If the title of this post hasn’t fully informed you of its purpose; today marks my dear friend Cas’ 27th birthday. I’ve been attacking him with birthday wishes across all social networking channels. The ultimate goal; make it so he can’t visit a single site on the Internet without me wishing him the warmest of birthdays. You’re the best, buddy.

Not necessarily in response to Cas’ birthday, I’ve decided to update the Auscultator with a few tracks I’ve been digging lately. I ended up doubling up on almost every band featured. Most especially Coheed and Cambria. If you aren’t familiar with their stuff, I strongly urge you to devour their entire five disc catalog of musical treats. I’ve included four of my favorite songs off of their newest album; Year of the Black Rainbow. These songs really showcase the strength and power this album delivers.

In addition to all the Coheed tracks, I’ve included a couple j-pop tracks; one from the second season of K-ON! which is a music-centric anime anyway, so picking a song from it was a fairly simple task. And also a track from Angel Beats, which is very quickly becoming one of my favorite series of the season so far. The music featured in the series thus far has been incredible and I can’t wait for a full OST.

The next artist was featured on this site a few posts back and is my favorite founder of nerdcore hiphop, MC Frontalot. His newest album; Zero Day is probably his best showing to date, which says a lot considering how high quality the previous albums were.

Lastly, since no Kether music update is complete without some metal, I give you Periphery. I was introduced to these guys through one of my brother’s acquaintances. Their debut self-titled album was just release a few weeks ago. Immediately I was drawn to this band, if anything due to their musical genre being described as “metal / progressive / experimental”. Those are three music classifications that always draw my attention.

As always, you may need to clear your browser cache to see the new tracks on the Auscultator. I hope you find something on there to your liking.

Peace.

I think it’s fairly obvious by now that I am entirely consumed by my love and desire to watch anime. This is something I have come to terms with. What you may not know is that I have spread this affliction, much like a disease, to Cas. He’s infected. The metaphor breaks down with the fact that he’s wholly complicit in the process, but I’d like to think my influence has at least expedited his conversion.

Originally, Cas and I were going to make this a joint endeavor. Sharing some of our initial reactions to the new block of creamy anime nougat filling the chocolate-covered week. Sadly, he’s decided that consummating the marriage to his wife is more important. That guy really needs to get his priorities straight. In lieu of a coproduction, I’ll be taking the helm alone. He can supplement his thoughts once he returns to the country.

Angel Beats!

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: Mazui

Kether: Angel Beats! is easily one of the most intriguing and enthralling series of the season so far. The show takes place in the afterlife, and follows the main protagonist Otonashi, a boy who lost his memories of his life after dying. He is enrolled into the afterlife school, which exists as a Purgatory between Heaven and Earth where students learn to give up any lingering attachments they still have from life before finally going to heaven.

While the injuries or cause of death is gone, those in the afterlife school still can feel pain or other things as they did when they were alive. Otonashi meets a girl named Yuri who invites him to join the Shinda Sekai Sensen (SSS) (lit. Afterlife War Front), an organization she leads which fights against God. The student council, led by its president, Angel, is in charge of keeping the status quo and the fight against the SSS.

This series is only going to be 13 episodes long, but even after the 3 I’ve seen so far, my expectations have been greatly accelerated. The story is definitely unique; incorporating components of humor, drama, and tragedy. On top of that, the soundtrack is one I’ll definitely be interested in picking up when it comes out.

Arakawa Under the Bridge

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: KRAFT, Formula

Kether: Arakawa Under The Bridge tells the story of Kou Ichinomiya, a man who has accomplished many things all by himself. Ever since he was little, his father has taught him one rule: to never be indebted to another person. One day by accident, he falls into a river and almost drowns.

A girl by the name of Nino rescues him and in turn he owes her his life. Unable to accept the fact that he is indebted to her, he askes her about a way for him to repay her. In the end she tells him to love her. This is the beginning of Kou’s life living under a bridge.

If you liked Bakemonogatari, you’ll more than likely enjoy this series. The show is incredibly dialog-heavy, which seems to be SHAFT’s calling card at this point, and the delivery of the lines and humor are very stylistically similar. I really enjoyed bakemono, so I’m a fan of this one as well.

B Gata H Kei

Information: AniDB
Sub Group: Doko, CoalGuys

Kether: B Gata H Kei revolves around 15 year old high school student Yamada whose lascivious nature causes her to aspire to one day achieve relations with 100 different partners. However, her insecurities as a virgin leads her to reject every guy that attempts to make a move on her. In order to hurdle this mental barrier Yamada goes on a search for her “golden cherry”, an inexperienced boy whom she will bestow the right to be her first.

