![[RIFFS] THE HIVES NEW ALBUM AND 2025 world TOUR](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1751689470880-702O6MF0TYXDKCD67NPS/2025_03_12_THEHIVES_ROMANIA_10908.jpg)
[RIFFS] THE HIVES NEW ALBUM AND 2025 world TOUR
The Hives unleash two new singles preceded by their new album ‘The Hives Forever Forever The Hives’ and 2025 world tour.
![[Riffs/Music]: A Humble Dedication to MIESZKO TALARCZYK of NASUM (Rest in Power).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750839649090-1Y9DL1CS9RRT13ZUJPU8/images+%282%29.jfif)
[Riffs/Music]: A Humble Dedication to MIESZKO TALARCZYK of NASUM (Rest in Power).
Just me, your humble podcast/blog host, paying homage to one our fallen. One of many men in the heavy music industry who shaped me into who I am today. Rest In Power, MIESZKO TALARCZYK - the spirit of Nasum flows through all of us.
![[Riffs] Three (Gauss) Prime Tech-Death Picks.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748953940229-3JBKT74XGF8I8SHZ7RL2/gaussnormal.jpg)
[Riffs] Three (Gauss) Prime Tech-Death Picks.
Imagine this - you’re piloting a super high-speed biomechanical exosuit fighting hordes of interdimensional adversaries. Hmm, what to listen to, I wonder? Check out three great technical/progressive death metal releases from 2025 that we think will go down a treat for any ADHD-coded exoskeleton!
![[Podcast] Inner-Strength Check Content Update, May 2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1748782232322-JPFA2B828TX8XBJ2BZDQ/6tt7cbea6rpa1.png)
[Podcast] Inner-Strength Check Content Update, May 2025.
It’s been an absolutely bonkers month here at Inner-Strength Check - lots and lots of content! I’ve herded all said content-cats together in one handy compendium-post: gig reviews, album reviews, interviews, podcast episodes, news, covers, music/gaming/tabletop-related content, photo galleries and more!
![[RIFFS] Goreframe, aka: Big Mumma Hildryn’s Tech-Tunes For Killin’ Techrot To - Part I.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1746620749051-HPD22JKKDL7UM53PXLMO/HildrynPrime.png)
[RIFFS] Goreframe, aka: Big Mumma Hildryn’s Tech-Tunes For Killin’ Techrot To - Part I.
At this rate, I’m just leaning into the chimeric amalgamation that the blog has become - by design. Speaking of, I’ve written a little Riff (article) about the most select technical-death metal tunes from 1999, best suited to slashing up tech-human zombie abominations. Slashing conducted by a Viking-coded exosuit Viking beefcake, Hildryn, in Warframe’s 1999 content, care of devs Digital Extremes.
![[RIFFS] #BehindScreenandSpeaker April 2025: Album Mini-Review Round-Robin.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1746531257633-RPVFHIIZ6AT42MDHIB0C/f3lbgufwual41.png)
[RIFFS] #BehindScreenandSpeaker April 2025: Album Mini-Review Round-Robin.
I do what I want over here at ISC. That’s the beauty of running your own blog and podcast. With that freedom of thought in action, rather than simply pump out a listicle, I decided to give some lesser-known bands from around the globe a slew of mini-reviews in this Riff (article). Featuring April releases from: Slung (UK, power-pop/psych-rock), Felgrave (Norway, avant-garde blackened death-doom), Tigerleech (France, noise-rock/hardcore/stoner), Ancestral Sin (Netherlands, crossover/hxc/deathgrind) and Vyr Muk (Ukraine, dungeon-synth/dark ambient/blackened death metal)!
![[GALLERY] Of Brewicide II: Metal United Down Under @ The Bendigo Hotel (MELB, AU) 26.04.25.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1746276699185-9V7ZXVELPKX2Y53BH7X7/Gallery+of+Brewicide.png)
[GALLERY] Of Brewicide II: Metal United Down Under @ The Bendigo Hotel (MELB, AU) 26.04.25.
Need a distraction from election shenanigans tonight? Avert your eyes from there for a moment and enjoy the second addition to our Gallery of Brewicide gig-photography/footage series on the blog! This time, we’re joined again by Richie Black Photography. Enjoy the quality shots from Metal United Down Under at The Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne, 26th April , as well as artist links for the bands - Alarum, Vexation, Monoliyth Kuntsquad and Kniver!
