The $5.98 TAC EP Roulette V.4 Final Results

[TAC]

ELITE


1: Caligula's Horse - The City Has no Empathy (Your Sentimental Lie)
2: Semistereo - The Search
3: Shining - The Madness and the Damage Done
4: Ihsahn - Mass Darkness
5: Voyager - White Shadow
6: Agent Fresco - See Hell
7: Ulver - Operator
8: Mr. Bungle - The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
9: Agent Fresco - Angst
10: Strapping Young Lad - Velvet Kevorkian
11: Strapping Young Lad - All Hail the New Flesh
12: The Ocean - Hadopelagic I: Omen of the Deep
13: The Ocean - Hadopelagic II: Let Them Believe

[Crow]

Ihsahn

[Buddyhunter1]

Ihsahn

Mass Darkness

[TAC]

Completed above!


Here is Elite's. Thank you Elite for your efforts.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3gvG8PX8UGqunclKylRnDZ?si=rTYxX8oITlqIwclIfiXmDQ


1. Caligula's Horse - The City Has no Empathy (Your Sentimental Lie)
2. Semistereo - The Search
3. Shining - The Madness and the Damage Done
4. Ihsahn - Mass Darkness
5. Voyager - White Shadow
6. Agent Fresco - See Hell
7. Ulver - Operator
8. Mr. Bungle - The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
9. Agent Fresco - Angst
10. Strapping Young Lad - Velvet Kevorkian
11. Strapping Young Lad - All Hail the New Flesh
12. The Ocean - Hadopelagic I: Omen of the Deep
13. The Ocean - Hadopelagic II: Let Them Believe


We have a protagonist, male, and let’s call him The Drifter. The Drifter is in a pretty unhappy state of mind, even though he does not realise this, because the worst hasn’t happened yet. Against the backdrop of this starting point, we have our first track, The City Has no Empathy.

Empty streets call
Siren's song
Drift down deeper
The city's heart is waiting for me

[…]

So sing your song
Like a sigh
Your sentimental lie
Liar
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
Something to say

[…]



Fuck this city
I've been released
I spread out wide my arms
I breathe in deep and sing
I am released

Something happens here which turns his world upside-down in what at first seems a positive change. His relationship with a loved one is over, and even though he’s been ‘released’ he soon finds himself looking for meaning in his life. Enter The Search.

It’s not a failure
or a feeling unbound
Adrift on a river
Something’s lost, I need to stand my ground

Don’t know what way to follow
I’m not giving up today
I’m sorry but there’s nothing left to say
I’m tired of useless conversations
Just throw it all away
You’ll see for yourself someday

[…]

All is getting clear now
It’s fucked up and it’s gone now…

[…]

I won’t believe the mess I’m in.

But he has no choice. His life is a mess and in a sudden act of randomness and ‘well, that escalated quickly’, he becomes insane in The Madness and the Damage Done (look up the lyrics for your own amusement) and his thoughts run wild, slowly descending into chaos, which become apparent in Mass Darkness.

You just have to
Give in to the hunger.
(Give in) to the solitude.
(Give in) to the rapture of life.
Give in to darkness.

[…]

Complete the shadow's circle
to become all that you are.
Surrender to the darkness
to shine just like a star.

During all of this, he actually finds himself a new companion in the form of a new girl he’s infatuated with. Let’s call her the White Shadow. Together they go on some kind of rampage. Think of them as a superhero duo, The Drifter and White Shadow, thinking they are above the law and enjoying their shared interest in trashing stuff.

Fear the fire
Fear the thunder in her eyes
As she is running through the skies she is my

White Shadow, run White Shadow
In the darkness I will see your light

(for the record, I actually think the original track is about a horse(?), but fuck that, this is more interesting).

And then something goes awry. Badly. See Hell might be a weird choice to put on this particular EP, but the song (and the album it comes from) was inspired by a particular situation the singer got into. Apparrently, he got beat up for no reason. And this is exactly what’s going to happen to our Drifter very soon..

