This album is abrasive. The parts that aren’t are just beautiful teasers fending off the next head caving distorted guitar or drumbeat. It was released in 1994; Cobain was king, but grunge was about to disappear, more abruptly than anyone could imagine. The disenfranchised and lonely were about to find their new messiah. The Goths were already on board, and over time this album would become a classic. Continue reading Nine Inch Nails ‘The Downward Spiral’
All posts by hallymustang
Pasta Emilia
Italian cuisine in my world is king. Hence here I am at another Italian joint, quite different from Buon Ricordo but nonetheless reveling in its own charm. Continue reading Pasta Emilia
Sicario
The war on drugs has failed. Mexican Cartels have corrupted everything and nobody is out of reach, especially along the border. Kate (Emily Blunt) would soon discover her job as an FBI agent has minimal impact, especially when her team raids a house near Phoenix and she is cast deeper into the drug war. Continue reading Sicario
American Sniper
This is a movie about one mans journey from a strict up bringing through a wayward lost path to finding a cause he believed in, albeit through the scope of a rifle.
Chris Kyle had more “kills” than anyone in US Military history, a fact that accords him ‘Legend’ status amongst his fellow warriors but also comes at a cost. Continue reading American Sniper
Why the Denver Broncos?

I love America. I always have, ever since my first trip there in 1990 for the US Open in California. My mate ‘Swami’ and I went to Disneyland and rode Space Mountain. Our senses were being bludgeoned; everything was bigger, louder and faster. From looping freeways, to donuts for breakfast, it was excess personified. We’d gone from Chester Hill and Budgewoi to another Universe. Continue reading Why the Denver Broncos?
Buon Ricordo
Finally, the moment has come, the Buon Ricordo moment, its 6pm on a Saturday night and we are about to enter one of the meccas of the Sydney restaurant scene.
I love the anticipation, especially considering this restaurant has been on my radar for years and my tasty buds have been eagerly awaiting the famous fettuccine al Tartufovo. The dish that Italy’s Grazie magazine stated was the ‘best pasta in the world’. High praise indeed. Continue reading Buon Ricordo
Slayer ‘Repentless’
I don’t exactly remember when I first got into Slayer. I just remember having the ‘South of Heaven” album living amongst my folks record collection. It was nestled alongside Abba and the Village People, strange bedfellows.
I must have been around 17 or 18 years old. I’d put the record on the turntable, sit in the lounge room with these massive headphones on and absorb every Tom Araya scream, every riff from guitarists Hanneman and King and every warp speed drum move from Dave Lombardo. Continue reading Slayer ‘Repentless’
The Gift
A chance encounter with ‘Gordo’ (Joel Edgerton) whilst shopping turns the lives of married couple, ‘Simon’ (Jason Bateman) and ‘Robyn’ (Rebecca Hall) into an almighty mess.
Gordo is strange; there is no denying that, awkwardly stumbling through conversations and crossing social boundaries, Simon laughs about it with their dinner guests, mocking Gordo who he knew in high school, he calls him ‘Gordo the weirdo’. Continue reading The Gift