Sara Hammerzmith

If this day hasn’t been the most productive day in history for me, then I don’t know what is. I started out really early in the morning by going on a workinterview for a store close by where I live, followed up by booking another workinterview at another place.

After I was done with this, I finally chose my new jacket to get eventually, and then Michelle and I went home for lunch and headed off to finish a mission of ours for another work, and then, FINALLY, hitting the rehearsal lot.

We kept on working on “I’m Eighteen” with Alice Cooper, and we’re actually getting somewhere. Anna was back in the lot after illness, and despite not being around a lot she jumped back in like nothing happened. Sure, we only get by like, 30 seconds, but we can repeat those 30 seconds like nothing. And that’s a good thing, don’t you think?

Michelle and I stayed in the lot a bit longer and kept on rehearsing, and it’s moving forward so fast. When we started today I was still trying to figure out what I was doing, and I left the place being able to do pretty much all the fills in that same intro.

We’re really getting somewhere, and that excites me.

Now, on the other hand, I need to buy concerttickets. Korpiklaani in one week, W.A.S.P in two weeks. Good thing I’m planning ahead, heh? But first. Food and Lyxfällan, and making the schedule for tomorrow.

// Sara

Dream Evil is solid fucking stuff. I had a hard time choosing what to listen to when fixing things up in my room today – to keep it interesting I figured I’d start this thing where I fix things for an albums duration and then I do other things.

But it’s always the same problem – what to listen to? So I turned to an old good friend of mine.

“Dragonslayer” by Dream Evil.

It’s funny. Dream Evil has never really been considered one of my favorite bands, however, “Dragonslayer” remains one of my favorite albums to date. It’s just… 11 (12) tracks pure perfection. It starts with the aggressive “Chasing The Dragon”, merging into “In Flames You Burn”, culminates in “The Chosen Ones” and… I could go on and on on how perfect this album is.

And it is. Beyond perfect. And no less than half of my room is also clean now, so thanks, Dream Evil!

// Sara

Seriously, I’ve reached this point where I’ve realize I have a lot of things, and I don’t want to have a lot of things.

It’s a bit hard actually, since this is things I’ve collected over the years, and most of the things has a story to it. But I guess I’m starting to outgrow my room. So I’ve started to pack things in boxes, in order to get more space. And the first thing I’ve started to pack is actually bandshirts.

I have my bandshirts tucked in a drawer, and now it’s full. Over full, actually. So I decided to pick out the shirts I don’t use for now – shirts that are more collectibles, or perhaps too big or whatever, and will put them away in the closet until I have more space.

It was a little weird. Going over old Sabaton shirts, Monster of Mora, Europe… It’s really odd.

But I guess it had to be done. And from now on, I’ll try to fill a box a day until I’m done and feeling content.

// Sara

I need to get a better knowing of my own recordcollection.

Yesterday, killing some time before work, I decided to write a new list of CD’s I intend to get – you see, every now and then I get a giftcard for the CD store, and once I get it I always forget what CD’s to buy, so I decided to write a list of CD’s I want, in order to remember what to buy, and also in those rare cases when I run into something on DemonDoll Records or when I do my band hunting.

Anyway, when writing the list I noticed I only had one Dream Evil album to put on the last. I called bullshit right away, and hit up their discography on WikiPedia. Where I noticed “United” and I just went “Hah! I told you it was bullshit!” but after inspecting my list a bit further I notice that “United” was indeed written, but was scratched out. Which confused me. Until I remember that was the one Dream Evil album I had run into at  Sweden Rock. And then I remembered I had gotten “The Book of Heavy Metal” and “Evilizied” at Knastret. And here I find myself now only missing one Dream Evil album.

I only also miss one Alestorm album. But I think that’s where it ends. I miss two Kittie albums, but sadly, Kittie albums I have to get at a different CD store than the one I get giftcards from.

Speaking of my recordcollection, according to pop.nu I’m only ten CD’s away from 300 albums. Which is a lie, I have a few albums I have not yet registered on Pop.nu, so make that eight CD’s. Eight, small, albums from reaching 300. I’m obviously not going to reach 400 this year as planned, But 300 should be a piece of cake.

Now the question is; I have two incoming giftcards. Should I play it smart and buy two – three CD’s for every giftcard, or buy each of the Civil War albums, considering I’ll be seeing them soon?

Decisions, Decisions….

// Sara

Today has been a Leave’s Eyes kind of day, spent with the new album set to be released tomorrow. I’ll tell you all about when time is right, but not right now.

Like I said yesterday, I started my new job today. It was better than expected – a little tricky at first, but it floated on. It’s a physical job, because for some reason I always get myself the physical jobs, and of course it was a super hot day and of course I forgot to bring anything fluid. Gladly, I found a small store so it was easily fixed.

Aside that… Korpiklaani is creeping nearer with big, big steps. It’s been such a dry month with only Annika Herlitz being worth mentioned as far as concert goes (yes, technically Skogsröjet was in August too, but it doesn’t feel like it). And then right after a weekend with Finnish folkmetal, it’s time for W.A.S.P and the perfection that is Dynazty. Then it’s a bit of a wait again for a filled up November with everything from Nightwish to Mötley Crüe to HammerFall.

Autumn and winter is looking very promising for gigs, and I can’t wait to get on the wagon again.

// Sara

So, this happened today.