Wounds are green, neglected while I
visit never-ending scenes, where the frenzy speaks
Words of just repeated, until bloodlust floods us

[…]

We open up to see hell
Keep my teeth so deep into the lips where fury cries;
“I want to see hell”

I know my hands still reach for hell
Should I feed them the fire?

The next song shows us the frenetic situation that happens when stuff goes wrong. Operator by Ulver is a strange choice, probably, but it’s a top 15 Ulver song (which to you might not say a lot, but still) and portrays the anguish of an emergency situation perfectly, both in words and in music.

Call the police
Radio paranoia

All is over
Under the skies

Nothing is working
For god's sake

Can you help me?
We are alone

Over and out
Of control

The dead bodies
The world white

Interrupting
Truth is a hospital

Please be patient
Hold the line

And then we finally arrive in the hospital, where it all was going to end up. I have no idea whether or not my personal life has had anything to do with it, but this song was bound to be included from the start,. And I know TAC probably hates Mr. Bungle, but this is one of their more accessible tracks. It tells us about the Air-Conditioned Nightmare that is a hospital. Literally. And our Drifter is suddenly hesitant on whether he wants to continue with his life this way, actually contemplating suicide by jumping out the window…

Get me out of this air-conditioned nightmare
Rots your brain, just like a catchy tune, you
You will hate life more than life hates you
Get me out of this air-conditioner nightmare

[…]

Walkin' on air, up from the wheelchair
I'll find the suicide, that I deserve
Walkin' on sand, forgotten where I am
But it's so comfortable, here in the sun

And yet.. everything turns out to be fine. He gets released from the hospital and really, really wants to get rid of his depressive feelings and his Angst. This happens over the short course of the next track.

These words wear subtle wreaths of sweat
When will they reach reset?
Detest this helpless lull of fear
Beset the angst in tears

Forevermore leave my heart

And, hurray! Our protagonist is reborn, with a completely different world-view! He’s actually glad he made it out of these alive and celebrates his victory. Velvet Kevorkian is nothing more than an intro here, also to make the jump to the next one not as sudden. Long live life, All Hail the New Flesh!

I will never be afraid
I'll die for what I believe

I have got to save myself
Don't tell me there's no-one else

[…]

So all hail the new flesh
'Cause it suits me fine

Do we have an open ending? Yes, we do! Because as it turns out, our beloved White Shadow is still around and they are happy! Yes they are, even though the title Omen of the Deep suggests something different. This is a transitory track for our final track, Let Them Believe. ‘Them’ being mister Drifter and White Shadow. A happy ending, let’s do it:

And most importantly
Let them have confidence and peace
Let them be powerless
But most surprisingly
They're not afraid of how they'll feel
When they come closer

[…]

Symbols of commitment to disguise the lack of it
Let them believe
Let them believe in themselves
And let them live with their contradictions
What they call passion is just the turmoil
Caused by repression of their ambitions

Let them believe

[Buddyhunter1]

There's some really good tracks there. TAC probably won't like them.

[TAC]

LETHEAN

__re__ - __e __ S__d__s
S______ __e S__ - __e __s___e __ S___er___
P____e__ _ - _s__e_d___
_____er __de - __s___ ____rr__
__re__ - __k___ Dre__s
The Ocean - Devonian: Nascent
D_________ __s__er__e - ___ __ __es_, ___ __ ____d
D_________ __s__er__e - ______ ____ _ ______ Ps___e
D_________ __s__er__e- Kee____ _____
____ D_s____e ________ - __e _e_r___ _r__e

DR SPEK

[TAC]

There's some really good tracks there. TAC probably won't like them.

Naturally. 

Listening now, in fact!

[jingle.boy]

Give Cyril the D.

[The Walrus]

K for Kattelox

[Crow]

Oh god, I started putting together a "TAC's Personal Hell" playlist for lolz to send after the roulette and shining was on there  welp

Give me R

Katatonia
The Ocean again?

[Elite]

Devonian: Nascent

[TAC]

Updated.

[TAC]

We got one more to do today! Lets go people!!

