YouTube channel started gaining steam I was introduced to livestreaming by a friend (this was before Twitch existed). So by the time Twitch arrived I had already cut my teeth a little with the platform and then balanced it with creating videos.

What do you believe is the major factor/factors that lead to the success of Twitch?

Twitch is a tv show that talks back to you. I feel like that was always going to be it’s strength in the media space and still believe that.

How do you see yourself improving as time goes on?

Well, I could definitely start streaming longer hours. I tend to get bored easily and shut down the stream to go do other things. It’s nothing against my audience at all just one of those things. I should probably do jumping jacks every hour or something haha.

What are some of your favorite games to stream?

eatmydiction — **EatMyDiction**, aka Nick Mead, is extremely popular streamer on Twitch and Youtube.

Duck Game, Rainbow Six: Siege, and any open world game with a decent story.

What’s a game you’re most looking forward to playing?

Right now it’s Hunt: Showdown from Crytek. It looks like Battlegrounds meets Evolve meets Resident Evil 7.

Thoughts on the Battlefront II controversy?

I decided not to stream the game, or even play it once I did my research into their microtransaction practices. It seemed predatory and showed very little faith in the quality of their game.

What do you believe needs to change about the current landscape of gaming?

Definitely the loud trolls whining about female streamers who show cleavage. It’s a non-issue, and no they aren’t stealing viewers, we have hard data to prove that. Whether it’s just wearing whatever is comfortable or using sexuality to entice people to watch, you do you. I’ll just be over hear grooming my beard for my viewers like usual.

What was the inspiration for Fucked up Fridays?

My love for alcohol and games. It’s the laziest show idea in the history of anything, I honestly don’t know why everyone knows what it is and gives me so much credit, we literally just drink and play stupid games. Renee and I have talked about a plan to up the production value a bit and create a template of different segments to use but we’re lazy and forgetful. But now we’ll have it in print so the coal will burn under our asses I suppose.

You’re a huge film buff, and occasionally talk about the craft of film making on stream. If you were a director, what would you like to make?

If I could remember half the stuff I learned in film school I’d probably want to make a neo-noir as my first feature. I even had half a script written with that in mind but it got lost on an old hard drive before THE CLOUD existed. I’m old.

What was the best part about TwitchCon, and conventions in general?

Hands down it’s always been getting to spend time with friends I only ever interact with online, and meeting fans. I rarely ever play video games at those things.

What other steamers would you like to roast next year if they did it again?

Not to toot my own horn but I’d love to get roasted, it was so much fun. I feel like DrDisrespect will probably be on the chopping block soon.

How do you see Twitch affecting game developers?

I mean it already has, to a great degree. Whether it be them reaching out to us for coverage, streaming their development process, adding artwork of us in game, or even Twitch integration. Hard to tell what will be next.

How do you as a content creator impact the gaming world in your own words?

I know for a fact that what streamers can do for small indie titles can be huge. Not to take away from the importance of traditional journalism but having an audience see a game they’ve never heard of before and get excited about it is such a big deal these days. Just look at PUBG. I don’t doubt that it would’ve been successful on its own terms but Twitch skyrocketed it on Steam sales and concurrent players. I remember the days when you’d have to open Game Informer or EGM at the grocery store to know what was coming out, now here we are. It’s pretty wild.

Thanks again to EatMyDiction for coming by and talking with us. Be sure to check him out on YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter.

YouTube | Twitch

UFC 218: Holloway vs Aldo 2 Main Card Preview and Predictions

MMA
SPORTS

Staff Report

-

November 29, 2017

0

UFC 218: Holloway vs Aldo 2 Main Card Preview and Predictions

Main Event: Max Holloway vs Jose Aldo

Betting Odds: Holloway -270 or 1/3, Aldo +263 or 12/5

Earlier this year the pair met at UFC 212, the fight was won by Max Holloway with a decisive finish the likes of which would never warrant an immediate rematch unless a situation like an injury were to take place.

