Solstice (UK doom metal band)

Solstice is an epic doom metal band from Dewsbury, England, founded by Rich Walker after the breaking up of his previous hardcore punk / grindcore bands Sore Throat and Warfear. Together with Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus, Solstice is responsible for expanding upon epic doom metal.

Rich Walker also used to run The Miskatonic Foundation, a record label dedicated to doom metal and traditional heavy metal. It has now since dissolved due to lack of time.

History

The band released their debut album Lamentations on England's Candlelight Records in 1994 and caught the attention of an underground scene that was at that point swept up with the still new second wave of black metal. Successive UK and European tours, with Count Raven and Anathema respectively, firmly cemented the band as something of a cult act across the continent.

1996 saw the release of the Halcyon EP on Black Tears, comfortably conveying the strength and progression of that line-up, while further embracing their English Heavy Metal roots but with an aesthetic that shows the band were not afraid to court a more sinister undercurrent. Shortly after, however, Solstice once again suffered line-up problems that essentially resulted in the band becoming largely dormant. In 1998, the band signed with Misanthropy Records, which helped with the release of New Dark Age', but the band was painfully laid to rest in 2002.

Solstice (album)

Solstice is an album by the American guitarist Ralph Towner that was released on the ECM label in 1975. It features Towner with Jan Garbarek, Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.

The 1977 album, Solstice/Sound and Shadows, was released by Towner on ECM with the same quartet.

Reception

Allmusic awarded the album with 4.5 stars and its review by Michael G. Nastos states: "Of the many excellent recordings he has offered, Solstice is Towner's crowning achievement as a leader fronting this definitive grouping of ECM stablemates who absolutely define the label's sound for the time frame, and for all time".

Track listing

Personnel

Sampling

The American hip hop group Atmosphere used a sample of Jon Christensen's drum introduction to "Piscean Dance" on a track called "Shoes", which features on their 2003 album Seven's Travels.

Solstice (comics)

Solstice is a fictional comic book super heroine published by DC Comics. The character is set to appear as a new member in DC's long-running Teen Titans comic book series, and was created by JT Krul and Nicola Scott. Krul has described the character as being "a positive spirit - influenced by the various cultures she’s encountered during her travels throughout the world. She embraces life and all the adventure and experiences it offers."

Publication history

Solstice made her first appearance in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #88 in October 2010. The character was not named, but was shown alongside the new Aqualad as part of a montage showing future events that would affect the team in the coming issues. She made her first speaking appearance in the following issue, where her civilian name was given. The character made her first appearance as Solstice in Wonder Girl (vol. 2) #1, a one-shot comic released by DC in January 2011. Writer JT Krul has confirmed that Solstice will be a regular character in the Teen Titans book.

Defender (1895 yacht)

Defender was the victorious United States defender of the tenth America's Cup in 1895 against challenger Valkyrie III. Defender was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1895. It was Herreshoff's second victorious America's Cup defender design.

Design

Defender was a sloop with all-metal construction: steel, aluminum, and manganese bronze. It was owned by William Kissam Vanderbilt, Edwin Dennison Morgan and Charles Oliver Iselin, and skippered by Henry C. Haff.

Career

Defender defeated the New York Yacht Club's Vigilant then went on to defend the cup against British keel cutter Valkyrie III. Following the contest, Defender was towed to the residence of C. Oliver Iselin in New Rochelle, New York where it remained docked for four years without sailing. In 1899 J. Pierpont Morgan and W. Buttler Duncan rebuilt Defender to race trials against the America's Cup defense candidate, Columbia.

The yacht was towed to Herreshoff's Bristol yard for restoration to enable it to race in the selection trials for the 1899 defence. Following the selection trials, Defender returns to its mooring and was finally broken up in 1901.

Australian rules football positions

In the sport of Australian rules football, each of the eighteen players in a team is assigned to a particular named position on the field of play. These positions describe both the player's main role and by implication their location on the ground. As the game has evolved, tactics and team formations have changed, and the names of the positions and the duties involved have evolved too. In total there are 18 positions in Australian rules football, not including 4 (sometimes 6 - 8) interchange players who may come onto the ground at any time during play to replace another player.

The fluid nature of the modern game means the positions in football are not as formally defined as in sports such as rugby or American football. Even so, most players will play in a limited range of positions throughout their career, as each position requires a particular set of skills. Footballers who are able to play comfortably in numerous positions are referred to as utility players.

Defender (Gabriella Cilmi song)

"Defender" is a song by Australian singer–songwriter Gabriella Cilmi, released as the third single from her second studio album Ten. The single release of "Defender" included a cover of Kiki Dee's "Magic Carpet Ride" as a b-side, promotional releases however listed the two songs as a double-A Side. It was co-written by Gabriella herself alongside George Astasio, Jason Pebworth and Jon Shave.

Release

"Defender" was released as a digital download on 26 August 2010. The single failed to appear on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

Jon O'Brien from Allmusic said that: "The epic beats of the Dido-esque power "Defender," offer a respite from the party atmosphere, but as competent as they are, Ten is much more interesting when Cilmi unleashes her previously hidden disco diva tendencies".

Music video

The music video for "Defender" starts off with Cilmi with her back to the camera holding a microphone, a stage light is shining on her and a crowd can be heard cheering and applauding her. The video then cuts to Gabriella sitting and singing in a room wearing a white top; the room seems to be a part of a derelict space station. Clips of her walking through the corridors with a black dress intersect the parts of the video with her in the room. Whilst walking through the corridor she takes off her jewellery and her dress leaving Cilmi in just her underwear and shoes. Water then sprays over her and close ups of Gabriella with wet hair are shown.