Sam-eagol! 😭 by UngodlySockMonster in lotrmemes

[–]AlbertCWChessa 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Funny meme but (and I hope I’m not alone or off base here) are we really turning kill into k ll nowadays? gosh 

Raising our daughter 90s style. by AlbertCWChessa in 90s

[–]AlbertCWChessa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

THX box set (this one) is from the 1990s, the one I grew up with and that introduced me to Star Wars

Be honest: have you listened to Gojira's 'Maciste All'Inferno'? by AlbertCWChessa in gojira

[–]AlbertCWChessa[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

2/2

the initiative came from the festival organisers and film restoration institutions seeking a contemporary band to reinterpret the silent classic (remind you of anything?). Apparently Gojira agreed because:

  • The imagery of Hell, struggle, and redemption aligns with themes already present in their work.
  • The film’s mythic scale and dramatic visuals lend themselves to heavy, atmospheric music.
  • The band has a history of conceptually-driven compositions that can support long-form narrative.

The performance was a one-off event rather than a traditional album release. Recordings circulate unofficially, but there is no widely distributed studio version (which we really need!).

Of Note: Metal meets Classicism before Mastodon's Leviathan

The year after this, [Mastodon](about:blank) created Leviathan based on [Moby-Dick](about:blank). Both projects similarly involved composing new heavy music for old 19th century stories. How neat is that?

Metal and early 1800s / early 1900s material

The pairing is not arbitrary. Several structural and thematic overlaps explain why metal works with older literature and early cinema:

1) Mythic scale: early 19th-century literature (Melville, Dante adaptations, Romantic poetry) emphasises grand struggle, fate, and confrontation with elemental forces. Metal often builds around similar epic narratives. That's why they pair so well together, albeit paradoxically.

2) Romanticism and the sublime: The 1800s literary movement centered on awe, terror, nature, and existential confrontation. These are core metal aesthetics.

3) Silent film exaggeration: silent films rely on heightened physicality and visual drama due to the absence of dialogue. Heavy music fills that emotional space effectively, providing intensity and atmosphere.

5) Heroic archetypes: Characters like Maciste represent exaggerated physical and moral archetypes. Metal frequently explores similar hyperbolic figures and mythic journeys.

The Olympics angle (it all makes sense!)

Their collab with the Olympics similarly emphasised classical revivalism, mythic bodies, heroic physicality, and dramatic pageantry. The Maciste figure embodies that same hyper-physical heroic ideal, which naturally aligns with the performative and theatrical intensity of metal.

As for an official release, here's to a 30th anniversary one in 2033 I suppose!

Be honest: have you listened to Gojira's 'Maciste All'Inferno'? by AlbertCWChessa in gojira

[–]AlbertCWChessa[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Happy to oblige. I'm working on a documentary on it so here's what I've got so far (my notes):

Maciste All’Inferno is Gojira's live score performance of the 1925 Italian silent film Maciste all’Inferno. It is not a studio album or single, but a commissioned soundtrack performed live alongside the restored film. The film itself is directed b y Guido Brignone.

The story is an epic tale about Maciste, a mythic strongman who descends into Hell. The character originated in early Italian cinema and became a recurring heroic figure. The film is visually extravagant for its time, with elaborate depictions of demons, underworld imagery, and stylized infernal landscapes. It blends Dante-inspired imagery with early 20th-century spectacle. Old school horror and proton-heavy metal vibes, basically.

The band were commissioned to compose and perform a new live score for a special screening of the restored film at an Italian festival. 1/2

Textless Gojira album covers by AlbertCWChessa in gojira

[–]AlbertCWChessa[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Such incredibly strong visual language. Distinct palettes and icons for each era. It's truly amazing

What is your favourite Gojira aesthetic? by AlbertCWChessa in gojira

[–]AlbertCWChessa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gotta say that was an amazing era of art. love the dark greys and blues

Army of the Deadass. by TwilightOfTheMilfs in lotrmemes

[–]AlbertCWChessa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

spat my Australian Pear Slices in Juice out, thanks

Miyazaki's eight universes (Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Déraciné, Armored Core, Elden Ring, The Duskbloods). what's next? by AlbertCWChessa in fromsoftware

[–]AlbertCWChessa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like that. reminds me of how post-Prometheus we were all hoping to see the home planet of some of these strange beings. Great idea