Frankie Edgar’s injury misfortunes have lead Jose Aldo to an unlikely rematch for the featherweight title he held for 5 straight years.

What can Jose Aldo do to change the outcome of the fight this time around? well for starters he needs to utilize the signature leg kick which was the foundation of his dominant run as champion. Earlier in his career, Aldo often battered opponents into an immobile state using primarily the leg kick before unloading his full attack.

During the fight with Chan Sung Jung (better known as “The Korean Zombie”) Aldo sustained a foot injury and ever since he’s been reluctant to attempt leg kicks. Max Holloway is the type of fighter who has a heavy-legged stance so the leg kick is even more inviting.

The other factor to consider is this is Aldo’s third rematch of his career, with the knowledge of the first fight he could possibly use Holloway’s aggression against him. If you take into account the success Aldo had in the first round with Holloway there’s some potential early danger Holloway must navigate past and during that time Aldo can use his experience to set a trap and catch him.

For Max Holloway, there’s little incentive in this fight, he’s the biggest betting favourite on the card, he beat Aldo convincingly 5 months ago & beating Aldo a second time does nothing to raise Holloway’s stock. If he wants to open the door to more lucrative fights in the future, however, he must defeat Aldo regardless of the minimal gain involved.

Alistair Overeem vs Francis Ngannou

Betting Odds: Overeem +211 or 7/4, Ngannou -210 or 10/21

This match-up is the epitome of heavyweight fighting, two titans with incredible athleticism and the ability to take each other out in a flash meet in a fight you could unofficially label as a title eliminator.

Alistair Overeem is the most accomplished striker in the history of the heavyweight division, a former K-1 Grand Prix winner boasting wins over elite kickboxers such as Gokhan Saki, Tyrone Spong, & Badr Hari, Overeem’s striking credentials are incomparable to any other heavyweight.

In Mixed Martial Arts Overeem is not short of titles neither, he’s held the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship as well as the Dream Interim Heavyweight Championship.

In his first and only UFC title fight, Overeem had current champion Stipe Miocic in all sorts of trouble before the champion rallied to stop Overeem late in the first round. Having defeated Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt since Ngannou is the only active heavyweight who stands between Overeem and a rematch with Stipe Miocic.

Ngannou is the young blood in an otherwise established weight division, he brings with him plenty of hype and youthful exuberance. Ngannou is a unique specimen even amongst the prestigious athletes in the UFC, at 250lbs he is deceptively fast, very few human beings have the ability to move as fast as Ngannou can whilst carrying so much lean muscle mass.

It’s been smooth sailing so far for Ngannou in his 5 UFC appearances but this fight is the acid test of his Career if he takes out Alistair Overeem the reverence will be justified and there would be no dispute in his claim to being the rightful contender to the title.

Two athletic heavyweights with serious power, don’t expect this fight to last very long either way.

Henry Cejudo vs Sergio Pettis

Betting Odds: Cejudo -250 or 2/5, Pettis +231 or 2/1

With so many good fights on this card, this one seems to be flying under the radar.

Henry Cejudo has made some drastic changes since losing to Demetrious Johnson. That fight was made a little too early for Cejudo, in any other division which isn’t devoid of genuine contenders, there’s no way a guy with only 10 professional fights gets matched up with such a dominant champion.

The last time we saw him fight he displayed an all-new striking style similar in look to that of Conor McGregor. He was very impressive taking out Wilson Reis in the second round.

There’s not a flyweight in the world Cejudo couldn’t take down but if he wants to entertain the idea of beating Demetrious Johnson he can’t rely on his wrestling alone. When facing an extremely well-rounded opponent like “Mighty Mouse” it’s important to be able to compete in multiple areas. Sergio Pettis is a striker who will provide Cejudo with a barometer as to how well his striking matches up against the superior strikers in the weight division.