[The Walrus]

Gimme S

[Crow]

Some song called Broken Dreams

[romdrums]

A

[TAC]

LETHEAN

Ayreon - Age Of Shadows
Swallow the Sun - __e __s___e O_ S___er___
Pa__heo_ _ - As__e_d___
O__o_er __de - _os___ _o_orro_
Ayreon - Waking Dreams
The Ocean - Devonian: Nascent
Diabolical Masquerade - Not Of Flesh, Not Of Blood
Diabolical Masquerade - Intact with a Human Psyche
Diabolical Masquerade- Keeping Faith
_o__ D_s____e _a______ - __e _ear___ _ra_e



SHARED POK

[Crow]

Ayreon - Age of Shadows, Waking Dreams

Oh

Swallow the Sun

[jingle.boy]

H

[Elite]

Diabolical Masquerade

oh boy, please let this be three random tracks from Death's Design



- edit: they are:

Not of Flesh, Not of Blood
Intact With a Human Psyche
Keeping Faith

[Lethean]

They're not random.

[TAC]

The Justice of Suffering
Pantheon I - Ascending
October Tide - Losing Tomorrow
Long Distance Calling - The Nearing Grave

Dude, really??

[Elite]

I would have gotten Long Distance Calling eventually. Cool band!

[TAC]

LETHEAN

Ayreon - Age Of Shadows
Swallow the Sun - The Justice of Suffering
Pantheon I - Ascending
October Tide - Losing Tomorrow
Ayreon - Waking Dreams
The Ocean - Devonian: Nascent
Diabolical Masquerade - Not Of Flesh, Not Of Blood
Diabolical Masquerade - Intact with a Human Psyche
Diabolical Masquerade- Keeping Faith
Long Distance Calling - The Nearing Grave

[TAC]

You guys ready for this?

The songs:

Ayreon - Age of Shadows
Swallow the Sun - The Justice of Suffering
Pantheon I - Ascending
October Tide - Losing Tomorrow
Ayreon - Waking Dreams
The Ocean - Devonian: Nascent
Diabolical Masquerade - Not of Flesh, Not of Blood
Diabolical Masquerade - Intact with a Human Psyche
Diabolical Masquerade - Keeping Faith
Long Distance Calling - The Nearing Grave
Runtime: 54:02


Here's the link:
https://www.sendspace.com/filegroup/rm3YpNy5qENMh8d1jB%2BR8tJdhdYOdg268ZRU8jTGF1iBOF7WVvLn00jqeDwQ3iqstJOlbHBkyOQqpfMEgLCIViCG8cs5SI8%2F




The story:

Long ago, in the land of Drynwhyl, a group of people were brought together by a strong love of music.  While they all had their own individual tastes, they were drawn together because the music that they liked best was often considered… unusual by most.  While their families and friends tried to indulge them by listening to them talk or accompanying them to a performance by their favorite minstrels, they often felt like they were being patronized.  Over time, they met each other at various performances and realized they all had something in common.  They decided to meet up whenever they could, sharing stories and making suggestions, sometimes even playing games to see who could recommend the best music.

During their friendship, they had learned that they had some unusual abilities.  When they asked their minstrel groups to perform, and they listened to the music, they could sometimes feel the thoughts and emotions of others.  It could be overwhelming, but it was usually harmless, though they tried to shy away from it so as not to intrude on the privacy of those around them. 

The Age of Shadows
Times had begun to change however - there was a darkness coming, and they all felt it.  People were arguing more and listening to each other less.  Crime seemed to have increased, and people were facing hardships more often.  The weather had turned colder, and gray.  No one knew the cause - maybe it was just an unlucky time that would pass.

TAC decided that they could all use a distraction; some music to lift their spirits.  A large gathering met together in the mountains, and though the atmosphere seemed tense, it was time to relax and the show.  The first song came from a minstrel group with many different singers.  They thought the different voices would soothe them all, but instead, it revealed not only their complicated thoughts and fears, but their actions.  Some of them clearly thought that they should use their abilities to uncover the darkness and see if they could change things.  Others thought that intruding would be a mistake - who were they to meddle in the lives of others?  And yet there were those who had already begun, some indeed out of a desire to do good, but some for personal gain.  Lies, trickery, and deceit.  Was it already too late?  Maybe they could suppress of the negative emotions that had increased lately - no more aggression, no more obsessions, no more depression.  But would it suppress the good as well?  Would they be caught as prisoners to a power they didn't understand?  Or would they be prisoners if they did nothing, caught in a cold inertia?  TAC thought it might be the later.  This age of shadows had already begun and would only grow if left unchecked.