![[Riffs] #BSAS2024: Brady’s 2024 AOTY List, Part 3.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742096716527-2IDDJWYAO7JH4LOM31QX/apesuit.jpg)
[Riffs] #BSAS2024: Brady’s 2024 AOTY List, Part 3.
Continuing on with a better-late-than-never endeavour to continue coverage of 2024’s Behind Screen and Speaker yearly wrap-up, your host Brady continues his exploration of favourite albums from the year just passed. Within you’ll find synopses/mini-reviews, artist/label links, full album streams and more for Gigan, Viscera Infest, Oranssi Pazuzu, Blood Incantation and Chat Pile!
![[Riff] Eulogy for Vizier](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742915115046-3QVKSKYERV60T6FIMSIM/vizier.jpg)
[Riff] Eulogy for Vizier
Ever one to be promoting the local talents of the underground music scene, particularly in Melbourne, resident post-rock/drumming expert Hamza provides us a funny, sentimental and sincere send-off to local institution Vizier, who unfortunately called it quits in 2019. There’s also reflections on the Melbourne post-rock scene, links to Vizier’s legacy, gig footage and more. Check it out!
![[RIFFS/TABLETOP]: Dice Pool versus D20+Modifier: who will steal my heart?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742474653503-PO6VEIDWTDP4DZXE8SBF/JeShields+d20+%2820%29.png)
[RIFFS/TABLETOP]: Dice Pool versus D20+Modifier: who will steal my heart?
Resident dice-roller Èlodie pines for polyhedrals… But which die will she choose? Indeed, the life of a tabletop gaming blogger is just like a trashy romance novel.
![[Music Mondays] St Patrick’s Day, 2025 Edition.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742212318809-D2GTJJWQCKJOAL3JG6BP/the-leprechaun--an-irish-legend.jpg)
[Music Mondays] St Patrick’s Day, 2025 Edition.
Whilst a lot of Australians utilise St Patrick’s Day as a cheap excuse to spend too much on Guinness we pretend to like on a weeknight, I thought I’d stay in and celebrate in a different way. Tonight, join me on a brief historical/cultural sojourn through the Emerald Isle, traipsing back from the Gaelic/Celtic folk-musical roots of the nation, through to some seriously heavy Irish contenders. Good craic for your ears.
![[Riff] My Time with The Lord of the Rings, or Why I Struggle with Tolkien](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742134756030-NEVMKR9XA00TRL041LAG/image_2025-03-17_011916552.png)
[Riff] My Time with The Lord of the Rings, or Why I Struggle with Tolkien
In exploring his own thoughts and feelings with the universe of all thinks Tolkein/Lord of the Rings, Hamza takes us on his own developmental journey through the world of literary and media analysis of the LOTR-verse. From audiobooks, the original Hobbit and three-part series trilogy, through to gaming titles, Peter Jackson’s films and more, this is a comprehensive and fun run through the lore, series and canon.
![[Archive - Riffs] #BsaS2024: Brady's Top 20 Albums of 2024, Pt II + More Honourable Mentions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741348056045-G5JKO9CQ80Q1EJ86RJK9/slow2.jpg)
[Archive - Riffs] #BsaS2024: Brady's Top 20 Albums of 2024, Pt II + More Honourable Mentions
… and here we have Part 2 of Brady’s Top 20 Albums of 2024! Originally posted to our previous website, unfortunately on the same day the entire thing crashed (NYE 2024). Fortunately, it’s back and loaded with a stack of full album links and reviews for: Veilburner, Ulcerate, Crypt Sermon, Mitochondrion, Dissimulator and more! Part of our Behind Screen and Speaker series for 2024.
