Full Length Review: Pete Berwick "Give It Time" (Shotgun Records) by Devin J. Meaney

Artist: Pete Berwick

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Country: USA

Genre: Alt rock, punk, country

Full length: Give It Time

Format: Digital

Label: Shotgun Records

Release date: January 1, 2010

Years ago I was introduced to the music of Pete Berwick. Now that we are in the grasp of 2023 his tunes still grace my CD player and I can say without a doubt it hits just as hard as it did over a decade ago. As I sit writing this I am currently listening to “Give it Time”, my favourite album from Berwick’s catalogue.

With notable tracks like “Renegade”, “Is That What You’re Telling Me” and “Won’t Give It Up” Berwick slays through a barrage of overdrive laden rockers—with some of the other tracks even having a mellower edge. For rock and rollers, punks and metal-heads alike this album is a perfect example of something that is unquestionably timeless—and I daresay you should give this record a listen for yourself.

Some of Pete’s other music veers away from the overdrive and has more of a “country-ish” twang—but don’t be mistaken. With all the force of a bulldozer driven by a rum-drunk garbage pirate Pete manages to keep his “underground” vibe strong while still managing to attain more streamlined airplay.

Aside from music Pete is also a writer, an actor, and a million other things. It would take weeks of typing to fully credit Pete’s accomplishments...so I will just close by stating that Pete’s talent is unending and any publicity he gets is well deserved. To make a final conclusion...listen to “Give it Time” or any of Pete’s other albums—and hit up his website and show some support! -Devin J. Meaney

Track list:

1. Renegade

2. I Keep Waiting

3. Is That What You're Tellin' Me

4. Won't Give It Up

5. Give It Time

6. My Heart Is On Hold

7. Can I Smile Today

8. Beer

9. Falling From The Circle Of Love

10. The Sadness In Your Eyes

11. When

Demo Review: Human Dissention "Total War" (Independent) by Brynn Kali StarDew

Band: Human Dissention

Location: Rochester, New York

Country: USA

Genre: Blackened death metal, grindcore

Demo: Total War

Format: Digital

Label: Independent

Release date: March 10, 2016

The intro track "Visceral Display of Warfare” to this album reminds me a lot of Cannibal Corpse style Grindcore, but with less growly vocals which are almost completely understandable. The Drums are probably the most interesting part. Honestly, it wasn’t that bad but I just wasn’t really that impressed either. It gets interesting around 2:40 though when they start their guitar melody. I would have liked to see this produced better, but that's not what music is really supposed to be about in my opinion. To sum it up I have to say it's a very good metal band, but with a little hammering out and polishing they could be better. The next track “Absolution of Earth" wasn't really much better, I honestly thought it was the same song at first but I had to check when I noticed the level of growling had slightly increased.

“Ingrained Apathy for Mankind” this track is basically the same but starts to get interesting around 2:40 (I’m starting to notice a theme here) when it starts to get quicker and more hardcore. The final track “Victory Over Life” was pretty good, typical ramping up the tempo again at around 2:40 is definitely a solid metal track which is on the same level as System of Down in terms of overall quality but I do feel as they are lacking overall production sadly. I’m just saying a music video or two would really go a long way to express this Thrash/Punk/Grindcore style of Metal music. -Brynn Kali StarDew

Lineup:

C.O.N.Q.U.E.R.: Vocals

R.A.V.A.G.E.: Vocals, guitars

Chainsaw: Bass

T.O.R.T.U.R.E: Drums

Track list:

1. Visceral Display of Warfare

2. Absolution of Earth

3. Ingrained Apathy for Mankind

4. Victory Over Life

Web links:

Human Dissention at Facebook

Human Dissention at Bandcamp

Poem: Untitled by Robert McDermott

Untitled
Robert McDermott

If you can't sleep
your mind is deep

racing and chasing
errant thoughts

you feel lost
it is a high cost

a busy mind
can be unkind

close your eyes
take deep breathes

quiet the madness
to cease sadness
Was
stop rumination
there will be illumination

Poem: 'Persephone Says' by Alison Stone

Persephone Says
by Alison Stone

Mother,
Do not blame the pomegranate.
I belong to this world
no matter what I ate.
I took its substance as my own.

Mother, I would have smothered in
your garden, crowned with your lilies,
pollen staining my skin. Then
an old crow wrote with beating wings:
The one way out is down.

There is in every living thing
a dark place where the truth is known.

I'm alone here. Ashes fill my mouth,
I'm cold, my husband's hands are bone.
in every room, snakes' gold eyes shine
and there is only death
but Mother, death is mine.

