Humane Slaughter?
By xRogerx
Lately I’ve been hearing the phrase humane slaughter a lot. More and more people are asking for products that claim to be more sustainable and humane. I think humane slaughter is an oxymoron.
The Humane Slaughter Act was enacted in 1958 to enforce protection of livestock during slaughter. The act covers killing methods of cows, pigs, horse, and sheep. At this time, there is no humane slaughter enforcement for the over 9 billion broiler chickens or the billions of aquatic animals and rabbits killed each year. The act says nothing about how the animals are treated during their lives. It only claims to enforce the way they are dispatched from this world.
Today companies are capitalizing on the myth of humane slaughter. Deep down people feel bad that they are killing other living beings to fill their own stomachs. The average person is willing to pay more for meat that is labeled as “Cage Free”, “Local”, or “Humane Certified”. When someone sees a label like this on a package, it is assumed animals are being treated better by these companies. Are consumers being misled?
The animal industry has a long history of misleading the public. For example, the dairy industry claims to build strong bones. In all actuality, it has been proven by many studies on osteoporosis that the high amount of animal protein in milk can actually strip your bones of calcium. In short, when we drink milk our blood becomes acidic. When the acid level in our blood reaches a certain level, calcium phosphate is directed from our bones to our blood stream to bring the blood back to an alkaline level. (Kind of like how the calcium in Tums neutralizes the acid in your stomach.) Then we urinate the calcium as waste and it is lost from our bones. How many commercials and billboards have you seen with a celebrity with a milk mustache? Remember the commercials that told you that milk makes you big and strong? The only thing milk really does is make you weak and fat. The dairy industry knows this yet they keep pedaling you their garbage every chance they get. Why? MONEY. Do you think the CEO of a dairy farm cares if you are healthy? All they care about is lining their pockets with your hard earned cash.
If we can’t even trust the dairy industry to tell us the truth about their products why would we ever trust agribusiness companies to look after the welfare of 50 billion land animals that are killed every year? The only thing that labeling animal products as “humane” guarantees is more sales. It does nothing to protect the animals.
Even if the animal business did care about the welfare of its product, would it matter? In the end we are still killing beings against their will in order to eat a McRib. We have enslaved animals, exploited them, confined them, and genetically modified them. Humans try to justify this by claiming they killed them humanely or quickly. In reality, the only way to ensure humane farming is to not use animal products.
All animal farming causes injustice and inhumanity. No being wants to be killed or raised in confinement. Whether it’s a dairy cow being forced into pregnancy or a chicken caged for its whole life, it is wrong. It all really goes back to the golden rule. Do unto others as would have them do unto you.
I write these articles with a heavy heart knowing that most people will turn their nose up at them and just continue down the path that they are on. I do hope every time I start clacking away at the keyboard maybe one person will hear what I have to say and take advantage of a wonderful new vegan lifestyle. Every time you sit down to a plant based meal, you can be confident that you are making a positive impact on your health, the animals, and the planet as a whole. I encourage everyone who reads this to ask questions or leave comments. I will answer everything to the best of my ability. I was just like every meat eater in the world for 25 years. I changed my diet and I have to say it improved every aspect of my life. As a society, we have gotten so far removed from animals we don’t realize the pain and suffering we are causing. Think about when you were a child. What comforted you when you slept? A bunny? A teddy bear? We used to be one with animals. Now we treat them as machines. Watch the movie “Earthlings”. If you can make it through it without shedding a tear I’ll be amazed. Humans and animals are all part of our world. We will never be at true peace until we stop the unnecessary suffering we have started.
Review: The Acacia Strain - “Wormwood”
by Jordan Wright
The Acacia Strain’s music has always been a big influence to me. So when I heard they would be changing things up, I was afraid that their 2010 release, Wormwood, would not fulfill my expectations. I did not listen to it until 2 months after it’s release. What a mistake.
From the very beginning of the album, you immediately know that change for The Acacia Strain turned out to be a good thing. The opening track “Beast” brings their new style to levels never thought possible. As you listen, you immediately notice the new found intensity of the band, and the obviously upgraded vocals of Vincent himself. Although the message of the album is not instantly clear, as you listen through tracks such as “BTM FDR” and “The Impaler” the lyrics hit you like bombs.