Sergio Pettis is enjoying the best run of his UFC career, 4 wins on the bounce he’s slowly moving up the ladder without making too much noise. Pettis much like his older brother and former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has an unpredictable unorthodox style.

Not improving in leaps and bounds like Henry Cejudo but he’s improving nonetheless.

This will be the first main card appearance on a PPV card for Pettis and there’s no better time for him to validate himself as a threat to the champion.

Eddie Alvarez vs Justin Gaethje

Betting Odds: Alvarez +160 or 6/4, Gaethje -170 4/7

Justin Gaethje introduced himself to the UFC in dramatic fashion during his debut fight with Michael Johnson earlier this year. He earned performance of the night and fight of the night honors for his efforts and the contest itself has to be the leading candidate for MMA’s fight of the year.

With his almost recklessly aggressive style, he pressured Michael Johnson from the opening bell but ran into some trouble.

Gaethje showed how durable he was by surviving the swarm that followed and eventually broke Johnson down with his intense pressure.

Eddie Alvarez enjoys the type of fast-paced fights Gaethje initiates, he is at his most dangerous when facing adversity and that’s something both men have in common.

Alvarez’s last fight was a no contest against Dustin Poirier, he had battled out of a tough situation and looked as if he was turning the momentum of the fight until he was adjudged to have landed an illegal knee on a grounded opponent.

The last year hasn’t been a prosperous one for Alvarez, suffering a loss to Conor McGregor in November 2016 followed by the no contest against Poirier 6 months later. The last positive memory of Eddie Alvarez in an octagon was when he dethroned Rafael Dos Anjos to claim the lightweight title.

This is the people’s main event, Gaethje gets his toughest test to date which providing he wins will see him ranked in the top five of the most talent-stacked weight division in the UFC.

Alvarez who’s coming into this fight with little publicity can use the push Gaethje is currently getting to remind everyone he’s still up there with the best. Much like he did against Rafael Dos Anjos.

Predictions

Max Holloway vs Jose Aldo (Holloway TKO/KO)

Alistair Overeem vs Francis Ngannou (Ngannou TKO/KO)

Henry Cejudo vs Sergio Pettis (Cejudo Decision)

Eddie Alvarez vs Justin Gaethje (Gaethje TKO/KO)

Tecia Torres vs Michelle Waterson (Waterson Decision)

Mother Of Millions tours in support of new album

Slickster

-

November 28, 2017

0

Mother Of Millions tours in support of new album

Greek prog rockers release long awaited sophomore album.

Concept albums are not a dead format.

11/28/2017 – Rise, Evolve. These are the creedo of Mother of Millions. Based out of Athens, Greece, the prog metal outfit has been around for quite awhile. During this time they have maintained a solidified line up. Their newest album is a self proclaimed and un-ashamed ‘concept album’. The long play format of ‘thinking man’s rock’ is not a new idea, but the vast canvas on which it allows the musicians to paint provides profound opportunities for creativity.

Taking a few precious days of ‘down time’ after their recent European tour, we caught up with Mother of Millions to dig deeper into the subject of concept albums, as well as their concepts of music and life. The results were insightful.

#PROG

Slickster Magazine – Mother of Millions (MoM) has a new concept album “Sigma“, released worldwide via ViciSolum Records on November 3rd, 2017. I understand you are currently touring in support of the album. How is the tour going so far? Will you be coming to the USA on this tour?

(Answered by the band’s guitarist Kostas Konstantinidis.) Tour went really great and we will announce some more dates soon. We’d absolutely love to visit the US, but I don’t think this will be possible soon.

Mother of millions

Let’s get something out of the way, concept albums kick ass! Not that they ever went away, but more and more bands are re-embracing them. While the format and length of ‘concept albums’ will likely not be financially successful in today’s music marketplace, bands and fans alike continue to thrive on them. One major exception is Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon‘, as it still sells thousands of records each year. What does the term ‘concept album’ mean to you and can you name a few of your all time favorite ‘concept albums’?