Arguments erupted, and the group scattered - those with ill intentions have been the first to slip away quietly.  TAC asked people to stay, to try to change what was happening   Twelve of them agreed, and they all gathered together.  They didn't what to do, so they closed their eyes, asked for a new song, and listened.

The Justice of Suffering
Suddenly they felt a great anguish, and found their attention directed to a man living in a dead house.  His anger and pain had caused him to neglect everything else in his life; his home and land were barren; the crops had long since died and even the trees seemed lifeless; the very wind emitted the sounds of decay.

They learned that the man was bent on revenge.  He had suffered a betrayal, or at least he felt so.  Perhaps it was always an unrequited love, and he felt that if he couldn't have her, no one could.  Or perhaps they had been together, and she had truly betrayed him with another.  No matter; it was clear he was bent on exacting his revenge in an unspeakable way.   They heard his thoughts in the song that came to them - "no light will save them now, when the words of hope have all been spoken, and I wash the blood from my hands, And let them lie silent and cold on the flowers."

Surely this called for intervention.  Before the air had changed and times had turned foul, they'd agreed to go about their lives as normal, ignoring the glimpses brought to them by the music.  This is different, so different, Stadler thought to himself.  No, they shouldn't meddle in everyone's day to day affairs, but preventing a tragedy?  There had to be room for that.  The group agreed.  Stadler traveled to the man's home and asked him to share his story.  At first, the man just wanted to rage; he did so, and Stadler just listened.  The man allowed him to stay, and each day, Stadler listened and talked to him, trying to ease his racing heart.  In the meantime, he had asked Buddyhunter and Faizoff to locate the couple, the target of revenge, and get them to safety.  Once the job was done, they appeared at the man's door as travelers who needed food and a place to stay, and while there told the story of a couple they had met who had left Drynwhyl, letting no one know of their destination.  The man began to realize that revenge might not be possible, and the arrival of all these guests made clear that his food supply was dangerously low.  He complained bitterly to Stadler that he had nothing while they were off living disgustingly happy lives.  Stadler sat him down and explained that he didn't have to have nothing - he could find his own way, his own purpose.  He just had to start by letting it all go and tending to his lands again.  "Tend your own garden," Stadler said, and in time, the man began to do so.  After helping the man plant new crops and fix up his home, Stadler, Buddyhunter, and Faizoff felt it was time to leave.  The man was on the right path, and they were afraid of interfering further.

They were all sharing a round of a new brew called barstool warrior in celebration when Elite and Sacul walked in, asking what they had missed.  TAC filled them in, and the group turned their attention to other matters where they thought they could help.

Ascending
Unfortunately, their celebration had been premature.  Shortly after the tragedy was averted, a new figure had arrived at the man's home, arriving in an impressive flash.  He offered to help the man with his land.  Crops began growing faster; when they were in the fields, the work seemed to be done by invisible hands, with the man and the newcomer putting in minimal effort.  Eventually, the man asked if the newcomer was god, and while he feigned humility, the figure "reluctantly" admitted that yes, it was true.

He felt the man's rage - dying off, perhaps, but not completely gone.  "If I sow a wind now, I will reap a storm," the "god" thought to himself.  Slowly, he built that rage up again, sowing the seeds of rage with tales of wrongdoing and betrayal.

"Maybe you can't avenge yourself, but I do need your help."  He convinced the man that sacrifices must be made - only evil doers of course - thieves, murderers, perhaps adulterers… if the man would stop these people, he would be ridding the land of a great evil.  The man began what he thought was god's work, culling the flock, helping the sinners find salvation through death.

But in time, the "god" had forgotten about the man.  He enjoyed the death and killing, but what he had enjoyed more was corrupting the man's soul.  He visited the man less and less, looking for others to corrupt instead.  The man began to sense that something was wrong.  Had god abandoned him?  Had he been led astray?  Or had it not been god all along?