For the first time ever, Lordi will appear in Australia, much to Curt’s happiness. I woke up at nine this morning only to see I had two missed calls from Curt, and only the mere fact he had called me witnessed about what had happened. Called him up regardless, and got the news. Lordi is heading down under.

And with all of that said, now begins my biggest financial project probably ever. It’s time to swallow those last bits of pride, and get to work. Dirty work.

But I’m going to start all of that dirty work with retiring early today with my Toto vinyl (it has become quite the favorite) and “The Fault In Our Stars”, which is my current book. I start my new job tomorrow, so it’s good to get to bed early.

// Sara

For the first time ever I’ve left the rehearsal room feeling rather accomplished. It’s far from perfect, but we did manage to get through the intro to “I’m Eighteen” without any bigger problems. I still have some things to add, like the snare and the bass, but it’ll come with time. At least we are getting somewhere, and we are pretty fast. Or at least that’s how it feels, haha.

Aside this, Michelle has been here all day and she helped me out at work. It went good, better and easier than expected so I’m happy. Tomorrow I’ll start to deal with the next few jobs I have while I dream away to upcoming concerts.

Dynazty is going to be the supportband for W.A.S.P here in Karlstad, which is beyond amazing. I was never a big fan of theirs until they released “Renatus” and I was completely sold. “The Northern End” is the most perfect song ever written, and considering “Renatus” is the only album of Dynazty I have on my iPod, and LastFM counts Dynazty as one of my most played artists of the year (this and last) I guess it says a lot about how much I love “Renatus”.

Sadly, I never got the chance to see them with this album, but now, thanks to W.A.S.P this will happen. Sorry Korpiklaani. I love you and everything about you, but Dynazty goes before you.

// Sara

Ahh. My favorite thing about getting ready for work is the little time I have glamming myself up, and I usually do this by grabbing everything I need, sit in my little cosy corner and put on a really good album. It has been different, before I always put on Sabaton on my iPod, then I moved on to picking out random albums and put in my CD player…. but now, I’ve moved up a notch.

Being a very non-eventful day, I decided to start going through my vinylcollection. I do actually hold quite a few pieces that I do not have on CD, so I took all of them out and are currently letting them rest on a chair of mine. However, today has been a total Toto day. I’ve had “The Seventh One” spinning (literally) all day, and as well right now as I get ready for work.

It’s a pretty good album. It’s a step up from “IV” and I really like it better than I thought it would. I’m still quite new on Toto, and was unsure, but like I said, it’s been spinning all day and it has been for a reason.

Other vinyls lying in my pile currently features Poison’s “Flesh & Blood” as well as a few of Lite Ford’s works (“Dancing on the Edge” and “Out for Blood”), and a few KISS ones, and of course, Dynazty (“Sultans of Sins”) and Return (“Straight Down The Line”). I’m planning to go through all of them over the next few days, but first, work times two.

// Sara

It was a pretty slow day today, I spent it mostly with finishing up some delayed assignments, so to put it, some laundry and just chill. And before I knew it, I found myself watching a Korpiklaani livestream.

The stream was from the In Extremo 20 years jubileum festival, live right from Loreley. It was a 50 minute set, and it was a pretty good setlist, if you ask me. To begin with, it wasn’t very different from Noch Ein Bier as far as the first few songs went.

Sadly, I didn’t write down the setlist in it’s whole, but a nice surprise, if you ask me, was “Ruumiinmultaa”. “Ruumiinmultaa” has always, alongside “Sumussa Hämärän Aamun” been a big favorite of mine off “Manala”, but since the album is pretty “old” nowadays, I was never expecting to hear a lot of material from the album in question, and even less so my favorites (you guys know about the curse) so hearing this really made me smile, widely. I was watching the stream together with my mother so I wasn’t really in a state to jump around, but else I’m positive I would have.

I was also very happy about them doing “Joudaan Viina” which was a song I really missed at Noch Ein Bier, and as long as they keep this setlist for the upcoming tour, or at lest have it fairly similar, the tour will be great. I might actually even have to consider going to Oslo.

Decisions, decisions.

Well, this day did indeed become a lot better by this surprise livestream. Now I’m thinking about trying to catch Eluveitie’s livestream tomorrow as well. I guess we’ll see.

// Sara

So, I’ve made this little deal with myself, that from now on in order to release some stress and chill out, to end my days at 18. So all applications for work, planning for work and such things, and even work (‘cept the one at the night club) shall be finished at 18 sharp, and if I’m not done by that time, I’ll just continue tomorrow unless it’s something urgent.

You see, I have an old habit from when I was in university where I’d punish myself if I didn’t study properly. Like, I still have The Sims 3 games that are unopened, because I didn’t feel like I deserved to play them because I didn’t study good enough and so on. This became a bad spiral. As I constantly felt I was bad and never enjoyed stuff, I never felt inspired to actually study, and therefore I got even worse results in school.

But since I don’t really study anymore, but work, and therefore actually EARNED the money, I do deserve it. But, old habits die hard and even to this day I still hold back from doing things because I feel I don’t deserve it.

And I need to stop this. Need to learn how to relax. Which is hard as hell, but I’m getting there. So sitting here, slowly scrolling through Tumblr and listening to Taylor Swift is a good start, don’t you think? Seriously, metal in all its glory, but nothing calms me down like Taylor Swift and Olly Murs.

// Sara