Not a single track, breakdown, or even riff in the entire album is even remotely similar to the last, which make you want to continue listening, even after the album has ended. Although a few of the songs give the band a brand new feel, you can listen to the lyrics and still feel the vibes of what made The Acacia Strain great to begin with.
9/10
(Source: tothecorezine.blogspot.com)
Amber’s Top 5 Albums of 2010
by Amber Robinson
I can dig ‘em.
Murder by Death, “Good Morning, Magpie”
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, “Danza 3: The Series of Unfortunate Events”
After the Burial, “In Dreams”
Blind Guardian, “At the Edge of Time”
As I Lay Dying, “The Powerless Rise”
(Source: tothecorezine.blogspot.com)
An Interview with A Hill to Die Upon
This lovely piece is an interview with semi-local (and getting bigger!) metal band, A Hill to Die Upon. It was given pre-new-CD-release (the CD is called Omens; check it out, but is just now being posted up here:
*What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Our name is “A Hill to Die Upon.” It came from a book, but my brother (Adam, the vocals/balss/guitar) only heard about it in passing and we haven’t been able to find it. For us, great things happen on hills. Slaine, Slag, Golgotha, Baddon, and Glastonbury Tor are some that have influenced our music. We’re not a band that writes our songs about geography, but it’s all ways tied into the themes. We have thought about changing the name to something shorter, but we really like AHTDU and it would a shame to change it after so long.
*Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member.
I’m Michael, the drummer. I am 20 and a Sophomore at Monmouth college. My brother Adam is 22, bass and vocals, works full time at OSF medical center. Elisha, our guitar player, is 19 and I have no idea what he does in his spare time. I think it includes the coffee trade in Beliz and renting lamas, but I could be wrong.
*What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Blackened death metal. We love black metal and we love death metal, but mixing the two always yields the most intense sound. Bands like Behemoth and Belphegor have really pioneered the genre and we have always loved their sound, but we also listen to a lot of Nile, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir, and Watain,
*How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Adam and I have known each other for about two decades. We met in a hospital actually, it was kind of awkward. When we lost our previous guitar player, Elisha e-mailed us and tried out on New Year’s Eve. He has been with us almost two years.
*When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Adam and I started playing together the day we got our instruments, literally. That was about nine years ago. A Hill to Die Upon was started about 6 years ago because we wanted to play in a band that sounded like As I Lay Dying. Since then things have just gotten heavier and darker, and that’s the way we like it.
*Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
We are currently signed to Bombworks Records out of Keokuk, Iowa. We also are a RYFO member.
*What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever’s available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
AHTDU is endorsed by Madison amps and TRX cymbals. Almost all of our instruments are black, and that’s just because it looks better on stage. We wear all black, corpse paint, and black instruments. It has a nice effect. As for the brands and styles, Adam plays a Warlock that looks amazing, I play Pacific drums that I painted black, and Elisha plays a Winter guitar.
*Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
We have played all around the Midwest, from Tennessee to Wisconsin. Michigan is always good to us, and we have played Cornerstone Music Festival every year we have been a band. Also, we played Nordic Fest in Oslo, Norway, Destruction Fest in London, England, and three shows in Mexico. Mexico has definetly been the best. The crowds are huge and they go absolutely nuts!
*Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We always have a set list. The idea of deciding what songs to play on stage never appealed to us. Some bands pull it off, I think, but we like to always know whats coming up next. Right now, as we only have “Infinite Titanic Immortal” out, we play all of those songs. However, we have started playing two new ones from the new record. We covered an old slave spiritual called “Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” and that was a lot of fun.
*Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Adam wrote almost all of the music for “Infinite Titanic Immortal” with the exception of one song that was co-written by Gage Love. Elisha has started writing some for the new album, and we really like it. As for themes, they do change a lot, but the overall theme is man and his relation to the spiritual, whether good or bad. It is the oldest question and therefore we never have to worry about exhausting the topic.
*Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
It is pretty simple: Adam plays a riff and I play along, then it just grows from there. Some songs we have written within two hours and some have taken months.