One day while perusing a bookstore for the replacement of a dictionary she had defiled by highlighting all the sexual terms, Yamada has a fateful encounter with classmate Kosuda Takashi. Believing that Kosuda is the boy she is looking for Yamada goes to great lengths to try and seduce him. All the while, she discovers the difficulties in making that first important step towards reaching her goals.

This show has awesome written all over it. Filled with awkward sexual situations, B Gata is already one of the funniest comedies of the season. I also like the somewhat counter-intuitive transposition of roles. Placing the sex-crazed teenager as a girl really adds an element to the story that I might otherwise not have enjoyed if the genders were reversed.

Heroman

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: HorribleSubs, CrunchySubs

Kether: Orphaned American boy Joey lives with his grandmother, working at a restaurant in the West Coast city of Center City, while going to school. Upon hearing of a new toy robot called the Heybo, Joey believes that getting one will make his life better, turning him into a hero to protect his friends and family. However, he cannot afford to buy it on his meager salary.

His luck changes when he picks up a broken down Heybo abandoned by a school bully. He tries to fix it, naming it Heroman, but does not have any luck in getting it to work. However, when it gets struck by a bolt of lightning, it transforms into a giant robot, just in time to save his friend Lina from impending danger. Now, Joey and Heroman are Earth’s only defense against the evil insectoid Skrugg aliens, unknowingly summoned to Earth by Joey’s science teacher.

I’m watching this series mainly because it’s a joint venture between studio BONES and Stan fuckin’ Lee. Overall, the plot doesn’t really impress me, but it does feel very comic book-y. Also, having the series set in the United States makes for a somewhat surreal, but refreshing change of pace. Ultimately, who doesn’t like giant robots? That was a rhetorical question.

Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: CrunchySubs, SubDesu

Kether: This story of “love, magic, and battles” revolves around Akuto Sai, a boy who aims to become part of his country’s highest order of magicians and contribute to society. On the day he is admitted into the Constant Magical Academy, his aptitude test predicts the following: “Future Occupation … Demon lord .” Thus begins his difficult school life in which he is resented by his studious female class head, desired by a girl with mysterious powers, and guarded by a beautiful female android.

At first glance, Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou is a fairly common exercise in magical high school fan service, which would really be enough for me, but the show is actually really well animated excelling most in the short fight sequences and the unleashing of magical energies. I’m actually pretty interested in where the story is going to go. I don’t yet know how many episodes the series will be, but so far I’m enjoying it and will continue to watch it (especially the uncensored versions *wink*).

K-ON!!

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: CoalGuys

Kether: Similarly to Haruhi, K-ON is like a goddamn religion in Japan. K-ON!! represents the second season of the series (the first being K-ON! – note one exclamation mark). If you’re unaware, K-ON centers around four high school girls (eventually adding a fifth) who form and participate in a light music club at school.

The show is basically a slice of life anime revolving heavily around the girls and their music. It’s hard to describe what makes this show awesome. It relies heavily on its characters, dialog and humor. There isn’t really much of a story to speak of, which doesn’t detract from the show at all. I mean, it’s about high school girls in a band playing music. Say no more.

This new season basically picks up where the first leaves off. The girls are now seniors in high school. This season looks to be much the same as the previous which solidifies my excitement for its return. Mio is the best, by the way.

Kaichou wa Maid-sama

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: Eclipse

Kether: Roughly translated as “The (Student Council) President is a maid”, Kaichou wa Maid-sama is shaping up to be one of my weekly anticipated watches. The name really tells it all. Misaki is the student council president in a formerly all boys school. Her agenda is to turn this depraved, male-dominated high school into a more suitable educational option for girls.

Misaki is incredibly aggressive, diligent, and unyielding her in aims – to the extent all the guys in the school are afraid of her wrath. Her secret? She works part-time at a maid cafe (side note: when are we getting these in the US?!) to help support herself, sister and mother who are not especially well off financially. Everything is fine until the school pretty boy, Usui, who is incredibly passive and seems to not care about his popularity, stumbles upon Misaki while at work.

This series will more than likely also be a slice of life anime centered around Usui taking an interest in the overpowered Misaki and their resulting relationship. On top of this being a silly romance, so far it has also been quite funny. If you’re into quirky, high school love animes, you should probably add this one to your list.

Kiss x Sis

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: Doki

Kether: To sum up this show in a word or phrase, I would offer: “fanservice” or “ethically ambiguous”. Kiss x Sis revolves around Keita, a third-year junior high school student and his two older twin sisters. I guess I should make the distinction now. They’re step sisters. Very important, as Keita’s older high school step sisters are in love with him and actively pursue him sexually.

