Now, with a full month since the last update, it's time for a tech update.

Since I'll be moving in two months I've decided to get myself a 13" laptop to be used alongside a powerful desktop workstation. The desktop will most probably be stowed somewhere in the living room of the apartment, next to the other guys' desktops (LAN-corner, yay!), and so I'll need a laptop, not only for school, but also for use in my room/elsewhere. I think I've found the perfect one, but I'll try my best to wait.

As for the desktop, I'll build it myself. Since I've recently bought a new screen, I won't need that. I might even skip buying a new keyboard and mouse.

But the reason for today's title is nothing other than Moblin. It is a very light-weight, Linux-based OS made specifically for netbooks.

I'm installing it as I'm writing. I might check back with some sort of 'first impressions' in a month or so some time later.

UPDATE: Well, it seems my Eee 900 is more useless than I first thought. Moblin needs an Atom processor (or rather one that supports SSE3). So, Moblin is a no-go. Next up is gOS.

Dream Theater conquer Oslo once again this fall, and this time they've got some help. The Progressive Nation Tour will see the bands Unexpect, Bigelf, Opeth and Dream Theater eat up one whole evening.



Of the bands that play, Opeth and Dream Theater are of course the big names. Still, I guess I'll take a peek at the opening two as well. Unexpect is a rather strange band, with three vocalists, a violin player and a bassist that just seems pretentious. Bigelf is also in the 'strange'-category. Classic heavy metal in its truest sense.

Opeth and Dream Theater need no further introduction, i feel.

Anyway, enjoy a little something from each band:

Even though the new album isn't due until the June 23, you can already get a sneak preview. Two tracks from Dream Theater's Black Clouds and Silver Linings have leaked, supposedly from an internet radio stream. Whatever the source, the files are out there.



A Nightmare to Remember and A Rite of Passage (the first planned single) are available for download from your favorite torrent tracker. Of course, neither Santa nor the RIAA will be pleased with you doing so. Just make sure you buy the album. At least that will make Santa happy.

There's hope for Norwegian artists as well. The band Green Carnation, now sadly disbanded, had a great run. With the release Light of Day, Day of Darkness they took music to where few had ventured, not only with its length (60:06), but with its unique mix of sounds and moods as well.

Struggling with their musical identity however, the band crossed into more mainstream heavy metal, while still having the occasional gem. The bands latest studio release saw the band throwing out amps and bringing in the acoustic guitars. This mellow, soothing album is what is on todays musical menu.

The Acoustic Verses was performed in its entirety under a dam in the Norwegian mountains, an event captured on film. These clips are from the DVD Under the Dam.

Enjoy

Just excuse me while I change my pants.

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Right!

It's been a while since I found out that a new Dream Theater album had been in the works, but only today did it become officially announced with a title, artwork, track list and a set release date.

June 23, 2009. Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Dream Theater.

I must admit, though, I am a bit skeptical to some of the song titles. A Nightmare to Remember and A Rite of Passage, the latter of which will be the first single, make me think about Forsaken and The Dark Eternal Night. Songs I'd rather forget about. DISREGARD THAT, I SUCK CO*K, LOL!

Still, a new Dream Theater album means more great music, no doubt. It also means a new world tour! Looking forward to it!

The Opeth show last Tuesday was amazing. I stood a couple of feet away from the stage where the band played a variety of songs from their career, both old and new:

Heir Apperent
Ghost of Perdition
Godheads Lament
Leper Affinity
Credence
Closure
Hessian Peel
Night and the Silent Water
The Lotus Eater

After a quiet cheer (No, really! It was almost dead quiet!) the guys came back on stage and played Deliverance. Mikael did his jokes (where's Steven Wilson?) and kept the crowd jolly throughout the night, but I have to admit the three first songs took some steam out of me. Getting a headache after three songs is not fun.

All in all though, the night was a great one. Great music, great band, great setlist, decent crowd, great venue, great merch and a great drive home. Oh, and a great night's sleep!

Picture (NOT from Oslo) by deep gosh, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Tomorrow will be be one of the (many) highlights of the year. Tomorrow Opeth conquer Oslo. What is all the fuzz about, you ask? This!

It will be nothing short of amazing! A sort of a review will probably be posted within the year, but I make no guaranties.

If you're lucky enough to have a ticket yourself, then enjoy the show. If not, then enjoy me mocking you.