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"From out of the dark"

From Out Of The Dark

From out of the dark is a collection of 6 songs finished during the infamous Covid lockdown of 2020, drawing musical influences from many different genres and based on different themes close to my heart.

Some with a narrative, others about how I felt a particular junction in life, playing music, writing and recording songs has been a great outlet for me and helped me deal with and express myself in a productive fashion.

With no single genre over the six songs I decided to put them out as From out of the dark, to show how something good can come from the darkness. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making them.

I appreciate so much all the friends and family who have helped critique these tracks ready for public consumption. Thanks also to my younger sister, Hannah, for providing her vocal talents and lyric writing on two of the songs.

Please listen below and follow me on all of my social networks using the links above.

Matt x

Star Wars - Darth Bane #PathOfDestruction


"Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it." - Darth Bane

The story of the rise of Darth Bane is a compelling one. The history of the Sith is greatly interesting to me, and this book tells of how the rule of two - a master and apprentice - for the Sith came to be. 

The beginning of our story sees Cortosis minor Des biting off the thumb of a drinker coworker. Des is having glimpses of the future, but does not yet attribute this to the force. Instead, the resulting suspension from his work sees him playing Sabaac with republic officers who have landed on Apatros on a recruitment drive. Des's use of the force during these matches, as well as the back and forth between officer and worker is extremely tense and exciting to read, with a slick page turning pace. We see further glimpses of the force bubbling to the surface within Des. 

After his victory at the Sabaac table, Des leaves the cantina after closing, only to be attacked in the dark by who he senses to be the republic officers he's just beaten at cards. Through use of the force, Des is able to eliminate them. 

Following this, his good friend and owner of the Cantina points Des in the direction of the Sith as a way to avoid imprisonment. He accepts and ends up in a squad of Sith troopers. 

Des indirectly becomes a commander of an elite Sith trooper squad. After a poorly issued order comes through, Des is forced to mutiny against the actual commander, which, after an incredibly exciting and well written battle, gets him noticed by a Sith Lord. 

He is taken then to Korriban, to study to be a Lord of the Sith and eventually become a member of the Dark Brotherhood, a new Sith ideal proclaiming all to be equal to avoid infighting. It is now Des takes up his father's hateful nickname for him as his title and becomes Bane. 

The journey of his studies is interesting, and Bane quickly advances in his command of the force. He begins to question the new ways of the Sith order, and we follow Bane on a journey of discovery and self realisation, visiting some familiar destinations from the story of Darth Revan. 

Becoming infatuated by the title of Darth, bane seeks to reinstate the title of old and restore the Sith order through his own rule of two. By having one commanding Sith Lord and one apprentice to avoid infighting, until apprentice is ready to overthrow the master. This will increase longevity of the Sith and ensure only the strong prevail. 

Through manipulation and cunning, Bane revisits the brother of darkness during a seemingly endless battle with the Jedi, and ensures it's downfall. The only question remaining - who shall be his successor? 

I enjoyed reading this book immensely, and have completely inhaled it over a couple of days. It's always tense, well paced and intriguing. Bane is an excellent example of a true Sith Lord, and his successful attempt to restore the Sith to their former glory, with his rule of two, is extremely enticing. If you have any interest in BBY stories and the Sith, read this book. As good as Darth Plagueis. 

Star Wars #KnightErrant Mini Review


The Star Wars story Knight Errant is set 1000 years before the events of A New Hope and roughly a generation before the Darth Bane trilogy of novels. 

The tale revolves around 3 characters, first of whom is Kerra Holt, a lone Jedi Knight journeying through Sith Space after a prior mission saw her master killed, instilling within Kerra a very un-Jedi thirst for vengeance. Teaming up with militant leader Rusher, the pair struggle to balance between eradicating the interesting and varying array of Sith characters throughout the novel, whilst protecting the innocent citizens and bystanders and the same time. 

Occurring after the Old Republic was invaded by Sith there is a saturation of varying Sith existing simultaneously and constantly striving to advance within their social hierarchy utilising subterfuge, threats and violence to achieve this. As should be expected of the dark side dwelling Sith, each is certain that their own method of control is the ultimate.

Holt's goal becomes focused on ridding the galaxy of a specific 2 warring Sith brothers. Odion, the one responsible for her master's death; and Daiman, sure that he is himself the creator of the universe. 

The differing social intricacies between the Sith colonies is what appealed to me most when reading this story. The groups are all written well and this is an unusual time in the Star Wars canon where more than two Sith exist. 

There are some excellent moments throughout and no distractions from the action or the politics. Revelations of who is actually pulling the strings and where different characters allegiances truly lie is always exhilarating. The is divided into the three territories where each one has it's own unique obstacles to overcome.

For those interested in the Legends Timeline, before A New Hope and Disney get their mitts on the order of things, Knight Errant is definitely worth a punt. 

I may have lied... A little

I didn't lay off the booze. I have been out. A lot. I will make that promise to myself again though, mainly as I'm running out of money, but also because I seem to keep waking up in unusual, exotic places. I'm making that sound worse than it is, and it's definitely been fun - just need to chill for a bit me thinks. 

In news in my life, I've had some early inheritance money from my Grandma which is exciting. But I'm being restrained and not immediately buying a new guitar, laptop or PS4, but popping it away into my savings to hopefuly help and pay a deposit on somewhere to live when I've saved a bit more. 

A close friend from school is leaving, and this makes me sad. Everything makes me sad recently, but this is justified I feel. As someone I have shared lots with and who has looked out for me, it will be a very sad day when she eventually goes off to start her proper grown up life. 

I had a very good first date recently too, with a nice and seemingly genuine lady. We get on quite well, and the night didn't really end, which I only take to be a possitive thing? She also forced me to watch Disney's Frozen. I think it was good. 

And it was Star Wars day! The unofficial celebration of all things from a galaxy that isn't especially close. I took a cool photo of my Star Wars video games, of which my collection is sizeable, to replace the usual CIBSunday. You can see that picture below. Lots of them are good (a few are dire) but I especially love the Super Star Wars games, SW: Demolition and The Force Unleashed (The Wii version is better than PS3).

Anyway, that's it from me, as I'm procrastinating from getting ready for work. Take care. X

My ever expanding collecting of SW video games. 

A surprisingly romantic Donnie Darko Snapchat I received. :-)