The word “concept” describes a unified work, in terms of lyrics, musical themes and visual art, not necessarily as a rock opera. We are a bit obsessed with presenting a work that has something more to add as a whole. I think that bands which compose concept albums, will find a way to adjust to this new age of constant rush, since people still have the need to be told stories. Amongst my favorite concept albums are: The Wall by Pink Floyd, Metropolis Pt.2 by Dream Theater, De-loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta, Aqualung by Jethro Tull, Be by Pain of Salvation.

Can you describe the process how MoM composes and arranges your songs?

We jam in the studio, listen to the recordings, keep the good stuff, make pre-productions, jam them again etc.

You’ve been together as a unit for over seven years now. How has this song writing process evolved among the members of the band?

We evolved both as persons and as musicians, and I think that keeping the same line-up for years, created a collective conscience, a unit that absorbs all that’s different from each, and magically distills music.

Athens, Greece is your home town. It’s well known for it’s historical importance, but what some people may not know is that, it also home to some incredibly gorgeous women! What is it about the women of Athens that makes them so ridiculously fucking hot!?

Mediterranean food I guess, hahaha.

How can fans best support MoM and the music scene?

If you like the music, come to our shows!

What message would you like to share with the world? What legacy would like to leave behind?

The band’s motto is “Rise, Evolve”. Always standing up and facing forward as units and as a whole. However I think legacy is a strong word. If we leave behind some sort of inspiration, not only in music or art, but in life, to our future kids, that might be it.

Thanks again for talking to Slickster Magazine and best of luck on your tours. You guys rock! Keep the prog metal alive. Any final words?

Thank you very much, we hope to see you soon in the US!

https://www.facebook.com/motherofmillionsband/

http://www.motherofmillionsband.com

Zain – THE New School Marth

Staff Report

-

November 28, 2017

0

12/1/17 – Zain, the red Marth from the MDVA (Maryland and Virginia) region, has quickly become one of the best Melee players in the world. His Marth has come a long way in only three and a half years of playing the game. Zain has taken sets off the likes of TSM RB Leffen, CLG Sfat, Liquid Chudat and many more. He is currently ranked No. 41 on the MIOM top 50 for the Summer of 2017.

In an interview with Zain, he talks about his origins as a player, his inspirations to play the game and much more!

What are your goals for yourself as a player in 2018?

I’d like to place in as many top 8s as possible. I don’t really like to set milestones for myself for each event, since every tournament I go to I want to win.

Whose marth was your biggest inspiration and why?

PPMD is my biggest Marth inspiration! His dash dance and positioning are so much better than every other Marth.

What do you recommend a newer player do to get better?

Pick one character and stick with it. Personally, I developed my punish game first. Once you’ve done this, learn why you’re getting hit, where you’re getting opened up, and why you’re getting your own punishes. Keep notes on different matchups. In terms of mentality, you have to control the pain of losing. Losing should feel bad to the point where you want to get better, not to the point of discouragement. You also have to separate your emotions from logic when you’re analyzing sets. Be the best, most objective critic of yourself that you can be. Make sure you analyze all of your sets. If you can’t get your sets on stream, get a friend to record them.

What’s your opinion on ucf?

UCF is awesome! I hope it’ll be used at all majors in the near future.

Who do you think wins the fox vs Marth matchup?

I honestly don’t really care that much about matchup spreads. If I had to pick, I’d say that Marth wins for the simple reason of ease of conversion.

When was your first ever Melee tournament?

My first tournament took place on May 23rd, 2014. It was a local tourney at a bar in Virginia and I entered as tekkenz. Here’s the bracket: http://dcesportslans.challonge.com/clarendonsmash2

How much further do you think you can go as a player?

I’ve been pretty happy with my overall improvement in the game. I think that I can go all the way to the top.