I’ve been watching anime a long time now and I still don’t quite grasp Japan’s fascination with forbidden sibling love. Maybe the Japanese don’t think it’s cool either, but this isn’t the first anime I’ve seen focused on related individuals skirting that line between love and creepy. Not having a sister myself, I can’t relate. Maybe it’s super hot. No idea.

This show will likely provide 12-13 episodes of awkward glances and inappropriate touching. Frankly, I’m ok with that. To the show’s credit, they don’t bother playing coy, showing in the very first episode one sister very firmly taking a hold of Keita’s manhood. The show does provide some humor which distracts you temporarily from the uneasiness of step-sibling love triangles.

Working!!

Information: AniDB

Sub Group: Chihiro

Kether: Working!! was the first show I watched from the new Spring line-up due to a special early airing. This show’s title reinforces an apparent over-excitement and abuse of exclamation marks in Japanese culture. Ignoring this show’s crime against punctuation, the premise breaks away from a pretty common theme throughout this season’s series. Working!! takes place in a family restaurant called “Wagnaria” which sounds more like a fictitious continent than a restaurant.

Takanashi Souta is the show’s protagonist who is abruptly solicited and hired as a part-timer. The cast is filled with bizarre and eccentric characters such as the short and bubbly Taneshima Popura, the androphobic Inami Mahiru, the katana-wielding shift leader Todoroki Yachiyo, and the gruff “doesn’t like to be called old” manager Shirofuji Kyouko.

This series is a nice reprieve from the onslaught of high school based animes. While everything else feels similar, just even changing the location once in a while is a welcomed change of pace. Similarly to a few other shows I’m watching, the plot looks to be fairly episodic without really having a clear direction and focusing more on the characters and their interactions. Working!! provides another light, humorous slice of life anime to enjoy.

It is no secret that I am not a fan of Catholicism, or really any religion in general. To be honest, Catholic mass is more responsible for my conversion to atheism than really any other single factor (full disclosure, I was never Catholic). I have been as appalled by the sex abuse scandals as anyone, I am just less surprised than most. After all, what good can possibly come of telling someone to spend their entire life ignoring a biological urge and rejecting the possibility of sharing your existence with a family of your own?

What has motivated me to finally say something on the subject is the recent public relations counteroffensive by the Vatican and its representatives to manipulate the emotions of its followers around the most significant religious holiday in Christianity. Yes, Rome is in full spin mode, and it couldn’t possibly be any more ridiculous than one of the richest, most prolific, most high profile and powerful sects of a religion playing the victim card. You have got to be fucking kidding me.

“World’s highest profile trannys.”

Now, of course the Vatican is not going to admit outright fault in the abuse allegations and certainly they will have to defend “God’s voice” and his “infallible” nature, even if Benedict was directly linked to many of the global cases of abuse and cover-up during his tenure as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Yet, I do not see the logic in the pontiff’s personal preacher Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa arguing during a Good Friday homily that the attacks on the pope are similar to the anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust.

Religions are often shameless in playing this victim card, but to compare a multi-national scandal of abuse towards children and the subsequent criticism that follows as comparable to Hitler stoking the flames of racism to clear the way for ethnic cleansing is outright irresponsible and dishonorable. Although, if anyone were able to see parallels, I suppose it might be a former Hitler youth and German infantryman. Yeah, let’s not forget that people are shocked that Benedict may have acted unscrupulously in the past when he was once considered the future of the Aryan race and was complicit in the genocide around him.

The Vatican distanced themselves from the comments of that reverend as they acknowledged the comments were not the most prudent. However, the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Saturday denounced what it called the “vile defamation campaign” against the pontiff. How precisely is it defamation to make true statements about a person and the institution of which he is the head? Perhaps there would be no defamation campaign if the pope and the Catholic church had nothing for which they could be held responsible.

“How is his fashion sense not a sin?”

Finally, at Easter Mass today Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals defended the Pope as “unfailing” and denounced the “petty gossip” about his involvement and responsibility with the sexual abuse scandals. For information on the countries involved in Catholic sex abuse scandals, see this link. Suffice it to say, the staggering amount of accusations hardly seem so frivolous as to be lumped together with gossip. Trivializing the legitimacy of the pain of so many is, in my humble opinion, not the way for the Catholic church to care for the faithful and prove to the rest of the world that they can repent for their infallibility.

This callous attempt at rebuffing allegations seems to me like a petty parry of a serious issue in favor of making it about their own hurts. Yet, I am not sympathetic to the pontiff and his damaged credibility, or whether or not his emotions are suffering because so many have stepped forward to decry the abuse of children. I do not feel that the church as a whole is the victim of discrimination and slander akin to anti-Semitism circa 1940. If there were a right way to handle the uprising of abuse victims against an institution that accounted for abusive priests while marginalizing the victims in order to shield their own image, this is not it.