![[Riff] #BSAS2024 - Brady's Top 20 Albums of, Part I + Honourable Mentions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741342783890-D1VUKU1G6TW8G77RUJK1/cover1.jpg)
[Riff] #BSAS2024 - Brady's Top 20 Albums of, Part I + Honourable Mentions
Originally posted on our now-defunct website on 27.12.24, with the site going down a few days later (RIP). Check out, as part of the Behind Screen and Speaker series, Part 1 of my Top 20 Albums Of The Year list, plus some Honourable Mentions, plenty of artist and album links and more from a wide spread of bands and genres! Part 2 coming soon. - Brady
![[Heavy News] Finnish Old-School Death-Metallers MESSIAH PARATROOPS Release Second Single + Music Video 'Out of Reality' From Upcoming Debut LP!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741228185619-P3SOJB2CQG3MR6C0XSHC/MESSIAH+PARATROOPS%281%29.jpg)
[Heavy News] Finnish Old-School Death-Metallers MESSIAH PARATROOPS Release Second Single + Music Video 'Out of Reality' From Upcoming Debut LP!
1989 - that’s 35 years. Thirty-five years in the making, through a number of lineup changes, significant periods of hiatus. And finally, with a sigh of relief I’m sure, old-school death metal outfit Messiah Paratroops bring you the release of second single and music video for ‘Out of Reality’, ahead of long-time-coming LP Legions of Tomorrow on April 4th, 2025, via Inverse Records. Check link for preorder, single, tracklist, artist statement/bio/links and more!
![[Riff] On Mangini-Era Dream Theater](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741147580350-TBGUNPN6ZXEKQBLHO186/mangini.jpg)
[Riff] On Mangini-Era Dream Theater
Being proficient in the hitting of things with sticks to rhythmic tempos himself, drummer and ISC staffer Hamza has elected for this Riff (article) to perform a Dream Theater-drummer’s-deep-dive! In this article, Hamza explores the overarching discourse as well as his own thoughts regarding both the Mike Mangini and Mike Portnoy (Or A Tale of Two Mikes, as coined by the author). Read on for an interesting tale of musicianship and discography, prog-style!
![[Archive - Riffs]: #BehindScreenandSpeaker2024 - A Primer/Explainer For A Whole Bunch-a C O N T E N T. [27.12.24]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741076383163-6FV332R3MRKZOUJMJMSP/ISC+loading.png)
[Archive - Riffs]: #BehindScreenandSpeaker2024 - A Primer/Explainer For A Whole Bunch-a C O N T E N T. [27.12.24]
Originally posted to our prior and, as of NYE 2024, now suddenly/sadly defunct old site (RIP). This is a primer/introduction to a year-in-review/sporadic round-up series dubbed Behind Screen and Speaker. This series aims to corral a number of our Riffs (articles) into retrospective and prospective thoughts alike into an omnibus style series. Music, hobbies, riffs, art, gaming, TV, shows, it’ll all be here!
![[ARCHIVE - Riffs] #TabletopThursdays 19.12.24 - Feature Article: 'A Love Letter to The GMPC'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1741072223349-AABV7IJHICPUDLN3NQE8/unsplash-image-LgByuyAkdcQ.jpg)
[ARCHIVE - Riffs] #TabletopThursdays 19.12.24 - Feature Article: 'A Love Letter to The GMPC'
Originally posted on our sadly as-of-NYE-2024-now-defunct old website (RIP), we’re lucky enough to have access to the old site back-end and thus can repost another Elodie-derived Tabletop Thursdays classic in ‘A Love Letter to The GMPC’. Check out our resident RPG-design whiz’s thoughts on NPC’s walking alongside dungeonmasters right here!
![[Review] Homeward, a Zinequest solo RPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740396149266-UZUU0EZCVQAG9AY0FLGY/IMG_4641.JPG)
[Review] Homeward, a Zinequest solo RPG
This week, resident dork Élodie finally tries the dorkiest hobby of all, solo roleplaying. Read on to find out how her chosen game, Homeward by Robert Jamison, holds up. Peep the link for the review, as well as links to Jamison’s Kickstarter!
![[Riff] Don’t give up, there’s hope on the horizon.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1738332367562-S5HTUEQ8MM4HR27IFT2F/473556627_591868246964309_83424344857037123_n.jpg)
[Riff] Don’t give up, there’s hope on the horizon.
In this Riff (article), Mal provides a nice little playlist broaching both alternative and pop-music titles from across a wide palette. (Plus, we get a playlist which is linked inside this post!). Most importantly, Mal provides some lovely, strengths-based reflections that are prompted/drawn from said songs. In these confusing, uncertain and chaotic times, it’s important to lean into this little nuggets of hope from our creative muses.