The Winery Dogs
The Winery Dogs
Audio CD | MP3
Loud & Proud Records
Release Date: July 23, 2013

In this era of Katy Perry pop music and gritty alternative metal there isn’t as clear a place for bands that play straight ahead hard rock and metal. This is the new alternative in many ways as it was when the genre was first born of punk music in the ’70s. Many of the best musicians from the ’80s and early ’90s still have a lot of creative energy but there just isn’t the call for the bands that they were once a part of; or these musicians are older and more experimental.

What’s more and more popular are the super bands, new groups made up of strong musicians from a variety of bands from that era. An example, and possibly the most successful super band currently playing music today, is Chickenfoot, which features Sammy Hagar (Van Halen) on vocals Joe Satriani on guitar, Michael Anthony (Van Halen) on bass, and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Another example of one of these super bands touring and releasing music is Black Country Communion. The Winery Dogs features Richie Kotzen (Poison), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre) on drums. While Kotzen was a member of Mr. Big for a time in the ’80s he was just as well known as a solo artist and guitar virtuoso.

Alfonso Cuaron‘s Gravity is certainly living up to its hype. After a couple of trailers, a San Diego Comic-Con panel, and its debut at the Venice Film Festival, there is a growing amount of Oscar Buzz circling this film. Those who have seen the film at the festival, which was held late last month, have given the film plenty of praise, but James Cameron has chimed in to give some praise of this own.

Coming from a guy who has directed a couple of space dramas of his own and the top two biggest box office movies of all time, all this praise can only generate more praise and perhaps fuel its potential for Oscars even further. Hit the jump to see what Cameron said about the film and one of its stars, Sandra Bullock, who also talks about the movie.

Invincible Universe #6
Written by Phil Hester
Art by Todd Nauck
Colored by Gabe Eltaeb
Lettered by Rus Wooton
Cover by Todd Nauck and Gabe Eltaeb
Image Comics
Release Date: September 4, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Invincible Universe #6 starts with people in the control room of GDA Headquarters in Washington D.C. watching the big screen. There’s a man covered in blood screaming the end of the United Nations. General Cho, after slaughtering many people in the U.N. headquarters, swats off the attacking squad by breaking all of Monster Girl’s bones in a blur, then he disappears.

The story, starting out loud, slowly reveals all the details as to how the event was even able to happen. Through this, we see how Cecil, Director of the Global Defense Agency, comes to a conclusion that will change how they operate and how they interact with the world in issues to come. The artwork is just as awesome, strong and bold, and fits it well.

At this point, Futurama is an old pro and being canceled and doing the whole series finale thing. That doesn’t make it any easier to accept, but tonight is the night that the show ends its run on Comedy Central…and possibly for good.

There is still hope in all fans of the show and even the show’s creators that it will once again find new life somewhere else, but there is always that chance that this is really it. Depressing, right?

Sheltered #3
Written by Ed Brisson
Illustrated by Johnnie Christmas
Colored by Shari Chankhamma
Lettered by Ed Brisson
Cover by Johnnie Christmas
Image Comics
Release Date: September 4, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

“The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away.” — William Golding, Lord of the Flies

Sheltered #3 from Image Comics is out and its as frightening as ever. Writer Ed Brisson and illustrator Johnnie Christmas have released their latest chilling installment of the pre-apocalyptic thriller — delving deeper into madness.

Victoria and Hailey have been hiding in an underground bunker for two weeks since the massacre that took their parents’ lives. When Victoria quietly sneaks around Safe Haven in search of any form of communication device in order to contact the outside world, she’s subsequently found by Lucas, the leader of the murderous adolescents. Lucas tries to calm her down by explaining his reasoning behind the killings. He tells her that soon, a caldera — a massive volcano underneath Yellowstone National Park — will erupt, leaving the majority of North America in a volcanic winter that could last up to three years. In order to survive in the bunkers created by their parents, the kids needed to cut their group down to half its size.