–Casimir

I had written a script a while ago to send up one of my favorite video game series of all time before the release of the finale, but I couldn’t get anyone to do the art for it. Instead, I’ll just post the script here and let you use your imagination. Enjoy.

Setting: Temple.
Panel 1: A frantic Greek soldier approaches Kratos.
Soldier: Turn back, Ghost of Sparta! The perils are too great!
Kratos: Coward! Spartans never…wait a second…
Panel 2:
Kratos: Did you best the Minotaur in the lair of Hades?
Soldier: No.
Kratos: Sacrifice a soul to Lord Poseidon?
Soldier: Nope.
Kratos: Navigate the maze of Pandora’s architect?
Soldier: Nu-uh.
Panel 3:
Kratos: Then, by Zeus, how did you make it as far as I have?!
Soldier: I just climbed up the side of the mountain. Yeah, there weren’t really any traps or anything that way. Anywho, perils—watch out for ‘em. Later.

The point was to lampoon how no matter what depths or heights of the temple of Pandora (GoW1) there are always other Greek warriors who somehow sidestepped the challenges Kratos faced to make it just as far as he had. Explaining jokes really enhances them, doesn’t it?

–Casimir

There is truly only one word of which I can conceive to describe God of War III: BRUTAL. So brutal, in fact, that when a co-worker and I were comparing notes on the gameplay, we both came to the conclusion that Kratos is just a mean person. To put this in context, we both work in an environment where physical violence is commonplace and we have become desensitized to intentional acts of aggression and maiming. I’ve seen humans bite through flesh before (mine, in fact) and I still think that Kratos is just a bastard for what he does to those with whom he battles.

Oh, shit. It’s vengeance time.

This game takes the elements of the first two and ramps them up 100x, a feat I thought near impossible. Each scene drifts through such breathtaking cinematics that the standard gameplay feels like a cutscene. I had trouble distinguishing the introductory walkthrough from a boss battle, and this is not an uncommon experience for the game. The PS3 engine is pushed to the limit and the graphics truly made me appreciate the purchase of a plasma screen TV. When Kratos wants to kill a standard enemy, he can rip them in half, perform his standard brutal combos, or grab them and plow through a mob of others using the defeated enemy as a shield before hurling them into the abyss. Not to mention the excessive number of weapons accessible and environmental features with which he can engage.

Killing an enemy three ways might seem excessive for other games.

Truly, though, the best feature of GoW3 is the boss battle. What was once an epic experience has gone to the level of violence Nirvana. You still have the option of performing the sequenced kills on lower level enemies, but even these feel equivalent to the finishers of old. To wit, when fighting a minotaur Kratos slices the hell out of him before knocking him down to a prone position at which point he takes his blade and eviscerates the creature, spilling its intestines onto the ground. Yeah… You can also ride the ogres and other creatures, using your blades to control their motion and manipulating their limbs to smash their comrades to the ground or fire attacks to burn them to a husk.

But wait, there’s more!

When you actually make it to the boss battle (and there are many of them) you are in for a violent, violent treat. For Kratos does not simply kill the gods; nay, he brutalizes them in the worst conceivable ways. I cannot count how many times I cringed in horror and expressed to my television, “Holy shit! Ohh! That’s just mean!” There are points where the POV switches to that of the god you are killing and you are witness to the rage of the Ghost of Sparta. For your vengeance you will sever limbs, gouge eyes, break bones, and once you have killed the offenders, you will kill them again and again just because you can. One truly gets the impression that Kratos is just a dick.

This was one of the nicer ways of killing a god.

There are so many things to like about this game. The camera work is amazing and the story is non-stop. There are little features such as Kratos getting covered in the blood of his defeated enemies before it eventually fades that really appealed to me. And did I mention the boss battles?

I do have a few complaints, however. One of my major gripes is the relatively short gameplay time as compared with the other two games. I felt like I got less than ten hours out of the game, which may not be too bad, but for the finale of such a great series I was hoping for a bit more. Also, the environment did not seem as sprawling as with the other games, or at least that was my perception of it. The bulk of the game felt very constricted and sequenced with very little room for exploration. Also (and granted this may seem like a strange gripe) the game felt very lonely. Kratos kills nearly every mortal/creature/god he comes into contact with and literally no one survives his path of destruction. Indeed, the designers set the AI such that even innocent souls in Hades will obstruct your path so that you have to kill them before moving on. On a minor note, I also did not like the switch in voice actors for Gaia and Athena.

All in all, I highly recommend this game, particularly for anyone who has enjoyed the series thus far. It does a nice job of wrapping up all of the loose ends and building off of the plot of the series while continuing the tradition of ramping up the gore and “oh shit” factor. May we see the Ghost of Sparta again, gods willing.

–Casimir