What is the most important thing to practice in your opinion?

That’s pretty different for each character. I think that a universal answer would be a strong mentality.

You can follow Zain on Twitter @SSBMZain to keep up to date with the smoothest Marth on the planet.

Tyler J. Linden

Gatorblade Films keeps grindhouse alive.

Slickster

-

November 27, 2017

0

Gatorblade Films keeps grindhouse alive.

Tampa based director keeps grindhouse style films alive.

Gore, nudity and shock value at forefront. Adults only.

11/27/2017- Sean Donohue is a director and film maker based out of Tampa, FL. With such films as Death-Scort and other grindhouse worthy sleaze, he is growing a steady following online. It takes an indefeasible do-it-yourself attitude, a positive demeanor and a whole truck load of improvisation. Here is what Mr. Donohue had to say about nudity and lessons from making horror films.

Sean, you are a director of films. Your bio states “…got his start in film making in 2007 when he was asked to be an Asst. Director on a student film, “Dog Thief.” That was over ten years ago. What are some of the hard lessons that you’ve learned in the past decade about film making?

Always have a plan B and C, D, E and sometimed F…….. All kinds of things can go wrong on a film set. As a Director/Producer it is my job to fix them. I think I have definately gotten better at it over the years, having had to fix some of the same problems. However, every movie I make some new problem always arises. The key is to keep your cool and work it through.

SLEAZE. One of the words you used to describe your movies, is sleazy or sleaze. An obvious throwback to the grind house movie days. How do you define ‘sleaze’ as a genre?

Haha, yes some of my movies are “Sleazy“. I guess the best way to define sleaze for me is a movie that has no boundaries or limits with gore and nudity. And it has to look and feel cheap. If you start glitzing up a movie with “Fancy” anything you are not making “Sleaze”.

Gatorblade films, Sean Donohue 01 — Director Sean Donohue working on set.

Death-Scort Service Part 2: The Naked Dead is one of your newest projects. No doubt there is a lot tits and ass in this movie… including the NSFW trailer on Youtube. In Lloyd Kaufman’s book, ‘Make your own Damn movie’, he gives detailed advice about how to cast actresses for roles that will include nudity. Some of that includes having more than female in the room, and making sure she is willing to disrobe before the actual day of filming. What is your process for auditioning the women who will be naked (and likely) covered in blood in your movies?

Well, first I trind to find actresses that I have already met through the grapevine that have already done nudity in a film. Nine times out of ten they will do it again. If it’s a first timer, I just basically tell them what the deal is, see if they are confortable with it and move forward. If they are willing to do it then they got the role offered. There is no secret, you just have to talk to people.

Do big boob actresses get more work than ones with smaller tittes? Tell the fucking truth!

I have never seen a pair of tits I didn’t like! I work with women of all different shapes and sizes.

You also run/own Gatorblade Films. What is that?

Gatorblade Films is my movie Production/Distribution company. I make my own films and I control the distribution over them as well. I wanted to avoid getting screwed over by distributors so I started my own distribution company. I distribute my films worldwide as well as other film makers films.

Here are some links to buy my new film, Death-Scort Service Part 2:

Barnes and Noble

Blow It Outa Here

Is there anything you’d like to share with young film makers? Like, drop the fuck out of film school, it’s a total waste of time and money, or…..?

Honestly, yes film school is a waste of money! I graduated from film school and the only thing I learned is that college is expensive. Just do some research on the internet and go make a movie. You don’t need a school to teach you how. I have learned more making movies then I ever did in school.

Thanks for talking to Slickster Magazine. Is there anything else you’d like to promote or give a shout out too?

I will be distributing Scott Tepperman’s and Tim Ritter’s new film, Truth or Dare 5: I Dared You. Keep an eye out for it in Jan/Feb 2018 available online and is select retail stores. If you were a fan of the first four you are gonna love this one!!

I dared You!