"Oh lord, your voice has withered
Have I strayed from your path?
Is Satan the architect of my redemption
The entrails hold no answer"

The "god" had kept the man's lands in silence enshrined - keeping anyone from learning about his plight through song.  But once he moved on for good, the silence was lifted, and the music began to reach others.

Romdrums fell to the ground, barely able to conceal his pain.  "What's wrong?" they asked.  "Listen," he said.  And everyone did.

Losing Tomorrow
Broken.  The man was broken.  He knew, finally, that what he was doing was wrong.  The look in his last victim's eyes had reached him.  He had long felt that something was wrong with the world, but it wasn't the world that was the problem now.  How could this go so very far, that I need someone to say what is wrong - not with the world, but with me, he asked himself.  He knew that the last victim was truly his last.  But what was left for him?  He surely didn't deserve to have anything, not even tomorrow.

"We have to do something," almost everyone in the group said at once.  "But Stadler already tried," said Paracyramil.  But it wasn't Stadler's fault.  Unlike the evil that had corrupted the man, they all knew that for all of their gifts, none of them were gods.  They couldn't hear everything, and they couldn't fix everything.  Maybe they couldn't fix anything at all, maybe it was useless, but they knew they would try.   If this sorrow was unbearable even for them, how could the man experiencing it possibly endure?  Even the minstrels were affected - the singer's voice and the music changing, slowing down, becoming distorted in sorrow.

Waking Dreams
It was clear they couldn't visit the man again.  The pain was too deep for them and for him, and they would never reach him in time.  "What if instead of visiting him in person, maybe we can visit his dreams, and give him hope?" Puppies suggested.  Could they reach his dreams through music?  It seemed impossible, but they needed to try. 

"Now's the time to come together," jingle.boy said.  "Even if we fail, the music will make us stronger."  And so they did.  They channeled their thoughts into hope.  Life, imagination, fire, and inspiration.  The minstrels joined in, feeding off of the emotions and translating them to song, which the man could hear, although perhaps not consciously.  His soul began to ease.  Perhaps nothing could ever erase the past, but maybe he could try to atone.  Maybe his mind could rest, just a little.  He had a dream about tomorrow - and that hadn't happened in so long he couldn't even remember.  He thought he could sever the ties that were once unyielding.  He would leave his home and its darkness behind.

Devonian: Nascent
The man traveled from village to village, trying to help at least one person in each place, if he could.  He was afraid of staying too long in any one place - it didn't want his darkness to hurt anyone else.  Some days he felt positive, almost happy, his dreams now soaring above the surface.  He took part in the rites of spring, to chase the winter away.  Sometimes he shared a meal with someone, sometimes he walked with another traveler, feeling grateful for the temporary companionship.

Yet at times, he still felt hopeless.  It was like a repeating cycle of light / no light.  A repeating cycle of love / no love.  The road was overgrown, and so elusively kept… could he ever find his place among the others?

The minstrels' current song, which had started with hope, was turning darker.  Continuously channeling their energy was difficult.  Tension was mounting, and Kattelox and Wolfking found themselves getting into a few skirmishes.  Kattelox tried to subject TAC to music he found unbearable; his heart was in the right place, but even the thought of listening to it caused turmoil deep within TAC's very being.  Ariich finally stepped in; he always had a talent for moderating the group when the need arose.  He asked everyone to separate for a time - to take some air, listen to their favorite songs, and come back renewed. 
 

Not of Flesh, Not of Blood/Intact with a Human Psyche/Keeping Faith
When the group reunited, they played the music they had been listening to for TAC, and for each other.  Kattelox had changed his selections to something quite emotional
 Their discoveries filled them (and the man they were trying to help) with hope.  They had been through a lot, but they were still here.  They would no longer be discouraged ones.  They would keep their connection, to each other and to the music, and they would continue to make a difference.

