‘Yes, that’s why.  It was a very special place and we wanted to take it with us wherever we go.  So that’s why we called the ship Desert Of Zin.’
‘When I grow up I want a ship named after me.’
‘Really?  What makes you think you’ll be so important that they’ll name a ship after you?’
‘I’ll be a great explorer and I’ll find loads of cool stuff!’
‘I’m sure you will.  The Mitchell Rictor.  It’ll be a fine ship.’

Albums

• Crack The Skye – Mastodon (2009)

Books

• Lukyanenko, Sergei – The Nightwatch
• Lumley, Brian – The Burrowers Beneath

Films

• Alice In Wonderland (2010)
• The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)
• Frost/Nixon (2009)
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
• Inglorious Basterds (2009)
• My Little Eye (2001)
• Rawhead Rex (1986)

Live Music

• The Moody Blues – SECC Armadillo, Glasgow (3rd October 2006)
• Senser – Barfly, Glasgow (31st May 2008)
• Spock’s Beard and Frost -The Arches, Glasgow (6th July 2008)
• Staid As Quo – Rockers, Glasgow (25th April 2009)

TV

• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E01 – 33
• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E02 – Water
• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E03 – Bastille Day
• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E04 – Act Of Contrition
• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E05 – You Can’t Go Home Again
• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E06 – Litmus
• Battlestar Galactica, S01 E07 – Six Degrees Of Separation
• Delta Forever
• Doctor Who, S02EXX – The Christmas Invasion (Ep 167)
• Doctor Who, S04E01 – Partners In Crime (Ep 193)
• Doctor Who, S04E12 – The Stolen Earth (Ep 202a)

Albums

Crack the Skye – Mastodon (2009)

‘This is the good shit’
- Daisy Steiner

Mastodon was recommended to me by Ruthy and, after constantly calling them Megalodon by accident, I found Crack The Skye in Fopp on Union Street for the sum of one crisp ten pound note.  After bringing it back to the Oasis Of Zin, or the study, I have to say that I’m particularly taken by it.

It’s progressive metal, have no doubt about that, but compared with other Prog Metal like Dream Theater (they being the only Prog Metal band I’ve really spent any time listening to) they have a definite 80’s metal leaning.

Certainly Crack The Skye is heavier than anything I’ve listened to in a while and it’s a welcome break to the easy world of symphonic prog that usually gets played loud around these parts.

The album is concept album territory, enough to deter all but the hardiest of music lovers, but it’s not so obvious to the unlearned.  If you like your music loud AND inventive, you’d do a lot worse than give this a try.

DoZ Rating (your handy guide to anything and everything) : 10 out of 10

Films

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Review on its way…