Raycevick's Recommendations: October 2017

Outrage is Now by Death From Above

Death From Above is a Canadian rock duo that I've always enjoyed but never sat down and absorbed their work start to finish. Boy did that change with Outrage is Now. Their sound truly feels as heavy as people made out the band to be all the way back in 2004. The bass guitars roar with drums that have the weight of a sumo wrestler.

It even had me make an exception to a trend of ripping from headlines. The title track's description of feeling separated from today's outrage culture, regardless of sides, really struck home with me.

But don't let that give the wrong impression. You're not stepping into a politically driven album. You're stepping into an arena where this sound will threaten to shatter your household's windows.

Prey by Arkane Studios

As I multitask two projects, one of them is on Prey and it's more than likely going to be a spoiler video. Not that it'll all focus on story, it's simply that Prey's gameplay has so many ways to explore, traverse, and engage, that to show you breaking into rooms or finding new enemies, spoils the experience of discovering these things for yourself.

More than any other title I've played, Prey is about how you interact with the world. Not about your skills as a gunman, or soldier. Combat's about planning your encounters, not rushing into them.

Despite a weaker third act that I'll get into later, Prey is (if not one of the best), one of the most memorable games I've played this year.

Death Magic by HEALTH

As I'm working on Max Payne videos, recommending its second and third installments is a no-brainier, but this is an album that will relate. HEALTH are the geniuses behind Max Payne 3's immaculate score, and this album is what followed. For those who've played or listened to Max Payne 3, you'll recognize several effects and sounds the band implemented in Rockstar's shooter.

The album in its structure actually isn't too different from what you might find on a more mainstream record. What's unique are its moments of darkness. Tracks' like MEN TODAY are the kind of thing I accompany with a spectacular battlefield, sounds of universe scale destruction.

There's a beautiful contrast between the poppy and catchy LIFE or L.A. LOOKS, and the melancholy of HURT YOURSELF.