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By Australian Ninja

Remnants & Relics. Buttonhole *Special* Feature

Welcome dear reader to Remnants & Relics, the first in an ongoing series of features looking back at various aspects of yesterday's video games. This series is one that I'd hoped to kick off many months ago, but I just haven't had the time to do it justice, until now. So consider this your opportunity to put on your best pair or rose-tinted glasses, open up a luke-warm can of clichés and prepare to hop aboard the way-back-machine.... It came from beyond two dimensions! -A Look Back at Isometric Gaming-

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Toons

By Australian Ninja

ACMI Day Tripper

Welcome Buttonhole readers to another feature that is so choc-full of goodness that I've divided it into several sections. The top half is about the Indy video games showcased at ACMI. The bottom half is about the Pixar exhibit. It's ridiculously long and all terribly interesting to read, so you may as well read it in two halves, or just the parts that interest you. After reading about the ACMI exhibits on their website and getting more than a little excited, I decided to make the perilous trek to inner Melbourne. With time on my side and money stuffed in my pocket I ventured forth to the train station. Once on board I passed the time by staring out the window, reading a volume of Dark Horse's Concrete and snacking on tasty fruit. Arriving at Flinders St, I wandered around until inevitably finding my way out of the rat-maze like station.

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Toons

By Australian Ninja

Classic Comic-book Review. Kraven's Last Hunt

"Here lies Spider-Man - Slain by the Hunter" So reads the grave of one of histories greatest superheros. "But he's not dead, is he? What happened to everyone's favourite web-slinger? Spidey seems to be alive and well now, what with his three movie deal and a string of monthly Marvel comic-book titles to his name, so why was he buried six feet under? The year is 1987. The company is Marvel. The character is Sergei Kravinov also known as 'Kraven the Hunter.' Back in the 60's Stan and Steve (Lee and Ditko, respectively) churned out a heap of cool villains for the title "Amazing Spider-Man." Doctor Octopus, The Cham

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Cd Review

Publisher: Taste Media

Mon, 15 November 2004

Jamie

by: Mugwai

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When Muse first exploded with their debut тАЬSHOWBIZтА?, many criticised them as being a тАЬmini RadioheadтА?. Muse retaliated with тАЬOrigin of SymmetryтА?, a harder, edgier yet more musical offering and shoved it straight up the criticsтАЩ noses.
Now тАЬAbsolutionтА? is here, just to make sure itтАЩs gone through the nose and right into the cerebellum.

Larger, grander and more orchestrated, Muse begin with the majestic тАЬApocalypse PleaseтА? brimming full of impactful piano, thundering distorted bass and BellamyтАЩs composed arpeggios. Muse has flirted with technology more on Absolution too, using whatever media is necessary to craft their vision, making for a lusher, deeper record.

тАЬTime is running outтА? is a new side to MuseтАЩs repertoire; smooth and slinky bass grooves (courtesy of Chris Wolstenholme) that mutate to more massive distorted bass almost guarantee you to slink along with it. Those who dig the harder, faster numbers wonтАЩt be disappointed though, тАЬStockholm SyndromeтА? is a blistering prog metal number, scarily threatening some Ygnvie Malmsteem riffs (bar indulgent wank filled solos, thank God!), but it rocks so hard youтАЩll forgive Matt Bellemy for anything he creates. тАЬHysteriaтА? has got to be the albumтАЩs killer track, with the fattest (IтАЩll reserve PHAT for hip hop reviews) bass line since bomb the bassтАЩs тАЬbug powder dustтА? and almost disco drums (thank you Dominic Howard), this song will make you bounce more than a pre-teen on Michael JacksonтАЩs lap. тАЬSing for absolutionтА? is full of beauty and sad conviction, as is the haunting magic on tracks тАЬRuled by secrecyтА? and тАЬBlackoutтА?, showcasing BellamyтАЩs sweet and earnest song writing ability. The man is something of a virtuoso and it definitely shows (he also composed most of the strings).

Absolution is a cerebral album, with BellamyтАЩs passionate voice and lyrics that carry a resonant theme of desperation throughout the album. ItтАЩs almost rock opera, itтАЩs intense and it will leave you impressed.

by: Mugwai

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