*What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Rehearsals are rehearsals, I guess. We always just play through our set a couple times and then work on new songs. Elisha lives a couple hours away so he usually comes up a few days before shows and practice a lot before the show.
*How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Considering we used to sound like Zao trying to be As I Lay Dying when we started, and now it sounds like Behemoth, I would say it has changed a lot. A whole lot. The song structure used to be very random. Now we have started using more traditional song structure and the result has been a lot more satusfying.
*What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Getting a long when your stuck in a van for two weeks. I think that has to be the hardest thing for any band. Everyone has their ideas of how a band should be run and how problems should be dealt with. The best way of getting around it has to simply be to choose your battles, be honest, and always remember Mathew 7:3-5.
*What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Seeking? No. Fame has its advantages and disadvantages so we are indifferent, and fortune is the same way. Obviously we wouldn’t deny it if it came, but you have to remember that it drives some people crazy. We want as many people as possible to hear our songs, but that’s all. AHTDU exists now the purpose of playing really good metal. As Christians, we try to show the message of God in everything we do, and so AHTDU has become another vehicle for this. Nothing is more important.
*What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Don’t stop. If someone quits, replace them, just keep going. Play the best you can and then keep playing. Do the hard work and never take yourself to seriously.
*How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
They can buy our CD at www.starvetheflesh.com, www.nhmetal.com, and www.amazon.com. Itunes, myspace, and youtube all have it too. However, a show would be the best if you want the real experience.
*Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Bombworks Records has really helped out a lot with the pressing and promotion of the album. They got our CD in a lot of places we never could have got it. As for emotional support, everyone in the metal scene we have met. Especially those overseas. The English, Norwegian, and Mexican churchs were very encouraging and helpful.
*Any last words?
We are just finishing up the new songs and will be recording within the next few months. If you liked “Infinite Titanic Immortal,” the new one will blow your mind! Support metal.
(Source: tothecorezine.blogspot.com)
A Friend of Mine Called Pantera “Hardcore”…
by Patrick Davis
Disclaimer: This was not written as a magazine article; it was originally a Facebook comment.
I generally try to avoid genre debates, but…
The words “hardcore” and “metal” mean a lot of different things to different people when referring to music. Until Webster’s decides to start defining music genres, everyone will have to agree to disagree. That being said, the following is simply my opinion; nothing more, nothing less.
Hardcore, in its purest form, is a combination of punk and metal. So, to me, that means that hardcore is a sub-genre of metal, and that all hardcore bands can, in a way, be considered a type of metal, however, not all metal bands should be considered hardcore.
Admittedly, Pantera (especially Phil) were heavily influenced by early punk and hardcore bands, but I strongly disagree with the statements ” PANTERA is as hardcore as it gets” and “PANTERA is epitome of hardcore”.
Pantera exhibit several qualities that set them above the simplistic hardcore style- 1.) exquisite musicianship and attention to music theory 2.) diversity in influences and overall sound 3.) the ability to draw in the listener with strong melodies(hooks) and write the occasional ballad… I’m sure that there are more examples that slip my mind at the moment.
In my opinion it is rather insulting to label Pantera as hardcore. They forever changed the face of heavy metal in the early ’90s, and Dime’s guitar style influenced an entire generation. Almost every metal band making a living playing music today cites Pantera as a huge influence. There weren’t many heavy bands that survived the death of glam and the grunge takeover. Pantera not only survived but thrived.
With all of that being said, I’ll leave you with this- PAN-fucking-TERA man, I tell you what!
(Source: tothecorezine.blogspot.com)
Pleasantly Surprised
by Patrick Davis
Do you ever go to a show and a band that you’ve never heard of completely rocks your socks off? I’ve been lucky enough to have three of these experiences in recent months.
Filligar- On this particular evening I wasn’t even planning on any live music. I wandered in to the Des Moines Social Club and there happened to be a great band on stage. Filligar is Chicago based indie rock quartet. They play the type of songs that you feel like you’ve loved for years the first time you hear them. If you only knew the lyrics, you’d already be signing along. Check out their Reverb Nation page for some free downloads.