Poem: 'Devil' by Jeremy Void

Devil
by Jeremy Void

The world is spinning
I stare into the abyss

I watch as the colors
of a fading bliss

transform deeply
through devious

means of madness
Shadowed by comfort

I walk a fine line
besmirching my genius
Wallowing in what
some have succumb to

in a world of fear
vanity & pride

My eyes burn with
delight as I stab my throat

time&time again
The blood coats

the brown leather sofa
as I peer into

a manic dreaminess
Draped with death

I walk largely across
the bony cobblestones

My thoughts stunted
like we’ve surpasses

the lines of normality
I play ball

with the soldiers from
forbidden throngs

Poem: 'Remember when' by Jeremy Void

Remember when
by Jeremy Void

Remember when
we had lives
and we could go out
into the world
and live them

Remember when there
was a pandemic
and our lives were halted
and everyone everywhere
got locked inside
for as long as I can remember

Remember when they
poked us with
a needle so that
everything could go back
to normal but still
with realistic wariness
because socializing has become
alien and I can’t remember
any of my friends’ names
or faces
or interests
or anything

and now I stare out my window
wanting to leave my home
just for an evening
but I forgot how to
go outside
and I’m scared of everything
and everyone
and I feel hopeless
and alienated
and I forgot how to be
an actual human being
I’ve always been

an anxious person
but now it’s worse

Remember when they told us
the world was ending and I
believed them
and now they say
the world is back to normal
but I know it’s all a setup
because it hasn’t ended fast enough
but I believe

it already has
ended
We’re all just too dumb and stubborn
to see it for
ourselves

Poem: 'Churn The Fires' by Sky Claudette Soto

Churn The Fires
by Sky Claudette Soto

And Only to turn my rig
ht leg up behind me inverted into dancer's pose while kyanite sweeps through my tempestuous soul, I am centered in, inside of this most blessed wheel, that begins to turn...birthing forth a new Sun ...Godlike in many ways...
manifesting through my open heart, whispering through my solar plexus ...can you hear me?
as I glide across an iced path....
now frosted over in frozen snow,
as this torch of light that I grasp unto my hands
Let's me know that everything is returning once again during this time period of the shortest of days,
And in these darkest of hours we journey on our sacred paths betwixt
thine longest of nights we journey
back home again returning to churn our sacred fires to balance our sacred souls

First American Publishing rights only, Copyright and written by Sky Claudette Soto.

Poem: 'Sugarmama' by Judge Santiago Burdon

Sugarmama
by Judge Santiago Burdon

I need a sugar mama, someone to take care of me
let me drink in the bar, drive her Porsche car
watch her big screen TV
when my pockets don't jingle
She'll always spot me a couple of bucks
She'll never ask where I've been
but when I do come in
she can always count on my love
as long as her checks don't bounce
she doesn't have to be pretty
Beauty is nothing money can't buy
I can picture me in her Jacuzzi
living the easy life
Say I'm a fool for money
I've been a bigger fool for love
Why should I give it away
when I can make it pay
and enjoy working overtime
Not worried about nickels and dimes
I need me a sugar momma
take me under her wing
I'll kiss her hand
I'll say yes ma'am
won't curse in front of her friends
We'll vacation down in Barbados
getting suntanned on her yacht
with a beer in my hand
I'll think of my friends
and everything they ain't got
I'll be happy believe it or not
Sugar mama I'll do just what I'm told
Sugar Mama I'll be your country boy gigolo
I'll throw away my boots and jeans
Shave and wear a Tuxedo.
even learn the Tango
and teach you how to
Cotton Eye Joe.
Sugar momma take me home.

Poem: 'The Plan' by Alison Stone

The Plan
by Alison Stone

I’m in the hospital with kidney stones,
my friend texts. I struggle to keep reading --
spring suns blurs the screen
despite my cupped hand and the dog
tugs at her leash – first warm week
and so much to smell.
I start to put the phone away
but see leukemia, which I guess
they found because of the stones.

My dad’s co-worker was driving when his heart stopped.
The crash jolted it back to beating. His other friend
collapsed on a treadmill and never got up.
Some people believe in a god
with a plan and rewards for the good,
prayer helping (perhaps mitigating death to a bad flu)
except when it doesn’t. Maybe the best plan
is to follow the dog’s agitated tail
toward Hook Mountain’s base, and stop
as I do every morning and look up –
two hawks earnestly circling,
snow finally melted from the peak.

Poem: 'Voices' by Sky Claudette Soto

Voices
by Sky Claudette Soto

I hear voices in my head where did you go,
trident of healers
can you hear me ...psalms speak to me with swirling large horns miraculously whispering chants as I swallow and follow the northern star 🌟 evening star ... star... of variable light ... polaris entertwined in a rotational axis as the earthen.. earth turns ...I turn twisting about with each star tracing circular images amongst the evening sky stillness takes place as the northern star rest....rest in place.. a triple star.. my eyes ...my eyes see a triple star 🌟 a guiding light...guiding me.. physically, mentally, spirituality and emotionally ..hail the traveler wiping each tear that drops like rose quartz, into the great ocean and washes away,beneath the tides.

First American Publishing rights only! Copyright and written by Sky Claudette Soto Jan.2023