That's The Spirit

The Sheffield, metalcore five piece, Bring Me The Horizon, have just revealed they are releasing a new album on September 11th called That's The Spirit, much to the excitement of their fans.

Already, In October last year, a track from the new album was released for the first time, called Drown, which is to be track 9 on the new album, along with Happy Song released a week ago and Throne released only 19 hours ago and premiered at 7.20pm on BBC Radio 1.

Moreover, the artwork for the upcoming was shown on instagram by the band's keyboardist Jordan Fish;

Something that will also be exciting their fans both in the UK and worldwide, is the unveiling of the album's tracklisting, listed as follows:

1. Doomed

2. Happy Song
3. Throne
4. True Friends
5. Follow You
6. What You Need
7. Avalanche
8. Run
9. Drown
10. Blasphemy
11. Oh No

What seems very surprising is the date of the release: on 9/11, which however, may be very fitting in contrast, reaching out to the victims of 9/11, to give a message that they can get through the anniversary of such an upsetting event, and be able to celebrate the life of the people who died instead of dwelling on the ever-growing threat of terrorism.

The Clouds Are Always Moving

How can this be summer? This evening I should be seeing clear blue sky, on the edge between evening and night. The air should be light and the type of warm that still has the sliver of breeze to set goosebumps raising up and down my arms.

However, with the fifty shades of cloud and the just-over-gentle breeze, this evening really sums up British weather. I still love it. With my hair blowing into my face, and everything moving in the wind, my head is cleared momentarily by the worries and the strifes of life. All that matters is the beautiful music flowing into my ears and the peace in my heart.

Right now, I really do believe that "In the morning, I'll rise", and that every irritation, problem and stress will be forgotten when the bright, happy sunlight creeps onto my pillow in the wake of a new day.

Here comes the moon shyly hiding behind the thick clouds, only showing its radiant beauty in the blink of an eye, so fast that you might miss it if you're not looking up.

As the clouds move to their next destination, I can see how they might represent how life changes and moves, that we can never really hold onto a moment, because its already gone, just like we cannot hold onto a cloud; it just slips right through our fingers.

Nerves Of Steel

Do you sometimes wonder if some authors in the modern world like to 'pinch' ideas from one another?

Recently, I finished the book 'The Girl In The Steel Corset' by Kady Cross and don't get me wrong, it was a spectacular piece of fiction. Its everything you could wish for in a Teen book; romance, action and a sprinkling of magic. There is only one problem, it may have too many parallels to the Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.

As my favourite book series, it seems almost to me, as if Cross has copied some of Clare's ideas such as the setting of the Victorian streets of London, automatons, evil nemesis without the magic of the main characters, a love triangle and a young girl being accepted into a wealthy home in comparison to her otherwise common working class upbringing. 

On the contrary, there are still some differences between the two series to give the Steampunk Series a stamp of identity. One is alternate ideas to the beginning of life on Earth, whilst supporting the Theory of Evolution in a new way, a punk-ass steel corset and two handsome young men, one of which could be said to be devilishly handsome, with the beauty of Lucifer.

All I have to say is that I believe Kady Cross must have nerves of steel if she has been inspired by Queen Fantasy Cassandra Clare to adopt some ideas from the Infernal Devices.

Reading Helps In English GCSE

Why are teenagers not reading as much any more? Is this lack of reading now effecting GCSE English results?

In the day and age of iPhones and social media that we have today, as each year goes by, it seems as if less teenagers are taking time to put down their mobile phones and pick up a good old book - or kindle. The most they will take time to read is someone's status on Facebook,

In 2012, only 19% of 17 year olds admitted to reading at their leisure. Sit back in your chair, let out a deep breath and just think about that. In 1984, that was 31%. This is the result of the invention of the internet, mobile phones and social media. Moreover, only 1 in 4 children cannot read very well  by the time they leave primary school, which links to the fact that only 1 in 5 parents can find time to read to their children.

Every parent, no matter how busy you are should find the time to read to your child, even if its just a bedtime story at night.

Many teenagers don't read because they don't find it pleasurable. Reading should be an enjoyable experience whether you're reading 'We're going on a bear hunt' at age 5 or reading 'The Fault In Our Stars' at age 15.

Imagine a small young girl snuggled up in bed hanging over her Barbie book. Beside her, is her mother, with a cup of coffee on the side drawer and an arm around her daughter, smiling down at the girl's little blond head of hair. She asks the girl to tell the story herself from the pictures. In delight, the child eagerly creates her own story from picture to picture, using her own imagination. Although she cannot read words themselves yet, she has begun to immerse herself in stories and the unique communication that books give to her.

If children are not introduced to books from an early age, its unlikely they will suddenly start to read at 16. Furthermore, the more they read, the more they understand the language of the words- so to speak, "reading between the lines"- and become acquainted with new phrases and terms. Which will increase their knowledge.

Is it really a surprise that students that read get better results in English at GCSE then those that never, or rarely have? Increase reading in infants increases C to A* grades in teenagers.

So put down your Facebook and pick up a real piece of literature!

"I am ninety. Or ninety-three."

How do you envision growing old? With a partner? Around your friends? Swinging around a pole in Magaluf?

Currently, I am reading a book called Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, which pushes growing old into a new light. The main character is an older man reflecting on his past as a young circus worker. However, that is not relevant to my point. In between snippets of flashbacks, this gentleman also describes how he lives his last days in a care home. Obliviously no one wants to be in that position when they turn senile, in which they have to depend on others to survive, but its inevitable for everyone in one way or another.

Every time I walk past an elderly couple on a park bench, it brightens up my day. But why would that make a young teenager smile? In 21st Century Britain, I believe we lose track of some of the important details in life. Travel back in time with me to the 1950s, when couples met at dance halls or by a chance meeting in a park. Back then, love was alive, which is reflected through the strength of these same couples now, decades later. Through everything, they have worked on their problems, not just wasted love like its some disposable piece of plastic.

Its so much more than that.

That is why these people stay together all their lives, they work on things, and put real hard graft into keeping love blooming. That is what I really wish for in life. That is what we should all look for and hope for. That is what shouldn't change, even as our skin loses elasticity, as our hair turns grey and we suddenly can't remember why we have come upstairs to get something. That is how we can handle ageing and what is in store for all of us.

In the words of Ted Mosby, "Love is the best thing we do", so why not do That properly?