TAC had been gifted songs that expressed the full gamut of emotions, but thought that from here on out, they should listen only to the happy songs, the songs of love and joy.  But Evermind knew that would be a mistake.  They would lose their humanity if they suppressed their other emotions; if they couldn't feel sadness, or anger, or grief, they would lose the ability to feel happiness and joy, and everything would be bland and unfeeling.  "Let all of the music reach him," Evermind said.  "There will be sadness, but it can help him; he's been through so much.  He'll also feel our honesty, and it will keep him from the promise of deceit."

The Nearing Grave
The man felt the call of the grim, the voice from the mire, but this time, he didn't fight it.  Since he had left his home behind, he had tried desperately to banish even a hint of sadness, or anger, or despair, fearing it would call him back to the dark god, or whatever it had been, and he would succumb.  But now he felt stronger.  He heard a voice and followed it until he saw the minstrels. 

"I came once I heard you sing," the man told them.

"So did I," said a voice behind him.  He turned and saw Lethean walking up to him.  "Sometimes I think…that voice can heal anything," Lethean said

An expression of doubtful hope crossed the man's face, and he turned back to the singer.  "Would you sing a song for the ones who never made it?"

The minstrels did, and the man allowed his sadness and regret to overwhelm him.  He wept deep, cleansing tears.  He hoped that the song would help his victims find peace, wherever they may be, or that it would at least help the ones they left behind.  He felt that maybe he did.  Once he finally rose to his feet, he saw a group of people standing there, some crying, some smiling.

The age of shadows had come to an end.

[Lethean]

I would have gotten Long Distance Calling eventually. Cool band!

TAC hasn't learned that patience is a virtue.

[TAC]

JINGLE.BOY


1:1 ____e__ ____'_ E_n - __e ____ __ ___e_
1:2 __n_e_ _n_e_ -___ __e __in_'_ ____e_
1:3 _i____ - P___e__ ___ __e ___ne_
1:4 _e__i_n _ - __e _e_en_ _i_n
2:1 ______ _i____ - __e ____e_en _i_e
2:2 P____’_ _in_ - In __i__i_n_ __i_e _i___
2:3 ___en ___n- _.E._.E._.
2:4 _ep_e_ _en- _e_ __ie_ _i_e
2:5 _ni___i_n_- _e__n_ __ ___
2:6 ______- ____e_ ____e __ _____
2:7 ____ ________n - _____in_ ____
2:8 __ni__- __e P__e _in_
2:9 ___n__i_n_ ___ - In_i_i__e, __e _e__
3:1 __in _ ____e_en_ ___
3:2 ____ - __e En_ __ ____
3:3 _e_i___ _____ - _e__in_ _i_e __ __e E____
3:4 _en - __e E___i_n _ie___
4:1 P___pe__ - In __e _______ __ __e E____
4:2 ___n__i_n_ ___ - __ _e_in ___in
4:3 _i_____ - _i_e __ __e _en______ E_pi_e


IQ PEN

[TAC]

I would have gotten Long Distance Calling eventually. Cool band!

TAC hasn't learned that patience is a virtue.

I want these wrapped up tomorrow night. I have Chad's now. Then Rom and K-Lox's tomorrow.

[The Walrus]

That's a cool story, Lethean! Will play it tonight. Surprised to see a couple artists in there I don't think you've ever mentioned or shared with me so that's cool.

[TAC]

That's a cool story, Lethean! Will play it tonight. Surprised to see a couple artists in there I don't think you've ever mentioned or shared with me so that's cool.

Pick a letter.

[Lethean]

That's a cool story, Lethean! Will play it tonight. Surprised to see a couple artists in there I don't think you've ever mentioned or shared with me so that's cool.

Brace yourself for some harsh vocals on a few tracks, but no song is 100% harsh. 

[The Walrus]

That's a cool story, Lethean! Will play it tonight. Surprised to see a couple artists in there I don't think you've ever mentioned or shared with me so that's cool.

Pick a letter.

Don't tell me how to live my life.

... let's see N

[TAC]

That's a cool story, Lethean! Will play it tonight. Surprised to see a couple artists in there I don't think you've ever mentioned or shared with me so that's cool.

Brace yourself for some harsh vocals on a few tracks, but no song is 100% harsh.

[romdrums]

I

[Crow]

Q