The Morning Benders- I had the pleasure of hearing these guys for the first time at the Val Air Ballroom when they opened for The Black Keys. The Morning Benders craft great indie-pop songs that have a real throwback feel to them. Give their album opener “Excuses” a spin and you’ll see what I mean.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.- This duo completely caught me off guard when I saw them at Vaudeville Mews a few months back. Their name is odd enough, but when they took the stage wearing NASCAR jumpsuits I really didn’t know what to expect. I was, indeed, pleasantly surprised when they started their set. Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr know how to create beautiful, delicate melodies that are often reminiscent of the Flaming Lips. Be sure to check out their version of The Beach Boys’ classic “God Only Knows”, you can download it for free at day trotter.com.
(Source: tothecorezine.blogspot.com)
So You Say You Are an Animal Lover?
By xRogerx
Tell me again how much you love animals. Then go eat one.
I have never understood how someone can call themselves an animal lover and then support the slaughter of over 10 billion animals in the US each year. There are veterinarians and shelter workers who are going to sit down and have a chicken sandwich or a huge steak for dinner tonight. There are animal cops tromping around in boots and belts made of leather, which in case you forgot is cow flesh. Sure there are people that will argue that dogs and cats are different than “commodity animals” such as pigs, cows, and chickens. In reality, these are all sentient beings who deserve a right to life. All of these animals feel pain just like you and I. Humans have gone out of our way to forget what is involved in satisfying our pallets. We have changed the names of animal flesh to things like “Pork”, “Poultry”, and “Beef”. Animal flesh is made into fun shapes and nuggets that kids like. When you were little, I bet if you knew what you were really putting in your mouth, would be reaching for the brussell sprouts instead of the Big Mac.
Let’s start with the Poultry industry. Chickens are placed in cramped warehouses with no place to dust bathe, peck, or scratch. They are crammed with thousands of other birds in what becomes a feces infested germ factory. Many die of starvation because they are bred to grow so large, so fast they can’t support their bodies to reach food. After they have lived out a fraction of their natural lives, they are collected by hand or machine into cramped cages where they make their way to the slaughter house. They are driven through extreme hot or cold weather to the killing floor. Still conscious, they have their legs shackled, throats slit, and are scalded alive in the feather removal tanks.
So, you don’t want to eat chickens anymore. How about their eggs? Egg production can’t be so bad right? Wrong. Up to a dozen hens are stuck in small cages together. Some of these animals can’t take the stress and go insane. The chickens’ beaks are cut off with a hot blade to keep them from fighting with other birds after they have become neurotic from living in such conditions. A beak is not like a finger nail. Its full of nerve endings and this is very painful for the entire life of the animal. It would equivalent to having your top lip cut off without any anesthetic. These chickens can’t lift their wings or turn around for their entire lives. After they are worn out and can no longer lay eggs, they end up at the slaughter house where they become your McNuggets or are ground up and fed to other chickens as feed.
Having worked on a hog farm for about 4 hours, I know the horrors these poor animals face. They are confined to tiny stalls where all they can do is sit up and lay down. I had the misfortune of working in the birthing department. Female pigs are kept pregnant year round. This causes them to be very tired and sometimes they don’t even want to get up. The worker comes in and shocks them until they stand up so their muscles don’t atrophy. As soon as the piglets are born, workers come in immediately and cut off their ears, tails, and teeth. The males are castrated at birth with nothing to kill the pain. The screaming from the animals is so loud that it was recommended I wear earplugs. Many piglets are born lame or are smashed by their own mother because there is so little room. What does the farmer do with them? They are thrown on the concrete and beaten to death. Too foul to be true? Believe it. I have seen it with my own eyes. Pigs are actually smarter than dogs. Many go completely nuts being confined in this way. They become violent to each other and their “caretakers”. Finally when they have reached the right weight, they are loaded on to trucks and many see sunshine for the first time. Animals that are too sick for slaughter are killed with a bolt gun or by being struck in the head with whatever object is available. Does the USDA care? No. These are industry standards. Almost ½ a millions pigs don’t even survive the ride to the slaughter house. Many freeze to the side of the truck or are smashed by the weight of other pigs. The ones unfortunate enough to make it, have their throats slit while they are still alive and are scalded alive in tanks designed to remove their hair.
Cows may have it worse than any of the “commodity animals“. At birth they are dehorned, castrated and branded. Once again all without painkillers. Think the beef you are eating is safe and disease free? Think again! The Department of agriculture allows meat that is pus infected and full of cancerous lesions. In fact, it is considered USDA PURE. The cattle farmer isn’t going to waste his money treating these conditions if the cow can be sold as is. After about a year the cattle are taken from their overcrowded feedlots and loaded onto trucks. At the slaughter house many have their throats slit and are skinned and disemboweled while still alive. They feel every minute of it.
Got Pus? I mean milk… Dairy cows have terrible lives. They are stuck in stalls and hooked up to machines several times a day. The constant irritation to the animals udders causes infection and mastitis. These diseased udders produce the milk you drink. Next time you get a milkshake, just think of the blood and pus that is also in it. Not to mention the steroids, and antibiotics the cows are given. Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) is given to cows to make them produce more milk. BGH is like crack for cows. It supercharges their system and makes them yield higher amounts. It also makes them sick. The FDA has admitted cows injected with the hormone have more instances of infection, digestion problems, foot and leg ailments, and other disease. These diseases are very serious and can be passed onto humans. At the end of their lives (when they can no longer produce milk), they are sent to slaughter. Many are too weak to even walk off the truck. Most hamburger comes from used up dairy cows.
Dairy calves not used for milk production are taken from their mothers shortly after birth. They are sold to veal farmers. If you don’t know what veal is, let me tell you. Its baby cows! The cows are locked in stalls and chained to the wall so they can’t move. This makes their muscles more tender and produces veal. Veal is possibly the cruelest meat you can eat. Remember if you are vegetarian and consuming dairy, you are supporting the veal industry.
These are just a few examples of the ways humans exploit animals. Do research. See how leather is produced. Watch a cat get skinned alive for your fur coat. Yes, cats and dogs are killed in China and sold as mink fur in the US. Get online and look up the captive dolphin industry. Discover how many dolphins are killed each year just for human entertainment at places like Sea World. If you feel this is wrong, maybe its time to consider changing your diet and lifestyle.
Millions of compassionate people, including myself have adopted a cruelty free vegan lifestyle. There has never been a time where it was easier. Vegans save over 100 animals a year. Not only is it a karma free diet, its also very healthy. People on a whole foods plant based diet have a much lower risk of heart attack„ obesity, cancer and diabetes. By not consuming animals, you also contribute to less waste. The environment will love you for it. If the US concentrated its efforts on growing plants instead of animals, we could feed the world many times over.
So, I have stated my case but ultimately the choice is yours. If you truly love animals, I urge you to choose compassion over killing. We may not be able to change the world over night but we can start right at the end of our fork.
Some links to check out:
www.earthlings.com
www.thecovemovie.com
www.humanesociety.org
www.chooseveg.com
www.meat.org
(Source: tothecorezine.blogspot.com)
To the Reader
Dear Reader,
First and foremost, thanks for taking the time to check it out; it was meant to be a publication, but I never got multiple copies made. Myself and several others have taken quite a bit of our own time to put this together for your enjoyment, not to say it wasn’t enjoyable for us as well.
Secondly, I simply asked these folks to write articles on any topic of their choice, and on any media they choose, so I have to make the disclaimer that the articles are not the general beliefs or feelings of the zine, but that we try to present all opinions and thoughts equally; said articles are written from the heart of the author, and are meant to present their point of view and educate the readers on the topic. I reposted word for word what I was sent - it’s not edited, and everyone has their own format.
Lastly, I’d like to point out that even though the word “core” is in the title, this is in no way specifically geared toward hardcore, or even toward just heavy music. I intend to focus on all the genres in the area to get “to the core” of the music scene. I also intend to focus on the smaller bands just starting out, as well as some of the heavy hitters who roll through the area. We’ll be featuring interviews with all sorts of bands and people. This zine’s mission is to give everyone a chance to say their piece, and to spread education and enlightenment about music in general. Also, the zine hopes to help promote support of local music, and give encouragement and acknowledgement to those bands who don’t get it anywhere else.
That said, thanks again for checking this out, and I hope you find some part of it to enjoy.
-Amber Robinson/To the Core
(Source: tothecorezine)
